While Evangeline and Laura enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, things were getting strange in the Eastern Continent.


    The residents of Port Nefheim had an unwee new neighbor, an unstable portal that seemed to change destinations every few seconds.


    "Do you think it is rted to what is happening on the Northern Continent?" Cixelcid asked the Watcher who had cast a protective shield over the area, keeping everyone out until a decision could be made.


    "It is possible. This ley line begins in the North. But they are only seeing portals to the Elemental ne. Plus, this is a strange portal, and it is dumping a huge amount of mana into our world.


    That flow means the portal is one way. Beings from that world cane here, but we can''t go there." The Watcher exined, trying to understand this development.


    The Watchers were created with a fair bit of knowledge and had obtained more during their time here, but they had never seen a portal like that one before.


    "Is there a way to close that thing? Too much more mana in the area is bad news. The guards reported Mythic Beasts against night and had to ask Neffie for assistance when they lured them to the city barrier." Cixelcid sighed.


    Neffie had been more than happy for an excuse to show off her power, and none of the guards had been seriously hurt, but the number of Mythic creatures arriving daily was rming.


    The Watcher suddenly motioned for silence and stepped through its barrier toward the Portal. It had heard voicesing from inside, but faint and speaking a foreignnguage.


    The Watcher opened his senses to hear their thoughts and the System finally began to trante the words.


    [Of course, it is safe to enter. We have eight King-level pets with us and we are all Great Aplishment cultivators.]


    [That portal creeps me out though. It feels dead like there is nothing on the other side. I don''t sense any Prana at all.]


    [If there is no Cultivation Essence, then we shouldn''t be in any danger. Why would you fear non-cultivators?]


    The Watcher let them argue, as they were still on the other side of the portal and might not enter at all. The others had seen this phenomenon before, where the new arrivals couldn''t use this world''s mana at all.


    But the portal was giving off mana, which should mean that their world has plenty of it, making it very strange that they wouldn''t be able to use it.


    Cain''s thoughts joined the Watchers as they examined this new phenomenon. [Maybe it has both, but they only cultivate using one? You were thinking about pets earlier, maybe they tame magical beasts that grow powerful from the Mana?]


    While they discussed the possibilities, the portal stabilized and finally only showed one location, but with a thick barrier separating it from their reality. It still wouldn''t be essible to them, but those from the other side should be able to pass back and forth freely.


    [Don''t you think it feels like we are serving as the inside of a dungeon? The monsters in a dungeon can''t just leave either.] Cyrene joined their thoughts as she woke up for the morning.


    [That is possible. The protective spells around the have been changing.] The Watcher agreed.


    If they were being targeted by a dungeon creation spell, the opponents on the other side might be in for a very bad time. Dungeon residents were usually limited in mind and power, so sending random people to face the armies of this world was tantamount to telling them tomit suicide.


    The first thing through the portal was arge ck Tiger. It took a single step looking around the area, then spotted the Watcher, who was sitting cross-legged in the grass, waiting for it.


    The Tiger was level three hundred and eighty, which was certainly on par with the Eastern Continent''s power level, but the Watcher was Cain''s Summon, and Cain had advanced to nearly level five hundred now, and that was without factoring the power difference due to the Mythic Awakening.


    The handler must have been expecting a message if there was an issue because only a few secondster five humans and seven more beasts, all roughly on the level of the Tiger arrived,ughing and joking about imagined dangers and how paranoid they were before they entered.


    Their amusement wouldn''tst though.


    "There really is no Prana here. I can feel some from the portal, but there''s nothing else. What are you staring at Tiggy? It''s still too dark for my eyes." One of the human women, a muscr brte spoke.


    [Allow me to turn on the lights.] The Watcher told them, letting his voice echo in their minds.


    A simple light spell brightened the area, illuminating the Watcher, who was sitting in the open field near them with his wings spread and arm Tentacles extended to pet Tiggy, who seemed unsure what to make of this powerful creature.


    "Fuck, flee!" Their leader called, then mmed headfirst into the barrier that the Watcher had raised between them and the portal.


    [But you just got here. It would be rude to leave without at least staying for breakfast. I will have something brought.] The Watcher informed them as the group cowered in fear.


    They had already realized their beasts didn''t dare attack the Eldritch Horror, and without ess to the Prana that they cultivated their own strength would never be its match.


    The Watcher created a table and benches using an Earth Elemental then transformed into Cain''s human form, wearing his favorite Dark Elven suit, and took a seat.


    Dish after dish was taken from the Keep''s kitchen, via the Guild Bank, as the Watcher contemted the scene in front of him. He wanted to know all about these new people, but he had already scared them so much that they weren''t speaking. That was horribly inefficient.


    Eightrge bowls, six with meat and two with fruits and vegetables were ced on the ground using a [Crushing Tentacle] and he decided that his hospitality was sufficient that they should start talking soon.


    "Please, sit and eat."


    The group was still staring at the scene in shock, frozen in ce until they decided they really weren''t about to die.


    "Thank you." The woman who had spoken to the ck Lion named Tiggy answered, taking a seat and gesturing for the others to join her.


    Being invited to a meal with an Immortal Terror, as their called the Ancients, was unheard of. But if they wanted to leave here intact they didn''t have many options.


    "What brings you to my lovely home city? Oh, I suppose you can''t see it yet. Give it fifteen minutes until the sunes up and you will since your portal opened inside the city walls." The Watcher spoke.


    That news turned their terror to dismay. They had heard of many things being on the other side of these portals, but never a city full of powerful intelligent beings.


    "We should put lights all along the wall, so people don''t get lost. We have gotten too used to everyone being able to see in the dark." Cixelcid added, tapping on the outer barrier to be let in.


    "There is more than one? Should we copse the portal so they can''t find a way through to our world?" One of the humans whispered.


    "There are two here, but I''m not one of them. There is no point in whispering, vampires at my level have very sensitive hearing." Cixelcid exined, then realized he had only scared them more.


    "Um, I am Cixelcid and I mean no harm. After all, I was once human too." He tried, in an effort to smooth out the situation.


    The looks they gave him very clearly said "yes, that is how vampires work" and Cid heard theughter of the Watcher in his mind.


    "Alright, that came out wrong. You havee to Port Nefheim, a multi-species city on the shores of the Eastern Continent. If you don''t attack anyone, they won''t attack you.


    Please, eat before your food gets cold. It is made of Mythic fruits and monster meat, so it is very nutritious. See, your friends are all fine."


    The animals were more than fine, they had already cleaned out their bowls and Tiggy was giving the Watcher a pleading look, pushing its bowl forward for seconds.


    Numbly, Port Nefheim''s newest guests began to eat, too shocked and confused to form a proper response.


    [I get it now. Messing with people is way too much fun.] Cid thought, knowing the Watcher could hear him.


    [It really is. But we should find out if their friends on the other side are going to be a threat, or if this portal will close when they leave. I can always put a temporary tower over it and make them think they have entered a dungeon if we need to.] The Watcher agreed.


    As amusing as that might be, Cid thought that it was better to have an understanding with them.


    "Where did you think you were going to end up?" Cid asked when they were nearly done eating.


    "The Master has a fate-type beast that can open portals to a trial. We are supposed to go through, train ourselves in a dangerous environment and then return once we are stronger." One of the men exined.


    "Then you are in the right spot. There is a group of very angry Trice outside the walls, and I am absolutely certain that fighting it will be a learning experience for you." The Watcher informed them happily.


    It was always a relief when things worked out for the best. The guards could take a break and the Laughing God was going to have a great time watching these people try to fight off the daily Dino attacks.


    "They will still be there after you eat, so clear your tes. Don''t worry Tiggy, you''re not going far and there will be dinner." The Watcher told them, then stepped away from the table and transformed back into his Ancient form so he could see over the walls and get an update on the situation outside.


    Sixrge Trice, four-legged beasts with an Armored head te, which got their name from the threerge horns on their beak and head, weighing upward of ten tons each, plus a handful of raptors.


    That should be enough of a challenge, at least for the first day.