Hitman With A Badass System

1329  Welcome To The Skyhall

Michael nodded at Elidyr, signaling him to activate the gateway. With a determined stride, Elidyr approached the rune-engraved pillar that served as the controller of the portal. He began to diligently tap and engrave new runes, his hands moving with practiced precision and care. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

As Elidyr worked, a low whirling sound filled the room, gradually growing louder. Michael sensed the portal gateway slowly powering up, a subtle vibration in the air that hinted at the dormant energy coming to life. One by one, the runes around the portal began to light up, casting a pulsating glow that painted eerie shadows on the walls. The temperature in the room slowly rose, the air growing warmer with the awakening power of the gateway.

Michael cracked his neck, loosening the muscles in preparation for what was to come. He watched as Elidyr's final tap on the pillar seemed to unleash the full potential of the portal. Suddenly, the vortex began to form, swirling with a deep blue hue. The runes blazed even brighter, and the entire room was bathed in their azure light. As the vortex stabilized into a swirling blue gateway, everyone felt the pulling force and prepared to face the Skyhall.

"Wait," suddenly, a voice called out, echoing slightly in the vast chamber.

Michael didn't need to turn around to recognize the voice—it was Harry. He looked over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. Lenora and the dark army soldiers tensed as Harry and his friends slowly entered the room. The teenagers, with their youthful features, were in stark contrast to the seasoned, powerful presence and black armor of the dark army soldiers.

Lenora squinted at Harry, noting the resemblance he bore to Michael. She wondered what the Dark Lord's son was doing here, especially after the lengthy and serious conversation Michael had with him previously.

"Why's the kid here now? Doesn't he know what's at stake?" one of the soldiers muttered under his breath to another.

"I just hope these kids don't try to stop the Dark Lord. It won't end well for them," another soldier whispered, confusion and annoyance lacing his words.

Michael slowly turned around and locked his gaze with Harry, his expression composed yet unreadable. "What are you doing here?" he asked calmly, his voice barely rising above the humming of the portal gateway.

Standing at the room's threshold, Harry could feel the overwhelming power radiating from the portal.

"Whatever you need to say to the Dark Lord, make it quick, lad. We might get sucked into that thing any moment now." Thrain grumbled from beside Harry. But even at this moment, Thrian couldn't help but smirk when his elven friends, who were not as big as him, were struggling to stand still. Their thin bodies made resisting the pulling force harder, which amused the dwarf.

Harry and his friends, not as seasoned or powerful as the Dark Lord and his men, struggled to maintain their footing under the relentless pull of the portal. Despite this, Harry's determination did not waver; he needed to speak with his father before any of them stepped through to Skyhall.

"Father, what happens after this war? Will this affect Mazeroth?" Harry managed to ask, his voice firm despite the swirling forces around them. To others, Mazeroth Academy might have been just a school to learn spells and master magic, but to Harry, it was home. He had grown up there with his mother, and he would not stand by and let anything happen to the place he called home—even if it was a branch of Skyhall, which he knew was evil.

"Nothing will happen to Mazeroth, Harry. Now, go be with your mother," Michael's face softened slightly, but his voice remained firm, leaving no room for debate. "What if destroying Skyhall results in the destruction of Mazeroth, considering Mazeroth is a branch of Skyhall?" Harry pressed, his voice laced with concern.

Michael understood Harry's position and sympathized with him. He knew all too well that Mazeroth felt like home to his son, a place imbued with special meaning. He was about to respond when Elidyr stepped forward, his gaze unexpectedly soft as he addressed Harry.

"Mazeroth isn't just a building. It's about friendship, love, loyalty, and a sense of belonging," Elidyr said gently. "Even if the war with Skyhall damages the physical structure, Mazeroth will still stand strong. As long as the people there, the students and professors, stay together, the spirit of Mazeroth will endure." Elidyr paused for a moment before continuing. "I was also a student at Mazeroth once. And I too called this place home. So, you have my word, as well as that of my friends, that nothing will happen to Mazeroth,"

After hearing Elidyr, everyone noted the surprising steadiness in his voice, given the nightmarish memories that Wulfric had unlocked. Michael was glad to see that Elidyr was coping with those memories better than he had imagined, his old friend's resilience shining through despite the burdens he carried.

Just then, Clara, clutching her books tightly to prevent them from being sucked into the vortex, quickly reminded Harry.

"Harry, we need to go. The pulling force is getting stronger,"

Watching the kids struggling to maintain their footing, Lenora couldn't help but chuckle.

 "Look at you lot, can barely stand straight in a breeze," she quipped, teasing Harry and his friends.

On the other hand, Michael chose to ignore Lenora's comments even though it was indeed funny to see these kids struggling to stand still and turned his gaze back to Harry.

"Go on, kid. Tell your mother that I'll see her after I destroy Skyhall," With those words, he turned around and walked toward the vortex, his figure exuding confidence and determination.

Elidyr gave Harry a gentle pat on the shoulder and offered a faint smile. Then, he followed behind Michael, Lenora, and the rest of their small party in tow. As the Dark Lord and his soldiers calmly walked into the swirling vortex and disappeared from sight, Harry and his friends stood there with dumbstruck expressions.

"Damn, I still can't believe we were in the presence of a god twice," Thrain exclaimed.

"And I can't believe we are friends with the God of Darkness's son. Harry, do you think your father would grant us some powers," Aric asked Harry with a mischievous glint in his eyes. The pulling force slowly diminished after the Dark Lord and his men disappeared into the vortex, giving Harry and his friends much-needed relief from the pulling force.

"I have a feeling our world wouldn't be the same again," Harry sighed.

**************************************

Finally, traveling through the vortex, Michael and his men landed in a vast expanse where dark, star-dusted skies stretched infinitely above them and floating palaces dotted the horizon in every direction. These massive structures seemed suspended in the cosmos, resembling celestial bodies more than buildings. Michael felt as though he was floating in outer space, as he had seen when he was on Earth.

"Holy shit. This place is freaky but also beautiful," Lenora's jaw dropped at the sight.

Michael scanned the horizon, noting that although the palaces appeared small from their current vantage point, each was colossal in scale, likely covering areas as large as small kingdoms. However, Michael's initial awe quickly turned to suspicion as he noticed the lack of activity around them. There were no angels of Skyhall patrolling, no warships in sight, and no visible weapons or defenses. It was eerily quiet—a stark contrast to the massive confrontation he had braced for.

"I expected a welcoming committee of sorts, or at least some resistance," Michael mused aloud, his brow furrowed in concern. "Yet, there's nothing. No guards, no angels... as far as I can see. This is not what I expected,"

Even though Elidyr was a member of Skyhall, this was not the realm of Skyhall that he remembered from three thousand years ago. Back then, Skyhall was a singular, majestic floating palace set in a vast cosmos under a beautiful morning sky, surrounded by floating mountains and surreal sceneries that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. It was a place of awe and wonder, where the light bathed everything in a warm glow, fostering a sense of peace and majesty.

But now, despite its undeniable beauty, the place looked dark, magical, and menacing. The skies were dusted with dark stars, and each of the numerous floating palaces bore an ominous aura as if each was a fortress preparing for celestial warfare. The transformation was stark, and it was clear to Elidyr that Skyhall had accumulated far more power than he had anticipated over the millennia.

A flicker of doubt crossed Elidyr's eyes as he took in the expanse of the transformed realm. The power radiating from these palaces was palpable, and the air thrummed with a magical intensity that he had not felt in a long time. The sheer scale of what Skyhall had become was daunting. This was no longer the sanctuary he had known; it was a fortified empire in the cosmos, seemingly prepared for any threat. As they were looking around, a calm yet powerful voice echoed through the empty space.

"Welcome to Skyhall, Dark Lord,"