Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 5

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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 5.
What Ha Gyeong had caught was a yellow orb of light.
It had been isolated in a distant corner.
At once, he felt something writhing in his grasp.
[Fragment of Ultimate Abyss opened]
[Lost item recovered through Clock of Fate]
[Artifact contains vast quantities of Abyss Energy]
A deep crimson cloth fragment, wreathed in ashen-white radiance, drifted upward.
Normally, he shouldn’t have been able to identify what artifact it was.
The form was so unusual.
Yet Ha Gyeong recognized it instantly.
“This is mine, isn’t it?”
As he reached out, the cloth unfurled completely.
In moments it flew forward, settling across his shoulders as a deep crimson cloak.
The artifact that paired with his Responsive Armor.
The Cloak of Responsive Spirits.
It was somewhat disappointing that he hadn’t obtained the authority of an Abyss Dominion.
Yet Ha Gyeong’s chest swelled with emotion.
‘With this, I can use the Responsive Armor far more actively.’
The Cloak of Responsive Spirits possessed the function of Pain Transfer.
It reduced pain significantly, allowing for more aggressive movement.
That meant when Mana coursed through him, he wouldn’t writhe in agony.
Ha Gyeong’s gaze grew distant with memory.
“Do Cheol gave me this.”
As a twentieth birthday gift.
He adjusted the cloak, recalling moments shared with his comrades.
But it was precisely then.
Whisper-whisper-whisper!
The Cloak of Responsive Spirits fluttered, and Ha Gyeong felt crushing pressure flood his entire body.
[Abyss Energy is penetrating]
“Ugh!”
Sudden pain drew a moan from Ha Gyeong.
Yet he did not panic.
He had experienced something like this before.
Ha Gyeong remained motionless, engulfed in ashen-white flames.
When the burning sensation finally faded, his entire body convulsed.
‘By accepting Abyss Energy, my total Mana has increased as well.’
Simply reclaiming an artifact he’d once owned had made him stronger.
A vast wave of satisfaction flooded his mind.
Ha Gyeong considered why this outcome had occurred.
‘There was more Abyss Energy here than when I reclaimed the Responsive Armor. Which means…….’
It seemed the artifact had been buried in the fragment for so long.
It had been corrupted by Abyss Energy.
For an ordinary Awakener, that would be poison.
Forcing it on would only invite sickness.
But for Ha Gyeong, it was a gain instead.
He could blend Abyss Energy and Mana together, after all.
“Shall we head out then?”
His steps were light, now that his objective was achieved.
He went out to rejoin the raid party.
Not a single monster was visible.
He checked the Dungeon Entrance, but it was the same.
Ha Gyeong tilted his head.
‘Where did everyone go?’
As he pondered, he suddenly sensed a presence.
The shadowy area near the dungeon entrance seemed to shimmer.
When he turned his head, three Awakeners materialized.
They must have been hiding with some kind of Concealment Skill.
One face among them was familiar.
“Ah! Ha Gyeong!”
Seo Jun Hyeok greeted him warmly.
The other two were guest-participating healers.
Ha Gyeong posed a question to Seo Jun Hyeok.
“Where are the others?”
“We had no choice. We were attacked from both sides.”
“Ah!”
Ha Gyeong’s mind suddenly cleared.
He had grasped the nature of the curse.
Seo Jun Hyeok and the guest members.
They belonged to no faction.
That was why they didn’t regard each other as enemies despite differing affiliations.
Ha Gyeong turned to the healers and spoke.
“So it’s a curse that makes everyone but close companions appear as enemies.”
“We’ve been analyzing it the same way.”
“What do you intend to do now?”
“Normally, we should follow the raid leader’s orders, but that’s impossible.”
Yoon Chang Ho must have been severely affected by the curse.
Discussion was not an option.
But they couldn’t leave the dungeon either.
That would violate the contract.
Seo Jun Hyeok approached Ha Gyeong and bowed respectfully.
“I must ask for your help.”
“Why the sudden formality?”
“To overcome this crisis, we need your aid.”
It was an odd proposition.
A promising member of one of the Four Guilds handing command to a freelancer?
An action that could cause problems later.
Senior guild members would think differently.
Moreover, Ha Gyeong already had a poor reputation among Blackwater’s Awakeners.
‘Changing perceptions will be difficult. First impressions matter enormously for people.’
But for Seo Jun Hyeok, this was the best option available.
His seniors were cursed and attacking him—what good was seniority then?
Awakeners were human, and it was natural for each to seek their own survival.
Ha Gyeong nodded heavily.
“Understood. Let’s move.”
“Thank you.”
He had no intention of backing away regardless.
This was a raid with priority purchase rights over Boss Rewards at stake.
Ha Gyeong led the way.
‘If needed, I should be prepared to clear the dungeon with this team alone.’
It wasn’t entirely impossible.
He had already cleared the Abyss of Collapse solo.
And now he had three reliable healers backing him.
Ha Gyeong fulfilled the scout role perfectly.
Trap disarming was routine.
Monster clearing and maze navigation came as naturally.
The healers’ suspicious expressions began to shift.
“You don’t seem to have any scouting-related skills, so how are you doing all this?”
“Experience. You learn to do anything if you have to.”
Ha Gyeong answered casually to the question.
He didn’t elaborate beyond that.
They probably wouldn’t care much anyway.
And wouldn’t listen closely.
Soon Ha Gyeong reached the Boss Lair.
[Encountered Pain Bringer, Boss of the Abyss Dungeon]
On a wide platform.
A giant knelt seated before them.
Red-painted planks wrapped around it like armor.
Yellow flags bristled across the top.
Strange formations and the stench of blood deepened the ominous atmosphere.
Yet the boss raid was already underway.
‘Changwun Guild has begun their attempt.’
Moreover, Ha Gyeong’s party wasn’t the only one arriving at the Boss Lair.
A group appeared from the opposite side.
Then a welcome voice came through on Whisper.
—This is Yoon Chang Ho. The curse seems to have lifted. Shall we coordinate and proceed?
—Come ahead. We’re aware of you.
Fortunately, coordination went smoothly.
Seeing this, Ha Gyeong seized his Whisper and spoke.
“The guest members have arrived.”
—Then shall we begin the raid together?
Ha Gyeong met Seo Jun Hyeok’s gaze.
Both nodded.
Everything seemed to be returning to normal.
As they moved along the Boss Lair’s perimeter, Changwun Guild came into view.
Ha Gyeong tried to position himself on the formation’s flank.
But suddenly, a massive wave of danger crashed over him.
His Soul Mark blazed with warning signals.
He quickly retreated and shouted.
“Get back!”
Shockingly, Changwun’s Awakeners began launching attacks.
Mana arrows whistled past his ears.
Spiiing—! Crack!
Judging by the depth they sank into the wall, this was no warning shot.
Seo Jun Hyeok’s voice came through, trembling with shock.
“Why, why are they doing that?”
“The curse hasn’t been lifted yet, apparently.”
“But why did they ask us to come?”
“We were deceived. Some monsters can masquerade as allies.”
Changwun Guild still couldn’t distinguish enemies from allies.
Even communication through Whisper was perceived as deception.
Blackwater, approaching from the opposite direction, had also entered combat.
An unprecedented situation—allies fighting allies with the boss present.
Ha Gyeong pressed his forehead in frustration.
‘The worst possible scenario.’
More precarious even than when he faced Venom Drake’s ultimate ability.
Then, at least numbers were merely reduced.
There were no enemies in the midst of his own side.
But now allies were inhibiting allies.
A truly aggravating moment.
Then Pain Bringer began swinging its massive staff.
Clatter-clatter!
[Curse permeates your entire body]
[Subtle pain rises from deep within]
“Argh!”
Ha Gyeong clutched his abdomen.
It felt like worms were writhing through his insides.
As pain mounted in his sensitive core, movement became nearly impossible.
Looking around, everyone was reeling.
But Ha Gyeong’s eyes caught something unexpected.
A translucent ripple darting between Awakeners, transferring itself.
Then they collapsed to the ground in succession.
What did that phenomenon mean?
Ha Gyeong suddenly murmured to himself.
“The curse……. was a projectile?”
If so, it could be blocked.
Just then, a transparent ripple streaked toward the healers behind him.
Cold sweat poured down his face, but he stretched out his arm.
[Abyss Challenger’s Distortion reverses space]
Spiiing—!
A faint sound reached his ear, but nothing appeared to change.
The curse’s flow was hard to perceive directly.
Yet Ha Gyeong sensed his trap had succeeded.
Woosh!
A violet disc materialized behind Pain Bringer.
The rippling projectile turned toward the boss.
Then a system message appeared.
[Reflected Pain Bringer’s curse]
[Abyss Dungeon’s gimmick forcibly broken]
[Harmful effects deactivated]
[No active curses applied]
Pain Bringer flinched and retreated.
Its staff clattered to the ground.
Though small, everyone understood.
The tide had turned.
A voice immediately came through Whisper.
—My apologies. It looked so grotesque I thought it was a monster pretending to be an ally.
Changwun Guild’s master.
It was Ryu Jae Wook, Wind Facer.
He apologized immediately, and genuine remorse was clear.
Of course, Ha Gyeong didn’t mind.
‘It happened because of the curse. How could I blame him?’
Besides, the boss raid took priority now.
But the situation was dire.
Ha Gyeong sensed Blackwater’s danger.
‘Yoon Chang Ho is severely wounded. He needs time to redeploy.’
Originally, Choi Geon Woo from Changwun Guild was serving as the main tank.
But his collision with Blackwater had left him nearly dead.
The skirmish, though brief, had been vicious.
Not a single tank remained capable.
Seo Jun Hyeok muttered in a daze.
“We’re going to die at this rate.”
Pain Bringer unleashed dark arrows that flooded the battlefield.
Each faction of the raid party was struggling merely to endure.
No, at this pace they’d all perish in minutes.
There was no one left to hold the front line.
Right then.
Ha Gyeong stepped forward.
Seo Jun Hyeok’s face, which had been buried in despair, changed.
“Ha, Ha Gyeong…….”
“Prepare support. I’m going in.”
The other healers looked bewildered.
Their eyes questioned how a solo melee dealer could accomplish anything in this situation.
It seemed they were calculating escape angles.
But Seo Jun Hyeok burned with hope.
He believed Ha Gyeong would shine again.
Soon Ha Gyeong charged toward Pain Bringer.
Directly absorbing the curse that activated anew.
[Curse permeates your entire body]
[Tremendous pain devours your entire frame]
“Ahhh……!”
“Oh no!”
Gasps of sympathy erupted across the battlefield.
Everyone had read the curse manifestation message.
All believed Ha Gyeong would fall uselessly.
But the text that appeared before his eyes was utterly different.
[Cloak of Responsive Spirits activated]
Whisper-whisper-whisper!
Ha Gyeong was scarcely affected by the curse.
He advanced toward the Boss Lair’s center with confident strides.
Pain Bringer’s gaze fixed upon him.
An anxious glint flickered between its mask’s gaps.
As if asking—why don’t you fall?
Of course, Ha Gyeong’s body was not unscathed.
He’d been continuously exposed to the curse.
Yet he moved as naturally as possible.
‘I can’t show weakness. The moment I reveal my frailty, I lose the psychological battle.’
Ha Gyeong had his own fears.
His opponent was a mid-tier Unidentified Rank boss monster, after all.
But he smiled and breathed the words.
“I was never taught how to fall.”
Tearing the Gate Open
Author |
Morae Tob
Publisher |
Samyang C&C
Editorial Director |
Editorial Team
Published by |
Samyang C&C – Dream Books
Address |
7th Floor, Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsa-ro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260306112
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter (X) |
@dreambookss
Submission |
[email protected]
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from Samyang C&C – 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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