Lee Seong-jun followed Hwang Seong-uk through a sea of flashing lights from the press. The path to the gate felt heavy, a march not only into danger but into the scrutiny of the world outside. At the end of this tense walk, a vast tent stood like a temporary fortress. Inside, the Hunter Association had prepared a waiting chamber, its center marked by banners of the guilds that would soon compete.
Near the White Tiger Guild's emblem, Seong-jun settled into his seat. Hwang Seong-uk began a calm yet urgent briefing, repeating information already delivered in reports. The raid gate in Seodaemun-gu was believed to be a dim and enclosed terrain, filled with agile creatures such as centaurs and lycanthropes. The boss was also predicted to embody speed, making this challenge one of agility and precision.
Raid gates were infamous. Once entered, the entrance sealed shut until the raid was either cleared or the hunters perished. Information was always incomplete, but even scraps of knowledge helped prepare weapons, skills, and artifacts in advance. In such raids, where guilds clashed for glory, even minor preparation could be the difference between triumph and ruin.
Hwang carefully listed the other rookies Seong-jun would face.
Lee Dong-ju of Hwanseong, an A-rank archer specialized in long-range pursuit, dangerous in open terrain but limited in closed spaces.
Kim Hye-young of Phoenix, a magician who wielded the flame of the Fire World, her destructive spells equal to S-rank power, though slow to cast and easily read.
Jeong Yun-ho of Grim Reaper, an assassin with dagger and shadow weapons, his true combat ability far beyond his A+ rank, lethal when striking lone targets.
Song Seung-jun of Nuri, a knight of the sword, disciple of a famed master, outwardly simple but inwardly dangerous.
Each rookie carried strength beyond their stated rank. Together, they formed a lineup that could not be underestimated.
Yet tension soon boiled. Jeong Yun-ho, brash and arrogant, dismissed the idea that he and Seong-jun could ever be compared, despite both being returnees. Lee Dong-ju sneered as well, belittling Seong-jun's lack of artifacts and preparation. Their words dripped with pride and hostility, an open attempt to provoke. Even Hwang Seong-uk, who defended Seong-jun, could not deny that compared to others, his protégé appeared underprepared.
The tent filled with heated stares, until Kim Hye-young intervened. She reminded the others that fighting before the gate was folly, for no raid could be cleared without unity. Reluctantly, the tension dissolved, though scorn still lingered in the air.
Seong-jun, however, remained untouched by their mockery. To him, Yun-ho and Dong-ju were nothing but noisy hunters weighed down by pride. His gaze instead turned to Song Seung-jun of Nuri, the quiet knight beneath the dragon banner. Unlike the others, this one radiated danger. His aura surged like a sharp blade hidden within calm silence. Reports described him as A+ rank with S-rank combat ability, but the pressure he emitted suggested something greater—perhaps even S+. It was skill honed into pure lethality, the kind that could exceed formal rank.
For the first time in this gathering, Seong-jun felt a spark of anticipation. Perhaps this raid would not be routine after all. Perhaps, amidst arrogance and competition, a true challenge awaited.
Outside, a staff member's call shattered the tense stillness. The gate would open in minutes. The rookies rose, adjusting weapons and cloaks, and marched to the red vortex that pulsed like a living heart. Reporters' flashes filled the air, capturing the moment before danger.
Then, at the appointed time, the signal was given. Together, the hunters stepped into the glowing abyss, vanishing into the raid gate where only strength, survival, and fate would decide the outcome.