Prologue
In the heart of a massive city, a city-state that has achieve the perfect blend of powerful magics and advance technologies that have lasted for a millennium, for today is a very special day. A day that occurs once every two centuries as the entire populace of this nation watch in anticipation and intrigue as the ceremony begins. Inside an oval shape stadium packed full of people eagerly waiting for it to start but didn't have to wait for long as at the center of the stadium, a round white platform levitates off the ground into several meters in the air. Five people are seated in a circle on this floating platform, all clothed in white hooded robes, holding staffs with different icons on top of them then one of the hooded figures stands up and walks to a podium. The crowds soon go quiet as the figure is about to speak.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages to the 41st Great Expansion Trials!" The crowd erupts in cheers and applause at the man's proclamation and after a moment of cheers, the spokesman gestures the crowd to calm down. He speaks loud and clear with pride as he resumes, "Today, five brave volunteers have gathered here today to embark on a sacred mission to bring prosperity and glory to our great Gearian Ascendancy. These five souls will cross the Infinite Gateway to some distant and strange world, to work on bringing that world to be a part of us. They'll use whatever method they see fit in order to achieve that goal or fall short with the possible of losing their own lives. Each one of them have meticulous planned and prepared for this important quest and now the time has come for them to begin their great work."
The spokesman's platform flies over to the end of the stadium where a large stage is setup with a massive arch in the back then six tiles on the stage with each of them a few feet apart from the other lights up. The spokesman's platform stop in front of part of the stage that has ascending stairs that lead to white rounded pedestal with a complete blank, grey, floating gear resides above.
The man speaks again in the same tone and intensity, "Let us all welcome our brave explores while I introduce them *Ahem*!" A door on the side of the stage opens and the first person walks out onto the stage, "Please welcome Wyatt Drake!" The crowd cheers loudly as they welcome him.
A few seconds later the second volunteer walks out, "Welcome Miss Scarlet Kingsley!" The crowd cheers loudly again but a lot of whistles from the men can be heard.
Once Scarlet walks a few more feet from the door, the third volunteer walks out, "Give a thunderous applause to Gregor Hagemeier!" The crowds obliges to the spokesman's request as all the hands clapping as one does sound like a thunder storm.
The forth volunteer walks out but albeit slowly as she nervously covers partially of her face to which crowd chucks including the spokesman as he tries saying in a clear voice, "Hehe, p-please give Miss Margaret Valeri here a warm welcome everyone!" The crowd cheers with numerous voices saying encouraging things to her.
After a moment once Margaret is away from the door, the final volunteer walks out which the spokesman says, "And here is Mr. Zack Anderson!" The crowd welcomes him as he waves back at all of them.
The five volunteers walk on top of the lighten tiles from left to right with only the last tile with no one standing on it, which causes some of the confusion among the crowd. The spokesman address this concern, "As you all see here, there is one tile left vacant, for we have a quick and unfortunate announcement to make: Yesterday evening, our sixth volunteer Walter Cambell had a violent allergic reaction when he was eating dinner with his wife which has put him in the Saint Frank Hospital. The doctors have reported he'll make a full recovery but he needs time so he'll be joining us at a later date. We offer our prayers for him a quick recovery, for now let's turn our attention to the here with these five. Now which one of you want to state you intentions first?"
The five volunteers look at each other until Zach says, "Ladies first?" Scarlet and Margaret look at each other to see who'll make the first move to which Scarlet does.
Scarlet dressed in a black coat with red lines that go up the sides then to the collar, black cargo pants, a rust color belt with a large dagger being held at her right hip and brown boots. She has short brisk red hair, tanned white skin, brown eyes as she stands five feet and seven inches tall with a very nice body and D-size bust. Her age is twenty-eight. She walks up the stairs stops in front of the pedestal then she takes a deep breath, "I'm Scarlet Kingsley and my plans to the new world is one of domination as I engineer a race of beings that'll ensure Gearian rule is absolute. My creations shall be the perfect beings capable of dealing with any threat from anything or anyone foolish enough to challenge me."
She extends her right hand and grabs the floating gear by the edge and says, "I hereby proclaim my title as Race Gear Scarlet and I wish to start my work of making my army of ultimate beings immediately!" The gear in her hand starts to distorts and changes color from grey to dark green and at the center of the gear a symbol appears showing a DNA molecule with a small humanoid figure framed in the center of the DNA molecule. This new version of gear stops distorting and Scarlet takes it back to her spot as her supplies suddenly appear there which compose of a large green barrel with two wheels on the bottom and a handle on top. A large dark green backpack and finally, a black block sized by two feet by two feet by two feet with a single diamond shaped hole on the front.
Once Scarlet return to her tile, the other volunteers and the entire crowd looks directly at Margaret which she slightly shudders but she doesn't turn away. Margaret dressed in greyish brown vest with a blue undershirt, blue jeans and has the same brown boots as Scarlet's. She has brown hair that reaches to the middle of her back, tied in a ponytail, wears rimless bottom glass, and her height is five, two. Her body isn't fat nor skinny so she is slightly more than average and her bust size is C. She is the youngest of the five, for she is twenty-one years old She starts walking with very step she took was slow but steady as she ascends the stairs and before long she stops in front of the Pedestal where another floating gear has appeared. She closes her eyes, takes a very deep breath then she opens her eyes and grabs the gear by the edge. In an almost clear voice she states, "M-my name is Margaret Valeri and I-I chose to partake in the Great Expansion Trial in hopes of achieving my…dreams and the Gearian Ascendancy. My plan iiis providing other like m-me a place in the sea or ocean, a place to call…home." Margaret takes another breath and resumes, "I hereby proclaim my title as Aqua Gear Margaret and I'll build that dream with my two hands now!"
The gear she is holding starts vibrating and distorts as the grey color changes to a light blue and a symbol of a single water drop appears in the center of the gear. Once the gear finished its transformation, Margaret takes her gear and returns to her tile where her supplies have appeared. She has a large brown backpack with an attached rolled up sleeping bag on the bottom and a staff clipped on the left side.
Now it was the guys left and Zack quickly says, "Better let the old timer go first before he kicks the bucket. Hehe!"
The old timer simply snorts then cheerful says, "HA! Only you Zack can say such things during very serious events but seeing you are still afraid of speaking in public, I'll go first just for you."
Zack shooting a slightly offend look back at Gregor as he goes up the stairs. Gregor being the oldest out of the five volunteers being in his mid to late fifties but he is massively ripped, strong as an ox and big as an elephant as he stands six, five. He has black hair shaped like a lion's mane, strong but gentle eyes, and a small patch of black chin beard. He is dressed in a green-golden vest-like design with no undershirt so his sixpack, part of his middle-upper chest and the both arms are exposed. Black jeans with a brown leather belt with four pouches, two on each side and black-green military boots complete his look. Every step he took is both confident and graceful like a king walking to his throne for the first time and takes no time in reaching the pedestal. He reaches out and grips the gear and states in strong, clear voice, "My name is Gregor Hayemeier and I choose whole heartily to participate in the Great Expansion Trail as I seek to create a kingdom that'll reflect my ideals and conduct. A kingdom that'll last for eons and become just as great as the Gearian Ascendancy. I hereby proclaim my title as Community Gear Gregor and my reign begins now!"
The gear in Gregor's hand suddenly shakes and the vision of the gear becomes blur but seconds later and the grey gear is now white and reflective as polished marble. The symbol in the center of the gears present itself as a large house icon with three people icons inside with two smaller houses with people icons inside on both the sides of the first house. Gregor takes his gear and walks down the stairs to see his massive greyish-black backpack and his prized weapon; a Kanabo. His Kanabo is half his height, the handle is thick as a normal man's arm but the stubbed head is thick as a light pole. Colored entirely in black but the stubs were silver with no scratches and bents seen on the surface. Gregor slings on his backpack and picks up his weapon as if they were light as a feather.
Gregor turns to Zack and says, "Feeling better now?"
"Phf! Your funny old man and I ain't going to let you outshine me." Zack then runs up the stairs and grabs the gears as it just appears when he reaches the top. Zack then shouts with excitement, "I, Zack Anderson take on the challenge of the Great Expansion Trial in order to prove myself worth. To have my integrity be pressured extremely, to have my skills tested to the limit, and my morals opposed. My wish to be better than I am now by the thrills of battle, through deeds both big and small and leave a legacy of standing strong, unbent and unbroken. I hereby proclaim my title as Warrior Gear Zack and my journey begins beyond the Infinity Gate to the new world!"
Zack's gear starts to change from grey to navy blue with orange swirls and the middle symbol appears as a sword and spear x-cross with a shield on top at the connection. With his gear in hand, he walks down stair to have his supplies waiting for him which are his grey-blue backpack and Zack personal crafted sword. His sword looks like a combination of a large claymore and a falchion because of the size is like that of a claymore and somewhat shaped like a falchion albeit asymmetric due to the top being longer than the lower. Zack also added a few additions because of his personal fighting style like the added hilt near the top of the blade where a single hand can grip comfortable. The other additions are the runes engraved on the bottom of the blade that can enhance the sword handler or the blade itself in specialized ways. Zack attire looks like he is going to war as he wears slim pauldrons in green-brown camouflage, a heavy jacket in the same color scheme, black fingerless gloves, thick jeans with kneecap guards, a belt with attached hip armor, and spike heel boots. Zack's dark brown hair style is messy to the point it looks like spikes, he wears glass googles on his white forehead and a black and red mask hangs around his neck. He is twenty-seven years old but he is sometimes mistaken to be much other due to the scars and winkles around his face.
Now there is only one volunteer left to get his gear and proclaim his title which is Wyatt as he simply strolls to the stairs, says, "You know what they say, 'Saving the best for last'." Wyatt smiling as if that statement is very true as he focuses at the top of the stairs. Wyatt has slightly lighter brown hair color than Zack's and stands an inch higher than Zack making him six, one. Wyatt's attire is more casual compare to the others except for Margaret as he is dressed in woodland theme vest with a pure green short sleeve shirt underneath, typical blue jeans and brown boots. He also wears a white cap with shades on top. His age is twenty-five. He reaches the top and looks at the gear floating there, waiting to be claimed, waiting to start of what he has planned when he goes through the Infinite Gateway. He grabs the gear in the same way everyone else has and announce his plan, "I, Wyatt Drake make my stance know to all for I know whole heartily and of my own consent agree to be a part of this 41st Great Expansion Trial as I enact my plan. For I'll build a structure for all to see as a beacon of prosperity…guidance…security and order. A place for those who are lost with nowhere to go or a place to find meaning again. A warm sight for all those who are welcomed but a warning for those who are not. I, hereby claim my title as Tower Gear Wyatt and my greatest project can begin!"
The gear contorts and twists as it changes from grey to polish steel and the symbol appears as a typical medieval tower in the center. With that done and out of the way, Wyatt returns to his spot and gathers up his supplies which are a black backpack with neon green lines on the straps and all of the laces then there is a black box measured by seven inches by seven inches and seven inches that has a mini-lock at the front to keep it permanently locked. He slings on the backpack then gently picks up the small black box as if there is something fragile inside.
Now that all five volunteers have made their vows and gathered their stuff for the upcoming event, the speaker addresses the audience, "Alright everyone, now these brave individuals have completed their rituals, I see no reason to not delay for what we all have been waiting for…Start the Infinite Gateway!"
The arch in the back of the stage which was big as a three-story building suddenly become alive as the lights, energy and the sounds of varies mechanics all over the arch powers up. One minute later and the void spot at the center of the arch is filled with best describe as the surface of a ocean but nothing can be seen past it nor one's own reflection.
"Tower Gear Wyatt, Race Gear Scarlet, Community Gear Gregor, Aqua Gear Margaret, and Warrior Gear Zack!" The people by those names look up to the man who said them as he continues, "Are you five ready to depart from Gear Ascendancy forever and to carve out your own domains in our stead?"
All five reply in unison, "Yes!"
"Very well then step into the gateway and claim your destiny!" The other four figures on the platform stand up and join the spokesman as his finishes his speech, "We, the council of Gearian bid you all good luck and a successful enterprise throughout the Great Expansion Trial! And may the gods and goddess of the Celestial Realm bless you with their favor! Farwell!"
The five enter the Infinite Gateway and their stories can now begin but will any of them have a happy ending or will it all be a tragic tale. Time will tell.
This is a story I have been developing in the back of my mind for a couple of months while working on Dark Interference and thoughted now was the time to bring out into the world. Don't worry about the story I've already started, I'm getting very close on uploading the next chapter, its that I'm proof reading it a third time. This story is completely separated from DI so there will be no crossovers. Anyways I hope you'll enjoy this story too.