Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
The phone vibrated violently on the table in the small living room of Akira's modest apartment. Sunlight crept lazily through the curtains, illuminating dust motes in the air. In the hallway, Yuna's door creaked open. Still in her oversized pajamas, she shuffled toward the noise.
"Onii-chan..." she mumbled, picking up the phone. She stared at the screen. It read: *Haruto - Souka Guild.*
She blinked. Then, without hesitation, marched over to her brother's room and knocked.
"Onii-chan! Your phone is ringing!"
No response.
She knocked harder. Still no answer.
Annoyed, Yuna grabbed a wooden plank from beside the shoe rack and banged it against the door. BANG!
Inside, Akira bolted upright in bed, eyes wide and wild. "I'LL KILL YOU, GOBLIN!"
He blinked, then groaned as he returned to reality.
"Tch... stupid dream..."
He stumbled to the door, yanked it open, snatched the phone from Yuna's hand, and slammed the door shut again.
Yuna blinked. "You're welcome," she muttered, heading back to her room.
Akira answered the call, voice still hoarse. "Hello?"
"Akira Kaito," Haruto's calm voice came through. "You're being assigned to a mission today. A scouting party needs a supply carrier. Meet them at the Southern Gatepoint 3 by 10:00 sharp."
Akira rolled his eyes. "Stop making it sound like it's some grand mission."
*Click.*
He tossed the phone on the bed.
---
Akira stood in front of his closet, looking through his clothes. After a brief pause, he picked out a black tactical shirt, dark cargo pants, and his usual long black hoodie with a high collar. He fixed his canvas.
He tied his belt, adjusted the straps on his gear, and pulled the hoodie over his head.
Then he stepped out into the hallway.
"Yuna. I'm going to work. Stay safe, alright?"
Yuna peeked from the kitchen, grinning. "Oh yeah, onii-chan, I will. Have you heard from Rei lately?"
Akira paused. His face turned red.
"W-What kind of question is that?!" he snapped, pulling his hoodie further over his head and storming out.
Yuna giggled.
---
The streets bustled with morning life. Vendors opened shops, kids ran to early classes, and hunters prepped their gear. Akira moved swiftly through the crowd, blending in with the morning rush.
He arrived at Gatepoint 3. The Southern Edge of the city was a place of reinforced concrete, monitoring towers, and stationed hunters. The area around the gate pulsed with restrained energy.
The moment Akira stepped onto the platform, he felt eyes on him.
"Is that the kid they added to our team?" whispered one scout.
"They say his Zeir is just 2.0. How the hell is he even allowed past the gates?"
Another scoffed. "Guild's becoming a joke."
Akira ignored them. He stepped forward, standing confidently despite the murmurs.
"Good morning," he said. "I'm Akira Kaito. Happy to work with you all."
The one who stepped forward was a tall, square-jawed man with a calm presence. He extended a hand.
"Eiji. I'm leading this scout party. Let's keep each other alive out there."
Akira shook his hand.
Two others, a female scout with silver hair named Mika and a burly man named Goro, gave curt nods. Another female, Hana, smiled at him, while the last scout—a lean guy with sharp eyes named Ren—didn't bother hiding his disdain.
"Let's get this over with," Ren muttered.
Akira was assigned his role: carry the supplies—water, food packs, magical flares, and potions. The packs were bulky and weighed down with reinforced straps. Mika and Hana helped him strap them on.
"There. All good," Hana said kindly.
Eiji looked over the group. "This is a Tier-3 gate. Intel shows goblins and mutated wolves. No high-class monsters, but we stay sharp."
Everyone nodded.
"Move in."
The six of them walked into the gate as the light shimmered and wrapped around them.
Akira clenched his jaw.
*They think I'm weak. Just a carrier. Let's see what happens.*
---
The inside of the gate was a forest twisted with black vines and fog. The air was heavy. A strange metallic scent lingered.
Eiji raised his hand. Everyone stopped.
"Goblins ahead. Four. Ren, Goro, take the left. Mika, with me. Hana, stay behind and support. Carrier, stay back."
Akira obeyed, kneeling behind a root. He watched as the scouts moved with practiced form.
Ren moved like a blade—clean, fast, efficient. Goro smashed with sheer power. Eiji and Mika covered the other side in fluid synchronization.
Minutes later, the goblins were down.
Akira stayed silent, but he analyzed every movement.
They moved forward, clearing more terrain. At one point, a group of wolves ambushed them from both sides. Hana unleashed a barrier while Eiji shouted commands. Ren got a shallow cut. Akira moved forward instinctively to help.
"Stay back!" Ren hissed.
But Eiji noticed.
After the fight, he approached Akira. "You moved well. Reflexes sharp."
Akira nodded. "Thanks."
They reached a rocky clearing and rested. Everyone pulled out rations. Akira handed out supplies.
"You act like you've done this before," Mika said, taking a bottle from him.
"I've been... training alone."
"That so?"
Goro snorted. "With 2.0 Zeir? Must be sparring with chickens."
Akira didn't reply. He stared at the glowing edge of the gate field.
His hands itched. He wanted to fight. But he had to wait.
*Soon.*
As they resumed movement, a low growl echoed. The trees rustled.
Eiji signaled silence.
A massive shadow passed overhead.
Everyone froze.
Then it landed.
A mutated beast—something between a lion and a serpent—snarled, Zeir glowing from its chest.
"That's not in the report!" Mika gasped.
"Level 3 at least!"
Eiji drew his blade. "Positions!"
Akira ran for cover.
His fingers itching to fight.
"Stay safe Akira!" Hana shouted.
Akira moved backwards, eyes fixed on the beast.