Into The Portal: Monster Invasion

“Anything else?” Miles asked after absorbing all the knowledge dumped upon him by the Dean.

“There was another hidden quest in the logbook and it was completed a few months ago.” Dean started and showed the date when the quest was marked with completion. Miles remembered what he was doing that day, so he looked Dean dead in the eye. “I am assuming it was you, who brought the Safe Core to the academy.”

“What is a safe core?” Miles asked. He truly didn’t know as it was his first time hearing it.

“Do you know people above Extol-Rank cannot use energy outside of Unity Walls and if they have to, they have to limit their energy levels to the Form-Rank or below?” Milosh asked. Seeing Miles nodding, he explained, “The reason is, when hunters above Extol-Rank use energy, it opens up a portal for monsters to pour out. You can think of it as bacon of sorts.”

“So? Safe Core?” Miles asked.

“A Safe Core can prevent monsters in Portal World from picking up these energy signals,” Milosh said with a smile.

“You mean there are Safe Cores in Unity and Academy?” Miles asked in disbelief.

“Yes.” Milosh nodded as he projected an item from his wristwatch. The item looked like a tin can. If Miles had seen it on the ground, he wouldn't do anything besides kick it. “They are all in random shapes. Can only be found in Dead Zones. We don’t know what they are or how they formed. When moved, the Dead Zone will be broken but it still covers a large area and creates a Safe Zone.”

“How large is the area?” Miles asked.

“Depends on the Safe Core. Tests should be conducted and the diameter should be calculated, but even the worst one can cover a city.”

“Only a city?” Miles asked in disbelief. “How many are there in Unity then?”

“Don’t misunderstand it. I said the worst one. Some can cover tens of cities.” Milosh smiled and showed the map of the academy. “We only have one, but the one we have covers the city, forest, and all the mountain range, so we can live here.”

“I see,” Miles said thoughtfully. “So, do you want the item?”

“Not really want it, as I don’t need another Safe Core.” Milosh shook his head. “What I told you is just one of the abilities they have.”

“What other uses do they have?” Miles asked as he remembered the scene where the little door knob flew out of his hand to seal up the portal.

“Their second ability changes depending on the core. Some have the elemental amplifying ability. The main one in Unity has a soothing ability. The one we have removes the existence of the area from the outside. Allowing us to control the number of monsters, animals, and walking dead in the academy as those outside of it can hardly feel this place.”

“Any other ability?” Miles asked excitedly. He wanted to know if sealing portals were an ability common to all Safe Cores or something unique to his.

“Nothing else,” Milosh said. “So, do you know the ability your core poses?”

“I am not sure. But the dead zone I found had this barrier around it all the time. Only when I broke the Dead Zone did monsters start to fill in.” Miles told him what had happened when he was in the alien world.

“I see.” Milosh stretched his chin.

“How do you activate them?” Miles asked. He failed to use the item no matter how he tried.

“Well, you are too weak to activate them. Not only the electricity, but even the energy requirement is also way above your league for the time being.” Milosh said and asked. “Are you willing to trade it?”

“Not really.” Miles shook his head.

“Alright then. Let me know if you change your mind. Or if you want it to be tested. I can request some of the workers to deal with it.”

“I will keep that in mind. Thanks, Dean.” Miles said with gratification. “If there is nothing else, I would like to rest. It was a tiring journey.”

“Sure, be careful. I will have them deliver the sixth serum to you.” Milosh said and waved his hand.

“I’ll be waiting, thanks!” Miles waved and left the office.

“You okay, buddy?” Coin asked when they left the Dean’s room.

“Yeah. Too much information. All crucial. I am trying to make sense of all these new things.” Miles said in his mind.

“Try to take them one by one. The Safe Core is something you cannot use at the moment, but it can seal up the portals so you can keep it around you I guess.

Mystic Orb, is also something no one can use. Of course, you can experiment on it, but don’t overdo it.

Lastly, Pyramids, as Dean said, it is better to stay away from it.”

“I am going to the pyramids, Coin. Soon.”

“What?! Are you out of your mind?" Coin shouted in his head.

"You are in my mind, how can I be out of my mind?" Miles cracked a joke and laughed at his joke.

"Stop! It is worse than dad's." Coin sighed and asked. "Why do you wanna go there?"

"There is something connecting two worlds and it has something to do with your language. I want to know." Miles said matter of factly.

"It is dangerous. Didn't you hear how many people died there? All of them were elites." Coin tried to persuade him.

"There is something else," Miles said and hesitated, "Val been there."

"How can you say?" Coin asked in disbelief. Not because of the possibility of Val's being in there, but because Miles doubted Val.

"Gut feeling? I don't know. All I know is that she has been there. I want to go as well."