Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 72

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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 72.
Ha Gyeong and Veil Lancer locked eyes with each other.
The sheer unexpectedness of the moment caught them both off guard for a beat.
But the silence didn’t last long.
Ha Gyeong promptly lifted Veil Lancer’s head by the skull.
“Is it you?”
―State your subject properly, you wretched creature.
“Your Emperor?”
―Don’t speak of His Majesty so carelessly, you insignificant being.
“Veil Lancer, then. I was wondering what else you might be.”
―Is that any way to speak to me?
“I thought the Emperor might have come. Turns out my instinct was right.”
Just before driving the Crimson Edge through the skull.
Death closed in, yet Veil Lancer remained unmoved.
Fear, shock, despair, resignation, regret, fury—all the emotions.
Any intelligent being should have shown something.
But Veil Lancer displayed none of it.
Ha Gyeong sank into deep contemplation.
“Veil.”
“Yeah, bro. You’re thinking about how to finish this bastard, right?”
“Ah! As expected, our hearts truly resonate.”
“What method should we try?”
“Probably won’t work with anything ordinary. His skull’s already got a hole punched through it and he’s still alive.”
“You know anyone who runs a factory? Maybe we could crush him with a hydraulic press—500-ton model, I think.”
“Not a bad idea at all.”
Ha Gyeong imagined Veil Lancer would probably flatten like a pancake under 500 tons of force.
Of course, there was no need to go that far.
It would take time, but they could pulverize him into powder instead.
Especially with Dead Zone—they could unmake him entirely.
The problem was that Veil Lancer’s frame was far too massive.
And it would consume an enormous amount of Abyss energy, which is why they were still talking.
Perhaps sensing Ha Gyeong and Veil’s genuine resolve.
Veil Lancer’s jaw began to chatter.
―Wait! Wait! Let’s talk.
“Didn’t you just call me wretched? Insignificant?”
―I’m sorry. I apologize!
“But you’re just going to beg for your life anyway.”
―Well, that’s… true…
“Yeah. Much obliged.”
―There’s a way! A really good way, I’m telling you!
“Let’s hear it then.”
―Phew! I’ve never met any living creature quite so ruthless.
“Hey. Get to the point.”
―Ahem! Understood.
As the blade pressed before his eyes, Veil Lancer’s expression grew distant.
What followed was something that would interest Ha Gyeong as well.
The deal Veil Lancer proposed was simple.
―I’ll hand over critical intelligence about our empire. Just place my head in the Upper Abyss so I can be reborn as a lower-ranking Created Being.
“That’s still just asking to be spared. What’s the difference?”
―Our nobility’s strength depends on the size of our bodies. And besides, His Majesty would have to regenerate any missing limbs.
“So if your head goes back to the Upper Abyss alone, you’d stop being a Talent Predator?”
―Exactly. You’d live as just an ordinary Created Being.
Ha Gyeong exchanged a glance with Veil.
Honestly, it was a tempting offer.
Sending Veil Lancer back wouldn’t really matter.
He was confident he could beat him again if they met.
Getting information in exchange for sparing him? That was a deal with profit on his side.
Of course, there were complications.
Ha Gyeong studied Veil Lancer with narrow eyes.
‘There’s no trust between this creature and me. All of this could be a lie.’
They’d been trying to kill each other, after all.
There was nothing to say about that now.
But there might still be something to gain.
Ha Gyeong lifted Veil Lancer’s head again.
“Let’s see what you’ve got. If I like what I hear, I’ll really dump you in the Upper Abyss. I won’t kill you even if you’re reborn.”
―You… you really mean that?
“Even if you return to the Emperor, I don’t mind.”
―But what if I regain my strength and come back to take revenge?
“Then I’ll just smash you up again.”
―That makes no sense. Why would you leave behind such a threat?
“Why would you think you’d beat me next time? I’ll crush you again if needed. What’s the difference?”
―Uh…
Veil Lancer’s expression crumbled.
It was a fair point.
Ha Gyeong could wield Abyss energy directly.
Every time he found an Ultimate Abyss Fragment, he grew stronger.
He’d just advanced a step, hadn’t he?
When Ha Gyeong simply stared, Veil Lancer began to speak.
―Understood then. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am a noble in the service of Kaigon, Emperor of the Jardor Empire.
The bulk of what followed concerned the Emperor and his retinue’s personal information.
Until now, nothing was known about the Bottomless Abyss’s empire.
Which is why even Jung Tae Won was leaning in to listen.
The horrific scene around them no longer registered.
Ha Gyeong posed a few more questions.
“We know you made the Upper Abyss the way it is. You plan to do the same to Earth, right?”
―That’s correct.
“How exactly can you do that?”
―We send Heart Cores through Gate Break and plant them in your land. Then Abyss Transformation begins.
Of course, Ha Gyeong had already deduced that much.
But confirmation had value.
He was now hearing it directly from a Jardor noble.
Yet questions remained.
Ha Gyeong spoke again.
“Why does it have to be done that way?”
―Honestly, I don’t know that much. We merely follow His Majesty’s orders.
“Is it just the Emperor’s conquest drive then?”
―…
Veil Lancer fell silent.
To speculate about the Emperor’s inner thoughts would be disrespectful.
Ha Gyeong understood that much.
But this much information wasn’t sufficient.
He posed his final question.
“Where is the next Heart Core being sent? Do you know?”
―Of course.
“If you answer that properly, I’ll let you go.”
―Really?
“Honestly, I’d like to lock you in a lab and run experiments. But I’m not that inhumane.”
―You won’t be able to keep me anyway. In this state, I don’t have long to live.
So Veil Lancer wasn’t immortal either.
Though Ha Gyeong’s reputation was the only immortal thing about him, really.
Beyond a certain threshold of damage, anyone dies.
Veil Lancer’s eyes soon pointed toward something.
―Across the sea, the opposite continent. The far edge.
“Eastern United States?”
―I couldn’t say for certain.
“Fair enough.”
In any case, Ha Gyeong decided to keep his promise.
He turned to Jung Tae Won.
“Release this creature and head back. Write up a report on what you just heard.”
“Understood. But are you sure it’s safe?”
“Once he becomes a Jardor noble again, it’s actually beneficial for us.”
“Oh?”
“He’s terribly incompetent at fighting. An incompetent holding a high position is good for us.”
“Ah! An unconventional approach, but the logic is sound. I’ll note that in my report.”
“Yes.”
Ha Gyeong immediately moved to the gate.
With only Veil Lancer’s head stuffed in a body bag.
But disgruntled murmuring followed.
―Just one question. Did you mean what you said?
“About what?”
―That thing about an incompetent holding a high position.
“It’s not far from the truth.”
―How so?
“You’re strong in raw power and speed, and capable—but your fundamentals are nonexistent. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just someone who doesn’t understand the first thing about hand-to-hand combat.”
―…
Veil Lancer said nothing.
For a long time after, he remained silent.
Ha Gyeong, naturally, paid no mind.
‘A monster pouting. Who’d have thought.’
What did it matter?
One way or another.
He’d just drift through the Upper Abyss and become prey for the Awakened Ones.
Ha Gyeong crossed through the gate.
Then set Veil Lancer’s head down in an appropriate spot.
An astonishing transformation began.
Whoooosh!
[Talent Predator Veil Lancer undergoes rebirth]
A frame barely larger than a fist.
Like a wolf fitted with bat wings.
A form far too pathetic to call a monster.
From a distance, it genuinely resembled a bat.
Ha Gyeong let out an involuntary laugh.
“That’s all?”
―I filtered and recombined only the intact portions of the body you left me. That’s why it’s so small.
“Might actually be better. For making your way back to Jardor or wherever. To your real homelands, I mean.”
―Well… I changed my mind.
“What?”
―I’m not going back.
“Are you sulking like a spurned girlfriend?”
―You were right. I’ve only ever been strong because of His Majesty’s grace. I was incompetent to begin with. So I shouldn’t return.
―…
Ha Gyeong stared at Veil Lancer in utter bewilderment.
A monster making a sacrifice for the greater good?
What kind of creature was this?
He shook his head firmly.
“No, just go, would you?”
―I won’t. Thanks to you, I’ve gained enlightenment. Someone more capable should take my place.
“Fine then. Either wander the Upper Abyss until you die, or whatever.”
―I’d rather not do that either.
“So what do you want, then?”
―I’ll figure it out myself. You go on.
“Okay. I kept my word.”
Ha Gyeong turned and left Veil Lancer behind.
As he passed through the gate to the other side.
An Association staff member called to him.
“Is this Ha Gyeong?”
“Yes.”
“Is that a Summoned Beast following you?”
“I don’t have anything like—”
Then he suddenly remembered the whiny Veil Lancer.
Turning around, he saw the creature scurrying along behind him.
“What is this?”
―Here feels much safer.
“Monster capture is prohibited. Stop spouting nonsense and go back.”
―Just say it’s a Summoned Beast. Besides, with me around, finding the spots where the gates are about to tear will be easy. How many gates do you think are on that continent?
“Hmm.”
He had a point.
A guide would be useful, after all.
And if this creature didn’t go back, there was another benefit.
Word that the intelligence had leaked wouldn’t spread.
Ha Gyeong sighed quietly and spoke.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a Summoned Beast.”
“Then please fill out the registration paperwork.”
“Of course.”
Being a Special Advisor, the process turned out remarkably simple.
Ha Gyeong completed the basic documentation.
And was cleared to pass through the gate.
Veil Lancer hopped about, exploring the surroundings.
Earth’s environment seemed to fascinate him greatly.
Then he suddenly turned to Ha Gyeong and spoke.
―From now on, call me Rokan. I’m no longer Veil Lancer. That’s my true name.
“Oh really? Clinging to life, and yet so smooth about it.”
―What? You think I’m just desperate? This is about higher purpose. Higher purpose!
“You’re something else.”
Ha Gyeong headed straight back to the office.
In the meantime, Veil had disposed of Veil Lancer’s corpse.
“I didn’t do all of it. Partway through, it just turned to powder on its own. So the work was lighter.”
“Ah, that was because of him.”
“Who is he, bro?”
“Veil Lancer. His real name is Rokan.”
Ha Gyeong explained what had just happened.
Veil accepted it with surprisingly little resistance.
“So we’re using him as a compass, then?”
“Exactly.”
“Can he sense the next Gate Break too?”
Ha Gyeong looked down at Rokan.
It wasn’t something he could answer.
But an unexpected reply came.
―If it’s close enough, I can sense the signs. Heart Cores have a tremendous presence.
It seemed he’d be useful for quite some time.
Though his future arrangements needed some thought.
Ha Gyeong frequented the Bottomless Abyss.
He wouldn’t be able to bring Rokan with him every time.
In any case, Ha Gyeong’s first planned dungeon raid into the Bottomless Abyss had concluded cleanly.
‘Maybe it’s time to head back.’
But then a news report came on the wall-mounted television.
Ha Gyeong was about to pass by when he suddenly stopped and turned up the volume.
The unsettling caption had caught his eye.
―Breaking news. The first documented case of abuse of the foreign gate cooperation agreement has occurred.
Tearing Open the Gate
Author |
Moraeop
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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Editorial Department
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No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted 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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