Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

Washington DC

"How long has it been?"

Genevieve leaned against a vehicle several meters away from the Rift, one hand propped on her face while the other held her tablet.

On the screen was President Josiah.

"Just a little over an hour now, sir." She responded, eyes flitting to the Rift again. "There were several elite S-Ranks present. Hunter Devon, Hunter Alisha, Hunter Viktor—"

"Right, right." Josiah nodded. "And so far you haven’t noticed anything odd?"

"Nothing at all, sir."

"You sure?"

"Positive." Genevieve looked at the glowing white Rift, which only occasionally released short bursts of aether energy. "This Rift surprisingly looks more... peaceful than the one that opened in Aurelia all those months ago."

Josiah let out a small breath at the other end.

The last thing he needed was a repeat of Canada’s Purple Rift incident. Or worse... another Echo Rift.

He’d already told the country’s President that the Hunters would clear the Rift and make sure it closes by the end of today. After a few disasters too many this year, he wished to avoid another.

"Keep me updated." He said.

Then, without another word, he hung up, leaving Genevieve to stare at her blank screen.

She scoffed, lowering the tablet. "Good job summoning all those Hunters, Genevieve." Those were words she thought she’d hear from Josiah. "Hmph. I’ll prove I’m more than fit to be his vice in due time."

As she puffed her chest proudly, striding to another vehicle where a small group of Hunters were gathered around—something moved in the shadows in one of the nearby alleyways.

"Peaceful, my left ass cheek," Ambrose murmured, head peeping out just enough to take a look at the Rift.

It was easy to teleport here after following live reports of the Rift on the news.

[Thought of a way to get past all those Hunters and barricades yet, sweetheart?]

’Yes, actually.’

A thought activated his illusion abilities, creating an invisibility cloak that hid his scent, aether signature and physical presence.

[An illusion... of course.]

’Oh, admit it. That was impressive. No need for any stealth potions.’

He stepped out, moving past the Hunters and arriving right in front of the Rift.

’This is it.’ He heaved, taking one last look behind him. ’Can your scanners pick up anything?’

[You might want to be careful when crossing. Don’t let those small bursts of aether deceive you. I can pick up thick aether readings coming from within.]

’Thick aether readings?’

[I’m not certain yet, but it appears there are multiple high-density aether signatures inside. Some resemble S-Rank beasts, but others... I can’t identify.]

’... Crap.’ Ambrose sighed. ’Here goes everything then.’

With one leap, he crossed through the Rift, the white light swallowing him whole.

Genevieve, who’d just gotten a cup of coffee, frowned, head angling to the Rift.

A brow shot up. "Huh."

★★★★★

"What the—"

Ambrose’s voice cut off as he fell headfirst into the snow.

He landed hard enough to send a spray of snow several feet into the air, his face buried beneath the powder for a moment before he pushed himself upright and spat out a mouthful of cold crystals.

"Okay," he coughed, brushing snow from his coat. "That was unnecessarily dramatic."

Ambrose glanced over his shoulder.

His silver eyes narrowed as he turned in a slow circle, searching for the familiar distortion of the Rift he had just crossed. There was no glowing tear in space, no entrance shimmering behind him, not even a faint trace of the white aether that had swallowed him moments ago.

His amusement disappeared.

’Aura.’

[I know. It appears the Rift flung you into a random part of the dungeon.]

’That isn’t normal.’

[Not remotely.]

Ambrose rose to his feet, allowing Spatial Awareness to spread across the surrounding terrain. Snow-covered trees stretched in every direction, their bare branches clawing toward an overcast sky while thick layers of snow covered the ground beneath them.

There were no immediate beasts.

No structures.

No sign of the Hunters who had entered before him.

Yet something else caught his attention.

Two familiar presences pulsed faintly within his consciousness.

Ambrose’s expression tightened.

’Devon and Viktor.’

Their links were still intact, but they weren’t together.

One pulsed from somewhere toward the west, carrying a faint but unmistakable current of anxiety and adrenaline, while the other was considerably farther away in the opposite direction.

’They got separated.’ Ambrose frowned, glancing between both directions. ’Devon’s link feels more unstable.’

He made his decision after only a few more moments of thinking.

’I’m going after him.’

With a thought, Ambrose summoned his most trusted undead.

A massive figure materialised several feet away.

Beherath’s enormous boots sank into the snow as the Orc King emerged, towering over Ambrose with his broad frame, thick tusks and crimson skin partially covered by his heavy armour. His presence alone caused the surrounding snow to tremble.

Ambrose’s eyebrows rose.

’Damn.’ He hadn’t summoned Beherath since the Aether Booster had pushed him into S-Rank. ’You’ve gotten even more ridiculous.’

Beherath grunted proudly.

Ambrose chuckled before reaching through their connection.

’You can sense Viktor’s link, right?’

The Orc King’s eyes narrowed before he nodded.

’Good. Follow it. Find him, stay close and protect him if anything attacks. Don’t engage anything unnecessarily unless you have to.’

Beherath slammed one fist against his chest.

Then he disappeared into the forest.

Ambrose watched him go before turning toward Devon’s direction.

’Please don’t let me find you fighting something stupid.’

He stepped forward.

Far away, another pair of eyes opened.

★★★★★

Viktor’s consciousness returned slowly.

The first thing he noticed was warmth.

The second was silence.

He groaned, opening his eyes to find himself lying on a simple wooden bed inside a small room. Confusion immediately flooded his mind as he pushed himself upright.

"Where the hell...?"

His weapons were gone.

Viktor immediately looked toward the doorway.

Beyond it was a settlement.

Snow-covered houses surrounded narrow paths, while strange humanoid figures moved between them. They had pale blue-grey skin, slender builds and long white hair, their unfamiliar clothing layered heavily against the cold.

Viktor stared. "What the fuck?"

One of them noticed him. Then another.

Soon several faces turned in his direction.

One of them stepped into the small room, tall frame stretching over him.

"You?"

They might’ve been moving freakishly fast at the time, but he remembered them.

It was the stranger who saved him.

Without warning, the stranger’s lips parted, an odd language unlike anything he’d ever heard coming out.

Viktor blinked.

He understood nothing.

"Whatever it is you just said," he looked around, "I want you to know that if you plan to eat me... I might end up not being delicious."

The stranger took more steps closer, making his muscles tighten subconsciously. He was going to summon frost when he noticed something that made his heart skip a beat.

He couldn’t access his aether.

’Shit.’

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