Chapter 293: Portable Gate
Orion, a city located a large distance north of the Wargod city.
Six figures moved through the city, the group had made it here after more than three days of traveling, and this was on the back of the millipede, they had to use it for transportation to move faster.
Aren had his face covered with a hoodie and a black mask that he purchased from someone on their way here, the mask had a slick, smooth design, and with his red eyes behind it, he looked ominous and ready to take down anyone.
Lucy, on the other hand, showed them that angels were capable of hiding their wings in their back. She walked with them casually like she was a normal person as well.
"This city is pretty large, and yet the security state of it is weak," Mira pointed out.
"That’s a good thing, else we would not know what way to hide Aren," Aiden said.
"Lack of security means a lot of things must go on in this city, I wonder what fun things I can get," Zwro said eagerly, she grabbed Athena’s hands.
"You’ll come with me," she stated, not giving any opportunity for her to refuse.
"Please, you two don’t go running off now," Kira said, she looked around, seeing some trueborns and even Awakened looking at them like they were meat for them to come eat.
"A lot of them are waiting for a weak group, break off and they will immediately go after you," Aiden said.
"Tch, it’s not like any of them can handle me and Athena, it’s an easy takedown," Sero responded,
"That’s true, but that will pull unnecessary attention on us," Kira said.
"Tch, Aren, can’t we look around?" Zero, refusing to yield, rushed to Aren’s side, trying to get him to agree.
"There are at least twenty pros currently watching us, a few have already left to report to whoever is their boss, Kira is right," Aren said.
"Tch, fine," Zero says and throws her hands behind her head, she walks while leaning backwards. "Everyone here is probably on the lookout for you," she muttered.
"Yeah, that’s why we need to be out soon, we just need to buy a portable gate," Aren replied.
"Hey, did you hear? The Sky Palace is fully involved in catching that Shadow dude, I heard that they had to send a list of people out because the Sacred Palace said if they aren’t able to do it, they would, even the black dragon has been mandated," an awakened at the side of the road said to his friend as they walked past Aren’s group.
"What sort of person takes such a decision, choosing to risk the life of all humanity for whatever reason," the friend said.
"Yeah, people are crazy, I hope his death sucks."
Aren heard every word, everyone went silent, not wanting to talk or say anything now to probably spoil the mood even further.
"You guys know that I’m not some different person now, right? You don’t have to be scared to converse your feelings, normally Aiden would have teased me about what those two said," Aren said.
"Well, considering what’s happening, I’m not sure if I should," Aiden said.
Aren paused and looked at him, "I chose this, and you chose to follow me, you deserve to say whatever you want."
After that, they finally made it to the main market in the city, it was really large and had a ton of things, which meant it would not be too easy to find what they needed.
"I’ll search for the gate, me and Lucy, the rest of you can get everything else that we need and meet in exactly an hour," Aren said, they all nodded and then left in their different directions.
As they walked through the market, Lucy asked a question.
"Why did you move with me and not the others?"
"Simple, you are safer with me and I also want to get to know you better," Aren replied.
"Talk to me? About what?" she asked.
"Why did you not follow the same path as other angels, you chose a life that goes against what they want."
Lucy paused for a moment, she looked at Aren for a few seconds and then drew a deep breath, "It didn’t make sense, I couldn’t understand how they devalued life for their games and say it’s for the gods.
The gods have a reason that they are doing all of this, and I know for sure, and it’s something related to souls and soul energy, they are using it for something," she explained.
"Hmmm, that would make the most sense, there is no point in a trial without them getting anything in return," Aren replied, he kept his shadow sense wide, and finally he spotted a portable gate.
As they headed to the shop, Aren wondered if he should tell her about the fact that he killed her snake, he looked at Lucy, "Sigh, I want to tell you that I killed your snake," Aren stated.
She looked at him and smiled, "I know, I could sense everything that was happening outside, I understand that you had no other choice," Lucy said calmly, "It’s sad truly, but he died doing what he always did, he died for me."
She then turned and looked at Aren, "So, that thing that you use to make those shadows, can you use it to bring it back?" she asked.
"Yes, I can, but I’m not sure he would remember who you are the way you want, but I do have a way that you can hold something very close to the snake," Aren said and then summoned the spear, her eyes widened, she could tell that this was her snake.
She grabbed the snake eagerly and examined it very closely, a smile on her face as she did.
Aren felt a sort of accomplishment after giving it to her.
They found the stall at the edge of the market where the stalls thinned out and the noise dipped just enough to make everything feel... wrong.
The man sat behind a crooked wooden table, his back hunched like it had given up on ever being straight again. A faded cloth covered most of what he was selling, but the faint pulse of soul energy underneath it was impossible to miss for someone like Aren.
"This is the place," Aren muttered.
Lucy’s eyes narrowed slightly. "He doesn’t look trustworthy."
"He doesn’t need to be," Aren replied. "He just needs to have what we want."
They stepped forward.
The old man didn’t look up immediately. He kept scratching at something on the table, a slow, irritating sound that dragged on for a few seconds too long before he finally spoke.
"You two don’t look like locals."
His voice was dry, almost brittle.
Aren crouched slightly, just enough to lower himself closer to the table. "We’re looking for a portable gate."
The scratching stopped.
Now the man looked up.
His eyes were sharp. Too sharp.
"...You shouldn’t be asking for that out loud," he said quietly, glancing around.
Aren folded his arms. "Can you provide it or not?"
The old man stared at him for a moment, then let out a low chuckle. "Straightforward. I like that."
Slowly, he pulled the cloth back.
A circular platform sat beneath it, metallic, engraved with intricate runes that pulsed faintly with energy. It was about the size of a large shield, but thicker, heavier. The kind of thing that screamed both value and danger.
Lucy leaned slightly forward. "That’s—"
"A portable gate," the man finished. "One-use activation. Locks onto a set coordinate on earth. Expensive... and very illegal."
Aren’s eyes flickered. "Price."
"Depends," the old man said. "Where are you running to?"
"None of your concern."
The man grinned, revealing uneven teeth. "Everything is my concern when I’m risking my neck."
Before Aren could respond—
"Old man."
The voice cut through the moment like a blade.
Aren didn’t need to turn to know something had shifted. His shadow sense had already picked them up, five... no, six men approaching.
Heavy steps. No attempt to hide themselves.
Authority.
The old man’s expression dropped instantly.
"Tch..."
The group stopped just a few feet away. One of them stepped forward, tall, broad, wearing a dark uniform with a crest etched onto the chest.
"Didn’t we warn you?" the man said, his tone calm but laced with threat.
The old man sighed, leaning back slightly. "You did."
"And yet here you are."
His gaze shifted to Aren and Lucy. "Customers?"
Aren said nothing.
Lucy didn’t move.
The man chuckled. "Bold. Or stupid."
He gestured lightly, and the others spread out just a bit, not attacking, but closing space.
"Let’s make this simple," he continued. "No more portable devices are being sold in this city."
The old man clicked his tongue. "Since when did you lot start enforcing that so strictly?"
"Since orders came down," the man replied. "Higher than you. Higher than me."
Aren’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"...The hunt," Lucy murmured under her breath.
"Exactly," the man said, catching it. "Too many people trying to slip in and out unnoticed."
He looked back at Aren. "If you want a gate, there’s only one place you’re getting it now."
A brief pause.
"The house of the city governor."
Silence settled for a moment.
Then the man smiled faintly.
"And trust me... that’s not a place you just walk into."