Alarm rings.
The TV was already on when he walked into the living room. A well-dressed reporter stood before a rotating projection of a massive gate.
"This is the newest S-rank gate that surfaced just three days ago," she says. "Civilians are advised to stay at least 20–30 m away to avoid getting mana sickness."
"The S-rank hunter party Foresight has officially begun preparations to raid the current dungeon today," she said, "and I'm passing it to dungeon and hunter analyst at the site, Peter McCartney."
"Thank you, Susan," says Peter. "Well, for the people who live under a rock, a gate is basically a rift to possibly another dimension. Its difficulty all depends on the colour of the gate, ranking from the weakest green E-rank dungeon to the dangerous red S-rank dungeon. Today on the scene, we have three out of the four members of the popular S-rank party 'Foresight,' ranked among the top five hunter parties in the entire world. Having some of the best S-rank hunters present here today is nerve-racking, I'll tell you that, Susan."
"Over there is their tank, S-rank hunter 'Kade the Immovable.' You can tell from his huge muscular physique that he's well deserving of that title. The one sitting there examining his daggers is their assassin, S-rank hunter 'Jin, Living Darkness.' He is a speed-build hunter and dual-wields two daggers made from the horn of a demonic mammoth. And you can tell from his long black hair and murky gray eyes he's definitely emo—"
"I'M NOT FUCKING EMO!" Jin proclaims.
"S-sorry," Peter says.
"Sorry for that, he's very sensitive when it comes to that," Peter whispers. "And over there is the beautiful blue-eyed, bubbly, and male fan-favourite mage, S-rank hunter 'Grand Mage Mira,' recognized worldwide as one of the best mages, with incredible mana control and one-of-a-kind buffs and casting speed."
"And don't forget about their leader, one of the top five hunters worldwide, wielding the power of foresight and chosen as the apostle of one of the known four gods, 'the God of Time.' He is currently absent at the site, but we've just got news of his impending arrival," Peter remarks. "Susan, back to you."
He adjusts his coat while watching.
"Well, you all have heard his… weird but accurate deduction," says Susan. "Led by their primary analyst and leader, the party has maintained a perfect clearance record. Experts are already calling this a guaranteed success."
Susan smiles.
"Another dungeon will be cleared today."
The TV went dark.
He picked up his weapon and left.
The gate hovered above the evacuated district, sparks of lightning surging around it, particles of mana increasing in density the closer you got to it—stable and clean.
"Anything?" Kade asked.
Eyes shine, foresight unfolded.
A series of images—entry, party formations, combat, victory.
Eyes dim. "No abnormalities," he said. "We proceed."
They gear up. He takes one last deep breath. "Just another gate," he said.
They entered.
A transition between dimensions. Eyes adjust. "It's massive," Jin proclaims. An enormous cavern, unnaturally big—black stone, molten veins glowing faintly beneath the surface. "It's hot in here," Mira says, cooling herself off with wind magic, heat pressing down on them from above.
"!"
A presence is felt.
Then it came—a roar, a sound so loud it could make a person deaf, increasingly getting louder as sound bounces off the cavern walls.
A silhouette, descending from above, emitting such a strong aura, shaking the entire cavern with the wind from its wings—a being too big to be held in place by a measly cavern.
A DRAGON.
A calamity. Its scales radiating heat hot enough to melt steel, wings spreading wide enough to block all light, a being towering over them as if it were a god.
"Engage!" he shouted.
They began their advance—futile.
One swing of its tail. Jin swatted away, splattered against the far wall, unrecognizable. Shock and fear wash over the party. Silence. They all look over, their comrade in a state beyond saving.
"J-Jin," Mira mutters.
"FLAME!!" The fear has vanished, even if just briefly. She conjures a spell, the mana becoming violent.
Crack.
Barrier broken. There she is, flattened on the floor. It didn't even take a second. The being shifts its gaze. It strikes.
Kade raises his shield in anticipation—futile. Its claws, stronger than mithril. Dismembered. Just a slash sends his body parts flying across the room. His head passes by him. His body wouldn't move.
No.
HE COULDN'T MOVE.
He activated foresight, expecting the answer, searching for a glimpse of a future—not four seconds into it, just one. One second into the future.
Nothing.
No response.
Their eyes meet. He's the last one left.
Its mouth opening. He doesn't need foresight to tell what is going to happen. He can see it—a glow, heat, heat so rampant… so violent, radiating from its mouth.
"I don't want to die," he thought.
He died.
AGAIN.