You can read ahead on Patreon
Eldritch Horror? No, I'm A Doctor
Read up to 10-12 chapters ahead
Access exclusive character portraits
Q&A
Dimensional Librarian Available now on Patron!!!
Your support means the world to me and will help me keep creating this story. If you enjoy the ride so far, please consider joining every bit of support helps! ❤️
Link
https://patreon.com/Thanarit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
Major Daniel Kleiner had always valued peace and comfort above all else.
That's why he hadn't enlisted as a regular soldier. Instead, he'd applied directly as an officer in the Azareth Empire Military. The path had required education, connections, and careful planning, but it meant he could skip the grunt work and go straight to a desk job with decent pay.
When he'd awakened as a B-rank hunter at age twenty-five, Daniel had been thrilled. It meant promotions came faster. His salary increased. He got respect without having to do much actual fighting. The occasional gate suppression mission was manageable with proper support, and most of the time, he could delegate the dangerous work to the enlisted hunters under his command.
Sure, he could have pushed for Lieutenant Colonel if he'd chosen to hunt more actively and rank up to A-rank. But that would mean more work. More responsibility. More time spent in gates instead of behind a desk where he belonged.
Daniel had made his choice, and he'd been comfortable with it.
Until recently.
The gates had started breaking more frequently. What used to be one or two incidents per month had become weekly occurrences. Then daily. The pattern was accelerating, and nobody knew why. Theories ranged from environmental factors to cosmic alignments to some kind of dimensional thinning, but the truth was that nobody had any real answers.
Daniel had started to doubt his life choices. Had he picked the wrong path? Maybe he should have emigrated years ago. Joined a hunter guild in another country, somewhere quieter. Somewhere the gates didn't break so often.
Like today.
The A-rank gate break had been a nightmare. The gate hadn't just opened, it had shattered completely, spilling monsters directly into the city streets. The Skinless King and its horde had materialized in a residential district, slaughtering civilians before the military could even mobilize. If not for Colonel Steven Bright somehow holding off the boss monster long enough for evacuation, Daniel and every soldier under his command would be corpses.
And now the branch military office was in chaos.
The Colonel had defeated the monster somehow. Nobody knew the details. But then he'd disappeared, taking three hunters with him. Just vanished without filing a report or checking in with command.
Fuck. This is so annoying.
Daniel sat at his desk, rubbing his temples. The paperwork was piling up. Incident reports. Casualty lists. Damage assessments. Resource allocation requests. And nobody could find the damn Colonel to get his statement.
Captain Yuri Volkov leaned against Daniel's desk, looking equally exhausted. "Any word on Bright's location?"
"Nothing," Daniel replied. "He took those three problem children with him. All four of them went dark. No communication for the past six hours."
"Which three?" Lieutenant Sarah Chen asked from her position by the window. She'd been staring out at the damaged city for the past hour.
"Kai, Ash, and Jack," Daniel said with a sigh. "The troublemakers."
"Oh, those three." Chen's tone suggested she knew exactly who he meant. "I'm surprised they survived at all. They're not exactly our top performers."
"That's putting it mildly," Volkov muttered. "Kai has failed the promotion exam three times. Ash has more disciplinary infractions than anyone in the division. And Jack... well, Jack ran away when the fighting got serious."
Daniel nodded grimly. He'd seen it himself. When the Skinless King's monsters had poured into the streets, those three had been among the first to flee. Not strategically, not tactically, just pure panic-driven flight. Kai had abandoned his position at the perimeter. Ash had literally thrown down his weapon to run faster. And Jack had been screaming something about not wanting to die as he sprinted away from the combat zone.
"I saw Jack get clipped by an ice shard," Chen said. "Looked bad. Bleeding pretty heavily. But I lost track of him after that. Too busy trying not to die myself."
"Kai took a hit to the ribs," Volkov added. "Saw him go down hard. Thought he might have broken something."
"And Ash?" Daniel asked.
"No idea. Last I saw, he was running toward the evacuation point." Volkov shrugged. "Probably hiding somewhere until the fighting stopped."
"They're survivors," Daniel said diplomatically. "Not heroes, but they know how to stay alive."
"By running away," Volkov snorted. "Remember when Kai tried to claim sick leave right before the last gate break? Or when Ash got caught selling stolen military equipment?"
"And Jack was sleeping on guard duty twice last month," Chen added. "Real model soldiers, those three."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day pressing down on them.
"What I don't understand," Daniel said slowly, "is why the Colonel took those three specifically. Out of everyone in the division, why them?"
"Maybe they were the only ones stupid enough to follow him without asking questions," Volkov suggested.
"Or maybe he needed someone to blame if things went wrong," Chen offered darkly.
Daniel's phone buzzed. He checked it, hoping for news. Just another damage report. Seventeen buildings destroyed. Forty-three civilians dead. Hundreds injured.
"This is getting worse," Daniel said, setting the phone down. "The frequency of breaks is increasing. The ranks are getting higher. If this pattern continues, we're looking at S-rank breaks within the year."
"We can't handle S-rank," Volkov said flatly. "We don't have anyone strong enough. The Colonel is our only A-rank, and he barely survived today."
"Then we need to request support from central command," Chen suggested. "Bring in hunters from other divisions."
"Central is stretched thin everywhere," Daniel replied. "Every region is reporting increased gate activity. We're on our own."
They sat in grim silence.
"Should we file those three as AWOL?" Chen asked.
"Give it another hour," Daniel decided. "If they don't show up by then, we'll start the paperwork. Though honestly, if they deserted, I wouldn't blame them. Today was hell."
The office door burst open.
Daniel's hand went to his weapon instinctively, but he relaxed when he saw who it was. Colonel Steven Bright walked in, his uniform cleaned but showing obvious signs of recent repair. Behind him came Kai, Ash, and Jack.
Daniel blinked.
They looked... fine. Better than fine, actually. Kai was standing straight, not clutching his ribs. Ash's arm, which had been hanging limp when he'd run away, was moving normally. Jack wasn't bleeding anymore, and the color had returned to his face.
"Colonel!" Daniel stood immediately. "Where the hell have you been? We've been trying to reach you for hours!"
"Medical treatment," Steven replied simply, walking to the coffee machine in the corner. He poured himself a cup like nothing unusual had happened. "I had some injuries that needed attention."
"The medical bay said you never checked in," Chen pointed out, staring at the trio. "And neither did these three."
"I didn't say I went to the medical bay," Steven took a sip of coffee. "I said I got medical treatment."
The trio behind him looked uncomfortable. Ash kept glancing around like he expected something to jump out at him. Kai's hands wouldn't stay still, fidgeting with his uniform. Jack looked pale despite appearing healthy, his eyes slightly haunted.
"Are you all right?" Volkov asked, looking at the three hunters. "Kai, I saw you take that hit to the ribs. That looked serious."
"I'm fine," Kai said quickly. Too quickly. His hand unconsciously moved to his side, as if checking to make sure nothing was broken.
"And Ash, your arm was hurt," Chen said, walking closer. "You dropped your weapon because of it."
"It's better now," Ash said, rotating his arm to demonstrate. The movement looked stiff, forced.
"Jack, you were bleeding pretty badly," Daniel added. "That ice shard caught you deep."
"Healed," Jack said simply, but his voice was strained. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.
Daniel frowned. They'd only been gone six hours. Even with good healing magic, injuries like that should have taken longer to treat. And all three of them had that same look. Like they'd seen something they desperately wanted to forget.
"Where exactly did you go for treatment?" Daniel asked carefully.
"Private clinic," Steven said, refilling his coffee. "Very effective. Highly recommend it."
"Private clinics don't operate during gate breaks," Chen said skeptically. "Everything shuts down during emergencies."
"This one doesn't."
Before Daniel could press further, the office door slammed open again. Lieutenant Marcus Webb ran in, breathing hard, his face pale.
"Colonel! Major! We have a situation!"
Daniel's stomach dropped. "Another gate break?"
"Yes, sir. A-rank gate just broke twenty minutes ago. East district, near the industrial sector. The gate shattered completely. Monsters are already flooding into the streets."
Not again. Not so soon.
"Details," Steven said, his voice calm despite the news.
Webb pulled up a tablet, reading quickly. "Gate type: Volcanic. Estimated threat level: A-rank, possibly A-plus. Monsters are fire-based. We've got Magma Hounds setting buildings on fire, Ember Wraiths attacking civilians"
"The boss is already out?" Volkov's voice rose. "It didn't stay near the gate?"
"No, sir. It emerged and started moving toward the commercial sector immediately. It's burning everything in its path."
"Casualties?" Daniel asked, already knowing he wouldn't like the answer.
"Seventy confirmed dead so far. Maybe two hundred injured. The fire is spreading rapidly through the warehouses. If it reaches the fuel depot three blocks away, we're looking at a chain reaction that could level half the district."
Daniel felt his hands start to shake. Another A-rank break. Another boss-class monster loose in the city. The frozen gate had been contained relatively quickly because the monsters stayed near the gate itself. But if this Inferno Titan was mobile and actively destroying the city, they were looking at catastrophic damage.
"I'll handle it," Steven said, setting down his coffee cup.
"What?" Daniel stared at him. "Colonel, with respect, you just came back from fighting an A-rank boss. You can't seriously be planning to go straight into another combat situation."
"I am."
"You'll die!" Daniel's voice rose. "We barely survived the frozen gate break, and that was with the boss staying in one location. This thing is mobile, destructive, and burning everything. This is suicide!"
Steven looked at him calmly. "Don't worry, Daniel. Prepare twenty soldiers, including yourself and these three idiots."
"Hey!" Kai protested weakly. "We're not idiots!"
"You ran away from combat and left your squad without support," Steven said flatly. "You're idiots."
Kai's mouth closed. He couldn't really argue with that.
"And Ash," Steven continued, turning to the second hunter, "you threw down your weapon to run faster. That's not just stupid, it's cowardly."
Ash looked at his feet, his face flushing.
"And Jack panicked and fled while screaming about not wanting to die, leaving wounded soldiers behind."
Jack flinched but said nothing.
"Wait," Daniel looked between them. "You three ran? During the break?"
"Strategically retreated," Kai tried.
"You ran," Steven corrected. "But that's fine. You're going to make up for it at the volcanic gate."
"What?" all three said in unison, their faces going pale.
"No, no, no," Kai shook his head rapidly. "We can't. We're not ready. We need training, preparation, psychological evaluation—"
"You're going," Steven said. "Consider it remedial training."
"But Colonel," Daniel started, looking at the trio. These were absolutely not the soldiers he'd send on a critical mission. They'd proven themselves unreliable at best, cowards at worst. "With respect, maybe we should use more experienced hunters. These three aren't—"
"I said don't worry," Steven's tone carried authority now. "I have new equipment to test. This will be a good opportunity."
"New equipment?" Volkov asked. "What kind of equipment?"
Steven smiled. It was an unsettling smile, the kind that didn't reach his eyes. "You'll see."
"I'm going too," Chen said, standing up. "You'll need fire resistance support against a volcanic-type boss."
"No," Steven shook his head. "Stay here and coordinate evacuation. Make sure that fuel depot is cleared. I need someone competent managing civilian safety."
"But twenty soldiers against an A-rank boss that's loose in the city?" Chen protested. "That's not enough! Especially if you're bringing those three."
"Hey!" all three protested weakly, but without much conviction.
"It will be," Steven said with confidence that seemed entirely unjustified.
Daniel opened his mouth to argue further, but Steven cut him off.
"Major Kleiner, are you questioning my orders?"
Daniel closed his mouth. Technically, he could push back. He was high-ranking enough to challenge a Colonel's decisions if they seemed suicidal. But something in Steven's demeanor stopped him. The way he stood. The calm certainty in his voice.
And those eyes. Daniel noticed for the first time that the Colonel was wearing an eyepatch now. He hadn't been wearing one before the frozen gate break. What had happened during that fight?
"No, sir," Daniel said finally. "I'm not questioning your orders."
"Good. Then prepare the soldiers. B-rank and above only. Make sure they have fire resistance gear from the armory."
"What about us?" Kai asked desperately, gesturing to himself and the other two. "Maybe we should stay here and help with evacuation? Or guard the office? Or literally anything else?"
"You're coming," Steven said. "Obviously."
"Do we have to?" Jack asked quietly, his voice small.
Steven's head turned slowly toward him, his expression pleasant but somehow threatening. "Would you prefer I take you back to that clinic instead?"
All three went rigid. The color drained from their faces. Kai made a small whimpering sound. Ash took a step backward. Jack's hands started shaking.
"Nope. We're coming. Absolutely coming. Wouldn't miss it," Jack said quickly, his voice high and strained.
"Clinic?" Daniel frowned. "What clinic? What happened there?"
"Nothing," all three said in unison, far too quickly.
Daniel's frown deepened, but he decided not to pursue it. They had bigger problems. Though whatever happened at that clinic had clearly terrified all three of them worse than the gate break had.
"I'll need at least an hour to gather the soldiers and equipment," Daniel said, mentally running through the logistics.
"You have thirty minutes," Steven replied. "The Inferno Titan is moving toward populated areas. Every minute we wait, more civilians die."
"Thirty minutes isn't enough time to—"
"Thirty minutes, Major." Steven's voice was cold now, carrying the weight of command. "If you can't manage that, I'll find someone who can."
Daniel bristled but held his tongue. "Yes, sir. Thirty minutes."
He turned to leave, already pulling out his phone to start making calls.
"And Daniel?" Steven called after him.
"Yes, sir?"
"If you complain again about this mission, you're going to join the injured." Steven's smile widened slightly. "I'll make sure of it. Got it?"
Daniel swallowed hard. There was something different about the Colonel. Something cold and dangerous that hadn't been there before the frozen gate break.
"Yes, sir," he said quietly.
"Excellent. Dismissed."
Daniel hurried out, already barking orders into his phone. Behind him, he heard Kai start to say something.
"Colonel, maybe we could—"
Smack!
The sound of a hand hitting the back of someone's head echoed through the office.
"Ow! What was that for?" Kai's voice.
"Pre-emptive strike," Steven replied. "You were about to complain."
"I wasn't!"
Smack!
"That one was for lying."
"This is abuse!" Ash's voice now.
Smack! Smack!
"That's for you and Jack, so you don't feel left out."
"We weren't even saying anything!" Jack protested.
"Yet," Steven said. "But you were thinking about it."
Daniel shook his head as he walked down the hallway. Whatever had happened to the Colonel during that frozen gate break, it had changed him. Made him colder. More confident. More violent.
And whatever that "clinic" was, it had terrified three cowardly soldiers worse than combat had.
What the hell is going on?
Thirty minutes to gather twenty soldiers and prepare to face an A-rank boss monster that was actively destroying the city.
This is going to be a disaster, Daniel thought grimly.
.
.
.
.
Exactly twenty-eight minutes later, Daniel stood in the vehicle bay with nineteen soldiers, all geared up in fire-resistant armor and carrying their best weapons. He'd pulled every B-rank hunter he could find and three A-rank veterans who'd been on leave.
The Colonel walked in, followed by the trio. Steven was still wearing his dress uniform, though he'd added some light armor plates over the vital areas. Behind him, Kai looked like he was walking to his execution. Ash kept checking over his shoulder. Jack's hands wouldn't stop trembling.
Steven surveyed the assembled soldiers with a critical eye.
"Good," he said. "You can follow orders. I'm impressed, Major."
"The vehicles are ready," Daniel reported. "Four armored transports, fully fueled and stocked with medical supplies and ammunition. I've also coordinated with fire suppression teams to keep the blaze from spreading while we engage the boss."
"Excellent." Steven walked toward the lead vehicle, then paused and turned back to the assembled soldiers. His visible brown eye swept across them, and Daniel noticed several soldiers shift uncomfortably under that gaze.
"Listen up," Steven said, his voice carrying across the bay. "We're going to engage an A-rank Inferno Titan that's currently burning down the industrial district. You will follow my orders exactly. No heroics. No improvisation. You do what I say, when I say it, or you will die. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the soldiers responded in unison.
"Good." Steven's smile returned, still unsettling. "Prepare the military vehicles. I have some new toys to try out."
His smirk widened, and for just a moment, Daniel could have sworn he saw the Colonel's left eye glow blue beneath the eyepatch.
What the hell happened to you, Colonel? Daniel thought, but kept the question to himself.
They loaded into the vehicles and rolled out, heading toward the burning industrial district where an A-rank boss was tearing through the city.
Daniel sat in the back of the lead transport, checking his weapons one more time. Beside him, Kai was muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a prayer.
"Nervous?" Daniel asked.
"Terrified," Kai admitted. "But not of the fire titan."
"Then what?"
Kai glanced toward the front of the vehicle where the Colonel sat. His hand unconsciously went to the back of his head where he'd been smacked. "You really don't want to know, sir."
Across from them, Ash was staring at his hands, which wouldn't stop shaking. Jack had his eyes closed, breathing slowly like he was trying to calm himself.
"You three really don't want to go, do you?" Daniel observed.
"No, sir," all three said quietly.
"Then why agree?"
They looked at each other, then looked away.
"Because the alternative is worse," Jack said finally, his voice barely a whisper.
Daniel wanted to ask what that meant, but something in their expressions stopped him.
The transport rumbled through the damaged streets, smoke rising in the distance. The orange glow of fire lit up the evening sky. Somewhere ahead, an A-rank Inferno Titan was destroying everything in its path.
And in the front seat, Colonel Steven Bright smiled, his new eye glowing faintly with cold blue light beneath the eyepatch, ready to test exactly what the Eye of the Skinless King could do against fire.