Chapter 2: Achievement

'5 minutes remain.'

"Okay, everybody's going to get ready, you're going to be given a handgun just in case, as well as a bag containing a voice recorder to record your journey inside and what you see. If those don't work, there's also a pen and a writing pad, and there's also a watch to tell you when to get out. It's very important, so don't screw up. "Emerald spoke as he looked up at the screen.

Alex nodded and prepared himself. "Time is about to end soon. I hope you all are ready." Emerald smiled widely. He seemed to be excited about the F ranks entering the gate.

"Everyone in a line." One of the men in black said in a harsh tone.

The 10 F ranks slowly got into a line, all standing in front of the box. Emerald seemed to distance himself from the box and spoke from afar, "All right, 30 seconds remaining. I wish you all the best." He said as he sauntered to a nearby wall where another entrance formed.

"Hah! Some S rank hero… He ran away as soon as the gates were about to open. But again, it is a call for concern when looking at his reaction… it seemed like Emerald feared what was inside of the gate… I guess that's why they brought us here." One of the F ranks said as he looked into the gate. Seeing the dark void in front of him, he felt fear.

"I… I think this was a mistake, I don't think I can handle this, I want out!" Another F rank frantically said as he ran out of the line. He had very short stature and looked very weak. As soon as he tried to run away, one of the men in black shot towards the ground, stopping the man from running any further.

'5 seconds remain.'

"You! You better go back in line. There is no escape, you can only be free once you return from back here after entering the gate!" A harsh voice came from the speakers. It seemed like Emerald's voice.

'I've never heard Emerald raise his voice in such a manner… Things are feeling very off… I need to be careful inside the gate.' Alex said as he gulped his saliva. He knew that there was no way to turn back, it was only forward.

'The gates have opened.'

"GO IN!"

It felt like a blur, Alex heard Emerald yelling at them to run inside so he did what was told. As soon as he entered, Alex felt nauseous. He felt sick to the bone like he wasn't meant to enter the gate.

"I guess this is How I die…" The smaller F rank said as he gasped for his breath. It seemed like the air very bad effects on them. Alex only felt nauseous, but some other F ranks were close to passing out.

"Boys, I know that we don't know each other but we should work together to survive. The clock seems to be for an hour so we can survive as well as report everything inside here. The government has been doing some shady things, so I wouldn't be surprised if we were some sacrifices. So, let's defeat their expectations and survive this!" A tall and brawny man said as he looked towards the other 9 F ranks. His speech gave them some more hope.

"The government of Heroes doing shady business?" One of them asked in confusion. He looked to be similar in height to Alex, he had a bland face and a crazy hairstyle.

'I'm also confused, isn't the government of heroes supposed to help us? Why are they suddenly doing shady business.' Alex was confused. He waited for the brawny man to answer.

"Hah, little kids! Still believing that the Heroes are good people. Wake up! These damn heroes have been corrupted by power long ago! They just do the right to show off and be richer. The world has changed. Back then, F ranks were also respected, everyone was, but now, there is discrimination. This—" As the man explained, he was suddenly cut off. After a brief moment of silence, the man's head fell clean off his neck.

The F-Ranks, including Alex, were horrified by what they had just witnessed.

"Hmmm, it seems like they have sent weaklings to scout the dimensional gates. I was expecting a fight, but oh well. MURDER THESE FOOLS!" A high-pitched voice screamed, followed up by a few dark figures appearing in front of the gate, preventing anyone from escaping back into their world.

The figures were all tall and had large bulging muscles, their faces long, and two fangs sticking out of their mouths. They had a humanoid body, but the dimensions appeared to be longer, like their heads, their faces, and their limbs.

Alex was frozen in place. He didn't know what was happening. He felt disgusted by seeing the man's head fall down, oozing with blood.

*Pecthuii!*

Another F rank fell to the ground. This time it was the short one who tried to escape earlier. His body was cut clean in half.

'Wha…What's happening… What are these creatures? I thought this was just a simple scouting mission, how did it turn into this… If this continues one, I'll need to run… Wait, my gun!' Alex said to himself, his mind was welled up in fear but he also felt a bit of relief and hope as soon as he remembered that he had a gun, meant to protect him.

Alex quickly took out his gun, the other 7 also did the same after seeing Alex.

*BANG**BANG**BANG**BANG**BANG**BANG**BANG*

All of them shot at the beings at once, but it was no use. The beings seemed to only get scratched by the bullets. It wasn't as effective as they thought.

"GOD DAMN IT RUN!!!!!" one of the F ranks said as they threw their gun towards the beings and ran with all their might. But even before they could take the first step, they also cut the man in half.

Horrified by what he saw, Alex also dashed in the opposite direction of the beings, followed up by the remaining survivors.

*Pecthuii!* *Pecthuii!*

Two more died as they tried to run away.

Alex, though confused and frightened, ran as hard as he could. While he was racing, Alex noticed a tiny white light that made him wonder, 'What's that?'

He thought that was a way out, he raced for it. Behind him were the sounds of people crying

in pain and torture, as they were slowly killed. Alex couldn't even turn around and see what happened.

It was all his instincts that called out to him, 'RUN!

*Pecthuii!*

Alex suddenly felt limp, he didn't notice the other half of his body, he just felt numb. Alex dropped to the ground. After a second of feeling numb, the pain overwhelmed his body, a pain he had never imagined before. They had cut off his legs!

*Bleeugh!*

Alex puked because of the pain, he had already given up, he could do nothing. His heroes, the ones he believed in the most, had led him to his own death. He had no power to protect himself, he could do nothing but await his own end.

As everything turned fuzzy, Alex saw the small white light zoom in front of his eyes. After this, everything turned mundane. Soon, the darkness loomed over him and finally, there was no pain, but the nothingness was unusual.

[Does Player Alex want to continue?] The voice of a woman echoed in his ears.

Alex didn't know what to do, as he knew he was going to die in a few seconds.

But Alex didn't lose hope. He wanted to live, and he had hopes of being a great hero. Someone who would save lives. His convictions grew more than ever after he learned that his heroes had led him to his own death.

Alex, now lying down with his lower body mutilated, and his upper body losing blood rapidly, mingled with all his might, blurring audibly, "Yes ..."

[Achievement unlocked. Hero's Belief, Reward: _____]