Abyssal Gates appeared without warning, without pattern, without mercy.

Unlike normal dungeon portals, which glowed with ethereal blue light, Abyssal Gates were deep violet, a shade so dark it seemed to pull the light around it into nothingness. These portals emerged randomly across the world, disregarding logic, geography, or time. They could manifest in the heart of a bustling city or deep in the most remote wilderness, and no one knew why.

Their presence was temporary. They remained for ten hours, an ominous void lingering over the area before vanishing as suddenly as they had appeared. They stood silent and unmoving at that time, yet their presence alone was enough to send a city into chaos.

Despite all that was known about dungeons, the Abyssal Gates remained a mystery. Unlike normal dungeons, there were no recorded patterns, ecological systems, or structured levels. Those who had dared to enter described horrors beyond imagination, things that defied human understanding.

And not just monsters.

The space itself was alive.

Those few who had returned from an Abyssal Gate refused to publicly speak about what they had seen. Some screamed in their sleep for weeks, unable to erase the memories. Others isolated themselves, unable to handle the things whispered to them from the dark. The most hardened survivors, battle-worn S-Rank Hunters, spoke only in vague, broken phrases.

"It doesn't let you go."

"The deeper you go, the less you remember."

"Something was watching us the entire time."

And yet, in nine years, not a single Abyssal Gate had ever been conquered.

There were no maps, confirmed pathways, or established ends. Every attempt to reach the depths had failed, with the strongest Hunters either retreating in terror or never returning. The portals were not places to explore; they were places to escape from.

They were not challenges to be overcome, like the normal dungeons.

They were wounds in the world, and humanity had yet to find a way to close them.

----------------------------------------

The International Hunter Association (IHA) had long established a strict protocol in case an Abyssal Gate appears.

The moment a deep violet portal manifested, a 10-kilometer perimeter had to be secured around the area. Law enforcement, government forces and lower-ranked Hunters were immediately mobilized, not to fight, but to maintain order. Panic was the first enemy, and ensuring the safety of civilians took priority.

Even though no monsters had ever emerged from an Abyssal Gate, the fear it instilled could cause riots, stampedes, and mass hysteria.

Meanwhile, every S-Rank Hunter in the country was summoned to the site. No exceptions. No delays. Whether affiliated with a Great Guild, a private organization, or a lone mercenary, the law required them to respond immediately. Unlike normal dungeons, the Abyss was not something anyone below the highest tier of strength could handle.

But while Abyssal Gates were feared, they were also a rare opportunity.

As dangerous as they were, the Korean Hunter Association (KHA) saw them as a chance for discovery and power. With no one having conquered one in the past nine years, any new information, no matter how small, could prove invaluable. Each time a Gate appeared, an exploration team was assembled, a coalition of S-Rank Hunters from different guilds.

In the past nine years, Abyssal Gates had appeared only three times in Korea.

Each event followed the same pattern. The portal appeared without warning, remained for ten hours, and vanished. Each time, the strongest Hunters gathered, and the bravest among them ventured inside. And each time, the results were the same.

Some of them returned.

But they were never the same.

The only ones who had survived were guildmasters and a few S-Rank Hunters, the absolute elite among Hunters. Even then, they came back changed, their eyes haunted by something they refused to speak of or at least revealed in public.

And then some never returned at all.

Korea had lost a number of S-Rank Hunters to the Abyssal Gates. Some of them were once considered unbeatable, Hunters so strong that they were believed to be capable of handling anything. And yet, the Abyss swallowed them without a trace. Not a single corpse or clue of their fate had ever emerged. It was as if they had simply ceased to exist.

However, Korea was not the only country that suffered this fate.

The United States, China, Russia, Germany and countless others had also lost their best Hunters to the Abyssal Gates. Some of these nations had even sent teams of S-Ranks into the Gates, believing that sheer numbers would help them uncover its secrets.

They never came back.

It was the same everywhere. The strongest entered, a few returned and changed forever, and most simply disappeared.

This pattern had repeated all over the world, yet the Abyssal Gates showed no consistency. There was no regular cycle, no pattern to their appearances. Sometimes, multiple Gates would appear in different countries within the same year. Other times, the world would go months without seeing a single one.

The longest the world had ever gone without an Abyssal Gate appearing was one year.

That single year was the only time people dared to believe that the nightmare was over. That maybe, somehow, the Abyssal Gates had stopped appearing for good.

Then, after 367 days of silence, an Abyssal Gate opened in the heart of New York City.

It had been a brutal reminder that whatever was beyond those Gates had not disappeared.

It had simply been waiting.

Because of this, the Abyssal Gate earned a chilling nickname among the Hunter community.

"The S-Rank Hunter Killer."

No one had ever reached the end of an Abyssal Gate.

These expeditions were never taken lightly. Extreme caution was practiced at all times. Hunters wore specialized equipment enchanted with the strongest protective spells available. Support teams remained outside, monitoring every movement and recording every possible data point. Every step into the Abyssal Gate was calculated.

And despite the terror surrounding them, the Guilds could not afford to let such a rare opportunity slip by.

If someone could survive long enough inside and bring back even a fragment of knowledge, then perhaps the mystery of the Abyssal Gates could finally be unraveled.

----------------------------------------

The moment the Abyssal Gate appeared, a massive joint operation between Hunters, law enforcement and the military was launched. Patrol cars lined the streets, red and blue lights flashing as officers directed frantic civilians toward evacuation zones. Soldiers in armored vehicles blocked key roads, preventing unauthorized access to the restricted zone. The air buzzed with urgency as drones flew overhead, broadcasting live footage of the deep violet portal that loomed ominously in the distance.

The Hunters formed the true frontline.

Lower-ranked Hunters were spread throughout the perimeter, working to calm the masses and prevent unnecessary panic. Those affiliated with Guilds followed the orders of their superiors, while independent Hunters took on temporary assignments from the Korean Hunter Association (KHA). Their job wasn't to fight, only to ensure order.

Near the Abyssal Gate, the strongest Hunters in the country had gathered.

Dressed in battle-ready gear, the S-Rank Hunters stood before the portal, their expressions grim and unreadable. These were the only ones capable of even considering stepping inside. Guildmasters, elite Hunters, and the most powerful individuals in Korea stood at the ready, each radiating a pressure so intense that ordinary people couldn't even stand near them.

And yet, even they hesitated.

No matter how strong, no Hunter could ignore the stories of those who never returned.

----------------------------------------

Jin Tae-woo limped out of the hospital doors, leaning on a crutch for support. His bandages were fresh, and every step sent a dull ache through his body, but he refused to sit idly by.

As a Hunter, even a weak one, this was his duty.

"Tae-woo, are you seriously doing this?!"

His younger sister, Jin Ha-rin, stood before him, arms crossed, her face filled with frustration. Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her worry. "You just got out of the hospital, and now you're going straight into this mess?!"

Tae-woo sighed, adjusting his grip on the crutch. "Relax, Ha-rin. I'm not fighting. I'm just helping keep people calm. That's all."

"That doesn't make it safe!" she snapped. "You're still hurt! What if the crowd gets too wild? What if-"

Tae-woo reached out and gently patted her head. "I'll be fine," he reassured her. "I'll just stand around looking important and maybe earn some commission while I'm at it." He gave her a slight grin. "We could use the extra money, right?"

Ha-rin frowned, clearly not convinced, but she wasn't stupid. Tae-woo needed every bit of income he could get, and Hunters who assisted in city-wide emergencies were compensated.

After a long moment, she let out a heavy sigh. "…You better not do anything reckless."

"Of course not. I'm just an F-Rank Trainee, remember?" Tae-woo chuckled. "I'd probably get injured from standing too close to an argument."

Ha-rin glared, but the tension in her shoulders eased just a little. She adjusted her school bag, shifting her weight before muttering, "Fine. Good luck, Oppa."

With one final glance at him, she turned and followed the stream of civilians evacuating the area.

Tae-woo watched her go, letting out a small breath of relief.

Gripping his crutch tightly, he turned toward the Abyssal Gate in the distance.

He wasn't strong. He wasn't important.

But even the weakest Hunter had a job to do.

Jin Tae-woo limped through the bustling streets, weaving between Hunters and security forces as he made his way to the designated area to assist the crowd. He spotted groups of Hunters from different guilds standing together, some giving orders while others scanned their surroundings for signs of unrest.

Among the lower-ranked Hunters, Choi Ji-hoon, a C-Rank Ranger, leaned casually against his motorcycle, watching the scene with mild interest. He was dressed in light armor with a longbow strapped across his back and a knife holstered at his thigh. Unlike many other Hunters who carried a sense of urgency, Ji-hoon looked completely at ease, his usual bright grin on his face.

Noticing Tae-woo's limping approach, Ji-hoon pushed off his bike and walked toward him. "Man, you look worse than usual. Did you wrestle with a dungeon boss or just trip over your own feet?"

Tae-woo smiled. "Just the usual bad luck."

Ji-hoon shook his head and then gestured toward his bike. "You planning to hobble around all day like that? Hop in. I've got a sidecar. Thought it'd be useless, but hey, look at that, it's got a purpose now."

Tae-woo sighed but didn't hesitate. He wasn't in the mood to argue when his leg still throbbed. "Fine, but don't drive like a maniac."

"No promises," Ji-hoon replied with a laugh as Tae-woo settled into the sidecar. He revved the engine, weaving through the gathered Hunters as they made their way toward the patrol route.

Ji-hoon was one of the few people Tae-woo could call a true friend in the Hunter world. They started around the same time, struggling through low-paying, high-risk dungeon raids. While Tae-woo's Trainee Class had doomed him to the bottom, Ji-hoon's Ranger Class had at least given him decent job opportunities. Despite that, Ji-hoon had never treated Tae-woo differently.

Always friendly and cheerful, Ji-hoon had a natural ability to lift the mood no matter the situation. He was one of those people who could walk into a room and instantly make things feel lighter. Even when their jobs were brutal and money was tight, Ji-hoon always found a way to crack a joke.

As the wind rushed past them, Ji-hoon cast a sideways glance at Tae-woo, his grin widening. "So, did [The Saintess] visit you again in the hospital?"

Tae-woo groaned. "Seriously? You're bringing this up now?"

Ji-hoon snickered. "Come on, man. A top-tier S-Rank beauty personally showing up to check on you? That's not normal. The entire world sees Han Seo-yeon as a goddess, and here she is, acting like your personal nurse. If you don't make a move, someone else will."

Tae-woo shook his head. "We're just friends. We've known each other since we were kids."

Ji-hoon clicked his tongue. "Yeah, yeah, childhood friends. That's exactly how half of these romance dramas start. Next thing you know, she's healing your wounds and blushing each time you say something cool."

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Tae-woo rolled his eyes. "She doesn't blush around me."

"That's what you think. Have you seen the way she looks at you? Bro, it's like she's one bad day away from realizing she's in love with you." Ji-hoon smirked, leaning in slightly. "And you? Don't tell me you've never thought about it."

Tae-woo groaned again. "Why do I even talk to you?"

Ji-hoon's grin widened. "Because I'm your only friend."

Tae-woo sighed. "Unfortunately."

Ji-hoon burst out laughing. "Damn, that hurts! But hey, you know what would really suck? If Seo-yeon actually liked you and you were too dense to notice."

Tae-woo scoffed. "Yeah, right."

Ji-hoon hummed. "Okay, let's just say she doesn't like you that way. But imagine what'd happen if she started dating someone else. You'd be totally fine with that?"

Tae-woo paused for a second. "…Of course."

Ji-hoon let out an exaggerated gasp. "Liar! You hesitated! That was the most obvious hesitation I've ever seen!"

Tae-woo scowled. "Shut up and drive."

Ji-hoon cackled. "Oh man, this is great! I'm gonna enjoy watching this unfold."

They both laughed, the tension from earlier fading as they continued their patrol through the city.

But soon, their lighthearted banter faded as the atmosphere around them shifted.

The streets felt emptier.

The further they drove, the more silent everything became. The sounds of panicked civilians were gone, replaced by a stillness that was far more unsettling. The flashing lights of police cars and emergency vehicles became more frequent, and Hunters now stood in tense formations, watching something ahead.

Ji-hoon slowed the bike and let out a low whistle. "Damn… we're getting close."

Just ahead of them, the Abyssal Gate stood, towering over the street like a wound in reality itself.

Up close, the deep violet hue seemed darker than the night sky, as if it was sucking in all the light around it. The edges of the portal swirled in chaotic patterns, warping the air nearby. It wasn't just a gate; it was something that should not exist, something that felt wrong.

Ji-hoon swallowed. His usual grin had disappeared.

"I've seen a lot of things, but this… this is on another level." He exhaled, shaking his head. "No wonder even the S-Ranks don't mess with it."

Tae-woo stared at the massive portal, feeling the same unease creeping into his chest.

For the first time since arriving, he truly understood why the Abyssal Gate was feared.

----------------------------------------

Jin Tae-woo and Choi Ji-hoon got off the bike, their gazes locked onto the Abyssal Gate. Even though they were a fair distance away, the sheer presence of the portal made the air feel heavier. It was as if the world around it was warped, the deep violet energy swirling ominously, pulsating like a living thing.

Before it, a group of S-Rank Hunters stood together, their mere presence enough to command attention. Even without introductions, anyone in Korea could recognize them. S-Rank Hunters were celebrities known nationwide, their names and reputations embedded into the minds of every aspiring fighter.

Ji-hoon let out a low whistle. "Damn, talk about an all-star lineup. They're bringing out the big guns for this one."

Tae-woo nodded, scanning the faces before them. Among the Hunters present were Cha Min-soo, the Archmage of Azure Sky, Baek Hyun-jae, the Thunder Fist of Black Titan, and Gong Hye-rin, the Phantom Blade of Iron Fang. Each of them was a figure whose strength could shake the country, the kind of Hunter that people feared and admired in equal measure.

And then his gaze landed on Han Seo-yeon.

Dressed in a sleek and form-fitting white combat outfit embroidered with golden symbols, she stood slightly apart from the others, looking calm yet commanding. Her long auburn hair was tied back, and even from this distance, Tae-woo could see the determination in her gaze as she discussed strategy with the other S-Rank Hunters.

Ji-hoon grinned. "Oh ho, look who's here. Your favorite healer is on the scene."

Tae-woo rolled his eyes. "She's not my favorite."

"She personally visited you in the hospital. Multiple times," Ji-hoon shot back. "You know, she's probably one of the strongest Hunters in the country, and yet, she takes time out of her schedule to check on an F-Rank loser like you. That's love, my friend."

Tae-woo sighed. "We're childhood friends. That's all."

Ji-hoon wiggled his eyebrows. "That's what you keep saying, but one day, you'll realize it's been a slow-burn romance this entire time."

Before Tae-woo could respond, a sharp, irritated voice cut through their conversation.

"You."

Tae-woo turned his head just in time to see a tall, broad-shouldered man approaching him with a scowl on his face. He wore a pristine white and gold combat uniform resembling samurai armor, the White Lotus Guild emblem on his chest. A katana rested at his hip, and his entire demeanor radiated disdain.

Ji-hoon immediately smirked. "Oh boy. Here we go."

The man stopped in front of Tae-woo, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. "What is your relationship with Han Seo-yeon?"

Tae-woo blinked. "Uh… what?"

Ji-hoon snorted. "Dude, that's your opening line? What, are you her overprotective dad or something?"

The man ignored Ji-hoon, his gaze locked onto Tae-woo with an intensity that felt far too personal. "I asked you a question. What is your relationship with Seo-yeon-nim?"

Tae-woo grimaced. He already had a bad feeling about this.

"We grew up together," he answered simply. "That's all."

The man's frown deepened. "You expect me to believe that?"

Ji-hoon scoffed. "Bro, are you jealous or something? Damn, you look like you're about to challenge him to a duel over honor."

The man snapped his glare toward Ji-hoon. "Stay out of this."

Ji-hoon held up his hands in mock surrender. "Oh, scary. I see why Seo-yeon is so in love with you. You really have that charisma factor down."

The man's fist clenched, but he kept his focus on Tae-woo.

"I know your type," he said coldly. "A weak, useless Hunter clinging onto her because of her power and reputation. A leech, taking advantage of her kindness. Seo-yeon-nim doesn't belong anywhere near filth like you."

Tae-woo's patience snapped.

"I don't know who the hell you are, but you don't get to decide who Seo-yeon spends her time with," Tae-woo said, his voice low. "She's her own person."

The man scoffed, his hand tightening into a fist. "You don't deserve to speak her name."

Ji-hoon whistled. "Wow. This is next-level simping. I didn't think it was possible, but here we are."

The man ignored Ji-hoon again, stepping closer to Tae-woo, his presence overbearing.

"My name is Kang Joon-seok," he said, his tone filled with arrogance. "A-Rank Bushi of White Lotus Guild."

Tae-woo wasn't impressed.

Joon-seok's jaw tightened at Tae-woo's lack of reaction. "I've trained under the same guild as Seo-yeon-nim for years. I've fought beside her. Unlike you, I've actually earned my place beside her."

Tae-woo sighed. "Good for you, man."

Joon-seok's expression darkened. "You think this is a joke?"

Ji-hoon grinned. "Well, I think it's pretty hilarious."

Joon-seok's temper flared. His hand shot forward, shoving Tae-woo hard in the chest.

Tae-woo stumbled back, struggling to maintain balance with his injured leg. He caught himself on his crutch, gritting his teeth at the sharp pain that shot through him.

Joon-seok took another step forward. "You don't belong here, weakling. Walk away while you still can."

Tae-woo gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. He wasn't going to just stand here and take this.

But before he could react, Joon-seok shoved him again.

Tae-woo's foot caught on the uneven pavement.

His injured leg buckled.

His crutch slipped from his grip, and before he could react, he collapsed onto the ground, landing hard on his side. A sharp pain shot through his body, but before he could even process it, the realization hit him.

He was way too close to the Abyssal Gate.

Shouts erupted around him as several Hunters turned toward the commotion. Ji-hoon immediately rushed forward, reaching out to help, but before he could grab Tae-woo, something went terribly wrong.

Tae-woo gritted his teeth and tried to push himself up, but his balance was off. His injured leg throbbed, and his palm slipped against the cracked pavement. His body swayed dangerously, and before he could correct himself, he felt his weight tilting in the wrong direction.

His foot landed on unstable ground, and suddenly-

He stumbled backward.

Straight into the Abyssal Gate.

The last thing he saw was Ji-hoon's horrified expression and the sudden, frantic movement of other Hunters turning toward him.

Then, the violet void swallowed him whole.

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Darkness.

Jin Tae-woo's breath came in shallow gasps as he pushed himself up from the cold, jagged ground. A dull, eerie glow illuminated the cave around him, casting shifting shadows against the rocky walls. The source of the light came from strange purple crystals embedded in the ceiling and floor, their glow weak but steady. They pulsed faintly, like slow, beating hearts.

His mind struggled to process what had just happened.

He had fallen. No, he had been shoved. And then…

His stomach twisted.

He was inside the Abyssal Gate.

The realization struck like a hammer to his chest. No one had ever returned from these places unscathed. And most never returned at all.

A chill slithered down his spine. The air was damp, heavy with an odd scent, like something old and rotting yet faintly metallic. No wind, no sound of flowing water, not even the distant echoes of anything living.

Tae-woo was utterly, completely alone.

He swallowed, feeling the dryness in his throat. He needed to move, needed to find a way out.

"Weak."

His heart stopped.

The word whispered through the air, drifting from everywhere and nowhere at once.

"Pathetic."

Tae-woo spun around, his pulse thundering in his ears. The cave was empty. There was no one there.

"An F-Rank failure."

His chest tightened. The voices were familiar. Too familiar.

"Why do you even bother?"

"A Trainee Class? Just give up already."

The whispers multiplied, overlapping, echoing off the cavern walls. Some sneered. Some laughed. Some whispered with pity.

"You will never be strong."

"You will never change."

"You will never be enough."

Tae-woo's breathing quickened. His fingers dug into his arms, nails biting into his skin as the whispers grew louder, closer.

"You are nothing."

"You are worthless."

"You do not belong."

His knees buckled. He pressed his hands against his ears, trying to drown them out, but they only grew sharper, clawing their way into his skull.

"You do not deserve to be here."

"You do not deserve to live."

"You do not deserve her."

Tae-woo gasped, his hands shaking as he clawed at his own head, desperate to silence the voices.

Then, the visions began.

Flashes of beasts tearing into flesh.

Jaws snapping.

Teeth sinking into throats, ripping, devouring.

A world of hunger, of predation.

Blood dripping from fangs.

Eat or be eaten.

Tae-woo screamed. His hands trembled violently, his body curling inward as the images assaulted his mind, relentless and merciless. His breaths came in ragged, choked gasps as his vision blurred. The cavern around him spun, twisting into something impossible, something wrong.

A shadow leaned over him.

Tae-woo barely registered the figure. His vision swam, his body heavy, weighed down by something beyond exhaustion.

He tried to focus. The figure was tall, draped in something dark and flowing, shifting like it wasn't entirely real.

He couldn't see the figure's face.

But he could feel its gaze.

Something ancient. Something watching. Something… amused.

The figure tilted its head. "How interesting."

Tae-woo's body trembled.

The figure reached out, a long, clawed finger tracing the air above his face.

"You should not have come here," the figure murmured, a voice that was almost human, yet not quite. "But perhaps… you should take something back with you."

Tae-woo's lips parted, but no words came.

The figure raised its hand, and from the tip of its finger, a single drop of dark, glistening blood formed.

The drop fell.

It landed on Tae-woo's tongue.

Pain exploded through his body.

His back arched violently, his limbs convulsing as something alien and burning tore through his veins. His vision darkened, the cavern warping further, the whispers twisting into something else.

Other voices.

Not whispers, but howls.

Rumbling. Growling. Snarling.

And then-

A face.

Framed by warm light, by auburn strands, eyes wide with fear and desperation.

Seo-yeon.

Her lips moved. She was saying something, calling his name, but he couldn't hear her.

His body felt too heavy.

His mind was slipping away.

The world went dark.

----------------------------------------

Flesh.

Ripping. Tearing. Devouring.

Teeth sinking deep, deeper, past resistance, past screams.

The taste of marrow, of raw heat, of something writhing.

Consume.

Hunger gnaws, burns, demands.

Feed.

More.

Tearing sinew, snapping bone, warmth spilling over lips.

Something howls. Something thrashes. Something breaks.

It does not matter.

Eat.

Rip.

Consume.

Fangs tearing, mouth full, blood hot, hunger raging.

Not enough. Never enough.

More.

The scent of fear. The pulse of prey.

Consume.

Consume.

Consume.

CHOMP.