Gates have their own unique types of monsters, mini-bosses and bosses.
There are mainly floors for each gate in the world that we must clear in order to face the final boss. Once the final boss is defeated then the gate will finally collapse after the raid team takes the treasure the final boss usually protects.
Gates can vary in scale and the number of floors. The Black Gate, Ragnarok for example has one hundred floors and a monster known as the Dragon God, Epep as its final boss. The monster is very powerful so the gods themselves had to put a curse on the monster. If it's released then the entire world will fall. The curse makes it impossible for Epep to escape the dungeon.
The Dragon God doesn't have a ranking since it is in its own league. No one besides the SS rank hunters have attempted to attack him. That said, it wasn't a real fight. They were literally massacred and were forced to flee from the dragon's cave. Special gates usually allow for people to instantly travel towards the final boss room. Those kinds of gates don't spawn very often.
My father was part of the raid party that attempted this.
More than half the members died or got lost in that vast world known as the dragon's world. There's a low possibility that the missing people even survived.
"Doesn't the gate seem strange?"
The one named Jackson spoke to Sylvia who was walking in front of the team.
"What do you mean by strange?"
"I don't know. I feel that something is off. The mana crystals lighting up the tunnel towards the first floor is releasing an eerie glow."
"Everything will be fine as long as we stick together. Remember that we are an A rank party. We are more than enough to clear this gate. Stay focused, alright?"
Everyone nodded.
"Get your weapons out. I'm sensing a few monsters up ahead. Tanks, protect the mages. The vanguards will keep the monsters busy so the mages can cast their spells. Don't break up the formation."
Since I was a porter, I had to stay in the centre with the other porters as well. The rear guards were behind us looking for any monsters that may be lurking behind us. Chances are that we might be getting spied on by a monster waiting to kill the weakest member.
Not all monsters are savages with no brains. Depending on what species they belong to, they could have intelligence and can even outsmart a human.
Monsters like chimeras and elder liches are by far the most intelligent monsters besides dragons. Weak monsters like Sirens use their beautiful voices to lure unsuspecting victims into a trap. Once you get to close then your head will be cut off immediately.
"Ethan."
Sylvia slowed down her pace and walked next to me. The others were up ahead. They were chasing the orcs that were around the area.
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you're prepared?"
I looked at her face.
'Is she concerned about me?'
Although her face was still as expressionless as ever, I could see that her eyes were filled with worry.
I smiled and took out the dagger my father left behind.
Her eyes opened wide when I revealed the dark red hilt. The aura of the dagger alone was powerful.
"Where did you get this?"
She examined the blade closely and took out a hologram card. Besides being able to check your own level, the card can also show you the level of items.
"SS rank…?"
She hurriedly covered up the dagger.
"Don't show this to anyone, understand? Where the hell did you even get this?"
"Err… My father left it as his final gift to me."
"Uncle Dusty left you something this valuable?"
Sylvia sighed.
"I hope you know how to use it. If anyone from the raid team asks where you got it then say it was from me. I don't know most of the others since we are over twenty people. Some of them might not be trustworthy so watch your back."
"O-Okay…"
Sylvia went back to the front to lead the others.
'I'm glad I hid this.'
Anyone would want to take the dagger from me if they saw it. Even if they cannot use it, the energy from the dagger alone could fetch a hefty price. Items ranked A and higher usually have pure energy which can be extracted and used to make precious mana cores.
How powerful would the energy from an SS rank item be?
'I don't want to find out though. He may have been a shitty father but at least he left something for me.'
All kinds of weapons have their own abilities. If I'm able to use the Soul ability of the dagger then that means I could become stronger by absorbing the souls of monsters I defeat.
That depended on whether I could use the ability with my poor stats. Levelling up was hard enough for me. I could vividly remember that idiot who confidently strode towards the E rank gate that opened near our penthouse.
That was my first time entering a gate.
The result was embarrassing. I wasn't even able to clear one floor even with the equipment I bought. Since my childhood friend was filthy rich I decided to use that to my advantage and buy high ranking equipment from a famous blacksmith store called Hephaestus.
I used a spear back then since I was so afraid of getting up close to monsters. I had a weak body so I wasn't able to put any weight behind my thrusts.
After that day I decided to never use a spear again. It just wasn't suitable for someone like me. I began using daggers since it was better to strike a monster's vitals instead of using pure strength to overpower them.
The equipment was still lying inside the closet back in my room. I would look ridiculous in that sort of equipment if I started wearing it again. I sold the spear over an auction for a quarter of its price.
I decided to never again buy equipment that wasn't suitable to my level.
As we walked while maintaining the formation, I heard low grunts coming from up ahead.
"The first floor is past them huh."
"Why are orcs camping outside the first floor's stairs?"
Jackson voiced his confusion.
It wasn't a coincidence that we ran into orcs at the entrance. There was an orc colony at the stairs to the first floor.
One of the guards spotted us as we walked towards them.
"Guoooo!!"
He bashed his shield, alerting the others who were near him.
'No hesitation huh.'
I thought as I looked at our party's leader. She had no fear on her face and was as expressionless as ever.
They were, after all, an A rank party.
Strangely I felt no fear as well. Maybe it was because I stood next to Sylvia. It wasn't like we were equals as I always dreamed of.
Maybe all that mattered was that I was next to her.