Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 2.
An eerie tension hung thick in the air inside the Boss Nest.
Ha Kyung stared directly at the figure that had appeared on the opposite cliff.
‘Yun Chang-ho. The Diamond Wall.’
Master of the Blackwater Guild.
He was famous for formidable defensive power and a disarming charisma that matched his epithet.
There were even rumors circulating that he might rank first among all Tanks in the Awakener industry.
Of course, there was no official ranking in the Awakener field to speak of.
Either way, it was a disadvantageous situation.
Ha Kyung assessed the fighting strength of the Blackwater Guild.
‘About twenty of them? This won’t be easy to face head-on.’
He had obtained a new power—Abyss Tempering.
And he had even recovered a top-tier Artifact, the Reactive Mage Armor.
But the enemy’s numbers were simply too great.
Moreover, these were Blackwater’s elite.
Before long, Yun Chang-ho stepped to the edge of the cliff and called out toward Ha Kyung.
“Mind if we talk for a moment?”
The distance between the two cliffs was approximately fifteen meters.
More than sufficient for conversation.
Ha Kyung answered concisely.
“By all means.”
“As you know, we are the Blackwater Guild. How about we compromise rather than clash?”
“You mean clear the boss together?”
“Precisely.”
“And what do I gain from this?”
“At minimum, you won’t die.”
It was a rather dangerous thing to say.
It could be interpreted in other ways, after all.
What if two or three Awakeners from Blackwater focused their attention on hunting him down?
Ha Kyung would be unable to conduct a proper raid.
Yun Chang-ho had extended a fairly generous proposal.
Though he had a reputation as an Awakener of considerable influence, that was merely his public image.
Within the Abyss, anyone could become a devil.
This place was an almost perfect lawless zone.
Ha Kyung gazed at the sleeping Venom Drake in the center.
‘The terrain spreads out like islands. If I fall past them, I’ll be bounced back outside the dungeon.’
All things considered, the conditions weren’t entirely unfavorable to him.
He could dart between the islands and execute guerrilla tactics.
If so, Blackwater would suffer as well.
Yet Ha Kyung’s gaze was directed beyond the Venom Drake.
[Soul Stigma has detected a Fragment trace.]
[The signal has grown clearer.]
Ha Kyung was certain.
A Fragment was hidden somewhere beyond the beast.
If that was the case, there was no need to clash with Blackwater.
He turned back to Yun Chang-ho and spoke.
“Very well. Let’s cooperate. What would you have me do?”
“How would you feel about joining us as a guest member? We’ll compensate you generously.”
The Awakener industry was perpetually plagued by labor shortages.
Abyss exploration produced casualties at an alarming rate.
Even a mega-guild like Blackwater faced the same problem.
Likely they had quite a few guest members among their ranks.
Especially most of the Healers would operate that way.
Of course, Ha Kyung had no intention of simply following orders.
“I have no interest in wages or the boss corpse.”
“Oh?”
“Grant me first refusal on boss drops.”
“……!”
Artifacts were extraordinarily precious items.
They didn’t appear on the open market frequently.
They were almost entirely consumed through internal dealings.
It was far more profitable to keep members of your own guild strong.
Yun Chang-ho’s hesitation deepened.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible if it’s a greatsword, shield, or spear.”
“That’s fine. I have no interest in weapons I can’t wield anyway.”
“Then we have an accord. Will you come over to this side?”
“Once the Raid begins, I’ll handle things on my own.”
“Fair enough.”
Having witnesses present didn’t guarantee safety.
But once the boss Raid started, things would be different.
There would be no room for backstabbing.
Yun Chang-ho tossed something to Ha Kyung.
Then, with a show of confidence, he leaped across to the central island.
Presently, a voice emerged from the shell-like object now in Ha Kyung’s hand.
―We’re commencing the raid. You appear to be a Melee DPS—handle things at your own discretion. If I lose sight of you, support becomes difficult.
“Understood.”
This blue shell was called the Whisperer.
It was an Artifact enabling short-range communication.
Ha Kyung secured the Whisperer in his shoulder pocket, then launched himself across to the opposite island.
‘For now, the Tank will draw Aggro. I’ll search for the Fragment in the meantime.’
Now was the perfect moment—while the Blackwater Guild bought him time.
He searched the surroundings as the Soul Stigma guided him.
But that was precisely when it happened.
“Screeeech!”
Without warning, a yellowish liquid sprayed forth.
Ha Kyung instinctively threw himself aside.
Then an astonishing sight unfolded.
The spot where he had stood mere moments before dissolved away in an instant.
Hisssss!
The ground bubbled and roiled.
The acid was extraordinarily potent.
Ha Kyung felt his skin crawl with dread.
‘That’s devastating power. One misstep and I’ll be dissolved without a trace.’
The Venom Drake spat venom at Ha Kyung repeatedly.
The motions suggested it was defending something.
Why else would it behave this way?
Ha Kyung flung himself to another outer island.
At that, the Venom Drake’s gaze withdrew.
‘It attacks without fail the moment I approach. Damn—why does it have to nest there of all places?’
It was a severely inconvenient situation.
It seemed defeating the Venom Drake would have to be the priority.
Ha Kyung quietly awaited Yun Chang-ho’s signal.
―I’ve grabbed Aggro. Unleash your Melee DPS.
Ha Kyung waited a moment.
He needed to synchronize with the Blackwater Guild.
The Melee DPS moved with flawless coordination.
This was certainly the teamwork of one of the Four Great Guilds.
Ha Kyung joined them in their assault.
Thud-thud! Whoosh!
Taking a running start, Ha Kyung launched himself across the central island.
It was a distance of thirty meters, yet his takeoff and landing were flawless.
Rolling once to absorb the impact, he immediately drew his blade.
Swoosh! Crack!
“Screeeech!”
The Aggro held firm—the Venom Drake didn’t turn around.
It only snapped madly at Yun Chang-ho and no one else.
Yet Ha Kyung’s expression soured.
‘What’s this?’
The scales of the Venom Drake he’d pierced with his blow.
Though he’d struck with Abyss Tempering, the impact seemed minimal.
The surrounding scales shattered together, absorbing the shock.
And then they recovered instantly.
Ha Kyung retreated slightly, evading the beast’s thrashing.
‘If the scales are like this, even the Ranged DPS won’t make progress.’
Soon, a barrage of ranged attacks poured down.
After the volley passed,
he scanned the creature’s body
and saw no appreciable damage.
Yun Chang-ho, noticing this as well, shouted into the Whisperer.
―The scales’ defense is formidable, and its regeneration is insane. Can you breach it?
―I’ll try.
With someone’s reply, the Melee DPS resumed their assault.
But that was precisely when
the Venom Drake swung its massive tail.
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
“Arrrrgh!”
The Melee DPS were sent flying by the unexpected wide-scale attack.
Five Awakeners plummeted below the cliff.
At this rate, the odds of raid failure increased dramatically.
The Melee DPS needed to shatter the outer shell for damage to register properly.
Presently, Yun Chang-ho’s cry came through the Whisperer.
―Any remaining Melee DPS?
“Just one, I’m afraid.”
―…….
At Ha Kyung’s answer, Yun Chang-ho fell silent.
He clearly sensed the gravity of the situation.
And Ha Kyung, too, recognized that things had gone badly wrong.
‘The terrain is too unfavorable. Every position where a Melee DPS should stand ends in a cliff.’
For a moment, he considered cutting his losses and leaving.
The thought flashed through his mind.
But Ha Kyung shook his head firmly.
‘If I can’t overcome even this trial, how am I supposed to defeat an Abyss Ruler?’
Heat surged in his chest, and a burning thirst for vengeance bloomed within him.
Ha Kyung gripped the Whisperer so tightly it nearly cracked as he spoke.
“Let me try.”
―Is it possible?
“I’ll make it possible.”
―Then I’ll count on you. The venom’s weakening my defense—ugh!
Yun Chang-ho wavered but held the front line steadfastly.
Thanks to him, Ha Kyung could fight unencumbered.
As long as he watched for that tail attack, opportunities would come.
Ha Kyung began running across the Venom Drake’s tail.
Thud-thud-thud!
The scales were slippery, but his movements were unstoppable.
In moments, Ha Kyung had clambered atop the Venom Drake’s back.
Soon, pale flames began to dance.
Shing! Splurge!
The Venom Drake’s defense and regeneration were undeniably monstrous.
But it wasn’t without gaps.
He just needed to move faster than it could recover and strike before it sealed itself.
Of course, that was easier said than done.
It was an extraordinarily difficult feat to accomplish.
Yet Ha Kyung pulled off exactly that impossible display.
‘I’m at my limit.’
[Byeok Hyeon-bo has reached its breaking point.]
Byeok Hyeon-bo was Ha Kyung’s Awakened Skill.
His one-of-a-kind unique ability.
This technique allowed him to run on walls or ceilings
and even across an enemy’s body as though it were level ground.
Of course, such tremendous power came with enormous mana expenditure.
Ha Kyung quickly jumped down from the Venom Drake’s back.
‘Leaving empty-handed would be unsatisfying.’
He skidded down smoothly while dragging his blade hard across its surface.
The pale flames of Abyss Tempering carved a long gash.
Swoooosh!
“Shrieeeek!”
The Venom Drake wailed and writhed its entire body.
The beast’s scales were certainly formidable.
But they were strong only against impact.
To piercing strikes followed by slashing motions, or to continuous attacks, they proved vulnerable.
At Ha Kyung’s overwhelming display, Yun Chang-ho let out a rueful laugh.
“Huh. That footwork is something else—but I swear I’ve seen you before somewhere.”
He was handsome enough, but not the sort of face that stuck in memory.
If he were a rising prospect, Yun Chang-ho would have known of him.
Every guild was desperately competing to recruit Awakeners.
Especially one with such impressive skills.
Yun Chang-ho, tilting his head in puzzlement, suddenly snapped back to awareness.
“This isn’t the time for that.”
He was startled by Ha Kyung’s prowess, but what mattered was seizing the moment.
Yun Chang-ho quickly raised the Whisperer.
“Are the Ranged DPS ready?”
―Huh? Yes! We’re set.
“Pour it on.”
―Understood.
The Ranged DPS’s response came a beat late.
They’d all been mesmerized by Ha Kyung’s skill.
Presently, Blackwater’s counterattack began.
A deluge of skills cascaded down.
Thanks to the deep wound Ha Kyung had inflicted, the attacks finally landed properly.
Splurge! Boom!
“Shriek!”
The Venom Drake thrashed in agony.
Its patience exhausted, its eyes flared with explosive power.
[Venom Drake Ultimate Skill Activated: Poison Snipe]
[An unstoppable Abyss Energy pulse detected.]
Spurt―!
From within the yellow mist erupted a flash of light.
It felt as though the Venom Drake’s rage had taken physical form.
Boom!
“Gasp!”
Yun Chang-ho, his face stricken, flew far back through the air.
His defensive response had been sound, but the edge of the blast had caught him.
Between the cliff faces below.
Yun Chang-ho plummeted into the depths of the Abyss.
Ha Kyung grabbed the Whisperer urgently.
“Yun Chang-ho?”
―…….
But there came no reply.
Nor was the danger over yet.
The Venom Drake’s jaws opened wide once more.
Spurt―! Boom-boom-boom!
The second Ultimate Skill was directed at the Blackwater Awakeners.
A pale Abyss Energy mass shot forward at tremendous velocity.
So fast they couldn’t possibly react.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Damn it all!”
The Blackwater Awakeners screamed.
The island they’d been standing on was obliterated wholesale.
They had no choice but to plummet below like Yun Chang-ho.
Watching them fall, Ha Kyung felt his heart drop.
‘If Blackwater falls, the raid is finished. I have to save them somehow.’
Ha Kyung launched himself without a moment’s hesitation.
Whoosh! Swish-swish-swish!
A long, pale ribbon of energy caught four Awakeners.
He had deployed Abyss Tempering directly from his hands.
He drove his feet into the ground
and pulled with all his might.
An armored Awakener weighed over a hundred kilograms.
Veins bulged across his arms.
His legs trembled uncontrollably.
Straining to his absolute limit, Ha Kyung managed to save them.
“Gasp! Gasp! We’re alive.”
“Th-thank you.”
The Blackwater Awakeners expressed their gratitude.
Thanks to his efforts, they hadn’t been sucked into the Abyss depths.
Had they fallen below, there was no way of knowing where in the Abyss they’d be ejected.
If unlucky, they might have been caught on strange terrain and died pointlessly.
“Think nothing of it.”
Ha Kyung answered simply, his eyes on the Venom Drake.
Then one of the Blackwater Awakeners spoke up.
“To escape from here, we need to head that way.”
A finger pointing backward.
But Ha Kyung shook his head.
The Venom Drake had sustained grievous wounds, and its Ultimate Skill was spent.
Why would he throw away such an opportunity?
It might regroup while they fled, and then who knows who’d finish it off.
Ha Kyung glanced back at the Awakeners and spoke.
“I’m pressing the attack. If you want to live, follow me.”
An ambiguous phrasing, much like Yun Chang-ho’s earlier words.
The Blackwater Awakeners said nothing.
Their mouths stayed shut, but they all understood.
This battleground was now ruled by Ha Kyung.
Tearing Open the Gate
Author |
Moraetop
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Chief Editor |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.—Dream Books
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7F, Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsaro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260306112
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter (X) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
[email protected]
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.—Dream Books.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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