The Gate shimmered with the same sickly green hue as before, its surface pulsing like an insect's wing. Renji stood before it, silver knuckles clenched, his expression calm but firm.
The last time he entered this place, he barely survived. The Mantis King had pushed him to his limits, left him broken and gasping. But now, he was different. Stronger.
"I'll finish this properly," he whispered, stepping inside.
The hive world unfolded again—vast caverns dripping with resin, the chittering of thousands of mandibles echoing in the dark. Green light glowed faintly from crystalline cocoons, casting sharp shadows across the walls.
This time, Renji didn't hesitate.
The first wave of mantises lunged, blades flashing. Renji moved like lightning, claws sparking as he shredded through carapace and sinew. His stamina held steady, Voidheart Endurance burning quietly in the background, making every strike feel lighter, every dodge sharper.
The swarm pressed in, but Renji carved through them, his movements precise and efficient. Blood and ichor sprayed, but he never faltered.
Then the hive shook. The massive form of the Mantis King emerged, its carapace gleaming like emerald steel, its scythe-arms raised high.
Renji stared up at it, the same beast that once made him feel helpless. His heart tightened for a moment, remembering that first desperate fight. Then he exhaled slowly.
"…Not this time."
The King screeched and lunged, its scythe cleaving down. Renji didn't retreat—he met the strike head-on. Silver knuckles collided with the blade-arm, sparks scattering as the impact rattled the cavern.
The force didn't send him flying this time. His feet stayed planted. His fists burned with power.
He struck back. One, two, three blows—his claws ripped across the King's armored chest, tearing deep cracks into its shell. It staggered, shrieking, but Renji pressed forward relentlessly.
The beast slashed, desperate, but Renji slipped past, his movements fluid. Voidheart Endurance kept his body fresh, each motion fueled by steady strength.
With a final leap, Renji drove his claws into the King's throat and ripped upward. The monster convulsed, green ichor spraying across the cavern as its screech echoed one last time. Then it collapsed, its colossal body crashing into the resin floor.
Renji stood over it, chest rising and falling, but his breath was steady. Calm. Controlled.
This time… it hadn't even been close.
A system chime rang in his ears:
[Gate Boss Defeated]
[Level Up]
[Rank Advancement: E (Silver) Rank
Renji's eyes widened slightly. He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through him. His body felt sharper, his resonance brighter.
"…So this is Silver," he muttered.
The cavern fell silent. The swarm was gone. The King was dead—for good this time.
Renji turned toward the Gate's exit. His reflection flickered in its surface—a young man who had once struggled, now standing taller, stronger, and steadier.
And for the first time, he realized—
Denji didn't feel as far away as before.