The streets of Seoul pulsed with life, their rhythm dictated by the constant hum of progress and survival.
Towering skyscrapers shimmered with digital displays, advertising everything from mana-powered appliances to hunter gear. Pedestrians moved in clusters, their conversations blending with the low hum of vehicles powered by mana cores, an innovation born from the natural resources found beyond the gates.
In a world forever changed by dungeons, gates, and monsters, survival was a carefully crafted balance of technology, policy, and raw strength.
At the center of the city stood a colossal skyscraper bearing the Silver Dawn insignia—a rising sun cast in silver and gold, a beacon of hope and strength for those who relied on the guild's protection.
Inside the building's main hall, the atmosphere was one of organized chaos.
Hunters in combat gear clustered around holographic displays, reviewing mission briefings and gate reports. Support staff moved with purpose, coordinating tasks through tablets and earpieces.
Near a large digital screen, Seo Mirae stood with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the gate activity reports.
The screen displayed a list of active gates across South Korea, each one marked with its rank and status:
B-Rank Gate – Busan District 3 – Cleared
A-Rank Gate – Seoul District 7 – Stable
S-Rank Gate – Halla Mountain Range – Unstable
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Mirae's gaze lingered on the S-Rank gate listing, her brow furrowed in thought.
Behind her, Tae-Min, a fellow hunter with a mischievous grin, approached, carrying two cups of coffee.
"Here," he said, handing her a cup. "Thought you could use a break."
Mirae accepted the coffee but didn't take her eyes off the screen.
"Thanks," she muttered, her mind elsewhere.
Tae-Min leaned against the wall beside her, sipping his coffee. "You've been staring at that gate report all morning. What's so interesting about it?"
Mirae took a slow sip before replying.
"It's the Halla Mountain gate," she said. "It's been unstable for days, and the mana fluctuations inside keep spiking."
Tae-Min raised an eyebrow. "So? S-Rank gates are always unstable. That's why the WHA sends top guilds like us to handle them."
Mirae shook her head. "This one's different. The spikes are irregular, and there haven't been any monster sightings near the gate."
Tae-Min frowned. "No monsters? That's odd."
"Exactly," Mirae said. "Usually, unstable gates leak monsters into the surrounding area. But this gate has been quiet. Too quiet."
The term 'gate' referred to the dimensional rifts that had first appeared on Earth over twenty years ago. These rifts acted as portals to other worlds, allowing hunters to enter and explore the dungeons inside.
But gates were dangerous and unpredictable.
Inside each gate was a dungeon, a self-contained world with its own landscape, climate, and ecology. Dungeons could range from dark caves to lush forests, scorching deserts, or ancient ruins. The temperature and environment inside could vary drastically from Earth's natural conditions, making every raid a new challenge.
The monsters inside dungeons were native to the worlds beyond the gates, and their strength and behavior varied depending on the dungeon's rank and ecosystem.
The World Hunter Association classified gates based on their mana output, but even that wasn't always reliable. Gates could shift in rank unexpectedly, and dungeons could spawn monsters far beyond their intended rank, creating deadly situations for unprepared teams.
Mirae had seen it happen before.
"You think it's going to break?" Tae-Min asked, nodding toward the screen.
Mirae tapped her fingers against her cup. "Maybe. But that's not what worries me."
"What does?"
"It's the mana signature inside the gate," Mirae said. "It doesn't match any known patterns."
Tae-Min tilted his head. "Mana signature?"
Mirae pulled up a graph on her tablet, showing the fluctuations inside the Halla Mountain gate.
"See these spikes?" she said, pointing to the peaks on the graph. "It's like something inside the dungeon is trying to stabilize the gate from the other side."
Tae-Min's eyes widened. "Wait… you think something—or someone—is inside the gate already?"
Mirae nodded slowly. "That's the only explanation that makes sense. But if that's true, then whatever's inside is stronger than anything we've seen before."
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Nearby, Dae-Sung, a broad-shouldered hunter with a perpetual scowl, approached the pair.
"Are we seriously going to Jeju to investigate this gate?" he asked, crossing his arms. "That place is crawling with ruins. We've already lost too many teams out there."
Mirae met his gaze without hesitation. "We have to."
"Why?" Dae-Sung demanded. "Let the government handle it. That's what the Hunter Association is for."
"You know they won't," Mirae said. "The WHA only steps in when there's a catastrophe. Until then, it's up to guilds like us to keep things under control."
Dae-Sung grumbled under his breath but didn't argue further.
Tae-Min smirked. "Looks like we're going to Jeju after all."
Mirae took another sip of her coffee, her mind already focused on the upcoming mission.
"I have a feeling," she said quietly. "Something's waiting for us in that gate."
Tae-Min chuckled. "A bad feeling?"
"No," Mirae said, her eyes narrowing. "A dangerous one."
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The helicopter blades sliced through the cold mountain air, their rhythmic hum blending with the distant howl of the wind.
From her seat, Seo Mirae gazed out at the snow-covered landscape of Jeju Island, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. The peaks of Halla Mountain loomed ahead, shrouded in mist and shadow, an imposing figure against the pale sky.
Jeju had once been a popular tourist destination, known for its lush landscapes and volcanic heritage. Now, it was a place of danger and mystery, dotted with ruins and plagued by unpredictable gates.
Mirae adjusted her communication headset. "How long until we reach the gate?"
The pilot's voice crackled through the comms. "Five minutes. Weather conditions are stable, but there's a mana disturbance near the gate. It's throwing off some of our readings."
Mirae frowned. Mana disturbances were never a good sign.
Behind her, Tae-Min leaned forward, peering over her shoulder at the snowy expanse below.
"Looks peaceful from up here," he said. "Hard to believe there's a gate down there ready to tear the place apart."
"It's always peaceful before it breaks," Dae-Sung muttered from the back, checking the mana rifle strapped to his shoulder. "That's what makes it dangerous."
Mirae nodded in agreement. Unstable gates were silent killers. They often appeared calm and dormant, only to explode in deadly chaos without warning.
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As the helicopter neared the landing zone, the pilot spoke again.
"Approaching the gate now. You'll want to take a look at this."
Mirae stood, gripping one of the overhead handles for balance, and leaned toward the cockpit window.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The gate shimmered in the distance—a massive rift in reality, pulsating with iridescent light. Unlike the blue or violet hues of most gates, this one glowed with a strange golden hue, its surface rippled like liquid metal.
Tae-Min whistled softly. "That's… not normal."
"No," Mirae agreed. "It's not."
The gate seemed almost alive, its light pulsing in time with an unseen heartbeat. The air around it shimmered with mana, creating distortions in the landscape—rocks twisted into unnatural shapes, and the snow seemed to fall in erratic patterns, as though the laws of physics were being bent.
Dae-Sung shifted uneasily. "I've never seen a gate like that before."
"Neither have I," Mirae said quietly.
The helicopter touched down on a cleared plateau, and the team quickly disembarked.
Mirae adjusted her coat, pulling it tighter against the biting wind. Her boots crunched on the snow as she approached the gate, her team falling into step behind her.
"Let's get the readings," she said, motioning for Tae-Min to set up the mana scanner.
Tae-Min knelt by the portable device, activating it with a faint hum of energy. The scanner projected a holographic display, showing fluctuating mana levels around the gate.
"Still spiking," Tae-Min reported. "But it's weird—there's no sign of monster activity."
Mirae crossed her arms, staring at the gate.
"It's not just weird," she said. "It's impossible."
Dae-Sung took a defensive position, his mana rifle at the ready. "What do you want to do? Call it in?"
Mirae shook her head. "No. We need to investigate."
"You sure that's a good idea?" Tae-Min asked. "This gate's giving me bad vibes."
Mirae smirked. "When do you have no bad vibes?"
"Fair point," Tae-Min muttered.
Mirae stepped closer to the gate, the golden light reflecting off her armor. The air felt charged with energy, making her skin tingle. She could hear a faint hum, almost like a whisper on the edge of her perception.
'There's something… waiting.'
Taking a deep breath, she reached out and placed her hand near the gate's surface. The light rippled, reacting to her presence.
For a brief moment, Mirae thought she heard a voice—a distant, sorrowful whisper.
Then the gate pulsed, sending a shockwave of energy across the plateau.
Mirae stumbled back, shielding her eyes as the golden light intensified.
"What the hell?" Dae-Sung shouted, raising his rifle.
The gate began to shift and twist, its surface warping like molten metal. The mana scanner beeped wildly, its readings going off the charts.
Tae-Min scrambled to shut it down. "This isn't good! The gate's destabilizing!"
"No," Mirae said, her voice steady. "It's not breaking."
The team stared at her in confusion.
"It's opening."
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The light from the gate coalesced into a blinding flash, forcing the team to shield their eyes.
When the light faded, a figure stood at the gate's edge.
He was tall, his silver hair flowing in the wind. His armor, though battered and cracked, gleamed faintly with holy symbols. In his hand, he held a sword, its silver blade etched with runes that shimmered with fading light.
The figure took a step forward, his gaze distant and weary.
Mirae's heart skipped a beat. "Is that… a hunter?"
"No," Tae-Min whispered, his voice filled with awe. "He's something else."
The figure's eyes locked onto Mirae, their steel-gray depths filled with both grief and determination.
He spoke, his voice steady despite the weight of centuries.
"I am Kael Ardyn," he said. "Apostle of the Pantheon and king of Eredhyn."
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The wind howled through the Halla Mountain Range, carrying with it the lingering hum of the gate's fading energy.
Seo Mirae's breath was visible in the cold air as she stood motionless, her eyes locked on the stranger who had just stepped through the gate. The light of the golden rift shimmered behind him before slowly dissipating, leaving the landscape eerily silent.
The man—if he could be called that—stood tall and still, his silver hair catching the pale light. His armor, though battered and worn, bore symbols unlike anything Mirae had ever seen, and the sword in his hand gleamed faintly with otherworldly runes.
He looked… ancient. Like someone pulled from the pages of a forgotten legend.
But it was his eyes that unsettled Mirae the most—steel-gray and piercing, filled with a mix of sorrow and resolve. They were the eyes of someone who had seen too much.
Mirae tightened her grip on her mana-infused sword, taking a cautious step forward.
"Identify yourself," she called out, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
The man tilted his head slightly, as if trying to understand her words.
Then, he spoke.
"I am Kael Ardyn," he said, his voice calm and measured. "Apostle of the Pantheon, and the Last King of Eredhyn."
His language was archaic, the words resonating with authority, but they didn't quite match any modern dialect. Mirae recognized some of the terms—apostle and pantheon—but the way he spoke made them feel ancient and weighty.
Tae-Min took a step back, his expression wary. "What did he just say?"
"I think…" Mirae's brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of it. "I think he's introducing himself."
Dae-Sung, ever the skeptic, kept his mana rifle trained on Kael. "Introduce himself? He looks like he walked out of a ruin. For all we know, he's a monster."
Kael's gaze shifted to Dae-Sung, his expression calm but unyielding.
"I am no monster," he said, the words slow and deliberate, as if sensing the distrust in the air.
Mirae took another step forward, lowering her sword slightly.
"He understands us," she said quietly. "At least… enough."
Kael's eyes swept over the group, taking in their strange armor and weapons. The technology they carried was unlike anything he had seen in Eredhyn, yet their bearing and caution were familiar.
'Soldiers. Warriors. Protectors.'
His gaze lingered on Mirae, sensing her authority and leadership. She reminded him of the Grail Knights who had once stood at his side—pragmatic, vigilant, and unwavering.
"You came through the gate," Mirae said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "How?"
Kael met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I was sent."
"Sent?" Mirae repeated. "By who?"
Kael's lips pressed into a thin line. "The gods."
Tae-Min let out a nervous laugh. "Gods? Seriously?"
Dae-Sung wasn't amused. "Sounds like ruin nonsense to me. We've seen creatures from ruins claim to be gods before."
Kael's eyes darkened slightly. "Do not mock the divine."
The weight of his words seemed to hang in the air, causing Tae-Min to shift uncomfortably.
Mirae remained calm, though her mind was racing. The gods? The concept wasn't unheard of—many ruin creatures referred to ancient beings as gods—but this man's conviction felt different. He believed every word.
She decided to change her approach.
"You look injured," she said. "We have medics who can help. Will you come with us?"
Kael regarded her carefully, sensing no ill intent in her offer.
"I will go," he said. "But know this—I serve only the gods."
Mirae nodded. "We'll keep that in mind."
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As the team prepared to escort Kael back to the helicopter, Tae-Min leaned in close to Mirae.
"This is insane," he whispered. "We don't even know what he is."
Mirae kept her eyes on Kael. "That's why we're bringing him in. We need answers."
"You think the Hunter Association will know what to do with him?"
Mirae didn't respond immediately. Her mind was already working through the possibilities.
"No," she finally said. "But they'll want to know he exists."
Dae-Sung approached Kael cautiously, still holding his rifle at the ready.
"If you try anything," he warned, "I'll put you down."
Kael didn't flinch. "If I wanted you dead, you would be."
The calm certainty in his voice made Dae-Sung hesitate.
Mirae stepped in quickly, raising a hand to de-escalate the situation. "Enough. We don't need any more threats."
Kael's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Mirae. "You lead them."
"I do," Mirae confirmed.
Kael inclined his head slightly. "Then I will follow."
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The team led Kael to the helicopter, the tension still lingering in the air.
As they took off, Mirae glanced back at the gate, now fully closed. The golden light was gone, leaving only snow and silence in its wake.
Her thoughts drifted to the man sitting across from her—this Apostle of the Pantheon, who had stepped through the gate with all the poise of a king returning from war.
'Who are you, really?'
Kael sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He could feel the weight of the modern world pressing in on him, unfamiliar and strange.
But one thought remained constant in his mind.
'I will endure.'
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The secure holding room was silent, save for the faint hum of the security camera mounted in the corner. The walls were sterile white, the furniture sparse—a metal table, two chairs, and a single overhead light.
Kael Ardyn stood at the center of the room, his posture calm and regal. Despite the cracks in his armor and the weariness in his gaze, he exuded an aura of quiet authority, like a king surveying his court.
Across the table sat Director Kim Seung-Ho, his sharp eyes studying Kael with careful scrutiny. He wasn't a man easily impressed, and his years as a hunter had taught him to distrust the unknown.
Seo Mirae stood beside the director, her expression guarded but curious.
"You said you ruled for three centuries," Seung-Ho began, his tone even but wary. "That's a long time."
Kael inclined his head. "Yes."
Seung-Ho's gaze narrowed. "Humans don't live that long."
Kael's expression didn't change. "I am no longer human."
The room fell into a tense silence.
Seung-Ho leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table. "Then what are you?"
"I am Kael Ardyn," Kael said calmly. "Demigod Apostle of the Pantheon. King of the fallen kingdom of Eredhyn."
"Demigod?" Seung-Ho repeated, his brow furrowing. "You're saying you're divine?"
Kael met his gaze without flinching. "I was chosen by the gods. Their light flows through me."
Seung-Ho's lips pressed into a thin line. "And your kingdom? This… Eredhyn?"
Kael's gaze drifted for a moment, as if recalling a distant memory. When he spoke, his voice was soft, but laced with unshakable resolve.
"It was a kingdom of faith and light. For three centuries, we thrived under the gods' guidance. But then the gods of Chaos came. Their legions swept across the land, bringing ruin and death."
"And you survived," Mirae said quietly.
Kael nodded. "I was the last to stand. The gods saved me before the end."
Seung-Ho leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Let me get this straight. You're claiming to be a king who lived for three centuries, chosen by gods to fight some… divine war?"
Kael's expression didn't waver. "Yes."
"And we're supposed to just believe that?" Seung-Ho asked, his tone skeptical.
Kael's gaze remained steady. "I do not expect you to believe. I expect you to listen."
Seung-Ho's eyes flickered with irritation. "Let me be clear, Kael. If you're lying, or if we decide you're a threat, we'll deal with you accordingly."
Kael tilted his head slightly, studying Seung-Ho with quiet curiosity. "And how would you deal with me?"
Seung-Ho didn't hesitate. "We'd put you down."
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The room grew colder.
Kael remained still, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor. His steel-gray eyes locked onto Seung-Ho's with unwavering intensity.
"If you choose to strike me down," Kael said softly, "know this—you will not be walking out of this room alive."
Seung-Ho stiffened, his jaw tightening.
Mirae's grip on her sword hilt tightened as well, her instincts screaming at her to stay alert.
"You're that confident in your abilities?" Mirae asked, breaking the tension.
Kael's gaze softened slightly as he turned to her. "Confidence has nothing to do with it."
"Then what does?" she pressed.
Kael's eyes flickered with ancient wisdom. "Experience."
Seung-Ho's expression hardened. "You're outnumbered. Outgunned. Do you really think you could take us all?"
Kael considered the question for a moment. His expression remained calm, thoughtful.
"In my weakened state?" he said. "Perhaps not. But know this—I do not fight to survive. I fight to win."
Mirae's heart skipped a beat at the weight of his words.
Kael continued, his voice low and steady. "Every strike I make is to kill. Every move I take is to end the fight. I do not waste motion. I do not hesitate. And even if I fall, I will ensure that I take as many of you with me as I can."
Seung-Ho's jaw tightened further. He could feel the tension in the air, the unseen danger Kael exuded. Even if Kael was weakened, he wasn't someone to take lightly.
"But that is not why I am here," Kael said softly, his tone shifting. "I have no desire to bring harm to your people. I was sent here by the gods for a purpose. What that purpose is, I do not yet know. But I have no intention of spilling blood unless forced to."
Seung-Ho studied Kael for a long moment before sighing. "We'll be running some tests. Bloodwork, mana readings, psychological evaluations."
Kael inclined his head. "Do what you must."
As Seung-Ho stood to leave, Mirae lingered behind, casting one last glance at Kael.
"You said you were a king," she said quietly. "You've lost your kingdom. Your people. Everything you once ruled over. How do you endure that?"
Kael's gaze drifted for a moment, his expression distant.
"I endure," he said, "because faith endures. Even when all else is lost."
Mirae nodded slowly, understanding more than she wanted to admit.
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As they left the room, Tae-Min and Dae-Sung stood waiting in the hall.
"Well?" Tae-Min asked. "What's the verdict?"
Seung-Ho glanced at Mirae before replying. "We're taking him to HQ. He's not going anywhere until we figure out what he is."
Dae-Sung frowned. "You sure that's a good idea? He could be dangerous."
Mirae nodded. "He probably is."
Tae-Min smirked. "I like him already."
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Inside the room, Kael sat in silence, his mind drifting to the fallen kingdom of Eredhyn. The faces of his knights and people flickered through his memories.
He had failed to protect them. But the gods had spared him.
'Why?'
That question lingered in his mind, even now.
As he sat there, the faint hum of modern technology buzzed in the background. This world was alien to him, but he would learn its ways.
'I will endure. For Eredhyn. For the gods.'