As Ryo stepped through the B-rank gate and into the quiet, green expanse of trees, he muttered, “This feels way too peaceful to be a monster gate…”
System: “Don’t get soft now, rookie. The calm ones are the most suspicious.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Hey, remind me again... what was that insane gate called? Dark Gate?”
System: “No, Ryo. It’s called a Black Gate. Codename: ‘Death.’”
That stopped him cold.
System: “The first one appeared 23 years ago in Verkhoyansk Forest, near Yakutsk, Russia. No one entered it… because the monsters poured out like a flood. Cities burned. Armies collapsed.”
Ryo went quiet, listening.
System: “And then… he appeared. A man whose entire body burned like the sun. They say his presence alone incinerated anything around him. He didn’t fight like a man. He was fire. No one knew who he was—but when he raised that sword of pure flame...”
System (more serious now): “...It looked like he had a contract with a god. Or something even higher.”
Ryo exhaled slowly. “Guess even hell fears one man.”
[System Commentary]:
"Many say his voice drips with arrogance... pride... but he answers with power alone. No rebuttal—just dominance."
Ryo stretched his arms with a lazy grin.
"Heh. I wanna meet that guy someday… just once."
Meanwhile, in the snowy outskirts of Kuusamo, Finland, a tall, lean man in a faded coat stopped mid-step on a quiet mountain path.
His nose twitched.
"Achoo."
He wiped his nose with the back of his glove, frowning slightly.
"…Weird. Thought no one remembered me."
The sun peeked through thick clouds—yet it was his presence that seemed to light the air. The snow around him melted in a slow ring, steam whispering upward like a warning.
He blinked, shrugged… and kept walking.
He didn’t know who Ryo was.
But fate had already started drawing their lines toward each other.
The gentle rustle of leaves was suddenly drowned out by thunderous stomping.
CRASH—CRUNCH—THUMP.
A massive shadow burst from the treeline—a hulking bull-like beast, its moss-covered horns glinting under the filtered sunlight. Steam billowed from its nostrils as it charged with murder in its eyes.
Ryo, still stretching casually, lazily turned his head.
"Mm?"
In one smooth motion, he twisted his body sideways. The monster bull rushed past, missing him by a hair’s breadth. He didn’t even break a sweat.
[System Notification]:
“B-Rank Monster Identified: Verdant Gorebull.”
> A forest-dwelling behemoth known for brute strength and unrelenting charges. Known weakness: Predictable movements.
Ryo cracked his neck with a yawn.
"Try harder, greenie."
The ground trembled as more rustling filled the air. From the dense forest around him, dozens of shadowy figures emerged—more Gorebulls, their enormous frames barely visible in the heavy foliage. Their horns gleamed menacingly as they locked their sights on Ryo, who stood at the center of their encirclement.
One by one, they began to charge, their hooves pounding the earth with each step. The air grew thick with the scent of earth and aggression.
[System Notification]:
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Estimated Number of Monsters: 20 Verdant Gorebulls.”
> The Gorebulls appear to be coordinating their attacks. The bulls' horns are sharpened, and their charges become more deadly in numbers.
Ryo’s lips curled into a grin as he watched the group of massive beasts close in, forming a tight circle. He stretched once more, cracking his knuckles with exaggerated slowness, then raised an eyebrow.
“Guess it's time for a little... dance?”
With a sudden burst of motion, he vanished.
Ryo appeared mid-air, his body effortlessly suspended as the twenty Gorebulls circled beneath him, their horns lowering in anticipation. Without a hint of concern, Ryo summoned a silver-colored dagger with a simple flick of his wrist. It glinted in the sunlight, and with a confident smirk, he said, “Let’s show them… No. 3213.”
[System Notification]:
“Wow, they even have numbers now?”
> The dagger is identified as “Silver Crescent #3213,” a weapon of exceptional craftsmanship, possibly imbued with magic.
With a graceful lift of his hand, Ryo raised the dagger high. Its silver sheen caught the light, reflecting a pristine glow. As he held it, the blade shimmered with an energy all its own, and his eyes narrowed in concentration.
"Pierce with elegance."
The moment he spoke, the dagger began to glow brightly. But this was no ordinary shine. It shifted—its form changing—revealing its true power.
"Luminis."
The dagger’s true form emerged in a flash of radiant light, its silver blade now shimmering with a crystalline glow, while black shards ran down the sides like veins of darkness, giving it an ethereal and dangerous beauty.
[System Notification]:
“Luminis: The true form of the Silver Crescent dagger. A weapon designed for precision and grace, activated by the wielder's command.”
The dagger hovered in the air, swirling around Ryo with fluid grace, dancing with the rhythm of his finger. Each movement was a perfect blend of control and elegance, the blade cutting through the air like a lethal symphony.
Ryo guided it with a subtle flick of his finger, the weapon obeying his will as it swirled around, awaiting his next command.
The twenty Gorebulls, now more cautious, slowed their charge. Their eyes never left the floating dagger, as it hovered just above Ryo, ready to strike.
Ryo stood still, watching the Gorebulls circle around him, their horns lowered, ready to charge. He glanced at them calmly, then spoke with a hint of mockery.
"Don't be afraid now."
He raised his hand, and the dagger—Luminis—hovered around him in the air. Without a second thought, Ryo whispered, "Perfora."
In a flash, the dagger shot forward at incredible speed, piercing through the bodies of five Gorebulls in one smooth motion. Their massive bodies were torn apart, with huge holes left in their sides. As they fell to the ground, their flesh quickly turned black and crumbled to dust.
Ryo descended from the air, landing gracefully on the ground. His eyes never left the ashes of the Gorebulls, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"Impressive, right? The black shards on the blade are coated with poison. Even a small scratch will spread it through your body, turning your skin black and burning you to ash in seconds."
With a flick of his finger, Ryo made the dagger dance around him in the air. It twirled gracefully as he controlled it, and he spoke again, his voice cool and confident.
"Let’s see who’s next."
The 15 remaining Gorebulls, in panic, scattered and ran in different directions. Ryo stood still, his eyes narrowing as he watched them flee.
"As if I'd let you run," he muttered under his breath.
With a flick of his finger, the dagger, Luminis, shot into the center of the field. It hovered in place, spinning as Ryo’s calm voice cut through the air.
"Vani."
At his command, Luminis began to spin faster and faster, its gleaming silver and black shards glowing ominously. The fleeing Gorebulls, terrified, tried to escape, but they couldn’t outrun the dagger’s dance. One by one, they were slowly drawn toward it, their bodies unable to resist the magnetic pull.
The nearest Gorebull collided with Luminis, and in an instant, the blade shredded its body into pieces. The creature’s roar was cut short as its form turned to nothing but black ash, blown away by the winds.
Ryo stood still, watching the chaos unfold, his lips curling into a small, satisfied smile. "One by one..." he whispered, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light.
And with that, the dagger continued its dance, claiming the rest of the Gorebulls as they futilely tried to escape.
The remaining Gorebulls screamed in vain as their bodies were shredded one after another, reduced to nothing but ash swept by the wind. Silence fell over the forest once more.
Luminis, now glowing faintly, spun back through the air and returned to Ryo’s side. With a graceful twirl of his finger, he made the blade dance in circles around him like a loyal partner. He smiled, casually stepping into a small rhythm, almost as if waltzing with death itself.
[System Notification]:
“Elegant murder. Stylish extermination. You're truly a menace with flair.”
Ryo chuckled. “Well, if I’m going to kill monsters, might as well do it beautifully.”
Ryo casually clapped his hands once—sharp, precise.
Luminis, mid-hover, jolted slightly in the air. A faint flicker rippled across its blade as if startled by the sudden sound.
[System Notification]:
“…Wait. Did your dagger just flinch? Is it… sentient? Or just scared of you?”
Ryo smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Who knows? Maybe it just respects authority.”
Luminis hummed faintly, resuming its graceful orbit around him, as if pretending nothing happened.
[System Notification]:
“Warning: Boss-class mana signature detected. Approximately 500 meters north. Already watching.”
Ryo chuckled. “So you’ve been eyeing me all this time, huh?”
As Luminis twirled in the air, Ryo raised his hand slowly.
“Luminis… let’s do the final dance.”
The silver dagger paused midair, then began to spin—slow at first, then faster and faster, wind curling around it in a silver and black spiral. The pressure built with every rotation, mimicking the form of a deadly drill-lance.
[System Notification]:
“Boss-class mana signature confirmed.”
“Name: BullLord Ikiroet — B-Rank Boss.”
Ryo smirked, his eyes sharpening.
He brought his palm up, hovering just behind the spinning dagger, and whispered, “That’s my girl.”
Luminis vibrated with anticipation, waiting for his command to strike.
