Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

The captain introduced herself as Jhen Ka Nor. "I'm just one of many captains," she said, gesturing vaguely toward the horizon. "The demon army is huge, and it takes more than one leader to keep everything running."

As William and Victoria walked with her, they quickly realized how different everything was from what they had imagined. The demons weren't the dark, monstrous creatures described in the ancient texts. Instead, they looked almost entirely human, with only a faint magical aura setting them apart. The city itself was alive with activity, filled with ordinary people going about their daily lives.

Victoria looked around in surprise. Kids were playing in the streets, their laughter filling the air. Farmers worked in the fields, and merchants called out to customers, trying to sell their goods. It was just like any human city she had ever seen. "This… this is so normal," she said quietly, almost to herself.

Jhen glanced at her, a small smile on her face. "Surprised?" she asked. "The stories your people tell about us are… well, let's just say they're not entirely accurate. We're not so different from you."

As they moved through the city, Jhen explained more about their destination. "The portal you came through leads straight into the dungeon under the guards' barracks," she said. "It's a smart setup. If any intruders come through, we have all the soldiers we need to handle them right away. Plus, it's far enough from the main part of the city to keep everyone else safe."

The barracks were located at the edge of the city, away from the busy center. Jhen mentioned there were several barracks across the island, but this one was specifically for guarding the portal. It was a place of defense and vigilance, showing just how important the portal was to them.

William, always practical, couldn't help but ask the obvious question. "If the portal is such a risk, why not just destroy it? Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Jhen paused, her expression turning serious. She looked at William, as if deciding how much to tell him. "We're on an island," she said finally. "A remote one, far from any other land. We don't have ships or any way to leave. The portal… it's our only connection to the outside world. Destroying it would mean cutting ourselves off completely. For now, we keep it. It's a risk, yes, but it's also our only hope of one day finding a way off this island."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. William nodded slowly, understanding the difficult balance they had to maintain. Victoria, meanwhile, felt a pang of sympathy for these people—so similar to her own, yet trapped in a situation she could hardly imagine.

As they reached the barracks, Jhen turned to them, her tone firm. "We'll run the tests soon," she said. "But remember, you're here because I allowed it. Don't make me regret it."

William met her gaze, his resolve clear. "We won't," he promised.

As they continued talking, William learned more about the island and its people. The island was not only incredibly remote, but it was also surrounded by treacherous oceans and strange, unexplainable phenomena that made leaving nearly impossible. No matter how hard they tried, the island was their only sanctuary, their only home.

Jhen explained that the island was vast, with many cities spread across its land. It wasn't just a small piece of land but a massive territory with a thriving population. However, despite its size and resources, the island was facing a serious crisis.

"We're having problems with the current king," Jhen admitted, her voice lowering as if she were sharing a dangerous secret. "The king doesn't have the royal bloodline, and it's causing unrest among the people. They're angry, and it's creating tension across the island."

William frowned, curious. "Why doesn't the king have the royal bloodline? Isn't that, like, a requirement or something?"

Jhen didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stopped walking and gestured toward a heavily guarded building. "We're here," she said, her tone shifting to something more formal.

They entered the building, and inside, William saw a large black crystal glowing faintly in the center of the room. The crystal was surrounded by intricate carvings and symbols, and the air around it felt charged with energy.

"This is where we test the strength of a bloodline," Jhen explained. "Among us, there are those who are stronger and those who are weaker. The bloodline determines a lot—like how powerful someone is in combat or what role they can take on in society."

William nodded. It made sense. In a world where magic and bloodlines dictated strength, it was natural that people would be sorted into roles based on their abilities. If someone wanted to join the army, for example, they'd need a strong bloodline. There was no room for the weak in such positions.

"Walk forward and touch the crystal," Jhen instructed, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I'll be watching to see if you actually have a demonic bloodline—and if it's decent."

William hesitated for a moment, already knowing what was about to happen. He wasn't just carrying a demonic bloodline; he had a royal one. The thought crossed his mind: 'Will I have to become a king here? This sounds like way too much work…'

But there was no way around it. He couldn't hide his bloodline, and the test would reveal everything. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the crystal.

The moment his skin touched the smooth surface, the crystal erupted in a bright red light. The glow was intense, almost blinding, and it filled the room with a deep, pulsating energy. But that wasn't all. Strange runes began to appear around the crystal, glowing with the same red light. These weren't ordinary markings—they were ancient symbols that only appeared under very specific circumstances.

Jhen's eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back, her hand flying to her mouth. "A-A royal bloodline!" she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief. "This… this can't be…"

The room fell silent except for the hum of the crystal. William stood there, his hand still on the crystal, the red light casting long shadows across the room. He could feel the weight of Jhen's gaze on him, a mix of awe and uncertainty.

"Well," William said, breaking the silence with a dry tone, "this just got a lot more complicated."

Jhen stared at him, her mind clearly racing. "You… you have the royal bloodline. Do you realize what this means? The people… they've been waiting for someone like you. The current king… this changes everything."

William sighed, already feeling the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "Yeah, I figured it might."

"Did you already know about this?" Jhen asked, her voice low and probing. She had noticed that William didn't seem nearly as shocked as he should have been upon discovering he had a royal bloodline. His calm demeanor was suspicious, to say the least.

"I did, yes," William admitted, his tone matter-of-fact. "The guardian who watches over the portal told me about it."

Jhen's eyes narrowed slightly, but instead of reacting with alarm or immediately sharing the news with others, she did something unexpected. She stepped closer to William, her voice dropping to a whisper. "We must keep this a secret for now. Do you understand? This information cannot get out."

William raised an eyebrow, surprised by her reaction. He had assumed she would announce his royal bloodline to everyone, but it seemed she had other plans. For someone who wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of becoming a king, William was more than happy to go along with her suggestion. "Fine by me," he said with a shrug. "I'm not exactly looking for a crown right now."

Jhen glanced around, relieved that the black crystal used to measure bloodlines was housed inside a secure building. The guards were stationed outside, unable to see what had just transpired. The fewer people who knew about William's royal bloodline, the better—at least for now.

"We need to talk more in private," Jhen said, her voice still hushed. "But first, let me handle the situation with the others. I'll tell everyone that you're a friend of the man who came through the portal with the book. That should explain your presence without raising too many questions. We'll keep the truth about your bloodline hidden for the time being."

William nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan."

Jhen quickly ushered William and Victoria out of the building, leading them through the city streets to her own home. It was a modest but well-kept house, located in a quieter part of the city. She handed them the keys and gestured for them to go inside. "Stay here for now, and don't leave," she instructed. "There's food and everything else you might need. I'll be back as soon as I can."

With that, Jhen turned and left, her mind clearly racing with everything she had to do. Not only did she have to deal with the administrative tasks that came with someone arriving through the portal, but she also had to figure out how to handle the bombshell that was William's royal bloodline. The situation was delicate, and one wrong move could upset the already fragile balance of the island.