– The Survivor of the Gate
All the military officers stood tense, some anxious, others deep in tensed thought.
"Can we really stop them if we all unite?" — the question loomed in everyone's minds as they raised their guns toward the dungeon gate.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from within the dungeon.
Everyone, including Officer Josuf, was stunned.
Josuf (in disbelief):
"How is this even possible...? How can a human come out alive from that kind of place?"
The figure was none other than Jon Silvert, covered in wounds, exhausted, his body soaked in blood—but alive.
As soon as Jon stepped out of the dungeon gate, he collapsed. Two or three officers quickly rushed forward to catch and support him.
While everyone's attention was fixed on Jon, one of the officers noticed something strange—the dungeon gate... it was disappearing.
The officer shouted, urging everyone to look at the gate.
And they all turned to witness the impossible:
The dungeon gate was vanishing.
First, a man had walked out of it alive.
Now, the gate itself was fading into nothing.
Confusion and awe rippled through the officers and surrounding personnel.
Josuf, still shaken, whispered under his breath:
"What the hell happened in there? How did he survive in that condition... and what did he do to make the gate vanish?"
No one had an answer.
They would have to wait for Jon to wake up.
---
Scene Shift – Two Days Later, Hospital
In a quiet hospital room, Jon slowly opened his eyes. He blinked, dazed.
In front of him, three men sat beside his bed.
Jon (groggy):
"You're here… Who are you? What do you want from me?"
One of the men stood up politely and spoke:
"You've been unconscious for two days. But I'm glad you're awake now."
Then he introduced himself and the others.
"My name is Bilson Fon, from the Investigation Department. This is my partner, Kalvin Can..."
(He then gestured to the third person)
"...and this is Josuf Kuat — Senior Military In-Charge of the IMF."
Bilson (serious tone):
"We'd like you to cooperate with us. We'll be asking you some questions, and we need honest answers."
Bilson began the inquiry:
Bilson:
"Tell us, what was inside that gate? What was the environment like? Were there monsters? And how did you survive despite being so badly wounded?"
Jon calmly began narrating everything:
How he entered the dungeon…
How strange and terrifying the atmosphere inside was…
The monsters he encountered, the battles he fought…
And how he discovered his power—and the sword that helped him survive.
Kalvin (interrupting):
"You killed the boss monster? But our weapons don't even work on normal monsters. How did you manage to kill them all with just a sword?"
Jon:
"It started with the first incident. I stabbed a goblin using its own knife.
After that… a light came out of me… and I felt something awaken inside.
Right then… a sword appeared in my hands.
A huge dragon came at me, and with that sword, I sliced its head clean off."
The room fell silent.
Everyone listened in disbelief, struggling to trust what they were hearing.
A man who had walked into a gate where no weapon worked… had destroyed monsters and made the gate itself disappear — with a sword?
Kalvin (still in doubt):
"Did you learn anything else inside that gate?"
Jon (thinking):
"Not much. But I did realize one thing—
If we go inside and eliminate the monsters before they emerge…
We can prevent disasters. But we can't stop them forever.
I don't know how long these gates will keep appearing."
Everyone listened closely.
Bilson (nodding):
"Thank you for your cooperation."
He stood up and handed Jon a contact card.
Bilson:
"If we have more questions, we'll return. And if you remember anything, please contact us immediately."
Jon:
"Of course. If I learn anything that can help, I'll let you know."
The officers left the room.
Jon leaned back with a deep sigh, eyes staring at the ceiling.
Now that he was alone…
He began replaying everything that had happened.
– World Changes
Jon Silvert's survival became a worldwide sensation.
Everywhere, people talked about the miracle of someone returning alive from a dungeon. And over time, whenever a new gate appeared, Jon would step in — and clear it.
Sometimes he returned unscathed.
Other times, he was wounded — but he always came back alive.
One day, Jon contacted Bilson again.
Jon (over the phone):
"I've noticed something new about these gates… Every dungeon contains different monsters.
Each gate has its own difficulty level.
And if a dungeon isn't cleared within five days, it collapses — unleashing the monsters into the real world."
Bilson:
"Thank you for sharing this information with us, Jon. We'll investigate further."
---
Meanwhile, across the world, people began sensing changes within themselves — mysterious energy flowing through their bodies.
Over time, those who awakened this power became capable of fighting the dungeon monsters.
They were soon referred to as:
"Hunters."
Whenever a gate appeared, Hunters would enter and attempt to clear it.
Inside, they discovered mysterious glowing crystals known as "Uni Stones" — which could be forged into weapons far more effective than any traditional tech against dungeon monsters.
---
With the rise of Hunters came organization.
Groups of them began forming alliances, eventually leading to the creation of powerful factions known as:
Guilds.
To maintain order among the rising number of Hunters, a global authority was established:
The Hunters Association.
This association introduced a ranking system to classify both Hunters and dungeon gates:
S-Rank – The most powerful
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
E-Rank
F-Rank – The weakest
Even the weakest F-rank Hunter had strength equivalent to five normal humans.
Dungeons themselves were also ranked based on their mana output and threat level.
---
Mana Power:
After the first dungeon outbreaks, many people experienced strange transformations in their internal energy.
This new form of energy — called Mana — allowed certain individuals to awaken superhuman capabilities.
It became the foundation of measuring power in this new world.
---
As time passed, Jon Silvert's name became legendary.
People all across the world hailed him as:
"The Sword God."
He became the first S-Rank Hunter in history — and a global symbol of hope and strength.
Hunters began making a living by clearing dungeons, collecting Uni Crystals, and exchanging them for money or weapons.
But with power… came corruption.
---
Some Hunters began misusing their abilities.
They started murdering, robbing, betraying their own teams in greed for Uni Crystals.
The line between protector and predator began to blur.
The public grew fearful.
Even an F-Rank Hunter was powerful enough to overpower multiple civilians.
---
Time continued to pass.
And thus… fifteen years went by.
Scene Shift: A Normal Family
There was a family of three members — a mother, a father, and a 10-year-old boy. A fourth member was on the way.
The mother's name was Roina. The father's name was Frank Elfard. And the boy's name was Revin Elfard.
Roina was pregnant.
One day, Revin said with hope in his eyes,
"Mom, I want a little sister."
Roina smiled softly and said,
"Yes, sweetheart. You'll definitely get a little sister."
A few months later, a beautiful baby girl was born. The family was filled with joy. Revin played with his baby sister all the time. They named her Lyra.
Everything was peaceful.
Two years passed.
One day, Roina and Frank went to the market to buy some groceries. Suddenly, inside an old storage area, a D-rank dungeon opened. Within moments, a crack formed—and the dungeon broke. From it, D-rank spider-type monsters began to emerge.
Chaos erupted in the market.
The monsters attacked everyone on sight. People screamed and ran in all directions. Roina and Frank were among the crowd.
The spiders hunted people like prey. One of them shot a web toward Roina—but Frank saw it just in time and pushed her out of the way.
Roina survived.
But the web caught Frank.
The spider yanked the web back with force—pulling Frank in—and bit his head off instantly.
Roina watched in horror as the creature devoured her husband's head.
Her body froze.
Her mind stopped working.
She stood still—paralyzed by grief.
And then, with a shriek of unimaginable pain, she screamed:
"FRAAAANK!!!"
Her cries echoed through the market as she collapsed to her knees, weeping uncontrollably.
A second monster approached quietly from behind...
And in one swift motion, bit off Roina's head too.
Both parents died that day.
A few minutes later, a group of Hunters arrived.
They looked around in shock at the carnage. Corpses were scattered everywhere. Blood stained the ground.
One of the C-rank hunters named Sam stood in disbelief.
It reminded him of the day his own family had died in a similar incident.
Sam (whispering):
"Even with all our strength, we couldn't save them. We're Hunters... yet so many people still died. What's the point of our power?"
His comrade, Hamson, another C-rank hunter, put a hand on his shoulder.
Hamson:
"Now's not the time for regret. This wasn't our fault. No one could've predicted a dungeon break here. We have to focus on killing the rest of these monsters, or more people will die."
Sam:
"You're right. Thanks for bringing me back to focus."
Together, Sam, Hamson, and the rest of their squad wiped out the remaining monsters.
---
Aftermath
A list of the dead was prepared. The Hunter Association arranged compensation payments to the families of the victims as a gesture of apology.
One of those addresses was the home of Revin Elfard.
---
At Revin's House
Revin was at home playing with Lyra when the doorbell rang.
He opened the door. Two men stood outside in black jackets with the Hunter Association logo.
Revin:
"Yes? Whom do you want to meet?"
One of the men asked,
"Is this the residence of Frank Elfard?"
Revin:
"Yes, but he's not home right now. Both Mom and Dad went to the market."
The man hesitated.
"Is there any adult at home?"
Revin:
"No sir, it's just me and my little sister here."
He added confidently,
*"I'm the eldest one here right now. Tell me, what happened?"
The two men exchanged looks.
Then one of them said with a heavy heart,
"I'm sorry. Your parents... they died in a dungeon break incident in the market today."
"We're from the Hunter Association. We've come to offer official condolences... and this compensation."
Revin stood frozen.
It felt like the ground beneath him had vanished.
From inside, Lyra called out playfully,
"Brother, who's at the door?"
Revin looked at his sister and started thinking:
"No… this can't be true. They're just joking, right? My parents… can't be dead…"
But one glance at the men's serious faces shattered all hope.
The men handed over the money, apologized again, and left silently.
Revin stood there in shock.
Lyra tugged at his shirt.
"Brother, who were those people? What were they saying?"
Revin looked at her smiling face—so innocent, so pure.
He couldn't tell her the truth.
He forced a smile and said,
"Nothing… they were just asking about the neighbors."
Lyra:
"Okay! Come back, let's play!"
Revin:
"You go play. I'll join you in a bit."
He went to his room... and cried—silently.
He covered his mouth to muffle the sobs.
He couldn't let Lyra hear. She wasn't old enough to understand.
"Don't worry, Lyra… I'm still here. I'll take care of you. I won't let you miss anything..."
Lyra, unaware of anything, happily played with her toys.
---
The Next Day
Revin stored the compensation money safely and went out in search of a job.
After a full day of struggle, he finally found work at a small shop.
That night, he returned home.
Lyra:
"Brother, why were you so late?"
Revin:
"I got a job, that's why. Look what I brought for you — your favorite… chicken roast!"
Lyra's face lit up with joy.
They sat at the table and ate together.
Lyra mischievously tried to steal a piece from Revin's plate.
He gently tapped her hand.
"Oh really? Now you're stealing from me too?"
Lyra giggled and said in her baby voice,
"You weren't eating, so I thought your tummy was full!"
Revin laughed—his first genuine smile in days.
That night, they went to bed with full stomachs and quiet hearts.
---
Three Years Later
Revin worked daily, took care of Lyra, and tried to balance life.
Lyra had now turned 5 year. Today's It was her birthday.
To celebrate, Revin took the day off and brought her to Selman Park.
They rode rides, played games, ate street food, and laughed like real siblings.
While leaving, Revin remembered he had to buy a few things, so they stopped by a market.
While Revin was checking items, Lyra was playing with a toy airplane.
Revin:
"Don't go too far, Lyra! Stay close!"
But Lyra, lost in her play, wandered out toward the road.
Suddenly, a car came speeding—
And then, a scream.
People rushed toward the accident site.
Revin heard someone say,
"A little girl just got hit by a car…"
His heart sank. He dropped everything and ran.
He pushed through the crowd…
And saw Lyra lying in a pool of blood.
He rushed forward, picked her up in his arms, and screamed for help—
But no one came forward.
Lyra (weakly):
"I'm sorry, brother.."*
Revin:
"No no no… don't talk, just hold on! I'm here. I'll save you!"
When no one helped, he carried her himself—ran to the hospital.
Location: JD Sector 8 – City Hospital
Revin burst into the hospital, his voice trembling with desperation.
Revin (shouting):
"Doctor! Please! Someone help!"
A few doctors and nurses heard his cry and rushed over.
One of them, Dr. Younwo, recognized the urgency and quickly moved toward him.
They laid Lyra on a stretcher and wheeled her toward the emergency unit without wasting a second.
Revin (choking up):
"Please… please save my sister. She's all I have left in this world. If something happens to her, I'll never forgive myself. I beg you... please save her!"
Dr. Younwo (calm but serious):
"We'll do everything we can. Don't panic. She's in good hands now."
---
Outside the Operater Room
Revin sat on the cold bench, soaked in sweat. His hands were shaking.
Tears streamed down his face as guilt crushed him from within.
"Why did I go to the market? Why didn't I keep her closer? I could've bought everything later…"
He buried his face in his hands and wept silently.
After what felt like hours, Dr. Younwo stepped out of the Operater room.
Revin jumped to his feet and rushed toward him.
Revin (panicked):
"Doctor! How is she? Is she okay? Tell me she's okay!"
Dr. Younwo:
"Her condition is very serious. I need to speak to her parents."
Revin (quietly):
"We don't have any. Our parents died three years ago. I've been taking care of her ever since."
Dr. Younwo paused, stunned.
He looked at Revin again—this boy couldn't be more than fifteen—but there was a weight in his eyes far beyond his age.
Dr. Younwo (gently):
"Your sister has suffered severe trauma to her nerve bundle. We need to perform an urgent surgery immediately. It will cost around 200,000 won. That operation will save her life… for now."
Revin's eyes widened with hope.
Dr. Younwo (continuing):
"But… this won't be the end. She will require a second, more complex operation down the line. That will cost at least 500,000 won. However, we can do that one later—if she survives the first."
Revin (desperate):
"Doctor… I don't care about the money. Just save her. I'll figure something out. You said loan, right? I'll take the loan. Just save her!"
Dr. Younwo (nodding):
"Alright. Don't worry. We'll begin the preparations immediately. I'll handle the paperwork. You'll just need to sign a few documents."
---
A nurse approached Revin with a clipboard.
Without hesitation, Revin signed every page with trembling hands.
Within minutes, Lyra was taken into the operation theater.
---
Waiting Room
Revin stood alone in the quiet hallway, his hands folded tightly in prayer.
"Please... let her live. I've already lost Mom and Dad. I can't lose her too…"
Behind the surgical doors, the doctors worked tirelessly to save Lyra.
---
To Be Continued…