Gatebreaker: The Demon War Returns

Chapter 3: First Gate, First Blood The unspoken alliance between Choi Hyun-woo and Kim Da-eun deepened. The school library became their unofficial sanctuary, a quiet corner where the cacophony of teenage life faded, replaced by the hushed rustle of pages and the low murmur of their voices. She brought him more advanced texts on mana theory, on the classifications of magical creatures, on the history of gates appearing in Korea. He, in turn, offered insights that consistently shattered her preconceived notions.

"This diagram for a basic defensive barrier," she'd say, pointing to a complex array of lines, "it's supposed to be the most stable."

Hyun-woo would scoff, a faint sneer touching his lips. "Stable, maybe. But slow. And it bleeds energy like a stuck pig. In a real fight, you'd be dead before it fully deployed." He'd then sketch a few swift lines, simplifying the pattern, tightening the energy flow. "This. This is what you need. Faster, stronger, and doesn't waste mana."

Da-eun would stare, her intelligent eyes wide with a mixture of awe and frustration. "But… how? This contradicts everything we're taught."

"Because some theories are just that – theories," he'd retort, his voice flat, a distant, haunted look in his eyes. He rarely elaborated, but the raw intensity of his words left no doubt of his absolute conviction. He simply knew, a deep-seated understanding that transcended their academic texts.

Their conversations remained strictly focused on mana, gates, and the creatures of this world. Da-eun, perceptive as she was, sometimes tried to probe, asking about his sudden, inexplicable knowledge, or the source of his unique combat style. Hyun-woo, however, remained a steel wall. He would offer a vague shrug, a noncommittal grunt, or simply change the subject. His past was his own, a burden and a secret he had no intention of sharing with anyone in this new, bewildering world. The pain of his old life, the burning need for vengeance, remained locked away, simmering beneath his cold exterior.

He found himself looking forward to their time together, a stark contrast to the rest of his high school existence, which remained a tedious charade. The girls still pursued him, their attempts at flirtation growing bolder. He'd brush them off with a cold stare or a curt word, his patience thin. He was polite, yes, but only barely. His mind was still on his vengeance, on finding a way back.

Then came the day of the practical gate training. It was a mandatory D-rank gate, a step up from the theoretical lessons, designed to give students their first taste of real combat against more formidable creatures. The class was buzzing with nervous excitement. Hyun-woo felt only a dull sense of anticipation. Finally, something that might actually be a challenge.

The gate shimmered open in a designated training facility, revealing a dark, damp cavern. The air was thick with the smell of mildew and something else… something foul and musky. Goblins, larger and more aggressive than any he had read about in the F-rank descriptions, chittered in the shadows, their crude axes glinting. And then, a low, guttural growl echoed from deeper within – an ogre.

Mr. Lee, their instructor, stood at the entrance, his face grim. "Alright, listen up! This is a D-rank. Expect stronger goblins, maybe a few orcs, and a high chance of an ogre. Remember your training! Formations! Support your teammates! And for God's sake, Hyun-woo, stick to the plan this time!"

Hyun-woo just grunted, already moving. He wasn't waiting for anyone. These were just more pathetic beasts.

The first group of goblins charged, their eyes glowing with malice. They were faster, stronger than the F-rank fodder he'd imagined, but still utterly outmatched. Hyun-woo met them head-on, his bare fists moving like blurs. He slammed a fist into the first goblin's jaw, shattering bone and sending it sprawling, a sickening thud as its head hit the ground. Its eyes rolled back, a gurgle of blood escaping its throat.

"Fucking ugly bastards," he snarled, kicking another goblin in the chest, sending it flying into the cavern wall with enough force to leave an imprint. Its limbs twitched, then went still.

The other students, initially hesitant, watched in horrified awe. Their own attacks, clumsy and uncoordinated, seemed laughably weak compared to Hyun-woo's brutal efficiency. He was a whirlwind of destruction, moving with a fluid, deadly grace that was terrifying to behold. He didn't just fight; he slaughtered.

An ogre, its skin a mottled grey, its club thick with spikes, lumbered out of the darkness, roaring. "Grrr-awk! Intruders! Kill!"

"Ogre! Form up! Focus fire!" Mr. Lee yelled, his voice strained.

Hyun-woo ignored him. He met the ogre's charge, his movements a blur. He ducked under its massive club, then drove his knee into its groin with a brutal force that made the ogre shriek, a high-pitched, agonizing sound. As it doubled over, he plunged his bare fist into its eye socket. The ogre convulsed, its massive body shaking, and then collapsed, its one remaining eye staring blankly at the cavern ceiling, blood and brain matter oozing from the ruined socket.

"Another dumb fucking beast down," Hyun-woo spat, wiping the gore from his knuckles on the ogre's coarse hide. He felt a familiar, cold satisfaction. This was what he was meant to do.

The rest of the gate was a blur of violence. Hyun-woo carved a path through the creatures, leaving a trail of dismembered goblins and shattered ogres. The other students, initially shocked, eventually followed in his wake, picking off the stragglers he left behind. They were terrified, but also strangely emboldened by his sheer, unadulterated power.

When they emerged from the gate, the students were pale, some even trembling, but alive. Mr. Lee stared at Hyun-woo, his face a mixture of anger, fear, and reluctant admiration.

"Hyun-woo," Mr. Lee began, his voice low. "Your methods… they are effective. But reckless. You cannot always fight alone."

Hyun-woo met his gaze, his eyes cold. "I've always handled things my way, Mr. Lee. And I'm still here. These things are nothing. They're just in the way."

He walked past the stunned students, his mind already drifting. This D-rank gate was a joke. He needed something more. Something that could truly test the limits of his new body, something that might give him a clue on how to get back to his own world. He still felt the burning need for vengeance, the image of the spellcaster's mocking smile burned into his mind. But for now, he would continue to navigate this strange, modern world, one dead monster at a time.