The Gate Between Worlds
Blaze's boots pressed rhythmically into the worn dirt paths of Juris.
The End City of Juris. It is the last city of Juris. This is where the gate to the friendly dungeon is located.
As he was walking through the city, he could see the density of people.
"Umm... excuse me, can you please tell me where I can find the Gate here?" he asked a businessman there.
"Hoo... Ya new here? I can help you if you buy some apples from me," the bald man said.
"He won't even say the way without money?" Blaze sighed.
"You said something?" "Uhh... no. Okay, give me two, please."
"Nice to do business with ya. And go straight from here. There, you can see a cave opening. Go there, and you'll know."
"Thank you." After that, he went there.
"Wow, that's a big cave." He went inside.
He could feel it with each step, the weight of three long days of travel. Dust clung to his cloak, and the sunless sky above, lit only by floating mana crystals. It gave the cave a dim and perpetual twilight. He was exhausted after that journey, but his heart was thudding with growing excitement.
He had finally arrived.
Before him stood the Gate Point—a towering archway shimmering with green magical energy, pulsing softly like the heartbeat of the world itself. It was beautiful, mesmerizing... a living boundary between realities. Beyond it lay Lesser World-1: Luthendria—his first step into a larger world, a world besides his home world.
But as Blaze approached, the massive halberds of two armored sentries dropped in unison with a loud clang.
"Halt!" A sudden bark.
Both figures stood firm before the gate, clad in polished silver armor etched with glowing runes that flickered with latent enchantments. Their presence radiated silent authority.
Blaze stopped without hesitation.
"Show us your MID," the second knight commanded with a firm yet measured voice.
Nodding, Blaze raised his right hand. A soft hum of magic responded to his will, and a transparent screen of light materialized midair.
[MID SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Name: Blaze Lumnell
Highest Mage Rank: None
Highest Sword Order: Junior Order
Address: Juris (Sub World)
Year: 17
MID No: 202425031416
Status: Registered Combatant
The knights leaned closer, eyes scanning the glowing panel.
After a tense moment, one of them smirked. "So it really is you—Blaze Lumnell. The talk of Juris."
Blaze raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You've heard of me?"
The other knight let out a short laugh. "Heard of you? You're practically a city legend after that Battle Royale. That swordsmanship... You made waves, kid. People are still talking about it."
Blaze felt a flicker of pride stir in his chest. But before he could respond, the knight's tone shifted.
"That said—if you're planning to cross into Luthendria, there's one final step."
Blaze blinked. "Final step?"
The knight nodded. "You need to register for your AID—Adventurer Identification Document. Without it, passage through the Gate is prohibited."
"AID..." Blaze murmured.
"It's standard protocol," the second knight added. "Anyone intending to explore dungeons or travel between worlds needs one. The system tracks your quests, combat rank, and your permissions. No AID, no entry."
Blaze let out a sigh, shifting his sword slightly on his hip. "So... I need to make a detour to the Adventurer's Guild."
The first knight gestured down the road. "It's there. Can't miss it. Get it done quickly—you look like someone who's ready to see the world."
Blaze offered a small, confident grin. "I am."
With a nod to the knights, he turned away from the gate and toward the bustling heart of Juris once more.
A Price on His Head
With a final glance at the Gate Point, Blaze turned back toward Juris. Though the journey had already tested his stamina, he walked with a renewed sense of purpose. The Adventurer's Guild—that was the next step.
The interior of the Adventurer's Guild was filled with adventurers.
"I never thought Juris had that many adventurers."
A sprawling hall unfolded before Blaze. It was pulsing with energy and life. Battle-scarred warriors leaned against stone pillars. As they swapped war stories over mugs of spiced ale, their laughter echoed through the hall. Robed mages huddled around glowing scrolls. Their fingertips were flickering with glyphs as they debated many theories in hushed but heated tones. In the dimmer corners, there were some nimble archers. They seem to be inspecting their bows with meticulous care and adjusting the string tension of their bows, and testing arrowheads with the precision of seasoned hunters.
The air itself was rich with sensation. It was so filled with a sharp blend of steel, parchment, aged wood, and raw mana. The scent of battle, study, and ambition—a place for adventurers.
At the far end of the hall, beneath the radiant shimmer of the guild's crest—an intricate emblem of sword, wand, and wing—stood a row of reception counters, polished to a mirror sheen.
Blaze's gaze swept across the desks until one caught his eye.
A woman stood behind it. She was poised and composed. Her vibrant red hair cascaded neatly down her back. It was giving a striking contrast to her immaculate guild uniform. Her sharp red eyes were flickering between the documents and the adventurers with practiced efficiency. Every movement of hers was graceful and demanding. She radiated calm in the chaos like an island of order amid the storm.
Blaze approached her counter and leaned forward slightly.
"Umm... excuse me," he said.
The receptionist paused, glancing up. Her eyes widened ever so slightly. Then a knowing smile formed.
"Yes, how can I help you?" she said.
"Actually, I'm new here. Can you issue an AID for me?"
"Yes. Can I see your MID, please?"
"Here you go." He gave the hard copy of his MID card from his wrist.
"Oh... You're Blaze Lumnell. I watched your fight in the Battle Royale the other day. That was quite the match."
Blaze rubbed the back of his neck modestly. "Thanks. That was actually my first one."
Her smile lingered, but her tone shifted. "Still, you should be careful. Is this your first time leaving this world?"
"Yes."
"Be careful in the way. There's a bounty on your head."
His hand dropped, eyes narrowing. "A bounty? For what? I didn't do anything, I swear."
The receptionist sighed, folding her hands. "I know. But it's not about what you've done or not. It's been a problem for some years. For the past few years, an underground organization has been placing bounties on promising young combatants. Your match that day was good. So, they placed a bounty."
Blaze frowned. "But... Why would they do that?"
Then, she lowered her voice suddenly. "No one knows for sure. But based on what the guild's gathered... they're trying to overthrow the Magical-Verse itself."
"Ohh... so they are trying to overthrow the Magical Verse, huh?"
"Yes."
A chill crept up Blaze's spine. "Wait... What...?"
She continued, quietly, "Some say their strength rivals even the current Sword God. Others claim they can wield magic on the Ancient Level."
Blaze inhaled sharply. "Ancient-level magic? But that's impossible. What I have heard is that level's been lost to history..."
"Some people also say that they are after the Divine Wish."
"The Divine Wish? But if they want the Divine Wish, they have to go through The Trials of the Nine Seals."
"Yes. Legend says there was only one person who managed every one of those trials. But he never came out of the trials."
"Yes, The Hero of the Lost Promise. He is said to be the strongest human in history."
"By the way, that's the consensus," she said. "But rumors persist. In any case, they're organized—and extremely dangerous. If you're on their radar, you must stay alert."
Blaze exhaled. "How much is my bounty?"
She tapped her panel. Suddenly, a glowing screen hovered above her desk.
"Twenty thousand rills," she answered.
Blaze gave a short laugh. "Heh. That's what I'm worth?"
The receptionist gawked. "Are you smiling?! That's your death price!"
Blaze shrugged. "Right. Then I'll just have to grow stronger. Strong enough that no bounty hunter would dare come after me. Besides..." He grinned. "They'll make a good partner for combat practice."
For a beat, she simply stared. Then she chuckled softly but genuinely.
"You're the first person I've met who reacted like that after hearing their bounty." She extended a hand across the counter. "I'm Mari. It's a pleasure, Blaze. I hope we meet again."
Blaze accepted the handshake with a smile. "Likewise, Mari."
With a quick flick of her wrist, she retrieved a small silver card embedded with a glowing rune.
"Here's your AID—Adventurer Identification Document. Link it to your MID. It will be the second page."
Blaze did as instructed. As the rune pulsed, his MID display shimmered and updated:
[AID REGISTERED]
Name: Blaze Lumnell
Adventurer Level: 1
Party: None
Mana Points Collected: 0
Status: Active
Mery nodded in approval. "Your AID will automatically collect Mana Points from any magic beasts you defeat. You can check your totals through your MID at any time. You can exchange those mana points for rills or use them to brew potions."
She reached under the counter again and placed a small black pouch on the desk. Gold embroidery shimmered along its edges.
Blaze raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"A gift," Mari said with a smirk. "Consider it a thank-you for becoming my friend."
He blinked. "I... can't just take this."
"You can and you will," she said firmly. "It's a Dungeon Bag. Anything you collect in a dungeon—mana crystals, drop items, rare materials—will be stored automatically. It's enchanted with weight cancellation and spatial compression, so you won't feel a thing."
Blaze's eyes gleamed. "Seriously? That's amazing. Thanks, Mari!"
He gave a respectful bow. "Alright. I'll be going now."
"Be careful," she called after him. "Try not to die, okay?"
Blaze turned back with a playful grin. "No promises."
With his AID registered and his Dungeon Bag secured at his belt, Blaze returned to the Gate Point. The two magical knights looked up as he approached once more.
One of them smirked. "Got your AID?"
Blaze held up the card. "Right here."
The knight nodded. "Then you're clear to go."
As the two stepped aside, the shimmering gate pulsed.
Blaze stepped forward through the gate.
Just as he crossed the threshold—
A dagger hissed past his cheek.
He spun instinctively and drew his sword in one fluid motion. A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows. His lips were curling into a wicked grin.
"Well, well, well..." the bounty hunter sneered. "Twenty thousand rills for your head. Not bad."
Blaze narrowed his eyes with a firm stance. His sword was gleaming.
"You bounty hunters sure don't waste time, huh?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battle Over Bounty
Blaze had just stepped past the glowing gate. The air behind him was humming with mana.
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine.
Something felt off.
Then—
SWISH!
A dagger flew past his cheek. It sliced a few strands of hair before clinking against the ground.
He stopped. "Huh?"
A low chuckle escaped from the shadows.
"Heh... twenty thousand rills for your head. Not bad, kiddo."
A cloaked figure emerged from the darkness. His face was mostly hidden. But the gleam in his eyes betrayed excitement. He spun another dagger between his fingers as he approached.
Instead of drawing his sword, he tilted his head.
"Really... You bounty hunters sure don't waste time, huh?"
The man grinned. "You don't seem scared, kid. But that's a pure mistake."
"Scared?" Blaze stuffed his hands into his pockets, smirking. "Of what? You?"
The bounty hunter's grin twitched. "Tch. Cocky brat."
SHING!
In a flash, he disappeared, blurring with speed as he lunged straight at Blaze.
FWIP!
The dagger aimed for Blaze's throat—
But Blaze just tilted his head slightly.
Slice—air only.
The bounty hunter's eyes widened. "You got lucky this time."
Blaze yawned. "Sure got, lucky me."
If I think about Okino... then this is nothing.
"I've fought people way stronger and faster than you."
The hunter snarled, flipping backward and hurling three daggers at once.
WHIZZ! WHIZZ! WHIZZ!
Blaze stepped lazily to the side, hands still in his pockets. Each blade missed by mere inches.
"Yup. Still got lucky. I can see those blades coming."
The bounty hunter clicked his tongue and lunged, blades flashing in a deadly blur.
But Blaze?
He flowed through the onslaught like water. A step left. A pivot right. A lean back. A sudden dart forward—slipping through the gaps before the hunter could catch him.
Steel hissed past his ear. Sparks flared as blades kissed stone.
The hunter snarled, shifting tactics. He swung an uppercut. Blaze dropped low, knees grazing dirt. A dagger whistled down toward his foot. Blaze launched upward, twisting midair.
The hunter lunged again, blade aimed straight for Blaze's gut.
"Not this time."
Blaze caught the hunter's wrist mid-thrust. In one fluid motion, he **spun with him—using the man's own momentum—**and hurled him sideways.
CRACK!
The hunter slammed against a tree trunk, bark splintering under the impact. He coughed, crumpling to one knee, eyes wide with disbelief.
Blaze landed softly, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "You're too slow."
To the onlookers, it looked like a dance.
To the hunter, it felt like a nightmare.
He stood again. "You brat."
"STOP MOVING!" the hunter shouted. His face was contorted with fury.
Blaze chuckled. "Oh? But you're the one swinging. Maybe you should stop missing?"
The hunter gritted his teeth, then roared. Suddenly, he pulled a short sword from his belt and used a potion on that. Blue flames erupted around it, licking the blade like a living serpent.
"Let's see how you dodge this!"
He lunged, slamming the blade down with both of his hands.
BOOM!
The ground cracked. Dust exploded into the air.
Blaze disappeared.
Silence.
Then—
"Wow. You really thought that would work?"
The voice came from behind.
The bounty hunter froze.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Blaze stood there. Completely untouched.
A grin on his face.
"But really, that blue flame was cool. Where'd you get the potion?"
The hunter paled. "T-That's... impossible..."
Blaze sighed and pointed a finger at the man like a teacher scolding a student.
"Alright. Enough playing around. My turn."
BLINK—
He vanished.
"Wha—?!"
BAM!
A knee slammed into the bounty hunter's gut. His eyes bulged as he flew backward and crashed into a stone pillar.
CRACK!
He hit the ground and started to cough violently.
Before he could recover—
Blaze appeared again. Standing above him. One foot on the man's chest.
Blaze crouched, meeting his eyes with a smirk.
"So... still feeling confident?"
The hunter trembled. He was struggling to breathe. "W-What... are you...?"
Blaze stood. "Just a guy who doesn't like getting hunted."
The hunter reached for a dagger with trembling fingers—
CRACK!
"AAAGH—!"
Blaze had stomped his hand into the ground.
He leaned down again. "Next time, think twice before coming after me, yeah?"
The man whimpered, nodding.
"Good."
Blaze turned and walked away. He was completely unfazed.
As he passed the watching magical knights, one of them muttered under his breath—
"That... was terrifying."
Blaze didn't even look back.
"Hope the next one's stronger."
Blaze stepped past the towering ancient trees. He couldn't help but marvel at the sheer beauty of the dungeon.
There was no sun in the sky, yet the entire forest glowed with a soft light. An otherworldly light. Massive mana crystals jutted from the cavernous ceiling. Those sprouted from the ground like natural sculptures. They were pulsing with a gentle blue-green radiance. Their shimmering reflections danced across the lush greenery. It was illuminating every leaf, vine, and blade of grass with ethereal shades.
The air itself was thick with mana. It felt warm, vibrant, and alive. Trees flourished with rich, emerald foliage. Vines swayed softly. They were responding to an unseen rhythm. Even the beasts that wandered nearby moved with graceful ease. It was as if the dungeon itself nurtured every living thing within it.
A tranquil lake stretched before him. Its surface was like a mirror reflecting the glowing crystals above. But the true marvel lay within its waters. Sleek, silver-scaled fish with translucent wings that shimmered like liquid moonlight. They burst from the lake in elegant arcs, glided through the air for brief moments, and dived back with a splash that rippled across the glassy surface of the lake.
Aetherfin.
Legends spoke of these flying fish. Those fish held potent healing properties. Their presence alone brought a sacred and almost dreamlike serenity to the landscape.
From the canopy above, golden eyes watched. Agile shapes flitted between the branches—Mystapes. Mystapes are monkey-like creatures cloaked in deep brown fur. They are streaked with glowing blue along their limbs. Their long, prehensile tails wrapped around vines as they swung playfully through the treetops. They were curious but unafraid. They tilted their heads at Blaze like they were studying him with the wide-eyed innocence of children.
Then—a blur of silver.
A gust of wind swept past, rustling the foliage. Blaze turned just in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of two majestic beasts.
It emerged like a phantom from the undergrowth— Zephyra.
Horse-like in shape, but ethereal in presence. Its flowing silver mane shimmered in the mana light. Intricate blue patterns traced its body like rivers of magic. So divine. Each step of it barely touched the ground, trails of wind magic spiraling behind it. Some whispered that the strongest Zephyra could even levitate. They glide across the land with hooves that never touched the ground.
The beast gave Blaze a fleeting glance—calm, intelligent, almost knowing—before galloping into the distance and vanishing between the trees with its companion.
High above, a piercing cry echoed across the sky.
Blaze looked up.
A massive hawk-like creature soared overhead—a Stormclaw. Its dark emerald feathers shimmered against the mana-lit ceiling as it glided effortlessly. Its golden eyes were scanning the forest below with fierce precision. One flap of its wings unleashed a gust strong enough to rattle the treetops and send smaller beasts scurrying into hiding.
Stormclaws were rare. They are revered for their acute mana perception. Some scholars believed they could sense magical disturbances from miles away. They are like living radars of the dungeon's pulse.
Blaze let out a low whistle.
"Monkeys with glowing tails, flying horses, and a bird that controls the wind, flying fishes... What's next? Fire-breathing rabbits?"
Despite its name, the Friendly Dungeon was no joke. Unlike the grim tales of deadly labyrinths and dangerous dungeons, this place brimmed with wonder and natural harmony. Most of its creatures were gentle and rarely aggressive toward humans. It was a sanctuary—lush, beautiful, and alive with magic.
But Blaze knew better than to let his guard down.
Even in paradise, something could always go wrong.
Just as he took another breath of mana-rich air—
BOOOOM!
A deafening shockwave exploded through the forest.
The ground beneath his feet trembled. Stormclaws shrieked in alarm and scattered into the sky. A massive ripple spread through the lake. It tossed the Aetherfin into a frantic frenzy of flashing silver arcs.
Even the Mystapes froze in place. Their golden eyes were wide, clinging to the trees with trembling limbs.
The peaceful harmony was shattered in an instant.
Blaze's muscles tensed.
He clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes at the trembling horizon.
"...Yeah. That didn't sound friendly at all."
Something was coming.
And whatever it was, it didn't belong in this peaceful forest.