Purpose.
It was a word that motivated the entire human race and maybe the animal kingdom. No matter who you are, how dumb, smart or psychopathic you are, the word will always be etched to the instincts of any living being to follow it. To grasp it, to achieve it. No matter what purpose, you want it to seek it and it was up to you if you lose it or gain it.

Of course, there were those who surrender and let the tides of Fate's cruelty sweep them off until they drown but he didn't cared for those people. Those guys can do whatever they want.

Even if he lost everything. Purpose and all.

But hey! Isn't that the reason why he stood in front of what could be something out of the shit her sister watch? What was it again? Isekai? Yeah, he doesn't know shit but atleast his sister is not here because he knows that if she ever see this portal being opened, she would've jumped in with him with no hesitation whatsoever.

He was serious.

'Another reason why Aliez is better of knowing I'm dead. Now shut up, you damn guilt-tripping heart.' Yet, his heart still gave him the guilty trip as he knew that everything will be changed once he enters this portal.

"Earth to Heller. Earth to Heller Knight? Helloooooo?" A voice pulled him out of his reverie as he turned his eyes away from the portal before turning to a one-way glass a few meters away from him. The intercoms system turned on and the voice addressed him again.

"Good. You spaced out there for a few seconds at best. Is there something wrong there?" Clarke, a good friend and scientist of him, asked as the sounds of buttons and other things were pressed or calibrated echoed around the platform of where he stood. People in lab coats ran around giving reports or papers to someone as they did some things to consoles or talked to each other, addressing the machine that spew out two beams behind Heller where the portal was slowly growing in size.

"Not that much, C. Just getting some some jitters about this." Heller replied before a question crossed his mind, "I mean, I have faith in you guys, but what are the probability this thing sending me to the Warhammer 40k universe?"

Despite the one-way glass, he could feel Clarke's deadpan stare at the otherside while some scientists and guards snickered.

A few looked outright worried before they made sure to check he machine, which if he remembered, the thing that held the Dimensional Coordinates.

"I swear to every god out there, Clarke!" Heller threatened as his right hand hovered above his right thigh holster where his revolver was.

"Sweet Einstein! Just because it is going to send you to a different Dimension, it does not mean it's going to send you to some fictional world created by some people." The Head Scientist remarked as Heller chuckled. "Ugh... I knew we shouldn't have awaken you from your coma. That, and I am pretty sure the test monkeys we used returned in one piece without turning to some Lovecraftian Abominations. Oh, and did I forgot we sent men and women wearing a cross between a hazmat and astronaut suit that is more or less a bombing suit?" Clarke ranted.

"Dude... it was a joke." Heller aid before crossing his arms. "Seriously, man. Get laid or some rest. From what I heard from the Bear, you've been going at this non-stop ever since Preparations begun days ago." He finished, frowning as a sigh escaped from the intercoms.

"It's just..." Clarke paused, obviously hesitationg before continuing on, "This.. this is the biggest step Mankind has ever taken. Surpassing even the first trip to the moon. The only time humanity decided to chuck politics aside and band together as actual human beings for once because they finally fucking realized the threat we are facing! Sure, it took years before they took Global Warming and the threat of permanently losing Natural Resources until it came punching them right at the face. But still!" the Head Scientist took a deep breath, "I mean the thought of going to a different portal was crazy at first but can we really make anything that can save us? That it took some kid's secret garage project that he showed to a Science Fair? That the same kid is here ranting like a madman because right now, the fate of Earth's future is now relying on every person that is room until to the janitor? Tha—" There was a pause until a loud smacking sound sounded throughout the PA system.

Everyone paused at what they are doing as they looked at the one-way glass before some shook their heads and focused on their current activities.

It took a few minutes, and the portal growing ever slightly that the PA syatem turned on again. A female voice can be barely heard in the intercoms before there was a smooching sound that Clarke returned, voice composed and calmer than before.
"Sorry for that, everyone. Just... being pressured and all but it's time to cut to the chase." He then paused, as if contemplating something before the female voice was heard, giving something akin to encouragement. His voice, now clear and a bit jolly, spoke once again. "Although, I do want to congratulate every single one of you. Because of your work, no matter how small it is, has helped this Project to reach greater heights. Now, we have found a purpose. A purpose to help humanity!" the Scientist cheered, a sharp contrast to his earlier demeanor, as people followed his shout while Heller smiled and shook his head.

"This scene looks surreal," He murmured. "But whatever floats their boat, I guess."

"Mercenary." Heller smirked before taking a step forward and tipped his black military cap as Clarke addressed him. "There is no more time to explain since the system has been calibrated and everything is now working properly." He explained as Heller nodded, liking the Serious Clarke than triggering Paranoid Clarke. "Cameras show that once you cross Dimensional Threshold, an open field will be your starting point. So before begin... Let me ask this, Heller."

"Are you prepared to leave everything behin—" He didn't managed to continue before Heller rudely cut him off.
"Oh! Cut the bullshit, Clarke! You know I don't want hear any speech of 'Are you ready to leave this world' again! This world is turning to a shit hole, anyway." Atleast he kept his voice as light-hearted as possible.
He didn't know why, but he could feel Clarke smirking and shaking his head, no doubt muttering "Here comes the jittery side of Heller."

"Fine, fine." The Scientist answered before making one last snide comment.
"But isn't this the shit hole your sister is living in?"

Heller couldn't help but laugh loudly at that remark before his mind brought him to how Earth slowly became worse, and NOT because of Mother Nature having enough of her 'Virus' but with the current standing of the Society.

'Snowflakes, Sensetive assholes and idiocy that is growing more worse. Oh, and SJ fucking Ws. Yeah... My Sister can handle this shit.'

"That woman can handle herself and her new family!" Heller remarked. "She's tough as hell even if she decided to leave the Mercenary life behind after..." he trailed off as he felt the weight of ten, including his, dog tags that was from his team. 'Well, just like those cheesy movies say. Those guys will always be in my heart.' He took a deep breath before looking at the one-way glass.
"Let's just get this show on the road."

Clarke was silent for a moment before he respected his wishes.

Soon, every single person prepared themselves for the future of Humanity was relying on this one last step for Mankind.

Heller walked to a nearby vehicle facing the portal. It was a GAZ Tigr with a Norinco W89 .50 cal MG on it's top hatch. The Desert camo was a stark contrast to it's technological surrounding but he didn't cared. Before he could ride into the Russian-made awesomeness, he checked himself for his equipment and everything.

He was wearing his favorite Riot suit given to him by a friend, who works at Advanced Ops International, who he helped with and as a reward, this armor was made for him. Except there was key differences. On his left sleeve he kept the elbow and forearm guards but he only kept the elbow guard only, leaving his forearm bare with a black kevlar glove on each hands.
Another peculiar thing seen on the armor was a pauldron on his right shoulder that seems to be created from... feathers?

Heller's thoughts lingered as he remembered why he wore this peculiar piece of armor. Then it hit him. 'How can I forget? Violetta loved wearing this everytime I see her when we work. But what was reason? Oh, loved the design of the Devil Hunter from that that old Crossfire game since her cousin used Violet as a game model.' He shook his head, a bit disappointed of himself for not remembering that small tidbit before decided to check everything on his person.

"Okay..." His hand patted the holster that held a S&W 327 TRR8 revolver. "My assault revolver is in prime condition." He then looked down where an APC .45 smg was strapped under his left arm. Nodding when he checked the strap to ensure its hold after giving some hops, he then travelled his hand over his left shoulder where he grabbed a rifle that that was sheathed in its scabbard across his back, it's stock was sticking out behind his left shoulder.
Once pulled out, the rifle revealed to be a Marlin STP Trapper loaded with his favorite .45-70 Gov't rounds.

Yes, it looked out of place in his military ensemble but Lever-action rifles have served him ever since his starting days as a mercenary. So did his father and 'till his grandfather's father

That, and he was going to a different world. A rifle that can take on dinosaurs is going to be needed here. Call him paranoid but if there's something that can take on these heavy weight rounds, then he has all right to freak the fuck out.

Scream like a little bitch at it, too.

Giving the rifle a once over before he returned the rifle back to its scabbard properly.
Then, he checked on his left waist where a Condor Bolo Machete was sheathed like a sword. On his lower back, a Condor Dundee Bowie's handle was poking behind right waist and a KABAR Big Brother was sheathed on his left shoulder.

After that, he simply adjusted his steel-toed combat boots' laces and just simply stood there as he simply drowned out the machinery being activated before leaning on his back beside the Tigr.

His thoughts immediately brought him when Clarke asked him earlier about leaving everything behind.

With all honesty, his heart was truly giving him the annoying guilt-trip.

'It's for the better.' He tried to explain. His heart disobeyed.
'She's better off knowing I'm dead. She already has a family and me showing up will just remind her how I dragged her to the Mercenary life. A life her family must never learn. She found a purpose to live for after she lost everything while I...' He trailed off.

It was true. Aliez, her sister found a purpose. A better one than her accompanying him to the end.
While he lost every person that was important to him. Especially his lover.

His mind gave him flashbacks of the last fight before it came to him floating broken and dying in the middle of the ocean of a place he wants to forget as soon as possible.

'I was suppose to die that day. Following the others to their grave since all we have is each other. But no... Fate decided to be a bitch and let me survive the explosion after I pushed Aliez in to the safety boat.' He immediately winced as the phantom pain of the fire and the salt water biting his wounds and a part that he lost. But he didn't winced because of those lingering sensation. No, sir. It was when he could still hear Aliez brutal profanity and threat to his genitals when he locked her in to save her that caused him to wince and unconsciously block his balls.

"Yeeeeeaaahhhh... I think it's for the greater good that she thinks I'm dead." He said before shaking his head off of those thoughts.

Then, he was comatosed and when he woke up months later in this same facility, he found himself lost. Figuratively and Literally. Then, Clarke came in and explained everything that has happened and all.
He could still remember him crying and screaming in rage in grief on losing the ten people that became his family. People that he had met throughout his life and joined him and Aliez.
But that he didn't let their deaths to anchor him down to the abyss. He still did some good and he knows that killing himself is simply the equivalent of him leaving them behind like a coward when he was given a choice back then to save his skin or try to save them, only to fail.

But he saved his sister, and that was more than enough to him to keep going and comeback stronger.

Even when he lost his right arm that fateful day.

Yes. He found out that the entirety of his right arm was gone when he woke. But he didn't cared about that until he finally passed the stages of grief.

Then again, when opportunity knocks at your door... You better open it up, or it comes crashing through your door (in his case.)

After those dark weeks. Clarke offered him a chance. To volunteer in one of the most dangerous Projects humanity has done. But in exchange, his sister's children will receive free scholarship in disguise of a Government luckily 'choosing' her family. Millions of dollars in disguise of a raffle or lottery and other ridiculous things that Heller knew will benefit her growing family.

And for him? A chance to test a more advanced prosthetic arm. Although, it was more or less a bit of a scam. The arm looks like an ordinary one, unless you touch it to know the difference and it can't change into something badass.
Atleast it may be on par with the Winter Soldier's arm in terms of functionality and durability. But he is still pissed they didn't even added even the smallest blade that can act as a hidden blade of sorts.

'It's too impractical, they say. Too dangerous, they say. The arm will lose its durability... Fuck those assholes. They just don't want to add it because I know they have seen my mental report.' He shook his head in annoyance. 'Fine. Punching is more badass anyway. If the new Doom Guy can do it, well, might as well follow.' He smirked at the thought. 'Heh. Maybe video games can really cause some deaths.'

Meh. Whatever decides to mess with him on the Otherside got nothing but blame to themselves for crossing him and trying to fuck with him.

Oh boy... If he only knew...

It took a few minutes before he climbed in to his Tigr and turned on the engine before the siren began to blare loudly as everyone scrambled to their stations and Project: Crossworld began.

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. (Line Break)

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AN: So here it is! My first story and I do apologize for any mistakes I did and if the writing is a bit... I dunno. It has been a long time since I wrote stories like these but I guess I gotta take advantage of my mind, right?
Anyway. I guess you think this story was inspired from Gate: Thus the JSDF fought there, right?

Well, technically, you are right. But I guess I added some elements from the Stargate series and all that jazz. But I decided to improvise since this story has been nagging at my mind for months and I am a big fan of Mercenary characters.

Word of warning, this is a ridiculous story that kept plaguing my mind.

I blame my psychopathic side.

But yeah.
And don't think this is gonna be some typical isekai story. I may not reach A Journal of a Connecticut Yankee levels but I assure you this story is gonna be good. (I wish.)

Some helpful criticism will be appreciated and I hope you enjoy this story!