The New World (4)
829 Words
Zenon stood in front of the towering Gate, its swirling energy casting a faint glow across the clearing. His heart pounded—not from fear, but from anticipation.
This was it. The first step toward reclaiming his power.
He clenched his fists, feeling the strength in his newly trained body. His muscles, once weak and frail, had firmed up. His stamina had increased, and even his magic had started to flow more naturally. The past three months had not been wasted.
But training in isolation was one thing. Surviving inside a Gate was another.
The Gates Association was a legal entity responsible for monitoring and managing all Gates in the country. They enforced strict rules to prevent unnecessary casualties among low-ranked Gifted.
Gate Ranks:
S-Rank – Catastrophic. Only top-tier Gifted and elite teams could enter.
A-Rank – Highly dangerous. Reserved for experienced and well-equipped parties.
B-Rank – Deadly for the unprepared but manageable for skilled Gifted.
C-Rank – Challenging but commonly raided by mid-level Gifted.
D-Rank – Standard training grounds for those preparing to rise in rank.
E-Rank – The weakest and safest Gates, used for beginners to gain combat experience.
For Gifted like Zenon, only E-Rank Gates were accessible.
While Gifted could train outside the Gates, the environment inside a Gate had a unique effect on their bodies. The constant exposure to mana allowed their strength, agility, and magical abilities to synchronize, leading to faster growth.
For this reason, the Gates Association hired experienced Gifted to supervise beginner raids. These supervisors would step in only if a situation became dangerous—otherwise, the new Gifted were expected to fend for themselves.
Once a Gifted's abilities improved enough to rank up, they could take an evaluation test administered by the Association. Passing the test meant eligibility to join a Guild, a major milestone in any Gifted's career.
Zenon had no intention of staying at E-Rank for long.
Zenon adjusted his training gear—light armor that provided basic protection while allowing mobility. He had no weapons yet, but that didn’t matter. If he had to fight with his bare hands, he would.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
“You must be new.”
Zenon turned to see a man in a black coat, a badge on his chest signifying his status as an Association Supervisor.
“I’m Lukas, one of the overseers for today’s Gate raid,” the man continued, his sharp eyes scanning Zenon. “First time?”
Zenon nodded. “Yeah.”
Lukas smirked. “Listen up, rookie. E-Rank Gates may be the weakest, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. Don’t get careless, or you’ll end up needing a rescue.”
Zenon simply nodded again. He wasn’t here to impress anyone—he was here to prove something to himself.
Lukas raised an eyebrow. “Not much of a talker, huh? Fine. Just follow the rules, and you might make it out in one piece.”
With that, Lukas moved on to brief the other new Gifted.
Zenon took a deep breath and turned back to the Gate.
No more waiting.
It’s time to see how far I’ve come.
*****
Inside the Gate
The moment Zenon stepped through the swirling portal, he felt it—the shift in reality.
The air was heavier, thick with mana. The sky above was a dull gray, and the ground was covered in jagged rocks and patches of dead grass. It felt like stepping into another world.
So this is a Gate…
A notification rang in his mind, a sign that the System had registered his entry.
[ You have entered an E-Rank Gate. ]
[ Objective: Eliminate 10 Low-Tier Monsters. ]
Zenon rolled his shoulders. Time to get started.
A rustling sound caught his attention.
His instincts flared. He spun around—just in time to see a creature emerging from the shadows.
It was small, about the size of a large dog, with reptilian features and glowing red eyes. A Goblin Fangbeast.
Zenon’s breath steadied.
A fight already? Good.
The creature lunged.
Zenon sidestepped, barely avoiding the sharp claws swiping toward his chest. His muscles tensed. His body was slower than his instincts.
Tsk. Not enough.
He retaliated, driving his fist into the goblin’s side. The impact sent a dull shock up his arm, but the monster barely staggered. His strength was still lacking.
The goblin hissed and slashed at him again. This time, Zenon dodged more smoothly, adjusting his footwork.
A counterattack. He drove his elbow into the goblin’s jaw, then followed up with a powerful kick to its ribs. The monster crumpled to the ground.
Breathing hard, Zenon stood over the body.
One down. Nine to go.
The first battle had already exposed his weaknesses. He was still too slow. His hits weren’t strong enough.
But he had improved.
And he would keep improving.
As Zenon turned deeper into the Gate, hunting for more enemies, he knew one thing for sure—this was just the beginning.
- Writer
