Morning light spilled across the table as Kuhaku quietly ate his breakfast. The smell of miso soup and grilled fish mixed with the faint hum of the refrigerator. Rin swung her legs under the table, chewing toast while humming a random tune.
"So," Daichi said, lowering his newspaper with a grin, "today's the big day."
Kuhaku blinked mid-bite. "Big day?"
His father folded the paper, smirking. "Your first Gate. You're officially going in today with Team One."
Rin gasped dramatically. "You're going inside the other world?!"
Kuhaku chuckled nervously. "Something like that."
"Then you have to bring me a souvenir!" she said, pointing a spoon at him.
Daichi laughed. "Sure, as long as your brother doesn't become the souvenir."
Aoi sighed. "Daichi, please don't say things like that over breakfast."
Kuhaku snorted, shaking his head. "You two really know how to calm nerves."
"Just don't die before lunch," Daichi said, patting his shoulder.
"Yeah, thanks for the encouragement, Dad."
⸻
The sound of a horn echoed outside.
Kuhaku stepped out to see the Hyperion van waiting at the curb. The silver-blue emblem gleamed under the sun.
Cocolia sat in the driver's seat, her hair catching the light like gold. In the backseat, Kiana was pressed against the window, waving energetically.
"Hurry up, slowpoke!" she yelled.
"Morning to you too," Kuhaku muttered with a grin as he climbed in.
Mei greeted him with her usual gentle smile. "Good morning, Kuhaku."
Bronya gave a short nod. "Captain."
"Don't call me that," he said. "Makes me sound responsible."
Cocolia smiled faintly as she pulled away from the house. "You'd better get used to it, Captain. You'll need to act like one soon."
"Great," he muttered. "No pressure."
The van rumbled down the road as they talked about everything and nothing — Kiana arguing with Bronya over snacks, Mei quietly preparing her gear, and Cocolia occasionally warning them to sit still whenever the van hit a bump.
Despite the nerves, Kuhaku couldn't help but feel something warm settle in his chest.
This was his team. His family.
⸻
The gate loomed ahead like a wound in the world.
A swirling oval of blue light hovered in the air, humming with power. Around it, barriers shimmered with mana, and guild banners flapped against the wind.
Cocolia parked the van beside a line of transport vehicles. Men in light armor moved crates marked MANA EXTRACTION UNIT.
The faint smell of ozone lingered.
"Who are they?" Kuhaku asked, watching the miners adjust their equipment.
"Mana miners," Cocolia replied. "They'll collect resources after we clear the area. We make sure they don't die."
"Comforting," Kiana muttered.
Cocolia smirked. "Welcome to the job."
⸻
The portal's surface rippled like water as Kuhaku stepped through.
For a heartbeat, everything warped — his vision bent, gravity twisted — then snapped back into focus.
The forest they emerged into was wrong.
Trees grew in impossible directions, twisting toward a cracked blue sky. Leaves glowed faintly. The air shimmered with energy that made his skin prickle.
"Is this… still Earth?" Kuhaku asked quietly.
Cocolia shook her head. "No. This is a mirror dimension — a small world created by mana. It copies what it sees, but it isn't real. When the boss dies, the world collapses."
"Neat," Kiana said. "So… no souvenirs?"
Bronya sighed. "Idiotka."
⸻
The sound came first — claws scraping against stone.
Then glowing eyes appeared between the trees.
Wolves.
Six of them, their bodies black as ink, with crystal spines jutting from their backs.
"Positions," Cocolia said calmly, stepping back. "Show me what you've learned."
Kuhaku drew his sword — the edge gleaming faintly blue.
Kiana's handguns whirred as she loaded fresh mana cartridges.
Mei unsheathed her katana, lightning dancing along the blade.
Bronya's cannon pulsed with energy, light building inside its crystal chamber.
The wolves charged.
Kiana moved first, flipping over one and firing midair — three clean shots to the skull.
Mei flowed past another, her blade leaving a trail of blue light as it severed the creature cleanly.
Bronya fired a burst that exploded across the ground, scattering debris and sending a wolf flying.
Kuhaku slashed downward, cleaving through one that lunged straight at him.
The final beast leaped — and he ducked, spinning and driving his blade through its chest.
It dissolved into light.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Level Up: Lv. 25]
Kuhaku blinked. "Already?"
"Keep moving," Cocolia said. "You'll have plenty of time to be impressed later."
They pressed deeper into the glowing forest.
⸻
The path grew darker. Roots twisted around the ground, humming faintly with mana.
The air felt thicker here — alive.
A screech tore through the stillness.
From above, lizard-like monsters dropped from the branches, scales glinting like obsidian.
"Contact!" Kiana shouted.
The team scattered.
Kuhaku lunged, his sword catching the creature's claws mid-swipe. He kicked it off and swung upward, splitting its jaw.
Mei spun through the air, slashing another apart before landing beside him.
Bronya's cannon hummed as she fired three precise bursts, turning two lizards into dust.
Kiana flipped backward, guns blazing in rhythm with her laughter.
The last one lunged — and four attacks struck it at once.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Level Up: Lv. 26]
The forest went silent again, save for their breathing.
Kiana grinned. "Not bad, huh?"
Bronya crossed her arms. "You missed two shots."
"I was aiming for dramatic effect!"
Mei sighed softly, smiling. "You two never change."
Cocolia walked past them, eyes scanning the treeline. "You're improving. Keep that momentum."
⸻
A clearing opened ahead. The ground shimmered with faint blue light — clusters of mana crystals protruded like flowers made of ice.
Kuhaku crouched, reaching toward one. "So this is mana crystal…"
Cocolia nodded. "Condensed energy. They power our cities, enhance weapons, even stabilize mana circuits. Don't touch the raw ones, though."
Kiana whistled. "Pretty and dangerous. Just my type."
"Dangerous," Bronya repeated dryly. "Yes."
⸻
The air shifted.
The temperature dropped.
The trees bent inward toward a massive clearing surrounded by glowing runes.
A deep rumble shook the ground.
Then it came —
A massive bull-like beast, its body armored in black stone, molten light bleeding from its cracks.
Its eyes glowed red, steaming with rage.
"Contacts confirmed," Cocolia said, stepping back. "Show me your full power."
The bull roared — and charged.
Kuhaku barely dodged, the impact splintering the ground where he'd stood.
"Fast—!" he shouted, swinging his sword to deflect the creature's horn. Sparks exploded on impact.
Kiana fired both handguns, the bullets bursting with blue light — each one cracking against its armor.
Mei darted under its legs, slicing at the joints — clean cuts, elegant and efficient.
Bronya hovered behind, her cannon glowing white-hot as it unleashed a charged blast that struck the bull square in the chest.
It staggered but didn't fall.
"Damn thing's tough!" Kiana shouted.
The bull roared again, the air itself trembling. It stomped once — and a shockwave blasted outward, throwing them back.
Kuhaku gritted his teeth, sliding across the dirt. "Alright… you want a fight—"
He sprinted forward, sword flashing as it clashed against the beast's horn. The ground cracked beneath them.
"Now, Mei!"
Mei appeared at his side, her katana glowing. Together, they struck — his power meeting her precision.
The bull roared, blood and light spraying from its side.
Bronya's cannon thrummed as she shouted, "Suppressive fire— releasing burst!"
Her shot slammed into its chest, staggering it again.
Kiana jumped onto its back, firing both handguns into the wounds.
The beast swung wildly, crashing into the walls, collapsing parts of the arena.
Cocolia watched silently, a faint smile on her lips. They're learning.
The bull reared back for one final attack — mana gathering in its mouth.
"Now!" Kuhaku shouted.
All four struck at once.
Light filled the forest — a blinding flash followed by a single echoing roar that split the air.
Then, silence.
The bull collapsed, molten cracks fading to ash as its body lay flat on the ground.
The forest stilled. The air shimmered faintly.
[Enemy Defeated]
[Level Up: Lv. 30]
⸻
End of Chapter 2 – Part 8