Captain Ryu returned to the office later that day, his uniform burned and his face tired but calm. He approached Jun Xin's desk, drawing curious stares from the other analysts.
"You were right," Ryu said, his voice low. "Gate #2077 was hiding something. That creature wasn't a D-rank monster—it was at least A-rank, maybe higher."
Jun Xin swallowed. "Thank you for believing me, sir."
Ryu studied him for a moment before nodding. "Keep an eye on the Gates. If you notice anything else unusual, I want to know immediately."
"Yes, sir," Jun Xin replied.
As Ryu walked away, Min Su leaned over with a teasing smile. "Look at you, Analyst Seo. You've got an A-rank Captain listening to you now."
Jun Xin gave her a tired smile. "This isn't good, Min Su. If Gates are changing… if they're hiding their true nature, then we're not ready for what's coming."
Min Su's smile faded. "What do you mean?"
Jun Xin looked at the data on his screen with a serious expression. "I think... the Gates are evolving."
Min Su froze, her expression shifting from curiosity to alarm. "Evolving? What do you mean?"
Jun Xin leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as if the weight of his thoughts was pressing down on him. "Look at the patterns. Gate #2013 and Gate #2077 weren't just anomalies. Their mana signatures hid their true rank—deliberately, almost like... camouflage."
Min Su's brow furrowed. "That doesn't make sense. Gates don't 'think.' They're just portals. They appear, we analyze, Rankers go in, and that's it."
"That's how it's supposed to work," Jun Xin countered, pulling up a series of old raid reports on his screen. "But what if something is changing? What if these Gates aren't random anymore?"
He clicked through the reports, highlighting sections with fluctuating mana levels similar to what they'd seen in #2077 and #2013. The data spanned months—minor irregularities, dismissed by other analysts as statistical noise. But when viewed together, a pattern emerged.
Min Su's eyes widened as she scanned the reports. "You're saying this has been happening for a while?"
Jun Xin nodded. "And it's getting worse. The fluctuations are increasing, and now creatures that shouldn't exist in lower-ranked Gates are showing up." He pointed at the black screen where the live feed had gone dark. "That monster Captain Ryu faced... it wasn't just strong. It was intelligent."
Min Su shivered. "If you're right, this changes everything. How do we stop something like that?"
Jun Xin didn't answer immediately. He stared at the reports, his mind racing. "We need more data. If I can prove this pattern, they'll have to take it seriously."
"You're planning to keep digging?"
"Of course. If we don't figure this out, more Rankers are going to die."
Min Su bit her lip, conflicted. "You're risking your job, Jun Xin. Park is already watching you like a hawk."
Jun Xin shrugged. "I'll take that risk. Someone has to."
Meanwhile, in Park's Office…
Park sat alone at his desk, staring at a thick report on his monitor. His face was pale, his normally sharp demeanor replaced with unease.
"Fluctuations... camouflaged mana signatures…"
The phrases repeated in his mind like a haunting echo. Park didn't want to believe it, but the data was clear. Gate anomalies were becoming harder to explain, and the recent incidents had rattled even the higher-ups.
That kid, Seo Jun Xin, Park thought bitterly. He's a problem.
He clenched his fists, scowling. Jun Xin's predictions had embarrassed him. Worse, they had caught Captain Ryu's attention, which meant Park's authority was being questioned.
A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Enter," Park barked.
A junior analyst hurried in, holding a tablet. "Sir, another Gate has been detected. Gate #2092—C-rank, but it's showing unusual mana activity."
Park froze. "Unusual? How?"
The analyst hesitated. "Similar to Gate #2077, sir. Fluctuations in the readings."
Park's face hardened. "Flag it as stable and assign a raid team immediately."
"But sir—"
"That's an order!" Park snapped, slamming his fist on the desk. "Dismissed!"
The analyst flinched and hurried out. Park sat back in his chair, his chest heaving.
If word gets out that Gates are changing... the whole system could collapse.
Late Night at the Office…
Jun Xin stayed late again, long after most analysts had gone home. The office was dark, the sound of machines the only sound. He scrolled through layers of data, cross-referencing mana readings, raid reports, and satellite scans.
His eyelids were heavy, but his determination kept him focused.
"Jun Xin."
He jumped, nearly spilling his cup of instant coffee. Min Su stood in the doorway, her arms crossed. "You're still here?"
"Can't sleep," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "This data keeps bothering me."
Min Su sighed and walked over, dropping a bag of snacks on his desk. "At least eat something. You're going to pass out at this rate."
"Thanks," he said absently, eyes still glued to the screen.
Min Su sat down across from him, studying him carefully. "You know, you can't save the world by yourself."
Jun Xin smirked faintly. "I don't need to save the world. Just stop it from falling apart."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "You sound like a hero from those cheesy Ranker dramas."
Before Jun Xin could respond, an alert flashed across his screen.
[Alert: Gate #2092 – Mana Fluctuation Detected]
Jun Xin froze. "No way..."
"What is it?" Min Su asked, leaning closer.
"Another Gate. C-rank, but the mana's unstable." Jun Xin's fingers flew across the keyboard, pulling up live scans. "It's happening again."
Min Su paled. "Did Park see this?"
Jun Xin's jaw tightened. "I'm sure he did. But he's going to ignore it."
"Then we need to tell someone else," Min Su said urgently.
"Captain Ryu," Jun Xin replied, standing abruptly. "If I can get this data to him before the raid starts, he might listen."
Min Su grabbed her coat. "Let's go."
Jun Xin and Min Su rushed through the empty halls of the agency, their footsteps echoing loudly. Jun Xin's heart pounded as he clutched his tablet, the live data feeding him real-time updates.
The fluctuations are spiking.
When they reached Captain Ryu's office, the door was already open. Inside, Ryu was gearing up, strapping his armor into place.
"Captain Ryu!" Jun Xin called out.
Ryu glanced up, his brow furrowed. "What are you two doing here?"
"Sir, Gate #2092 isn't stable," Jun Xin said, holding out the tablet. "It's like Gate #2077. You can't send a team in yet."
Ryu's eyes narrowed as he took the tablet, scanning the data quickly. His expression darkened. "This is the third Gate this month..."
"Exactly," Jun Xin insisted. "Something's changing. We're not seeing the full picture."
Ryu set the tablet down and grabbed his sword. "I'll handle this personally. Both of you—stay here and monitor the Gate. If anything changes, I want to know immediately."
"Be careful, sir," Jun Xin said, his voice low.
Ryu gave him a faint smile. "I always am."
Back in the monitoring room, Jun Xin and Min Su sat side by side, watching the live feed from Gate #2092. Ryu's team cautiously entered through an abandoned cityscape within the Gate.
"It's quiet," Min Su murmured.
"Too quiet," Jun Xin replied, watching the mana levels on his screen.
Suddenly, the readings spiked. The ground on the feed began to tremble, and a chilling roar echoed through the Gate.
Jun Xin's blood ran cold. "No... not again."
The screen flashed red as a massive shadow emerged, and the live feed cut to black.