Expedition

The empress made a majestic entrance in a black crop top with a baggy brown jacket hanging from her shoulders, a baggy brown tactical pant and a white sneakers.

Thin silver chains could be seen wrapped around her slim waist, as she cat walked into the hall with a boy and a girl who were carrying luggages which were heavier than their weight.

She was looking like a goddess in human flesh. Most guys were already drooling over her sight... including the council members.

She was mostly in hooded cloaks so it was the first time they were seeing her in casual clothing.

The moment she approached the crowd, they quickly made a wide gangway in-between for her to pass through. She walked through the gangway with her servants chasing after her, and arrived on the other side of the crowd.

She then turned around to face the noisy crowd and cleared her throat.

*Silence*

"The clearing of a towers floor isn't for the weak, and if you aren't skilled enough... You would be killed and lose everything you have ever achieved in this world. Once you go in with us, there is no turning back... Once you go in with us, refusal to fight or sneaking away, would be known as rebellion, and would be punished by death on sight... But if you were to go in with us, clear the tower floor and return alive, then you shall be rewarded benevolently... Now, if you aren't strong willed to go on this expedition, kindly step out of the hall now... In five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...".

By the time she was done counting, sixty percent of the people previously present in hall, had ran out already. The hall's doors all slammed shut, and a whirlpool began forming behind the empress.

"Council members, step forward" the empress said.

I walked out from the now small crowd, and stood with the other council members who had stepped out from the crowd.

And without another word, the empress turned around and walked into the whirlpool, followed by her servants, then the council members one after the other.

I exchanged looks with Angela before she stepped in, then I stepped in after her. I felt my consciousness warp inside the colourful portal, before I stepped out on the other side.

We were in middle of a dim jungle, with occasional distant roars of unknown beasts. I saw the other council members surveying the perimeter vigilantly, then I saw the empress scribbling something into a small notebook.

Might be her diary.

More people kept appearing randomly around us, and were starting to form a party of three and four. I was about to venture into the woods to explore the perimeter, when the empress finally spoke, "we'll be dealing with goblins here, they go in a set of five or six, and if you are unlucky to get caught, you'll get raped and eaten alive... Form a group of four and sweep the perimeter of all threats.

Each group will get a flare, which is to be used only when the threat level is high. At the sight of a flare in the sky, all nearby groups are to rush over to assist... Each group should pick a flare and move out, we are to meet here in an hour... Leo, Angela, jack, you're with me".

"Isn't four power house a little bit too much for a team?" I asked.

"Do you have a better idea?" Lilith asked, while scribbling on her notebook again.

"How about I go alone... I'm as capable as a four man team" I said with a shrug.

"Don't you think I know that...?" She said and finally closed her notebook, "we'll be waiting here".

"Why should we?...I don't wanna do that" I said with a frown.

"Stop whining Leo, if we get to work together, I assure you that you'd love me" Lilith said with a smile, "Come keep me warm while we wait".

Not you're talking business.

I 'reluctantly' walked over to the log of wood on which she sat on, and sat by her side. She then laid down, using my laps as a head rest.

"Leo, if you had the chance to go back to earth... Would you take it" Lilith asked. I noticed jack and Angela glancing at me, as they were interested in what my answer would be.'

"Yes" I answered simply, while stroking her hair.

At that moment, a flare was shot up to the sky in a distance.

"Jack, you're up" Lilith said calmly.

Jack immediately stood up with leathery wings sprouting from his back, he then shot into the sky, and towards the flare.

After a few minutes of silence, another flare was shot up to the sky from another direction.

"Angela you're up" Lilith replied calmly again.

Angela stood up and glanced at me, then shot up to sky, and towards the flare.

"We have the field to ourselves now, what do we do to pass out time" Lilith asked with an alluring smile.

"Let's have fun... if you know what I mean" I replied with a naughty grin.

"I would've loved to, but... We're up" Lilith said with a smile, and sat up from me.

At that moment, flares began shooting up to the sky all around the jungle.

"You knew this was gonna happen?" I asked in surprise.

"If we get to work together Leo, you'd love me" Lilith said with a smirk, and waved at me to leave.

I decided to not think much about it and summoned all my equipments. Then I glanced at her one last time, then shot up to the sky, and towards a flare.

-

"I'm low on mana, I don't think we'd last any much longer!!" a busty lady screamed out in distress, while waving her two short sword at the horde of green short bulky creatures.

"We have to retreat now!!... I don't wanna get raped and eaten alive!!" a green haired girl said in anger, as she slashed her dagger at a goblins neck.

"We can't guy's... Retreating from a battle would be rebellion... I believe backup is on the way" a nerdy looking guy said with uncertainty.

"Could you guys be silent and focus on the battle!!" A bulky man said with a fierce tone, as he slashed his broad sword at the goblins.

*Howl*

A loud howl was heard from the sky, and the once raging battle instantly became still, as both the humans and the goblin horde looked up to see the new threat.