#33 Serena's Ice Palace (3)
If this gate was a replica of a destroyed dimension, just as Ray said, it explained why the same monsters kept appearing in gates all this time.
So Serena's Ice Palace might spawn monsters from other gates too. If I could just figure out which dimension this was, I could reference strategies from those other gates.
"It might just be a similar environment from a completely different dimension, though."
Still, that means there's a possibility.
I could've identified things more precisely by seeing the monsters, but unfortunately, I was stuck at the very rear as a porter.
The raid moved in this order: support team (scouts)—raid team—support team (standby)—porters. Being in the safest position meant I couldn't see a damn thing even if a fight broke out up front.
If I were a real porter, I'd be grateful for the consideration, but the lack of intel was killing me.
Not that I could break formation. We'd spawned midway up a snowy mountain range. The whipping winds across the ridges were bad enough, but one misstep and you'd tumble down—the paths were that narrow.
In those tight spots, we had to cross single file, slowing our pace to a crawl. Even us porters, all 3-star awakeners or higher, struggled with the heavy loads.
No matter what happened ahead, our job was to keep moving safely with the gear on our backs. That's what porters did.
Fights or no fights, we plodded on stubbornly.
The bone-numbing cold had us bundled up and silent, our routine reduced to march, eat, rest.
"Rest!"
At the leader's call, the porters halted.
"Eat!"
I pulled dried rations from the pack at my side. Everyone fired up their burners, melted snow for water, poured it over the rations, and scarfed down the makeshift stew.
Being Sirius made a difference—even their gate rations were decent. The crap I ate back in the mining days tasted like ground-up gravel.
Sipping my stew from the pouch, I scanned the surroundings.
Traces of battle everywhere. There'd been noise from up ahead earlier—must've been a fight.
Melted scorch marks from fire. Chunks of cliff broken off by impacts.
No monster remains, though. Probably cleaned up by the mid-team, or maybe they were the type that didn't leave a corpse.
Meal over, the leader barked.
"Advance!"
I packed up and glanced at Han Seohyun. Tough march for him to endure. The mask hid his complexion—a downside. He flashed a hand signal: I'm fine.
Nothing eventful until nightfall. Descending sheer cliffs, we found a spot everyone could crash.
Spacious enough for over a hundred, backed by solid mountainside, wide open in front. A river nearby would've made it perfect feng shui, but no such luck.
Still, ideal for the night. Sun had hours left, but no better spot ahead—they called rest.
Now it was porter time. I unpacked gear from my load.
The heaviest stuff we carried was for these shelters. Temporary, sure, but etched with defense circuits—basically bunkers.
Recent artifact crafting had honed my hands; I followed the others, eyeing the setup.
Not hard at all. Panels detached from the packs snapped together like magic. Mine would form walls. Others handling pillars and floors had the frame up quick. I handed over my panels.
A decent temporary camp sprang up in moments. Forty-odd shelters.
Unbelievable for inside a gate—cozy as hell. Beds, tables, even showers.
Worlds better than the tents at my old base.
I glanced toward the raid team's side, where Yuseonje was. Their shelters were penthouse-level. Flashy compared to our plain beige ones—windows, huge, multiple rooms.
We'd entered together, but porter me and raid-team Yuseonje? Worlds apart.
Couldn't even make out that smug face properly.
Though yeah, he earned the VIP treatment.
Doesn't matter—he won't clear this gate.
Too far to scope faces without mana. Gave up on the raid team and headed to the porters' shelter with Han Seohyun. Two to a room—lucky.
I locked the door tight.
"Ugh, I'm dying."
Han Seohyun groaned the second he saw me. Impressive he'd held out this long.
"Intel?"
"Hmm, nothing special yet. Snow blindness limits visibility, and everyone's been dead silent."
"Not ideal for eavesdropping."
"Exactly. Hoping for chit-chat tonight."
"Yeah."
Mouse's best perk: overhearing conversations. Cold shut mouths en route—no gains. But tonight? Different.
These shelters melted resolve.
"Didn't believe it'd shake Sirius if this failed at first, but yeah—a flop this big would hurt."
Even newbie Han Seohyun was impressed. The gear issued to porters screamed deep pockets.
"This raid's Jin Yeonhwa's proving ground."
"Proving ground?"
Realized he needed the full rundown. Plenty of time before solid intel anyway.
Time for a history lesson.
"You know how Sirius became Korea's top guild, right?"
He nodded.
Everyone knew the Jin family behind it. Their history intertwined with Korea's.
Jin Yongseok founded Sirius—back then, Polaris Guild. Jin Yeonhwa's grandfather.
"Jin Yongseok was a monster himself. Strongest hunters, plus he played politics like a fiddle. Showed up in the chaos as the reliable hero—whole country worshipped him."
Textbook perfect guild master.
Stats alone? Absurdly broken.
Top-ten hunter in Korea, sharp political instincts, flawless operations?
And in those early gate days? He quelled the madness.
Polaris was his baby, adored by all.
"But time catches everyone. Next up: his son, Jin Kanghun."
Bad luck—Jin Kanghun didn't measure up. Hunter skills, politics, leadership? None satisfied dad.
"Like father, unlike son," but he had basics. Problem: dad was once-in-a-century genius Jin Yongseok, who personally whipped his "inadequate" boy into shape.
Disastrous choice.
"Jin Kanghun died in an accident..."
"Nah, suicide. Inner circle knows."
Heard it from Seol Rokjin. Loved dumping "only I know" old tales on me.
Shocked me too. Jin Kanghun was just thirty-three.
"When he died, daughter Jin Yeonhwa was eleven."
Did Jin Yongseok regret driving his son to death? Did Jin Yeonhwa resent grandpa? Seol didn't say.
Just what followed.
"Jin Yongseok named Jin Yeonhwa his heir."
"At eleven?"
"No awakener, but inherited his operations and politics. Last bloodline too."
His play: surround her with his elites. Polaris was Korea's best—talent flocked there.
He molded them into his people, then hers.
"At least while Jin Yongseok lived, Polaris newbies—'Yongseok kids'—followed her. Saved by him countless times."
His seeds flourished. Lives saved, educations funded—not one or two. He imprinted ownership as "Jin Yeonhwa," but they clung to him.
"No issues then. He was Polaris boss, she his granddaughter. But five years ago, villain raid downs Jin Yongseok. Jin Yeonhwa, twenty-six, holds the mega-guild."
'Yongseok kids' filled it—assets and threats. To claim it fully, she needed fresh talent to counter them.
"Enter Yuseonje. Potentials existed before, but none his caliber."
That's why he's key. Why Seol targeted him.
Han Seohyun tilted his head, puzzled.
"They're grandpa's people, guild's his legacy—why antagonize them?"
I gave a bitter smile.
"Renaming Polaris to Sirius? Couldn't fully forgive the grandpa who killed her dad."
Folks think Polaris brightest, but Sirius—the Dog Star—is night's true beacon.
Her name change screamed intent: always toward the right path.
Reasons abound.