Inside the Red Gate
A thunderous roar shook the battlefield. The giant serpent, its obsidian scales glistening under the dim dungeon light, lunged forward, fangs bared. A single bite could tear a man in half.
But Renizo Mark stood firm.
Silver hair fluttering, his piercing blue eyes burned with unwavering focus. A brilliant blue flame erupted from his sword as he dashed forward, slicing through the air with inhuman speed.
The serpent struck, its tail whipping around like a massive wrecking ball. Renizo twisted mid-air, dodging by a hair''s breadth before landing on the beast''s back.
"Now burn."
With a fierce cry, his sword ignited in blue flames. A single downward slash—BOOM!—a fiery explosion engulfed the monster. The dungeon trembled.
The beast screeched in agony as its massive body was torn apart, blackened scales crumbling into ashes. Then, with one final shudder, it collapsed.
The dungeon boss was slain.
A second later, the Red Gate behind him flickered, signaling the dungeon''s completion. Renizo, now standing amidst a sea of charred remains, sheathed his sword with a flick of his wrist.
---
Outside the Dungeon – The Youngest S-Rank Hunter
The moment Renizo stepped out, cameras flashed, and microphones were shoved in his face. A crowd had gathered—news reporters, fans, and curious onlookers.
"Renizo Mark, you just cleared a Red Gate alone! How does it feel to be the youngest S-Rank hunter in Lebius Country?"
Renizo glanced at the camera, his expression unreadable. His cold, indifferent gaze sent shivers down the spines of those watching.
"This is nothing," he muttered before walking past the reporters.
At just 18 years old, he was already an S-Rank hunter—a legend in the making.
---
A Small Restaurant in Vano City
Inside a small, dimly lit restaurant, a young man in his twenties sat at a counter, watching the live broadcast on a dusty television. His fingers gripped a rag, frozen mid-wipe.
Renizo Mark—the hunter, the genius, the country''s rising star—was on screen.
The man smiled faintly. His silver hair and blue eyes were the same. But while Renizo stood in the spotlight, he was here—scrubbing plates in a dingy restaurant.
"Bastard!"
SMACK!
A metal pan struck his head.
Beno Mark winced.
"Quit gawking at the TV and clean the damn dishes!" barked his boss, a grumpy middle-aged man.
"Yes, boss…" Beno muttered, rubbing the sore spot.
My name is Beno Mark. I''m 22 years old. And yes, Renizo Mark is my younger brother.
But we are no longer close.
---
Flashback – A Brother''s Burden
There was a time when Renizo and I were just brothers.
No hunters, no awakenings, no tragedies. Just two kids running through the fields near our home, our parents watching with soft smiles.
Our mother, Elena Mark, was gentle and kind. She had a voice that could soothe even the worst nightmares. Our father, Lucas Mark, was a strict but loving man who always told us, "A family should stand together, no matter what."
I believed in those words.
I believed in them until everything fell apart.
Renizo and I were raised equally—at least, in the beginning. We shared everything, from food to clothes, even the tiny room in our house.
But then, when Renizo was 10 years old, he awakened.
The moment it happened, everything changed.
Our parents'' eyes sparkled with pride.
"My son is a hunter! He has a gift!"
I remember standing in the corner of the room, watching as our father ruffled Renizo''s hair with a look I had never seen before.
Pride. Admiration. Hope.
For the first time, I felt invisible.
At first, I tried to push the feelings aside. He was my brother. I was happy for him.
But over time, things got worse.
Our parents talked about him constantly—his potential, his training, his future as a great hunter. I became the shadow of a rising star.
Their smiles toward me became less frequent. The warmth in their voices when they called my name began to fade.
One night, I overheard them talking.
"Beno... he''s different from Renizo. We can''t expect much from him."
"He''ll have to find his own way."
It felt like a knife in my chest.
I wasn''t jealous of Renizo''s power. I was jealous of the way they looked at him.
Eventually, I couldn''t take it anymore.
At 16, I left home.
I thought, Maybe if I disappear, they''ll realize they still need me.
But they didn''t come looking.
Instead, two years later…
I got the news.
---
The Night Everything Fell Apart
I returned home, breathless and panicked.
But I was too late.
Our father was dead—killed in an unknown accident. Our mother had disappeared, her whereabouts unknown.
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And Renizo…
I found him in our house, standing alone in the dark, staring at nothing.
He didn''t react when I entered. Didn''t speak.
When I called his name, his head slowly turned toward me.
His eyes weren''t the same anymore.
Gone was the little brother I had played with. The innocent child who once ran beside me through the fields.
Instead, I saw a boy who had lost everything.
A boy whose heart had turned to ice.
"You left."
His voice was hollow.
"You weren''t here."
Guilt crushed my chest like a boulder.
I tried to make up for it. I worked multiple jobs, earning money to support him. Even if he refused to speak to me, even if he ignored my presence, I made sure he had everything he needed.
I watched from the sidelines as he grew into a genius.
Then, at 15, he got a sponsorship from Rose Guild.
At 17, he became an A-Rank hunter.
At 18, he was an S-Rank—the youngest in the country.
That should have made me proud. But the day he left home…
He didn''t thank me.
He didn''t say goodbye.
Instead, he turned to me with those same cold eyes and said:
"I will never forgive you for what you did to our parents."
"If you ever try to contact me again… I will kill you."
Then, he walked away.
Leaving me standing in the dark.
Alone.
---
Present Day
Beno''s hands trembled as he gripped the dirty rag.
He blinked, snapping out of the painful memories.
He looked up at the television screen, where Renizo Mark stood tall, surrounded by cameras and reporters.
The youngest S-Rank hunter.
A legend.
A hero.
And to him…
I was nothing.
"I''m living only for my younger brother."
But the sad truth was…
He didn''t want me in his life anymore.
---
Vano City – A Sudden Disaster
Beno sighed, wiping his forehead as he stepped outside. The evening breeze was cool, a stark contrast to the turmoil in his heart.
The only possession he had was an old bicycle—the same one he had bought as a gift for Renizo.
Renizo had thrown it back at him, saying he didn''t want anything from him.
Beno tightened his grip on the handlebars. Old memories were like ghosts—unwanted, but impossible to shake off.
He pedaled down the streets of Vano City, heading home.
But then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the air.
What the hell?!
Beno skidded to a halt, eyes widening as cracks formed in the sky.
A Gate was breaking open.
---
E-Rank Gate Disaster
[Emergency Alert: E-Rank Gate has opened near Vano City''s main road. Citizens, take cover immediately.]
The announcement blared from speakers, sending people into a panic.
Beno watched in horror as dozens of goblins emerged from the portal. Their green skin gleamed under the streetlights, and each one clutched a crude weapon—a bat, a dagger, a rusted axe.
"Shit!"
Beno yanked his bike around, but before he could escape—
THUD!
Something slammed into his back, sending him flying.
His bicycle crashed, skidding across the pavement. Pain shot through his ribs, but there was no time to react.
A goblin loomed over him, its yellow eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
I need to move—!
He rolled aside just as the goblin''s bat came crashing down, missing his head by inches.
Heart pounding, he stumbled to his feet.
He wasn''t a hunter. He had no powers.
He was just an ordinary man.
And now, he was going to die.
---
Underground Chase
Beno ran.
The goblins shrieked, giving chase. His legs burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, but he forced himself forward, sprinting toward an underground subway entrance.
One goblin managed to slip past him—
Beno gritted his teeth and shoulder-checked the creature, sending it tumbling down the stairs.
He jumped after it, landing hard, but there was no time to stop.
More goblins followed, dozens pouring in.
Beno sprinted through the dimly lit tunnel.
Then—
Dead end.
He skidded to a stop. Walls loomed before him.
Behind him, the goblins cackled, their weapons clanging against the concrete.
Then, the worst thing happened.
The Goblin Giant stepped forward.
A hulking, monstrous version of the others. Its massive battle axe scraped against the ground, sparks flying.
Beno''s breathing turned shallow. His hands trembled.
There was no escape.
The goblin horde charged.
The Goblin Giant raised its axe high—
And then—
SLASH!
---
[End of Chapter 1]