Terry and Joan worked together to make it move since it was almost sealed tight and eventually opened it... it weighed tons and ended up revealing an underground passage that was pretty dusty and humid.

Vanessa summoned a Fireball to illuminate the path ahead, and thanks to it, they didn’t trip on anything, even though things inside were pretty broken and destroyed as well. Years of abandonment and numerous tremors made the place suffer a lot of damage.

As the group ventured deeper into the underground base, they found themselves surrounded by a haunting stillness. The air was thick with dust, and cobwebs stretched across the corridors like veils of forgotten memories. The once bustling halls were now filled with an eerie silence that echoed through the abandoned rooms.

Entering each room, they were greeted by a sight frozen in time. Dust-covered furniture, decayed equipment, and faded documents served as relics of a bygone era. The rooms were filled with shelves lined with forgotten books, their pages yellowed with age. Papers and files lay scattered, their contents lost to time.

The dim lighting filtered through the small, grimy windows, casting long shadows across the rooms. The flickering beams illuminated the layers of dust that coated every surface, giving the space a ghostly ambiance. The sound of footsteps reverberated through the empty halls, stirring up clouds of particles that danced in the air.

In some rooms, they discovered abandoned laboratories with shattered glassware and discarded scientific equipment. Once vibrant workspaces had now succumbed to the passage of time, leaving behind a desolate and neglected environment. Broken monitors and disheveled workbenches testified to the abrupt end of scientific pursuits.

Other rooms revealed remnants of sleeping quarters, their beds unmade and covered in layers of dust. Personal belongings were strewn about, their owners long gone, leaving only fragments of their lives behind. The walls echoed with whispers of the past as if the abandoned rooms held the secrets and stories of those who had once called this place home.

Most things that could be taken and were useful had been taken by people that left the place. Still, they eventually found the communications room. Few things there could be taken outside... Vanessa looked for some levers to turn in the power of the room, and she eventually found them. Unfortunately, most of the monitors were long gone. Still, some radio frequencies were still active, and decided to open communications with other areas.

Terry wanted to keep guard outside, but he knew that he couldn’t let those guys talk with each other unchecked.

After many attempts, they opened a communication channel with another base. It seemed that someone was there, but they had no idea where it was or who was there... they could only hear static. Still, Vanessa decided to send a message to the other side.

"Attention, I am Vanessa, guild master of the Chaotic Storm Guild; if you know Louis, that works for the hunters association, please contact him and say that Vanessa and the others are ready to attack the enemy’s base," Vanessa said. "We request air support to return in a few days. The air in the area is safe, but the mana in the environment is messing with communications. Over."

Terry felt like shrugging. He knew that it was hard to believe that anyone would help them in that situation... they would have to walk on foot to New York... that was one of the reasons he wanted an airplane.

In any case, the group waited for a response, but they didn’t get it even after several hours. So, they decided to check the rest of the base, but they only had access to a small area. The central area of the base was sealed tight, might by a massive iron door. He probably could destroy it, but Terry didn’t want to mess with it since the area around it was filled with cracks.

"We should get going. We need to study the area around the portal and then attack as soon as possible," Terry declared.

Everyone nodded. As the sun began its descent, casting a warm golden glow across the horizon, the group emerged from the abandoned military base. The long shadows stretched behind them, accompanying their determined steps as they prepared to embark on the next leg of their journey.

They set off, dashing towards their destination. Their footsteps echoed against the ground, their hearts beating in sync with the rhythm of their swift movements. The wind rushed past their faces, carrying with it a hint of anticipation and the promise of what lay ahead.

The area ahead was completely free of monsters, but for a good reason... thousands of fire drakes were flying in the dark sky ahead.

As the group approached the portal, their eyes widened in awe and disbelief. Before them, thousands of fire drakes filled the sky, flying in mesmerizing circles around the swirling vortex of the portal. The air was thick with their presence, their majestic forms casting long shadows on the ground below.

A hush fell over the group as they took in the spectacle before them. The sheer number of fire drakes was overwhelming, their wings beating in unison, creating a symphony of power and menace. The fiery glow of their scales illuminated the darkened sky, casting an eerie light that danced across the faces of those who witnessed the scene.

At that moment, a mixture of fear, astonishment, and a deep sense of unease filled the air. The sheer size and ferocity of the fire drakes stirred a primal instinct within each member of the group. They could feel the raw power emanating from the creatures, a reminder of the formidable challenge that awaited them. That kind of challenge seemed too big for only seven people. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"This will be hard... very hard," Vanessa muttered. "I thought that we could pull it off if we worked together, but it seems that I was naive."

"For a change," Terry said while shrugging. "Anyway, we need to watch things here for a while before deciding anything."