Haruto Sasaki—Yami—stepped out of the forest line onto cracked asphalt. The trees gave way to a narrow road lined with power poles and faded billboards. In the distance, the skyline of Tokyo rose like jagged teeth against the afternoon sky. Shibuya was close. He could feel it in the hum of traffic, the faint smell of exhaust mixed with street food.
He walked.
No rush. No panic. Just steady steps.
The memories of Haruto filled in the gaps like puzzle pieces sliding into place. This road led to a small station. From there, the Yamanote Line would take him straight to Shibuya. Simple. Efficient.
But something felt… off.
The air carried a faint metallic tang. Not blood. Not quite. Aether. Raw, chaotic, leaking from somewhere nearby.
**[Instant Analyze activated.]**
A small golden window popped up in his vision.
**[Anomaly detected: Low-rank Gate (E-class) forming 1.2 km northeast. Estimated opening in 14 minutes. Monster density: Low. No registered hunters in immediate vicinity.]**
Yami's lips curled slightly.
"Already?"
He could ignore it. Walk past. Blend in like a normal high-school kid until he was ready.
But why?
He had died once because he hesitated too long. Because he let the world grind him down before striking back.
Not again.
He changed direction, cutting through a small park. Cherry trees stood bare—winter had passed, spring not yet fully here. A few salarymen sat on benches, scrolling phones, oblivious.
Then he saw it.
A faint shimmer in the air, like heat rising from pavement, but colder. Blue light pulsed weakly behind an abandoned vending machine row. The Gate was small—barely two meters tall—but growing. Cracks spread across reality like broken glass.
Yami stopped ten meters away.
**[Gate Status: E-rank. Type: Beast Den. Monsters: 7 Goblin variants (Lv. 3–5), 1 Goblin Shaman (Lv. 7). Clear reward: 150 EXP, Minor Aether Core x3, Random Item Drop.]**
He cracked his knuckles.
"Perfect. A warm-up."
No one around. Good.
He stepped closer. The Gate reacted—blue light flared, then darkened as if sensing something wrong.
Yami raised his right hand.
**[Skill: Judgment Blade – Lv.1 activated.]**
A faint silver glow wrapped around his empty palm. No sword needed; the skill remembered. He swung.
A crescent of pure cutting force sliced forward.
The Gate trembled.
The blue membrane tore like paper.
He stepped through.
Inside was dim, damp—a cavern system lit by glowing fungi. Stalactites dripped. The air stank of rot and wet fur.
Seven goblins turned at once. Small, green, ragged armor, crude spears and clubs. Behind them, a taller one with a staff—shaman—hissed.
Yami didn't wait.
**[Aura Fear – Lv.1 activated.]**
A wave of crimson-black pressure rolled out from him.
The goblins froze. Their eyes widened in primal terror. Two dropped their weapons and backed away, trembling.
The shaman snarled, raised its staff, and shot a weak bolt of green energy.
Yami sidestepped lazily.
Then he moved.
**[Black Chain Curse – Lv.1.]**
Dark chains erupted from the shadows under his feet. They snapped forward like living serpents, wrapping around three goblins' necks and legs. He yanked.
Bones cracked. Bodies slammed into the ground.
He walked forward.
One goblin lunged, spear raised.
Yami caught the shaft mid-thrust with one hand, twisted, and snapped it like a twig. Then drove his fist into the creature's chest.
**[HP: Goblin Lv.3 – 0/180]**
**[EXP +30]**
Another two charged.
**[Crimson Flames – Lv.1.]**
His left hand ignited in red-black fire. He swept it across.
The flames didn't burn normally—they devoured. Skin charred, screams cut short as the fire consumed flesh and bone in seconds.
**[EXP +60]**
The shaman howled, summoning a barrier of green vines.
Yami smiled thinly.
"Pathetic."
He raised his hand again.
**[Tenebrae – Lv.1 (partial activation).]**
A small sphere of pure black formed in his palm—no bigger than a baseball.
He tossed it.
The sphere hit the barrier.
And ate it.
Vines withered to ash. The shaman staggered back, eyes wide.
The darkness expanded—just a little—then detonated.
A silent explosion of shadow swallowed the shaman whole. No scream. No blood. Just gone.
**[EXP +80]**
**[Minor Aether Core obtained x1]**
The remaining two goblins tried to flee.
Chains caught them.
Yami walked past the dissolving corpses.
The cavern trembled.
**[Gate Core located. Destroy to collapse Dungeon.]**
A glowing blue crystal floated at the far end.
He walked up, placed a hand on it.
**[Judgment Blade – full swing.]**
One clean cut.
The crystal shattered.
Light flashed.
Reality twisted.
He stepped out.
Back on the road.
The Gate was gone—no trace. Just empty vending machines and quiet afternoon air.
**[Quest "First Steps in a New World" – Progress: Gate encountered and cleared (bonus condition met).]**
**[Reward: 200 EXP + 150 (clear bonus) = 350 EXP]**
**[Level Up! Level 1 → Level 3]**
**[Stat Points +4]**
**[Skill Points +1]**
Yami exhaled, feeling the faint rush of power settling into his body.
"Too easy."
But satisfying.
He looked toward the city skyline.
Shibuya waited.
Neon lights. Crowds. Gates. Hunters.
And somewhere in there… answers.
He adjusted his black scarf.
"Time to see what this world calls 'strong'."
He started walking again.
This time, faster.
The sun dipped lower.
Shadows grew longer.
And in his red eyes, something ancient and hungry flickered.