Chapter 12: Into the Gate of Shadows

Seong Ji-woo sketched out a rough scenario in his mind and nodded in satisfaction.

“It’s fine. I’ll be watching over you.”

“……”

Yoo Heero didn’t reply. Interpreting his silence as agreement, Hyerin jumped in.

“How far has he progressed?”

“Ah, I didn’t say, did I? Up to ‘Moving Shadows,’ I think?”

Hyerin rubbed her chin, glancing down at the short shadow beneath Heero’s feet. The sun was high—it was around 1 p.m.—so his shadow wasn’t long.

“Your shadow? How do you move it?”

“Show us.”

At Ji-woo’s words, Heero reacted instinctively. The shadow clinging to his feet stretched out instantly, lengthening until it overlapped Ji-woo’s.

In that moment, the dazzling light dimmed—like they were standing under shade. Even the air felt a little cooler. Ji-woo relaxed his furrowed brows and let out a soft exclamation.

“Whoa… you can do that?”

“I can only move my own shadow. Nothing else.”

To prove his point, Heero stretched and shortened the shadow freely. Within it, his silhouette formed the shape of a rabbit. The shadow rabbit hopped and landed atop Ji-woo’s shadowy head. Ji-woo and Shin Yun-jae both clapped like impressed spectators.

Hyerin, however, didn’t look thrilled.

“It’s neat and all… but how do you actually deal damage with that?”

Heero ignored her doubt and continued his shadow play—this time, a pigeon fluttered across the ground. Ji-woo, looking a bit embarrassed, scratched his cheek.

“…That’s what you’ll figure out from now on.”

Hyerin blinked at the absurd response, while Heero seemed detached, as if none of this concerned him. His shadow-hand turned into a snail that slowly crawled across the training field.

“Still, isn’t it cool? You’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Ji-woo spread his arms wide, like a proud parent at a school performance. Hyerin grimaced as the snail’s feelers curled and uncurled. Yun-jae, captivated, didn’t take his eyes off the shadow show until Hyerin yanked him back.

“Let’s… think it through first.”

After some thought, Hyerin seemed to reach a decision. She led the three of them to a training gate behind the school.

“Alright. Let’s treat it like a four-person party.”

“Four-person party” — a ‘4-man party’ in gaming slang.

“Originally, Ji-woo and I were going to clear it with just three people, but one more won’t make much difference.”

Unlike real combat gates, training gates had no “core.” Only low-level monsters appeared, and the difficulty was minimal. These gates spawned densely near schools and training centers to help nurture awakened students.

This one was no exception. It was safe, and students could register to use it for practice. Ji-woo rarely entered them in his past life—unless it was for a practical exam.

The four strapped smartwatches onto their wrists. A body scan began, followed by a “ding” as a green light flashed. Their identities and conditions were likely transmitted to the school’s system.

The black gate shimmered before them, as if ready to swallow them whole. Hyerin glanced at Heero.

“Experience helps more than theory.”

Ji-woo looked uneasy.

“But he just started using his power! Didn’t you see that shadow show earlier?”

“I did. That’s why he’s coming. If he really couldn’t do anything, I wouldn’t bring him.”

Hyerin gave Heero a searching look.

“When it’s life or death, people always figure something out. And it’s not every day you get to enter a gate with upperclassmen like us.”

Unlike her confidence, Ji-woo’s face was filled with worry.

I wasn’t planning to bring him into a gate…

They were headed to the Second Training Gate, a known four-floor surface dungeon—the easy kind. For reasons unknown, underground dungeons always had stronger monsters.

At least Hyerin had chosen the safest option for Heero’s sake.

“You’ve never been inside one, right?”

Only third-year students used gates for practical exams. Second-years could enter for training, but only in pairs or more. Of course, Heero hadn’t tried before.

“…No.”

Heero’s hesitant voice confirmed it.

Yeah, maybe we really shouldn’t…

But before Ji-woo could persuade Hyerin otherwise, Heero spoke first.

“But… I think it’ll be fine if I’m with you, senior.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I… I want my first gate to be with you. So I’ll try.”

Ji-woo wasn’t worried about Heero’s ability—he was worried Heero might freeze up in fear. Once that happened, no amount of support would fix the chaos.

But hearing his quiet determination, Ji-woo couldn’t bring himself to object. He even felt proud. The normally timid Heero wasn’t backing away this time.

“Alright. But once we’re inside, stay right next to me, got it?”

“Yes, I will.”

When the party was set, Hyerin called out brightly—

“Then… let’s enter!”

As they stepped through the black, swirling gate, a new world unfolded. They had been teleported to another realm. Ji-woo felt that familiar wave of nausea and disorientation.

Just twenty meters from the entrance stood the first dungeon. A cool breeze swept through. The gray cliffs rose in a dome around them, open at the very top where the sky shone through—a massive, bowl-shaped space.

A spiral path wound along the inner wall. The group stood at the starting point at the very bottom. Climbing the winding path would eventually lead to the exit above—like the snail shape Heero had made earlier.

The most peculiar part was the empty plaza in the middle—large, circular, and unreachable. No path led to it.

“What’s that place?”

“Nothing. It’s just how this gate’s shaped.”

Hyerin, who had been here before, waved it off. Their voices echoed faintly through the enclosed space as they started walking. Glowing minerals lined the walls, some shimmering dangerously. From between them, plant-like creatures swayed and bared their teeth.

Ji-woo instinctively positioned himself between Heero and the wall—experience told him the walls were the most dangerous part.

Cold air. Damp scent. That old, familiar tension filled his body. Power gathered in his hands, ready to activate at any moment.

“Don’t panic if we meet monsters. Some like to target the weakest one first, so stay within my range.”

Ji-woo whispered, and Heero nodded. Ji-woo opened his palm, summoning a small light and sending it toward Hyerin. The glowing orb fluttered like a firefly.

The light could detect living creatures—it would flash when monsters were nearby.

“Ack! What the—what is that, yours?”

Thinking it was a bug, Hyerin waved her hands wildly, but her swipes passed right through.

“It’ll point out where monsters are.”

Ji-woo spoke as if the light were alive—and honestly, it almost was. The way it fluttered and circled them made it feel sentient. Ji-woo trusted his ability completely; if nothing else, his light never failed him.

“What? Wow, that’s amazing.”

Hyerin stared curiously at the glow, but it was bright enough to sting her eyes.

“Ugh—why’s it so bright?”

“It’s light. That’s kind of the point.”

Ji-woo chuckled, amused by her antics.

“It kind of looks like… uh…”

“Tinkerbell?”

“…Yeah! That’s it! How did you know?”

“You’re not the first to say that.”

(Although, in truth, she was.)

Muttering about “unoriginal people,” Hyerin followed the glowing guide deeper into the path.

“Let’s go too.”

Ji-woo was about to move when he noticed Heero frozen in place. His expression was tense—not terrified, but serious.

Guess it really feels different once you’re inside.

“You scared? You can leave if you want—it’s okay.”

He spoke gently, but Heero shook his head. He stared ahead intently. Ji-woo followed his gaze but saw only Hyerin fussing around.

“What is it? Something wrong?”

“…A little.”

Heero’s voice was quiet. Ji-woo waited. After a pause, Heero mumbled—

“…Could I have one too?”

“One what?”

“A… Tinkerbell.”

Ji-woo burst out laughing before he could stop himself. For a second, Heero looked like a kid asking for a balloon at an amusement park.

“You wanted one of these?”

With a wave of his hand, Ji-woo summoned five glowing lights to circle around Heero. He only needed one—but Heero’s earnestness was too cute to resist.

Heero’s expression softened. He quietly followed Ji-woo, eyes fixed on the lights that floated around him like stars.

Just like when Ji-woo had shown him his power sphere before—he couldn’t look away.

He really likes light, huh?

Maybe because it was something he didn’t have himself. The thought made Ji-woo’s heart ache a little.

“I can show you lights anytime you want. Just ask.”

It was a simple offer—born from quiet sympathy.

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s no big deal.”

Heero smiled—bright and genuine this time.