Second World

They were all using steed. The most impressive steed was, of course, Jack's nightmare. Kabaka and the others were flabbergasted when Jack summoned Pandora. Most of them rode a distance away from Jack since their steeds refused to be anywhere near Pandora.

Jack could have arrived at the destination faster if he used Pandora's full speed, but he adjusted to the others' pace.

Pandora's presence helped smoothen their journey since no monsters dared to approach. Even so, it was already the morning of the next day when they finally arrived.

The place was a fort by the mountainside. A soldier on the wall saw their approach and notified the others. The gate to the fort was soon opened.

After entering, Jack saw a familiar sealing dome at the center of the fort. He did not doubt the underworld portal was inside that dome.

He then noticed a pillar of light beside the dome. Runic symbols covered the pillar as the mages operated the rune diagram to supply power to the dome.

Jack checked the mages and found that they were not members of the Order of Magi. They were members of the kingdom faction. Unlike Themisphere, Verremor didn't ask for help from factions outside the kingdom.

Everyone dismounted and approached the dome. Jack saw a shadow behind the pillar of light beside the dome.

"Is the Totem Banner inside this light?" Jack asked.

Kabaka nodded. "After that legendary artifact is returned to us, we can better keep this portal sealed."

"What do you seal it with before I return the artifact?" Jack asked.

Kabaka was silent. It was a different voice that answered, "With orcs' lives."

Jack turned to the voice and saw Umeza Giantkiller.

"This fort is where I retired to after leaving the army. I continue serving Verremor by guarding this portal," Umeza said when he saw Jack's inquisitive gaze.

"What do you mean by using orcs' lives to seal this portal?" Jack asked.

"It is what it sounds," Kabaka answered. "We don't have an artifact of enough power to seal this portal after the Totem Banner was gone. So, our mages came up with another method. A crueler method. We have to sacrifice lives every year to power up this sealing dome."

"That's why many of the orc officials who know about this underworld portal hate Themisphere so much," Umeza added. "They were angry when the totem banner was lost. Several years after that incident, this underworld portal appeared. When we started sacrificing our people, those officials became angrier."

"This incident also caused the then-grand chief of the Raretooth tribe to resign," Kabaka said. "He couldn't bear the shame that his tribe was responsible for these sacrifices due to losing the totem banner."

Jack felt bad hearing this. Mojuto would be full of regret if he knew that he helped seal Themisphere's portal but was instead dooming his own country.

This revelation confirmed Jack's decision to close Verremor's portal and not the portal in the other countries was the right decision. Themisphere owed Verremor a great debt for borrowing the totem banner.

Thinking about this, he had to make sure that this portal closing went without a hitch.

He said to Kabaka, "Grand Chief, I have experience sealing the portal in Themisphere. Do you allow me to spearhead this operation?"

Kabaka and Umeza looked at each other before Kabaka answered, "We will trouble you then, king Storm Wind."

Jack nodded. He approached the sealing dome before turning back and speaking with a loud voice, "Everyone, listen up! When the dome is brought down, you might see that the field is empty, but it will not be so. Underworld demons have shadow meld ability. They are simply invisible because of staying still. Just follow my lead and send in ranged attacks even if you see nothing is there."

Jack then turned to Kabaka. "Grand Chief, follow me closely. The stone can only be used when it is close to the portal. I will open the path."

"I will protect the grand chief," Umeza declared.

"So will we," Four Winds said.

"One more thing," Jack uttered. "Do not kill all the demons before the portal is closed. There might be a strong demon waiting behind the portal to claim all the corrupted mana released by the defeated demon. If it consumed enough of this corrupted mana, it can cross over into this world."

After looking around to make sure everyone heard his message. He summoned Therras, his spirit weapon, and his ten golden wolves. "Bring down the dome!" He signaled.

Kabaka nodded to the mage leader in charge of the sealing dome. This mage leader powered down the rune diagram feeding the dome. The other mages followed suit.

Once the dome was unsealed, everything seemed empty except for the infernal portal. But those who had mana sense knew otherwise.

Jack unleashed the Judgement of Past Kings. As the great flood from Thenodeep washed over the seemingly empty field, Umeza shouted an order, "Archers and mages, fire…!!"

"Lily," Four Winds uttered.

"On it!" Water Lily was already forming a spell formation. When it was completed, a large area near the portal was assailed by icy winds. It was her Cryomancer's first spell, Blizzard. It was an AOE spell that dealt ice damage.

Many demons started popping up once attacks landed.

The orc soldiers didn't ignore Jack's warning. Although they were still surprised that so many demons suddenly materialized, they were ready. The melee soldiers were in formation to hold the demons while the ranged players bombarded them.

Water Lily continued her offensive with her Cryomancer's level 60 spell, Rain of Ice Needles. It was another AOE spell. But aside from dealing ice damage, this spell also possessed ignore defense property.

"Therras, charge!" Jack said when his Judgement of Past Kings ended.

Therras activated its armor's supersonic mode and used Tyrannical Charge. All the demon in its path was knocked aside. Jack's golden wolves ran forward following Therras while his spirit weapon attacked using ranged mode.

"Grand Chief!" Jack shouted as he charged forward. He cast Acceleration on himself, Therras, Kabaka, Four Winds, and Umeza.

With the increased speed, the five pierced through the path opened by Therras.

Two level 55 mythical-grade high demons came at them from left and right.

"I'll take care of this!" Umeza exclaimed and met the demon on the left.

"This is mine!" Four Winds said and clashed with the demon on the right.

Jack and Kabaka proceeded forward.

Therras used Imperious Pressure and Overbearing Stomp to clear the area around the portal.

Kabaka activated the portal-sealing stone once the portal came into the stone's effective range. Jack, Therras, and the wolves secured the perimeter while the stone worked its magic.

The stone worked fast. Within a short time, the portal was shut and it completely disappeared without a trace.