Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 45

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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 45.
Until now, Ha Gyeong had only undertaken activities that remained largely unknown to the public.
He’d simply been rummaging through the depths of the Abyss.
Only recently had he begun to make a name for himself.
Through AI strategy videos and Ranking Battles, among other things.
Yet Ha Gyeong still found himself puzzled.
“I’m surprised the impact of the Ranking Battle was this significant.”
“I should have pretended to lose when the vice-chairman contacted me. I’m a bit regretful about that.”
With someone like Ryu Jaeeuk, they could have achieved quite respectable results.
He was a reasonably skilled Ranged Dealer, after all.
While everyone else reeled from the unexpected outcome,
John, who’d been quietly sipping his coffee, spoke up.
“Don’t you have time for this? We need to do interviews, assemble the Raid Party. Eons of work. Ah, but this place does good coffee.”
“…….”
His blunt words left them all frozen.
He wasn’t wrong, either.
They had to compare the stats and temperaments of a hundred and fifty people.
And select the optimal personnel for the task.
How in the world were they supposed to manage all that?
Ha Gyeong nodded.
“Let’s head to the Association Headquarters first and borrow a conference room.”
“Yes.”
Assembling a Raid Party was genuinely exhausting work.
Once the interviews finally wrapped up,
Ha Gyeong found himself thinking:
‘Next time, I’ll just slip in as a guest member and reap the benefits. But somehow I don’t think that’ll happen.’
Once he rebuilt Axis Prime, he’d inevitably end up shouldering the grueling work.
Though perhaps not to this degree.
By then, there would be far more people to help.
In any case, it was work infuriating and headache-inducing enough to make your teeth chatter.
Once Ha Gyeong finished assembling the Raid Party, he stepped onto the platform.
The microphone came to life.
His voice echoed through the conference room.
—Welcome. I’m Ha Gyeong.
He’d said just that one line,
and the atmosphere in the hall shifted.
“Waaaaaah—.”
Starting with someone’s small cheer,
applause suddenly erupted from nowhere.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Ha Gyeong’s expression turned bewildered.
The Raid Party briefing had somehow become like a fan meet.
He smiled slightly and raised both hands.
The conference room fell silent in an instant.
Ha Gyeong spoke calmly.
—Thank you for the enthusiasm. We’ll now begin the briefing for an exceptionally large-scale Unknown Grade dungeon.
An Incomprehensible Grade dungeon.
It was comparable in scale to Fusion’s Abyss, but the progression was quite different.
A simple structure consisting of a circular massive forest.
Moreover, there wasn’t even a Guardian this time.
Ha Gyeong pointed at the PPT screen as he spoke.
—The key to this dungeon is simple: find and eliminate the Final Boss hiding within the time limit. We hired someone with an Insight Ability to gather this information, and it wasn’t cheap.
“Ha ha ha!”
—Please do your best so we can recoup our investment. Everyone.
“Yes!”
The meeting ended in a warm atmosphere.
Usually it’s somewhat solemn,
and tension hangs in the air, as is normal.
Then suddenly Do Hyeona spoke up with a worried expression.
“This excitement isn’t good. We’re not going on a fun outing, after all.”
Though it was called Unknown Grade, it was exceptionally large-scale.
This wasn’t something you could just waltz in and smash to pieces.
It would likely be harder than most Incomprehensible Grade dungeons.
Ha Gyeong agreed with the assessment.
“We need to manage it carefully to avoid accidents.”
“How will you be handling commands?”
This was arguably the most crucial decision.
Typically, the leader of a Raid Party would take command.
But Ha Gyeong had little experience with that.
Besides, if needed, he had to slip away and search for the Ultimate Abyss Fragment.
Taking direct command would be difficult, no matter how you looked at it.
That was precisely what concerned Do Hyeona.
A leader intoxicated by popularity and arrogance was the most dangerous element of all.
However, Ha Gyeong wasn’t someone who lacked common sense.
“There’s someone else who will take command.”
“I see. Might I ask who it will be?”
“Dae Hyeonja.”
“What?”
“I haven’t made the request yet, but I’m confident he’ll accept readily.”
“…….”
Do Hyeona couldn’t close her gaping mouth.
Dae Hyeonja was such a mysterious figure,
and so difficult to approach.
The master of the Death Hound Guild.
Even Kang Woo Jin hadn’t been able to hide his surprise at the mention of him.
Do Hyeona’s reaction was understandable.
“I’ve met him a few times myself. But I couldn’t bring myself to invite him. He’s quite closed-off.”
“We’ve had the fortune of making a connection. Shall we go join the team?”
“Yes.”
Her suspicious expression melted away like snow,
and awe took its place in her eyes.
As she turned to rejoin the other members,
she glanced back at Ha Gyeong and muttered to herself.
“I always thought he’d become someone important, but this fast…….”
Do Hyeona recalled the day she’d handed Ha Gyeong her business card.
Five months ago.
In her assessment then, Ha Gyeong was merely a brave Melee Dealer.
But now he’d become far more significant than she’d anticipated.
Ranking Battle Melee Dealer category: first place.
Raid Party commander for a exceptionally large-scale Unknown Grade dungeon.
These weren’t things anyone could accomplish.
Do Hyeona clicked her tongue in regret.
“I should have recruited him through sheer force if necessary.”
Had anyone else heard that remark, they would have been shocked speechless.
* * *
Ha Gyeong’s Raid Party advanced toward the heart of the Abyss.
Of course, they weren’t escorted like a major guild would be.
Yet they managed to arrive without suffering any significant casualties.
It was thanks to the excellent pathfinding skills of Ha Gyeong and Dae Hyeonja.
Ryu Jaeeuk and Do Hyeona kept shaking their heads in wonder.
“We can’t see anything, yet they navigate only to safe places. How do they do it?”
“I’m suddenly embarrassed about hinting that the commander had no commanding experience.”
“That was fair, though. But this commander’s been quite extraordinary in his performance.”
While the team members chatted away,
Ha Gyeong stood before a stone gate buried deep in the Abyss.
‘Getting a bit tense.’
It was inevitable for his first time as a raid commander.
Still, his gameplay shouldn’t differ from usual.
Only the responsibility and rewards had increased.
Ha Gyeong inserted a gleaming golden key into the stone gate.
Click! Screeeech!
[You have entered the dungeon ‘Tracking Abyss’]
[Time Attack begins]
[Eliminate the monster hidden in the Forest of Darkness, the Green Warden, within one hour]
[Failure will result in the dungeon disappearing]
[Grade: Unknown]
[Limit: 120 people]
[Reward: Unknown Artifact]
The sky was clear,
and fog didn’t cloud it.
Yet inside the forest, it was pitch-black.
Trees of tremendous height grew so densely that light could barely penetrate.
Ha Gyeong’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘A Time Attack…….’
His Insight Ability could only catch glimpses of the dungeon’s interior.
He couldn’t obtain detailed information.
He could only infer roughly from the internal structure.
But Hide-and-Seek combined with a Time Attack?
This was an element he hadn’t anticipated at all.
Perhaps noticing Ha Gyeong’s concern,
John suddenly spoke up.
“If you’re the Unkillable God-Bro, you can totally handle this.”
“God-Bro now?”
“Some reporter literally wrote it in the article. The community’s been calling you God-Bro Shin Gyeong.”
“Ugh.”
Ha Gyeong groaned, but felt a bit better.
So what if it was Hide-and-Seek?
So what if it was a Time Attack?
With his skills, he could overcome anything.
Soon, Dae Hyeonja’s voice came through the Whisperer.
—No monsters detected yet. To conduct a smoother search, I’ll divide us into four squads. Be prepared to regroup at any moment.
The teams, having received their orders, advanced in different directions.
Ha Gyeong’s squad was Team One.
With Dae Hyeonja, the commander, they moved slowly down the center,
to make it easier for the other squads to link up.
They were advancing steadily when
Ha Gyeong’s footsteps suddenly stopped.
[Soul Stigma detects an unusual presence]
‘Huh?’
It was text he’d never seen before.
Normally it should have said it detected traces of a fragment.
Ha Gyeong looked around with a puzzled expression.
Then the figures of his teammates appeared tinted reddish.
As if viewed through a thermal imaging camera.
But there was something odd about it.
Just like the teammates, the massive ancient trees also glowed red.
Meanwhile, stones on the ground and branches showed no color.
What could this possibly mean?
Ha Gyeong quickly called over to Dae Hyeonja.
“Something seems off.”
“What is it?”
“These don’t seem to be ordinary trees.”
“Which trees are you referring to?”
“All of them.”
“……!”
Dae Hyeonja’s expression became subtle.
There were countless trees in this forest.
Was he really saying they were all abnormal?
And Ha Gyeong’s next words were even more startling.
“I think they’re all monsters.”
“If that’s the case, aren’t we trapped in a swarm of thousands?”
“Just to be safe, let’s regroup first.”
“Understood.”
Dae Hyeonja hesitated briefly, but ultimately accepted Ha Gyeong’s judgment.
If one of the guest members had said it, the outcome would have been different.
It likely would have ended with them just being a bit more cautious.
But ignoring Ha Gyeong’s words wasn’t an option.
Not given the overwhelming skill he’d demonstrated thus far.
—All teams, report back to the main force as quickly as possible.
—……Understood.
Ryu Jaeeuk’s reply came slightly delayed.
They’d just dispersed moments before,
and now the orders were suddenly changing.
From another perspective, it might look like meaningless drill training.
But the squad leaders complied without question.
Team Four, led by Ma Do Hyeok, returned first.
“What’s this about? You’re acting unlike yourself—changing orders on a whim.”
“The commander discovered something strange.”
At Dae Hyeonja’s reply, Ma Do Hyeok approached Ha Gyeong.
But the moment he was about to ask something,
Ma Do Hyeok couldn’t speak.
“What th—eh?”
His vision suddenly inverted.
Dangling helplessly in the air, Ma Do Hyeok cried out in shock.
“What is this?!”
“They’re trees! The trees really are all monsters!”
At Ha Gyeong’s cry, Ma Do Hyeok looked frantically behind him.
Writhing like anacondas, vines slithered about.
And dozens of meters up the trunk of a massive ancient tree, crimson eyes blazed open.
“Screeeeee!”
With that otherworldly cry, the tree monsters began to convulse.
Remarkably, Ha Gyeong’s words had been true.
The Whisperer vibrated violently,
and Dae Hyeonja’s voice rang out.
—Team Two! Team Three! Where are you?! Return immediately!
But no response came from Ryu Jaeeuk and Do Hyeona.
They apparently had no time to answer.
While everyone descended into chaos,
Ha Gyeong moved first.
[Abyss Challenger’s Compression increases the density of Abyss energy]
Tssshhk— Crunch crunch!
Ha Gyeong severed the vines choking Ma Do Hyeok in an instant.
Impossibly thick and tough, even Compression’s Abyss tempering didn’t make it easy.
Yet somehow he managed to save him.
Ma Do Hyeok gasped for breath and offered his thanks.
“Wheeze! Ugh! Th-thank you. Ha Gyeong.”
“Don’t mention it. We don’t have time. Let’s establish a defensive formation first.”
“Yes!”
The initial panic vanished without trace.
True to their status as veteran Awakened Ones, the team’s movements were flawless and synchronized.
Ha Gyeong positioned himself alongside John.
In an encircled situation, forming a circular defensive line was the best option.
At times like these, a Melee Dealer had to stand on the front lines like a tank.
Otherwise, the Healer and Ranged Dealers couldn’t be protected.
But something caught Ha Gyeong’s eye.
‘That’s……?’
A shape flickering briefly between the massive trees.
The thermal imaging of Soul Stigma captured the silhouettes of Teams Two and Three.
Cut off and fighting desperately as they tried to regroup.
If left alone, they’d lose half their forces before they even found the boss.
Ha Gyeong gritted his teeth.
‘I need to clear a path.’
A powerful strike was needed now.
But Compression alone didn’t seem sufficient.
And he couldn’t use Kin Predation on these common monsters.
The effect would be too minimal.
Right then, a smile curved Ha Gyeong’s lips.
‘I have just the thing I brought for a situation like this.’
Ha Gyeong planted the metal rod he’d been carrying on his back into the ground.
Thud!
[Kin Predation skill target set]
[Target: Resonance Staff]
Tearing Open the Gate
Author |
Morae Tob
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Corp.
Editing Director |
Editorial Department
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G720:N+A063-20260306112
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Without the written permission of Samyang C&C Corp. – Dream Books, this book’s contents may not be used in any form or manner.

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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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