Chapter 46 The Gate[3]

---[POV: Kael]

The Gate is a crucial structure that connects the dimension of hell with the human world. It has been sealed for decades by the principal of the academy, Kaede Kobayashi, to prevent any unwanted entities from passing through.

However, lately, it seems that someone has been intentionally releasing the seals that hold the gate in place.

It was not always a structure of terror and fear, but rather a bridge between two worlds. A bridge that was not intentionally created but, humans were forced to create it.

Allow me to articulate this in a more conventional and straightforward manner, replete with an elevated lexicon :

'It was a time of chaos and despair. The dimensions were merging, and devils were pouring into the human world.

Cities were destroyed, and countless lives were lost. In the midst of this turmoil, Kaede, then a young auror, rose to the challenge.

With the help of his fellow Aurors, Kaede began to create a barrier to separate the dimensions. But they soon realized that it was not enough. The barrier was too weak and too easily breached.

Desperate for a solution, Kaede turned to ancient texts and legends. He spent long hours poring over dusty tomes and consulting with all the constellations that answered his prayers until he finally found the answer.

The Gate.

It was not a structure that was intentionally created, but rather a natural formation that existed in the area where the barrier was weakest.

Kaede knew that the Gate was the key to sealing the dimensions, but it was a dangerous and unpredictable force.

Undeterred, Kaede poured his aura into the Gate, moulding and shaping it until it became a solid structure that could be sealed with powerful magic.

The process was long and arduous, but in the end, Kaede succeeded. He sealed the Gate with countless seals and wards, and the dimensions were once again separated.

But even as he did so, Kaede knew that the Gate was not a permanent solution.

It was a fragile structure that could be easily broken, and the devils were always looking for a way to break through.'

Stella looked around, her eyes taking in the eerie surroundings. The air was thick with the unmistakable scent of sulphur, and the oppressive aura that surrounded the place made her feel as if she was being suffocated.

The sky above was a deep, inky black, with a strange green hue that seemed to seep into everything.

"Where are we?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Xander's expression was grim as he looked at the group of cadets.

"We're in hell," he said.

"Hell?" Sun repeated, her voice trembling.

Xander nodded. "The forest we were in earlier was a restricted area because of the presence of the gate that connects our world with the inner circle of hell. The security was increased because the gate has been acting up recently."

"So the sounds and figures we noticed earlier... they were actually the devils who were emerging from the gate?" Ji-Ho asked.

Xander nodded again. "Correct. But now, our mission is to find the dimensional gap that's allowing the devils to come through. Take these," he said, handing each cadet a small white talisman with golden inscriptions on them.

"If these talismans glow, that means you are near the dimensional gap. Once you find the gap, notify the rest of us. Walk in pairs, and I'll be surveilling all of you from higher ground, looking for a possible option for our way back."

"Uh…Yes sir", everyone said in unison, but they didn't have that determination.

"Wait, we can't just walk into hell," Sun said, his voice trembling.

Xander turned to him with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, these talismans will protect you. But we need to act fast before the gate completely opens up."

I gave a sighing breath and examined the talisman in my hand. It was a small, white piece of paper with golden inscriptions on it.

"Don't worry, they are enchanted with a special spell that will keep you safe," Xander said, as if reading my thoughts. "Now, let's go."

We walked in pairs, keeping close enough to hardly be considered pairs but instead a group moving through the dark forest cautiously. The air was thick with the stench of sulfur, and the ground felt hot under my feet. I could hear strange noises all around me.

These noises came from the devil plants, which apparently were not cultivated by anyone, but rather grew like weeds in any fertile land in Hell.

As we walked deeper into the forest, the noises grew louder. I could see the shapes of devils moving in the shadows, their eyes glowing with an eerie red light. These devils were not high-class, but they were under the control of someone or something.

Suddenly, there was a loud roar, and I felt the ground shake beneath my feet. We all froze, looking around.

Xander motioned for us to stay put as he climbed up a nearby tree to get a better view. I waited until Xander finally came back down with a grim expression on his face.

"The gate is opening," he said. "We need to find that gap before it's too late."

[Author's Note: I understand if this part seems perplexing, please excuse me for any confusion. To clarify, it seems that only superior beings or a significant number of inferior devils can cross the gate. Some humans, even those with an S rank, lack the capacity to traverse the gate. However, this is not the scenario with the dimensional hole or gap, whatever you may prefer.]

We continued walking, our talismans glowing faintly in the darkness. The devils seemed to be getting more agitated, and some of them started to move towards us.

I could now sense many devils, above A rank moving in our direction, but they were quite far, and Xander and the group could not detect them.

While running I increased my speed and acted recklessly in order to fall, I tapped my hand on the ground in the act sending a powerful wave of my black chains a few kilometres behind me which penetrated the snake-like humanoid devils, eliminating them.

"Careful, watch your steps", Xander said as he stopped along the group to look at me.

"My bad", I said as we continued.

"This way!", Xander shouted looking in a direction.

We ran towards him, dodging the minor attacks of devil plants that were now swarming around us. The talismans in our hands started to glow brighter, indicating that we were getting closer to the gap.

Just a few more steps, and we finally saw it - a rip in the fabric of reality itself, glowing with an otherworldly light.

"We've found it," Xander said, relief evident in his voice. "Now, let's figure out how to close it."

We approached the gap cautiously, peering into the otherworldly abyss beyond it. The heat and stench emanating from the other side were overwhelming, but we couldn't afford to be distracted.

Xander took out a small book from his backpack and started flipping through the pages. I watched over his shoulder, gazing at the strange symbols and incantations.

"Ah, here it is," Xander said finally, pointing to a page. "This should do the trick."

He cleared his throat and began reciting the incantation. I could feel the energy in the air shift as if responding to his words. The rip in the fabric of reality started to close, inch by inch.

But then, just as we were about to seal the gap shut, a powerful force pushed back against us. The talismans in our hands glowed brighter, straining against the force.

Xander's voice grew louder, more desperate, as he struggled to maintain the incantation. I could see the strain on his face, and I knew we were running out of time.

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light, and everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I found ourselves lying on the ground, my ears were ringing from the explosion.

Of course, a walk-in hell wouldn't be so easy that we go and come back unscathed. Everyone else lost consciousness and had some burns on the skin, their clothes were completely rugged.

I scrambled to my feet, trying to assess the damage. Xander was lying a few feet away from us, trying his best not to lose consciousness. The talismans had shattered, their protective spells spent.

I waved my hand in front of my face to settle the dust.

And then I saw it – the rip of dimension, getting wider as two hands appeared in it, making it wider than ever, and from it emerged a massive, grotesque devil, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

This one was from the second circle of hell, a high-ranking devil with the features of a lion - black fur, a humanoid body, and golden vertical eyes. But what fascinated me was that he was wearing clothes - butler clothing, to be precise.

The devil bowed respectfully, his tail swishing behind him. "Greetings, travellers. I am Aamon, the Marquis of Hell, butler to Belphegor, the Prince of Hell's Gluttony of the second circle. What brings you to this place?"