They all felt a chill run down their spines as they watched that glowing thing disappear from sight.
Not exactly disappear—more like it blinked.
Team Member [3] : Hey Captain... should we explore?
That man speaked with fear...
Team Member [1] : Listen up guys. We were hired to explore the portal. We already caught something interesting so we better must not lose it.
Team Member [6] : But captain...
Team Member [1] : We're moving in. Y'all got it?
The captain, unaware of the gravity of the situation, stepped forward.
His team members, still shaken by the disappearance of that glowing thing, stood frozen in fear.
It was more than just unease—it was a chilling hint that they were not alone.
Team Member [1] : Hey guys, look. It's that thing.
They again got their sights with that glowing thing.
Team Member [1] : Let's head towards it.
The captain moved closer to the glowing thing until he heard a noise—one no human could possibly make.
Or rather, it sounded like something a dog or a wolf might produce.
The eerie sound echoed just as the captain himself neared the glowing thing.
Team Member [1] : Did any of you brought a dog along with you?
The entire team members shakes their head giving a sign of negative.
Team Member [2] : Hey captain... that thing.
It ran.
The captain turned his head and looked back at the glowing thing, only to find it had vanished without a trace.
Team Member [1] : Where did it go?
Team Member [7] : Guys... why is it like a bunch of dogs are growling at us?
Footsteps echoed.
A wolf-like creature emerged—its jaw forged from metal, one eye burning red, the other glowing blue. Its claws, razor-sharp steel, gleamed under the dim light.
It wasn't alone. Another emerged, distinct from the first.
Then came three more, their forms cutting through the darkness.
They growled, eyes locked onto the team.
Team Member [1] : What... are these creatures?
The team tensed at the sight.
Equipped only for exploration, they had no real weapons—just the tools given for the portal expedition. Their hands instinctively reached for their pickaxes, the only defense they had.
Team Member [3] : Nooo...
I AM NOT HERE TO FIGHT AGAINST THESE THINGS!
I WANT TO GO HOME SAFELY.
He bolted.
But another wolf-like creature lunged, faster than his fear.
In an instant, its metal jaws clamped down—his life flashing before his eyes as its fangs tore through.
His head was gone.
The team froze, horror gripping them as their comrade was torn apart before their eyes.
Panic set in.
Team Member [2] : Captain... why did we accepted to come here?
Team Member [1] : I-I got no clue...
Team Member [4] : If we can't escape like that, theirs no other choice other than to battle them!
He yanked his pickaxe from his bag, gripping it tight. Battle was inevitable.
The creatures turned their gaze to him, their presence now a suffocating force, pressing down on the team.
The rest followed, drawing their pickaxes, their grips tightening as they braced for the fight.
Team Member [5] : I MUST RETURN AT WHATEVER IS THE COST!
"RAAAHHHH"
He targeted a lone creature, swinging his pickaxe with all his strength.
But as the metal jaws snapped shut, his weapon shattered like glass.
In an instant, the creature struck back.
Another teammate fell—torn apart before their eyes.
Team Member [1] : EVERYONE! RUN!
Some snapped to their captain's command and ran.
Others stood frozen, trapped in their own minds—accepting the death that awaited them.
Team Member [1] : What is this... why did I accept this role?
Noo... I don't want to die here.
I must run as fast as I can.
He glanced back—just in time to see another teammate fall, torn apart in an instant.
The creature was fast. Too fast.
Team Member [1] : No.... this can't be happening!
He was the last one standing.
Six teammates—some fought, only to be slaughtered. Others ran, including the captain himself, but none were fast enough.
Now, he alone remained.
He faced forward—his chance to escape.
As an athlete, he was faster than most.
The ladder was in sight, just within reach.
Team Member [1] : Ma-Maybe,... I can escape!
==============
As always, the city moved on, indifferent to the black portal's presence.
Most ignored it—it wasn't their concern.
But some waited, hoping for the investigation team's return.
Civilian [1] : They haven't returned yet.
Civilian [2] : I know, it's been 3 hours since they went inside.
Military Soldier [1] : It's none of your concern. I request you to not come near.
Civilian [1] : We're not getting near...
These military soldiers...
At that moment, the portal stirred.
Something was coming through.
Civilian [2] : Hey look. Their returning.
The nearby civilians noticed the movement, their eyes locked on the portal.
Expectations rose—it had to be the investigation team, returning from their mission.
Eren : Ohhh...
So their returning?
Reality shattered their expectations.
Instead of the investigation team, a severed head rolled out.
"AAAHHHHH!"
Screams filled the air as panic erupted.
Soldiers raised their weapons, aiming at the portal—ready for whatever horror lurked beyond.
Eren's eyes widened, his breath hitching.
He stood frozen, his mind struggling to process the horror—a severed head, lifeless, tossed from the abyss of the portal.
Eren : What the heck!?
At that moment, a red lightning crackled within the portal.
In an instant, its pull intensified, the magnetic force surging toward the crowd.
The portal expanded rapidly, its radius stretching to 30 meters.
Panic erupted. The crowd and soldiers bolted, shoving their way out of the portal's growing pull.
Eren, frozen in shock, snapped back to reality.
But in their desperate escape, the fleeing masses saw him as nothing more than an obstacle—pushing past him, unknowingly forcing him closer to the portal's grasp.
He was getting pulled towards the portal...