The Strongest S-Ranker

Unique Gate [4]

The team regrouped in a small clearing as Lysara, Zenon, and Callen returned from their scouting mission. The atmosphere was tense, but Darius remained composed.

“What did you find?” the Raid Captain asked.

Lysara stepped forward. “The creatures here—Rootmen—can be taken down with simple cuts. They don’t seem to have hardened bodies, but there’s something strange about them. Their insides are a mix of roots and muddy liquid. We also noticed that when soil was thrown on their remains, their bodies twitched before going completely still.”

Darius crossed his arms. “Meaning they could have some kind of connection to the soil itself?”

“Possibly. If we leave them alone too long, they might recover or even regenerate.”

The team exchanged uneasy glances. An enemy that could revive itself wasn’t something they wanted to deal with.

“We should test fire magic,” said Marin, the team’s Mage. “If they’re plant-based, then burning them might be more effective.”

Darius nodded. “Alright. Next time we encounter one, you’ll handle it. For now, we move forward.”

The group resumed their formation, pushing deeper into the foggy forest. The mist clung to the trees, and an eerie silence settled over the area, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves.

Zenon walked alongside the other Rangers, his mind replaying the battle. He had seen plenty of strange monsters in his past life, but this was his first time systematically analyzing a creature’s weaknesses rather than overpowering them.

Adapt and survive—that’s how this world works.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled.

Lysara halted, raising a hand. “Something’s coming.”

Without warning, multiple Rootmen erupted from the ground, surrounding them. Unlike the first one, these creatures moved faster, their limbs twisting unnaturally as they lunged toward the team.

Marin extended her hands, channeling her mana as flames erupted around her.

“[ Fiery Ring of Fire ]!”

Creates a ring of flames around the user that quickly expands, incinerating enemies within range.

Passive Effect: Burns enemies for 15 seconds at 750 degrees Celsius, reducing their movement speed by 30%.

Cooldown: 10 Seconds

A circular blaze ignited around the group, rapidly expanding outward. The searing flames devoured everything in their path—roots, leaves, and the charging Rootmen.

The creatures screeched as their wooden bodies were engulfed, their limbs thrashing violently before collapsing into smoldering ash.

“It works! But…” Marin called out.

Tension filled the air as their senses screamed of more threats emerging from the ground.

Everyone knew that Marin couldn’t use her skill repeatedly. No—not just Marin. All skills had cooldowns. No one could rely on abilities alone.

That was why every Gifted trained relentlessly, honing their innate physical prowess—whether it be speed, strength, or endurance. Combat wasn’t just about unleashing powerful skills; it was about knowing when to use them, when to engage, and when to retreat.

The team tensed, eyes locked on the remaining Rootmen.

The Tanks stepped forward, shields raised, bracing for impact.

The creatures let out guttural roars before launching their attack—their arms stretching and twisting like monstrous tentacles, whipping toward the team with unnatural speed.

The Rootmen’s elongated limbs lashed out like striking whips, tearing through the air. The first tentacle slammed against a Tank’s shield, sending a powerful shockwave through the ground. The force of the impact made the Tank grit his teeth, but he held firm.

"Hold the line!" Darius commanded.

The second Rootman lunged toward Marin, aiming to take out the Mage before she could cast another spell.

"Not happening!" Renz, one of the Vanguards, intercepted, his greatsword slicing clean through the outstretched limb. The severed root wriggled on the ground before shriveling up.

Zenon, still positioned among the Rangers, saw an opportunity. Unlike the others, he had no flashy abilities, no destructive spells—but he had precision.

Taking a deep breath, he dashed forward, weaving through the chaos. The moment a Rootman stretched its limb to strike another Tank, Zenon moved faster, sliding under its attack and driving his dagger deep into its exposed chest.

The Rootman screeched, its body convulsing as the blade twisted deeper.

"Lysara!" Zenon called.

She was already on the move. Using Zenon’s attack as a distraction, Lysara flipped over the Rootman’s shoulder, landing gracefully behind it. In a fluid motion, she slashed her dagger across its throat.

The creature let out a gurgling cry before collapsing into a heap of roots.

Meanwhile, another Rootman swung wildly at a Support, aiming for a fatal blow—

Clang!

The attack was blocked.

Darius stepped in, his massive sword deflecting the strike before countering with a crushing horizontal s***h. The blade cleaved through the monster’s torso, splitting it apart.

“Marin, now’s your chance!” he shouted.

Marin, who had been waiting for the perfect moment, thrust her hands forward. Flames erupted once more—

"[ Fiery Ring of Fire ]!"

A second wave of fire surged forward, engulfing the remaining Rootmen. The creatures writhed as the flames consumed them, turning their twisted bodies into piles of glowing embers.

The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling of burning roots.

Darius scanned the area, ensuring no more enemies remained.

"Report!" he barked.

“All clear,” Lysara confirmed.

“Everyone accounted for,” one of the Supports added.

Zenon exhaled slowly, his heart still racing. This was his first real battle in this world, and it was nothing like his past life. Instead of overwhelming power, it took teamwork—trusting others, covering each other’s weaknesses.

Darius lowered his sword. “Good work. We’re moving forward.”

The fight was over—for now. But deeper in the forest, the true danger was still waiting for them.

Finally, after cutting down the last of the Rootmen, the team took a moment to steady themselves. Marin extinguished the lingering flames with a flick of her wrist, while the Supports moved to heal minor injuries.

The air remained thick with tension—this was only the beginning.

Lysara, scouting ahead, suddenly raised a hand. "Found something!"

The Rangers moved swiftly, using their heightened senses to navigate the dense forest. The team followed, careful not to disturb the eerie silence that had settled around them.

Then, through the mist, they saw it.

A massive clearing stretched before them, devoid of any vegetation. At its center, an enormous figure loomed—a twisted amalgamation of roots, bark, and decayed plant matter, its hollow eyes glowing with an unnatural green light.

The Gate Boss.

Darius tightened his grip on his sword. "Everyone, get ready."

The creature stirred, sensing their presence.

Then, it moved.