Gates can open anywhere—on land, under the ocean, or even in the air. Whenever a gate appears, the government uses advanced technology to track it and promptly notifies the local guild to handle the situation.
To guilds, Gates are treasures. The demons emerging from it carry demon cores—a valuable item with numerous uses for both personal and environmental applications. The utility of demon cores varies depending on the demon they originate from; some are prized as jewellery, some can emit magic, and others can be refined into fuel.
This is the reason why guilds fight for Gates, sometimes resulting in conflict, or war if not compromised.
When a Gate opens on one's property, it automatically becomes government property, and the government decides which guild will be entitled to it. Earnings from the Gate are split, with 30% going to the government and 70% to the guild. The property owner where the Gate emerged receives protection from the demons as compensation.
If a guild refuses to clear a Gate designated to them, it will be reassigned to another guild. Additionally, guilds can legally purchase the rights to a Gate, this is how the Haven Academy spends millions of dollars for the sole purpose of evaluating their students' rank—a practice only a prestigious academy would do.
The 11 helicopters scattered in different directions, headed towards different Gates.
After hours of soaring through the sky, the helicopter descended into an open clearing within a dense forest. Nestled near their landing spot stood a solitary cabin.
Hayden with the black cat around his arms and the fourth year student disembarked first. Then, Klyne, Grace, and two other guys followed.
Just as their feet touched the ground, a loud whirring noise echoed above them. It was another helicopter from the school.
'Did we land in the wrong area?' Hayden pondered.
The chopper landed next to theirs, then Victor came out with Aubrey and her group.
Aubrey instantly rushed over to Grace, squealing cheerfully as her hands intertwined with Grace in excitement.
"You're here too!" Aubrey exclaimed.
"Sure am," she giggled.
"Even fate can't break us apart."
"Hold on a moment," Hayden went towards Victor. "Did we land on the wrong spot, or is it you guys who are on the wrong spot?"
"No," Victor confidently responded. "I never get anything by mistake."
Victor is a commander from the twilight guild. He's a centimeter taller than Hayden, and he wore rimless glasses with clear lenses, complimenting his sharp eyes. His hair color was almost similar to Aubrey's, but his was a darker hue—a crimson red sleek hair that falls effortlessly into place.
He holds one of the highest positions in the Twilight Guild—a diligent and meticulous one at that. He's the DH Froilan trusted the most. And who knows? Froilan himself might've ordered him to evaluate Aubrey's rank.
"There are two Gates deep within this forest," Victor continued. "There's no landing spot for the choppers, so we'll walk from here."
Then, a square-jawed man wearing a rugged leather jacket over a faded plaid shirt came out of the cabin nearby. He went towards Hayden and Victor, grinning with his crooked teeth.
"That's right," the man hollered. "Those Gates have been there for two days now. The demons infested the damn forest."
He's sporting a weathered cap, its grime telling tales of years spent in the jungle. Victor noticed the man's military-grade trousers, a trademark of a former ranger. Just from his appearance, Victor figured that the man was a veteran.
He held a half-filled sack of demon cores and carried it to Victor. He then dropped the sack and loosened the rim, revealing glimmering variants of colors, shapes, and sizes of cores.
"I've encountered quite a handful of demons, but there's a lot more out there," the man surrendered the cores, acknowledging that it was the government's property.
Victor lifted the sack and returned it to the man's calloused hand. "Take it," Victor insisted. He might be a conformist, but he held firm to his morals, understanding that the cores should rightfully belong to the man.
The man chuckled, revealing his joy with a wide grin that carried the scent of his unwashed breath. "HAHAHAHAHA! Let's get in my abode, you all are welcome to rest here before continuing your expedition," the man invited them in his cabin to show his gratitude, but Victor turned him down in a serious voice.
"I must humbly decline," he said. "Savoring comfort is a sign of complacency. We've come here to exterminate demons, not to float on clouds."
~~~~~~~~~~
*Rustle*
Bushes crawling up to knee level hindered their path. Aubrey was only wearing above-the-knee shorts, leaving the lower part of her leg exposed to small branches that scratched her calves.
"I can't take this! Why can't we just be in plain terrain!" she complained.
"This sucks!" Jea, also tired of walking, grumbled. "At this rate, we'll be battered and bruised before we even find the Gate."
"Quit yapping," their male groupmate barked, irritated by how overly-dramatic the girls. "We weren't even half-way there."
"You can only say that because this is your habitat—monkey," Jea countered.
"What?!"
Aubrey burst out cackling, "That makes so much sense."
"Guys, stay on high alert," the fourth year student leading the trail reminded them. His role was to support the first years and act as their leader while limiting themselves to help clear the Gate. "We might haven't encountered a demon yet, but they could pounce on us anytime."
While the senior leads the group, Victor was on the furthest back, holding a grading sheet of paper while following them. His role was to only observe from the backline and evaluate the students' performance. He's not allowed to intervene nor give instruction during the assessment.
"I think my radar is broken," Aubrey said, checking her radar.
Radar is a tool used by DH. It's shaped like a phone that can locate the Gate or the nearest demon by absorbing the negative energy in its radius.
"It said we're still two miles away," Aubrey added.
"I think mine is broken, too," Jea said. She and Aubrey were best friends, of course they'd always be on the same page. "It's saying the same distance as yours, Aubrey."
In a satire manner, the monkey bellowed, "Oh no! My radar says two miles, too. It must be broken."
"We know. You don't have to repeat it," Jea said, crossing her arms as they treaded on the crunchy leaves.
"Of course, you idiots know," the monkey spat.
"My legs are already out, don't let me use my last ounce of strength to boot you," Jea fumed.
"If you're really tired, Jea," the other male student in their group chimed. "I could carry you on my back."
The guy meant what he said, hoping that he could be of any assistance to Jea as he lowkey has feelings for her.
However, Jea misunderstood that he's the monkey's friend, so she rolled her eyes, saying, "I'd rather trip if it's you."
The guy spoke just once and was already heart broken. He and the monkey weren't even friends, but after that pitiful rejection, the monkey tapped him on the shoulder to express his sympathy. That also serves as the beginning of their friendship.
"You know what, getting carried doesn't sound such a bad idea, right, senior?" Jea flirted with their leader.
"Huh?" the senior mumbled, totally clueless. "Come again?"
"She's asking for your name," Aubrey interpreted, trying to assist her friend.
Aubrey found the senior's appearance not half-bad. He's around 5'9 and has a pleasant smell.
Jea doesn't have a bad taste either, she's into older boys, a fact Aubrey recalled that Jea once mentioned. Jea was the flirty type, she had a new crush from different classes in the academy every week without fail. She also has her undeniable charm, but despite that—long midnight-back hair, soft and fair skin, and captivating eyes with striking lashes—she'd never been in a relationship. Which is exactly why Aubrey felt compelled to help her out.
"You can call me, Lester," the senior replied.
After weaving through the trees in a zigzag pattern, they stumbled upon a sprawling hill that blocked their path. Its width made circumventing impossible. While not excessively steep, it still presented a significant elevation, prompting Jea to unleash her flirtatious banter.
"My legs hurt!" she moaned. "Could you at least give me a lift, Lester?" she pleaded, puffing her eyes to look cute.
Lester glanced at Victor, weighing the consequences of aiding the first year's yelp. Victor had a serious, calm look as his eyes were on the grading sheet.
"I'm sorry, but as much as I'd like to, I am unable to assist you," Lester said. "My role is to guide you, this is an assessment of your capacity, after all."
There's no doubt that Lester is compassionate. His voice resonates with a genuine willingness to help. However, his own grade is on the line here.
Jea sighed exasperatedly after failing once again.
"The heel wasn't even that steep," the monkey muttered out loud.
"Of course, climbing a tree was a piece of cake for a monkey," Jea rebutted.
The two went on, throwing back and forth of insult onto each other as they trudged up the hill.
The hill was indeed not steep, but the girls had to take a momentary stop to clutch onto a tree as exhaustion gripped their legs from their long journey. As they pushed through, a foul odor assaulted their nostrils, growing harsher with each step. The scent was reminiscent of decaying fish, intensifying the higher they went.
As they endured the arduous trek, forcing one foot in front of the other while covering their noses from the putrid stench, they finally reached the peak of the hill.
However, what awaited them was a scene straight out of a nightmare. As their eyes scanned the hillside below, they were met with a grisly massacre. Dead deer lay scattered, their intestines gushed out. Skinned snakes hung from tree branches, their lifeless bodies twisted in agony. Squirrels and raccoons lay crushed and mangled, their carnage showcasing the brutality that had unfolded.
Shock and horror washed over them as they realized that they were up against a demon, gruesome enough to not spare even the wildlife.