Soren arrived at West Gate Checkpoint at 1:45 PM.
A small group was already waiting near the Gate terminal. He spotted them easily: a tall, broad-shouldered man standing with three younger people, arms crossed, eyes scanning the area.
Soren approached them and asked.
"Are you... Moro Vil?"
"That’s me." The man turned. He had a calm, weathered face and steady eyes. "Soren Valmere?"
"Yes."
They shook hands briefly. Moro gestured to the others.
"My son, Nick."
A boy who looked about seventeen, lean and sharp-eyed, with his father’s height but none of his composure. He gave Soren a once-over and said nothing, clearly unimpressed.
"His friend, Nami."
A girl of a similar age, with short hair, arms loosely folded, gave Soren a polite nod.
"And Rea."
The last one, a young woman, not that much older than the teens, gave a small wave.
Soren greeted each of them politely and quietly activated Investor’s Eyes.
The results came back quickly.
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Name: Rea Solvan
Status: Healthy
Age: 18
Rank: 1st Circle (Peak Stage)
Current Mana Level: Low (9,993)
Ability: Eagle Eye
Mental State: Calm, Slightly Nervous
Investment Value: High
Potential: 6th Circle (Estimated)
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Name: Nami Yuel
Status: Healthy
Age: 17
Rank: 1st Circle (Mid Stage)
Current Mana Level: Very Low (5,187)
Ability: Random Enchanting
Mental State: Calm, Focused, Secretly Annoyed
Investment Value: High
Potential: 6th Circle (Estimated)
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Name: Nick Vil
Status: Healthy
Age: 17
Rank: 1st Circle (Mid Stage)
Current Mana Level: Very Low (6,321)
Ability: Counter Instinct
Mental State: Excited, Nervous, Eager to Impress
Investment Value: High
Potential: 5th Circle (Estimated)
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There was nothing wrong with them. Well, except that each of them had high potential and investment value. And Rea was already at the same stage as him.
After carefully checking their mental states again, he confirmed there was no hidden malice or suspicious intent.
Soren relaxed slightly.
Then his gaze shifted to the last member.
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Name: Moro Vil
Status: Healthy
Age: 44
Rank: 2nd Circle (Peak Stage)
Current Mana Level: High (87,442)
Ability: Iron Body
Mental State: Calm, Protective, Quietly Anxious
Investment Value: Moderate
Potential: 3rd Circle (Estimated)
═══════════════
’Second Circle Peak...’
Soren blinked.
That was far beyond what he’d expected for a First Circle Gate.
But the Mental State made it crystal clear.
’He’s here to watch over his son.’
It made sense, actually. Moro was a father who couldn’t bear to let his child face danger alone.
Soren exhaled quietly.
’At least it’s not a trap.’
Just then, Moro clapped his hands once, drawing everyone’s attention.
"Alright. Quick briefing." He looked at each of them in turn. "This is Nick and Nami’s first real Gate, so I’ll say this once. Whatever you learned in theory, forget half of it. Just stay aware, don’t act alone, and speak up the moment something feels off." His gaze lingered briefly on Nick. "Clear?"
Everyone nodded.
"Good. Let’s move."
After half an hour, they arrived at the location.
The group approached the shimmering Gate portal.
"Remember what I said on the way. Listen to me, and don’t let your guard down."
Moro repeated one last time.
"Understood."
"Good, now, follow me."
However, just as they were about to step through, Nick turned to Nami with a determined expression.
"Don’t worry, Nami. I’ll protect you in there."
"Oh?" Nami raised an eyebrow. "Then what exactly are you going to do if something attacks us?"
"I’ll..." Nick hesitated. "I’ll handle it."
"With your dad standing right there?"
Nick’s face flushed red. "That’s not... I mean... I can fight too!"
"Sure, sure." Nami waved him off with a small smile. "I’ll be counting on you, then."
Nick straightened up immediately, his chest puffing out slightly despite the lingering embarrassment.
Rea chuckled quietly.
Moro’s expression remained neutral, though there was a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth. He was probably ashamed of his son’s antics or of getting roasted by his obvious crush.
Soren kept his face straight but couldn’t help thinking.
’...This is going to be interesting.’
One by one, they stepped through the portal.
The world twisted around him.
And then his boots hit solid ground.
_____ ___ _
Ironclad Gorge was exactly as described in the listing. A wide, open canyon, the ground cracked and uneven underfoot, massive rock formations jutting from the earth in jagged clusters. The sky above was a dull, flat grey. The air was dry and tasted faintly of iron.
"Stay tight," Moro said immediately, already moving. "We advance slowly."
The group fell into formation and followed.
After walking for about five minutes, Rea suddenly raised her hand.
"Movement ahead. Multiple targets."
Moro stopped immediately. "How many?"
"Six. Maybe seven."
"Distance?"
"Forty meters. Closing."
Moro’s grip tightened on his warhammer. "Everyone, ready yourselves."
Soren gripped his spear tightly, his eyes moving forward.
After a moment, around the bend ahead, a pack of Fissure Hounds came into view.
There were six of them. Each one was roughly the size of a large wolf, but bulkier, with hides that looked like cracked, dried earth and glowing red fissures running along their bodies like fault lines ready to split open. Low to the ground, heads down, eyes burning a dull ember-red.
The moment the hounds noticed the group, a deep, resonant growl rolled through the canyon.
"Grr..."
"Grr..."
The pressure they emanated was immediate and oppressive.
"H-Hick!"
Nick stepped back in fright as one of the hounds stared right at him, its glowing eyes locking onto him.
His back hit Nami’s shoulder.
"You okay?" she asked.
"I-I’m fine," Nick said immediately. "I just — slipped."
Nami said nothing.
Moro had already clocked it. A single glance at his son from the corner of his eye, quick and quiet. He looked away just as fast.
He exhaled once through his nose and tightened his grip on his warhammer.
"Rea. Can you pick off one or two before they reach us?"
Rea had already nocked an arrow. "Yes."
"Do it. Soren, take the right flank the moment she fires. I’ll draw the center." He paused. "Nick. Nami. Hold your position and do not move forward. If anything slips past me, that’s when you act."
"Understood," Nami said.
Nick swallowed. "...Got it."
Moro stepped forward without another word.
Rea drew her bowstring back, exhaled slowly, and released.
The arrow cut through the air with a sharp whistle.
It caught the leftmost hound clean through the neck. The creature let out a broken snarl and collapsed mid-step.
The pack erupted.
The hounds charged as one, splitting into two groups.
Three veered left toward Moro. Two broke right toward Soren.
Rea loosed another arrow. It buried itself in the shoulder of one of the rightmost hounds, forcing it to stumble and slow.
Soren moved immediately. He intercepted the injured hound with a low thrust, catching it in the ribs. It yelped and twisted away, bleeding but not dead.
The second hound lunged at him from the side.
Soren pivoted, using the shaft of his spear to deflect its jaws, then drove the tip forward into its flank. The hound collapsed with a whimper.
On the left, Moro swung his warhammer in a wide arc, meeting the lead hound head-on. The impact crushed its skull instantly, and the body crumpled to the ground.
The second hound tried to flank him, but Moro shifted his stance and brought the hammer down in a brutal overhead strike. The ground cracked beneath the force, and the hound went still.
The third hound hesitated, circling.
Then it darted forward, low and fast.
Moro stepped to meet it, but his foot caught slightly on loose gravel. He shifted his weight, his swing going just a hair too wide.
The hound slipped past him.
Straight toward Nick and Nami.
"Nick!" Nami shouted.
Nick froze. His hand gripped his sword hilt, but his body didn’t move.
The hound was five meters away.
Three.
Two.
"Nick!"