146 Made-up Story

Just like how they planned it, Aldrin and Irina reappeared just a few meters away from the black miasma.

The space cracked open, dramatically spitting the two Metadomes out as though they had just left a battlefield.

When the worried Janet and the other members of the group noticed them, they were both dumbfounded and joyous at the sudden turn of events.

"T-that's Aldrin and Irina's Metadomes!"

"Hurry, hurry! Check on them!"

"Irina! Please be alive, Irina!"

While shouting all that in their communication channel, all of them swiftly move to rescue the two. Not knowing that it was just an elaborate act.

Noticing the rushing Metadomes to their side, Aldrin instructed Irina to act based on what they decided and to make it believable that they fought against a terrifying creature inside, Irina's Metadome was damaged considerably while Aldrin's Metadome only got a few scratches.

And before Frederic, Clark and the others arrived at their side, Aldrin already ejected himself from his Metadome and jumped in front of Irina, manually opening it from a safety hatch on its exterior, carrying the girl out.

"IRINA!" Clark was the first one who rushed out. Ignoring Aldrin, who was carrying the girl, he frantically checked Irina's injuries.

"Don't move her too much. She didn't have any injuries but she needs rest… Elder sister." Aldrin called out to Janet.

The woman shoved Clark to the side and checked the 'unconscious' Irina.

Perhaps noticing that the girl was just faking it, Janet's eyes focused on Aldrin.

He knew he couldn't easily fool the woman so he slightly nodded his head, implying that he was going to explain to her when the time comes.

Picking up that gesture, Janet returned it. She then calmly ordered the other trainees. "Hmm… I want to ask what happened but that can wait. Carry her in your Metadome first. I'll store her Metadome in my Spatial Pocket and send it back later. Frederic and the rest of you, escort them to the camp you built. Hurry up!"

Thankful for his elder sister, Aldrin swiftly moved to return to his Metadome. However, before closing the cockpit, he checked on the black miasma.

It's already disappeared from where it was suspended.

"For now, we avoided suspicion. But later, we have to keep the story straight about how you became a peak Stage 1."

As soon as they became alone inside his Metadome, Aldrin openly conversed with the girl. She was carried like a princess and now, she settled comfortably on Aldrin's lap.

"Yes… But can I cling to you until we reach the camp?" Irina asked coyly.

"Will you even accept it if my answer is 'no'?"

"No…" She then giggled and clung to him tighter, taking advantage of their situation.

Aldrin could only shake his head at how the girl was acting. But as a man… he could be honest and admit that he's not against it.

-

-

A few hours later, the night in the dimension arrived. After securing their camp, Aldrin's group huddled around a bonfire inside the cave that housed the Abyssal Wolf from earlier.

According to those who have been left behind as well as Aldrin's Dimensional Clones that he ordered to remain, dimensional creatures started pouring in after its death. Had he not ordered the other two clones to remain on guard, it's highly likely that someone could die,

They even praised the experts for their help when Aldrin and the others returned.

But once they saw Irina being carried by Aldrin, the same as earlier, the mood turned more joyous.

Some of them surely found it hopeless to rescue the girl given that they saw how she was swallowed whole. It's a miracle that she returned alive.

"Another dimension? How did you escape?" Frederic asked.

Aldrin and Irina were already halfway through their made-up story so questions had started to rise from everyone curious.

"Truthfully, saying that we escaped was wrong. It's more like we were spared." Aldrin solemnly answered. Irina nodded to confirm it before leaning her head on her shoulder. She's acting like how Aldrin wrote the play. "Thankfully, I found Irina inside before it's too late. I didn't recognize any of the rift monsters there but they're truly out of our league. The weird thing is… they seem to possess intelligence."

"Intelligence? I think I've heard of that story. Those beyond Extraordinary Rank were exhibiting some semblance of intelligence. But it's hard to truly communicate with them considering they're always out for our blood."

"Yes. But they… No. The creatures living in it have the intelligence to communicate. They toyed with us and perhaps, they became bored, they pushed us out of the dimension." Aldrin added a part of the truth to the story. That blue creature can communicate properly but it's incapable of speech.

"That's terrifying…" The other trainees exclaimed, believing Aldrin's story. Irina also provided some details that matched it so they couldn't truly dismiss it as a made-up story.

Moreover, Aldrin was their leader. They all trust him. That alone was a significant factor to explain what they went through.

"We're worried too, Aldrin. You're also swallowed, we thought… you also died." Caroline interjected, the worry on her face was genuine.

"Thank you for your concern. But we're here now. Alive and kicking." Aldrin smiled at Caroline. He stood up and tried stretching to show that nothing was wrong with him. And due to how comically he did it, it brought laughter to their group, easing up not just Caroline's but everyone's worries.

They then simultaneously sighed in relief.

Following that, they soon concluded their gathering in consideration of the two. They dispersed from the bonfire to take their rest while the night was out leaving only two of them for the lookout duty.

And with their agreement while inside the dimension, Aldrin shared the tent with Irina, much to the girl's happiness.

They're a known couple and even if Clark protested, Irina thanking him for his worry calmed the guy down.

A simp will always be a simp.

"No one is aware that you're already at peak Stage 1. Except for Janet."

"Yes. I think I can at least conceal it from everyone but someone like the Instructor. It's impossible. She can detect the fluctuation of my refined Energy. What do we do?"

"Leave it to me. For now… you should really take a rest. I'll go out for a while."

"Are you sure you're okay leaving me alone? What if I'm… controlled by Myul?" Clearly, Aldrin could guess that the girl didn't want to separate from him.

He told her that he was going to keep her close because of his suspicion but at the moment, he's already convinced that the girl wasn't controlled in any way or form. Nonetheless, he's still wary of that golden ball and the blue creature.

"If you're controlled by it then you won't ask me that. Don't worry. I'll return soon. Consolidate your new progress and take sufficient rest."

"Yes…"

After leaving Irina and the area where they set up their tents. Aldrin went further into the cave. To meet someone.

"There you are. I thought you'd make me wait for the whole night."

"I doubt you'll do that, elder sister. You'll definitely sneak into our tent if I don't show up."

"Smartass." Janet clicked her tongue in annoyance before stepping forward, allowing Aldrin to see her face through the dim light glowing from the walls of the cave. "Anyway, fill me in on what really happened. How come the girl became a peak Stage 1. No. Her refined energy is on the cusp of forming her Pagoda. That's not normal in any way."

"First of all, I need elder sister to swear to me not to tell anyone. Otherwise, I won't be able to trust you."

He already prepared a story. A believable story that Janet would have no choice but to accept.