The morning when the mysterious gate appeared.

Min Sung sat in front of the table for a meal before heading out.

The meal that Ho Sung Lee prepared for Min Sung’s breakfast was tuna salad.

Ho Sung Lee finished cooking so quickly that he wondered how it was possible, but it was because it was a salad.

“Protein is good for you in the morning, so I prepared a tuna salad for your breakfast. It won’t feel heavy.”

Min Sung lifted his fork as he listened.

“Is Woong and Sia asleep?”

“Chef Jang left to go grocery shopping, and SIa is still sleeping.”

Min Sung nodded and then put the salad and tuna into his mouth.

The crunchy salad was fragrant while the tuna was chewy and delicious.

It was a delicious flavor that he could eat without feeling burdened.

“Sir, if the Dionysus Gods are behind this, was this their doing? Or did this happen because of a Beatrice ranker’s abilities?”

Ho Sung Lee asked as if he was mumbling to himself.

Min Sung thought for a moment while chewing on the tuna before answering, “Who cares? We just have to get rid of it. It’s just like a swarm of locusts.”

Ho Sung Lee looked at Min Sung in shock.

He was in awe that he could compare it in such a way.

“Swarm of locusts? I guess that’s how it is for you.”

“How does it feel for you?”

“Hm… I’m not sure. A crisis to mankind?”

Min Sung scoffed.

“No matter how powerful you are, isn’t it a disaster if they decide to sneak around behind your back and destroy Earth?”

“That’s why I’m heading out after breakfast.”

Ho Sung Lee nodded.

“That’s true. But if it’s a ranker, they’re probably really fast, and if they just run away and commit terrorism…”

Ho Sung Lee trembled at the thought of it.

“Just thinking about it makes me shiver. That would lead to great casualties.”

Min Sung let out a long sigh.

“I can’t be responsible for everything.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve burdened you.”

Min Sung knitted his brows while stabbing his fork into his tuna and salad.

“Since I’m the only one who can do it, I’m just doing everything I can.”

Ho Sung Lee looked into space with heavy eyes.

“I’m sorry I’m not helpful.”

“You’re doing a good job.”

Min Sung got up after putting his fork down on his empty plate.

“Things will be okay like they’ve always been, both for you and me.”

Ho Sung Lee looked at Min Sung with touched eyes.

“Now do the dishes and get ready to go.”

“Yes, Sir!” Ho Sung Lee answered with a bright smile.

***

Ho Sung Lee was driving toward their destination, but his sight wasn’t so good.

Although it was still morning, it was dark as if it was nighttime.

That was because the sky was filled with clouds, and it was raining hard.

Since that was how it was on the road, it was even worse on their way up the mountain.

While they slowly made their way up, a light shined ahead of them.

Ho Sung Lee slowly pulled over and lowered the window.

“This is the Central Institute. This region is currently off lim… Oh! I apologize!”

As soon as the soldier from Central Institute checked Ho Sung Lee and Min Sung’s faces, he immediately saluted and paid his respects.

He then immediately commanded for them to make way.

The barricade was moved as a result, and Ho Sung Lee’s car was able to pass through the restricted area.

The car passed through the rough roads and stopped in front of their destination.

Following the second identification check, the investigation team made a way for them to enter.

Ho Sung Lee got out of the car first and ran over to open the door for Min Sung.

Min Sung got out of the car.

And as soon as he got out, the investigation team brought them raincoats.

While Ho Sung Lee accepted his, Min Sung lifted his hand in rejection.

The Central Institute soldier stared at Min Sung, who wasn’t getting wet in the rain, with his jaw dropped.

On the other hand, Ho Sung Lee, who put on his raincoat, stood next to Min Sung with his brows knitted because of the rain.

Despite having grown a lot, Ho Sung Lee was still unable to catch up to Min Sung, who didn’t even get wet in the rain.

“Let me lead the way,” said Ho Sung Lee, and Min Sung nodded.

Ho Sung Lee began to walk through the mud.

Min Sung followed from behind, and they eventually arrived at the mysterious and fiery gate.

The monitoring team of Central Insitute was gathered around it.

As soon as Min Sung appeared, they paid their respects and stepped back.

Min Sung and Ho Sung Lee stood in front of the gate.

They were standing in front of the gate, but nothing changed.

No system messages appeared, but the gate looked as though it was alive.

The fire around the gate was in the shape of a circle, and it was growing bigger while what looked like a black hole hovered in the center.

The gate resembled the eye of a dragon.

Just the sight of the gate gave off an unpleasant feeling.

Min Sung reached out his hand toward the gate.

He wondered if anything would change if he approached it.

Upon seeing that, the Central Institute’s monitoring team and Ho Sung Lee flinched with surprise.

But no one could stop Min Sung.

While everyone was surprised, Min Sung put his hand on the gate.

“…”

But nothing changed.

The gate was simply the temperature of burning fire. Nothing more and nothing less.

Min Sung withdrew his hand. He crossed his arms and stiffened his face.

Aside from the fact that the gate was growing, no other changes could be noted, so all they could do was watch the gate grow.

“Let’s go back,” said Min Sung.

Ho Sung Lee showed a troubled look on his face.

Since there was no change in the gate, it was meaningless to keep watching.

The rain from the sky began to slow down.

Just as Min Sung turned away from the gate and Ho Sung Lee looked up at the lighter rain.

Ripppppp!

They heard a strange sound.

Min Sung, Ho Sung Lee, and the soldiers of Central Institute all turned toward the gate.

And that was when everybody’s faces except for that of Min Sung were washed over with shock.

Something was coming out of the gate.

What came out first was long fingernails and after that was a head.

It was a small monster with dark skin, which resembled a human.

Whatever it was, it crawled out of the gate and landed on the ground.

“Grrrrr….”

Ho Sung Lee stared at the monster with a grimace.

Red eyes and a naked body covered in black skin.

“Demon creature?”

Just as Ho Sung Lee mumbled, what popped out of the gate was a demon creature.

It was a creature of the Demonic Realm and the Devil King Veld’s creation.

“Screeech!”

The demon creature opened his mouth and screamed.

Countess sharp teeth stuck out while his long tongue squirmed outside his mouth.

The soldiers of Central Institute had a clear memory of demon creatures.

Countless hunters had died because of the devils.

And the hunters who still remembered it panicked and stepped back.

“I thought something big would come out, but it’s just a demon creature.”

Ho Sung Lee stared at the gate resembling a dragon eye and continued, “Wait, is this just the beginning?”

While Min Sung mumbled to himself…

“Screeech!”

The demon creature ran toward Min Sung.

There was no need for him to use a weapon on the demon creature.

As soon as Min Sung reacted to take care of him, the demon creature disappeared before his eyes.

“…?!”

Min Sung immediately tensed up and stayed focus.

The demon creature, which situated behind Min Sung’s back, swung his long fingernails.

Min Sung quickly turned around. He blocked his hand and swung his fist.

But the demon creature dodged his fist. He opened his mouth wide and clenched down on his teeth in an effort to bite Min Sung’s neck off.

Min Sung quickly dodged it, so the demon creature bit onto nothing but the air.

Min Sung then stared at the demon creature with a different gaze and stepped back to organize his thoughts.

That demon creature, which popped out of the red gate resembling demon eyes, was not the same demon creature Min Sung had known.

This one was at a completely different level.

He was very impressive.

‘But how?’

While Min Sung had such thoughts…

The demon creature changed his target.

His target was now Ho Sung Lee, who happened to be closer.

Ho Sung Lee immediately put his guard up as soon as the demon creature looked his way.

Ho Sung Lee, who was already emotionally prepared, gripped onto his sword and glared at the demon creature.

‘No.’

‘I don’t stand a chance.’

Before Min Sung could make a move.

Slash!

The demon creature’s hand slashed through Ho Sung Lee’s heart.

And then…

Crack!

The demon creature pulled Ho Sung Lee’s heart out of his chest.

Before Ho Sung Lee could even become the Berserker, he instantly died.

The demon creature stared at Min Sung as he chewed on Ho Sung Lee’s heart.

Min Sung clicked his tongue. He opened his item window and pulled out his Gungnir S.

Kaboommmm!

Under the light rain, thunder and lightning flashed from Min Sung’s sword across from the demon creature, who was eating Ho Sung Lee’s heart.

The devils that he had to deal with in the Demonic Realm had become stronger.

If the demon creatures were at this level, there was no telling how powerful the devils were.

Countless devils would begin to pour out of that gate.

Min Sung’s eyes were filled with emotion as he glared at the demon creature.

“Is it good?” Min Sung asked.

The demon creature finished the heart. He licked his lips and smiled.

And Min Sung smiled in response.

“Keep on coming. This is bothersome, but I’ll still get rid of all of you.”

A ghost-like light flashed from Min Sung’s eyes.

Meanwhile, the demon creature prepared to attack once more.

A ferocious light flashed in the demon creature’s eyes, but Min Sung simply laughed at him.

Just because the demon creature had become stronger didn’t mean anything had changed.

‘… This isn’t the Demonic Realm.’

Kaboom!

Min Sung’s Gungnir flashed with thunder and lightning as it charged toward the demon creature.