I walked along the footpath, hands in my pockets, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.
Finally… the first quest is complete.
The soreness in my body was still there, but it was different now. Manageable. Proof that I had changed.
And today, I held something new in my hand.
A Slayer Card.
E-rank.
The lowest of the low.
But it was real.
"…So this is what it feels like," I muttered.
Replica floated quietly beside me, invisible to everyone else.
"You have taken your first step," it said.
"Yeah," I replied. "But now I need a weapon."
Saying that out loud hurt more than training ever did.
Weapons were expensive. Even the cheapest dagger cost more money than I had ever held at once.
"…I don't have any money," I admitted.
Replica responded immediately. "I have a suggestion."
I raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Something painful."
"You may work as a porter," Replica said.
"…Porter?"
"A support role. Carrying supplies, weapons, and monster cores in and out of dungeons."
I paused.
"That's actually… not bad."
"It is efficient for beginners," Replica confirmed.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
"Let's see…"
I scrolled through the Association job board.
Escort missions.
Low-rank cleanup.
Porter requests.
"…Found it."
A request blinked on the screen—Urgent Raid Support Needed.
I applied.
Less than a minute later—
[APPLICATION ACCEPTED]
I blinked.
"…That was fast."
"They are desperate," Replica said.
A location was sent immediately.
I smiled.
"Let's go. I got a job."
The gate location was already crowded when I arrived.
A massive dark rift pulsed in the air, surrounded by barricades and Association staff. Hunters stood nearby, checking weapons and gear.
A man stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Hello," he said confidently. "My name is Sam. I'm a B-rank Slayer."
He gestured behind him. "This is my team. We're from the Void Reapers Guild."
I shook his hand. "I'm Aariz. E-rank Slayer."
One of the team members raised an eyebrow.
"…E-rank?"
Another muttered, "Will he be alright?"
Sam waved them off. "It's fine. It's only a D-rank gate."
He looked at me. "Thanks for accepting. It's an urgent raid—no one else was responding."
"It's okay," I replied honestly. "I'll do my job."
The team consisted of seven people total.
One B-rank—Sam.
Three C-ranks.
Two D-ranks.
And me.
"Everyone ready?" Sam asked.
Weapons were drawn.
Mana flared.
"Let's move."
The moment we stepped inside—
Darkness swallowed us.
Cold, heavy, absolute.
It was so dark I couldn't even see my own hands.
"…This is bad," someone muttered.
"Can't see anything," another said.
Sam frowned. "Mage. Light, please."
Mana surged—
And then—
Nothing.
"…Mage?" Sam called again.
No response.
"…Where's the porter?"
My name echoed faintly.
"Aariz?"
Silence.
Panic crept into their voices.
"He was right behind us!"
"Did he log out?!"
"Look ahead!" someone shouted.
Red eyes lit up in the darkness.
Monsters.
"Forget it," Sam growled. "We fight!"
Steel clashed. Magic exploded. The team pushed forward, carving through the monsters despite the confusion.
The gate was cleared.
But the porter never reappeared.
Meanwhile—
Where am I?
I stood alone.
Utter darkness stretched endlessly around me.
No ground.
No walls.
No gate.
"…Why is it so dark again?" I whispered.
Fear crawled up my spine.
This wasn't normal.
Suddenly—
"Aariz."
Replica's voice echoed sharply.
"Aariz, wake up."
My vision flickered.
"Aariz. Wake up."
Pain surged through my head.
Light exploded—
And I gasped.
My body lurched forward as if I had fallen from a great height.
"Wha—?!"
I was still inside the gate.
But not with the others.
Replica hovered in front of me, its glowing eyes serious.
"You were separated," it said.
"…Separated how?"
Replica paused.
Then spoke.
"You have entered a hidden zone."
My heart dropped.
"…Hidden?"
"Yes."
The darkness around us shifted.
Something moved.
"And you are not alone."
End of Chapter 6