Redman let out a short bark of laughter. "Smile, Jaxx. So, what do you think, boss? This Gate gonna be a problem?"
Jaxx rolled his eyes. "Told you stop calling me 'boss.' You're the one in charge. I just make the team look good."
He turned toward the shimmering Gate ahead, expression unreadable.
"As for the Gate... we won't know till we step inside."
He cracked his knuckles, then reached over his shoulder to activate the dungeon cam mounted on his back.
"Let's begin."
The cheering dimmed slightly as the Doguen Guild approached the cordoned-off Gate perimeter. Inside the Dungeon Division's temporary operations center, tension thrummed through the air. Surveillance drones hovered above the rift, scanning its unstable surface, while analysts typed furiously behind portable terminals. At the center of the command tent, a holographic map pulsed with eerie blue light, reflecting off taut faces and flickering screens.
Near the edge of the tent, a junior officer leaned toward the head of operations.
"Sir they're here."
The man didn't look up right away. "All of them?"
"Just seven."
A pause. Then a quiet scoff.
"Why such a small team?"
Finally, he straightened, brushing invisible dust from his lapel as he stepped forward.
"Alright, fine. Let's get this over with."
A sharp voice cut through the hum of activity.
"Guild Master Redman."
The Doguen team turned in unison. A tall man in a tailored black coat stepped forward from the ops tent, a thin layer of dust on his boots and a data pad tucked under his arm. He extended a gloved hand.
"Director Im Juhwan, Dungeon Division. We appreciate your prompt arrival and we've confirmed your permit to enter the Gate. We've been analyzing its signature since it appeared in District 4."
Redman shook his hand briefly, his expression cool and unreadable. "Director Im. This is my team."
He turned and gestured behind him, his tone shifting subtly with each introduction.
"Seris our healer. Precise. Efficient."
Seris nodded once, her expression unimpressed, perhaps even slightly irritated beneath the edge of her silver hood.
"Babu. Heavy defense. He's our wall and somehow, our heart."
Babu grinned, offering a lazy salute. The ground gave a subtle tremor with the shift of his massive frame.
"Jaxx handles media drone ops. Also short-range teleportation, so he's not just here for the angles."
Jaxx lifted his camera rig with a wink, already streaming.
Redman continued, his voice steady.
"Our new recruits Syan and Ryo. Muscle and barrier twins. Syan specializes in kinetic fields, Ryo in blunt-force tactics."
The twins gave synchronized nods. A small, knowing smirk played on Syan's face, mirrored by Ryo's stoic intensity.
"And lastly, Nathan Crest. Speedster."
Nathan offered an exaggerated wave, striking a dramatic pose for the hovering HeroTube drones. Behind him, Seris rolled her eyes.
Redman turned back to Im.
"This is my team and I trust them with my life."
"Why such a small team?" Im asked.
Redman shrugged. "I prefer smaller squads more agile compared to the usual fifteen-man teams most guilds send."
"Understandable," Im replied.
"So, what's the report on this Gate?" Redman pressed.
Im gestured to the flickering hologrid behind him. "We've classified the rift as a Type-C threshold. Initial scans show goblinoid mana signatures likely low to mid-tier aggression clusters. Breach protocol should be standard."
"But...?" Redman's eyes narrowed.
Im exhaled sharply. "There are three confirmed champions in the final quadrant. Goblins, yes but ones exhibiting commander-level intelligence. Tactical formation. Possibly a cult hierarchy."
Redman nodded slowly. "Gladiator-culture goblins."
Im gave a thin smile. "Correct. Would that be a problem?"
Redman smirked. "Not at all. More fun than a mindless swarm."
Behind him, Seris stepped forward, concern creeping into her voice.
"Are you sure this is a C-rank gate? Not like the B-ranked gate last time?"
Im raised an eyebrow. "Ah… you must be the ones who handled that anomaly in District Nine."
Seris's expression darkened, but she said nothing more.
"You still haven't answered my question," she pressed.
Im met her gaze steadily. "We're confident in our readings. Mana levels haven't breached C-tier thresholds. If anything changes, we'll update you immediately. Besides, HQ confirmed it was a faulty system error from the tech division it's been resolved."
Babu crossed his arms. "You sure it's not a mutated hive? Goblins with an overlord strain?"
"Possible. We've seen that happen post-Eclipse. But without scouting or actually going inside, it's just speculation."
Seris's tone was sharp, almost bitter. "We've lost good people to 'speculation.'"
Redman gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and a firm smile.
"Don't worry. We'll be alright. Trust me. And if not have faith in my leadership."
He turned toward the glowing map, eyes narrowing as he studied the layout.
"Alright. Standard formation. If anything feels off, we pull out immediately Speedster and Ryo lead the extraction."
He glanced at his squad, then back to Im.
"But if this isn't just a goblin nest..."
The unfinished threat hung heavy in the air.
Im nodded solemnly. "Understood. Full hazard pay authorized. You have our support and if the intel's wrong, I'll resign immediately."
Redman adjusted his gauntlets with a quiet click.
"Good. Let's move in clean and wrap it up fast."
Im added, "Just tell us when you want the gate opened we'll trigger it so your team can move inside."
Jaxx gave a thumbs-up, already syncing the stream.
Babu cracked his neck with a low chuckle. "Let's see what kind of goblin cult thinks they can take us on with champions. Haha."
Seris didn't smile. Her eyes stayed locked on the gate.
"They better be right about that classification."
Redman checked his watch.
"We move out in fifteen. You threego meet the fans. Build your base. The world's watching now."
Gate Culture Overview
Each Dungeon Gate has its own distinct culture that governs the monsters inside. These creatures don't just mindlessly attack they follow rules, hierarchy, and social orders.
For example, goblin nests
a Gladiator Culture:
At the top are powerful Champion-level goblins who control the nest.
These champions lead tactical formations and may even run cult-like hierarchies to maintain control.
Knowing the culture of a gate's monsters helps hunters predict their behavior and plan strategies. Facing a goblin nest with champion leaders means more than just fighting hordes
it's a battle against a smart, organized enemy.