Unique Gate [6]
1209 Words
The battlefield was silent, save for the crackling embers of the dying flames. The massive body of the Root Tyrant had long since collapsed, its remains reduced to smoldering ash and twisted, charred roots. The team stood amidst the wreckage, catching their breath.
A sudden chime echoed in their minds, followed by a notification.
[ You have defeated the Gate Boss. ]
Darius let out a breath of relief, sheathing his sword. "Good work, everyone. That was a tougher fight than expected."
The others nodded, exhaustion evident on their faces. Marin wiped sweat from her brow, the last remnants of her spell fading into the air. "I need a nap after this."
"At least we can leave in one piece," Lysara said, checking her quiver. "Some of us, anyway."
The Supporters were already tending to the injured, their [ Soothing Radiance ] still glowing faintly as it mended wounds. Zenon stood near the back, watching silently as the group celebrated.
Despite fighting alongside them, he felt something was missing.
His contribution had been minimal—watching their backs, protecting the Supports, taking down a few Rootmen. But when it came to fighting the real threat, he had been forced to rely on others.
He clenched his fist.
It's been so long since I last felt this useless.
This raid had taught him something valuable. He opened his [ Status Window ] and examined his statistics.
[ Status Window ]
Name: Zenon Fernandez
Rank: D
Strength: 3.8
Agility: 3.9
Magic: 3.9
Battle IQ: 3.4
Defense: 4.0
However, the system hadn't just distributed experience points—something else had changed.
A strong gust of wind swirled through the battlefield, lifting the ashes of the fallen Gate Boss into a vortex. The embers twisted together, forming a singularity of energy.
Then, a notification appeared.
[ Skill Acquired ]
[ Tyrant’s Embrace ]
Active: Summons massive thorned roots from the ground to ensnare and crush enemies, dealing continuous physical and nature damage over six seconds.
Passive: Enemies trapped by the roots suffer a 20% defense reduction for eight seconds.
Cooldown: 20 seconds
The system always awarded the skill to the individual who contributed the most during battle. This wasn’t a matter of choice—it was determined by the Gate’s laws.
Zenon watched as the swirling light coalesced into a glowing orb. It pulsed once, then shot toward—
Lysara.
The energy sank into her chest. For a brief moment, she shuddered as the power integrated into her being. Her eyes widened as the system confirmed her acquisition.
[ You have acquired the Skill: Tyrant’s Embrace ]
Darius chuckled. "Looks like you're the MVP this time, Lysara."
Lysara blinked, flexing her fingers as she adjusted to the new sensation. "Huh… wasn't expecting that."
The others congratulated her, but Zenon remained silent. He had expected this outcome. In the end, he hadn't done enough to claim the reward.
He let out a slow breath, pushing down the frustration welling up inside him.
Still, deep inside, a thought lingered.
This isn’t enough. I need to get stronger.
Darius gestured for everyone to move. "Alright, time to head out. We’ll assess everything once we’re outside."
One by one, the team stepped through the fading portal, their first major hunt coming to an end.
As Zenon moved forward, he stole one last glance at Lysara.
The power that could have been his… no, the power that should have been his, had gone to someone else.
And in that moment, he made a silent vow.
Next time, I won’t just be a spectator.
Next time, the power will be mine.
****
Elsewhere…
In a place beyond mortal comprehension, a lone figure dressed in white sat upon a colossal seat, its form dwarfed by the vast and endless chamber. Countless screens—suspended midair like floating picture frames—displayed moving images of humans, humanoids, and creatures from unknown realms.
Each screen flickered, shifting between scenes of battles, conflicts, and unfolding destinies.
Yet, the being’s attention was fixed on a single screen.
Zenon, fresh from his victory over the D-Rank Gate, stood at the edge of his newfound resolve.
A soft chuckle echoed through the chamber.
"At this rate, He won’t see anything truly exciting for a while."
The being’s voice was neither male nor female, carrying a tone of amusement laced with something far more sinister. Their words weren’t directed at Zenon but at someone else entirely.
A slow, wicked smile curved their lips.
"I suppose I should speed things up a little."
With a casual snap of their fingers, a ripple formed in the air—distorting space itself for a fleeting moment before vanishing.
The being leaned back, resting their chin on one hand as their gaze flickered to another screen.
"Well then, let’s see what kind of entertainment I should prepare next."
****
Back at the Gate’s Exit…
The team regrouped near the portal’s edge. Despite their exhaustion, the atmosphere remained light—Lysara had acquired a new skill, and they had successfully cleared a D-Rank Gate without casualties.
Zenon, however, remained quiet.
The power that should have been his had gone to someone else.
He clenched his fist. It wasn’t a matter of luck. I simply wasn’t strong enough.
"Oi, Zenon."
He turned to see Darius watching him. "You did good back there. Kept the Supports safe and picked off the Rootmen before they could overwhelm us."
Zenon forced a small nod. "Yeah."
Darius narrowed his eyes slightly, seeing through the half-hearted response. "You thinking about the skill?"
Zenon hesitated but didn’t deny it.
Darius smirked. "You’re new to this, so I’ll give you some advice. It’s not always about who gets the skill—it’s about making sure you live to fight another day."
Zenon remained silent, his mind still unsettled.
Before he could respond, a new notification appeared before them all.
[ The Gate has been cleared. Mining and resource collection may now begin. ]
Moments later, figures in rugged uniforms, carrying mining equipment and mana detectors, began to pour in.
The Resource Teams.
They were responsible for harvesting anything of value left inside the Gate—rare minerals, magical herbs, and in some cases, remains of the monsters themselves. While the main combat teams took the most dangerous job, these workers ensured nothing went to waste.
One of the lead miners, a burly man with goggles and a thick vest, approached them. "You lot took down the Tyrant, huh? Not bad for a bunch of fresh hunters."
Darius chuckled. "We aim to please."
The miner whistled as he examined the battlefield. "With this much root growth, the core should've left some good stuff behind. We’ll take it from here."
With that, the mining teams spread out, setting up drills and extracting mana-rich resources. Some even began carving pieces of the Root Tyrant’s remains, carefully storing them in enchanted containers.
"Come on, we’re done here," Darius said, motioning for the team to move.
Zenon followed but stole one last glance at the battlefield.
He had survived, yes. But surviving wasn’t enough.
I won’t let another chance slip through my fingers.
As the team stepped out of the Gate, Zenon clenched his fists.
This was just the beginning.
- Writer
