The flux zone gate hung in the air like a wound in space.

It hung vertically with an eerie glow across its cloud-like surface as blue light bled from the edges.

Dean felt the pressure emanating from it. It was quite oppressive as if all the oxygen around was being sucked into the flux zone.

Leona stood in front of it. Her hand stretcehd out and hovering near the surface but she didn’t touch it yet.

"A blue zone," she muttered. "Mid-grade. Maybe higher."

Dean stepped beside her. "What does that mean?"

"It means–" Leona paused and locked eyes with him, "--whatever’s inside is strong enough to kill you and even an ascended ranked summoner."

Dean was silent for a moment as he looked down. Like he was weighing his options.

Quietly he raised his head with a smile on his face. "It’s a good thing I’m with you."

Leona looked at him. "You’re not coming in."

"Yes, I am," Dean protested immediately.

"Dean–"

"I’m taking Flux Zone Exploration," Dean interrupted. "This is a chance to learn firsthand."

"That is just a stupid excuse, this is actually dangerous."

"So is everything else." Dean met her eyes. "Or are you going to throw me down from up here?"

He gestured down as if he was daring her.

Leona stared at him. Her gaze was hard and actually terrifying but Dean did his best to hold his ground.

After a few seconds, she sighed. "You’re stubborn like your mother."

"I’ve been told."

"Fine." Leona turned her back to the gate as she took a few steps to the edge of the carriage.

"You follow my lead. You don’t run off. And you definitely don’t do anything stupid."

She raised her hand that were now growing into dragon like claws. "Understood?"

"Define stupid," Dean placed his hand under his chin like he was thinking.

Leona shot him a dangerous look.

Dean raised his hands quickly. "Kidding. I’ll follow your lead."

Leona nodded once, and ran forward, jumping into the tear.

Dean copied her actions and jumped in as well.

<><><>

The world shifted as they went through the tear.

One second it was cobblestone road, the slow morning lights and a city that was just waking up.

The next. It was darkness. A thick ensnaring darkness that affected all five senses at once.

Dean’s eyes adjusted slowly.

Ding!

[Hermit Eyes - Activated]

The cross like pattern appeared in both his sockets as he got a new level of clarity.

They were in a cavern.

The walls were obviously made of stone with jagged edges and tiny holes.

The ceiling was low as if it hoped to suffocate them and his 360° vision allowed him discern some places were even lower than the spot they were in.

"Shit," Leona cursed. "A cavern. Of course."

"Problem?" Dean asked.

"I can’t use Rhaeys in here." Leona gestured at the ceiling.

"Ohh that’s true, it’s too small for a dragon to fit in." Dean said as Leona nodded in agreement.

Almost like this disadvantage was a challenge. Dean summoned his familiars immediately.

The Wind Sprite appeared first. It’s form translucent as it hovered blindly in the darkness.

He looked at his other shoulder but nothing followed.

Dean frowned. Closed his eyes and tried again but Ash didn’t appear.

Ding!

[Evolution in Progress]

[Familiar: Ash - Unavailable]

[Time Remaining: 24 Hours]

Dean’s jaw clenched. "Shit."

"What?" Leona asked.

"Ash is... unavailable."

Leona raised an eyebrow. "Your rainbow slime?"

"Yeah." Dean said gritting his teeth hard.

"You called it Ash?" Leona raised a brow.

"Yeah..that’s its name."

"You already know your summon’s true name?" Leona asked in surprise.

’Ummm..Yeah."

Leona blinked and stared at him. She might have underestimated him too much.

"That’s impressive."

"Yeah...long story," Dean answered flatly.

Leona shook her head. "Fine. Just don’t get yourself killed."

She raised her hand and the air sparked as a massive fireball formed in her palm.

The bright orange flames lit the cavern immediately and all the darkness slithered away.

Dean activated his channeling. As the rebound core Armor flowed onto his body. The plates covering most of his body as the orange veins pulsed underneath.

Leona’s eyes flicked to the armor. "Interesting design."

"It works."

Leona began hovering. Just a few inches off the ground. Her gown clung to her shape perfectly. Ass distracting as ever.

"Stay close," Leona said. "Blue gates unlike weaker ones have environmental effects. Possibly time dilation, space loops. Maybe even illusions."

"What’s in this one?"

"We are about to find out."

They moved forward.

The cavern stretched ahead but the darkness disappeared as they got closer but the further they moved, the tighter the walls.

Dean’s Hermit’s Eyes scanned everything. He didn’t miss any movement or any hiding shadows.

After a few more steps, something skittered across the ceiling. Whatever it was. It was fast and definitely small.

Dean stopped in his tracks. "We’re not alone."

"We never were," Leona said as the fireball floated forward.

From nowhere in particular, a high-pitched screech echoed through the cavern.

The screech continued, from one to two till it became a crescendo.

And from the walls, the ceiling, the floors. Hundreds of red eyes appeared in the darkness.

"Shadow Rats," Leona clicked her tongue even before Dean’s system notified him.

The rats poured out. Wave after wave with teeths and claws bared for battle.

Dean’s clenched his fists as he took a defensive position.

Leona smiled. "Welcome to Flux Zone Exploration, Lesson 1: Don’t let anything in here bite you."

She barely finished speaking when the rats attacked.

***

Immediately he had Leona, Dean changed his mind and dashed forward first.

The Rebound core armor flared as he caught the first rat mid-lunge and crushed it in his fist.

The body disintegrated into black mist then a small blue orb fell from his grasp.

Two more came from the side. Dean ducked, spun and with a reflexive backhand, he sent them hard into the wall as they splattered.

The Wind Sprite on his shoulder shot forward. Releasing a gust of wind that slammed into a cluster of rats. Sending them flying into a near-by wall.

But the shadow rats were too many. They kept coming.

Leona hissed as she raised her fireball higher and toss it like a grenade.

The fire collided into the rats and the explosion followed immediately. Fire erupted across the cavern.

As hundreds of Rats screamed and squirmed as they burned to Ash.

The heat from the explosion washed over Dean but he didn’t flinch.

He kept his focus even as more rats came. From deeper in the cavern.

These ones were bigger and faster but they stood no chance.Dean punched one and his fist went clean through its skull.

This wasn’t just from the Armor anymore. Dean could feel every of his movement sharper and with Hermit’s eyes.

There was no catching him by surprise.

Another rat lunged at his throat. Dean caught it mid-air. Slammed it into the ground. Stomped.

Leona hovered above the chaos. Her hand glowed menacingly then another fireball formed.

"Duck!" she yelled.

Dean dropped low as the fireball screamed past him. Detonated against the far wall.

The cavern shook violently this time as dust fell even as the rocks cracked.

All the rats retreated instantly as small blue glitters could be seen on the floors as the flames cleared.

Dean stood. His breathing had spiked slightly but he wasn’t too winded.

Leona landed beside him. Not even winded in the slightest.

"That was the easy part," she said.

Dean looked at her. "You’re joking."

"I would never..." She smiled.

A growl echoed from deeper in the cavern. Even as Dean’s chest tightened.

Leona’s expression hardened with recognition. "Night Stalker."

"What’s that?"

"Mid-grade Ascended creature." Leona’s hand ignited again. Fire dancing across her palm. "It’s fast and ruthless and hunts in darkness."

"Great."

The growl came again. Drawing closer by each passing second.

Dean focused Hermit’s eyes and caught the movements as shadows shifted and circled.

Then from within, it appeared.

A massive four-legged creature with fur black as night and eyes that burned red.

The Night Stalker stepped into Leona’s firelight. And grinned.