Blitz Through the Gates

The three-pronged path of the first gate wasn't difficult at all.

Splitting up the three apostles had been the right call. They conquered the long corridor in just thirty minutes.

"Mumyeong Hunter didn't even lift a finger himself, and we're already this far."

"Just enjoy it. It's nice not having to break a sweat to clear it."

Even Paegong Guild, who had grumbled at first, accepted it without complaint.

They'd agreed to hand over a portion of the monster byproducts. In exchange, they asked the apostles to handle cleanup for the beasts they'd slain.

"Take these magic stones!"

"These materials are rare. We're lucky."

"SS-rank gates are overflowing with loot."

Considering the resources they'd normally burn through in a clear, Paegong Guild was actually coming out ahead.

Rumble—

As they reached the end of the three paths, a platform rose up. Stepping onto it opened the door to the next gate.

A message window floated before everyone's eyes.

South Korea's name was etched there.

"Being first actually means something."

"It changes the entire nation's growth rate. This is huge."

The hunters arriving at the rest point of the second gate let out sighs of admiration.

The benefits applied to all of South Korea. It would boost the competitiveness of South Korean hunters.

"Humans should be grateful for Master's grace."

Lucifer nodded with arms crossed.

It wasn't really my grace. The apostles did it all.

"How about making them pay Master 10% every time they kill a monster from now on?"

Lucifer muttered while stroking his chin.

He spouts the most absurd nonsense without batting an eye.

That was when it happened.

Boom—!

A massive explosion roared from ahead. All the hunters' gazes snapped forward.

A massive door beyond the plaza.

The explosion came from a crack in that door.

It was the site where the next trial would begin.

"...Someone went in ahead earlier, right?"

"A returner, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't he?"

"Challenging the boss solo? He's insane. Shouldn't we save him?"

Even the first gate's monsters hadn't been easy. The apostles handled most, but the hunters who'd clashed swords with them knew.

This was difficulty befitting an SS-rank gate.

And tackling the boss alone?

It was suicide.

But the apostles knew better.

That mad human would take down the boss just fine.

"That bastard's stealing our show?"

"Wanna go snag the last hit at least."

Lucifer kicked off the ground and charged. Gabriel and Blue Dragon followed right behind.

Whoosh—!

A fierce gust whipped past the hunters. It carried divine power, magic, and a new force intertwined.

Soon after, a message announced the clear of the second gate.

"Cl-clear?"

The hunters watching the scene gaped.

"This is nuts..."

"What else can you call it but crazy."

"Should we just bail?"

The Bulmyeol Guild members I knew approached me.

"As expected of Mumyeong."

"Hunters from other countries are probably floored right now."

"Insane."

I hadn't done much myself.

The apostles handled everything.

Still, free-clearing an SS-rank gate was a fact.

South Korea's hunters strolled leisurely to the next gate.

The boss they should've fought was shredded beyond recognition.

"Master, let's go. We've paved the way comfortably."

"That guy's off running again."

Items were distributed evenly among the guilds. According to Sa Choiheon, each guild would pay for theirs.

Nothing useful for me anyway, so cashing out was better.

At least I snagged the boss's soul.

'A Dark Drake, huh.'

Drakes were dragonkin. Not as strong as true dragons, but powerful nonetheless—or so I'd heard.

It got dismantled in seconds. Pitiful.

And so they arrived at the third gate.

Like before, a wide plaza with a fountain in the center.

"The water in this fountain restores fatigue. Drink if you want."

"Ah, yes..."

Sa Choiheon explained to the hunters, but no one drank. No one was tired.

Sa Choiheon glanced at me briefly before returning to his group.

The second gate clear took 57 seconds.

"Even an F-rank gate couldn't be cleared like this."

"Be grateful you're in the same country as Mumyeong."

"Yeah, yeah. Better this way."

The hunters settled in a corner of the plaza. From here, they had to wait.

The third gate's plaza had another door at the back.

Probably where hunters from other countries would join. The problem? They'd arrived way too fast.

"So who's that guy anyway?"

"Didn't see the fight."

"Crazy person?"

"Seems beyond S-rank..."

The hunters started taking interest in Ho Young.

A man sitting cross-legged before the unopening third gate door. Ho Young, bare-chested in just shorts, exuded an inexplicable aura. No one dared approach rashly.

'Eh... should be fine.'

I didn't bother going near either.

No point risking a fight.

"Mumyeong! Tents are up!"

"Rest up!"

Bulmyeol hunters were fussing over setting up tents for each other. I chuckled and headed for mine, but Sa Choiheon grabbed me.

"Mumyeong."

His expression was dead serious.

"Got something to discuss. You got a moment?"

No reason to refuse.

Sudden, but not really.

Two days ago, he'd wanted a private word too.

I nodded.

Sa Choiheon pulled a cubic artifact from his pocket and tossed it. It expanded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into a rectangular frame, white light shimmering within.

"Something only we two need to hear."

Lucifer, standing behind, glared at Sa Choiheon.

"Just the two of you? In a subspace? What's your game?"

"I'd love to hear too. No dice, huh?"

Blue Dragon looked intrigued, by contrast.

Sa Choiheon shook his head.

"It's for Mumyeong's ears."

He stepped through the door.

As I followed, Lucifer said gravely,

"If anything happens, use the feather right away. Oath-bound summon—it bypasses most spaces."

Blue Dragon, overhearing, offered a blue scale.

"I'll give you one too. Separate from Sa Choiheon Hunter. He's not dangerous. Summon in emergency."

I took the scale.

"Personally curious about Sa Choiheon Hunter's words, but I'll wait for Master to share."

What could he possibly say?

Didn't seem that big a deal.

I followed Sa Choiheon Hunter into the subspace.

The interior was a white void.

Unlike the trade item space before, faint unknown patterns drifted across the surface.

'Rune script, probably.'

Sa Choiheon, entering first, turned to me.

"This is an artifact's interior. Words here don't leak to the present world."

Info-blocking artifact.

Sa Choiheon pointed upward.

"It won't block the constellations, though."

Constellation messages appeared. Those two were still watching me.

"I wanted to speak privately because there's something you need to know beforehand."

Sa Choiheon opened with a bitter expression.

"You probably already know."

Know what?

No clue at all.

I tilted my head.

Sa Choiheon spoke calmly.

"I have an ability similar to prophecy."

"..."

"Not as precise as true prophecy, but close. It lets me glimpse future info."

I had no idea.

Well, not entirely.

Thinking back, Sa Choiheon Hunter knew suspiciously much.

He'd brushed off Lucifer's questions with "I investigated," but much of it couldn't be solved by mere research.

'He knew Lucifer was an apostle from the start.'

Ma-in, Cerberus, Seven Deadly Sins...

Even detailed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠returner knowledge.

No amount of investigation covers all that realistically.

If it was prophetic ability, it made sense.

But why reveal it now?

That didn't add up.

"The Seven Deadly Sins' emergence accelerated the SS-rank gates. Humanity can't overcome this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠trial alone. Mumyeong. Your cooperation is essential."

"..."

"So believe what I'm about to say as much as possible."

Finishing, Sa Choiheon looked up. His eyes burned with utmost seriousness.

In other words, what followed wouldn't hold without his quasi-prophecy.

Explanation for how he knew all that: his prophecy-like power.

Sa Choiheon hesitated briefly before speaking.

"The one appearing in this gate is Seven Deadly Sin 'Sloth'."

A new Sin.

Blue Dragon had faced Envy.

Sa Choiheon spoke of Sloth.

"I'll explain Sloth from now on."

Sloth, a Sin I'd never seen.

Its abilities, personality.

The scale of its power.

Sa Choiheon intended a precise rundown.

Details unknowable without prophecy or prediction.

"Judge if you can take it down. If not, we'll find a way together. Humanity's fate hangs on it."

Sa Choiheon said.

Humanity's fate.

I knew roughly.

I came here knowing...

But the scale felt overwhelmingly vast no matter how I thought about it.

"Mumyeong must be something else."

"Wasn't Korea on our level not long ago? How'd this happen."

"Quit chatting—focus on the monsters ahead!"

Crunch, crunch!

Boom! Crash!

The second gate clear message appeared before every hunter in the SS-rank gate.

South Korea was a monster.

Gate 1: ~30 minutes.

Gate 2: ~1 minute.

How the hell?

Japan's hunters were half-resigned. First place was gone, and second looked tough too.

'Weak humans, giving up already?'

Mid-tier ma-in Jackal scowled.

He was one of the ma-in infiltrated into the present world. An S-rank Japanese hunter, famous in his country.

'Urgh!'

Sizzle—!

The 'Mark of Sloth' on his forearm burned hot. Seven Deadly Sin Sloth's command was ruthless.

- Disrupt Mumyeong. If impossible, die trying. Give it your all until death. The busier you slaves are, the lazier I can be.

'Damn this Sin...!'

Spouting dogshit as orders.

Jackal ground his teeth.

'Need to reclaim the magi source. Or we're done anyway.'

When he heard Mumyeong stole all the ma-in's magi sources, Jackal had raged.

Human world domination plan was effectively ruined.

'Still a chance.'

Orders came from a top ma-in.

- Become Sloth's minion. For the demon race's future.

Jackal didn't hesitate to become a Sin's vassal. He'd sacrifice anything for demon prosperity.

But the issue was elsewhere.

'Expected this, but... too much.'

Mumyeong's pace was beyond imagination.

At this rate, might not even see his face before it ended. Gates 3 and 4 would fall in seconds too.

Had to snag second and join South Korea.

Or no shot at all.

However.

"Argh! These bastards are tough!"

"Hold out! Conserve strength while enduring!"

"Injured, fall back!"

Japan's progress was glacial.

'Fucking hell, these idiots! Why so weak?'

Jackal seethed inwardly.

This way, another ma-in would contact Mumyeong.

Couldn't let that happen.

The vassal mark on his shoulder would burn him alive—or cripple him.

'Gotta stall him at least. Show some results.'

First, join South Korea.

That was survival.

"Everyone, move!"

Roooar—!

Jackal unleashed his magi. His specialty: summoning. Over ten summons materialized around him.

"Graaah—!"

"Kreee!"

Ogre and lizardmen charged madly, sweeping monsters aside.

Boom rumble boom!

Tremendous power.

"In-insane...! Miyamoto! Amazing?!"

"Miyamoto awakened! Clear a path!"

"What? You weren't this strong yesterday."

Stunned hunters' gazes converged.

'Scram, you weaklings!'

Jackal's Japanese alias was Miyamoto.

Hunters, oblivious to his true nature, kept praising.

"Miyamoto! Knew you could!"

"Fifty summons? High-tier ones too..."

"Incredible...!"

"Outta the way—I'll clear all paths!"

Furious, Jackal bellowed.

Magi poured from him, enveloping the monsters.

The corrupted beasts' eyes glowed red. Muscles bulged grotesquely.

Boom rumble boom—!

Jackal's powerful summons began breaking through Gate 1.

To survive vassal contract.

To reclaim magi source.

Mid-tier ma-in Jackal pushed the gate with all he had.

'Ho.'

Mugen Guild Master Hayato's brow arched watching him. A faint smile played on his lips.

'Mumyeong... awakening other hunters just by existing.'

Truly remarkable.

Hayato muttered.

"Huff... huff..."

Astonishing speed.

Miyamoto Takeshi's awakening.

His superhuman feats got Japan third in national ranking through Gate 1.

But his power didn't end there.

"Miyamoto, stop!"

"No need to push that hard..."

"Shut up! I'll take that boss down!"

Hunters marveled at Miyamoto's resolve. Purple veins bulged on his face.

Veins burst over his eyes.

His human transformation unraveled, revealing ma-in true form—but to others, it looked like heroic strain.

So devoted to humanity.

Impressive Miyamoto.

Praise poured endlessly.

'Shut up, you damn humans.'

Jackal ignored desperately, slaying the boss.

Thud—!

His summons attacked in perfect sync at his gesture.

"Haaah... whew..."

Jackal wiped sweat from his brow, sighing in relief. He did it. Snagged second ahead of others.

"Miyamoto, good work!"

"Epic. Knew you'd pull through someday!"

"Did great."

Hunters crowded around.

"Impressive. Seeing you anew. Thought you were all flash. My bad."

Even top-ranked Mugen's Guild Master approached.

"..."

Jackal lacked energy even to reply.

He trudged through Gate 2 with the hunters.

Thus, the third gate.

The plaza with the fountain.

South Korean hunters waited there.

'Finally...'

The shoulder mark tormenting Jackal finally quieted. He'd reached the goal.

His eyes caught a figure in a black cloak.

'That's Mumyeong? Aside from a slight presence, nothing special...'

He'd heard enough about Mumyeong to be sick of it. Hot topic among hunters worldwide lately.

Black and white apostles flanked Mumyeong. Even a blue one.

Not easy to trip up.

'But fine.'

From Gate 3, Seven Deadly Sin's influence reached.

In battle chaos, disruption would be simple.

His ability was summoning too.

Hadn't even used vassal powers yet.

'Rest first, recover magi.'

"Miyamoto okay? Take a break. You earned it."

"Tch, yeah. Thanks."

Miyamoto slumped down.

That was when.

"Japanese hunters, you've worked hard getting here."

South Korea's rank 1, Sa Choiheon, stepped forward.

Gates erased language barriers between Awakened players.

A welcome, perhaps.

Jackal smirked, head down. Whatever, needed rest now.

"Abrupt, but from now on..."

Not just greetings, apparently.

Didn't care what humans did. Nearly died chaining Gates 1 and 2. Transformation almost broke.

As Jackal nearly lay flat.

Step.

Mumyeong advanced one step.

"..."

Mumyeong said nothing.

But that sufficed.

Mumyeong's presence crushed like vise, pressing the air.

'Wh-what?'

Even prone Jackal froze.

Thought it nothing special. Wrong. Immense for a human.

Japan's hunters stiffened naturally.

Oppressive silence blanketed the plaza.

Piercing it, Sa Choiheon declared,

"We're now rooting out the ma-in hiding among the Japanese hunters."

Jackal's pupils shook wildly.

'F-fuck what?'