Tearing the Gate Apart - Chapter 89

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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 89.
Ha Gyeong couldn’t help but be bewildered.
He had no home or place in the United States.
So what was this sudden talk of being a commander?
He shook his head vigorously.
But Bennett had already left the quarters.
As he stood staring blankly at the door, John came over and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Emergency Interim Commander? Hah! Now that’s a title with some flair.”
“I mean, it’s not like he just handed me a decent position. What kind of nonsense is this? Is this how things work in America?”
“No idea. Besides, I’m a southerner to begin with, and I left America twenty years ago.”
Ha Gyeong shook his head at John’s worthless commentary.
Then Eden Han began explaining carefully.
“There’s probably a supreme commander above you.”
“I’d hope so.”
“Even though the Awakened One industry is merit-based, they wouldn’t completely abandon basic safeguards.”
“That’s at least some comfort.”
Regardless, the situation was extraordinarily difficult.
Many skilled fighters had withdrawn because of the battle with DRC.
The remaining personnel probably weren’t just lacking Extreme Rank experience.
They’d never faced Incomprehensible Grade either.
Ha Gyeong felt the path ahead closing off.
“I don’t think we can hold out.”
“I feel the same. Bro. While we’re fighting, monsters will keep pouring out.”
“Then there’s only one way. Fast and decisive.”
A rough sense of what needed doing had crystallized in his mind.
The Gate in the United States—there was no reason its scale would be larger.
It was all the same in the end: just a passage between worlds.
Ha Gyeong had already formed his strategy.
‘If I just had one Healer, that’d be perfect.’
* * *
Two days later.
An emergency operations center near Highland Park.
Gate access had already been restricted.
And the Awakened Ones had already been assembled.
Ha Gyeong received a briefing from Bennett there.
“Current strength is roughly four thousand personnel, and most have only Unknown Grade experience or below.”
“We have only a few hours until Gate Break. There’s no chance more skilled fighters will arrive?”
“Unfortunately not.”
“Then assign me just one Healer. The most skilled person you have.”
“That shouldn’t be difficult. But what operation were you planning?”
The standard response to Gate Break was barrier deployment and holding the line.
If you eliminated the pouring monsters, the Abyss Energy couldn’t expand.
But the Eastern Association’s manpower was only four thousand.
They could barely post a thousand in each direction—north, south, east, west.
That would be destroyed in less than an hour.
Ha Gyeong spoke, eyes fixed on the Gate that had taken on an ominous appearance.
“I’ll just go in and destroy everything.”
“You won’t be able to see anything in there.”
Bennett was right.
During Gate Break, the concentration of Abyss Energy increases.
You wouldn’t see even an inch ahead once you entered.
But Ha Gyeong had the Soul Stigma.
Reduced visibility was hardly a major problem.
Ha Gyeong shrugged indifferently.
“Anyway, if we don’t destroy the Abyss Core, New York goes up in smoke.”
……
Bennett fell silent for a long moment.
A sinister future seemed to materialize before his eyes.
Regardless, Ha Gyeong voiced his frustration.
“If you’d let me assemble a team freely, I’d have brought skilled fighters of Extreme Rank. At least ten of them.”
“We deeply regret that situation. We simply couldn’t have anticipated such circumstances…….”
It was like misfortune piling on misfortune.
Who could have predicted DRC’s aggression?
And how could anyone have known the Gate Break would occur in New York of all places?
Ha Gyeong nodded in understanding.
“Since it can’t be helped, I won’t say anything more. Let’s do our best to contain it.”
“Yes.”
Ha Gyeong started toward the Gate.
Battle preparations were already complete.
Presently, Bennett brought someone with him.
“This is our most skilled available Healer. You’ve met before, so it should be more comfortable.”
When he turned, an unexpected figure stood there.
Bradley Turner.
A field investigator from the Eastern Association’s Inspection Office.
Ha Gyeong let out a laugh of disbelief.
“What? You’re saying Mana Gun and all—but you’re not a Ranged Dealer, you’re a Healer?”
“The weapon is a Mana Gun. Hitting allies recovers them.”
Bradley stood there silently, his expression sour.
Bennett explained in his stead.
Of all people—this guy.
Ha Gyeong couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
“Can’t you assign someone else? I’d rather not trust my back to someone like him.”
“His performance evaluations are excellent.”
“I imagine I can guess how he builds those results.”
“But he’s the only Healer who’s experienced Incomprehensible Grade.”
That made him the best option available.
Ha Gyeong studied Bradley closely and spoke.
“Where do you live?”
“Brooklyn.”
“Do you have a family?”
“Of course.”
“Where are they?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just checking if you have reason to protect something.”
“……At home.”
If the Gate broke, civilians would be slaughtered without exception.
They couldn’t withstand the Abyss Energy.
Ha Gyeong met Bradley’s eyes with a cold gaze.
“At least you won’t run.”
……
“I’ll take him. Open the way.”
Bradley still kept his mouth firmly shut.
Only Bennett nodded.
“We’re counting on you.”
“Hold out as long as you can. That way we might be able to attempt something.”
“Yes, of course.”
Ha Gyeong moved toward the ominously writhing Gate.
It looked like it was beginning to rupture in earnest.
Purple light burst forth from multiple points.
Field Bosses were emerging.
[You have encountered Field Boss: Hex Revenant]
[You have encountered Field Boss: Race Monark]
[You have encountered Field Boss: Sable Executioner]
Apparently having registered the system messages,
Bradley’s voice came from behind.
“An aura like that means at worst Incomprehensible Grade. Damn! We won’t last thirty minutes, let alone an hour.”
“Do you have a Discernment Skill?”
“I do.”
“Unexpectedly useful, it turns out.”
“Are you serious? We don’t have time for this! If we get trampled by those things, the Abyss Core and everything else ends here!”
Bradley seemed utterly baffled by Ha Gyeong’s composure.
Regardless, Ha Gyeong advanced without hesitation.
John brushed past Bradley, his expression vacant, and nudged him.
“Just get in without being noticed. Your noise will make it easier for them to catch us.”
……
The barb struck home.
Bradley’s mouth merely fumbled.
Meanwhile, Ha Gyeong pressed forward with long strides.
‘Dodging Field Bosses is easy enough. The problem is the Core Guardian…….’
An emperor conquering other planets wouldn’t be foolish.
He’d certainly sent something far stronger than last time.
Ha Gyeong had already destroyed the Abyss Core once before.
Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, the heavy footsteps of enormous monsters sounded nearby.
The powerful vibrations overlaid his heartbeat, amplifying the tension.
He glanced back,
and Bradley’s face had gone deathly pale.
Yet he hadn’t completely panicked.
Ha Gyeong let out a small chuckle.
‘He’s got backbone, at least.’
He could see now why Bennett had recommended him.
Because of the thick mist,
the Field Bosses hadn’t noticed them.
But Ha Gyeong navigated freely through the place where no one could see an inch ahead.
After traveling for a while,
Ha Gyeong’s footsteps finally stopped.
“It’s here.”
“Found it? Bro?”
“Can’t see it, but it’s hovering up there.”
“Then we destroy it right away.”
“You know what’s guarding it.”
“Is the Core Guardian nearby?”
“Looking down at us from above right now.”
The moment Ha Gyeong finished speaking,
a sinister voice pierced his consciousness.
—So you do appear.
“Did you expect us to come?”
—Was it you who killed Silent Ruin and Veil Lancer?
“What if it was?”
—To dare lay hands on the Empire’s nobility—how audacious for a creature of such insignificance.
Whoosh! Crash!
A dark body standing two meters tall plummeted to the ground.
It was shorter than Hain Tett, the DRC dispatch commander.
But it was far wider across.
Massive shoulders split wide and forearms grotesquely thick.
And blade-like bone plating jutting from countless points on its skin.
Ghostly pale aura rising in wisps, silver gleam in its eyes.
An entity radiating overwhelming pressure from appearance alone.
Ha Gyeong’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘So names don’t display for nobles until contact begins, after all.’
He’d learn soon enough anyway.
There was no need to be that curious.
Soon the opponent spoke, curling its fingers one by one.
—You will not die cleanly. Primitive lower intelligence.
The moment those words left its mouth,
the hefty mass vanished in an instant.
Immediately, a terrifying explosion and shockwave erupted.
Clang—!
* * *
Bradley Turner was a promising talent at the Eastern Association.
His fastidious nature suited the work perfectly,
and his skill as an Awakened One was considerable.
Thus he received recognition from above and respect tinged with fear from below.
In the Awakened One industry, he was from the distant frontier.
At least, that was true before meeting Ha Gyeong and John from Korea.
“A handful of people ended a Gate Break? And there’s even a defector mixed in? Ha! It’s not even funny.”
Bradley Turner had openly criticized the Awakened Ones from Korea.
He’d interfered with them constantly, no matter what they did.
But after the Gate in the heart of New York was designated,
everything changed.
Two Korean Awakened Ones had become the Eastern Association’s hope.
Bradley couldn’t accept it.
‘A Gate Break out of nowhere? That doesn’t make sense! It must be a lie.’
But Ha Gyeong’s prophecy became reality.
Suddenly, the faces of his wife and two children flickered through his mind.
Following Ha Gyeong and John through the mist near the Gate,
Bradley had to doubt his own eyes.
‘Even with Insight Ability, I can barely pierce that fog. How is he dodging everything?’
Ha Gyeong’s movements showed no hesitation whatsoever.
He’d bypassed all the Incomprehensible Grade Field Bosses,
then abruptly stopped.
Moments later, a creature of sinister aspect dropped to the ground.
Whoosh! Crash!
In that instant, Bradley felt his heart sink.
The Core Guardian’s aura coiled around his entire body.
Bradley found curses spilling from his lips.
‘Insane!’
Terror had materialized with razor edges, shredding through his neck and chest.
It hadn’t been this bad even when an Incomprehensible Grade boss had swept the rear line.
Bradley forced his breathing steady.
‘I can barely breathe, and this person is having a conversation?’
Ha Gyeong suddenly seemed like an extraordinary being.
Nothing but armor fitted on him.
An ordinary frame.
His only boast seemed to be a handsome face.
That’s what Bradley had thought just moments before.
But his assessment had no choice but to be completely overturned.
[You have encountered Core Guardian: Barcaron]
Bang—!
Barcaron, launched backward from his clash with Ha Gyeong, flew far away.
Bradley muttered blankly,
“What exactly have I gotten myself into?”
Tearing Open the Gate
Author |
Morae Tob
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Responsible Editor |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dream Books
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7F, Gwangsung Building, 28 Bongeunsaro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260306112
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blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter(X) |
@dreambookss
Submissions |
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Without written permission from Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dream Books, this book’s content may not be used in any form or by any means.

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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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