Chapter 4

A single month changed the Earth so much, that the past 100 years of revolutions can’t even compare. The single month is now called the Month of Cataclysm. In the midst of chaos, the angels took control of Earth and helped the governments adjust to the changes. The angels closed every single hole that appeared on Earth and taught the Earth about the Three Realms and Abilities.

The governments of every country started to enlist ability users into their military to defend themselves against the Demon beasts that came from the holes which are now called by others as the Gate or Portal.

In the preceding months, new organizations and groups were made, all related to the Gate and ability users. People made teams, subjugation teams to destroy any Gate that opens on Earth.

The Heaven Realm strengthened the barriers within Realm making the Hell Realm unable to completely connect to the Mortal Realm. The Hell Realm now makes sub-dimensions that connect to Earth. The subjugation teams enter the Gate to kill all the demon beasts inside the sub-dimension, causing the Gate to disappear.

It’s been exactly 100 days since the Gates opened on Earth, and now the main character of this story has now woken up.

…

Uwaaa

Kei stretched his body and saw his apartment chaotic and dirty. Signs of rats and other animals are abundant in his room. The only clean place is his bed.

“Haaaa, my apartment is a mess. Well, I didn’t even use my real name for this, I’ll just leave I guess.”

[What do you plan to do from now on?]

“I guess grow stronger, survive, and find someone?” Kei responded half-heartedly.

He packed up his clothes and items in his bag and went outside. The place has been almost fully fixed back to its former appearance.

Suddenly, the ear-piercing noise of a siren appeared. Speakers connected to streetlamps also issued emergency warnings.

“A gate has appeared in Busan. It is suspected to be a mid-tier Gate. Everyone within 100 kilometers of Jungang Park is advised to evacuate. Evacuation Assistance will be deployed, please follow their instructions.”

This warning is repeated several times. Kei’s apartment (former) is just within a few kilometers of the said park.

“Might as well visit it to test my strength, right? Do you think I can do it?”

[Just do it, don’t worry, you have the Great me right here.]

“Now, I’m having second thoughts. Maybe I should train more.” Kei joked and responded.

[You!! You don’t trust me? Who do you think protected you during your 100 days' sleep?]

“Krie… Ok, I was joking.” Kei wanted to continue teasing Remy when magic energy suddenly gathered around the necklace. Feeling her anger, he decided to stop.

Evacuation cars saw them walking towards the park. “Kid, go evacuate, it’s dangerous around here. We still have space, you wanna hop in?”

Kei smiled and shook his head. “Thanks for the advice, ahjussi. But I’m just going to take a walk in the park.”

“You’re joking, right? Didn’t you hear the warnings? A mid-tier gate appeared. Go Home!” The driver warned him and wanted Kei to join him, by the end of his sentences, he was shouting at Kei.

His partner held the driver’s shoulder and shook his head. “He’s probably an ability user who just awakened of his ability, let him go. Youths these days are hot-headed and don’t listen to their elders. I just wish he can live and regret his decisions.”

Kei looked at him weirdly and frowned, but just nodded and went off on his way. The driver shook his head and drove off.

A moment later, Kei can see the gate in the sky. Soldiers surrounded the gate while individuals passed them. The soldiers bowed to them and allowed them to enter. They saw Kei in the street walking towards the Gate.

“Back off kid, I don’t know who you are. Even if you’re an ability user, this gate is the property of Panacea Organization.”

Kei raised his hands and asked. “Property? Can you use this gate for anything? I just want to take a walk in the park, and maybe enter the gate or something.”

[The bones of some demon beast are stronger than metals and more useful. The blood can be used as medicines, the flowers and fauna in some sub-dimensions are pretty and the others can also be used as medicines. But most are poisonous or useless.]

‘Heehhh! Now I really want to see what’s inside of a Gate.’

The soldiers raised their guns and pointed them at him. “Final warning, back off!”

“Sheeesh! You soldiers really can’t take a joke huh? How about punches? Can you take ‘em?” Kei suddenly disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Waaahh!

Soldiers flew with every punch. The soldiers were too scared to even move.

“Wha! What is happening? Soldiers, fire!!”

A stern-looking guy appeared and his face frowned. The commanding officer noticed the commotion and ordered the soldiers to open fire.

Kei dodged every bullet with ease. “Hehh! Can’t you fire faster or something? A bird’s stone throw is faster than this.”

[Even if they press the trigger faster or stronger. The bullets won’t come out faster.] Remy’s voice entered Kei’s head and ridiculed him.

‘I know that, I was just provoking them to destroy their formation. Of course, a necklace wouldn’t know anything about tactics.’

[Ok, fine. Don’t expect any help from me.]

“Sir, our soldiers are falling one by one. We should request for help from those ability users.”

“No, they’re all inside the Gate. Just let him enter if he wants. The ability users inside will take care of him. Everyone RETREAT!!” The commander answered and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Kei looked around to see the soldiers running from him, he went closer to the gate. He stood in front of it for a minute, hesitating before turning around. He put his hands in his pocket trying to find something, after a moment he found it. He threw it towards the commander and bowed. “Thanks, old man.”

Kei then entered the gate and saw his surrounding quickly change. The commander took a look at what Kei gave him and saw that it was a 100 won coin.

“What the fuck, this isn’t even enough for medical assistance.” The commander raged at the sight of the coin and threw it towards the gate.

…

Six individuals are walking towards the center of the sub-dimension while killing all creatures nearby. The 5 people form a team with each having a different type of ability. Strength, Speed, Heal, Accuracy, Enhance. The last person is carrying the bags of the team.

The six people are walking in a forest while clearing the path to the center. The two people in front cautiously observed the area while

The strength ability powers up the user’s physical attacks. The speed hastens the user’s body mentally and physically. Heal allows the user to heal someone. Accuracy makes the user’s attacks accurate and lastly, Enhance allows a user to enhance another person’s ability.

These five people make up a team, with the Enhancer and Healer in the back while the Strength and Speed user is in the front with the Accuracy user either in the middle using guns or any projectile weapons or in the front line.

“Hey, we’ve been walking for 10 minutes now, how large is this sub-dimension? Hey speedy, go use your ability to go to the core faster. Tell us what kind of demon beasts are there.” The guy in the middle shouted and complained.

“Shut up Portez, don’t call me speedy, I have a name. Don’t think you’re the leader of this team just because you entered the team earlier.” Another guy in the front shouted.

“Yeah yeah Mr. Bob, don’t you think your name doesn’t fit your ability?” The guy called Portez retorted and laughed hysterically.

“Ok guys, stop. I already used magic to detect the area around us and there are 7 demon beasts in front. After that, I think we’re done.” A girl in the back tried to mediate.

Hmph! As if on a script, they turned around at the same time and harrumphed.

“So, you know how to use magic now huh, you’re improving very fast, Estea.” The other guy in the back talked with the girl.

“Yeah, while the angels were here, I was one of the earliest whose abilities were awakened. They taught me how to use my ability and utilize magic. All I know are basics compared to you, Trikus.” Estea took the compliment happily.

“I just wanted to praise you, why are you praising me instead?” Trikus blushed and shyly retorted.

After a moment they saw demon beasts standing in front of them, exactly seven. The group hid behind trees and observed the beasts. Chickens towering over 3 meters stood in a clearing between the trees.

“Oh!! I guess we’re fighting chicken demons now. I wonder if their meat is delicious. Do you think they lay eggs?”

“Shut up, Borte. We can’t fight the seven all in one, we need to at least separate some of them from the group.” Portez rebuked Borte, the Strength user of the team.

They stayed there for about 10 minutes before seeing 4 of the giant chickens move away. They slowly moved into position and waited for the signal. The guy carrying the baggage placed the bag down and gave the team their weapon. A gun for Portez, a hammer for Borte, and a sword for Bob.

Portez shot one of the chickens alerting the 2 others. They rushed towards the team and attacked with their talons and beak.

Borte went forward to block the attack and Bob speedily went behind the chicken to slash his sword at it.

Clang

Bob retreated back to the team. “Fuck, the feather is as hard as stone. We need more firepower.”

Borte shouted at Trikus. “Trikus, enhance me!” Trikus raised his hands and closed his eyes. A green light appeared from the tip of his fingers and light burst forth from Borte.

Borte jumped high and smashed at the chicken’s head. Another chicken tried to catch Borte with his beak but bullets came flying for its eyes.

“No matter how tough you are, I don’t believe your eyes will be as tough. Try my bullets.” Portez continued firing for the eyes, making the chicken do nothing but dodge and block, effectively taking it out of the fight.

Bob stealthily went behind the chicken that Borte smashed and slashed at its neck but the chicken just opened its wings and smacked Bob away.

Bob flew quite some distance, then hit a tree. He threw up blood and his complexion paled. Then a light appeared around him, his expression lightened and the pain lightened.

“Thanks a lot, Estea. Fuck it still hurts.” Bob then jumped back to the fight, seeing Barte take two on one, he planned to help him.

“Ah! but it’s not me.” Estea sounded hesitant but chose to not say anything till the fight ended.

Barte smashed another chicken causing some of its feathers to fall off. Bob took the opportunity to make a huge cut causing the chicken to bleed.

“That one’s dead, we just need to make it bleed more.” Trikus voice came from the backlines.

Barte and Bob just focused on the other chicken while dodging the bleeding one.

“Some help here! I’ve almost run out of ammo.” Portez looked at his ammunition and quickly ran from his enemy. He reloaded and returned back to firing, he repeated this process and just ran circles around the chicken. “Man, this accuracy ability really helps, it allows me to fire at any opening with pin-point accuracy.”

Barte and Bob quickly finished their enemy before helping Portez. “You didn’t even damage it, at least make a wound or something.” Bob teased Portez causing him to rage.

“Boys! Shut up, take this seriously.”

The three were about to send the finishing blow when the four demon beasts who left earlier came back.

“Oh god! We’re fucked!”

“Yeah, you’re fucked! Congratulations! Need some help?” Kei’s joking voice rang out from the bush behind them.

“Yes! Please help us.” Estea felt doubtful but nonetheless pleaded.

“Estea! We’re supposed to be the only ones here. Be careful.” Trikus rebuked Estea.

“Eh don’t worry I can help.” Kei’s nonchalant attitude raised doubt within the team.

“We don’t have a choice, if you’re an expert, please help us.” Barte saw the 4 chickens quickly closing in on them.

Kei nodded and suddenly disappeared. The team blinked then saw a chicken flailing around. The next moment they saw it drop dead. The team’s mouth was left wide open.

“He… What did he do?” Barte couldn’t believe his eyes and asked his teammates if they saw the same thing.

Portez’ closed his mouth and answered. “He jumped behind the chicken, twisted its neck, then went to its front and punched its chest around the heart area.”

Bob nodded and added. “He’s faster than me when I use my ability, but I’m faster when Trikus enhances me. He’s probably a Speed ability user like me, but super strong.”

While the team was talking, Kei quickly finished the fight with the chicken… calling it a fight was a compliment to the demon beasts, it was more of a one-sided killing.

‘Damn, this was easy. I don’t know if it’s because they’re just weak, or I became too strong due to the birds and the necklace’s training, but who cares?’ Kei thought that the chicken was too weak was completely wrong. Their feathers were tough enough to receive bullets without a trace, except for their eyes and other weak spots, and they are fast enough to run 60 kilometers per hour.

[…they’re not weak, you’re just too strong for them. Don’t get arrogant, those are just livestock for the real demon beasts and devils. They’re basically the same as chickens to humans.]

Kei frowned and his mood dropped. ‘So, what I just killed is food?’

[Don’t worry, you’ll get a fight with real beast soon. Pretty soon actually, about 10 seconds.]

“…”

Kei felt the ground shaking and saw a huge beast running towards him.

“Well, maybe I’m fucked too.”

--End--