Desperate to find any trace of Rebecca, Terry scanned his surroundings, his keen eyes searching for any signs of life or movement. However, the eerie silence and desolation weighed heavily on him, leaving him with a sinking feeling that he was truly alone in this forsaken place.

"At least leave some traces behind that I can follow... I guess she is the emotional type and her family is on the line, so it can’t be helped," Terry thought.

Terry propelled himself into the air with all his might, soaring to an impressive height of five hundred meters. From this vantage point, he scanned the desolate cityscape below, hoping to spot any signs of life or clues about Rebecca’s whereabouts.

To his dismay, the city remained shrouded in eerie silence and emptiness. There was no movement, no sound of life, and no trace of his missing friend. The world seemed to hold its breath, and Terry noticed that the wind was strangely absent, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Despite the uncertainty of this world, Terry decided that since the enemy couldn’t close the portals, he could venture away from the portal’s immediate vicinity. He began to explore in different directions while keeping a vigilant eye on the portal, ensuring he could return to it at a moment’s notice.

"Sneaky bastards trying to make me waste my time," Terry thought while showing a vicious look.

As Terry gazed out over the desolate cityscape from his elevated position, a growing unease gnawed at him. There was something profoundly off about this place, and with each passing moment, that feeling intensified.

When he leaped into the air again to take another look, he realized what had been bothering him. It was as if he had been transported back to the moment when he had faced the Overlord within the dome. The oppressive darkness surrounding the ruined city seemed like a barrier, an impenetrable wall that separated it from whatever lay beyond.

Terry’s curiosity got the best of him, and after careful consideration, he decided to approach this ominous darkness. As he reached out to touch it, a sensation of dread coursed through him. His energy was being inexplicably drained, sapping his strength and vitality. It was a disconcerting discovery, leaving him with more questions than answers.

"You guys will regret showing me this," Terry thought.

Terry leaped backward, putting some distance between himself and the ominous, energy-draining darkness. He tightened his grip on his sword, determination etched on his face. With a swift and powerful motion, he brought his blade down, channeling his energy into a Sonic Slash.

The blade struck the dark wall with a resounding clash, creating a dazzling burst of sparks that illuminated the area. The impact reverberated like thunder, causing Terry’s ears to ring. He could hear the eerie sound of glass cracking, and his heart quickened as he watched a hairline fracture appear on the surface of the dark barrier.

The fracture slowly expanded, inch by inch, as Terry’s relentless assault continued. With each strike, the darkness gave way, revealing what lay beyond. Terry’s determination and the power of his Sonic Slash were gradually tearing down the imposing wall that had concealed this mysterious realm.

As Terry breached the dark wall with his Sonic Slash, a blinding, radiant light on the other side greeted him. It was a dazzling, constant glow that seemed to be a product of some powerful enchantment. Terry’s eyes squinted against the intensity of the light as he took in the strange sight before him.

His frustration mounting, Terry wasted no time. Without a second thought, he leaped through the barrier, emerging on the other side. However, as he did, the brilliant light quickly faded, and he found himself standing in the midst of what appeared to be a city he recognized from Earth. The buildings and structures were eerily familiar, yet it made no sense. What was even more perplexing was the complete absence of the dark dome he had just crossed. It was as if it had never existed.

Terry stood there, bewildered and uncertain of his surroundings, wondering what kind of place he had found himself in this time.

"What the fuck is going on..." Terry said while looking around.

"Thank you for coming, Terry," Louis’ voice echoed in the area.

"Son of a bitch... why am I not surprised?" Terry asked.

As Terry heard Louis’ voice, he couldn’t help but sigh in frustration. He had harbored suspicions about Louis from the very beginning, sensing that something was off about the man. However, he had never imagined that Louis would turn out to be working for the enemy. It was a bitter revelation, and it only added to the mounting challenges he faced in this strange and treacherous situation.

"My apologies if I made you feel a certain way, but you need to believe that I made everything with the best of the intentions in mind," Louis said.

"Whatever, show yourself and let me kill you already" Terry said.

"Why would you do that? I am your ally," Louis said still while not showing himself. "Once all this ends, soon you will realize that."

"I am not interested in waiting, show yourself, let me fix your ugly face with a punch," Terry said.

"Oh well, I suppose it can’t be helped... you were always too sharp, but perhaps you are thinking that I caused the death of the guild masters?" Louis asked.

"There is no point in denying it," Terry said while looking around and trying to find the origin of Louis’ voice.

"I could have prevented that, but I wasn’t the cause of it," Louis said. "You see, it was bound to happen."

"Bound to happen?" Terry furrowed his eyebrows.

"Sorry, but I can’t explain it," Louis said. "Just try to endure this, all right?"

Terry felt a mind-blowing surge of anger that seemed to surge through every fiber of his being. It was as if a raging tempest had ignited within his chest, threatening to consume him from the inside out. His heart pounded furiously, and his blood seemed to boil with an intensity he had never experienced before. The sheer, overwhelming fury coursed through his veins, making his vision blur and his muscles tense to the breaking point.

In that moment, he felt like he could have a heart attack purely from the sheer intensity of his anger. It was a sensation that threatened to engulf him entirely, and he struggled to maintain control over the storm of emotions that raged within him.

As Terry’s anger began to subside, he found himself pondering the cryptic words that Louis had uttered. "The guild master’s death was bound to happen..." Those words echoed in his mind, and Terry couldn’t help but wonder if Louis possessed some form of foresight. It was the only explanation that made sense to him.

If Louis had the ability to see into the future, it would certainly account for his enigmatic behavior and the strange, calculated decisions he had made. It would also explain why he seemed to be working against the interests of the guilds, as he might have been trying to manipulate events to align with his visions of the future. Terry realized that this newfound perspective added a layer of complexity to their already tumultuous situation, and he couldn’t help but feel a mix of frustration and intrigue as he considered the implications of Louis’s ability.

Before Terry could delve further into his contemplation, he sensed a drastic change in the atmosphere. The very air around him seemed to shift, and he could feel an impending disturbance. Within moments, his attention was drawn to a colossal figure descending from the sky, landing several kilometers away from his current position. Despite the distance, Terry’s heightened perception, aided by the range of his weapon, allowed him to witness the dramatic event unfolding before him.

As Terry peered towards the location of the dramatic entrance, he laid eyes on an astonishing sight. Before him stood a gargantuan creature, unlike anything he had encountered before. This colossal being boasted six powerful arms, each rippling with bulging muscles. Its hair, a deep shade of dark red, contrasted vividly against its striking purple skin. The sheer scale of this creature sent shivers down Terry’s spine, as he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the being now before him.

"An overlord?" Terry thought.

The massive overlord, its confusion only temporary, cast its immense gaze across the desolate surroundings for a fleeting moment. Then, as if guided by some unseen force, it locked onto Terry’s presence. With a thunderous roar, the overlord embarked on a relentless charge toward him, its colossal form shaking the very ground beneath its feet.

The earth quaked as the colossal overlord closed the distance at a breakneck pace, each monstrous step shattering the ground beneath it. In the span of just a few heartbeats, it had crossed an astonishing three kilometers, a testament to the sheer might and speed of the colossal creature. Terry watched in awe and trepidation as the overlord drew nearer, its thunderous approach shaking the very foundations of the world around them.