Here's an Opportunity-Chapter 234: The Hell Gate (2)

On April 4, 2051, at 1:23 p.m., members of the Hunters Association and Hunters from around the world gathered for a meeting via video call. Their screens showed Yoo Seh-Eun hastily retreating after slicing off a monster's arm. Kim Ki-Rok had warned her that the creature's blood was laced with a poison even an S-Class detoxification skill couldn't neutralize. The Chinese Hunter, wielding a sword and fighting alongside Yoo Seh-Eun, also stepped back to assess the enemy.

—Shit. It regenerates, too.

As Yoo Seh-Eun muttered in frustration, the Chinese Hunter came up with a guess.

—I sensed a distinct concentration of mana near its head. That's probably why it can regenerate.

—So we should go for the head?

—You mustn't kill it, Ms. Seh-Eun.

—Ugh!

As Yoo Seh-Eun coordinated with her ally and launched another attack, Kim Ki-Rok's voice came through their feed.

—It's fast and strong. Given that the blade used to cut its arm off has now melted away, it likely possesses corrosive properties as well. Like those S-Class Gate monsters, its stats far exceed its level. Let's see... It attacks with venom, can regenerate, and has mana detection. For reference, this one appeared right at the Gate's entrance.

A collective sigh spread among the meeting attendees. A monster appearing at the very start was even stronger than the elite or evolved monsters usually found at the ends of other SS-Class Gates.

—Here they come again.

The footage quickly shifted, following Kim Ki-Rok's narration.

Now, the French Hunter, armed with a spear, and the American Hunter, wielding an ax and shield, rushed to engage the monster.

—It's an animal type. Discernment says... its name is Hell Beast, Black Wolf.

Kim Ki-Rok paused his explanation as the massive Hell Beast opened the distance from its attackers, bristling to deflect the spear and ax.

—It can sharpen and launch its fur as projectiles.

The black wolf melted into the shadows and sprang from the French Hunter's own shadow, attempting a surprise attack. The ambush failed, and the creature's eyes flashed crimson as its fangs clamped down, not on flesh, but on the French Hunter's short spear. The weapon hissed as it began to corrode.

Kim Ki-Rok's voice continued over the broadcast.

—Just like the Hell Fiend, Wielder of Three Arms, it uses corrosive poison.

The French Hunter hesitated only briefly at his broken spear, then, as the American Hunter knocked the wolf back with his shield, drew a new spear from his subspace pocket.

The video shifted once more to a flying monster which had just appeared. Its torso and legs were human, but it had two heads—one grotesquely human, the other resembling a lion—and dark red wings sprouted from its sides in place of arms, giving it a harpy-like appearance. The creature was diving rapidly when the lion's head opened its jaws.

—That's the Hell Beast, Flying Fiend. It can fly, regenerate, and it has a magma pouch—the lion's head can use Lava Breath.

An Awakened Hunter with an ice-attribute skill hurriedly erected an ice wall, blocking the Lava Breath.

—The human head can emit a sonic wave that disrupts mana. The skill's called Mana Sonic Sound, but that's a mouthful so let's just say sonic attack.

An arrow from DG Guild's Nam Dong-Wook struck the monster's abdomen, making it shriek and spatter dark red blood.

—It seems all the monsters at the Gate's entrance have corrosive poison...

Kim Ki-Rok trailed off and turned the camera. In the distance, dozens more flying fiends were closing in.

—They can call in distant allies with their cries. That concludes this video.

Having chosen to withdraw rather than risk everything to survive, Kim Ki-Rok ended the recording, ensuring he delivered what he'd learned.

The meeting attendees stared blankly at the now-black screen before them.

"I believe the footage conveyed what I wanted you to know," he concluded as everyone in the room turned toward him. "So, I'll take questions now."

***

After wrapping up the Q&A session, the attendees agreed to a thirty-minute break at Kim Ki-Rok's suggestion.

Kang Man-Ki exhaled deeply and rose from his seat. With his closest aides, he left the conference room and walked over to the vending machine, getting himself a cup of milk coffee.

"What about you guys?" he asked his secretaries.

They had watched the video closely, hoping to catch any detail Kim Ki-Rok might have missed.

Looking drained, the aides answered, "We'll have milk coffee, too."

Kang Man-Ki handed his coffee to one aide and ordered another for himself.

"Given what we've seen, what level should the clear team be?"

"Level 180 or higher. Only the very top among SS-Class Hunters should even consider it."

"And what are our chances of clearing it?"

The aides hesitated before answering, "Zero."

There was no chance. Even the supposedly weaker monsters at the Gate's entrance would demand everything from SS-Class Hunters just to defeat.

"This is insane..."

Kang Man-Ki, distributing coffee to his team, fell deep into thought.

Should we use the old method? he wondered.

That method was to let the Gate go berserk, trigger a Break, allow monsters to flood into the world, then wipe them out with weapons of mass destruction. It would mean catastrophic casualties, but it could close a Gate. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"What are the odds that would work now?" he asked.

"With monsters like these? Very slim."

"How slim?"

Another pause. "Three percent."

"So our only option is to try clearing it. What about the Hell King's estimated level?"

Earlier, Kim Ki-Rok had reviewed the Gate's information using his Discernment Skill. He'd opened a document showing the details:

[Hell (?)]

Difficulty: ?

Reward: ?

Clear Condition: Defeat the Hell King

※Special Reward Condition: Defeat the Four Dukes

※Special Reward: ?

Kim Ki-Rok had explained what the "Four Dukes" actually meant in the old Chinese characters and why it mattered.

Killing the Hell King wasn't enough. Leave the Dukes alive, and one of them would just slide into the empty seat. That meant more blood, more war, and eventually, Hell cracking open again.

That was what Ki-Rok kept repeating: the Dukes weren't just a side quest. They were the real problem.

Hell King, Four Dukes, the Gate "Hell" itself. Kang Man-Ki repeated in his head, frowning at the complexity of the situation.

Just then, an aide on the phone called out, confused. "Mr. President?"

"Hm?"

"There's a post online titled 'Kim Ki-Rok's Statement.'"

Finding the headline odd, Kang Man-Ki reached out to take a look at it, his expression growing more bewildered. The aides quickly pulled out their smartphones, and nearby Hunters did the same. Members of the overseas Associations were also checking the translated post, looking just as surprised.

Soon, the break was over. As everyone returned to the conference room, the Hunters eyed Kim Ki-Rok at the podium with serious, even tense, expressions.

Kim Ki-Rok greeted them with a bright smile. "Let's begin. But judging by your faces, it seems some information leaked."

With a shrug, he added, "Go ahead, ask your questions."

"Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok," Kang Man-Ki spoke up for the group.

"Yes, President Kang?"

"A strange story has popped up online."

"What story?"

"It's from Hunter School."

"Did Ji-Hee write it? When she submitted the Gate Activity Application?"

Some Hunters stared at Kim Ki-Rok in shock; others groaned. Kang Man-Ki's frown deepened.

"Is it true?" he asked.

Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "It is."

"You're suggesting we let retired Hunters and even underage Hunters help clear the Gate?"

"Yes."

If anyone else had made this proposal, they would have been fiercely criticized. But since it was Kim Ki-Rok, no one dared rush to condemn him.

"You're not planning to use them as expendable pawns, are you?" Kang Man-Ki pressed.

Kim Ki-Rok shook his head firmly. "Of course not. Do you think I'd throw away everything I've built for a reckless gamble?"

Several Hunters sighed in relief.

"Then why do we need them?" Kang Man-Ki asked.

"Because that's the only way to raise our chances," Kim Ki-Rok replied without hesitation.

"They lack level, experience, even the right temperament."

"That just means, if we help them level up, build experience, and force some changes in attitude, they'll be an asset."

"How?"

"We boost them."

Boosting had once been a growth method, but it had faded away after the discovery of Second Awakenings.

"Retired Hunters don't have high levels because they stopped participating in Gate activities. But their experience is invaluable, just like reservists in the military. And when the thirty S-Class Gates appeared, many retired Hunters came to help the Association. Their performance was on par with active Hunters."

His plan was to have high-level Hunters help raise the retirees' levels.

"As for underage Hunters, people assume they lack experience, but that's a misconception. Those studying at Hunter School undergo systematic training. By submitting a Gate Activity Application, they can participate in Gates. In short, like retirees, their only shortcoming is level. We've excluded them from Gates out of concern for public opinion, but now, that doesn't apply," Kim Ki-Rok explained.

The audience—composed of famous Hunters, Association Presidents, government officials—had all seen the footage of this Gate, with its triple question marks and terrifying entrance monsters. None found his words unreasonable. They knew that if they failed here, Earth was as good as lost to Hell.

"What about Awakened criminals?" a Hunter in the audience asked.

"Awakened criminals are easy to reform," Kim Ki-Rok replied.

"Easy?"

"We show them the video and offer to reduce their sentences if they cooperate."

"When the S-Class Gates appeared, there was a plan to use criminals. Some were released to help, but ended up killing their monitors and escaping."

Kim Ki-Rok countered, "Back then, things were different. We had help from the Yuashiel Dimension and the Elementals. There was still hope that they might get away even if they risked it all. But now?"

There was no hope now.

"Escape? Let them try. If this Gate isn't cleared, it's the end of the world. For the record, death row inmates are excluded. Not that there are many left, since most such criminals are executed on the spot these days. Anyway, they're not included."

As Kim Ki-Rok finished, Kang Man-Ki raised his hand again, drawing everyone's attention. "So you're saying every Hunter in the world must participate in clearing this Gate?"

"Yes," Kim Ki-Rok said plainly.

"Why?"

"Our targets inside Hell aren't just the Hell King."

"The Four Dukes..."

"Exactly. With multiple potential Hell Kings to defeat, the more Hunters we have, the better our odds."