Vance rummaged through a battered storage chest before tossing a worn-out leather vest in my direction. I caught it and held it up, noting the faint slashes and dried bloodstains.
Roth smirked. "Don't worry, the last guy didn't die while wearing it. Probably."
I didn't react, just slipped it on. It fit well enough.
Dane then handed me a rusted dagger, its edge dull from overuse.
"That thing ain't pretty, but it'll do the job," he said. "You stab, it bleeds."
I gripped the hilt, feeling its weight in my hand.
Vance sat down on the couch, leaning forward. "Alright, listen up, Ryzen. We're heading into a D-Rank Gate. Like I said earlier, nothing crazy—just goblins and maybe a hobgoblin boss."
Roth leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Your job is simple. You stay behind us, carry any loot we find, and—" he smirked, "—if we tell you to run, you run."
I met his gaze. "And if I want to fight?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Vance let out a short laugh. "Well, if you really wanna throw hands with a goblin, be my guest. But if you slow us down, you're on your own."
I nodded. That was all I needed to hear.
A notification suddenly flashed in my vision.
***
[Quest Progress Updated]
Objective: Enter a Gate and slay a monster. (D-rank or higher)
Time Remaining: 66 Hours, 12 Minutes.
***
The next morning, we made our way to the Hunter Association's Gate Terminal, a massive industrial complex where registered Hunters could take on dungeon raids. The place was buzzing with activity—Hunters in full combat gear, support staff running logistics, and security personnel checking IDs at the entrance.
I followed closely behind Vance, Roth, and Dane as they approached one of the side terminals, where lower-ranked teams gathered. Unlike the elite A and B-Rank squads entering high-level Gates, these people were rough-looking—mercenaries, freelance Hunters, and desperate rookies.
A D-Rank Gate shimmered before us—a swirling vortex of dark energy, pulsing with unstable mana.
Vance walked up to the terminal operator, a bored-looking woman in a uniform. He handed over his Hunter ID.
"Vance, Roth, Dane," the woman muttered, scanning the IDs. Then she glanced at me. "Who's the kid?"
"Our porter," Vance said smoothly. "Temporary contract."
The woman frowned but shrugged. "Whatever. Just don't let him die." She tapped her console, and the Gate access flickered green.
Roth grinned and clapped my shoulder. "Time to prove you're worth something, Ryzen."
I exhaled slowly and stepped into the Gate.
As soon as we crossed the threshold, a chilling sensation washed over me. The air was damp, carrying the scent of blood and decay. The sky above was a swirling red mist, and the ground beneath my feet felt like hardened ash.
We were in a forest, but the trees were twisted—gnarled black bark with glowing red veins running through them.
"Alright, keep your eyes sharp," Vance muttered, unsheathing his sword. "D-Rank Gates ain't exactly life-threatening, but they ain't a walk in the park either."
Dane cracked his knuckles. "Let's find some goblins and get paid."
Roth scouted ahead, moving with surprising speed and silence. After a few moments, he raised a hand, signaling us to stop.
"Three goblins. 20 meters ahead," he whispered. "Two with crude daggers. One with a bow."
Vance grinned. "Perfect. Dane, you're up."
The massive brute cracked his neck and charged forward with terrifying speed.
The goblins barely had time to react before he swung his hammer—one was instantly crushed, its body exploding into green mist. The second goblin tried to stab him, but Dane grabbed it by the throat and squeezed—there was a sickening crack, and the creature went limp.
The third goblin, the archer, panicked and tried to run.
"Not so fast," Roth muttered, drawing a dagger from his belt. He flicked his wrist, and the blade soared through the air, embedding itself in the goblin's skull. The monster collapsed without a sound.
It was over in seconds.
I swallowed. This was the power of experienced Hunters.
"You see that, kid?" Vance smirked. "Quick. Efficient. No hesitation."
Then he pointed at me. "Now it's your turn."
I exhaled slowly as I crouched beside the goblin corpses. Their bodies were already starting to dissolve into green mist, leaving behind only mana crystals—small, glowing stones embedded in their remains.
"Pick 'em up," Vance ordered. "Monsters drop these when they die. Good money in 'em."
I hesitated for a moment before reaching out. The first mana crystal was warm in my hand, its glow pulsating faintly. It felt almost alive.
[You have acquired: Lesser Mana Crystal ×3]
Roth chuckled. "Don't just stare at 'em, kid. Pocket those. We sell 'em when we get out."
I nodded, slipping them into a small pouch on my belt. The process felt eerily normal to the other three, but to me, it was surreal. Just yesterday, I was a nobody—now, I was harvesting monster cores like a real Hunter.
"Alright, no time to waste," Vance said, stretching. "We clear this dungeon fast, we get paid fast. Let's move."
The twisted forest stretched on as we moved deeper. The deeper we went, the thicker the fog became, swirling between the trees like a living thing. Shadows flickered in the mist, but no monsters attacked.
Dane cracked his knuckles. "Feels like we're gettin' close."
Roth nodded. "Dungeon's too quiet. That means—"
A loud, guttural roar echoed through the trees.
Vance smirked. "—the boss room ain't far."
A clearing appeared ahead, the trees suddenly stopping at the entrance to a ruined stone temple. It was ancient, covered in glowing red runes. The entrance was an ominous, gaping maw, leading into total darkness.
I swallowed. "A boss fight? Already?"
Vance rolled his shoulders. "Alright, formation time. Same as always—Dane takes point, Roth flanks, I'll lead the charge. Kid, you stick back. Just watch and learn."
Dane cracked his neck. "This one's gonna be fun."
As we stepped into the ruined temple, the air grew heavy, thick with the scent of blood and decay. The only light came from glowing red runes along the cracked stone walls, pulsing like a heartbeat.