Jinn BLADE-Chapter 155 | Homecoming

*click! *clack!

"Portal successfully initialized!" shouted one of the engineers, his voice barely cutting through the roar of machinery and humming energy that surrounded the massive structure.

Sparks of light ran along the edges of the portal frame as several assistants scrambled across the platform, their eyes fixed on glowing consoles and rapidly shifting readings.

Standing a few meters from the activation site were several figures—Jinn, Rina, and a handful of uniformed officers.

The light of the portal painted their faces in blue and gold hues as it continued to stabilize, releasing waves of energy that rippled through the air.

"What of the General?" Jinn asked, his tone calm but firm, arms crossed as he turned his head toward Rina.

His single sharp eye reflected the flickering light of the machine.

Rina exhaled and rubbed her temple before replying,

"Uhh... Father said that he’ll be departing these lands along with his army... tomorrow."

Her tone carried a faint mix of irritation and resignation as she let out another sigh.

"He really can’t take a break from all this logistics stuff..."

"Mhm," Jinn replied, his expression unreadable.

He didn’t comment further, instead turning his gaze forward again as the sound of the portal intensified.

*whirr...

The air began to distort around it, waves of raw energy bending the light in front of them.

"Portal is now ready!" the engineer shouted from atop the platform, his hand raised as the entire frame of the device pulsed with power.

"You may enter whenever you wish!"

The portal’s core expanded, forming a swirling pool of blue energy that rippled like liquid glass.

Without wasting another moment, the officers moved first, their boots clanging against the metal platform as they marched toward the blinding light of the portal.

The sound of energy whirring and crackling filled the air, swallowing every other noise around them.

Jinn and Rina followed closely behind, the portal’s unstable glow reflecting across their armor and faces as they approached.

As soon as Rina stepped in, the light reached for her, wrapping her body in shimmering tendrils before pulling her in completely.

Her figure dissolved into a stream of pure eidra that swirled upward, vanishing into the blue vortex.

"Welcome home...!" she called out with a cheerful tone that echoed faintly, fading as her essence was absorbed by the portal.

Jinn stopped just before stepping through.

His gaze fixed on the swirling light, his expression hard yet distant.

The word lingered in his mind—

home.

He muttered it softly under his breath, almost as if testing its meaning.

"Home..." his voice was low, lost under the roar of the machine.

The light began to eat away at him—

first his arms,

then his torso,

his body breaking apart into bright fragments of eidra.

Yet his single eye stayed open, unwavering as the last of him began to fade.

"My home...is elsewhere," he said quietly, his voice calm but heavy, before his form completely vanished—leaving only a faint ripple of light where he once stood.

Their bodies, now nothing more than glowing streams of eidra, coursed through the great expanse of the void—light weaving through invisible veins that stretched across galaxies.

The sensation of movement felt both instant and infinite, their consciousness slipping between realms faster than thought itself.

The currents of power twisted and folded upon themselves until finally—

after what felt like both a second and an eternity—

they reached their destination.

*On Juggernot XII

"Portal is whirring up! Prepare for arrival!" shouted an engineer stationed on the receiving platform of Juggernot XII, his voice echoing across the metallic chamber.

Around him, technicians worked furiously, adjusting stabilizers and monitoring energy fluctuations as the portal’s frame began to glow with tremendous power.

A squad of armored soldiers quickly formed two lines on each side of the platform, weapons in hand, their stances disciplined yet tense.

Flanking them were several commanding figures, their silhouettes dark against the blinding light of the portal—standing tall and composed, waiting for whoever would emerge.

The portal pulsed once, then again, the hum deepening into a thunderous vibration that rattled the metal floor.

*drrrrrrrrrr...

Minutes passed, each second stretching longer than the last, until the portal suddenly flared with brilliance.

"Stabilization complete! Energy levels are steady!" one of the engineers called out.

Then, from the swirling pool of energy, streams of eidra began to spiral outward, coalescing in the air before the soldiers.

Slowly, the radiant light began to mold itself into clearer shapes—vague silhouettes first, then the detailed outlines of figures stepping forth from within the glow.

Their forms shifted and solidified, turning from formless essence into flesh, armor, and cloth, as if life itself was being woven back into their bodies.

The faint hum of energy that surrounded them gradually faded, replaced by the dull clatter of metal and the sound of subtle breaths, gasp as they materialized once more.

The officers were the first to emerge, their movements steady and regal.

Rina followed next, her expression unreadable behind her helmet, the faint glimmer of the light still clinging to her cloak..

And finally, Jinn appeared, his gaze sweeping the familiar surroundings with quiet alertness. The faint residue of the teleportation still lingered in the air like static, humming softly against their skin.

All around them, soft murmurs began to rise.

Soldiers who had been standing nearby now whispered among themselves, their words too low to catch but filled with awe and curiosity.

The sound of synchronized steps soon followed—a disciplined march that echoed faintly against the stone ground—as a battalion approached, their armor reflecting the dim ambient glow.

"Ekilex in Srathun, apprentice of Venedix and the daughter of General Gaius," announced one of the soldiers who stepped forward from the front ranks. His armor gleamed more finely than the rest, his bearing commanding—the unmistakable sign of an officer in charge.

Rina took a brief step ahead, her voice steady though her posture hinted at fatigue. "Hindren in Kalix, the returnees would like to rest for a while. They’ve just come back from a grueling battle not long ago," she said, her tone formal yet edged with weariness.

The officer gave a small nod, understanding in his eyes.

"Very well," he replied.

"There is a lounge prepared for such occasions, by the order of Lady Akavi herself." His gaze then shifted past Rina and Jinn, settling on another figure among the officers who had just finished reassembling after the transport.

"Eikvir in Rihan," the officer addressed firmly.

"Battle brothers, the other generals are waiting for your report regarding the outcome of your campaign."

He then looked to the side and gestured as another soldier came forward with a respectful stance. "One of my men will escort you there."

"Eikvir in Rihan," one of the officers echoed, tapping his chest lightly in acknowledgment before nodding toward the escort.

"Lead the way. We’ll follow."

The group then broke away in silence, their footsteps fading down one of the many corridors that stretched beyond the chamber. The air felt heavier now, the energy from their arrival beginning to settle into stillness.

The leading officer turned back once more, his eyes falling on Rina and Jinn. "Follow me, young lady and master," he said, his tone courteous yet formal.

"I shall take you to the resting quarters that Lady Akavi has graciously provided."

He turned on his heel, his polished armor gleaming faintly in the low light, and the two followed behind, their tired steps echoing softly in rhythm with his as they made their way through the vast hallways ahead.