May 1998.

The sky was pouring down thick tears. It had been about a week since the completion of a 3month training to become a ‘Hunter.’

Upon receiving a report of a gate appearing in Uijeongbu city, 35 hunters including Eunha were dispatched to the location.

Of course, back then, there was neither a Hunter Association to detect the appearance of a gate and send disaster messages, nor a terminal to notify the hunters of the appearance of a gate.

“Damn. We’re late.”

Crushing the wet cigarette under his foot, the squad leader spat a curse.

The gate, already in ‘saturation state,’ was spewing monsters like a flood.

“Th, this place…… it’s hell.”

Someone’s distant despair was heard mixed with the sound of rain.

It was the gate that had obliterated a squad just two days earlier. Some hunters were petrified like stones in front of it. Maybe they sensed death; it was a feeling that struck every time they stood in front of a gate.

“Get yourselves together.”

The squad leader began to give orders, controlling the hunters who had lost their wits.

Of the 35 deployed hunters, 20 were sent into the gate, and the remaining 15, including Eunha, were formed into an external search party.

「Area A, collapsed building confirmed. Tractor in motion. Need support from behind.」

「A[Dash]4 area, 0 survivors. 2 small monsters captured. Coordinates 273, 129. Base secured.」

「B[Dash]2 area, Hunter Shim Joo Hyun’s left leg severed. Judged unfit for duty, unconscious. Other personnel will continue the mission.」

A portable small wireless transmitter and receiver. It was the only means to connect them, scattered in hell.

Yet it wasn’t very useful, as communication was cut off as soon as they entered the gate.

Buildings with only steel skeletons left, blood stains splattered indiscriminately on the surfaces of torn and fallen signs.

Eunha, who took in these things one by one, stopped dead in her tracks.

“Sa, save me…….”

It was gruesome. A steel bar as thick as a grown man’s arm had pierced a man’s stomach. Eunha approached him through the heavy rain.

The moment she grabbed the steel bar embedded in his belly, his bloodsoaked hands desperately clasped hers.

“No, not here…… there at the gate…… my daughter, my daughter’s caught there.”

Splutter! The man’s bloodspit splashed on Eunha’s cheek. The thick blood mixed with the rainwater, dripping down her chin.

Even in fading life, hands clinging to her with all their might. Eunha slowly brought her lips to the wireless transmitter.

“A[Dash]4 area, 1 survivor. Abdominal injury, severe bleeding. AMB urgent call. Coordinates, 203, 199…….”

「B, B[Dash]3 area, 1 large monster spotted, currently moving quickly north…… Ah, Aaaaah!」

Crackle.

There seemed to be confusion. From afar, someone’s scream was heard. To this day, no one knows whose scream it was.

“Please…… please…….”

After taking her mouth off the transmitter, Eunha looked down at the man who was holding on to her until the very end.

Eunha held the back of the man’s hand. With her other hand, she once again lifted the wireless transmitter.

“3rd Platoon 1st Squad, 98[Dash]S10102794 Cha Eunha. A[Dash]4 area reconnaissance completed. Will support inside gate.”

「…….」

Crackle.

There was no response. The man’s hand that had been clinging tightly dropped onto the muddy water.

Eunha got up without hesitation. She quickened her pace, her hood pulled down against the raindrops relentlessly pounding her cheeks.

The entrance to the gate, arms wide open as if to welcome Eunha at any time.

Back then, there was no control device like modern times to manage the entrance. All there was to do was to jump in like a moth to a flame, as hunters, considered slightly better than civilians, in those times.

Squish, squish.

Heavy boots trampled over the mud.

Upon entering the gate, a foul smell wafted. The corpses of monsters and fellow hunters were scattered everywhere.

Beyond that gruesome mountain range, something dark was detected.

─ Gurgle, gurgle…….

The monster making a strange sound turned its head creaking, becoming aware of Eunha’s presence.
It was a monster with a bird’s head and a horse’s body. The area around its mouth was stained red after it had finished eating once.

There was no hesitation.

Pow!

It was a motion repeated hundreds, even thousands of times in training. Twisting flames struck the creature. There was a notsosmall explosion, and the monster began to howl in a bizarre sound.

Squeeeeeek!

The only difference from training was that the monsters encountered in real combat did not fall with a single blow.

The monster writhed in the flames. Writhing in pain, it eventually began to vomit something.

Metal desk legs.

Bicycle wheels.

Almost completely melted leaves,

“…….”

─A fragment of pink clothing with a rabbit drawn on it.

That thin piece of clothing was washed to the tip of the galaxy’s foot, following the flowing debris.

The galaxy bent over to pick it up.

Squeeeeeeeeeek!