Isn't the Real Combat Test Too Brutal?

Aren't practical combat tests supposed to be this harsh? In front of the gate that had suddenly appeared at the Geumryeon Guild building. A man in a white lab coat was bustling around the portable gate analysis equipment when someone approached him.

"…Ah, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you're the representative of Geumryeon Guild."

"What's the situation?"

"From the confirmed analysis results, this gate is a B-rank gate."

The guild representative's brow furrowed slightly. The area engulfed by the gate was right next to the guild building—the outdoor training ground. And if memory served, today was the day Park Chae-rin was supposed to be teaching a private hunter lesson there.

The guild rep bit his lower lip. An A-rank hunter might clear it somehow, but Park Chae-rin only had her cherished swords on her—no other gear. If she at least had basic Association-issued defensive equipment, that'd be one thing, but unprepared, even an A-rank was in grave danger inside a gate. If she came out with any permanent injury, it would be a massive loss for Geumryeon Guild.

"…Is there no one who can enter right now?"

The guild representative wasn't a hunter himself. He was just a business management expert running a company called a guild. With his core hunter trapped in a B-rank gate without any preparation, he desperately needed other hunters' help more than anyone.

"Since it's a gate in the middle of Seoul, the Association will dispatch hunters immediately. The problem is something else."

"W-what is it?"

"The gate's dimensional connection is unstable right now. If you enter now, your limbs might end up in completely different places."

The gate analyst's words hit like a bolt from the blue. Even if support hunters arrived, they couldn't rush in quickly.

"Stabilization… how long will that take?"

"At least three hours…."

The guild representative couldn't hide his anxiety, his trembling fingertips fumbling for a cigarette. Park Chae-rin…. Please be safe.

"Ah…. Things went sideways."

About 30 minutes since falling into the gate. I'd gotten separated from Park Chae-rin along with a few civilians. Of course, it wasn't on purpose—it was an accident. While passing through a tunnel, a massive troll smashed the wall, splitting the group of people.

Because of that, my surroundings were now the noisiest mess imaginable.

"Ah, ahh…. W-what, what do we do?"

"Are you a hunter by any chance? You, are you?"

"We're gonna die here…. Gonna die here…!"

Their mental states had completely broken. Well, can you blame them? Until just moments ago, they'd been with an A-rank hunter like Park Chae-rin, and now they were stuck in a group of ordinary civilians. Common sense dictated that a suddenly spawned gate wasn't some leisurely place a bunch of randos could muscle through.

To calm things down, I cleared my throat and revealed that I was a hunter. Half for that purpose, half to shut them up.

"I'm… a hunter, at least."

As I mustered my courage and raised my hand, everyone stopped talking. My head had been pounding from their near-meltdowns—thanks for that.

"This is…."

"No way! We're all dead!"

"Save us save us save us!"

The problem? Every civilian staring at me was on the verge of mental collapse again.

"Quiet!"

"""…."""

"Are you all messing around right now? What if monsters come because of the noise?!"

My shout made them fall silent instantly. Sure, I was the loudest one here, but I was pointing out the issue, so it was fine.

"S-so, what do we do now?"

Gates always had a boss. Hunt the boss to escape, or hold out until rescue arrived. Plus, who was trapped in this gate? An A-rank hunter like Park Chae-rin—rescue would be dispatched at full speed. Even if something went wrong and they couldn't enter, Park Chae-rin could clear the boss room without a scratch.

Thanks to her, there was nothing to worry about. So the options were simple: sit here and wait for rescue, or wait for her to clear the boss room.

Easy choice.

"We'll clear the boss room."

Not alone, of course. Right before we split, Park Chae-rin had been moving to clear the gate.

'Though this accident separated us.'

Stopping here because we were isolated would only put more distance between us…. If those monsters from earlier swarmed, we'd all be wiped out. Better to move while dodging monsters or luring them one by one—that was safer.

Plus, this was prime material for a concept post. Missing a golden opportunity like this would be a waste. Even if something unexpected happened, it should be fine. Slap on dragon form, the recently upgraded breath, body enhancement—all skills maxed, and I could handle anything. If word got out, it'd just be rumors of a hunter who could turn into a dragon—no one would connect it to me.

I'd hidden my horns and tail meticulously, and hadn't revealed my identity since getting trapped.

"Only one path. Let's go."

Pushing through this area to reach the boss room Park ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Chae-rin was heading to was our only way out. But the gate had no intention of letting us stroll there smoothly—a few monsters guarded the path ahead.

'Too bad I have no info on those guys…. Have to treat them all as tough monsters and fight accordingly.'

I polymorph'd my left arm (the one not holding Full Moon) into a dragon arm, then layered body enhancement just on that arm. Applying partial polymorph sensation made it surprisingly mana-efficient.

To minimize mana use further, I pulled out the prepped Full Moon.

Whoa, Moonlight Slash? This sword with no abilities or description had been charging "moonlight energy" or whatever for this? No time to care about performance. A rock turtle was spinning toward me ferociously, hiding in its shell.

Kagagak-!!

With dragon dynamic vision, I barely dodged the spinning attack.

"Gaaah!!"

"Kyaaak-!!"

"Hngh…!"

The civilians freaked out and dropped to the floor at the sight of sparks flying. Geez, I wasn't the one hit and falling—why the overreaction?

A few scales peeled off my left arm, scratches on the rest, but I'd mostly deflected the impact. The problem? The "mostly deflected" shock still rattled my whole body. My vision spun.

What kind of messed-up monster is this…?

If I successfully deflected again, I might last a few more rounds, but that'd lead to retirement. Couldn't guarantee safety for me or the civilians. Only one answer: win without getting hit even once.

At least its attack pattern is super simple…. If it used magic….

I'd probably just run until the end. No time to nurse pain. As the rock turtle spun past, missing, I slashed wide with my claws.

"Kuh…!"

But the shell was tougher than imagined—not even a mark. No choice now; before the next attack, it was do-or-die. I glanced at Full Moon in my right hand.

You're my only hope. Like some soulslike game, I raised the jade-glowing blade high and slammed it down toward the rock turtle with full force.

"…Moonlight Slash!!"

Paaang-!!

With an oddly explosive sound—not quite rock-breaking—the sword energy from Full Moon shattered the shell effortlessly. Seeing that steel-tough shell crumble left me dazed, but no time to gloat. Vulnerable flesh was exposed in the broken shell.

Seizing the opening, I finished it with dragon claws.

Whoa…. Tough as nails, but the rewards are sweet. Couldn't do it twice, but now I had to keep going. A cave troll appeared, swinging a hefty pickaxe menacingly.

'Hah…. Narrow path, and monsters everywhere?!'

Before fighting, I checked my polymorph'd left arm. No major damage, but the scales looked ugly. Trying to deflect a pickaxe with this might cost me the arm.

No choice—reverted the left arm and polymorph'd my legs instead. The dragon's reverse-jointed hind legs replaced my human ones, making me feel like a… well, not quite, but a death-defying alien warrior from some planet.

'Layer body enhancement here too, max out leg power…!'

Temporarily, my speed was at least C+. Judge first, and I could dodge the cave troll's attacks. Mana consumption was the issue, though.

Thank goodness for the pendant and high mana density synergizing for regen, but simultaneous polymorph and body enhancement felt like 1% max mana draining per second. Couldn't change arms to dragon form, so attack/defense relied solely on Full Moon.

Especially since Full Moon, without New Moon's charge, was just a normal sword. If Park Chae-rin wasn't using New Moon, I'd have to take down the cave troll with pure skill.

"Grroooaaarrr-!!!!"

"Kuh!"

I plugged my ears slightly at the roar that shook the tunnel. Then the pickaxe swing—a perfect trajectory to split my head. But my skill-stacked legs dodged before it even descended.

"Gaaah-!!"

"Kyaak! Save us!!"

As I vanished from view, the troll targeted the civilians. Before the merciless beatdown on the weak started, I exploited its distraction, loading my weight into a strike at the side of its head.

Paak-!

A solid impact sound, but the troll barely flinched and swung the pickaxe back at me.

Whoosh!

Small stature and quick judgment let me dodge, but this stalemate wouldn't end it. No—if my stamina or mana bottomed out first, things would spiral.

Fortunately, Full Moon was slowly charging—Park Chae-rin must be heading to the boss room too. Enraged from the hit, the troll swung faster.

Whoosh-! Hwung! Kagak-!!

When the missed pickaxe gouged the wall like tofu, chills ran down my spine.

'One hit and I'm done….'

Breath ragged, metallic taste in my mouth from intense movement. With strategy all-in on Moonlight Slash, no need to provoke with useless attacks. Focus everything on evasion, wait for charge.

"Please…. Just a bit more…!"

"Grroooaaarrr!!!"

"Hngh…!"

Furious at my constant dodging, the troll charged the screaming civilians again. I'd distanced myself evading; its attack would reach them first. Even if I attacked, it'd ignore my weak damage and mince them.

"Not on my watch."

Basic light magic: Flash. A beginner spell from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the White Dragon Grimoire, learned before this mess.

Paaat-!

"Graaak-!!"

"Agh! My eyes!!"

"I-I can't see!!"

Sorry. But the intense light was super effective on troll eyes perfectly adapted to cave darkness. Temporarily blinded, a clear opening formed.

Perfect timing. I raised the jade-glowing Full Moon once more and leaped at the cave troll. Target: its neck.

"Moonlight Slash!!!!!!"

Shwaaak-.

From the shallow cut on the troll's neck, brilliant moonlight sword energy erupted, severing its head clean.

"Hoo…."

Unlike what the apprentice hunter said, it was a B-rank monster. Misinfo? Anyway, I grabbed the drops and pulled myself together.

The path after downing the cave troll was eerily quiet and smooth. Unnaturally so—like the gate was being considerate. Dragging my exhausted body, I pressed on.

The civilians following me had reached full trust mode.

"Um…. Kid, sorry for ignoring you earlier."

"You look about my daughter's size at home, but damn, girl, you're strong!"

First time getting cheers from real people, not tower NPCs. Hehe. Out of breath moments ago, now floating on cloud nine—guess I'm a praise addict at heart.