Sudden Gate
A foreboding red dimensional gate had appeared in the park that had been peaceful just moments ago.
Elpinire quietly stared at the gate, from which violent mana—different in nature from ma gi—poured out endlessly without respite.
Leaving her behind, I thrust forward my right hand, transformed by the Black Dragon.
Smoke - Mist Shadow
Black mist flowed from my extended right hand.
Now that I was getting a bit used to handling it, the mist shot toward the kids at rapid speed.
"Kkuk!?"
The children panicked as the black mist suddenly wrapped around their bodies.
Before they could spiral into full-blown hysteria, I tightly bound them in the mist and yanked them back.
Thanks to the mist sealing them securely, the kids were pulled forward without a scratch.
The moment I extracted them, the Sudden Gate fully manifested, swallowing the park and everything around it.
It was a hair-raising situation—what might have happened if we'd been even a little slower.
I knelt on one knee to meet the eyes of the stunned, frozen kids.
"You okay? Pretty scary, huh?"
"Uh……."
"Head out to the street and yell that a Sudden Gate has appeared, got it?"
As I spoke while holding their gaze, the tension on their faces slowly eased.
But none of the kids nodded right away.
Fear painted their expressions, but it wasn't directed at the Sudden Gate.
I had a feeling I knew why, so I extended the pinky finger of my right hand, covered in black scales.
"Don't worry. Your big bro here's just a hunter passing by. I'll go in and rescue the people from the orphanage."
"……Okay."
"P-Please."
"Please……."
The kids clutched the hems of their puffy jackets, bowing their heads deeply.
Up close, I could see their jackets were heavily worn.
These were probably hand-me-downs they'd worn through multiple rounds.
I ruffled the hair of the oldest-looking boy in the red jacket with my left hand—a gesture of reassurance—then stood up from my kneel.
"Elpinire. Looks like we've got work to do, even though we just came out to have fun."
"Do as you wish. You're my master, after all. I'll gladly obey."
"……Can't you just call me a regular human?"
"Seeing that reaction makes me even less inclined to."
Elpinire grinned, clearly amused.
With a vibe like she'd never do it anyway, I let out a long sigh and approached the Sudden Gate, where red sparks crackled.
Elpinire followed at my side, her body emanating verdant energy from the Evergreen Formation.
"Kkung!"
"Hungry, so you want the monster magic stones we catch inside?"
"Kkung kkung."
"……You didn't get full even after eating all that?"
"Kkung."
"I'll do my best."
I gave a quick reply to Cheori, who was hanging from the nape of my neck, then stepped into the gate.
I'd ditched my jacket and coat ages ago—they were just getting in the way.
Inside the Sudden Gate, I looked around.
"A swamp?"
"This is new terrain even for me. Nothing like it in the Evergreen Forest."
A musty scent tickled my nose.
The moon reflected on the water's surface—this was a swamp.
I'd heard gates could contain endless variety, but a swamp was a first for me.
It was intriguing, but…….
"Right now, we've gotta deal with that first."
I eyed the swamp, which had been calm moments ago.
Bubbles rose with a gurgle.
Something alive slowly emerged atop them.
A round, massive green body.
Moss-covered sharp spines jutting from its back.
Hook-like claws and rear legs thicker than logs.
Round black eyes.
That creature was…….
"……A frog?"
A frog.
I was taken aback by the unexpected foe for a moment.
But the frog lunged, shooting its tongue long toward us.
I raised my right hand to block the tongue flying at my face and squinted.
"The tongue's pointed like an arrowhead."
"Yeah."
Snap!
I yanked the tongue hard.
The massive frog popped out of the swamp like a cork and flew toward us.
Elpinire punched the incoming frog, punching a hole clean through it and killing it instantly.
I muttered at the frog that flopped down right in front of me.
"This is a Sergalgul gate, huh."
"Sergalgul?"
"C-rank monster, I think. Something like that?"
Distinctive huge horns, pointed tongue, massive body—that matched what I'd heard.
Seeing one up close gave the full picture.
Tsking softly, I nudged the dead Sergalgul's corpse with my foot.
"Elpinire. We gotta hurry."
"Why?"
"From what I know, Sergalgul's specialty is hunting."
"That's every monster's trait."
"Nah, not like this."
Sergalgul were different.
Even as monsters, their brains hadn't evolved past reptiles—they hunted indiscriminately.
Hungry or not.
Just rampaged and hunted.
"And their special trait doesn't match that huge size."
They were hypersensitive to faint vibrations, sounds, mana fluctuations—totally at odds with their bulk—and struck with ambush tongue lashes.
Prey pierced by that arrow-sharp tongue either died on the spot or lost mobility from wounds.
Winner: Sergalgul, always.
Easy enough in regular gates, but in Sudden Gates, they were the ones hunters avoided.
Elpinire's face hardened as she took it in and scanned our surroundings.
"So what do we do? Roam the gate saving every living human?"
"……That's one way."
"Meaning there's another?"
"Obviously."
Clear every monster inside the gate.
To close a Sudden Gate, you had to eliminate all monsters within.
That was basic, but modern hunters picked one of two paths to prioritize civilians.
One: Rescue civilians first, then raid the gate.
Safe, but manpower-heavy since you had to save everyone before wiping monsters.
"Not our style."
So we chose the other.
Wipe every monster in the gate.
Do that, and the gate closes, ejecting all trapped inside to safety.
Downside: No bodies recovered. But end it before they die, problem solved.
"Master. You said those frogs specialize in detection."
"Yeah."
"Perfect, then."
Elpinire smirked, stomping the ground hard and exhaling sharply.
"I'll draw every monster in the gate here."
Boom!
A massive whirlwind swirled around Elpinire.
Her clothes fluttered as her green eyes gleamed; she leaped and slammed the ground.
Lord El - Finire
Crack.
Verdant pillars erupted from the splitting earth.
Their fierce emergence stirred countless presences around the pillars.
"They're coming, Master."
"……I know."
Splash!
Hundreds of frogs leaped toward the central pillar in the swamp.
Where the hell had that many been hiding?
Frowning at their grotesque forms, I trudged into the swamp, compressing mist fiercely atop my right fist.
Smoke - Fury
Boom!
One punch swept the frogs away.
My shoulder tingled briefly, but the Ultra Regeneration Blessing erased the pain fast.
"Let's wrap this up quick."
These frogs were just the tip of the iceberg.
To handle the rest, we needed to move faster.
I compressed more mist onto my fist and advanced on the survivors.
Magic stones…… gotta skip 'em, shame.
Money mattered, but I wasn't one to break promises.
Said I'd save them, so I would.
Every minute, every second counted.
Lingering for stones would mean casualties for sure.
I punched again, detonating the mist.
Huff, huff.
My breath burned in my throat.
I desperately wanted a break, but no rest allowed.
S-Sudden Gates…… even ten hunters aren't enough…….
The boy, orphaned by a Sudden Gate and sent to the orphanage, knew it all too well.
Two people couldn't handle a Sudden Gate.
Not saving those inside.
Not facing the hordes of monsters.
None of it.
Impossible……!
Terror gripped him.
Three years ago, he'd lost his parents before his eyes in one.
Now, the orphanage family that became his new one might vanish the same way.
The creepy-yet-kind big bro and model-like big sis who saved him might die.
The boy in the red jacket felt his heart pounding like it would burst.
Felt like it might leap from his mouth if he spoke.
But he didn't stop.
Stopping now……
It'd all be his fault, the unlucky cause.
"Urp, uek!"
Tension brought up bile.
He clutched the wall, vomiting, relieved his trailing younger siblings didn't see.
Wiping his mouth with his hand, he hurried toward the main road again.
This alley had few people.
Had to reach the street for help.
If only I'd brought my phone…….
He cursed his carelessness.
As he stepped forward—
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
The voice from above made him look up.
Seeing the man's face, tears welled uncontrollably as he screamed.
"S-Sudden Gate! It's a Sudden Gate! Help!"
"……Understood."
A-rank hunter Jeong Chan-woo of the Association.
He nodded at the boy's desperate eyes and keyed his radio.
"This is Jeong Chan-woo. Sudden Gate in Jangwon-dong. Requesting backup."
Acknowledged.
He set the radio down and asked the boy.
"Can you show me the location?"
"Th-There! The park that way!"
"Got it."
"Two hunters went in first! Please! Save the orphanage people!"
Jeong Chan-woo nodded, mana surging as he kicked off hard.
Was on my way to check if Black Dragon was home today…… on an errand.
A Sudden Gate, of all things.
Frowning, he eyed the distant gate.
That must be the park the boy mentioned.
Without hesitation, he charged the Sudden Gate.
Floating sensation, shifting view.
Inside the gate, he drew his sword from his waist and froze at the sight.
"……."
Splish splash.
Sergalgul corpses, shattered to bits, floated on the muddy swamp.
Not one.
Dozens, hundreds.
Maybe more—all exploded without resistance.
He lowered his boldly drawn sword and turned.
Jangwon-dong, Seoul outskirts.
Only one person here wielded such unbelievable might.
"Black Dragon."
The missing man for two weeks was here.
A roar echoed soon after.
Sheathing his sword, he sprinted toward the sound.