Special Task Force and Crimson Hunt
Eugene stepped out of the car, guided by the Association staff member. What loomed before him wasn't just some nice apartment or officetel. It was a towering skyscraper piercing the heart of the city. The glass walls enveloping the entire building and the security personnel guarding the entrance made it clear at a glance—this was no ordinary home.
"This is it."
The staff member, impeccably dressed in a suit, bowed politely.
"This will be your residence starting today, Eugene-nim. Per the Association President's orders, we've prepared it with the highest security rating."
Eugene silently gazed up at the building for a moment. The neighborhood where only the ultra-wealthy lived. The atmosphere alone was different. His mouth unwittingly fell open a bit.
Even after passing through the entrance and boarding the private elevator, the explanations continued.
"Access is restricted to outsiders, and this entire floor is your exclusive zone. It's equipped with intrusion detection and security systems, and we've set it up for quick access to the hospital, Association headquarters, and major gate areas."
The details barely registered. What surprised him more was that a place like this even existed in Incheon.
When the elevator doors opened, a wide hallway came into view first. Stepping inside felt like walking into a luxury hotel suite transplanted wholesale into a home.
"This is no joke..."
Eugene muttered in quiet awe. He'd never even dreamed of living in a place like this—only seen them in videos. The monthly rent alone had to be in the millions.
The staff member smiled faintly and placed two cards on the table. One was black. It gleamed with a subtle metallic sheen under the light. Just looking at it, you could tell it was leagues above a regular card.
"This is a black card issued by the Association. It covers living expenses, medical bills, equipment purchases, vehicle use, reservations at high-end facilities—everything. You can pretty much consider it limitless. The only exceptions are things like national-level asset acquisitions that require separate approval."
Choi Cheolseung had said he'd accommodate most of what Eugene wanted. Still, Eugene hadn't expected this level right from the start. The apartment alone probably cost tens of billions.
Eugene's gaze naturally shifted to the side. The second card exuded a different aura from the black card. A black base with silver patterns, and the Awakener Association emblem sharply embedded in the center.
"This is the Association's Special Task Force card. It's different from a standard Awakener card."
The staff member pointed to it and continued.
"It grants priority entry to Association-managed gates, access to restricted zones, and usage rights for equipment storage and dedicated training facilities. And for you, Eugene-nim, the President has granted top-priority privileges."
Eugene slowly ran his finger along the card's edge. Choi Cheolseung wasn't just talking—he was delivering with actions. Sua's safety. And gate entry rights. The two conditions Eugene had laid out were prepared more thoroughly than expected.
In return, the Association asked for just one thing. Eugene slowly flipped over the Special Task Force card in his hand. Yesterday's conversation with Choi Cheolseung, sitting face-to-face, came back to him.
...
"I'd like to make one proposal to you, Eugene-ssi."
"A proposal?"
"Yes. The Association would like to bring you on board with the Special Task Force."
Choi Cheolseung continued with a relaxed expression.
"It's a department dedicated to handling disaster-grade gates. We only tackle A-rank or higher—or equivalent disaster-type gates. Think of it as selecting and closing only those gates where the risk far outweighs the conquest value."
Disaster gates. The term was reserved for A-rank and above. Most gate breaks originated there. And every time they burst open, swarms of magic beasts poured out, claiming countless lives. That's why the Association and the four major guilds pooled their strength for expedition teams—to conquer disaster gates and seal them before greater catastrophe struck.
The method to close a gate was surprisingly simple. From A-rank onward, boss-level entities appeared. Kill the boss, and the gate lost its core, sealing automatically.
To block those disaster gates, the Association had formed a special unit: the Special Task Force. An elite squad of the most talented and powerful Awakeners, the final line of defense standing against calamity head-on. Humanity's shield, in other words.
Of course, it wasn't free. In exchange for the risks, the Association offered solid compensation. The black card was standard. On top of that, an annual salary in the hundreds of billions, plus immunity for incidents during operations.
Not a bad deal. For his current self, it was quite attractive. Above all, disaster gates were minimum A-rank. That meant no better hunting ground for growth.
Seeing Eugene ponder, Choi Cheolseung took it a step further.
"And if you're amenable, the Association can immediately promote you to S-rank Awakener status."
No separate review needed, he'd said. Eugene hesitated at that. Honestly, it would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted. But S-rank? Not yet. Not now. Maybe later, but the timing was off. He wasn't ready to summon his guardians without restraint. Coldly assessing himself, he still fell short of bearing the S-rank name.
More importantly, the attention an S-rank title brought wasn't light. It was an honor, but also a double-edged sword that could choke him.
"Keep my rank as is. Leave it at E-rank. But the Special Task Force offer itself isn't bad. I'll accept that."
Choi Cheolseung gazed at Eugene for a moment, his eyes showing surprise mixed with understanding. He slowly nodded.
"Understood. If that's what you want, we'll do it."
B-rank gate. Red Fang Canyon.
The makeshift control zone on the city outskirts was far more heavily guarded than expected. As befitting a B-rank gate, the atmosphere was tense. Even the Association staff at the entrance had sharper edges.
Eugene got out of the taxi and quietly looked up at the gate before him.
"I'll check your entry permit."
The guarding staff member said in a familiar tone. Eugene wordlessly pulled out the card from his pocket. Black base with silver patterns. The Awakener Association emblem sharply in the center.
The moment he handed it over, the staff member's expression visibly stiffened.
"Special Task Force card...? What brings an Association Awakener here...?"
"Just checking something out."
Of course, it was a lie. But he couldn't exactly spill the truth. This was the nearest gate to his new place, and what he needed right now was a level up. Plus, he had to test if the Special Task Force card really worked.
The staff member couldn't hide his fluster as he hurriedly scanned the card on his terminal. A short beep sounded, and instead of a red warning, a blue approval message appeared.
"Entry approved... top-priority privileges?"
The staff member's eyes widened. He quickly straightened up.
"S-sorry for the inconvenience. You're clear to enter."
The surrounding staff's gazes snapped to Eugene. A young guy flashing a Special Task Force card, waltzing into a B-rank gate without a hitch. Holding one meant classification as at least A-rank caliber. Top-priority privileges? No need to explain further.
It was a bizarre scene no matter who saw it. But Eugene ignored the stares. He walked straight to the rift and stepped inside without hesitation.
His vision twisted. A sensation like being sucked downward washed over him, and Eugene slowly opened his eyes.
Before him stretched a landscape true to its name. A canyon thick with red hue, sheer cliffs, and a foul wind whipping through. Claw marks from beasts scarred the ground everywhere.
Grrrrowl.
A low beastly growl echoed from somewhere. Eugene's gaze shifted to the base of the right cliff. Through the faint mist in a crevice, something slowly emerged.
Red fur. A jaw unnaturally torn long. Fangs protruding like blades.
It lowered its head, glaring at Eugene, poised to pounce any second.
But that was just the start. Red eyes began popping up behind rocks, atop cliffs, in ground cracks—one by one. Soon, dozens filled the canyon.
"Bit much for a welcome party."
As Eugene smirked, the lead beast kicked off the ground and lunged. A red shadow streaking to tear his throat—
Shrrk.
Space split, bloodlight flashing. From the rift emerged a massive form.
Crimson wolf. Deeper red mane and claws, murderous eyes. The overwhelming aura it exuded sank the very air.
The charging beast froze mid-motion. Instinct screamed: not a fellow predator, but a higher existence.
Too late.
Krunch!
The crimson wolf's jaws clamped the beast's neck. The first one tumbled lifelessly.
And so the massacre began.
Thud! Crack! Splurt!
The crimson wolf blurred across the canyon in red afterimages. Beasts ripped apart, smashed into cliffs, rolling on the ground. They swarmed from all sides, but numbers meant nothing.
Stab! Thrust! Splurt!
Shadow spears erupted from the ground, piercing their bodies. The wolf dove into the gaps without mercy. Each whirl of red fur and flash of fangs brought screams.
In the blink of an eye, the canyon swarm became a pile of blood-soaked corpses.
The crimson wolf licked its bloodied muzzle, scanning around.
Eugene quietly watched the floating messages.
Yeah. What he needed most right now wasn't anything else.
Level ups. And faster growth. That's what it was.