Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 42

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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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Chapter 42.
Besides Jang Do-su, there wasn’t much worth remembering.
Everyone fought Ha Gyeong in the same ordinary way.
Most fell away without much struggle.
Some even lost their nerve beforehand and withdrew from the Ranking Tournament altogether.
After training and taking a rest, Ha Gyeong let out a quiet sigh.
“Phew. Feels like a waste.”
Not being able to enter the Abyss felt like he was missing out.
He’d already obtained the ultimate Abyss Fragment through the Special Match, hadn’t he?
Ha Gyeong shook his head slowly.
Just then, John approached and held out his phone.
“Hey! Bad King, bro.”
“What is it?”
“You sold me out to my wife, but no hard feelings.”
“I was just telling you to go home, that’s all.”
“For a married man, that’s betrayal!”
“I understand. I won’t do it next time. But what’s that?”
“Oh, right. I was going to show you this. The article came out great. Look.”
Ha Gyeong took the phone.
He scrolled through the screen slowly.
[TOPIC] Immortal Tyrant Ha Gyeong provokes the Raiders.
―Know what he said at the end while staring at Choi Su-ho? “Feel free to come. I’ll smash you to pieces again.” That’s what.
└What on earth happened to make Immortal Tyrant an enemy?
└The Raiders’ antics are predictable anyway.
└More specifically, the trouble started in an Incomprehensible Grade Dungeon—the Stratified Abyss.
└How do you even know that?
└I was there.
└Oh! Damn! Tell us more.
└The Raiders just abandoned their team like usual, and Ha Gyeong hard-carried the dungeon clear.
└Ah, you’re talking about that duel in front of the Abyss Gate.
└Yeah. They even mobilized Kim Tae-gwang, the Iron-Walled Butcher, and still got crushed. The Ranking Tournament’s been a mess of counter-plays ever since.
└The Raiders did what the Raiders do.
└And here he is, demolishing every last one and steamrolling his way through.
The article itself was unremarkable.
Ha Gyeong had sunk Jang Do-su.
And he’d provoked Choi Su-ho. That was all.
But the wording had been somewhat distorted.
He gave a light shrug.
“Surprisingly toned down? I think I said it much harsher than that.”
“Must be a hack journalist with a conscience.”
“Wait, how does a foreigner know that word?”
“Eighteen years in Korea gives you experience. This much is basic. I love kimchi. Dokdo is Korean territory.”
John shrugged with practiced nonchalance.
Then he scrolled busily through more articles.
But soon his shoulders sagged.
Ha Gyeong raised an eyebrow.
“What’s wrong?”
“I won yesterday too, but there’s not a single article about me.”
“Is that why you’ve been down?”
“Hey, it’s reasonable. I’m practically the only foreign Awakener. Where else would you find talent this unique?”
The Awakener industry depended heavily on communication.
One mistake could cost you your life.
So usually, Awakeners worked in their home countries.
Nations even tried to prevent brain drain of Awakeners.
Abyss exploration had become a key measure of national power.
In any case, John was definitely a special person.
But his opponent hadn’t been particularly impressive.
“Looking at the bracket, you fought a newbie with only four years of experience?”
“Whoa! Four years means you’ve learned the essentials. Why’s that a newbie?”
“Excuse me?”
“Bad King, bro, your total career is only six years.”
“Well, that’s because I’m special.”
“He’s special too. How often do you find a prospect who reaches Incomprehensible Grade in just four years?”
He had a point.
But the opponent had zero PvP experience.
And in the Awakener industry, anyone under five years was considered a prospect.
Either way, he wasn’t in a position to get attention.
While John grumbled, Ha Gyeong prepared for his next match.
* * *
The impact of the first match was considerable.
What followed was a flood of forfeits.
Everyone who thought they were weaker than Jang Do-su pulled out.
As a result, Ha Gyeong advanced straight to the finals.
Remarkably, the quarterfinal match also became a walkover.
So naturally, articles about Ha Gyeong kept multiplying.
‘Who knew not fighting would be the bigger headline?’
What Jang Myeong-cheol, the Vice-Chairman, had said seemed to be true.
The real masters of the underground had no interest in Ranking Tournaments.
Even now, Abyss dungeon conquests were proceeding actively.
Either way, Ha Gyeong didn’t care.
‘Let’s finish this quickly. Get the prize, crush those Raiders bastards for real.’
That was the goal all along, wasn’t it?
Ha Gyeong headed for the Ranking Tournament arena.
Regardless of the Awakener industry’s indifference, the audience was enormous.
In a way, it was obvious.
That man and woman from before.
Even Ha Gyeong’s fans had said they regretted it being an AI recording.
Seeing Awakeners in their true form was a rare chance.
Rooooaaar―!
The crowd’s roar and applause.
Waves of cheering washed over the arena.
As Ha Gyeong stepped into the arena, the fervor intensified.
‘This feeling’s pretty good.’
Day after day, scraping through the depths of the Abyss.
Dancing with monsters as a daily routine.
When would he ever get attention like this?
While Ha Gyeong soaked in the adoration, his opponent emerged from the opposite side.
The Executioner, Choi Su-ho.
He wielded an enormous sickle that matched his nickname.
The announcer finally took the microphone.
―We now begin the finals of the melee dealer division of the Ranking Tournament. The competitors are Immortal Tyrant Ha Gyeong and Executioner Choi Su-ho!
As the brief introductions ended, thunderous acclaim erupted.
“Woooow!”
“Immortal! Immortal! Immortal!”
The crowd chanting Ha Gyeong’s other nickname.
Probably because of that fifty-billion-won donation article.
His image had improved considerably from that.
Meanwhile, Choi Su-ho’s name barely registered.
Of course, some were cheering for him too.
But far more were mesmerized by Ha Gyeong’s performance.
Maybe it was the crowd’s chanting.
Choi Su-ho’s eyes narrowed.
“I can’t understand it. Why do they like such an incomplete bastard?”
It was Ha Gyeong who wanted to say that.
He’d shown real skill.
So why such an evaluation?
Ha Gyeong could only speculate.
“Did Choi Hyun-gi gaslight him that badly? He believes what he says like some blind zealot.”
“Why, you rotten―.”
Just as Choi Su-ho was about to curse.
The ref intervened at just the right moment.
“There are many eyes watching. No trash talk from here on.”
“What? We haven’t even started yet. What’s the problem?”
“That’s exactly why I’m stopping you. This is our first Ranking Tournament. Both of you, please show restraint.”
“Ugh. Damn it.”
He said “both,” but only one seemed bothered.
Ha Gyeong simply shrugged lightly.
Whatever Choi Su-ho said didn’t touch him at all.
His mental discipline was that solid.
Moments later, the referee’s briefing finished.
Then a rhythmic thumping began, like a heartbeat.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The audience, tired of waiting, had started stomping their feet.
Ranking Tournaments might be called that, but the matches were brutal beyond measure.
One slip and limbs were severed.
The crowd’s heat was far more intense than a normal martial arts bout.
So naturally, Ha Gyeong’s blood boiled too.
‘His tactics are crude, but I can’t afford carelessness. The opponent is a first-generation PvP specialist.’
The matchup was better than when he’d faced Kim Tae-gwang, the Iron-Walled Butcher.
Same position, after all.
But Executioner Choi Su-ho was far more notorious.
A master of PvP combat who would use any tactic without hesitation.
As Ha Gyeong heightened his tension.
Finally, the ref’s signal came.
“Ready, fight!”
Ha Gyeong immediately stepped back.
He’d already experienced WaePath Champion Jang Do-su.
Sure enough.
Something flashed past his vision.
Whoosh―!
A blade extending in an instant, slashing through empty air.
Cold sweat dripped down Ha Gyeong’s spine.
‘I expected it, but that was close.’
It really was a hair’s breadth.
If it hit his head or neck, he might’ve died instantly.
Regardless of any healer standing by.
Of course, Ha Gyeong wouldn’t die from a single blow.
He’d reduce damage with his Reactive Magical Armor.
And he could heal using the Tyrant’s Bracelet.
Ha Gyeong frowned.
‘No way that bastard factored all that in.’
Fierce emotions burned in Choi Su-ho’s eyes.
Blind hatred for Ha Gyeong.
The humiliation from the Special Match.
All tangled together in murderous intent.
Why was he going this far?
What were face and pride worth?
Ha Gyeong couldn’t understand it.
‘For now, I just focus on winning.’
But he wouldn’t resort to one-hit-kill tactics just because the opponent was brutal.
There was no need to stoop to the same level.
He had plenty of other ways to repay him.
Especially in a duel like this.
Ha Gyeong gripped the Karambit’s handle tightly.
‘His face and pride—I’ll tear them to shreds.’
[Abyss Challenger’s ‘Compression’ authority increases the density of Abyss energy]
Crackle―!
Flickering flames of compressed Abyss tempered steel.
Ha Gyeong didn’t swing the blade.
He simply waited in that stance.
Sure enough.
Choi Su-ho moved first, grinning smugly.
“What can you do with that toothpick? Die, you fire ant bastard.”
“Why am I a fire ant?”
“Your nickname’s too grandiose. Thought I’d humble you. Fits perfectly. Acting tough when you should know your place.”
The moment Ha Gyeong was about to respond.
Choi Su-ho’s sickle swung.
Clang! Whoosh―!
A metallic ring followed by the sound of air tearing.
Ha Gyeong saw it clearly.
‘The weapon… extends?’
A chain appeared as the handle separated.
Now he understood how Choi Su-ho had crossed ten meters.
The moment the ref had called “fight.”
Ha Gyeong quickly lowered his stance.
The dark aura on the sickle looked ominous.
Whoosh-crack! Whip―!
The attack swept over Ha Gyeong’s head.
He dodged the first one.
But the follow-up was the problem.
Choi Su-ho spun the chain in circles, launching another assault.
The trajectory was too intricate to evade.
Ha Gyeong slammed the Karambit against the side of the sickle blade.
Crash!
The opponent’s weapon flew up with a loud bang.
For a moment, the field of vision opened up.
The tornado-like barrage had suddenly stopped.
Ha Gyeong immediately kicked off the ground.
“Haa!”
With a shout, a whitish flash exploded forth.
A thinly compressed blade extended a full ten meters.
Straight at Choi Su-ho’s wrist.
A sharp sound erupted immediately after.
Crack!
Like breaking glass.
Ha Gyeong felt definite resistance.
‘It definitely connected properly.’
But Choi Su-ho seemed unharmed.
Actually, something was off.
Jagged spines jutted from both his hands.
Like he was holding two massive porcupines.
Choi Su-ho smiled thinly.
“Krhehe! Showtime, you mouthy little brat.”
Shoop-shoop-shoop-shoop-shuk!
Countless spines began launching.
Ha Gyeong flailed the Karambit desperately.
Ting-ting-ting-ting!
Thirty-centimeter spines bounced away in sparks.
But there was a limit.
No one could withstand a barrage forever.
Ding! Pop!
Several spines pierced Ha Gyeong’s defense.
His Reactive Magical Armor blocked some, but not all.
Ha Gyeong’s body was instantly transformed into a porcupine.
‘Isn’t a melee dealer supposed to work close range?’
A Sickle Chain with an attack range exceeding ten meters.
The spines seemed to travel twice that distance.
Too short for ranged.
Too long for melee.
Choi Su-ho’s position seemed to be mid-range, neither pure melee nor ranged.
“Khehe! Beautiful! Porcupine struck a thousand times.”
Choi Su-ho laughed freely.
But he didn’t stop attacking.
Ha Gyeong’s form was barely visible anymore.
The moment the barrage of spines ceased.
The ref raised his right hand, about to bring it down.
The gesture to end the match.
But he couldn’t.
Swish. Clack!
Ha Gyeong, crouched in his honeycomb of wounds, stood up.
[Responsive Spirit Cloak activates]
[Tyrant’s Bracelet activates]
Shoo-shoo-shoo! Thud-thud-thud!
The spines dislodged on their own.
His punctured skin sealed and restored in an instant.
The crowd’s roar amplified several times over.
“Woooooaaah―!”
The true form of the Immortal Tyrant revealed before all.
Gate Rend
Author |
Moraetop
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Inc.
Editor-in-Chief |
Editorial Department
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Samyang C&C Inc. – Dream Books
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UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260306112
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@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 Inc. – 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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