Dan stared in silence at the surrounding architecture. They weren't much different from the buildings in his previous world, yet they felt alien, stirring a contradictory sense of nostalgia and unease within him.
Cain noticed his lingering gaze and nudged him. "What's the matter, Dan? You haven't said a word since we got here."
Dan offered a faint smile. "Nothing... just admiring the view."
Cain let out a snort of laughter. "And here I thought you were getting cold feet."
"In your dreams," Dan retorted with a smirk.
Finally, the trio arrived at the Gate site. It was exactly as Dan had read in novels: a swirling blue vortex rippling in the air like a giant celestial eye. The area was swarming with people—some in academy uniforms, others in standard hunter gear.
Without hesitation, they stepped into the rift.
The moment Dan crossed the threshold, he found himself standing in a dense, sprawling forest. It looked remarkably similar to the woods near the academy.
I wonder if I'll run into that 'Lone Wolf' wandering around here too, he joked to himself.
His amusement was short-lived, however, as he turned to see his friends. Both Cain and Roen were clutching their heads, their faces twisted in agony.
"Are you two okay?" Dan asked, concerned.
Cain groaned, pressing his fingers against his temples. "The real question is... why are you okay? It's normal to get a splitting headache the first time you pass through a Gate. Don't tell me you've done this before!"
"No," Dan replied calmly. "This is my first time."
Roen took a shaky breath, steadying himself. "Well, it seems everyone reacts differently to the spatial transition. Let's move."
Once the pain subsided, the three began their cautious trek into the woods.
"Find anything on your 'radar' yet?" Cain asked, glancing at Roen.
Roen gave a thin smile. "I told you, it's not a radar—it's a sensory skill. But yes, there are several signatures up ahead."
They came to a halt. Moments later, a pack of Goblins emerged from the foliage—about ten of them. In the center stood one larger than the rest, scarred and fierce: the leader.
"I'll take the front," Roen said, his voice dropping into a serious tone. "Cain, disrupt the archers. Dan, back me up."
Before they could even nod, Roen lunged forward. His sword ignited with crackling sparks of lightning. With a swift, blinding stroke, he tore through the leader's defenses, ending the creature in a single flash of light.
Sensing the Goblins' sudden panic, Dan moved. He surged forward, his blade finding the vitals of two Goblins before they could even process their leader's death.
Meanwhile, Cain reached into a pouch at his waist. He flicked it open, releasing a stream of shimmering sand that caught the dim forest light. With a flick of his wrist, the sand swirled around him like a miniature cyclone before lashing out like whips. The sandy lashes bound the archers' throats and blinded the others, while sharp sand-blades shredded their ranks.
Roen continued his relentless advance. With movements so fast they were mere blurs, he cut down the remaining five monsters without breaking a sweat.
Within moments, the clearing was silent.
Dan stood for a moment, catching his breath. He looked at Roen with a mix of admiration and surprise.
"So this is the power of a Diamond-Rank..." Dan noted. "I could tell you were holding back, just to give us a chance to fight."
Roen didn't answer directly, merely offering a modest smile as if the feat were as natural as breathing.
Cain crouched slightly, beckoning the remaining sand back into his pouch. The grains obeyed his command like a living extension of his own body.
As they resumed their walk, Dan gestured toward the pouch. "Do you carry that sand everywhere?"
"Always," Cain replied. "I need a medium for my element. Carrying my own is more reliable."
Their progress was soon blocked by a group of five students. At their center stood a youth with jet-black hair and dark, arrogant eyes. He looked at Dan with pure disdain.
"Well, if it isn't Dan," the boy sneered. "I see you've surrounded yourself with trash of your own caliber. Typical for the scum of the Noctayne family."
His lackeys erupted in mocking laughter. Cain and Roen's expressions darkened, but Dan remained silent, observing them with a cold, detached gaze.
"What? Has the cat got your tongue, cousin?" the boy continued. "Or are you just paralyzed with fear?"
Dan didn't flinch. He simply stared, his eyes sharp and icy.
Irritated by the lack of reaction, the boy snapped, "Stop staring! Don't you have anything to say?"
Dan tilted his head slightly, a look of genuine confusion on his face. "I'm sorry... but who are you again?"
Cain burst out laughing. Even Roen had to cover his mouth to hide a grin.
The boy's face turned a violent shade of red. "You bastard... are you trying to make a fool out of me?"
"Believe me," Dan said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "I really don't know you. Could you at least tell me your name?"
"Joffrey Noctayne!" the boy screamed. "You piece of trash, did you really forget your own blood?"
Dan blinked, feigning a sudden realization. "Ah... Joffrey. Yes, it's been a while since we last met. Has it been a year? Less?"
He stopped when he saw Joffrey's face turning even redder. "More?" Dan added, looking awkward.
"I see you haven't changed!" Joffrey hissed. "Still a self-centered prick."
He turned to his followers, his voice trembling with rage. "Let's go. Just standing near him makes me sick."
As Joffrey stormed off, Cain doubled over with laughter. "Man, Dan! Forgetting your own cousin? I didn't think you had it in you."
Dan shrugged, unable to explain the truth. That's because I'm not 'that' Dan... how was I supposed to know who he was?
The trio continued deeper into the Gate, hunting various creatures along the way. Most were Goblins, with a few strange beasts Dan had never seen before.
Suddenly, a rustle behind them made them draw their weapons. A boy their age emerged, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture.
"Easy, guys! No need for the hostility."
Dan kept his guard up. "Do you need something?"
The boy smiled. "Actually, I have an offer. My group found the Gate Boss, and we're planning to take it down, but we need extra hands. What do you say? Want to team up?"
Dan exchanged looks with his friends. Roen seemed open to the idea, and Cain didn't show any objection.
"Alright," Dan agreed. "Lead the way."
As they walked, Cain turned to the boy—whose name was Zalin. "What exactly is the Gate Boss?"
"A Prairie Bear," Zalin answered quickly.
Dan raised an eyebrow. "A bear? From what we've seen, the Goblins are the dominant ones here. Why is a bear the boss?"
Roen took the lead in explaining. "Gates are fragments of other worlds. When a Gate forms, the strongest creature in that fragment absorbs a core that designates it as the 'Boss.' Since the bear is the apex predator here, it gets the title."
"Seems a bit random," Dan remarked.
"In low-level Gates, it usually is," Roen confirmed. "In high-level Gates, things are much more organized. The Boss there often has an actual army at its command."
When they reached the gathering point, four other students were waiting. Dan's eyes scanned the group, stopping on a familiar face: Liam.
Cain waved. "Hey, Liam! Haven't seen you in a bit."
Liam smiled back, but his gaze shifted to Dan, his tone turning sharp. "Cain... we've known each other since we were kids. My advice? Don't hang around people like him." He pointed a thumb at Dan with a look of warning.
Cain chuckled. "Don't be like that. He's not a bad guy once you get to know him."
Liam looked Dan in the eye, his expression stern. "I warned you."
He greeted Roen and walked away, completely ignoring Dan. Cain leaned in and whispered, "Don't take it personally. He's a good guy... eventually."
"I'm not mad," Dan replied calmly.
He remembered the history between the original Dan and Liam. In their second meeting, Liam had been influenced by rumors. In the third, he had apologized after realizing they were false. But in this timeline, the Void Assassin incident had prevented that third meeting. To Liam, Dan was still the villain of the rumors.
The group began discussing the plan for the Prairie Bear and how to split the loot.
"Isn't this a bit overkill?" Cain asked. "I mean, with Roen and Liam both being Diamond-Rank, couldn't they handle a bear by themselves?"
Dan nodded; it was a valid point.
Zalin, the scout, spoke up. "There's a complication. A Goblin colony is settled right next to the bear's den. It looks like they built it there on purpose, using the bear as a natural shield for their territory."
The group finally arrived at the edge of the colony. It was surrounded by sturdy wooden palisades, with small huts huddled between the trees. They crouched in the shadows, observing the defenses.
Cain looked at his companions with a small grin. "Well then, let's see what we're dealing with."
Dan felt a strange surge of curiosity and anticipation. A siege, then. He tightened his grip on his weapon as they prepared to move toward the colony gates.