Chapter 20
An S-rank Gate.
In other words, it was also called a Disaster-class Gate. A “disaster” referred to something that occurred in the real world once the contamination rate surpassed a certain percentage.
And that level truly lived up to the name disaster. Just thinking about how Russia failed to repel one and lost half of its land made it unnecessary to explain how dangerous it was.
That was exactly why S-rank Gates were called disasters as well.
‘…Because they’re that dangerous.’
A difficulty worthy of being called a calamity—that was what an S-rank Gate meant.
An insanely difficult level. A number that made you panic the moment it appeared.
‘…What is this?’
I couldn’t help but feel puzzled by the message that appeared in front of me.
[■ S-rank Gate: The Colosseum Gate is occurring.]
[■ This Gate is in ‘Festival’ mode.]
[■ This Gate does not affect contamination levels.]
[■ Please enjoy the festival.]
“Festival?”
I’d never seen wording like that before.
“It doesn’t affect contamination…?”
Did a Gate like this even exist?
And on top of that—
[■ Entry qualification is S-rank, but spectators may enter from A-rank and above.]
It said that even A-ranks could enter.
Had something like this ever happened before? As I searched the network in confusion—
[Paris Romance: What the hell is this?]
[Aurora Princess: …What do you mean, a festival?]
[TotemIsNice: It doesn’t raise contamination??]
[Euclian: Ah! The president just summoned me!! F*ck!!]
It was chaos. Looks like they didn’t know either.
“…This is a mess.”
Things were heating up even more than before. Everything about this was a problem.
[TotemIsNice: What about time zones?]
[Paris Romance: It popped up in Asia too.]
[TotemIsNice: What? Then that makes no sense…]
[Aurora Princess: Hey! U.S.! Say something!]
[Euclian: Don’t talk to me, we’re in trouble here too. Irene turned off her phone like a damn ghost!! Aaaah!!]
In the middle of the pandemonium, an alert rang.
[■ Conditions have been met.]
[■ Would you like to enter the S-rank Gate?]
“….”
The entry message floated before my eyes. An S-rank Gate. I’d heard of it before.
The most recent one was several years ago.
Back then…
‘…Didn’t Irene handle it all by herself?’
I remembered that while the other S-ranks struggled, Irene alone had utterly destroyed an S-rank Gate.
‘Hmm.’
Should I go? A place only S-rank superhumans could enter. The fact that I could enter felt strangely unsettling.
‘Seriously.’
My rank really is absurdly high.
As I was realizing that—
Ding.
Another alert chimed.
[■ A quest has been generated.]
[■ S-rank Gate: “Colosseum” — Display overwhelming presence.]
“….”
A quest appeared. I frowned at it. Of course—so that’s why nothing came for free.
‘This is strange.’
At a time when all attention was focused on Irene, a mutant Gate just happens to appear now?
‘This feels like…’
As if it were telling me not to steal the spotlight meant for her.
‘No way, right?’
Probably not. Why would a martial god make the system move like that?
[■ Would you like to enter? (Y)/(N)]
“….”
I stared at the button.
‘A mutation, huh.’
It felt ominous, but my hand was already moving.
Ding.
[■ Entering the Gate.]
[■ The power gap between the Reincarnator and the Gate is extreme.]
[■ Calculating rank disparity. Adjusting power multiplier.]
[■ Reincarnator’s stats increased by 3,000%.]
My vision blurred.
* * *
[■ Entry into the Colosseum successful.]
WAAAAAAAH—!!!!
A deafening roar stabbed into my ears as I opened my eyes. Something filled the space all around me.
‘This is…’
A real colosseum. Just like the gladiator arenas people talked about. The stands were packed with unknown humans, all cheering wildly in my direction.
‘What?’
Who were they? This place felt bizarre.
Then—
“Interesting.”
A seductive voice, cold as ice, drifted through the air. Turning my gaze, I saw an elegant woman with white hair.
‘That person…’
I knew her.
‘Camilla Lirias.’
Russia’s S-rank superhuman—and the one who’d just been active on the network as Aurora Princess.
Her semi-transparent form gradually became solid.
[■ The Master of the Northern Sea has entered.]
As her form fully materialized, Lirias clicked her tongue.
“They call it an S-rank Gate, but contamination doesn’t rise? Then what’s the point?”
She frowned deeply, clearly irritated.
“It is strange.”
An old man interjected, appearing right beside her. He wore martial robes and carried a sword at his waist.
[■ The Seven Star Knight Order has entered.]
‘Ah.’
I knew him too.
‘Chooki Genryu.’
A famous Japanese S-rank superhuman, active for as long as Baek Hyun-ho.
‘And the others…’
Everyone appearing around us was equally famous.
All of them were S-rank.
‘My body…’
When I checked myself, I realized I was transparent.
‘…Looks like you become visible when your introduction appears.’
[■ The Falcon of Pantara has entered.]
[■ The Mage of Lightning has entered.]
[■ The Crescent Moon Thief has entered.]
[■ The Ancestor of the Fishing Vessel has—]
Countless figures entered, each announced by their previous-life titles. Just as I thought, all S-ranks.
Then—
[■ The Divine Sword Master has entered.]
“What?”
“…Divine Sword Master?”
Every head in the colosseum turned.
‘…Divine Sword Master.’
I clenched my fist.
‘So you came too.’
That reincarnator was already famous worldwide—inevitably so, as an SS-rank superhuman.
“Hello.”
A young man appeared with the introduction. Tall, handsome.
‘Yujin.’
SS-rank superhuman Yujin.
“Nice to meet you all.”
As he smiled brightly and greeted everyone, the scattered superhumans all turned toward him.
“…Yujin. So you came.”
“Mr. Chooki. It’s been a while.”
Genryu approached him warmly.
“An SS-rank, huh.”
“Then that woman’s coming too, isn’t she?”
Lirias snapped irritably. Everyone here knew exactly who she meant.
‘She’s talking about Irene.’
Hale Irene. The strongest SS-rank.
At that moment—
Ding.
[■ The God’s Serpent has entered.]
Mixed reactions erupted.
“At least it’s not Irene…”
“But damn it, that lunatic too?”
Several people visibly disliked the title.
Then—
“Hahaha—!”
A booming laugh rang out.
“Well, well! What’s all this?”
A powerful voice and a gust of wind swept through the arena.
“Look at all these scraps gathered together!”
Crude words. Narrow, mocking eyes. His presence alone twisted expressions.
‘Wow.’
Possibly even more famous than Yujin.
The butcher of a great nation—China’s representative superhuman, widely known as the craziest among superhumans.
‘Wei Ajun.’
China’s SS-rank superhuman.
“Hahaha!”
He laughed gleefully, making everyone tense.
“Funny how they’re introducing S-ranks first.”
Genryu spoke thoughtfully.
“Then SS-ranks next… by rank order?”
‘Rank order?’
That made sense.
‘Wait.’
Then that means…
“…So next is really her, isn’t it?”
Lirias muttered in disgust.
At that instant—
Wooooong.
‘Huh?’
My body reacted.
Crackle—! Crackle!
The system window flickered violently with static.
“What’s going on?”
“Why’s it glitching?”
Then a single message appeared.
[■ Martial God.]
Eyes widened everywhere.
And then—
[■ The Martial God descends.]
Not enters—descends.
FWOOOOOSH—!!
A violent wind burst from my body, and my transparent form solidified.
The moment my body fully manifested—
[■ A distortion of principles occurs due to disparity of status.]
[■ Brace for impact.]
A shockwave exploded outward.
BAAAAAAM—!!!
“Guh!?”
“Ugh!!”
S-ranks were blown back, forced to shield themselves.
When the dust settled—
“Well, would you look at that?”
Only Wei Ajun and Yujin stood unfazed.
Everyone else had been pushed back several steps.
All eyes were on me.
‘…Uh.’
What am I supposed to do now?
‘I didn’t do anything.’
The system just went crazy on its own.
And now I’d drawn massive aggro.
Then—
[■ Quest completed: Presence Imprinted.]
[■ You displayed overwhelming presence in the S-rank Gate ‘Colosseum’.]
[■ Reward: “Manifestation of Presence (S)” and increased Synchronization.]
[■ Manifestation of Presence (S)]
[■ You manifest the rank of your soul to assert your existence.]
[■ Synchronization increased by 2%.]
[■ Current Synchronization: 7%.]
‘Huh?’
The quest completed just like that.
“So that counts?”
“Interesting.”
Wei Ajun’s eyes gleamed as he stared at me.
Then—
Slurp.
His long tongue slid out.
“Martial God. So that’s you.”
“….”
“Black mask. Black clothes. Just like I imagined. Hey—do you know me?”
Should I answer?
“Doesn’t matter. I hear you’re strong. Can you beat Irene? What about me?”
Laughing, he stepped closer.
Too close.
[■ Hero’s Hyper-Senses activated.]
[■ Killing intent detected.]
‘What?’
Something dangerous emanated from his hand.
Was he serious?
‘An attack? Right now?’
An SS-rank attacking me?
“I’m pretty strong too—”
[■ Synchronization reaches 7%. Skill unlocked.]
[■ Heaven-Splitting Martial Art, Second Form.]
[■ Rupture Reversal unlocked.]
[■ Attack detected.]
[■ Auto-activation successful (3%). Rupture Reversal activated.]
[■ Disparity detected. Power increased.]
Just before his hand reached me—
My body moved.
I stepped into his space faster than his strike.
Tap.
“Huh?”
My palm rested squarely on his chest.
And then—
KRAAASHHH—!!!!!
A disaster erupted from my hand, and Wei Ajun’s body was violently torn away.
