The need for resources – both from the monsters that emerged through the portals and from the diverse worlds they connected to – was a driving force. The benefits that these resources offered to the survival, advancement, and well-being of their own world couldn’t be dismissed. It was a calculated risk, a trade-off that they had collectively embraced.

"What do you think happened?" Vanessa asked. "No monsters have showed up since the last group crossed the portal."

"We shouldn’t think too much about it for now... still, it is obvious that someone wants us to check the other side," Terry said. "We should wait for a while. If nothing happens until morning, I will investigate the other side."

"You alone?" Vanessa asked. "This is my portal, I can’t just let you solve everything."

"While I said that, we shouldn’t take too many risks," Terry said. "If the enemy is trying to lure me, it will be better if you two stay behind in case the other portal begins to act up."

One of the most fundamental strategies in warfare is called "Divide and conquer". This approach involves focusing all forces on a single point or objective, with the expectation that the enemy will be forced to attack from other areas. By doing this, people can potentially weaken the enemy’s overall position and gain an advantage.

However, it is important to be aware of the potential consequences of this strategy. If they put all our resources into defending a single point, such as a city, the enemy may seek to attack other areas and potentially cause significant damage to our resources or infrastructure. This could be a major setback for our forces, and so it is important to carefully consider the risks and benefits of this approach before implementing it.

"I don’t like this... but I suppose that is our best option," Rebecca said.

"I am going to take a nap over there, don’t do anything reckless," Terry said.

Terry moved to a tree and let his back rest against it. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep since he was tired. Another downside of having a power suit was the fact that one you take it out, you feel like your body hair got heavier when you just returned to normal.

In the end, Terry wasn’t able to relax that much since the atmosphere was weird. Still, at least he rested a bit. However, when the sun was rising, Terry confirmed that things didn’t change at all... the missing hunters still were nowhere to be found.

"You guys waited for me, you shouldn’t have had it..." Rebecca said when she arrived in the area.

"It is best if I solve this issue as soon as possible," Terry declared. "Vanessa will watch things here, return to the guild and grab the necromancer staff. You will obtain control of all skeletons and you can use them as you see fit if something happens while I am away."

Rebecca and Vanessa looking at each other. Terry was talking as if he knew that something was bound to happen. It would be really convenient if nothing happened since Terry would have enough time to make the replicas of the unknown weapon and make him stronger... Perhaps that was why things were happening like that.

In any case, without wasting time, Terry crossed the portal. In the next moment, Terry with his weapon in hands, he found himself in the middle of a grassland... even though Vanessa told him that the dungeon was supposed to take him to a desert.

"What is the meaning of this?" Terry wondered.

Terry scanned his surroundings, looking for any signs of monsters lurking in the distance. Despite his initial apprehension, he was relieved to find that there was no immediate danger. Although he could have taken to the skies and surveyed the area from above, Terry opted to conserve his mana and explore on foot. After a thorough search, he was able to confirm that there were no monsters or people around.

"... it might be risky to leave the portal, I have to keep my eyes close to it at all times," Terry thought.

Terry closed his eyes and concentrated, channeling his magical energy to propel himself upwards. As he spun around, he surveyed the area in all directions, looking for any signs of danger. At first, he didn’t spot anything, but soon he noticed something in the north. It was a large camp in the distance, filled with humanoid creatures that had yellow skin and looked like lizards. Unlike brainless monsters, they were armed with spears, swords, and bows, making them a formidable threat. Terry quickly took note of their location before descending back to the ground. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Their camp is being pointed in the opposite direction... what is the meaning of this?" Terry furrowed his eyebrows.

Terry wondered if the enemies didn’t know of the existence of that portal... or maybe it was a trap. However, Terry checked all the other directions in dozens of kilometers, but he found nothing.

Another thing that Terry realized was that the lizards weren’t the monsters that he was supposed to face there... they were giant salamanders instead... the whole situation was weird.

"I can report this back, but that won’t change a thing, I need to check things further," Terry thought.

Aside from that, Terry also had to decide what he should do... the enemies had at least five thousand monsters on their side and while that would be amazing to level up his weapon, it wasn’t feasible with his current strength...

After thinking for a while, Terry realized that his main goal was to find the hunters that disappeared, so he had to act with that in mind. He couldn’t attack the enemies until he confirms what happened to them since it would compromise their safety.

Without the cloak of invisibility, that would be hard to do, but Terry decided to try that anyway. Nothing says that he will have the chance to use such tools forever, so he had to get used to that kind of situation.

"Let’s see... I should find what they are preparing to do and what lies in the direction they are facing," Terry thought.

Terry was being careful not to be seen, so he took a longer route to check both sides of the enemies’ camp. He wanted to make sure he had a good view without getting caught. He kept a close watch on the enemies, but nothing seemed strange or out of place.

Terry figured that the yellow lizardmen, despite being tough opponents, might not be very skilled at setting up ambushes. They seemed occupied with their own stuff, not paying attention to their surroundings.

After confirming that both sides of the camp were relatively safe, Terry continued to move ahead. He started noticing that the temperature was getting warmer as he went on. Before long, he saw a bunch of volcanoes in the distance. It was a surprising change from the cold he had been dealing with previous day. The sight of the volcanoes was a clear sign that he was entering a different kind of area, one with its own challenges and dangers.

"I suppose the giant salamanders are there... but why are those guys readying themselves to face them like they are about to face a proper army?" Terry furrowed his eyebrows.

As Terry’s thoughts were occupied with the implications of the volcanic landscape, a sudden tremor beneath his feet shattered his contemplation. An uneasy feeling gnawed at him as he sensed that something was amiss. The ground quivered, sending ripples of apprehension through his senses.

Instinct took over as Terry swiftly turned and sprinted in the direction of the portal he had used to enter this area. However, his haste was met with a startling revelation – there were now five additional portals that had materialized in the vicinity. It was a disorienting sight, one that left him momentarily stunned.

Before he could fully process this unexpected turn of events, a horde of monsters began emerging from the newly opened portals. Terry’s heart raced as he took in the diverse array of creatures that spilled forth, each one distinct and formidable in its own right.

Among the menacing assembly, trolls lumbered forward with their hulking frames and grotesque features, exuding an aura of brute strength. Drakes, winged reptilian beasts with scales that shimmered in the fiery light, took to the skies with an unsettling grace. Birds crackled with electricity as they swooped and circled, their presence sparking danger in the air.

Armored giant bulls, their bodies clad in resilient plates, charged forward with an unyielding determination. Magma golems, beings of molten rock and blazing intensity, strode confidently, their fiery essence illuminating the surroundings.

Terry’s surprise was palpable, his face a reflection of the astonishment and gravity of the situation. The diversity of the monsters and the sheer magnitude of their numbers left him momentarily overwhelmed. The realization dawned upon him that the tremors had heralded the arrival of this formidable horde, a challenge that eclipsed anything he had encountered thus far.