The sun stood high in the sky, casting shadows from the trees below. A gentle breeze blew through the forest, rustling the grass and leaves.
A group of nine people walked calmly through the woods toward a place not far from Dustwall.
The rhythmic, metallic clinking of armor blended with the songs of birds and cicadas, creating a soothing atmosphere.
Soon, the birds' songs faded, and the pace of the armor's clanking slowed.
"We are nearly there. Stay vigilant," Elder Patrick's voice broke the silence. "Shadow Wolves are known for their silent ambushes. Do not let your guard down."
The expressions of the Knights from Grimreach grew stern. They had fought packs of these monsters in recent days and knew their strength.
A pack consisted of dozens of Shadow Wolves, and their attacks were cunning and deadly, capable of catching the unwary off guard.
The forest was dense, filled with ferns, brambles, and shrubs growing everywhere, making it hard to discern a proper path. It was the perfect place for an ambush.
But the high sun made it difficult for Shadow Wolves to launch a silent attack.
Only the rustle of leaves and the faint sound of footsteps could be heard now and then.
And so, without facing any attack, the group reached their destination.
Before them, something shimmered blue. It was the Gate, a dimensional portal linking two worlds.
"We have arrived. Our objective is simple: enter, slay all creatures inside, and exit. I want no casualties or serious injuries. Keep your eyes open, stay alert, and be aware of your surroundings."
Elder Patrick's voice was grave as he addressed the group. His calm yet commanding tone left no room for jests.
An invisible pressure settled over the crowd.
This was no drill—it would be a true battle of life and death.
That was what the Knights of Dustwall thought. They were not as trained or strong as Grimreach's soldiers, but their spirit remained unyielding.
Observing everyone's reactions, Elder Patrick continued in a solemn tone.
"Do you know why we call it a Raid?"
Silence.
Everyone knew what it meant.
They were the invaders. They would storm a foreign world, slaughter everything, and plunder as many valuables as possible.
Elder Patrick turned to Lian. The boy's expression was distracted, as if lost in deep thought.
"What is wrong, Lian? You know you can ask me anything."
Hearing his name, the boy snapped his head toward him.
"Oh, it is nothing…" he replied shyly, his gaze shifting between the Gate and Elder Patrick.
"Oh, I understand. You must have read the tome, correct?"
"Yes, I did."
"Good, then I understand your doubts. This is a potential Steel Gate, after all, and I am not a Silver-rank mage," he said in a neutral tone, as if stating an obvious fact.
"But do not worry, Lian. Even if a Steel-rank monster appears, it will not be a problem… do you know why?"
Elder Patrick's gaze sharpened, almost intimidating.
"Simple. Because I am strong!"
A chill ran down everyone's spines.
The air's temperature seemed to drop a few degrees at the mage's words, but it returned to normal a moment later.
With that, Elder Patrick turned toward the Gate.
"Come, let us enter!"
Sera was the second to step through, followed by the Knights of Grimreach, then those of Dustwall.
Lian was the last to enter. He hesitated—not out of fear, but because he was unsure how to act. He had thought long about it; he was not a conventional mage.
He did not need arcane words or strange mana channeling.
He only needed… to draw a circle.
"Well, we will figure it out later."
With those words, he stepped into the portal.
The moment he crossed it, a strange sensation enveloped him completely.
It felt as if he were about to be crushed.
But it lasted only a moment before everything returned to normal, leaving him whole and unharmed.
Only one thing had changed: the surroundings.
He was inside a Gate. For the first time, he stood within a Gate.
He was thrilled!
First, Lian, like everyone who entered before him, looked around.
The first thing they noticed was the portal's disappearance. As Elder Patrick had said, in this phase, the only way to exit was to kill all the monsters—or at least most of them.
The second thing they noticed was the atmosphere.
It was nothing like their world. They stood in a swampy area, filled with fallen trees, rotting foliage, stagnant water, and all manner of filth.
The air was thick with nauseating smells—blood, decayed flesh, sulfur, and rancid sweat.
As for light, there was barely any.
Darkness would have dominated if not for a faint, dim glow illuminating the area, casting a theatrically grim atmosphere.
Finally, a dense fog permeated the entire zone.
Everything in this place screamed caution.
For the Knights of Grimreach, this was not their first Gate, yet the fear gripping their hearts was no less than the others'.
In particular, Sera and Lian, the group's "weakest" members, wore furrowed brows.
As for the three Knights of Dustwall, the two Iron 4s were terrified, while the Iron 5 bore a grim expression.
Each had their thoughts, ideas, and fears.
But one thing was certain: they could not panic.
"Everyone, stay close," Elder Patrick's voice calmed the growing unease within them.
He was the only one whose demeanor remained unchanged. He was confident.
Hearing the mage's words, everyone unconsciously released a breath they did not know they were holding, then moved closer together.
The formation was simple.
Elder Patrick, Sera, and Lian stood at the center, while the six Knights surrounded them.
Naturally, the three Knights of Dustwall had objections, but they could not voice them.
After all, they had discussed this beforehand, prior to departing for the Gate.
"Ignis Arde, Flamma Parva!" Suddenly, Sera's words and the wave of heat that hit them made everyone turn toward her.
The Knights of Dustwall gazed at Sera with eager eyes as she wielded magic, while the Knights of Grimreach stared with mild surprise. After all, the flame before them was of considerable size.
It bore no resemblance to a basic spell.
Lian, however, was stunned. Sera's summoned flame was far stronger than his "fireball."
"Was it not supposed to be a spell for light? How is it so powerful?!" the boy thought in awe.
Elder Patrick gave a simple nod.
"What are you staring at? Have you never seen a fire?" Sera's scornful voice, as she moved the flame left and right, snapped everyone back to their positions.
"Well done, Sera!"
Hearing Elder Patrick's words, a small, satisfied smile formed on her face, only to be replaced by utter disbelief at the mage's next words.
"Now all the Shadow Wolves know where we are."
Dozens of red eyes, some larger, some smaller, appeared as if by magic from the fog around them.
Everyone's expressions darkened as they glared at Sera, the girl they had admired moments before.
They were surrounded!