One early morning, a patrolling team conducting their routine rounds near the outskirts of the city stumbled upon an unexpected sight—a newly manifested F-class gate that had yet to be cleared.
Acting swiftly, they informed their superiors, and a team of hunters was dispatched to deal with it. The hunters successfully cleared the gate, which vanished soon after. While they didn't discover any powerful artifacts, rare elixirs, or high-grade skill books, they did manage to collect several advanced low-tier artifacts and monster remains.
Satisfied with their findings, the hunters assumed their mission was a success and left the area without realizing they had overlooked something crucial — a hidden treasure that could alter the course of one's growth.
That overlooked item was none other than the Growth Elixir.
At first glance, the potion appeared to be nothing special — just another low-grade elixir commonly used to accelerate the growth of weaker individuals. The version of the Growth Elixir that Ren had previously used was a diluted form that only worked for those ranked D and below. However, this version was far superior.
The enhanced Growth Elixir worked on individuals up to C rank and provided its effects for an entire week, compared to the inferior version's mere three-day duration.
The elixir's true value lay in its ability to boost overall growth speed, making it highly sought-after by warriors and adventurers alike. Yet, instead of recognizing its worth, the hunter team dismissed it as worthless.
Due to its foul stench — a signature trait of items found in undead-type dungeons — they assumed it was spoiled and discarded it without a second thought.
This seemingly insignificant incident was briefly mentioned in a local newspaper, buried within a small column that most overlooked. However, observant readers of the novel's game adaptation were quick to spot the hidden clue. Ren, too, had been impressed by those keen-eyed players who had managed to connect the dots from that fleeting reference.
Now, armed with that knowledge, Ren waited patiently near the site where the gate had once appeared.
After resting at an inn for a few hours, he set off toward the area in his Space Sprinter, arriving swiftly. He positioned himself far from the patrol's usual route, using his Hawkeye ability to monitor the surroundings for any signs of movement.
Hours passed before he detected activity — a faint shimmer in the air marked the gate's reappearance.
Knowing time was short, Ren moved swiftly, slipping into the gate before any patrol teams arrived.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of rot, and the darkness was nearly impenetrable. The decaying surroundings made breathing difficult. Yet Ren came prepared — pulling out a specialized face mask from his space ring, which doubled as a gas mask and night-vision device.
In the distance, a towering structure loomed — a massive fortress made of jagged, black stone that looked worn with age. Ren knew that was his destination — the lair of the gate's boss monster.
The desolate landscape was lifeless, the ground strewn with jagged stones and bones. The only movement came from the occasional cluster of undead creatures — twisted figures with glowing red eyes, standing eerily still as if awaiting orders.
Recalling what little information the author had provided about this gate, Ren muttered, "Undead monsters... and the boss should be an E-class Wight Knight."
Ren's heart raced with excitement. He'd spent weeks training to perfect his swordsmanship, and this gate would be his first true test.
He reached into his space ring, drawing out his new sword — Nandaka — its blade gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Gripping the hilt tightly, Ren advanced deeper into the gate.
Soon, the undead stirred. A wave of zombies shambled toward him, their decaying limbs flailing as they closed in. Ren wasted no time — his sword flashed through the air, slicing through the rotten flesh with precision. Limbs scattered as the foul stench of death thickened.
Next came the skeletons, their bony fingers clawing at him. Knowing their skulls were their weak point, Ren crushed them one by one, the clattering of bones echoing through the desolate wasteland.
Suddenly, swarms of rats emerged, scurrying toward him in a frenzy. Drawing his crossbow, Ren unleashed a volley of arrows imbued with Thunder Eagle, striking them down with shocking precision. His improved marksmanship skills made the task far easier than before.
As Ren pressed onward, ghouls emerged from the shadows, snarling hungrily. Yet Ren's calm mind and sharp reflexes kept him composed, allowing him to dispatch them with ease.
Hours passed as he methodically cleared the gate, his body growing weary. Despite the fatigue, Ren pushed forward toward the boss's lair.
The Wight Knight awaited him — a headless, undead knight clad in battered armor. Its jagged sword gleamed dully under the flickering torchlight, and its body radiated a cold, deathly aura.
Ren's mind raced as he formulated a strategy. The Wight Knight was slow but powerful, with high endurance and strength. Its intelligence, however, was lacking. Knowing this, Ren decided on a swift assault.
He tossed a mana grenade at the creature, detonating it in a flash of light and smoke. Using the confusion to his advantage, Ren dashed in and slashed his sword across the Wight Knight's side.
The monster let out an inhuman growl and retaliated, swinging its rusted blade. Ren narrowly dodged, feeling the gust of wind from the strike rush past his face.
His heart pounded as he dodged each attack, waiting for the right moment. When the Wight Knight stumbled, Ren seized the opportunity — he leapt forward, driving Nandaka deep into the creature's side.
The Wight Knight roared in agony, but it wasn't finished yet. Raising a skeletal hand, it summoned a horde of lesser undead.
Ren quickly retreated and tossed a mana bomb, obliterating the approaching creatures in a fiery blast.
When the smoke cleared, the Wight Knight stood alone once more. With a final burst of strength, it charged toward Ren, armor clanking with each step.
Ren met the charge head-on, sidestepping the monster's wild strike before plunging his sword straight into the exposed neck stump.
The Wight Knight's glowing eyes flickered before it collapsed, its body crumbling into dust.
"Hah... Huff... Hah..." Ren gasped for air, feeling his battered body tremble from exhaustion. Despite the pain, he knew he had won.
He collected the loot — including the coveted Growth Elixir — and exited through the now-stable portal.
Outside, Ren mounted his Space Sprinter and rode back toward his inn. The gate vanished behind him, sealing itself off for good.
After a hot bath and a well-earned rest, Ren evaluated his gains. He sold most of the artifacts he had collected, but kept the Growth Elixir for himself.
"It's not the right time to use this," he muttered, placing the elixir in his space ring.
His week-long outdoor training session was nearing its end — only three days remained before his birthday.
With the final phase of his plan now underway, Ren felt a surge of excitement. Everything was falling into place, and he couldn't wait to see the results of his hard work.