The rain had not stopped for three days.
It fell endlessly over the towering skyscrapers of Neo Aurora City, turning the neon lights into blurred rivers of color across the wet streets. Cars rushed through the avenues while giant holographic screens displayed news broadcasts high above the city.
One headline repeated everywhere.
"Gate Activity Rising Worldwide."
Another followed immediately after.
"Three A-Rank Hunters Killed in Northern Dungeon Break."
For most people, this was terrifying news.
For others, it was opportunity.
But for Auren Kairos, it meant something else entirely.
Survival.
Auren adjusted the worn strap of the small delivery bag hanging over his shoulder as he stepped out of the subway station. The cold wind brushed through his silver hair, causing a few strands to fall across his face.
People often stared when they saw him.
His appearance was… unusual.
His hair shimmered faintly like pale moonlight under the street lamps, and his eyes carried a strange violet color that seemed almost luminous in the darkness.
More than once, strangers had mistaken him for a celebrity or an idol.
But reality was far less glamorous.
Auren Kairos was poor.
Very poor.
He lived in one of the smaller apartment blocks on the edge of Neo Aurora City, working two jobs just to survive. One during the day. One at night.
And neither paid enough.
Tonight, however, was different.
Tonight he had another job.
A much more dangerous one.
Across the street stood a glowing arch of swirling blue energy.
The air around it vibrated slightly, like heat rising from asphalt on a hot day.
People walking past it instinctively kept their distance.
Because everyone knew what it was.
A Gate.
More specifically…
An F-Rank Dungeon Gate.
Two armored hunters stood nearby beside a large scanning device installed by the World Gate Authority. A glowing screen displayed the dungeon's status.
Gate Level: F-Rank
Estimated Monster Count: 40–60
Boss: Unknown
A group of hunters had already gathered in front of the entrance.
Most of them looked experienced.
Heavy armor.
Glowing weapons.
Professional confidence.
Auren walked toward them quietly.
The moment he approached, several hunters turned to look at him.
Then someone laughed.
"Seriously?"
Another hunter shook his head.
"Isn't that the delivery kid?"
A tall man wearing reinforced armor frowned slightly.
"You planning to enter the dungeon?"
Auren nodded calmly.
"Yes."
The hunter stared at him for a moment before sighing.
"You're insane."
Another woman crossed her arms and smirked.
"You're not even ranked, right?"
Auren didn't respond.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Most people awakened special abilities after the Gate Descent event twenty years ago.
Those people became hunters.
But Auren had awakened something extremely weak.
His system window appeared in front of his eyes as if responding to the thought.
System Interface
Name: Auren Kairos
Age: 19
Hunter Rank: F
Strength: 6
Agility: 7
Endurance: 6
Spirit: 12
Skill: None
Titles: None
Pathetic.
Compared to most hunters, his stats were barely above normal human levels.
Which meant one thing.
He was considered the weakest type of hunter.
F-Rank.
The bottom of the hierarchy.
The kind of hunter people laughed at.
The armored hunter spoke again.
"You know you can die in there, right?"
Auren looked toward the swirling gate.
"Yes."
"Then why go?"
Auren hesitated.
Then answered honestly.
"Because I need money."
Silence followed.
The hunters exchanged looks.
Finally, the armored man sighed.
"Whatever. Just don't get in our way."
The group began moving toward the gate.
One by one, they stepped through the swirling portal.
Auren followed behind them.
The moment he crossed the threshold…
The world changed.
Cold air rushed across his skin.
The city vanished.
Instead, he stood inside a dim stone cavern illuminated by glowing crystals embedded in the walls.
The ground was rough.
The air smelled of damp earth and something metallic.
Blood.
The armored hunter looked around.
"Stay alert."
Another hunter drew a sword.
"Monsters nearby."
Then they appeared.
From deeper inside the cavern came low growls.
Shapes moved in the shadows.
Suddenly—
Three large wolves leapt out from the darkness.
Their bodies were covered in dark iron-like fur, and their glowing red eyes burned with hunger.
Ironfang Wolves.
F-Rank monsters.
The hunters reacted instantly.
"Attack!"
Steel flashed.
One hunter swung a massive axe, cleaving through the first wolf's skull.
Another launched a burst of fire magic that incinerated the second creature.
The third wolf charged directly at Auren.
Too fast.
Auren barely had time to raise his arms.
The monster slammed into him.
Pain exploded across his body as he crashed against the cave wall.
The wolf opened its jaws.
Rows of sharp metallic teeth glistened.
Auren's heart pounded.
So this was how it ended?
Killed in the first dungeon he ever entered?
The wolf lunged.
And then—
Something strange happened.
A faint pulse spread through Auren's chest.
Warm.
Ancient.
Alive.
The wolf froze mid-air.
Time seemed to slow.
Then a strange message appeared in front of Auren's eyes.
Unknown Energy Detected
Analyzing Host…
Compatibility Confirmed
Auren blinked.
"What…?"
Another message appeared.
Hidden Authority Awakening
Primordial Gate System initializing…
The wolf collapsed to the ground suddenly, as if crushed by invisible pressure.
The other hunters stared in shock.
"Did you do that?!"
But Auren barely heard them.
Because his entire vision was now filled with glowing text.
Welcome, Gateborn.
The Eternal Gate System has chosen you.
Auren's heart skipped.
"Gate… system?"
Another window appeared.
Unique Title Unlocked
Gateborn
Effect: Absolute compatibility with dimensional gates.
A sudden wave of energy surged through his body.
His senses sharpened instantly.
He could hear distant monsters moving deep within the dungeon.
He could feel the faint pulse of energy flowing through the cavern walls.
He could even sense the core of the dungeon somewhere far below.
The hunters stared at him in disbelief.
"What the hell just happened?"
Auren slowly stood.
He looked at his hands.
They were glowing faintly.
Another notification appeared.
New Skill Acquired
Astral Step
Allows short-distance spatial movement.
Before Auren could react—
The entire dungeon suddenly trembled.
The ground cracked.
A deep roar echoed through the cavern.
The armored hunter's face went pale.
"That's impossible…"
Another hunter whispered.
"The boss already woke up?!"
A massive shadow moved in the darkness ahead.
Heavy footsteps shook the cave floor.
Then a giant creature slowly emerged from the darkness.
It looked like a wolf…
But far larger.
Its body was covered in black armored plates, and glowing crimson veins pulsed across its skin.
The dungeon boss.
Ironfang Alpha.
The armored hunter cursed.
"This isn't an F-Rank boss!"
The monster opened its mouth and roared.
A wave of killing intent filled the cavern.
Some hunters actually stepped back in fear.
But Auren stood still.
Because another message appeared in his system window.
Emergency Quest Triggered
Defeat the Dungeon Boss.
Reward:
System Evolution.
Auren looked up at the giant monster.
Then slowly took a step forward.
The hunters stared at him like he had gone insane.
"Kid… what are you doing?"
Auren's violet eyes glowed faintly.
For the first time in his life…
He felt something powerful stirring inside him.
Something ancient.
Something limitless.
He whispered quietly.
"…Let's try it."
Then his body vanished.
The skill activated.
Astral Step.
And in the blink of an eye—
Auren appeared directly in front of the boss monster.
The hunters gasped.
The giant wolf roared.
And deep inside the dungeon…
The Gate System awakened completely.