Flawless Gate Clearance
With the terrain fully scouted, Nam Gyuil turned to his teammates. For Hong Shinu, who had to play the bait, he'd set up several traps along her escape route. Everyone was in position, waiting for the signal.
Shh-shh.
Nam Gyuil flashed hand signals. The operation was underway.
"Hey, you damn salamander bastards!!"
Hong Shinu shouted as she hoisted a rock toward the Lizardmen. Her face flushed red from the weight.
"Taaah!"
She hurled the rock at the Lizardmen.
Thud.
The Lizardmen dodged nimbly. The rock rolled across the ground before coming to a perfect stop right in front of the shaman Lizardman.
"Shaaak—"
"Shaaak—!!"
The Lizardmen, fearless, flew into a rage at the lone human daring to provoke them. Their brows furrowed, eyes blazing with murderous intent.
The shaman Lizardman gave a signal.
"Shaaak."
The Lizardmen let out roars and raised their spears.
Thud-thud-thud. They charged at Hong Shinu, their heavy bodies pounding the earth with booming footsteps.
"Eek—!! D-Damn salamander bastards."
Hong Shinu's voice trembled, her earlier bravado gone. She turned tail and bolted without looking back.
The lure had worked perfectly.
Nam Gyuil watched her retreating figure, silently wishing her luck. Just keep running straight out of the gate. Or use the traps I set if you have to hold out. I'll come get you for sure.
Thanks to Hong Shinu's solid performance as bait, only the shaman Lizardman and a handful of minions remained near the core.
"Shaaak."
The shaman Lizardman snorted derisively, as if annoyed by the trivial hassle. There wasn't a hint of tension on its face. It hadn't even considered this might be a lure.
Figures. A little brainpower would make it obvious.
They underestimate humans.Nam Gyuil read the shaman's thoughts clearly.
Shing.
He drew a dagger from his waist. The shaman Lizardman's ears twitched sharply, as if it had heard something.
Taat—!!
Nam Gyuil burst from the bushes, charging like an assassin straight at the shaman Lizardman. He kept low, taking wide strides. Dust kicked up in his wake, his feet a blur.
"Shak?!"
The startled shaman flinched. As Nam Gyuil closed the distance in an instant, it fired a fireball with magic. Blazing flames streaked through the air with a crimson tail.
Now it was Nam Gyuil's turn to be in danger. But the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk—a sneer.
Tat-tat—!!
He abruptly changed direction mid-sprint. Bracing against forward momentum, he unleashed explosive power from his legs.
Kaboom!
His foot slammed into the ground like a crater. His targets were twofold: the 07 Team national hunters bound in vines, and the Lizardman guarding them.
Slash—!!
The dagger severed the Lizardman's throat in one stroke, slicing clean through the artery. It clutched the wound, but blood sprayed like a fountain through its fingers.
"Sha…."
The Lizardman guarding the kidnapped national hunters slumped dead.
The shaman Lizardman's eyes widened in shock, unable to hide its dismay.
Nam Gyuil clamped the dagger in his teeth.
Whoosh-whoosh.
He hurled the vine-bound national hunters toward his teammates' position.
"Run—now!!"
His comrades snatched the rescued hunters—who'd been used as provisions—and fled. The shaman Lizardman trembled with rage.
"Siiik—!!"
It seethed with humiliation.
Nam Gyuil spat the dagger back into his hand. Idiot. Fell for it so easily.
His dash from the bushes targeting the shaman had been a smokescreen. Feigning a boss kill drew the minions' eyes, lulling them into complacency. It let him rescue the 07 Team effortlessly.
Only two minions left besides the shaman. No need to drag this out.
Slash—!!
He dispatched the rest.
Now, just the shaman remained.
Nam Gyuil adjusted his stance. Kill it, smash the core, and the op was done.
His gaze locked on the shaman's black tail. Greed flickered in his eyes.
"Siiik?!"
The shaman sensed something off and twitched.
Nam Gyuil coveted that tail. Because it's a key ingredient for mid-grade elixirs.
Even low-grade elixirs had made him this strong. What would mid-grade do?
His grip tightened on the dagger. A dry chuckle escaped him unbidden.
The situation's changed.
Before, monsters terrified him. He'd never dream of facing them head-on. Run? Can I win? Just survive. Those thoughts scattered his focus.
Not anymore.
Now he could concentrate fully. He was no longer prey to be trampled.
Now... you're the hunted.
Nam Gyuil charged the shaman. It unleashed spells, conjuring rocks and fire from thin air. Blazing heat scorched the air as they hurtled toward him.
But Nam Gyuil scoffed dismissively. Channeling pure mana from Arnia's body reinforcement into his legs, he accelerated further. Zigzagging, he evaded every projectile.
The shaman gaped, stunned. Hitting Nam Gyuil as he darted left and right was impossible. Its momentum broken, it stepped back.
The distance closed to arm's reach. Nam Gyuil coiled for a thrust.
The shaman specialized in ranged attacks but was helpless up close.
"Shaaak!!"
It summoned a translucent blue barrier like a long wall.
Nam Gyuil, arm extended as if striking, pivoted on his heel, spinning to the shaman's flank in a flash.
"Shak?!"
The shaman's pupils quivered. The shield guarded only the front—useless against a side attack.
Puuk—!!
The blade pierced its throat.
"Sha…."
A brief death rattle. Blood erupted like pressurized spray, staining Nam Gyuil's fingers crimson. The shaman's eyes rolled back as it collapsed.
With its death, the barrier vanished.
"Whew, it's over."
Nam Gyuil exhaled deeply. He sliced off the black tail with his dagger.
"This'll make a mid-grade elixir."
He glanced aside. A glowing orb floated in the air—the core.
Crackle.
His dagger cleaved it. Sensitive to impact, it sparked wildly before plummeting and rolling across the ground.
Rumble.
Storm clouds gathered overhead, lightning flashing through the darkness. The gate's closure sign.
Nam Gyuil sprinted toward the entrance.
***
"Hahk, hngh, uwaaah."
Hong Shinu gasped grotesquely as she ran. She'd lured the Lizardmen per plan and bolted for the gate exit.
She should've been out by now. But as a rookie hunter barely a day in, how fast could she be? Even using the traps, she couldn't shake them—and now her legs grew heavier.
"Kraaaah—!!"
Screaming like a battle cry, she pushed on, but the Lizardmen closed in relentlessly.
"Shaaak."
"Siyaak—!!"
Their roars grew nearer; tears welled in her eyes. I'm gonna die.
Thoughts of her parents, regrets about not confessing to her crush—then one face surfaced.
"Sergeant Nam Gyuil~!!"
She bellowed her sole lifeline.
A Lizardman raised its spear high. Close enough to strike.
Then—
Rustle.
Something burst from the bushes, intervening.
Slash, thwack—!!
The two Lizardmen lunging at Hong Shinu crumpled.
Stunned, she and the Lizardmen halted.
The newcomer: Nam Gyuil.
"Sergeant Nam!!"
"Brat, missed me?"
"Yes, sir!!"
She wiped tears with her sleeve.
Rumble.
Storm clouds spread across the sky.
Nam Gyuil explained. "Destroyed the gate core."
"Yes, sir."
"Gate's closing soon. No need to fight monsters."
"Huh?"
As Hong Shinu deflated, he hoisted her onto his back.
"Full sprint to the exit. Hold tight."
"Private Hong Shinu! Understood—!!"
She clutched his uniform fiercely.
Tat-tat.
Nam Gyuil dashed for the exit with her. Lizardmen pursued, but the gap only widened; their roars faded.
Near the entrance, the scattered team reassembled—all safe. They carried the rescued hunters and ran.
Op success. Hwang Ilsu eyed Nam Gyuil. "Glad you're safe, sir. Honestly, I had my doubts about the plan."
Nam Gyuil laughed heartily. "Hahaha, you punk! Doubted the team leader's plan? You're buying dinner as punishment. You know I have refined tastes."
"Soon as we escape this damn gate, it's on me."
Hwang Ilsu shot back undaunted.
The exit loomed.
"Let's go!!"
With Nam Gyuil's roar, they leaped out.
As they emerged, the gate contracted, dissolving into gray smoke.
"Hahk, hahk, hahk."
They panted raggedly, exchanging glances. Unspoken emotion swelled: overwhelming triumph.
"Yesss!! Closed the gate with zero deaths."
"No one's hurt."
"Never thought I'd see the day. Can I cry?"
They hugged and cheered. First gate clear: full team intact, no casualties or injuries.
Hong Shinu praised Nam Gyuil. "All thanks to Sergeant Nam Gyuil—!!"
Agreement erupted.
"Yeah, exactly."
"All 'cause of Gyuil hyung—!! What happened in the hospital? Did you get some movie serum or what?"
Lee Chanu joked.
Nam Gyuil shrugged. "No more worries. I'll get you all discharged safely."
01 Team's gate returns—once a funeral—now buzzed with warmth for the first time.
***
Lieutenant Colonel Park Heeryeong of the Hunter Agency read the report carefully.
01 Team: all safe?
First full-survival report amid endless casualties. Curiosity piqued.
How'd they all make it out?
Even guilds with vets had losses; national hunters never emerged intact.
He rose, heading to the situation board.
Scribble-scribble.
- 01 Team. Accident-free: 1 day.
Never even hit zero days before. First milestone.
Park Heeryeong smiled proudly. 01 Team, huh... Time to hear how they pulled it off.
Arms clasped behind his back, he pondered.