Chapter 339: Special Gates
"Special Reward? Go on."
"Special gates have been appearing across the world," Dickenson explained. "They’re different from the spatial rifts we dealt with before, these lead to entirely different worlds, like small pocket worlds."
"Different worlds?"
"Yes, and countless factions are struggling to clear them. We, the biblical Faction also wanted to help clear these gates. However, the Biblical Faction took a massive hit after the demon incident in Italy, but luckily we’re not limited to just that region. Hence, we still have enough power. But it’s not enough, that’s why we are inviting you."
Caelus raised an eyebrow at this.
"So what do you need from me?"
"We need help clearing one of these gates," Dickenson said directly. "In exchange, you can keep whatever rewards you find inside. They include skills and such. I won’t go much into detail in the phone."
Caelus considered the offer for a moment.
"That’s not enough, I need money too."
Dickenson let out a heavy sigh on the other end.
"That’s difficult, Caelus. These gates are spawning randomly across the entire world, we don’t have the authority to offer monetary compensation nor will the faction agree."
"Then what can you offer?"
"Items, equipment, support resources," Dickenson listed quickly. "Things the Faction has stockpiled over the years."
Caelus hit the mute button and turned to Sylvia.
"What do you think?"
Sylvia’s crimson eyes sparkled with interest as she leaned closer.
"I’m down for this," she said without hesitation. "I’ve been wanting to improve my arsenal anyway, I’m severely lacking skills compared to you right now."
Caelus smiled at her words.
She was absolutely right, her skill pool was far smaller than his own.
He unmuted the call.
"Alright, we’re in."
"Excellent," Dickenson’s voice carried obvious relief. "I’ll make the arrangements immediately, meet me at the airport in two hours."
Caelus and Sylvia arrived at the designated meeting point to find Dickenson waiting with a serious expression.
"The special gate is right here in our country," Dickenson said as they approached. "In Las Vegas."
"Las Vegas?" Caelus repeated with sudden interest.
"All the major factions have already arrived to deal with it."
Then Dickenson’s expression shifted, becoming even more grave.
"There are things I couldn’t say over the phone."
"What is it?"
"This gate is supposedly tied to another world," Dickenson explained carefully. "There are trials inside, challenges set up by someone unknown. Passing them is necessary to clear the gate."
Caelus’s mind immediately flashed back to the Abyss.
The challenges set up by the Middle Expanse for the Lower Expanse people, was this something similar?
"The rewards must be significant then," Caelus said with growing interest. "Am I right?"
"Yes," Dickenson nodded firmly. "You can obtain skills, traits, and even Regional Lord Territory related items."
"Interesting." A grin spread across Caelus’s face. "Then we’re definitely going."
Ever since witnessing the overwhelming might of those two Emperor-Rank experts in Antarctica, the desire to reach that level had been burning in his chest.
Emperor-Rank was the first step of true evolution, and he was going to reach it as soon as possible.
Dickenson’s expression grew concerned.
"I should warn you, other factions will be there too. Including the ones you’ve... antagonized."
"Which ones?"
"The Shinto Faction, the Taoist Faction, and the Olympian Covenant," Dickenson listed grimly. "Are you ready to take that risk?"
Caelus just shrugged casually.
"Yes, I am."
Dickenson studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly.
"Good. You’re King Rank now, stronger than me, you can take care of yourself."
"I need to invite others too," Caelus added. "Give me a moment."
He pulled out his phone and contacted Freya first.
"Big Brother Origin!" Freya’s excited voice burst through the speaker. "What’s up?"
"We’re going to Las Vegas to clear a special gate, want to come?"
"Of course! I’ll bring Ayame and Seraphin Lin too!"
The call ended with Freya’s enthusiastic cheering still echoing.
The group gathered at the airport within the hour.
Freya bounced excitedly while Ayame stood with her usual expression, her nine white tails swaying gently behind her.
Seraphin Lin looked around with a deadpan look on her face.
Dickenson had already booked their tickets, and they boarded the plane without delay.
Hours later, they landed in Las Vegas.
The city lights stretched endlessly before them as they stepped out of the airport, neon signs flashing in every direction.
Caelus’s eyes gleamed with a excitement.
"When we’re in Las Vegas," he declared solemnly, "We can’t leave without gambling."
Sylvia’s expression immediately turned wary.
"Hubby, I don’t think that’s a good idea."
"It’s fine," Caelus waved her concern away. "I have excellent luck."
He checked his Origin Credit balance.
He had 1,707,875 Origin Credits total.
100 Origin Credits converted to roughly 1 USD.
He converted 1,000,000 Origin Credits into cash, leaving 707,875 in reserve.
"Ten thousand dollars should be enough for some fun," he muttered to himself.
Caelus and Sylvia changed into formal attire before heading to the casino.
He wore a black suit that made him look like a young CEO, while Sylvia donned an elegant red dress that perfectly complemented her silver hair.
The other girls had also dressed up for the occasion.
Freya wore a cute pink dress that made her look like a little princess, Ayame had changed into a beautiful white kimono, and Seraphin Lin wore a simple black dress with zero expression on her face.
"Big Brother Origin looks so handsome!" Freya exclaimed while bouncing around him.
Ayame’s cheeks flushed slightly pink as she looked at Caelus.
"You do look quite... handsome, Caelus" she admitted.
Sylvia’s eye twitched violently hearing this.
She casually stepped to the side while walking and "accidentally" bumped into Ayame, causing the fox girl to stumble.
"Oh my, I’m so sorry," Sylvia said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I didn’t see you there."
Ayame caught herself and bowed apologetically.
"No, it was my fault for standing too close."
Soon, they entered the casino.
The casino was massive, filled with flashing lights and the constant sound of slot machines.
Caelus walked toward the poker tables with absolute confidence radiating from his entire being.
He was going to win big today!
Three hours later.
Caelus walked out of the casino with a completely darkened expression, his face looking like he had aged ten years.
"What happened?" Freya asked innocently.
"..."
"Big Brother Origin?"
"I don’t want to talk about it."
Sylvia patted his back sympathetically.
"How much did you lose, hubby?"
"...All of it."
"ALL OF IT?!"
Seraphin Lin tilted her head slightly.
"Perhaps I should have intervened," she said. "I noticed his losing pattern after the seventh hand."
Caelus turned to her with disbelief.
"You noticed and didn’t say anything?!"
"You seemed confident," Seraphin Lin replied. "I assumed you had a plan."
"I DID have a plan! The plan was to WIN!"
Freya giggled at the scene.
"Big Bro Origin, you’re terrible at gambling!"
"I am NOT terrible," Caelus protested weakly. "I just had bad luck today."
After Caelus finished mourning his lost money, the group made their way toward the location of the special gate.
It was situated in the desert outskirts of Las Vegas, a restricted area surrounded by military vehicles and faction representatives.
Tents had been set up everywhere, and armed guards patrolled the perimeter constantly.
As they approached, Caelus spotted familiar emblems among the gathered forces.
The Kemetist Faction with their golden Egyptian symbols, the Taoist Faction with their celestial talismans, the Shinto Faction with their sacred seals.
And of course, the Olympian Faction with their Lightning Symbol.
"Looks like everyone showed up," Sylvia observed.
Ayame had hidden her fox features using an illusion item, appearing as a normal human woman with white hair.
No one recognized her as the Ayame who was once part of the Shinto faction.
Just then, a young man with blonde hair and arrogant eyes broke away from the Olympian Covenant group.
He marched directly toward Caelus with cold fury radiating from his entire being.
"So you’re the one who killed my cousin," he spat venomously.
Caelus looked at him with genuine confusion.
"Which one? I’ve killed a lot of people recently."
The Olympian’s face turned red with rage.
"Xander! You killed Xander, you bastard!"
"Oh, the cube guy!" Caelus nodded with understanding. "Yeah, I remember him, he was very compressible."
"You think this is funny?!" The young man’s veins bulged on his forehead.
"A little bit, yeah."
"You’ll pay for this when we enter the gate," the Olympian threatened with a cruel smile. "There are no rules inside, I’ll personally tear you apart!"
Caelus yawned dramatically.
"Sure, looking forward to it."
The Olympian snarled one final time before storming back to his faction.
Freya tugged on Caelus’s sleeve.
"Big Bro, are you worried?"
"About what?"
"About him trying to kill you inside."
Caelus patted her head gently.
"Freya, if I worried about everyone who wanted to kill me, I’d never sleep."
A familiar figure approached from the military encampment.
Adrian Pierce, the representative from the New York Player Operations Headquarters, walked toward them with a welcoming smile.
"We meet again, friend," Adrian said while extending his hand.
Caelus shook it firmly.
"It’s been a while."
"Indeed, you’ve become far too powerful for us to contact casually anymore."
Adrian’s expression turned slightly nostalgic.
"Do you remember that small mention of forming a team? It was for this exact purpose."
"The special gates?"
"Yes, initially we wanted your help dealing with the Hollow Beast," Adrian explained. "But that situation has already been resolved, thanks to you and Space King Sterling."
Caelus just smiled at the mention.
"The people from the higher world handled most of it."
"Regardless, you played a crucial role in summoning them." Adrian gestured toward the massive gate formation in the distance. "This gate appeared three days ago, we’ve been waiting for enough forces to gather before attempting entry."
Before Caelus could respond, a military officer shouted loudly across the area.
"THE GATE IS OPENING! ALL TEAMS PREPARE FOR ENTRY!"
The air crackled with energy as the gate began to manifest fully.
A swirling portal of blue and gold light expanded before them, its surface rippling like water disturbed by stones.
Faction members and military personnel began moving toward it in organized groups.
Caelus turned to his companions.
"Ready?"
Sylvia nodded with determination in her crimson eyes.
Freya bounced excitedly on her heels.
Ayame maintained her serious expression beneath her illusion.
Seraphin Lin simply stared forward with her usual blank face.
"Then let’s go."
They stepped through the portal together, reality warping around them as they crossed into another world.
The moment they emerged on the other side, a system notification appeared before everyone’s eyes.
[Welcome to the Trial of Infinite Ascension]
[This trial was created by beings of the Higher Realm to test the worthy]
[Complete all challenges to claim your rewards]
[Death within this trial is permanent]
[Good luck, challengers]