Two days passed quickly.
Training. Sweat. Katana drills. Body conditioning.
My arms ached every night, but my movements were slowly syncing with the blade. The small vibrations running through my wrist with every swing felt more natural now — less foreign.
On the morning of the raid, my phone buzzed.
Meryll Steller:
Meet at West Savolin Gate. 11:40 AM. Don't be late.
So she actually followed through.
I dressed, grabbed the katana case, and headed out. Savolin was its usual noisy self — honking vehicles, food stalls firing up their grills, faint dungeon-alert sirens somewhere far away.
The West Gate came into view, a massive checkpoint structure where Hunters gathered for expeditions. Armored cars rolled in and out, guards scanned IDs, and a cluster of mixed-ranked Hunters waited in groups.
That's when I spotted her.
Meryll waved at me from near a supply vehicle, wearing light armor with a short coat tied at her waist. Her usual sharp expression was neutral today — probably in "leader mode."
Behind her stood four more Hunters.
They turned when I approached.
And that's when I saw him.
A slender figure with soft features, silky shoulder-length hair, and an expression so calm he almost looked emotionless. If I didn't know any better, I would've assumed he was a girl.
Aric.
Skinny. Quiet. Eyes too soft for a Hunter.
But in the original novel… someone terrifying in potential.
Meryll gestured to them one by one.
"Nyx, meet the raid team."
Rylan
Tall, messy black hair, spear strapped to his back. A laid-back smirk, the kind of guy who joked even during dangerous missions.
"Yo. So you're the newbie Meryll picked up," he said, giving me a nod. "Hope you can keep up."
Tessa
Short, energetic, curly brown hair and eyes that jumped around excitedly. Twin daggers strapped to her thighs.
"Hi! I'm Tessa! Don't worry, we're friendly. Mostly."
She winked at Rylan, who rolled his eyes.
Jorn
Broad shoulders, calm face, tower-like build. Sword and shield at his back.
"You fight with a katana, right?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah."
"Hm. Interesting choice."
That was all. Simple man.
Mira
White coat, light staff in her hand, tiny blue mana rings floating around her fingers. A healer.
"I'll handle healing. Just try not to get yourself killed."
Her smile was warm, but her eyes sharp, constantly scanning the surroundings.
Aric
When my eyes met his, he blinked once, then looked away.
"…Aric," he said, voice soft — almost too soft for a boy.
No expression, no energy. Just a hollow calm.
Meryll finally crossed her arms.
"This team is temporary. We're clearing a low-end C-rank gate. Nothing deadly, but don't get careless."
Tessa raised a hand.
"Leader, should we do introductions properly? You know… weapons, specialties, etc.?"
"Yeah, good idea," Rylan added. "Since we got a newbie."
Meryll nodded.
"Alright. Quick rundown."
Rylan – Spear. Mid-range burst. Not good at defending.
Tessa – Close-range, high speed. Hits fast but tires quickly.
Jorn – Frontliner. Shield. Durable but slow.
Mira – Healer. Support only.
Aric – Precision strikes. Uses short blade. Doesn't talk much.
Meryll – A-rank. Handles major threats.
Nyx – Katana. C-rank rookie.
Everyone nodded.
Rylan smirked.
"So, Nyx, any experience fighting monsters?"
I shook my head.
"No. It's my first raid."
Tessa gasped.
"This is your FIRST raid?!"
Jorn turned to Meryll.
"Are you sure this is fine?"
Meryll didn't hesitate.
"He'll do fine."
She said it confidently. Almost too confidently.
Aric watched me for a second longer, studying my stance, my grip on the katana case… then looked away.
Meryll clapped her hands.
"Alright, team. Double-check your gear. We move in five minutes."
Everyone scattered slightly, checking equipment.
I stood still for a moment, taking in the scene — the busy gate, the looming dungeon checkpoint behind us, the breeze carrying faint mana distortion.
My first raid.
It's okay. Meryll, an A-rank Hunter, is here. I don't have to worry.
---
The air inside the gate felt different.
Heavy. Damp. Almost alive.
The moment we stepped through the portal, the world shifted from Savolin's noise to a dim cavern filled with the sharp smell of iron and wet stone.
Rylan spun his spear once.
"Formation C. Jorn front. Tessa left. Aric right. Mira center. Rookie behind me."
Rookie.
That was me.
Fine. I didn't argue. I stayed exactly where they put me — behind everyone, katana still in its sheath.
The tunnel widened the farther we walked. Loose gravel crunched under our boots. Red crystal veins glowed faintly along the walls, giving us minimal light.
"Contact," Jorn murmured.
The first monster appeared — a hunched, wolf-like thing with elongated limbs and a jaw that split too wide.
A Rift Gnawer.
In the novel, they were listed as basic threats. In real life, even this low-tier monster looked fast enough to tear someone's throat out.
Rylan didn't wait. He dashed forward, spear tip piercing clean into the creature's head. Blood burst out in a spray. The corpse collapsed before it could even scream.
I flinched.
Even though I knew this scene from the novel… seeing it with my own eyes was different.
Too real.
---
Two more Gnawers lunged from the side.
Tessa moved like a blur. She slid under the first's snapping jaws, spinning and slashing upward, cutting along its ribcage. Blood sprayed across the walls. She rolled backward, dagger at the ready, as the second Gnawer lunged. Another quick slash, and it collapsed.
Aric shifted quietly, almost like a shadow. He let a Gnawer pass his side, then stepped forward, stabbing under its jaw in a clean, precise strike. The creature's howl echoed, then it collapsed.
Jorn blocked a sudden swipe aimed at Tessa, slamming his shield into the monster's chest. Sparks flew as claws scraped metal. Rylan pivoted, impaling a second Gnawer mid-charge. Mira's healing light shimmered, enveloping minor injuries and keeping everyone steady.
---
Then it happened.
A fourth Gnawer appeared from behind the formation, faster than I expected. It darted through the shadow, eyes fixed on me. My first instinct was to panic — my heart slammed against my ribs. I froze.
But the katana moved on its own.
I drew it halfway, then fully, the metal gleaming faintly in the red crystal light. The Gnawer lunged. I stepped back, then sidestepped left, swinging the blade in a diagonal arc. The edge cut through its neck cleanly. The sound of tearing sinew and the splash of blood hit me harder than anything I imagined.
The creature staggered, coughing and clawing at the ground, blood streaming down its body. Its eyes — wide, filled with raw terror and confusion — locked onto mine.
It was… alive.
It was real.
Not a story. Not a game. A living, breathing thing that could kill me just as easily.
I stumbled slightly, hands shaking as the blade quivered in my grip.
"Nyx!" Rylan's voice broke through the haze of adrenaline. He sprinted to my side, spear ready. "Nice reaction, rookie! That was clean!"
Tessa whistled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Whoa… that's not bad for a newbie!"
Meryll's eyes were on me, calm but piercing. She didn't smile, didn't nod — she simply assessed, her gaze sharp as a blade.
Aric's quiet stare lingered on me, unreadable. Not judgmental. Not encouraging. Simply watching, analyzing every twitch of my stance, every grip on the katana.
Finally, the Gnawer collapsed completely, leaving a pool of blood on the uneven stone. The cavern grew still again, as if the air itself was catching its breath.
I exhaled shakily, still gripping the katana, chest hammering.
My first kill.
My first reminder that this world didn't care about novels or luck.
"This is real," I whispered to myself. "And if I slip even once… I die."
Meryll's voice finally cut through the tension.
"Stay close. We move to the inner chamber."
Everyone nodded, moving forward with practiced precision. I followed, hands trembling slightly but katana ready.
System: Killed a Rift Gnawer. EXP gained: 30/15,000.
I blinked at the system notification. Thirty EXP?
Rylan already got his share. If he was already C+, he could edge toward B-rank faster than me.
I clenched my fists. Bro, I already know this monster gives 30 EXP, and I need 15,000 just to reach B-rank? If I keep fighting these small gate monsters… I won't even get close. And then there's the calamity coming. My Echo is still unknown… this isn't going to be easy.
Meryll, let's move. We still have to clear the gate.