The portal’s energy rippled as Leo and his group stepped through, their bodies weightless for a brief moment before gravity took hold once more.
The sensation of stepping from one world to another was jarring. The chill of Earth’s battlefield was replaced by a warmth that sunk into their skin, the crisp scent of fresh grass and damp earth filling their lungs.
Leo’s boots met solid ground, and he staggered slightly as the light from the portal behind them flickered and then faded, sealing their passage.
Silence settled over them.
The first thing he noticed was the sheer vibrancy of the world around them.
Unlike the ruined cities and lifeless wastelands of Earth, Yllandor breathed. The land was alive, untouched by the horrors of the apocalypse. Lush, sprawling forests stretched endlessly, their ancient trunks towering so high that their emerald canopies blocked out most of the sky. The leaves shimmered under the light of the twin moons hanging overhead, casting an ethereal glow upon the land. Fireflies, or something similar, flickered in the distance, dancing between the thick undergrowth.
A massive river cut through the landscape, its waters clear as crystal, reflecting the starlit sky like a mirror. The faint sounds of rushing water mixed with the chirps and calls of unseen creatures, filling the air with life.
Leo turned his gaze upward, his breath catching at the impossibly vast mountain ranges in the distance, their peaks stretching so high that they pierced through thick layers of rolling clouds. It was a sight straight out of myth, something that belonged in old fantasy stories, not reality.
This was Yllandor.
A world that had never known the devastation of Earth’s collapse. A world still untouched by ruin.
Mia was the first to break the silence.
"This… this is unreal," she whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Miguel stepped forward, his gaze scanning the surroundings with quiet astonishment. "I never thought I’d see a place like this outside of a dream…"
Ves remained silent, her arms crossed, but Leo noticed the way her fingers curled slightly, her eyes flickering across the endless horizon, as if struggling to accept that this world was real.
Fiona, still weakened from her injuries, managed to stand beside Leo, her large form pressing against him for support. Her ears twitched, her nose lifted as she took in the scents of this strange new land. A low, rumbling sound vibrated from her throat—not a growl, but something closer to curiosity.
Leo swallowed hard, his mind still adjusting.
They had spent so long in a world consumed by death that stepping into a land overflowing with life felt… wrong.
Like they didn’t belong here.
Like the dirt and blood that clung to them would somehow taint this place. Read exclusive adventures at freewebnovel
Tatiana was the last to step forward, her blood-red eyes surveying their surroundings with calm scrutiny.
"The beastkin capital should be further northeast," she said, nodding toward a break in the dense forest where a well-worn dirt path stretched into the distance. "That’s where we’ll find a rift to the Abyssal Realm."
Leo exhaled slowly. "And how long will it take to get there?"
Tatiana glanced at the moons above, then back toward the trees. "Two, maybe three days on foot, if we keep a steady pace."
Leo clenched his fists. Three days. That was too long.
He needed to get stronger now. He needed to be in the Abyss now.
He turned to Tatiana, ready to demand a faster way, but before he could speak, a low, guttural growl rumbled from the treeline.
The group stiffened.
Fiona’s ears flattened, her muscles tensing as she bared her teeth toward the darkness beyond the trees.
Something was watching them.
Leo’s grip on Nightshade tightened. He could feel it—a presence. Heavy. Predatory.
Then, a shape emerged from the shadows.
A massive beast, unlike anything they had encountered before.
It was twice the size of a direwolf, with thick, dark fur that shimmered with hues of deep green under the moonlight. Its golden eyes glowed with sharp intelligence, scanning the group with measured curiosity, not immediate hostility.
But what caught Leo’s attention the most was the figure standing beside the beast.
A humanoid shape, draped in deep brown leathers, a hood partially obscuring their face. Wolf-like ears twitched atop their head, and a long, furred tail swayed behind them.
A beastkin.
The figure stepped forward, their posture relaxed, but their sharp gaze held an unspoken warning.
"You’re trespassing on beastkin land," the voice was smooth, carrying a natural authority. "State your purpose."
Leo exhaled through his nose. So much for a quiet arrival.
His body still ached, his energy was spent, and they had just arrived in this world—and yet, they were already in danger.
Tatiana stepped forward before Leo could respond.
"We are travelers seeking passage to the beastkin capital," she stated plainly, her expression unreadable.
The beastkin tilted their head slightly, studying her for a long moment before shifting their focus to Leo.
The beastkin’s golden eyes remained locked on Leo, sharp and calculating. The massive wolf beside them let out a low huff, its ears twitching as if listening to something unseen. The air between them felt heavy, the tension of an unspoken challenge lingering in the stillness of the night.
"Travelers, you say?" the beastkin murmured, voice smooth but edged with suspicion.
"Strange, considering this is a realm rarely visited by outsiders. And even stranger, given the scent that lingers around you." Its gaze flickered to Leo, their nose subtly twitching as if catching something familiar.
Leo’s body was still recovering from the overwhelming encounter with Lucian, but he forced himself to stand straighter, to meet the beastkin’s gaze without faltering. He knew that in a place like this, weakness was easily exploited.
"You want to know who we are?" Leo said, his voice steady despite the weight pressing against his chest.
"Fine. My name is Leo. These are my companions—Ves, Mia, and Miguel." He gestured toward them, his fingers tightening slightly.
"And this is Tatiana, the one who brought us here."
The beastkin’s gaze remained unreadable as they studied each person in turn. Their sharp eyes lingered on Fiona’s injured form, their expression tightening slightly before returning to Leo.
"And your purpose in Yllandor?" the beastkin asked, their voice devoid of hostility but firm.
"We need access to the Abyssal Rift," Tatiana said without hesitation. "The one near the beastkin capital."
A flicker of multiple expressions crossed the beastkin’s face, surprise, intrigue, and even wariness.
"The Abyssal Rift is not something we take lightly," it replied.
"Few seek it out willingly, and even fewer survive its corruption. Why should I believe you have business there?"
Leo exhaled slowly, his jaw clenching. He wasn’t sure how much to reveal. But at this moment, keeping secrets wouldn’t help them.
"I need strength," he admitted, his voice raw. "And the Abyss is the fastest way to get it."
The beastkin regarded him in silence, its golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"Strength alone is not enough to survive the Abyss," it said. "But I see that you’ve already learned that lesson the hard way."
Leo said nothing. There was no need to. The wounds, the exhaustion, the quiet, seething rage in his posture—it was proof enough.
The beastkin nodded slowly.
"Very well. I will take you to the capital," it said, before turning it head slightly and releasing a low, almost melodic whistle.
The wolf beside them lifted its head, ears perking forward. A moment later, the forest around them stirred.
More wolves emerged from the treeline, their massive forms padding silently across the earth, their golden eyes reflecting the twin moons’ light. Each of them was as large as a horse, their fur thick and wild, their presence commanding.
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Leo’s group tensed, instinctively shifting their stances, but the wolves made no hostile moves.
The beastkin gestured to the pack. "We will move faster this way. You will ride."