The Bearer (1)

Ill die, Ill die!

Youre not dying, so just hold on!

Most of the monsters that appeared were chimeras with mold all over their bodies. Every time they were hit, they would spread filthy spores that lowered their enemies defenses and absorbed their magic (I.E., they were a vicious monster that gave all sorts of debuffs!).

What can you do with this debuff?!

Vita is analyzing it; first, drink the potions!

Damn, its not completely returningWatch out for spores!

They looked as if countless monsters had been mashed together, mixing not only forms but abilities. They could be faced one-on-one, but those debuffs were serious. Even Bridget and Eleanor were disgusted by the spores.

-Kyahak!

Haah! Oh my god!

-Kiii!

Eleanor speared through three chimeras at once, energy exuded from the head of her spear to destroy the spores around her. She was doing great, but Kang Shin-hyuk, who was analyzing her spiritual power as he stretched his throughout the gate, shouted as he read her aura.

Dont fight while shouting my name!

But this is more powerful!

Ahhh?! Eli, thats sexual harassment!

Na-hee senior too!

The level of monsters was high, but that was a given as the gate couldnt be ranked. It wasnt a big deal for Kang Shin-hyuk, but it was a bit overwhelming for MaBs other members. Or at least, it would be without the buff Kang Shin-hyuk gave them. The passive buff boosted their energy and growth rate, but the active buff concentrated energy to a level that almost doubled their power.

Huhhah!

Baek In-ha, who felt his power amplified as he struggled with the chimeras, stepped firmly on the floor and kicked his enemies. The chimeras, unable to withstand the strong shock, burst out and poured spores on him, but the strong wind he created moved them away. He drove the chimeras back and began to defend Oh Hye-na, taking care of her safety first.

Shinyuk! If you could strengthen us, do it quicker!

No, if youre always used to the buffs I give you, youll be in trouble when theyre not around. This is all to help you stay vigilant at any time.

Were not vigilant enough at an unknown gate?!

Everyone seemed to be shaken at the fact that they couldnt check their enemies rank, but in Kang Shin-hyuks eyes, these monsters were strong, but he didnt feel them transcendentally strong, peculiar to monsters beyond the current limit. To put it plainly, if they were really X-rank or higher, the rest of the team wouldve had to focus down one to kill it.

I guess theres a problem with the Gaia system as well.

-It certainly seems that way.

As Kang Shin-hyuk pushed his buff, the members of MaB paid back the humiliation they had suffered from those monsters. Once the ranks stabilized, Bridget switched to buffing herself to accelerate their subjugation of the gate further.

Vita, how is it?

Kang Shin-hyuk used nanobots to purify the chimera spores while Vita analyzed them. He could grasp the enemys level with his own spiritual power, but that resided in the realm of intuition. For precise data, Vita was more accurate and reliable.

Yes, dad is right. At best, it has reached the current limit.

There are only these weird chimeras. In other words, ranking it, the current limit level

That meant SSS+ rank. Of course, that alone was intense; it was the same level as the monsters that appeared with Janus the previous year. However, compared to the performance of his team members, it wasnt so scary.

Oh, the spore vaccine is complete. Ill give you a vaccine, so now everyone can ignore the spores!

I absolutely hate it! What other ability do the spores have

Its okay because you have a complete picture. And, I already injected it~.

Vita?!

Vita injected the completed vaccine into all her allies with the nanobots. Nevertheless, the attack no longer had to be delayed because they were wary of the enemys spores, so Kang Shin-hyuk sighed and soothed his teammates.

Theres no need to be overly vigilant. They wont be getting any stronger than this so that you can push ahead.

Its said the rank is unknown!

I figured it out now; its SSS+ level.

Its the worst one?!

But its one we know.

As a test, Bridget smashed in a chimeras head, but the spores really had no effect on her.

Oh, its really okay?

Then, lets organize here and move on. Its been 30 minutes since we entered the gate.

But this gate is a little weird. Should I say the structure is too simple?

Thats what he had thought from the start. It was a wide space, with no traps or labyrinthine structures common to high difficulty gates. It was like a part of a huge, artificially constructed building had been torn apart.

This is a real gate? Maybe youre hallucinating.

The monsters are real, be sure to kill them.

Kang Shin-hyuk, who was trying to analyze the gate further, wasnt able to come to a satisfactory conclusion. There was only one thing he found, and it was that this gate had a hold leading to another one.

-Thats Jormungands technique.

What is it? An invitation?

If the gate was intentionally created, it wouldve been predictable that the strongest of humanity, Kang Shin-hyuk, would enter. Then what was beyond this gate? Kang Shin-hyuk felt his heart pounding with anxiety and excitement.

I feel like Janus is calling.

-Would you like to go?

I have to go.

The situation was cleared up. Kang Shin-hyuk adjusted his performance so that it wasnt conspicuous as he attacked the gate with his party, occasionally glancing at the cameraman.

What, I was scared because the rank was unknown.

Is it over already?

Ah, an exit.

Everyone, it was wonderful! The video footage is awesome too!

The cameraman, who had only taken care of himself and the camera from start to end, raised his thumb to them. The media had emphasized it was a gate of unknown rank beforehand.

Without Masked Bacchus, it wouldve been impossible to fight those unknown monsters without any sacrifices! What viewers want is this overwhelming power!

Okay, okay, so lets finish shooting now. Its all over.

Lets take a nice picture of everyone coming out of the gate

So go out and wait.

Kang Shin-hyuk pushed the cameraman out of the exit and looked back.

Actually, theres still a little bit left, so Ill clean it up.

Maybe, something suspicious?

Bridget, who only became sensitive to pointless things, looked at him with bright eyes, but Kang Shin-hyuk started to push her out too.

Everyone go back first; its really nothing. Oh, Vita, will you stay?

Yes!

Aah, wait for a second, junior. If I dont stay, youll be very sorry!

Its not like that, so go back.

Shin-hyuk

Its okay. Go out and reassure people. Its okay if I leave first.

When Kang Shin-hyuk entered the gate, the external gate would also probably disappear- its goal completed. Everyone looked at him with narrow eyes, but they couldnt pursue him anymore. Even Lee Na-hee and Eleanor, recognized members of the Hero Universe, werent allowed to accompany them, so what else could be said?

Well, in this case, I dont want to feel alienated. I worked so hard, but in the end, it doesnt mean anything.

Well find something we can do together later.

At that, Lee Na-hee turned on him with shining eyes, as if unsatisfied with that much.

If you get hurt and come back, Ill hit you.

I have to come back for my child.

So youll make one with me too!

Yes, she was also a nonsensical person.

Eli, take this criminal and leave quickly.

Uh Dont get hurt.

Let me go!

Eleanor defeated Lee Na-hee and dragged her out. Baek sighed and left with Oh Hye-na right after.

Have you found traces of our unnie?

Different, but its related.

Then me too!

Wait outside, so you dont lose your life.

Wow

Bridget, having remained until the end, was also thrown out the exit.

Dad, can I stay?

Vita Im sorry to ask you this, but I wanted to leave a connection with Claire in case of an emergency.

Its okay. That was my role from the beginning!

Vita replied with a wide smile.

Okay, thanks. Then, lets go.

Kang Shin-hyuk patted her head and then took her hand. It was that moment a call from Halo arrived.

-Halos whisper: You cant go there, Anvil.

Halo?

-Oh, Halo?!

He hadnt heard from Halo in a while. It was even more surprising that the administrator seemed to be embarrassed by it.

-Halos whisper: Again, you cant go there. Janus is doing something difficult. Hmm, its a little bit worse this time. You could end up doing something wrong.

Why do you know that?

-Halos whisper: Anvil Yes, I see. Then I know better. If you go to Janus now, something bad will happen to Janus as a result.

Halo, who grasped what had happened to him with just that short exchange, spoke as if it were good. Kang Shin-hyuk had a premonition that his relationship with Halo would change immensely, but he couldnt pick up spilled milk.

So what am I supposed to do? Ignore this?

-Halos whisper: Thats correct. Beyond that gate is the territory of Jormungand.

I still have to go. I want to talk to Janus at least once.

-Halos whisper: Is that so?

Silence flowed like an eternity before he responded again.

-Halos whisper: Then there is no choice But youll have to choose carefully, Anvil. You know what to do as you are now.

-Halos whisper: Then, come on.

The gate collapsed. Kang Shin-hyuk then grabbed Vita and hurried through the gate.