An A-Rank Gate Appears? (1)
The urgent calls went out in the dead of night.
“Call every available agent in right now!!!”
“Issue an evacuation order across all of Gangwon-do!!!”
It was the hour when everyone should have been sound asleep. The news of a gate opening in Gangwon-do sent the Hunter Management Bureau into complete chaos. Even Park Seoyun, an A-rank agent, burst out of her office in a rush.
She had been debating whether to post a savage takedown of Elsa before dozing off at her desk. When she arrived at the briefing hall, the place was a complete disaster.
Section chiefs and team leaders who looked like they’d been yanked straight out of bed, still half-asleep. Department heads and team leaders sighing beside them. Bureau agents swallowing nervously, faces pale with tension. Only Director Lee Seungchul stood ramrod straight, eyes blazing.
For some reason, it felt like they had all been waiting for her. Seeing the atmosphere, she realized posting that gallery comment would have been a catastrophic mistake. This was definitely not the time to be talking about the Hunter Four-Cuts contest.
Park Seoyun glanced around cautiously and slipped into the hall.
“Begin the briefing.”
The director confirmed her arrival and immediately kicked off the meeting. A so-called “Observer” responsible for analyzing mana flows and monitoring gates stepped forward and began chanting. The core of a golem that had appeared in the sky projected a hologram onto the large screen.
The shape of the gate that appeared before Park Seoyun’s eyes made her freeze.
“I’ve never seen a gate like this before….”
“It’s vibrating and continuously expanding in size!”
The hall quickly filled with the buzz of anxious voices. Only then did Park Seoyun fully grasp the situation.
“Location: above Yangyang County in Gangwon-do. As you’ve all probably guessed, based on the mana wavelength emanating from the gate, this is an A-rank gate.”
The Observer’s briefing triggered sighs and groans from every corner of the room.
“Until now, the highest rank gate to appear in Gangwon-do was only C-rank. This is extremely unusual….”
“Enough. What about the observed monsters?” Lee Seungchul cut the Observer off.
“No entities have been observed yet. However, this is a wavelength I’ve never felt before. The appearance of an A-rank monster is certain.”
“So we have no idea what kind of creature will come out.”
“Correct.”
Fear began to spread throughout the entire hall. Every person there shared the same terror—one particular incident from the past.
It was the fear of Seoul, the capital that had been devoured by a gate eight years ago and still remained unrestored.
“Are we really going to lose Gangwon-do, one of the last clean zones?!”
“Director! We must dispatch agents immediately!!”
“Quiet! Everyone, quiet down!”
Lee Seungchul stepped forward to regain control.
“I will personally contact the hunters in Yangyang County and request their cooperation. Convert the nearest activation core into a loudspeaker.”
The Observer nodded.
“Agent Park Seoyun.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Even if we send B-rank agents now, it will take them three hours to arrive. So you’ll have to go. Transportation will be—”
“Not necessary. I can fly.”
With that, she kicked off the ground and shot into the sky.
Hunter Gallery — New Post
Hunter Gallery — New Post
Hunter Gallery — New Post
Hunter Gallery — New Post
Seol Hayan, whose gallery username was fixed as Elsa, was completely bewildered.
“I was in such a hurry I didn’t even bring my usual weapon.”
What she held in her hand was the B-rank weapon Ju-ddak had gifted her… but it looked exactly like a random wooden club.
They said it was an A-rank gate, but maybe she had worried for nothing? Maybe she hadn’t needed to bring a weapon at all?
The other hunters who had been forming ranks in front of the gate started grumbling and one by one began heading home.
“It’s obviously just a D-rank gate.”
“I’m heading out first.”
“Yeah~ sleep well. Looks like even the Bureau screws up sometimes.”
What? They’re just leaving like this? The Bureau didn’t even tell them to disperse?
“Iron Break!”
“Krrraaaaagh!!”
The hunters who had left the formation began smashing the skeletons to pieces.
“Hey! White-haired lady over there! Want to hunt some skeletons together?”
“Ah! Y-yes…”
At the other hunter’s call, Seol Hayan started walking forward as well.
At that exact moment, an enormous number of skeletons began pouring out of the gate.
“Krrrrraaaaaaaa!!!”
“Huh…?”
Then a gigantic bony hand emerged from beyond the gate. In an instant, it snatched up one of the hunters—the very same one who had called out to her.
“Uwaaaaaagh! Aaaagh! Help me!!!”
The entire hand was instantly engulfed in flames.
“Kiiiiieeeeee!”
When the flames died down, the hunter had been turned into a skeleton.
So the Bureau’s panic wasn’t an overreaction. This really was an A-rank gate.
“Everyone! Fall back! It’s only just beginning!!!”
The moment Seol Hayan shouted, flames exploded from the gate. A chilling gaze could be felt from beyond it. A skeletal lord covered in crimson flames was staring directly at her.
She knew instantly.
That thing was an A-rank monster.
Meanwhile, back at the gallery…
The gallery was in an uproar over the A-rank gate that had appeared in the early morning. Thanks to that, I finally learned that something called the Hunter Management Bureau even existed.
Well, they manage hunters, catch villains, and when a gate appears they dispatch agents. The explanation was long, but basically they’re just the police and the military draft office mixed together. Okay, fine. I get it.
But how strong does an A-rank monster have to be for everyone to be losing their minds like this? Even if something strong appears, wouldn’t it be at most a World Ender or an Eternal Archdemon? If it’s a bit stronger than that, maybe a Fallen God’s Avatar or a Void Dragon?
Come to think of it, the Kraken was pretty tough too.
“It was a little annoying when I beat the Kraken. Swimming was a hassle and drying off afterward was even more annoying.”
I still remembered how the Kraken had cried and offered up two of its legs, begging me to stop flicking its forehead.
“But it tasted like absolute shit. I’d rather have another one of the shaved ice Elsa gave me. That stuff was amazing.”
As I was casually scrolling through the gallery, one verified post caught my eye.
— A-rank Monster Verified (photo attached) [1273]
When I clicked on it, a photo of a skeletal lord engulfed in flames appeared.
Wait! I’ve definitely seen this guy before….
It was the one I had beaten the absolute crap out of to establish dominance.
“What the hell! Isn’t that Sarakan? You’re telling me this worthless piece of trash is an A-rank monster?”