CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53 – THE HAND OF REALMS (PART 4)

Chapter 53 – The Hand of Realms (Part 4)

After Fiora’s rousing speech, she briskly divided the candidates among the three escorts, assigning each group to a different bus. Zane and Elizabeth found themselves placed under Fiora’s direct supervision. The moment they climbed aboard, she sent a cheeky wink in Zane’s direction that made him groan internally.

’This woman is far too unserious for someone with such a high rank,’ he thought, sighing as he took a seat near the window.

The rest of the candidates were quiet, almost unnervingly so. Tension hung in the air like thick fog. Their eyes, without exception, were drawn to the distant colossus on the horizon—the Gate. It towered beyond the city like a God’s monument, black and eternal.

Moments later, the bus’s engines rumbled to life. The convoy began moving.

The drive through the capital was nothing short of surreal. The streets were lined with tens of thousands of people—maybe hundreds of thousands. They lined the roads like waves frozen in place, cheering with wild fervor as the buses passed. Some held signs, others waved flags, while many simply screamed with joy. The excitement was contagious, the energy almost tangible.

Even Zane, jaded as he often felt, couldn’t help but be awestruck. His eyes scanned the masses and the sky above, where helicopters hovered, broadcasting the moment live to the world. For once, the entirety of Lower Earth was united in watching the same event: the departure of its chosen.

Elizabeth pressed her face against the window, her breath fogging the glass. "S-So many people..."

"This is history for them," Zane replied, arms crossed. "They may never witness something like this again in their lives."

She tore her gaze from the window to look at him. "They’re... expecting a lot from us, aren’t they?"

Zane tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "More than we can deliver, I imagine. Most of them think we’re going to change the world, bring glory to Lower Earth, rise to the top of the Knight Order. But expectations..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Expectations are easy to create and hard to live up to. People will cheer you now. But when they don’t get what they want—when you’re not the hero they imagined—they’ll turn on you."

Elizabeth lowered her eyes, clearly uncomfortable. "That’s... really unfair. We’re still trying. It’s not like everyone can be the strongest."

"That’s the thing," Zane muttered. "They don’t care how hard you try. They only care about what they see."

As those words left his mouth, bitter memories surged forward—unwelcome, but vivid. Mocking glances. Harsh whispers. The sting of eyes that never saw him, only the scar on his face. Back then, it hadn’t mattered what he endured or how hard he fought. People only saw the strange, quiet kid who didn’t fit in.

And they hated him for it.

He shut his eyes for a moment and shook off the thought. Not now.

"The world is... really cruel sometimes," Elizabeth whispered.

"Yeah," he said, voice distant. "Sometimes it is."

The city fell away behind them, replaced by high walls of smooth stone and military checkpoints. After several layers of security, the gates creaked open, and the convoy rolled through.

Then, as if they’d crossed into another realm entirely, the scenery changed.

Gone were the gray roads and glass towers. In their place were emerald plains, vast groves of ancient trees, and a sky so wide and clean it felt unreal. The mountain ahead loomed tall, jagged, and crowned with mist. Embedded in its base like a heart forged by gods was the Gate.

It was a titan of a structure, black as obsidian, stretching up into the clouds with no visible end. Strange geometric patterns carved its surface—glowing faintly in colors Zane couldn’t even name.

He leaned forward, mouth parting slightly. "It’s... unbelievable."

"Wow..." Elizabeth whispered, her face pale but awestruck. "It looks even more intimidating up close."

Soon, the buses halted several hundred meters from the base of the mountain. Fiora stood and turned to face them.

"We’re walking the rest of the way," she announced. "Carry your gear. The platform is just ahead."

The candidates filed out quietly, nerves thickening like fog. Zane stepped into the open and immediately noticed how the noise of the crowd had vanished. Here, in this secluded part of the world, only the rustling wind and the whisper of leaves could be heard.

The trail was surrounded by nature untamed—thick trees with enormous trunks, wild grass brushing at their legs, and canopies so dense they dimmed the sunlight. It felt like entering a sacred place, untouched by civilization.

Finally, the forest path opened up. The platform stood before them.

It was made of smooth, glistening marble, white and ethereal, built at the edge of a sheer cliff. Beyond it, the mountain towered. And just past that, unreachable by foot, was the Gate itself—waiting.

"Everyone onto the platform," Fiora ordered, her voice louder now. "Stand in a single spot and don’t move too much. One wrong step and you’ll meet the canyon below."

The implication sent a shudder through the crowd. One by one, they climbed the stairs onto the marble surface. The wind picked up here, colder and sharper. The cliffside view offered nothing but a plunge into a sea of clouds and mist.

"It’s beautiful..." someone whispered.

"I can’t even see the bottom..."

"Don’t get too close to the edge!" another barked nervously.

"How the hell are we supposed to reach the portal? Climb down?"

Zane kept quiet, scanning the mountain’s face. There was no visible path—no steps, no elevators, no bridges. There was no viable way to reach the gate itself which led him to one conclusion.

’We won’t be climbing there... This platform is our means of reaching the gate. How that will happen, however, I’m still not sure...’

Then his eyes shifted to Lune.

She stood silently near the center of the platform, her long black hair barely moving despite the wind. Her gaze was fixed on the Gate, unreadable. No one dared speak to her. Even the most confident candidates gave her a wide berth. Her presence was simply too much.

Suddenly, Fiora raised a hand.

"Silence. Stand still."

The murmurs died instantly.

"We’ll perform one final roll call," she said. "No one moves after this."

One by one, she called their names. No one was missing.

"Good. Everyone’s present," Fiora said, her tone softening just a touch. She exchanged a nod with one of her companions.

The man stepped forward and pulled something from his coat—a strange disc-shaped device engraved with symbols that glowed faintly even in daylight.

The moment he activated it, the energy around the device pulsed outward in an invisible wave. It hovered from his palm, spinning silently as it floated skyward, moving slowly toward the distant Gate.

"What’s that thing?" someone asked.

"It’s so cool..."

Zane leaned forward, eyes narrowing. ’What kind of device is that?’

The disc halted mid-air—then flared with brilliant light.

A shockwave exploded outward.

Zane threw his arm over his face, the light searing even through his closed lids. A beam of energy surged from the device, striking the center of the Gate like a lightning bolt. The impact echoed through the mountains, making the ground beneath their feet tremble.

The Gate lit up, piece by piece, its obsidian surface now glowing like molten glass. The geometric carvings spread like veins of fire, connecting across the whole frame.

’What the hell am I looking at?’ Zane thought, eyes wide.

Then... the shaking began.

It was subtle at first—just a small vibration beneath their feet. But it quickly grew, escalating into a quake so intense the marble floor groaned underfoot.

"W-What’s happening?!"

"The platform’s moving!"

"I-I’m gonna fall!"

"Don’t move!" Fiora barked. "Remain in position. Here it comes."

Zane looked up at the Gate—and saw it.

Something was emerging.

From the very heart of the portal, a massive shape began to push its way through. At first, it was just a shadow—too large to comprehend. But slowly, as the structure broke through the veil of light, it became unmistakable.

A hand.

A hand of gargantuan proportions, carved in mesmerizing detail, yet radiating divine energy. veins of energy covered its grey skin that had visible cracks and missing parts. It reached forward, palm out, as if to receive them.

Zane’s heart nearly stopped.

"...Is that a hand?" he whispered, barely breathing.