Thanks for 500 powerstones! Bonus chapter will be uploaded later today!
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The sand shifted beneath my feet as I tested each step, the twin suns casting long shadows across our path. My Six Eyes penetrated the deceptive terrain, revealing the mana concentrations that signaled danger.
"Stop," I called, raising my hand. The group halted instantly, a testament to how quickly they'd adapted to our situation. "Trap zone, three meters ahead."
Alexander moved up beside me. "How wide?"
"About five meters across. See the subtle depression? The sand's been disturbed recently."
He nodded once. "Options?"
I scanned the surroundings, the world transformed through my enhanced vision into currents of flowing energy. "We can go around to the right. The ground's more stable there."
As we redirected our path, I caught Shikamaru studying me with that calculating gaze of his. Smart guy. He was putting pieces together faster than the others.
"Another one," I said, pointing to a patch of sand that looked perfectly normal to everyone else. Through my Six Eyes, it pulsed with the telltale signature of a predator's trap.
We'd been moving like this for nearly an hour—slow, methodical progress toward the rocky outcropping that promised some measure of safety. The constant vigilance drained me, but I couldn't afford to drop my guard. Not with eleven lives depending on my sight.
"Valentine," Alexander said quietly as we navigated around another trap. "How are you spotting these? Even Josh's enhanced senses aren't picking them up."
I gave him a sidelong glance. "Told you, I just got good eyes."
He didn't push, but his expression said he wasn't satisfied with my answer. Couldn't blame him.
The ground trembled slightly—a vibration so faint that only Joshua and I seemed to notice. I tensed, scanning the area. There. About twenty meters to our left, sand shifted unnaturally.
"Company," I said, drawing my twin blades. "Three o'clock, twenty meters."
The group immediately formed a defensive position. Jin stepped forward, his body glowing with defensive energy as he prepared a barrier. Elise's fingers sparked with contained lightning.
"Let me handle it."
Alexander frowned. "Valentine—"
"Trust me. You need to conserve energy for when we really need it."
Before he could object, I activated Mana Reinforcement, feeling the familiar surge as energy flooded my system. Not as potent as Nicole's boost, but enough. I charged toward the disturbance, blades ready.
The creature erupted from the sand—another Dune Lurker, its vertical mouth already opening to reveal rows of circular teeth. One moment I was five meters away, the next I appeared directly above the monster, blades plunging downward.
The mana-conductive metal sliced through its carapace. I twisted, using the momentum of my fall to drive the blades deeper, targeting the mana node I could see pulsing beneath its armored shell. The Lurker shrieked, thrashing wildly as ichor sprayed from the wound.
I leapt away, then immediately engaged Echo , teleporting behind the creature as it lunged at where I'd been standing. My blades found another vital point, and the monster collapsed, its limbs twitching in death throes.
The entire encounter lasted less than fifteen seconds.
I cleaned my blades on the sand and rejoined the group, ignoring their stares. "We should keep moving. That noise will attract others."
We pressed on, encountering two more Lurkers before finally reaching the rocky outcropping. Each time, I dispatched them with efficient precision, using Echo and Mana Reinforcement to compensate.
The outcropping rose about thirty feet above the surrounding landscape, offering excellent visibility and natural protection on three sides.
"This will do," Alexander said, surveying the area. "Jin, Sonya—perimeter check. Josh, Dave—start organizing supplies."
As everyone moved to their assigned tasks, I approached Alexander. "I'll take first watch."
He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. Two-hour rotations. We need to establish a sustainable pattern if we're going to survive here long-term."
The reality of our situation hung heavy in the air. Six months trapped in this beautiful death trap. For me, an opportunity. For others, especially those with families outside, a nightmare.
Alexander began organizing the camp, designating sleeping areas, watch positions, and a central gathering space. The porters unpacked what limited supplies we had—some ration packs, basic medical equipment, and a few pieces of survival gear. Not nearly enough for a long-term stay.
I watched them struggle to create some semblance of shelter using jackets and equipment cases. This wouldn't work. They needed proper equipment, and I had it. But revealing my inventory would raise questions I wasn't prepared to answer.
Screw it.
I gathered everyone together as Alexander finished setting up a makeshift command center on a flat rock.
"Before I do this," I said, making eye contact with each person in turn, "I need your word that whatever I do here won't get out. Don't ask about my powers, and don't ask about me."
Alexander crossed his arms. "What are you planning, Xavier?"
"Something that will help us all survive. But I need everyone's word first."
Jin and Sonya exchanged glances before Jin spoke. "You have our word."
"Same here," Elise said, though her eyes remained skeptical.
Theo nodded once, solemn and direct.
"I'm not particularly interested in your secrets," Shikamaru drawled, leaning against a rock. "Too troublesome."
Kaisen bobbed his head nervously. "Y-yeah, sure, whatever."
Josh and Dave, looking exhausted and shaken, both agreed without hesitation.
Yuzuriha smiled coyly. "Your secrets are safe with me, Xavier-kun."
Only Nicole—still masked as Aurora—and Alexander remained. Nicole gave a short nod.
Alexander uncrossed his arms with a sigh. "As long as it doesn't endanger the group, your business is your own."
"Good enough." I stepped back to give myself space. 'Arcan, open inventory.'
『Are you certain this is wise? Revealing your capabilities to non-authorized personnel contradicts operational security protocols.』
'I'm not a monster, Arcan. If these people are going to be with me for at least three months, I need to make sure they're somewhat comfortable.' I smiled internally. 'Besides, you said stuffing my inventory with "Costco junk" was a waste of space.'
『I maintain that purchasing fifteen identical sleeping bags was excessive.』
'Let's see if anyone complains now.'
I raised my hand, and with a flick of my wrist, a glowing blue-silver light materialized. The group watched, transfixed, as I reached into what appeared to be a tear in space itself.
First came the tents—ten two-person expedition-grade shelters, weatherproof and insulated. Next, sleeping bags, thermal blankets, portable cooking equipment, water purification systems, solar-powered lights, and various other camping supplies. I pulled out item after item, creating a growing pile of survival gear that would have cost thousands of dollars.
"Holy shit," Josh whispered, his eyes wide.
"Is that a pocket dimension?" Elise asked, professional curiosity overriding her promise not to question.
Alexander remained silent, but his expression had shifted from skepticism to careful calculation.
I pulled out the last item—a case of energy bars—and closed the inventory with another gesture. "This should make things more comfortable."
"You've been holding out on us," Sonya said, examining one of the tents with appreciation.
"I'm holding out on a lot of things," I replied honestly. "But I'm not heartless."
"This is... quite generous," Alexander said carefully.
I smiled, the expression not quite reaching my eyes. "I'm a businessman at heart. I'm not running a charity."
"What's your price?" Shikamaru asked, cutting straight to the point.
"Twenty-five percent of whatever you earn in this gate. Essence stones, rare materials, anything of value."
"Twenty-five percent?" Jin frowned. "That's steep."
"So is freezing to death or dying of exposure," I countered. "You're welcome to refuse, but the equipment stays with me."
Theo stepped forward. "It's fair. We'd lose more than that if we had to struggle without proper supplies."
One by one, they agreed to my terms. Some reluctantly, others with simple pragmatism. Yuzuriha agreed with a wink that suggested she thought she was getting the better deal somehow.
Alexander watched the negotiations with an unreadable expression before finally nodding. "Done. Now let's get this camp properly established before nightfall."
The atmosphere transformed as everyone moved with renewed energy. Tents went up, sleeping arrangements were sorted, and a proper cooking station was assembled. The rocky outcropping quickly became a functional base camp that would serve us well in the days ahead.
As I helped Josh secure one of the tents, he asked, "So what else do you have in that magic pocket of yours?"
"That's covered under the 'don't ask about me' clause," I said lightly, hammering a stake into a crack in the rock.
"Right, sorry. It's just—" He glanced around at the bustling camp. "This changes everything. We might actually survive this."
"That was always the plan."
As dusk approached, Alexander gathered everyone around what had become our central area. The twin suns hung low on the horizon, casting everything in golden-orange light.
"We need to establish protocols," he said, his military background evident in his stance and tone. "Watch rotations, water management, food rationing, and exploration teams. This isn't a camping trip—it's a survival situation."
"Time dilation is 24 to 1," I reminded everyone. "Which means we're looking at roughly six months in here before the gate opens. We need to think long-term."
"Six months?" Kaisen whimpered. "That's—that's impossible!"
"It's entirely possible," Alexander countered firmly. "People have survived worse for longer. We have water, shelter, and enough supplies to get established. The first priority is sustainable food sources."
"The oasis has fish-like creatures," Jin offered. "Sonya and I spotted them earlier."
"We'll need to test if they're edible," Theo said. "I can analyze them for toxins."
"The floating vegetation islands might have fruit," Elise added. "Some of them hang low enough to reach."
Alexander nodded. "Good. For now, we use the rations sparingly."
'Arcan, what are the chances I can reach level 2 before we leave this place?'
『Based on current progression rates and available hunting opportunities, probability exceeds 97%. Reaching level 3 is also within possibility at 9% probability.』
'And if I focus exclusively on hunting?'
『Level 3 probability increases to 26%.』
I suppressed a smile. This red gate, this disaster that had trapped eleven hunters against their will, might be the best thing that ever happened to me. The mana-rich environment, the constant supply of B-Rank monsters, the time dilation that gave me months instead of days—it was perfect.
As night fell, the strange pale moon rose, casting silvery light across our camp. I took my position for the first watch, twin blades at my side, eyes scanning the darkened landscape below.