Chapter 278: Towards Portal Exit

"I think we should take a break now." said Angus.

"Haa… Ha… Yeah." said Jayna while trying to catch her breath and slump on the ground, exhausted.

"Hmm… I still don't understand. How did he manage to dodge all of our attacks easily?" chimed Mia from the side.

"Yeah, he even managed to dodge my invisible wind attack." said Axel.

"Forget about it. He even dodged Marko's attack and my attack. Although Marko only uses his physical strength, he is still a full-fledged fourth-grade Neal Lion." said Ian while looking at Marko, who is running from Anna nearby.

"Big Kitty!!" yelled Anna while pursuing Marko.

Ignoring the little troublemaker, "Say, Angus. Are you sure you are not using some kind of skill or something." said Axel.

"*Sigh* Didn't I already tell you many times? I only read your fighting pattern and predict your next movement." said Angus.

"Okay. But, how did you read our pattern easily? I don't think reading fighting patterns is easy. Otherwise, everyone could dodge each other's attack." said Mia.

"Of course, it is not easy. You need to know and understand your opponent's breath, habit, muscle orientation, stance, and many more." explained Angus

"That's why it is absurd. How could you do it when it is our first time fighting together." said Axel.

"Err… Well, I just have a good battle sense." said Angus.

"Urggh.. Like hell, we will believe that. Lady Jayna, what do you think about this?" said Mia.

"Ehh.. Me?! Well, since I also train in reading fighting patterns, I know how difficult it is. Even with the help of the Ancient Power [Analyze], I could only see a few glimpses of my opponent's fighting pattern. 

"I also have a good battle sense. So, yeah, I think you're still hiding something you are not telling us." said Jayna.

"Hmm… It means your battle sense is still not good enough." said Angus and messed up Jayna's hair.

"Angus!! Stop it!!" yelled Jayna trying to hit Angus but only hit the air.

Looking at the interaction of Angus with Jayna, both of them could only give a long sigh. After Jade joins the temporary alliance to deal with the portal guardian, Angus and the others have more free time. 

In the end, they decide to spar with each other to check everyone's improvement during their stay in the dimension. During the spar, none of them could touch Angus even though they almost gave their all.

"*Sigh* What do you think of this, Millie?" asked Mia towards Millie nearby.

"Emmm… I think Angus may hide something. But, we should not pry it too much since everyone has their own secret." replied Millie.

"Hmmm… Millie, is something wrong? You seem to be down lately." asked Mia.

"N-Nothing. Everything is fine." said Millie while glancing at Angus.

"Hmm… Say, Millie. You don't happen to like Angus, right?" said Mia.

"Like Angus?!! No way.. Why should I like him?!!" replied Millie hurriedly.

"Don't worry. It's okay. I will cheer you on." said Mia teasingly.

"M-Mia!!" yelled Millie.

Looking that everyone could still joke around and smile, Angus couldn't help but feel happy inside.

"Haa.. It would be great if we could keep this situation forever." said Angus.

"That's why we should go back. Besides, we already found what we are looking for." said Jayna beside Angus.

"Yeah, you are right. We should go back. But I still never thought Axel would be the one that finds it. He is surely the luckiest guy in our group." said Angus.

After getting reunited together, Axel presents everyone with the Fire Dragon Tongue herb. Apparently, inside the spirit world, there are a lot of rare ingredients such as this herb. 

With the queen's permission, Axel managed to take some of the rare ingredients, such as Fire Dragon Tongue herb and a few others. Apparently, the herb itself needs to be nurtured by the spirit. 

The herb may be extinct in the real world, but inside the spirit world, they have a lot of Fire Dragon Tongue Herb. Now, their only problem is to return to the Firuman. 

After that, everyone decided to rest in their own tent. The battle with the Portal guardian will take place in a week. Currently, everyone is already done preparing to march towards the portal exit.

The Alkin is already modified with heat and other element resistance. With the help of Vigo's enchantment, they didn't need to waste a lot of material. On the other hand, the Alkin will consume more energy than before, making the current Vigo's energy core useless.

Fortunately, this is their end of the journey, so everyone didn't truly care about a little more energy consumption. 

Usually, the portal exit will transport everyone to a random portal in Firuman except people already going through the entrance from the Firuman side. Basically, they will be transported to the same portal in Firuman that they took last time.

Therefore, Sur group and Jade need an anchor not to get teleported randomly at Firuman. This anchor could be anything like part of the body or mana signature. Angus and the others decide to trap their mana signature inside the item before giving it to everyone.

This way, everyone is guaranteed to arrive at the Heart Kingdom portal entrance as long as they enter the exit portal.

A week passed by uneventfully, now it was time for the temporary alliance to move towards the exit. Currently, every group near the portal exit decides to join the temporary alliance to deal with the portal guardian.

Unfortunately, there are no more seventh-grade combatants that join them. Otherwise, they will be more certain about this first try. The six seventh-grade combatants, including Jade and Hayden, are approaching the portal while everyone is following them behind.

Each of the seventh-grade combatants brings a ball of crystal. This ball of crystal will be the tool to help them seal the portal guardian. In the meantime, Angus and everyone already ride the Alkin, following everyone.

Sensing many people approaching them, the crimson ball of the fire portal guardian releases a massive firestorm towards the surrounding area. *WHOOSH* 

Everyone immediately raises their own shield, barrier, and enchanted gear to resist the firestorm while slowly approaching the portal.

As everyone begins to approach the portal slowly, the portal guardian falls on the ground like before. *BAM*

"Everyone Now!!" shouted Asan, one of the participating seventh-grade combatants.

All the seventh-grade combatants immediately surround the portal guardian from every side. Just as the portal guardian morphs into a dragon, the seventh-grade combatant imbues the crystal ball and creates a hexagonal barrier.

At the same time, everyone immediately charges towards the portal exit as fast as they can. All the Alkin also used their maximum speed to reach the exit.

During this moment, a thunderous banging sound was heard from the barrier. *BANG* *Crack* as the hexagonal barrier is cracking.

"I-Impossible!!" said Lady Lester as she saw the cracking.

Before everyone could respond, more thunderous banging sound heard *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* The hexagonal barrier immediately destroyed and revealed a gigantic white gorilla with sharp claws. *ROOARR*

"That's Ancient Behemoth!!"

Suddenly, the portal guardian morphing and turns into a giant spider with a massive sack on its back. The sack releases sort of fumes towards the surrounding area.

"Poison!!"

"Raise the full barrier and keep going!!" said all the elders inside the Alkin.

During this time, the seventh-grade combatant didn't stay idle either. Seeing their first plan fail, they immediately decide to have a direct confrontation with the Portal Guardian.

"Eat this!! [Meteorite Smash]" yelled Jade while grabbing his [Crimson Orb]

"HAAA!! [Decapitating Slash]" yelled Asan.

"[Frozen Strike]" yelled Hayden

[Dark Maw]

*BOOMM* All the attacks hit the portal guardian and stop it, releasing poisonous gas in the air. Before it could recover, the lady Lester and elder Horpa had already cast their spell [6th Circle - Starfall] [6th Circle - Thunder Cannon].

The two strong spells hit the portal guardian, yet it didn't even bleed at all. It even morphs into other creatures. Currently, its appearance is monstrous and bizarre. 

There is a three dragon head on its back, while the front appearance is an Ancient Behemoth with sharp claws.

Suddenly, it releases a strong energy blast towards the surrounding area. Seeing the approaching strong energy blast, everyone immediately braced themselves.

"Stop the advance!! Full power defensive mode!!" shouted Angus.

All the Alkin immediately stop their advance and release many layers of energy barrier surrounding them. *BAM* Before anyone could relieve, another energy blast came towards them. *BAM*

Then, the portal guardian releases another energy blast for the third time. *BAAMM* Almost the entire force of the temporary alliance died under these three energy blasts. 

The only remaining one left unscathed is the Sur village group because of the multiple barriers they apply. However, it also consumed all Alkin energy. Looking at this, everyone immediately decides to abandon the assault and retreat.

Just as Angus wants to retreat with everyone, he notices the portal guardian seems to be staying on its spot.

'Why is it only staying still?? Don't tell me it couldn't move after releasing that energy blast?!!' thought Angus.

"Uncle, let's try plan C." said Angus through the communication.