Gate Breaker

Gate breaker

The Day the Sky Cracked Twenty years ago, the sky cracked.

We call them “Gates.” Rifts in the air, swirling blue or red, that lead to other worlds—Dungeons. And from Dungeons come “Beasts.” Tanks, missiles, nukes—nothing stops them.

That’s when some humans awakened. We call them “Hunters.” Hunters have ranks—E to S. An S-Rank Hunter is a one-man army. An E-Rank... an E-Rank is a meat shield.

I’m E-Rank.

My name is Park Min-jae. Age 19. The guild calls me “Human Shield Min-jae.” Because my job is to walk in first and die, so the B-Ranks can live.

I’ve died and lived a hundred times. Today, I’ll die again.

*Chapter 1: Double Dungeon*

“Min-jae, today’s Gate is D-Rank,” Team Leader Choi Kang-woo said. Kang-woo’s a C-Rank Tanker. His shield costs more than my entire existence.

I nodded. D-Rank means I might not die. D-Rank means goblins, wolves. Stab them, they die. My job’s simple—stand in front of goblin teeth until the Mage throws a fireball.

Twelve of us. One C-Rank, four D-Ranks, seven E-Ranks. All the E-Ranks are like me—drowning in debt. The Hunter Guild gives loans. Die, and the loan’s forgiven. Live, and they take 10%. My mom’s in the hospital. Loan’s 20 million won. I have to live.

The Gate’s in the basement of Miryang Shopping Mall. Blue, spinning like a whirlpool, sucking in air.

“Buff check,” Kang-woo shouted. Healer girl Yoon Ha-eun threw green light at us. [Minor Heal] [Strength Up]. That’s all E-Ranks get.

I went in first. Rules. E-Rank first.

The Dungeon was a cave. Wet, dark. Smelled like rotting meat and iron—goblin stench. I pulled out my knife. E-Rank weapon, government-issue. Name: “Rat Fang.” Rat. You get it.

“Clear,” I whispered.

The team entered. We hit the boss room in 30 minutes. Boss—a hobgoblin. Standard for D-Rank. Kang-woo blocked with his shield, Mages cast spells. Dead in 2 minutes.

“Easy money,” a D-Rank Sniper laughed. “50 thousand won split. Min-jae, you get 2 thousand.”

I didn’t laugh. 2 thousand won means one day of Mom’s meds. I need 99 more days.

Then it happened.

The boss room wall trembled. Stone crumbled. Behind the wall—another Gate. Red. Black smoke.

“Double Dungeon,” Ha-eun whispered. Her face went white. “Protocol says... run.”

Double Dungeon means death. A Gate inside a Gate. Rank can’t be measured. Three months ago, an S-Rank team entered a Double Dungeon. Two came back.

Kang-woo spat. “Red Gate means S-Rank loot. If we clear it... billions.”

“We’ll die,” I said.

“Who asked an E-Rank?” the Sniper snapped. “You go in first. Survive, and you get a 5% bonus.”

My legs wouldn’t move. I thought of Mom. Hospital bills.

I stepped in.

*Inside the Red Gate*

It wasn’t a cave. It was a temple. Massive, stone. Couldn’t see the ceiling. Walls carved with figures—human-like, but horned, six arms. Eyes of blue fire.

The floor was blood. Old, dried. And in the center, a huge door. Writing on it. No language I knew. But I could read it.

[You Are Not Worthy]

[Offer a Sacrifice, Or the Door Will Not Open]

“Sacrifice?” Kang-woo shoved the door. Didn’t budge.

Then the temple shook. Stone statues fell from the ceiling. No—not statues. They moved.

[Iron Guardian – Lv.??] [Rank: Judgment]

Twelve feet tall. Stone sword in hand. Eyes red. It took one step. The ground split.

“Scatter!” Kang-woo screamed.

Too late. The Guardian swung. The D-Rank Sniper—the one who yelled at me—got cut in half. No blood, just steam. One hit.

Panic. A Mage threw a fireball. Hit the Guardian and fizzled out. Kang-woo raised his shield. The Guardian pinned him to the wall, shield and all. C-Rank Tanker. 2 seconds.

“The Gate’s closed!” Ha-eun cried. We ran. No red Gate. Trapped.

In 5 minutes, 10 were dead. Only me and Ha-eun left. The Guardian walked toward us. Slow. Playing.

Ha-eun was crying. “My brother... who’ll take care of my brother...”

My hands shook. I raised my knife. Rat Fang. Smaller than the Guardian’s fingernail.

Then the door spoke. In my head.

[Sacrifice Accepted. One Is Enough]

[To Open the Door, One Must Die]

I looked at Ha-eun. She’s a Healer. If she lives, more people live. I’m E-Rank. If I die, no one cries. Except Mom. Mom... forgive me.

“Run,” I told Ha-eun.

“What?”

I ran at the Guardian. Screaming. If I’m dying, I’ll land one hit.

The Guardian raised its sword. Time stopped. I saw my life. Dad left when I was 8. Mom worked in a factory to pay my school fees. I became a Hunter to save her. I failed.

The sword came down.

No pain.

I opened my eyes. I wasn’t dead. The Guardian had frozen. The door was opening. White light spilled out. And a system message.

[Sacrifice Accepted]

[But You Did Not Die]

[You Have Been Selected as “Player”]

A blue screen floated in front of me. Like a game.

[Park Min-jae – Lv.1] [Job: None] [Title: None]

[HP: 1/100] [MP: 10/10]

[Str: 5] [Agi: 7] [Int: 3] [Vit: 4] [Per: 6]

[Daily Quest: Survive] [Penalty: Death]

[Stat Points: 0] [Skill: None]