My Magical Girl System

Chapter 183: Anomalous Gate

After a quick preparation and briefing, Andrey, Sarah, Sein, and Lisa headed to the Lumina Guild headquarters. Morgana had already been sent back to the demon side earlier with clear instructions: act as a spy, gather information from within, and report back when possible.

As they walked through the grand entrance of the Lumina Guild building, Sarah looked up at the towering architecture with wide eyes.

"Wow... this building is really magnificent," she muttered. "The design, the glowing mana crystals on the pillars, the sheer size... it feels like a fortress of light."

Sein glanced around with a slightly arrogant smirk, though she couldn’t hide her impression. "They really went all out to show dominance."

Lisa walked quietly beside Andrey, smiling softly. "It feels very secure and well-organized. No wonder so many heroes are flocking here lately."

Andrey remained mostly silent, his expression calm as they were escorted through the wide, elegant hallways by a guild staff member.

They were led into a spacious, luxurious meeting room where Leto, the Guild Master of Lumina, was already waiting. He stood up to greet them with a serious but welcoming nod.

Thank you for coming on such short notice," Leto said, gesturing for them to sit. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Andrey, Sarah, Sein, and Lisa took their seats. Sarah looked around with open curiosity, Sein lounged casually but kept her eyes sharp, while Lisa sat politely with a gentle smile.

Leto didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He placed both hands on the table and spoke seriously.

"I’ll get straight to the point. We’ve received multiple reports of increased demon activity in the past few weeks. Not just random monster outbreaks— coordinated movements. They’re targeting heroes more aggressively than before."

Andrey responded first, his tone calm but carrying the weight of someone who had already considered the possibility.

"We’ve also noticed a sudden surge in demon activity lately. It feels too coordinated. There’s a high possibility they have insiders among us or humans who have betrayed their own kind."

Leto’s expression turned grave. He leaned forward slightly.

"Is this related to the person you’ve been searching for?"

Andrey nodded. "Yes. Vesper Kane—the golden-eyed man. He’s been working with the demons and has leaked sensitive information about us. We need to find him and silence him as soon as possible. If he keeps feeding them intel, the demons will always be one step ahead."

Leto was silent for a moment, then gave a firm nod.

"I understand. I’ll have my people conduct a thorough investigation into him. We’ll treat this as a priority."

He paused, then continued with a heavier tone.

"But there’s another, more urgent matter. I need your team to handle an anomalous gate that appeared two days ago."

Lisa tilted her head, looking concerned. "Anomalous? What do you mean?"

Leto’s face darkened.

"Heroes who enter the gate... cannot come back out. We’ve already lost two teams. Communication is cut off once they cross the threshold. We’re in a very difficult position right now."

Sein leaned back in her chair, a sharp grin forming on her face.

"So you’re asking for help from a low-rank team like us? That’s pretty interesting."

Leto smiled faintly. "Thanks to Hope’s reports, I know your team possesses unique abilities, especially when dealing with demonic corruption. That’s why I’m turning to you."

Andrey stayed quiet for a moment, thinking to himself.

’Of course Hope would tell him everything. He is her superior, after all.’

He then looked at Leto directly and asked, "So you believe this anomalous gate is the work of the demons?"

Leto nodded without hesitation.

"The probability is very high. The timing, the behavior, the way it traps people inside... it doesn’t feel like a natural gate. I need your team to investigate and, if possible, clear it."

Sarah shifted uncomfortably, then spoke up, her tone laced with caution but grounded in hard-earned experience.

"It’s possible for us to help, but this anomalous gate is probably high-rank, right? If we go in blindly, we might get overwhelmed."

Leto raised his hand slightly, trying to reassure them.

"Don’t worry too much. Hope will be assisting you. She’s already at the site right now, making sure everything is under control and waiting for your arrival."

Andrey was silent for a moment, his thoughts racing beneath his calm exterior. ’Anomalous gate. Heroes trapped. Communication cut off. This has the demons’ fingerprints all over it. We don’t have enough information, but if we don’t act now, we might lose the chance to find out what they’re planning. And if Hope is already there... we can’t leave her alone.’

He met Leto’s gaze and gave a firm nod. "We’ll accept the request."

Leto smiled with clear relief. "Thank you. I truly appreciate it."

He then looked at Andrey with a more personal gaze.

"By the way... have you considered my previous offer? Joining the special squad I’m forming under Lumina Guild?"

Andrey shook his head politely.

"I’m sorry, but I still can’t accept it at this time."

Leto nodded understandingly, without any visible disappointment.

"I see. That’s perfectly fine. Take your time. The offer will remain open."

He then turned and gestured to one of his subordinates standing by the door.

"Send the coordinates of the anomalous gate to Andrey’s device immediately."

The staff member quickly complied. A few seconds later, Andrey’s phone vibrated. He checked the message — a detailed map with the exact location, difficulty estimate, and current status of the gate.

Andrey stood up, followed by Sarah, Sein, and Lisa.

"We’ll head there right away," he said.

Leto gave them a respectful nod. "Thank you again. Please be careful. Hope is already waiting for you on site."

The four of them left the meeting room and headed straight to the parking area where their black van was parked. As soon as they got in, Andrey started the engine while Sarah checked the coordinates on the navigation system.

Sein leaned back in her seat, cracking her knuckles. "Another weird gate, huh? This should be fun."

Lisa looked a little worried but determined. "We should stay cautious. If even experienced teams couldn’t come back out..."

Sarah grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Don’t worry. With us four, we’ll smash through whatever’s inside."

Andrey kept his eyes on the road as the van sped toward the marked location. The drive took around 45 minutes. As they got closer, the surroundings became noticeably quieter — fewer people, more sealed-off roads, and a heavy atmosphere in the air.

When they finally arrived at the site, they saw a large cordoned area with multiple Hero Association vehicles and barriers. Hope was standing near the entrance, waiting for them in her Valkyrie armor, her golden hair shining under the sunlight.

She waved as the van approached.

"You guys made it. Good timing," Hope said with a serious but relieved smile. "The gate is still active, but it’s behaving strangely."

Andrey stepped out of the van, followed by the others.

"Any new developments?" he asked.

Hope shook her head. "Not yet. But the mana readings are off the charts. This definitely isn’t a normal gate."

The team gathered near the shimmering, unstable portal. The air around it felt heavy and distorted.

Sarah crossed her arms. "So... who’s going in first?"

Andrey looked at the gate, then at his team.

"I’ll take the lead. Stay in formation. We don’t know what’s waiting on the other side."