"The Gateway is activating."
Noah announced as the intricate arrangement etched into the floor began to emit a steady glow.
Thin lines of light traced along the engraved runes, threading through the circular formation. The glow intensified gradually, spreading outward from the center as each segment of the array responded in sequence.
A low noise followed.
Moments later, it deepened into a resonant vibration that filled the cathedral's hollow interior. The surrounding space reacted in kind, the already unstable air distorting further as faint ripples spread outward from the formation.
The runes grew brighter and brighter, the light shifting from a dim glow into something far more vivid, illuminating the fractured pillars and broken architecture around them in stark contrast.
Following that, the air at the center of the array warped visibly, space folding inward upon itself as if being drawn into a single point. The light condensed, forming a circular distortion that hovered just above the ground.
Infront of that rift was the standing Jasmine Lei wearing an indifferent face.
She could be described as full of mysteries. A twenty-four years old versed in swordsmanship, and fully capable of killing other hunters and beasts could have been said to be a rarity. In fact, only a few were that talented.
But in her case—
It felt almost expected.
Within the boundaries of Fortcliff, there existed the Feng Lei Clan.
They were not merely a family of Hunters, nor were they limited to influence within a single domain. The Feng Lei Clan stood as one of the few forces that bridged both power and commerce without compromising either.
In the realm of Hunters, they were regarded as a cornerstone.
For generations, the clan had produced individuals of exceptional caliber, many of whom rose to prominence at an early age. Swordsmanship was their foundation, but it was never their limit. Those born into the clan were trained to master multiple disciplines, blending physical prowess with refined control over mana.
It was not uncommon for a single member to possess the capability to lead entire operations on their own.
And Jasmine Lei was among the finest of her generation.
But the clan's strength did not end on the battlefield.
The Feng Lei Clan held considerable authority within the commercial sector. They controlled supply chains critical to the Hunter ecosystem; weapon forging, armor reinforcement, mana-conductive materials, and even the refinement of rare resources such as Shadow Cores.
Their influence extended into research as well.
Facilities backed by the clan were responsible for studying anomalies, developing Mystic Tools and so forth. Many of the Guild's advancements had, in one way or another, passed through Feng Lei hands.
Wealth. Power. Knowledge.
They possessed all three in abundance.
And unlike most organizations, they knew how to maintain balance between them. Whether in business or battle, the Feng Lei Clan operated with a level of control that few could match.
Clearly, they stood as one of the foremost powerhouses without question.
However, an unpleasant expression slowly crept across Jasmine's otherwise composed face. It was fortunate that her colleagues could not see her clearly. Otherwise, they might have grown concerned.
'I wonder what would happen if everyone learned the true face of the Feng Lei Clan. Would they still look at them with such respect and admiration then?'
She lightly scoffed.
'…Hmph. I suppose that's exactly why the clan has always been so meticulous when it comes to keeping their secrets.'
The glow from the Gateway intensified further, washing over her features and swallowing whatever trace of that fleeting expression remained.
By the time the light stabilized—
Jasmine Lei was once again the same composed individual the others had always known.
The distortion at the center of the formation stabilized into a clear, circular boundary. The rippling space within it settled into a glass-like surface, with currents of energy flowing beneath it like a luminous tide.
It was complete.
Without delay, Jasmine took a step forward.
Her figure passed through the rift first, swallowed whole by the distortion without resistance.
Mikoto followed closely behind. Noah spared one last glance at the surrounding cathedral, his gaze lingering briefly on the fractured architecture as if trying to memorize every detail before stepping through as well.
Kevin was the last to remain.
Lingering for a moment, an unknown thought crossed his mind as he scanned the surrounding environment before shaking his head and entering the rift.
It was a familiar sensation.
There was no sensation of movement. Only a sudden disconnection.
A second later, Kevin's feet touched solid ground.
The transition was far too abrupt. Kevin clicked his tongue inwardly, suppressing the urge to vomit.
Glancing around, he quickly took in his surroundings. The interior structure was unmistakable.
They had returned to the Raven Guild Association. Judging from the enclosed layout and reinforced architecture, they were most likely inside a private chamber.
Rooms like these were not accessible to the public. They were situated deep within the Guild's underground facilities, isolated and heavily secured to accommodate operations involving Gateways and other unstable phenomena.
Gateways themselves were not simple constructs.
They were formed through the accumulation and compression of atmospheric mana (天之息). Compared to an individual's internal magic power (灵力), atmospheric mana was vastly more abundant and far denser in nature.
That density, however, came with its own dangers.
To those with weak spirits or insufficient control, direct exposure could induce severe discomfort. In worse cases, it could disrupt their internal balance, overwhelming both body and mind. Some might even develop strange diseases that couldn't be cured normally.
He was a bit fascinated by these mysteries and wondered if there was a way to input his unique Transmigrator's wisdom.
Unfortunately, that wasn't something he could pursue right now.
More pressing matters demanded his attention.
'…What now?'
Kevin's gaze drifted across the room.
Jasmine was already engaged in conversation with a group of Guild officials. Whatever they were discussing, it was clearly something that required her full attention.
Meanwhile, Noah had vanished at some point without him noticing. The same went for the mysterious gunslinger who had accompanied them earlier.
'…So they just left, huh.'
A bit lost, Kevin scratched the back of his head.
For a brief moment, he considered approaching Jasmine, but quickly dismissed the idea. Interrupting her now would only be a nuisance, and whatever she was handling likely concerned the Guild's internal procedures.
That left him with very little to do.
But the question was what should he do in this situation?
He had just returned from his first mission as a Hunter without losing a single limb of anything important and precious. That alone was enough to count as an accomplishment of sorts. Most people weren't that fortunate. In some, there were people who were highly unfortunate.
Skilled individuals who died due to unforeseen circumstances and the unskillful amateurs who simply didn't know better. Many fell into this category and death doesn't discriminate.
The Dark Dimension was not something to be taken lightly.
"Guess I got lucky."
A faint smile crept onto his lips.
Though whether that luck would hold was an entirely different matter.
Speaking of which...