Chương 4: Chapter 4

Two and a half hours later, Tae-min arrived at the Gate. His casual appearance—just a plain white T-shirt, black trousers, and sneakers—drew immediate stares from the group.

Min-ji's eyes widened as she took in his lack of equipment. "Hey, what the hell is this?"

The others exchanged uneasy glances, their faces mirroring her disbelief.

"I can't have you going into a Gate like this," she continued, her tone sharp. "As far as I'm concerned, you're on my team, which means your safety is my responsibility."

Tae-min met her gaze calmly, his hands in his pockets. "I'll be fine, Min-ji," he replied, his voice steady but tinged with pride.

Min-ji scoffed, but there was no time for further argument. The Gate shimmered before them, and Tae-min stepped forward without hesitation, disappearing into the vortex.

"Unbelievable," one of the hunters muttered, shaking his head.

"Let's go," Min-ji ordered, a mix of frustration and concern flashing across her face as they followed him inside.

The world shifted in an instant. The dense jungle materialized around them, the air thick with humidity and the scent of damp earth. Towering trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches blotting out most of the light.

"Stay sharp," Min-ji said, her voice cutting through the uneasy silence. "This Gate is classified as C-Rank, but we all know things don't always go as planned."

Tae-min walked a few steps ahead of the group, his hands still in his pockets, his posture relaxed but his senses razor-sharp. The jungle seemed alive, the rustle of leaves and distant calls of strange creatures creating a tense backdrop. He felt it again—that eerie tension in the air that made his skin prickle.

The first wave of enemies didn't keep them waiting. From the shadows emerged creatures resembling giant armored lizards, their claws glinting and their glowing red eyes locking onto the group.

"Skalons," Min-ji said, her twin blades flashing as she dropped into a defensive stance. "Form up!"

The team moved with practiced precision, fanning out into formation. Tae-min hung back at first, observing their coordination. The Skalons charged, their heavy bodies crashing through the underbrush.

But then, one Skalón broke through the line, charging straight at Tae-min. Its jaws gaped wide, rows of jagged teeth glistening as it lunged.

Tae-min reacted on instinct, Flash stepping away or so he thought, by the time he realized he had only moved some inches away from where he was, the Skalón slammed into him, pinning him to the ground.

The creature's rancid breath hit him as its dripping maw snapped inches from his face. Tae-min strained against its strength, pushing desperately against its jaws, but he could feel himself weakening. The Skalón's weight bore down on him, and its teeth inched closer to his neck.

Blood splattered across his face, and the Skalón let out a gurgling cry before collapsing. Min-ji stood behind it, her blade buried deep in its chest.

"Like I said your safety is on me," she said, extending a hand to pull him up.

Tae-min took her hand and staggered to his feet, still shaken.

"You're not going to survive like this," Min-ji said firmly, pulling a spare dagger from her waist and handing it to him. The blade was small but sharp, its weight solid in his hand. "Since you decided not to bring any weapons or armor, take this. And don't die on me, Jin Tae-min."

Tae-min stared at the dagger, a flood of thoughts swirling in his mind. This wasn't just about survival anymore—there was something deeper at play. Something the system wanted from him.

But for now, he would focus on the fight ahead. "Thanks," he said, gripping the dagger tightly.

The battlefield was quiet now, save for the labored breathing of the surviving squad members. The ground was littered with the corpses of the armored lizards, their black blood pooling in sticky puddles. Among the carnage, Tae-min sat on the ground, his white shirt soaked with the dark stains of battle. The small dagger rested loosely in his right hand, and his mind was racing.

Why isn't the Protocol reacting? he thought, frustration gnawing at him.

"Hey, you did good," Min-ji said, walking up to him.

Tae-min glanced up, her voice pulling him out of his thoughts. He managed a weak smile. "Thanks."

Min-ji crouched next to him, a faint grin playing on her lips. "You know, walking into a Gate without armor or a proper weapon still shocks me. But you held your own. I guess I'll have to call you the next time we're invading a Gate."

Tae-min chuckled softly, placing his left hand over his face like he was about to blush. "That won't be a problem. Call me anytime."

Min-ji nodded, standing up. "Alright then. It was nice fighting alongside you, Tae-min. Let's do it again sometime."

"Same here," he replied, his smile lingering for a moment.

The shimmering Gate collapsed behind them as they exited back into the real world. The group was alive but battered, with two of their members requiring immediate medical attention. As the squad dispersed, Tae-min turned to leave.

"Okay, I'll be heading off now," he said.

Min-ji waved. "I've already got your account details. Your share will be sent as soon as the payment clears."

"Got it. Bye."

"Bye, Tae-min."

With that, Tae-min walked away, blending into the crowd. Min-ji watched him for a moment before heading in the opposite direction.

A white car pulled up to the curb ahead of her. The tinted window rolled down to reveal Hak-kun's sharp features, his gold sunglasses glinting in the sunlight. Without hesitation, Min-ji climbed into the passenger seat.

Hak-kun didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Anything off about the kid?"

Min-ji thought for a moment, leaning back in her seat. "Not that I can say for sure. Walking into a Gate dressed like that was strange, but during the fight, nothing stood out. He fought with raw human strength—no abilities, no flashy techniques. If there's anything special about him, he's hiding it well."

Hak-kun nodded, his expression unreadable. "Keep an eye on him."

"Of course. I will, Dad," Min-ji replied.

Tae-min walked aimlessly through the streets, his thoughts preoccupied with the events inside the Gate. The exhaustion of the fight weighed on him, but a sudden glow in front of his eyes brought him to a halt.

[System Notification: Mission Complete.]

[Objective: Prove Your Resolve – Success.]

[Evaluation: Demonstrated raw strength, adaptability, and combat intelligence under duress.]

[Integration Progress: 20%]

Tae-min blinked at the glowing text, a mixture of relief and curiosity washing over him. "Twenty percent already?" he murmured.

[Additional Reward Unlocked: Skill – Reactive Instincts.]

[Description: Automatically heightens sensory perception in life-threatening situations, improving reaction speed and combat efficiency.]

He felt a faint surge within him as the system's words sank in. The power wasn't just growing—it was evolving with him.

Tae-min clenched his fists, determination flaring in his chest. Whatever this system wanted, whatever the Protocol was preparing him for, he would face it head-on.