Chapter 1: Gate A – The Beginning of the Unknown
Scene One:
The Selection and DepartureRin stood before Gate A, surrounded by a ragtag group of mercenaries who looked like they'd just stumbled out of a discount fantasy cosplay convention. The air was thick with tension—or maybe it was just the stench of fear mixed with unwashed armor. "An A-rank gate?" Rin muttered to himself. "That means we're diving straight into 'hard mode' from minute one. I hope they at least have snacks inside; fighting on an empty stomach is a no-go."The mission leader, Haruto—an experienced A-rank fighter who resembled a classic shonen hero with his perfectly styled hair—scanned the group with a cold expression, as if he were about to drop some profound wisdom for the thousandth time. He spoke in a firm tone, expecting awe and reverence:Haruto: "You're all here because you chose to enter this gate. Remember—this is not a game. Either you make it out alive, or you die inside. There's no place for the weak in this world."Rin thought to himself: "Oh god, the classic motivational speech! Is he about to make us raise our hands and swear loyalty to the mission? This is why I prefer solo play."The team consisted of:Rin, the only A-rank in the group, who was trying his best not to burst out laughing.Seven B-rank mercenaries, all seasoned fighters with prior gate experience—or so they claimed.Two C-rank mercenaries, rookies who had never entered a gate before, looking like side characters doomed to die in the first five minutes.Sayoko, a skilled healer who refused to be classified as S-rank out of fear of dying in high-level gates. (Or maybe she was just avoiding the spotlight—who knows?)No one knew the truth about Rin's power. To them, he was just another capable fighter, the "mysterious warrior" archetype that shows up in every squad.One of the B-rank mercenaries, wiping sweat from his brow: "Why do we only have one A-rank? Does the Association think we don't need backup?"Another mercenary smirked, as if about to drop an old joke:Another mercenary: "If this kid is an A-rank, he must be strong. Don't underestimate him before you see what he can do... or before he starts complaining that the Wi-Fi doesn't work inside the gate."With that, the gate operator activated the portal, and the team stepped inside. Rin sighed: "I hope they brought snacks at least. I can't fight monsters this size on an empty stomach."Scene Two: Inside the Gate – The Shadow Wolves' DomainAs soon as they entered, they found themselves in a dense, eerie forest. The trees loomed overhead like they were trying to block out any hope of survival, the air was unnaturally cold, and distant howls echoed through the darkness. "Welcome to my gloomy world!" Rin thought. The two C-rank mercenaries looked uneasy, on the verge of melting into puddles.C-rank mercenary (nervously): "Why does this place... feel alive?"Rin (calmly, as if reading from a tourist guide): "Because it isn't just a place, buddy. It's another world entirely. Maybe they even have fast-food joints—who knows?"Within minutes, the first threat appeared—Shadow Wolves, creatures faster than ordinary wolves, with claws as hard as steel, capable of shredding armor like paper. "Ah, the standard enemies. Boring as usual, but at least they don't talk much," Rin thought.Haruto: "Prepare for battle!"The team immediately engaged in combat, like they were competing in a "who dies first" tournament.The B-rank mercenaries fought skillfully, drawing on their past experiences. (Or maybe they were just lucky.)The C-rank mercenaries struggled, moving clumsily and becoming easy prey. (Exactly as Rin predicted.)Rin stood back, observing the battle before deciding to step in. "Let them enjoy a bit of glory before I have to do all the work."Scene Three: Rin's First Stolen AbilityDuring the chaos, one of the C-rank mercenaries was ambushed by a Shadow Wolf. The poor guy screamed as the beast lunged at him, fangs bared, as if saying: "Dinner's ready!"In an instant, Rin moved. With blinding speed, he severed the wolf's claws with his bare hands (don't ask how—he just does that) before plunging a dagger into its heart, ending its life in a single stroke. "This isn't the first time I've seen a monster think it's the star of the show."Haruto (impressed, but trying not to show it): "That was... fast."A sudden rush of energy coursed through Rin's body—the wolf's power was now his. It felt like he'd just installed a new software update.His hands became more durable, resembling the wolf's hardened claws.His speed slightly increased.Unlike human abilities, monster powers did not require mastery—they became usable immediately. "This is the random ability I've always dreamed of in Gacha games," Rin thought.In that moment, Rin realized something:
The more monsters he killed inside the gate, the stronger he would become. "Well, looks like I'm becoming a hero who feeds on kills. Fun times."Scene Four: The Boss – A Talking BeastAfter several hours of traveling deeper into the gate (and an uncountable number of monsters "absorbed" to level up Rin's skills), the team arrived at a clearing. Standing before them was a towering beast, a humanoid Shadow Wolf, over two meters tall. Unlike the others, it radiated a terrifying presence. "Hello, stage boss. I knew you'd show up."Then, it spoke.Shadow Wolf Boss: "So, you've finally arrived, humans..."B-rank mercenary (shocked, nearly peeing his pants): "It... it talks?! That's impossible!"Rin thought: "Haven't you met talking monsters before? This is life, folks—learn to live with it."Haruto: "Everyone, fall back! This is not an ordinary monster!"Before they could react, the beast lunged, tearing apart one of the C-rank mercenaries in an instant. Blood splattered across the clearing. "The expected death of side character number two," Rin thought indifferently.Rin (coldly): "The weak always die first. It's a simple rule of the world, just like 'never trust YouTube ads'."The remaining mercenaries flinched at his emotionless words. But one of the B-ranks, Kazuya, clenched his fists in anger. "Ah, looks like we have a sad hero here."Kazuya: "Why are you just standing there?! Why are you stronger while we're dying?!"Overcome by jealousy (and stupidity), Kazuya turned and attacked Rin. "Ah, classic mistake number three. Never attack a strong ally when facing a stage boss."But before his strike could land, the boss beast moved faster—its clawed hand sliced Kazuya's head clean off. "Welcome to the real world, where enemies don't wait for your turn."Another mercenary (voice shaking, having lost hope for any reward): "W-we can't win this fight..."Scene Five: Rin vs. The BossAs the others hesitated (of course, this is the moment the true hero shines), only Rin stepped forward.Rather than drawing his sword, he extended his new claws, ready to test his stolen power. "Showtime, folks."Shadow Wolf Boss (grinning wickedly): "That energy… it's mine. You stole my pack's abilities!"Rin's eyes narrowed. "How did the beast know about his ability? Do they have a spy network inside the gate?"Rin: "What do you mean?"The wolf laughed darkly. "Ah, the villain's long speech is about to begin."Shadow Wolf Boss: "You are the child of prophecy. It was written centuries ago... Surely you've noticed by now, haven't you? The more you kill, the stronger you become... But in return, you lose something."Before Rin could question further, the beast pulled out an ancient scroll, written in archaic Japanese characters. "Oh god, a prophecy in Japanese? Am I in an anime?"Shadow Wolf Boss: "I won't tell you everything... but soon, you will understand why you exist. You will either die, or become stronger than everyone else. There is no third option."With those final words (after a long and somewhat boring speech), the beast pierced its own heart, collapsing to the ground. The scroll dropped beside its lifeless body. "A stage boss killing itself? That's a plot twist I haven't seen before... or maybe I've seen it too much."Scene Six: Betrayal and FearAs the dust settled, the remaining mercenaries turned their attention to Rin. "Ah, my favorite part. Accusing the hero of all evils."Their expressions had changed—from respect to fear and hatred. "The typical shift from 'brave comrade' to 'terrifying monster'."B-rank mercenary (angrily, maybe scared for his paycheck): "You've been deceiving us this whole time! You're stealing powers!"Another mercenary: "He's just like those monsters! We have to kill him before he gets stronger!"They attacked. "Good, more XP for me."The first charged, only for Rin to slice his head off instantly. "Easier than cutting butter."The second fired an arrow—Rin caught it with his bare hands. "Weak, needs more training."The third swung a sword—Rin snapped the blade in half before slitting his throat. "Third attempt failed too."One by one, they all fell. "This is the end of their story, sadly—they won't appear in the next chapter."Only Sayoko remained, trembling in the corner. "Ah, the healer. Will she cry now?"Rin (coldly): "You're worse than them. Don't beg for mercy."Without hesitation, he killed her, absorbing her healing ability—not to help others, but to ensure his own survival. "Purity isn't my favorite option these days."Finally, Rin picked up the ancient scroll.As he read its contents, a single realization sank in:
"This knowledge would change the fate of all three worlds. At least, I'll have an exciting story to tell in my memoirs."(To be continued...)