The ms all began to blend; wake up, dad off to work early first, Emi leaving for school aayed at home, aloh his thoughts.

  Not the most gmourous life. But at least he could catch up on all the anime and music he missed over the past decade. Somehow the media had gotteer not worse like the world around. Eren thanked who ever lived above for that.

  *Bzzzt*

  ~

  Baelor: I see you haven't cleared any gates yet. None guide you through your journey except yourself. Remember why you are here and make good use of the blessih gave you. Good luck, young one.

  ~

  Eren scrolled through his phoo the gates app. A list of avaible gates appeared before his eyes. Many smaller gates listed among the rger ones. Most are green and blue coloured.

  "Let's start small, I guess." Choosing an amber ranked portal closest to home; not b to read the description or any warnings. He was impatient. Wanting to get back to doing nothing.

  Quickly he set off, wearing nothing special for the occasion. Just jeans and a long sleeve shirt, fortable and practical enough for adventuring.

  ---

  A brisk 30 min walk ter, arriving at the entrance.

  Eren had expected the gates to be crowded with people rushing in and out. Yet surprisingly, the pce looked quiet. Nothing moving within the area. It was abandoned. Eren only had limited experieh the gates. Back when he was starting out, gates were filled to the brim with starry eyed rankers, all cm to get their shots. Now nothing.

  "Perhaps I went to the wrong gate..." He murmured to himself.

  Cheg his phone however, showed that this was ihe right loaybe the guilds had e through and cleared it out already?

  'I probably should have read the description.' Opening the gate back up, he finally read through its details.

  ---

  Gate Info:

  Locatio of Saryn.

  Gate cycle: Once a month for 10 days

  Danger Level: D+++

  Owners: Crimson bandits

  Last Clear: 7 months ago

  Rewards: Jewellery, ons, materials

  Gate closing time: 03: 15: 37: 58

  ---

  Eren read over the short passage of information. His brows furrowed together, f lines in his forehead. This was all o him.

  'At least it's cise.' He thought.

  "First time?" A stranger’s voice called out, a sign of life breaking through the silence. Eren turo find a heavily armoured man striding towards him.

  The crimson armour c every inch of his body glowed brightly in the sunlight, a hood hung limply from his helmet. Matg waist cape flowily with the wind. Face obscured by a dark crimson visor. A broadsword resting to his right.

  "Yeah..." Eren rehehe crimson armour was a sign of the bandits that pgued the area, a, somehow this young man didn't seem dangerous at all; friendly even, a cheery smile uhat visor.

  "Ahh, I see. This one never gives that many resources, it either goes uncleared or used for training. Only a newbie would try." A chuckle slipped past his lips.

  Eren frowhis kid's casual desding character issing him off.

  "I'm Jun member of the... Crimson bandits." The guild name spoken softly with some hesitation; a faint whisper of disdain in his tone.

  “I’m Eren.” A hesitant nod to the taller bandit.

  "I'm here to collect their share of the cut... 66% of whatever you gather from this gate will be ours to cim."

  "66%!? That's a bit high." Eren scoffed indignantly, gring sharply into his eyes.

  Jun's expression ged; no longer cheerful, instead his shoulders sank, dession termanded with empathy.

  "Sorry... Guild policy. I'm just here to collect. If I don't, the guild will be angry... They will send someone less amicable." His mood tio deteriorate; head lowered in shame.

  "...Uand?"

  Eren sighed deeply. He could easily force the issue but something in this boy’s toold Eren that it would not end well, regardless if Eren won the flict.

  "Whatever, let's get this over with." Eren turned away from Juurning his gaze to the t gate of golden light before them. A pulsi of energy; alive and being.

  A sound in the distance broke the silehough, r of motorbikes approag fast. Jued with arm, suddenly ushering Eren to ehe gate quickly.

  "Let's go in and out." Jun vanished first followed shortly by Eren.

  'I fot about this.' ging realms gave a tingling feeling, like a static shock across his body; leaving goosebumps on his skin.

  ---

  The desert of a Saryn... Was fug hot.

  The bze hit the pair like a steam trai assaulting all five senses. Sand stretched on endlessly, blending into the horizon; not a cloud in the sky.

  "Fuck, shouldn't have worn bck today." Eren hissed bitterly, already regretting his life choices. The scorg sun baking him alive; sweat running down the sides of his face; dreng his underarms and back.

  "You never get used to it." Jun replied ftly, appearing perfectly fie the circumstances.

  Jun led Eren into the shimmeri; a line of footprints trailed behind.

  "Your armour looks like you would boil inside." Eren muttered.

  "It's not made from traditional metal, helps keep the ess in, but it also uses my power so there is a bit of a drawback." The suit lit up ever so briefly, an illuminating purple glow visible through the cracks.

  Time passed for the pair as they trudged through endless dunes. Nothing at all; not a structure nor a single monster.

  "Where are we goily?" Eren huffed impatiently.

  "The pyramids."

  "The pyramids?" Eren echoed questioningly.

  "Yeah, the boss is usually at the Pyramid... Also the pce where araids dwell."

  "How far away is it?" Eren inquired irritably.

  "... Dunno, the gate always appears in different spots. It could be another 10 mins could be a day-"

  "A Day!" Eren burst.

  "Shit man... you really are a baby ranker, aren't ya? Wait until you get to the red gates, some have gone on for months." Jun chortled softly.

  'I've already had enough of this. Death take me back.'

  After what seemed like hours b in the sun; structures began to appear on the horizon. Large stone mos rose into view. Pyramids stretg to touch the clouds above. The unbearable air; dry and thick was soon to be a thing of the past.

  As they approached, Eren's steps became lighter. More fident, filled with excitement.

  'This is more like it!' Eren thought eagerly.

  "Wait! We 't just rush in." Jun called out, reag out for his arm. However, the ground began to shift around them; rge legs erupting from the sands beh them.

  From the ground a spider rose; golden fur shining radiantly uhe sun, t over Eren and Jun. Its numerous beady eyes them warily. Mandibles dripping with gluttonous desire.

  "I k." Jun drew his great sword in an instant.

  "Run to the pyramid! Go now!" Eren scoffed, watg the crimson bandit step forward fearlessly.

  "I'll hold it back, just get there before the swarm appears." Two more pairs of legs burst forth, joining the first, f a triangur shape around them.

  The bravado of the young man amused Eren. A single person against 3 beasts would surely result in their deaths. At best they will both get seriously injured. With a flick of his wrist; his whip materialized, cutting the first spider straight down the middle. Bck blood spttering across the sand.

  *Ch-Click* *Ch-Click*

  The other two charged from opposing sides, fnking the duo from behind. Jun dashed forward, ung a heavy swing, splitting the left leg spider directly in half, decapitating it from its body.

  Its upper torso flopping uselessly into the ground.

  Jun's fighting form was... g, no signs of skill or teique behind his bde, just a had ssh. Although, not g in ce, discipline, or spirit.

  The final spider opes mouth, releasing a Jetstream of yellow liquid, aimed directly at Eren.

  Avoiding the barrage, Ere aside, shing out with his own attack. The bone bde sshed open a new scar along its exoskeleton. Bck goo oozed out of the wound.

  With a final ssh the monster crumbled, giving out a deafening screech before falling silent. Falling into the sand, the desert fell silent once more, only the howl of the desert remained.

  Jun panted heavily, hunched over onto his knees. His chest heaved like a bellow, breath ing in ragged gasps.

  "We...we should hurry. There will be more." The young man staggered towards the closest Pyramid, stumbling over his ow; each step heavy with fatigue. The relentless heat wearing away at him.

  The cool shade of the a mo provided mueeded respite. "You had me worried there, but I guess you are pretty strong."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" Ereioned suspiciously.

  "Well, you didn't bring a on in. And you not knowing anything about the danger level. Or... well, I thought you'd be a dead man without me. Five me I was wrong." Jun bowed respectfully.

  Eren waved the apology away. "Don't worry, it seems I have a lot to learn still... So, the boss is inside?" Eren asked curiously, pointing at the massive hole that led deeper underground.

  "That's right, the queen is somewhere down below, unless she has left the duo spawn more children."