Unique Gate [20]
1286 Words
The Gate Boss staggered, his form flickering like a dying ember. His weapon had already dissolved, the blood that once obeyed his every command now returning to the void.
His lips parted, as if to say something, but no words came. Instead, he let out a breath—soft, almost relieved.
“…So this is how it ends,” he murmured, a faint smile crossing his face. “Perhaps… I was never meant to find the truth myself.”
His body trembled, but his gaze remained locked onto Zenon’s, unwavering.
"Listen," his voice was weak, but there was urgency in it. "If you truly seek the truth… if you wish to break free from this endless cycle…"
Zenon stepped closer, lowering his sword but keeping his focus sharp. The Gate Boss raised a trembling hand, pressing it against Zenon’s chest.
"You must seek them," he whispered. "The ones who started it all."
Zenon’s breath hitched. His mind raced, but his body remained still.
"The Seven Kings of Hell," the Gate Boss continued, his voice barely audible. "They… They are the key to everything…"
Zenon's eyes widened, his grip on his sword tightening.
The Seven Kings of Hell.
His past. His vengeance. The very thing that had led him to this world—was this fight truly just a coincidence? Or was it fate leading him here?
The Gate Boss let out a dry chuckle, his form beginning to dissolve into motes of crimson light. "Funny, isn’t it? Even now… I still don’t remember who I was. But perhaps… it doesn’t matter anymore."
He took a slow breath, then closed his eyes.
"I only hope… that you’ll reach the truth I never could."
With those final words, his body finally faded, scattered into the wind. The battlefield fell into silence.
Zenon stood still, watching the last remnants of the Gate Boss disappear. The weight of the battle lingered, but something heavier settled in his chest.
How much did this Gate Boss truly know? Was his memory sealed by them? Was he another victim of their influence?
Zenon clenched his fist. This battle may have ended, but his mission had only grown more complicated.
He exhaled, letting out a steady breath as his sword vanished from his grasp. One of its unique features allowed him to summon or dismiss it at will, making it an extension of himself rather than just a weapon.
“…Then I’ll find the truth,” he muttered. “No matter what it takes.”
With that, he turned away, stepping forward—toward whatever fate awaited him next.
A sudden chime echoed in Zenon’s mind, followed by a familiar notification.
[ You have defeated the Gate Boss. ]
As the System announced his victory, the blood that had once been returning to the void surged back, twisting and spiraling into a vortex.
Zenon narrowed his eyes. He recognized this phenomenon—it was the manifestation of the Gate’s rewards.
[ Skill Acquired ]
[ Crimson Festival ]
[ Midnight m******e ]
The message barely faded before something unexpected occurred. A strange energy pulsed through the air, and from the remnants of blood, a dark red sphere began to form, floating in front of him.
Zenon’s breath hitched as he felt an unfamiliar yet overwhelming presence emanating from it. Then, another notification appeared.
[ Weapon Acquired ]
[ The Endless ]
His eyes widened. This wasn’t just a typical reward—this was something far more significant.
Zenon reached out cautiously, his fingers grazing the floating sphere of blood. The moment he touched it, a surge of power coursed through his body.
Memories—not his own—flashed through his mind.
A battlefield drenched in blood. A figure standing amidst countless corpses. A voice whispering in agony, "I was never meant to exist like this…"
Zenon gritted his teeth as the images faded, leaving him with a lingering weight in his chest. This weapon—The Endless—wasn't just a tool. It carried the remnants of the Gate Boss’s will, his pain, and his existence.
The blood sphere pulsed once before evaporating into thin air, dispersing like mist. Almost immediately, a familiar chime echoed in Zenon's mind.
[ Notification ]
— The user has unlocked a new Rank.
— The feature [ Storage ] is now available.
— This feature allows the user to store non-living objects.
— Maximum capacity: 20 items.
Zenon furrowed his brows. [ Storage ]? That was a feature only high-ranking Gifted had access to. The System was evolving alongside him.
He exhaled and pulled up his [ Status Window ]. Normally, when a Gifted cleared a Gate and obtained experience points, the [ Status Window ] would automatically appear. But this time, the System had granted him Skills and a Weapon instead—no experience points.
It was a balancing mechanism.
However, as he examined his stats, his eyes widened.
Somehow, when a portion of his power was unleashed, the System acknowledged it. His stats had undergone a drastic transformation.
[ Status Window ]
Name: Zenon Fernandez
Rank: S
Strength: 1.8
Agility: 1.7
Magic: 1.6
Battle IQ: 1.5
Defense: 2.3
Zenon stared at the screen, his mind racing.
S-Rank?
Despite unlocking only a fragment of his true power, he had already reached the highest Rank in this world.
How the hell am I supposed to explain this? If anyone found out, it would raise too many questions—questions he wasn’t ready to answer.
With a sigh, he dismissed the [ Status Window ] just as the portal to exit the Gate flared to life before him.
It was time to leave. But this was only the beginning.
Far beyond the reach of mortals, deep within the vast expanse of the cosmos, a figure sat in front of an enormous screen, watching the events unfold with keen interest.
The Administrator. The one who governed the System.
A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the empty space as he leaned back, a satisfied smile stretching across his face.
“Excellent. That fight was truly something,” he mused, his voice laced with amusement. With a flick of his fingers, he pressed ‘Stop Recording,’ and the screen went dark.
A small mechanical whir filled the air as a card disk was ejected from the terminal beside him. Humming to himself, he retrieved it, examining it with an expression of pure delight.
“As expected, his battles are the most entertaining to watch,” he chuckled. “I have to admit, I didn’t expect him to overpower the System so soon… but no matter.”
He placed the card disk inside a sleek black box, sealing it away before pressing another button. The screen flickered once, shifting to a different battlefield—another dimension, another story unfolding.
“I’ve already updated the seal on his power. If it breaks again, well… that just means he’s progressing faster than expected.” He smirked. “It’d be a shame if he regained his original strength too soon. That would be such a boring development… too much like plot armor.”
His fingers tapped idly against the console as he observed the new scene playing out before him.
And then, as if merely an afterthought, he revealed something—an undeniable truth hidden behind layers of amusement.
“It’s a good thing I reincarnated his soul into this world.” His eyes gleamed with mischief. “After all… He said he wanted to continue his story here. Let’s see how it unfolds.”
With that, the Administrator leaned forward, a grin stretching across his lips, as he pressed ‘Record’ once more.
The show was far from over.
- Writer
