Ch.3636. To the Gate!

The child’s family had gone out for a night walk when, unfortunately, a Monster Break occurred.

While the Han River area has well-maintained paths, the darkness of night combined with the Monster Break paralyzed people’s rational thinking.

“Move! Get out of the way!”

A man roughly shoved the family who had been fleeing just fine.

Before anyone could blame him for pushing others to save himself, the child tumbled and fell.

“Hyunseo!”

The parents rushed desperately toward the water but saw them—creatures causing splashes beneath the surface.

Monsters were coming.

The parents froze for a moment while the child flailed and sank deeper.

“Hyunseo!”

At that moment, the child’s mother called out desperately and tried to run forward, but the father quickly stopped her.

“No! The monsters are already coming!”

“Let me go! Our Hyunseo…”

“We’ll all die!”

The child’s father held back the mother with tears of blood.

Just as they were anticipating their child’s death, powerful jets of water suddenly shot up from the surface in succession.

Something had unleashed a powerful strike. As the child’s parents looked on with grim faces,

suddenly, the child was thrown out from the water.

“Hyunseo!”

While the parents were shocked, the water surface remained calm. The husband positioned himself in front of his wife.

Cautiously approaching where the child had been thrown, the husband grabbed the child and fled immediately.

They only felt safe when B-rank or higher Jaegers appeared.

Those examining the water noticed something strange.

“The monsters are gone?”

“What?”

The monsters had clearly appeared, but now they were nowhere to be found? Puzzled, they asked the boy who had fallen into the water and his parents.

“Do you know what happened to the monsters?”

But how could the parents who had been outside the water know?

At that moment, the child spoke.

“A s-scary-looking fish helped me!”

“A scary-looking fish?”

“It smiled at me while helping. I think it was a good monster!”

The child spoke as if he’d had a mystical experience, but he soon had to close his mouth.

The Jaegers warned the boy with cold stares.

“There’s no such thing as a good monster, kid. You were just lucky.”

“But…”

“Countless people have died because of monsters. They must be killed without exception.”

Faced with such hostility, the boy could say nothing more and lowered his head.

*

As I was returning to the dormitory, Jung Jusang stopped me.

“Do Jonghyun. Why are you soaking wet? It’s almost midnight, what have you been doing?”

“I went to Han River for fun, but a Monster Break happened.”

“You shouldn’t go into the water carelessly. Monsters come out from there.”

“Yes, I know.”

After briefly reporting, I rushed straight to my room.

Having returned from my hero activities(?), I was, naturally, completely drenched.

“Phew.”

I always feel tired after transforming into a monster.

I should just rest quickly.

After showering, I turned on the TV.

Because of my ability to transform into a monster, I was sensitive to the news.

While wondering if there was any relevant news, the announcer was actually talking about me.

[The White Dragon Guild has warned that a new type of monster has been spotted roaming around, so please be extra cautious.]

[The government has agreed with the Association to increase security forces and deploy more personnel during Monster Breaks.]

As expected, the risk in mountains and other areas continues to grow.

But staying only in water isn’t an option either, as they’ll surround those areas too.

“Anyway, one more time and I’ll be eligible for Gate practice.”

Yes, if I wait calmly, a path will open naturally.

It’s actually useful to have more time to invest in M points to acquire valuable cards.

[A group worshipping monsters held a demonstration, resulting in injured police officers and the deployment of Jaegers. The leaders scattered and are currently being pursued. However, discussions about punishing these groups remain on hold in the National Assembly.]

“What nonsense… Why is this happening now?”

I bolted upright from my bed. This news was impossible to ignore.

Because it was content that should only appear a week from now.

Attack in two weeks, major protests causing injuries in one week.

But it happened today?

“It’s been moved up!”

The schedule has been accelerated. Considering that these people will later be connected to the monster cult that will attack, this event has happened a week earlier than it should have.

“This is serious.”

One week from today. They’ll come within that time.

With the schedule moved up unexpectedly, I rushed to the simulation room.

I need to gather as many M points as possible.

And complete 10 practice sessions to enter the Gate. My mind was racing.

***

The next day’s practice was conducted separately by class.

The lower-level class gathered to run Gate simulations together.

Oh Juhwan held a megaphone and instructed us to form teams.

“Last time you mixed freely with the advanced and intermediate classes, right? This time it’s just us lower-level students. I’ve set the difficulty to minimum considering your abilities. Do your best.”

The final practice before going to the Gate involves teaming up with other lower-level students.

I don’t care about getting first place. What matters is completing the 10 sessions required to enter the Gate.

“By the way, this will fulfill your required number of sessions to enter the Gate. Going is optional, but don’t even dream of entering anything above F-rank. It’s literally a matter of life and death.”

I’ll just get through this and head straight to the Gate to collect points.

I don’t know how many I can gather in six days, but I’ll do my best.

As practice began, I was matched with a decent group.

I was teamed with Johnson from America, Oh Jemin, and Yu Juhyun.

“I heard you caught the attention of the White Dragon Guild?”

The kids had high expectations of me, though I wasn’t planning to try too hard.

Of course, I don’t intend to come in last.

But I don’t care enough to aim for first place either.

I wore the enhancement suit Aerial gave me. In the lower-level class, I needed to fulfill the original purpose of the combat team rather than taking a supportive position.

I remember this practice. I always remember “exciting firsts.” I watched as a sidekick, and no F-rank monsters even appeared.

It’s a jungle-type field, so the difficulty is higher than urban areas. Oh Juhwan deliberately set a challenging field out of concern for students who would become eligible for Gate entry after this 10th session.

But it’s no problem for me.

“Johnson, we’re on the combat team, right? The jungle makes visibility difficult. What abilities do our sidekicks have?”

“Just physical enhancement.”

“I can see far distances.”

Nothing particularly outstanding. We just need to clear appropriately under the given circumstances.

“Johnson! Watch the legs of the Puss in Boots carefully.”

“Okay!”

If someone immediately follows instructions, they’re a genius. Geniuses were extremely rare in the lower-level class.

Perhaps Chae Songhwa, who would enter as a freshman a year later, might qualify.

When I give instructions, they still get caught quickly.

But if I repeatedly point out weaknesses and habits? By taking the initiative while advancing, we successfully cleared the challenge.

-1st Place: Do Jonghyun Team

[M points acquired!]

-2,000

-Total M points: 5,000 points

We ended up in first place. As we were celebrating and about to rest, a voice came from behind.

“You idiot! You know nothing. Do it like Jonghyun!”

Turning around, I saw Min Gangsu shouting at Yu Deokmin. He got caught by Oh Juhwan and was scolded, but unfortunately, Yu Deokmin looked dejected.

Before my regression, I was in his position. At least Yu Deokmin has a summoning spirit; I didn’t even have that back then, so I was treated even worse.

After completing the practice, I now confidently entered the Gate practice.

To enter the Gate, you need to go to the Gate Management Committee.

They verify your identity before sending you into the Gate.

I scanned my smartwatch and used the warp.

Gates are strictly managed to prevent ordinary people from entering.

I had my identity confirmed via smartwatch and headed to the Gate entrance.

Though it’s described as a door, it’s actually a sphere installed for moving into a subspace, and the reality is the subspace behind the door.

I stepped into that place.

***

Gates come in various forms. From all terrain types known to humanity to places that can hardly be called terrain at all.

Humans have classified the monsters emerging from Gates.

This makes things easier for those who come later.

Thanks to these efforts, Gates have been assigned ranks.

The place I went to was a Gate where monsters of D to B rank appear. A-rank would be fine too, but considering points and efficiency, playing in B-rank is more efficient.

Now is the time to gather as many points as possible.

I entered immediately. I could see a beautiful lake, monsters, and people.

Yes, I’m not the only one here, so naturally there are people. Gates are incredibly vast. Unlike practice sessions, monsters don’t just appear in small numbers.

I ran while wearing my enhancement suit, trying to stay away from areas with people.

“Let’s do this.”

I took out my main card. The moment I scanned it with my other arm, the Half-Dragon Sura transformed.

“I’ll ignore D-rank and go straight ahead.”

Gates have layers. Just as this Gate has D to B ranks, beyond the D-rank area is C, and beyond C is the B-rank space.

I held up the evolution card again.

The evolution card glowed red, showing the Half-Insect Sura.

But today’s featured card isn’t an insect.

“Let’s rampage in the Gate once.”

[Main Card Replacement]

-> Dinosaur Sura

[Characteristic Adjustment]

The evolution card’s illustration changed to Dinosaur Sura, and now my body was no longer my previous one. Having become a massive creature, I was ready to hunt prey.

“Kiek!”

A group of E-rank dwarf monsters nearby suddenly threw bones at me.

“…”

They’re coming. I can sense them. I charged toward the five or six monsters.

“Kieeek!”

With a single stomp of my two feet, they died, and I gained 1,200 points.

“I wonder when I’ll reach full maturity.”

-Total points: 3,980

I need at least 13,000 points to reach maturity. I just need to gather as many as possible.

My body was unstoppable.

Beyond E-rank, when I saw a bright light, I immediately threw myself toward it.

Though it’s a D-rank dungeon, I ignore it. The end of the Gate is for moving to higher layers. Literally, if you reach the end of the field, you can move to a higher layer.

That’s why finding people in the Gate is very difficult.

It’s vast, and you just need to reach the edge area to move to the next layer if necessary.

Around the C-rank dungeon, my wild instincts sent a warning.

Multiple monsters had appeared in the ruins ahead.

“Grrrr…”

I instinctively growled and charged.

[Tail Enhancement]

[Breath]

The use of sub-cards and my inherent specs easily annihilate C-rank monsters.

Things emerging from the ground touch my body, but I could withstand it.

Honestly, it’s fine even if I get hit. Even when I deliberately stood still, I could barely feel the impact on this body.

Like the sensation of a fly landing. Overwhelmingly powerful. As I advanced with overwhelming force, I thought of the awakening card.

Last time I barely succeeded in controlling it, but honestly, if such a situation happens again, would I survive?

I need to make this power completely mine.

With this in mind, I took out the awakening card.

If I use the awakening card while adjusting characteristics, wouldn’t it be a bit better?

With this thought, I activated the awakening card. My vision remained the same, but at that moment my consciousness blurred.

“Hup!”

As I barely regained control when my head started spinning, I felt a tingling sensation throughout my body.

I want to kill.

While barely holding onto my reason amidst this desire, a status window appeared.

Strength: S

Agility: A

Resistance: S

Magic Resistance: A

Energy: S

Magic Power: A

Skills: Gaia Flame, Bite, Claw Attack

How many S-ranks? I clearly feel stronger, but my senses keep getting strange.

My consciousness is blurring, but it feels so sweet. This shouldn’t happen…

Kill.

Fun.

Strong.

I didn’t lose consciousness. While forcibly holding onto my consciousness that nearly flew to its limit, my body followed its mood.

With adrenaline secreting throughout my body, I began massacring every monster I encountered.

It’s overwhelming. I can see all attacks, and they’re slow. Just a light touch from this massive body makes monsters burst.

Kill.

Good.

Strong, so kill them all.

After being intoxicated for a while, my surroundings were filled with monster corpses.

Now I need to go. To where the B-rank is.

“Huff. Huff.”

Only breathing sounds came from my mouth, and I felt unparalleled ecstasy.

But my body wouldn’t listen.

As excitement heightened, my body was searching for prey around me.

This isn’t right? I screamed in my head, but my body wouldn’t listen. This feels comfortable.

What am I thinking right now?

A sensation of not being myself. I was only licking my lips toward enemies.

[Control Weakened]

-Characteristic adjustment is neutralized.

My consciousness blurred momentarily. Previously I could see what I was doing, but this time my consciousness was completely cut off.

When I regained my consciousness (control), there was a Jaeger in front of me.