A hundred monsters.
Their roars reverberated through the trees, as they stampeded forward in a savage, uncontrollable wave. The ground shook beneath them—horned demons, monstrous wolves, and twisted beasts of every shape and size, eyes wild and bloodlust blazing.
But there, towering above them all, stood a massive Goblin General—his greatsword raised high, a cruel sneer on his face as he bellowed orders, his hulking frame casting a shadow over the oncoming horde.
Kazuki watched them, unmoved. His eyes narrowed.
"Analyze."
A soft murmur as he summoned his Abyssal capabilities.
> [Analyzing...]
Name: Goblin General
Rank: S
Threat Level: Very High
Description: A commanding goblin, enhanced with the power of a dungeon. Can lead hundreds of lesser monsters with devastating tactics.
Kazuki's lips curled into a smirk. S-rank? He tilted his head, amused. For a goblin? Is this a bug?
His hand slowly reached for the sword at his side, but then—he paused.
"Eh, no need." He sighed. "This feels more like a job for something… cooler."
He dismissed the sword, and a ripple of dark energy spread from his body as the black aura enveloped him, crackling and surging.
Weapon Summoning.
From the pitch-black shadows swirling around Kazuki's form, a long spear slowly materialized, shimmering with crimson light—a dark ritual weapon forged in the depths of the Abyss itself. As it solidified in his hand, a faint hiss of burning energy whispered through the air.
Kazuki grinned, fingers tightening around the spear's shaft.
"Drozaneth—A ritual spear made to pierce both gods and monsters," he muttered. "I made this after slaying gods and demons in the Abyss... curious what happens when you fuse their powers. Too bad these guys are lower ranks."
The Goblin General let out a war cry, rallying his army to charge. Kazuki glanced at him—pathetic.
His hand lifted, pointing the spear skyward. Drozaneth hummed with dark energy, its crimson glow burning brighter as he focused.
"Vaskrion."
Kazuki's voice was low, almost like a whispered incantation.
The moment the words left his lips, Drozaneth's power erupted—the spear's form warping, twisting in mid-air, until it became something entirely different. The very fabric of space trembled as a massive crimson bolt shot from the spear, cutting through the atmosphere like a comet.
The bolt, Vaskrion, pierced the dimensions themselves—the world seemed to warp and bend around its passage. Time slowed.
The energy was pure destruction, a force that existed to obliterate. A flash of burning red that tore through the air in an instant, racing toward the horde.
In that moment, the bolt collided with the Goblin General and his army—every single monster caught in its path.
Explosions of crimson light erupted, showering the area in flames. The sheer force of the impact bent the trees, cracked the ground, and sent shockwaves rippling outward. The bolt moved through the monsters like a tidal wave, erasing everything in its wake—flesh, bone, and steel disintegrating as if they were nothing more than paper caught in a fire.
The explosion was cataclysmic.
For a brief moment, the entire forest glowed bright red, the sky above warping into a fractured mess as the dimensional rift tore open.
When the light faded, nothing remained.
The Goblin General? Gone.
The monsters? Reduced to ash.
The gate? Trembling on the verge of collapse.
Kazuki stood, unmoved by the carnage, his spear slowly fading from his grip as he let out a long breath.
He didn't even turn to look at the aftermath.
"I hope you enjoyed the heat..." He glanced over his shoulder as the last of the red glow flickered out.
"It's the last warmth you'll ever feel."
A moment of quiet. The world around him seemed to breathe once more, the forest coming to life again as the echoes of the battle faded into the distance.
> [Abyss Notification:]
Monsters defeated by Vaskrion: 179
Gate Core destabilized. Collapse in 00:09:55.
Kazuki sighed. Finally. Now, where can I find a place to crash?
As Kazuki stepped out through the shimmering blue gate, the portal behind him warped and twisted—then collapsed in a crackling flash, vanishing from existence like it was never there.
Silence.
But then—tap... tap... tap... Five distinct footsteps echoed from behind. He didn't turn around. Just from the weight of their presence, he knew—they were strong.
"Tch," he muttered.
With a smirk, he crouched slightly—then launched himself into the air with a sudden burst of power.
"I need to change my stats before I register," he said to himself mid-air, eyes sharp.
He brought up his hand, and the System's interface blinked to life in his vision like a holographic window:
---
[Skill Activated: Status Mirage]
Creates a false status profile, masking true stats and class.
> Current Illusion: Beginner Warrior
Level: 9
Class: Warrior
HP: 450
MP: 120
STR: 19
AGI: 14
VIT: 18
INT: 7
DEX: 13
Skills:
1. Battle Surge (Buff)
Temporarily increases the user's strength by 25% for 30 seconds.
"The Swordsman channels inner power, muscles surging with raw might, allowing heavier strikes and stronger guard breaks."
2. Cleave (Offensive)
A wide horizontal slash that hits multiple enemies in front.
"A sweeping sword strike designed for crowd control, effective against lightly armored foes."
3. Guard Stance (Defensive)
Reduces incoming physical damage by 30% for 10 seconds.
"Assumes a hardened stance, absorbing the brunt of attacks while maintaining readiness for a counter."
4. Lunge Strike (Offensive)
Dashes forward and thrusts the sword, dealing high single-target damage.
"A fast, piercing strike used to close distance and target enemy weak points."
---
"That should do," Kazuki muttered, flipping mid-air and landing atop a rooftop with perfect balance.
He looked toward the guild hall far off in the distance. "Let the games begin," he whispered, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
The space where the gate once stood shimmered faintly, the distortion in the air fading into nothing.
Five figures stepped into the clearing, clad in sleek black combat gear marked with the National Gate Response Unit insignia. Weapons at the ready, eyes sharp—they arrived prepared for battle.
But there was nothing left. Just silence and the faint scent of scorched earth.
"…Gate's gone," one of them muttered, lowering his rifle. "No residual signatures. It's fully collapsed."
Another, checking her wrist scanner, frowned. "Strange. We didn't pick up any active hunter IDs nearby. No magic traces either. It's like it cleared itself."
A younger man scoffed. "Must've been one of the other teams. Maybe Unit 7 got here first and didn't report it."
"They'd have logged something," said the woman sharply. "A B-rank gate doesn't just clear itself, and we don't miss signals."
The leader of the five, a tall man with a gray coat and a calm demeanor, surveyed the area in silence. Then he finally spoke, voice low and thoughtful.
"…Whatever team handled this didn't stick around. Maybe they were ordered to retreat fast. Or maybe they didn't want to be found."
"You think someone unauthorized cleared it?"
"No proof. But no hunter tags, no gear left behind, and no bodies—monster or human." He paused. "Only thing we know is... someone beat us here."
They all looked at each other.
"Report it," the leader said. "Mark the gate as 'cleared – unknown team.' We'll file it and move on. But stay alert."
As they turned to leave, one of them muttered under his breath, "Still... would've liked to shake the hand of whoever did this."
The Guild Hall buzzed with noise—low chatter, clinks of armor, the rustling of papers, and the occasional thud of someone dropping a weapon too heavy for their rank. Banners of the major guilds hung from the high ceiling, their insignias gleaming with pride and history.
Kazuki Ryuo stood among a group of new applicants, arms crossed, wearing a bored expression. His dark clothes looked plain, concealing the overwhelming aura just beneath his skin. His Status Mirage skill was working perfectly.
A woman in a professional blazer, carrying a clipboard, stood in front of the group. Her hair was tied neatly in a bun, and she had the exact kind of voice that demanded attention without shouting.
"Welcome to the East Sector Hunter Association," she began. "Before we proceed with your registrations, let's make one thing clear—being a hunter isn't a game. Gates don't wait for second chances."
She tapped a holographic screen that expanded beside her, displaying hunter ranks.
"There are seven hunter ranks: F, E, D, C, B, A, and S. Everyone starts at F-Rank, regardless of their skill or background. Promotions are handled based on official gate completions, evaluations, and recommendations."
Kazuki glanced at the screen, pretending to pay attention. In reality, he was scanning the area, already familiar with everything she was saying. F-Rank. Hilarious. If only they knew the truth behind the illusion he was projecting.
"You'll be allowed to take on E-rank gates after basic certification," she continued. "F-rank hunters are usually paired with a party, or monitored until they prove capable. Don't get cocky. Even low-tier monsters can kill if you're reckless."
Someone raised a hand. "What about guilds? Can we join them as F-ranks?"
The woman gave a faint smile. "You can apply, but major guilds don't usually accept anyone below D-rank. That said, here are the 10 Major Guilds currently active nationwide:
1. Titan Fang
2. Crimson Lotus
3. Silver Hydra
4. Night Vow
5. Iron Dominion
6. Shadow Cross
7. Blue Spiral
8. Black Rook
9. Sunfire Howl
10. Dragonheir Pact
"These guilds dominate the national rankings, clear high-tier gates, and recruit only the best. If you want a shot at joining them, don't die before you reach at least B-rank."
She let the silence hang for a moment.
Kazuki gave a lazy smirk, scratching his cheek. Dragonheir Pact, huh? Sounded like something he'd burn down just to test a new weapon.
"Now, head to the right booth and register your basic info and starting skill list. Once you're confirmed, you'll be issued your hunter license—congrats, you'll be officially recognized as F-Rank Hunters."
As the line moved, Kazuki stepped forward casually. The receptionist blinked at the tablet in front of her.
"Name?"
"Kazuki Ryuo."
"Age?"
"…18."
"Initial skills?" she asked.
He listed the ones from his Status Mirage screen:
Battle Surge
Cleave
Guard Stance
Lunge Strike
"Huh. Classic starter loadout." She tapped away. "Alright, Kazuki Ryuo. You're officially registered. F-Rank. You can now accept E-Rank gates from the mission board over there."
Kazuki accepted the plain hunter card and glanced at it, amused.
> [Name: Kazuki Ryuo]
[Rank: F]
[Authorized Gate Clearance: E-Rank only]
[Status: Certified Hunter – East Sector Branch]
He pocketed it, turned, and whispered to himself with a grin:
"F-rank, huh? Can't wait to see their faces when they figure out who really cleared that gate."