Busan Giant Gate (2): Wings Over the Endless Forest
What the hell. I glanced around casually, but there was no one in sight. Just a few slimes crawling around.
Beep—
For now, I decided to turn on the stream. Viewers can be helpful sometimes.
"…You guys vampires or something?"
Do they have that condition where sunlight kills them…? No, no, that's not the point right now.
"More importantly, any hunters among you? No one named something like 'Pureun'?"
I turned the camera to show the surroundings.
"I entered the gate, but the people I came with vanished. What's going on…?"
"Mutant gate?"
Random start position, huh…. Honestly, I don't mind.
"Don't you have to exit through the gate after clearing? How does that work here?"
"That was mutant too?"
"Damn, viewers are helpful sometimes. Gotta study more myself. Ha-eun's always told me stuff, but getting separated like this and I immediately hit something I don't know."
Thud—
"First, gotta find the other hunters."
[Withdrawal: 1,000,000 won]
[Details: Wing Bloom skill usage fee]
Flap!
I spread my wings and soared into the sky. Figured it'd be faster to search from up high.
"Hmm…."
The forest stretched endlessly. True to its name as a giant gate, the inside was ridiculously huge. Find 11 people without me here… like searching for Kim in Seoul….
Flap—
"Cut the nonsense, kids. Any tips for finding other hunters in a place like this?"
"No flares visible… nothing on the watch either?"
"Suddenly missing Pureun. She was like a walking encyclopedia too."
Where's something around here….
Boom!
"Hm?"
A heavy impact echoed from one direction, followed by smoke rising. That’s gotta be a hunter.
I folded my wings and flew toward the smoke. What I saw was….
"Hya?! Th-that’s a monster I’ve never seen!"
Na Ha-rin, gripping a pile bunker leaking smoke.
***
"Overclock it!"
"Wait, wait! It’s me, Goldie!"
I shouted urgently as she tried activating the glowing red, smoking pile bunker. Isn’t that gonna explode…?
"Goldie…? Ah! S-sorry!"
She recognized me only after I landed and fully retracted my wings, stopping the machine. Good, she remembers.
"You flew up suddenly, thought you were a monster! Beastkin can do that too?"
"Haha… N-no, not beastkin actually."
"Gasp! Really?! My apologies! So what race are you?"
"Uh… dragon."
"Whoa… dragon! First time seeing one, so cool, amazing!"
Her reaction’s pretty positive. Friendliest so far?
"Seen lots of races, but you’re the coolest! Ah, feel free to speak casually! We’re in the same boat anyway."
"Yeah, sure, casual it is."
"Haha! Great!"
Na Ha-rin laughed heartily, hands on hips.
"Still, lucky! Weapon was overheating. Meeting another hunter is a godsend."
"Ah, that pile bunker?"
"Yes! You know the name?! Most call it a drill, so touching."
"Well… I like those weapons too. Didn’t have ‘em in my world."
"Aha! Makes sense for another race!"
Opposite personality from Ha-eun, but oddly likable. Though… upbeat types like this crumble hard if hurt.
"Anyway, let’s stick together. Know where the others are?"
"Nope! Brought flares just in case, but they won’t fire."
"Figured as much."
"You’re C-rank, right Goldie? Together we can break through quick!"
"Got it."
Honestly, I could solo it, but might as well play along. Don’t know hunter rules well anyway.
"Shh, quiet."
"You’re streaming?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, hobby."
"Ooh, impressive. Tried once, got two viewers and quit! How many watching??"
"Uh… lemme check…."
👁️ Viewers:616 watching
"Around 600? Less cuz morning."
Wow, looking at it now, I've grown. Used to get 30 at night, now 600 in morning.
"Incredible!"
"Talk later, let’s find others first."
"Yes! Gotta clear slimes around here first."
"Wait, B-rank gate, right? Slimes are total basics."
Na Ha-rin stroked her chin thoughtfully.
"Could be. Boss might boost averages. Seen it before."
Psssh—
"…And that’s okay? Still smoking."
"Haha, fine! Gotta vent heat like this!"
Well, if she says so. But I’ve seen a dwarf lose an arm saying the exact same thing. Unless it’s Ha-eun level, no regening arms for me.
"That your artifact?"
"Hm? No! This is!"
She proudly showed a small wrench.
"Make inventions with it."
"Ooh, nests too?"
"Of course! Want one? Dragon needs huge nest, I’ll make!"
"I’m good, but maybe for others later. Pay well."
Could be good for Terra, still got sand piles in my room. Exchange contacts after clear. Crafter type, useful later.
Squish—
"Slimes coming this way?"
"Yep. They sense us. Can I handle?"
I nodded to save cash. She revved the pile bunker like an engine.
"Behold mechanical engineering’s greatness!"
The tip glowed red. She clenched her fist, thrust forward—
Crack!
Energy propelled her ahead. Unlike pure physical hunters, tech-assisted.
Kiiiiing!
Energy gathered at the tip mid-air. She rocketed up, then slammed down—
Boom!
Compressed energy melted incoming slimes.
Thud—
She checked the overheated bunker.
Psssh!
Yank! A long rod ejected, she roughly swapped in a new mana-forged one.
Clank!
Smoke billowed through the process.
"Smoke every attack?"
"Inevitable. Powder burns after big hit."
"Powder?"
"My skill, powder generation. Gotta reload constantly."
Crunch!
Bunker finished loading with a thud.
And then—
"Kyaaak!"
A scream echoed nearby.
"…! Healer hunter probably!"
"Sounds dangerous, right?"
Flap!
I spread wings.
"Rescue quick and clear here. Separated from my party too."
I soared up.
"Oho… neat structure."
Behind me… Na Ha-rin licked her lips intrigued.