So I was overly optimistic when projecting how quickly I would be able to rewrite things to get back to where I was. I'm actually on the second rewrite right now, as the method I used for introducing my portal-equivalents was overly dramatic and would've been difficult to implement any follow-up portal-equivalents showing up.
I'm honestly not even all that happy with this second re-write, and had just gotten to the part of the MC entering his first portal. I actually don't think this re-write is unsalvageable. I'm hoping that it only requires going back and tweaking things a bit for it to flow a bit better and for parts of the story to not feel as rushed, particularly time spent inside the portal.
I've got an idea floating around in my head at the moment that might help things, and we'll see how I'm able to flesh it out. Currently everything gets rushed along a bit because I have the portals "counting down" each day, with each successful run pushing the countdown back a bit, so there's a bit of a rush to get in, have a successful run, and get out. I think I'll tweak that be implementing a "recall" type of feature, where you can technically leave at any time but things get progressively harder the longer you stay in, with progressively better rewards as well, and the portal's individual countdown "timer" is paused while someone is inside. That would incentivize having groups right there ready to go as soon as a group exits. Maybe do something like the countdown progressing by 1 every 24-hours the portal isn't in use, the countdown being paused while the portal is in use, and the countdown either progressing or being pushed back by 1 after a run based on whether the group succeeded or failed in its run.
Would like to have the re-write pushed out in the next few weeks, so I can at least get back to the point I was at on the original, and so that I can get feedback on the current world from people that aren't myself lol.