"If you master the basics, you won't fall to a blind attack... at least, that's what I think." "To be honest, you're nervous, right?" "Heh, yes."

Cha Ji Yeon managed a strained smile. Seeing her like this, I felt compelled to mirror her expression. The tension was so thick I feared it would turn me to stone if I didn't lighten the mood. We had gathered our belongings, preparing to head into the battlefield to face off against monsters.

"Here."

A van with dark tinted windows pulled up as we waited. The window rolled down, revealing a large, young Caucasian man wearing sunglasses. He was looking at us, his gaze steady and unyielding. This was Chris, the colleague and fellow unit under the same player that Cha Ji Yeon had mentioned earlier.

"Get in."

We hopped into the car without delay. Honestly, I was taken aback. They were currently the hottest topic in the world, even more so than the top-tier S-rank hunters or A-list celebrities. Yet, here they were, driving themselves around without any assistants.

"So, is this the rookie you mentioned?" "He's not one of us. Watch your words."

"Even if he's not with us, if we're heading into battle together, there's no need for formalities. Ever seen anyone being polite in a Gate defense battle? Hey, you get what I'm saying?"

Chris, sitting in the back seat, glanced my way and chuckled. "I hear you."

I managed to respond. I never imagined that my persistence in studying English would pay off so handsomely. "Good. I was concerned we might have a communication issue."

He seemed pleased, whistling as he accelerated. We were en route to the military base where the alliance forces were assembling.

"Keep your ID handy and stay close to me. If you're with Evolution, you won't face any unnecessary hassles."

The assembly area was teeming with journalists and soldiers' family members. We breezed through several checkpoints and medical stations, delving deeper into the base.

"A part of the East Asian Alliance forces will depart from here. The plan is to launch simultaneous attacks from 67 bases worldwide, including this one." "Hey, that person over there seems to be looking for you."

"Ah, it's President's Secretary Min Joon Yong... I'll be right back."

She let out a tsk and exited the car midway. I was mildly anxious about being left alone with Chris, a foreigner. However, I couldn't help but admire her knack for mingling with high-ranking individuals without batting an eye. After all, she was arguably the most renowned person in our country at the moment. Not only was she formidable, but she was also the sole connection to Evolution within our borders.

"We've been informed that you volunteered," Chris began. "If a player discloses their identity and secures permission, there's no need for further investigation. I'm curious about your motivation."

At that point, Chris halted the car, killed the engine, removed his sunglasses, and swiveled to face me. "Well... we have our reasons, as you know. But what about you?" "Um, I guess you could say it's for revenge."

I relayed the fabricated story to him. Despite my sister being alive and well, we had indeed been attacked, so there was truth in my tale.

"I see. You seek revenge against those science fiction-like creatures. You joined the fight to become stronger and exact your vengeance." Upon hearing about my sister, his demeanor shifted, becoming more cautious. He appeared to regret prying into my past."Well... I hope you achieve your goal. I mentioned earlier that we'd be heading into battle together, but in reality, Cha Ji Yeon and I will rarely be on the same front. You should gain experience calmly with others."

"I'll keep that in mind." "Let's get out and prepare."

We exited the vehicle. The vicinity was teeming with heavily armed soldiers and a handful of volunteer hunters. I trailed behind Chris towards the assembly area for those involved in Evolution.

"I heard about you. That... what was it, Kang...?" "Kang Shin Woo." "Just call me Robert. This is Sneaky."

The people who greeted me as a newcomer were mercenaries hired by Evolution.

My assigned task was not direct combat but essentially security and protection.

It was exactly the kind of task I wanted, and at the same time, I was assigned to work with them. "You're a hunter, right? What's your ability?" "It's just physical enhancement."

I showed them what I had learned to satisfy their curiosity.

They had agreed to work with a rookie like me because I had power.

"Nice. Using your body is the best. Those who only know how to play with weird fireworks are useless. However." Robert chuckled and nodded his head, then suddenly hardened his rough, wrinkled face.

"The most important thing is mental strength. All those braggarts who talk big, when bullets start flying and bodies pile up, they cry and scream for their mothers. What about you?"

"...I have something I must obtain during this expedition. I have to." I looked into his deep eyes and answered sincerely.

I couldn't be sure if he really understood, but after staring into my eyes for a while, he nodded. "Congratulations on joining Black Snake." To my relief, there was no needless argument.

We were on the brink of real combat, after all.

And they were professionals.

"I'll probably be in the rear, but I'm still anxious."

[When a crisis strikes, the only solution the Legion knows is to confront it, break it, and trample it. Why not learn from them sometimes?] "You too?"

I laughed, glancing at my phone. They, too, were rooting for the Legion's growth. [I'm saying this because I trust you.] "Hilarious."

Today, their tongues seemed unusually loose. *

"Everyone, step back!" "We don't have time! Move aside!" A helicopter descended amidst the crowd, and a figure hastily disembarked. "Hey! Cage!""We can't afford to waste time! We have to circumnavigate the globe in 24 hours!"

The man at the forefront disregarded everything else, making a beeline for the designated location. He arrived at a vast, vacant lot, the selected site for the gate. "Are you certain this is the right move?"

"I've already opened twelve of these things. I feel like I'm about to hurl. Here, take these."

He handed something to Cha Ji Yeon, who had sprinted over with a group of others. They were mana stones, intricately engraved. These were the tools required to open the gate. "...Alright."

She swiftly collected the items and began positioning them as instructed. Everyone watched her work with bated breath. The procedure's effectiveness had already been rigorously tested.

Most were oblivious to the fact that the panting Hispanic man was the sole recipient of the space manipulation spell from the players. Over the past few hours, he had opened twelve colossal gates, starting from the east coast of North America, traversing Japan, and finally landing here.

The gates, once an enigma to humanity along with the status window, were now being opened by human hands. "What are you all doing? Hurry up and get ready!"

Time was of the essence; there was no room for awe. Those who had been staring blankly at the unfolding scene finally snapped back to reality, springing into action. Their first task was to secure a foothold inside the gate as soon as it opened.

"I can't believe it." "Space is being torn apart."

A large crack began to form in the seemingly empty air, capturing everyone's attention. For a moment, all anyone could do was watch in silence. "Next! Shanghai's next, right?"

Only Cage, panting heavily, hurried back to the helicopter. fIf the legion discovers this technique, they won't hesitate to invade Earth.'

As the gate continued to widen, some had different thoughts. Shin Woo's hand trembled as he held his cell phone, fully aware of the legion's obsession. If gates like this opened and legion soldiers flooded Earth...

[If you don't want the legion to conquer Earth, teach them well from now on.] He swallowed hard as he read the words that appeared on his phone screen.

"Get moving! Stay focused!" "The pioneers are on their way..."

The thunderous roar of military machinery resonated throughout the area. The newly assembled Korean army division, made up of volunteers, along with the first coalition forces of legion-scale from neighboring countries, started advancing towards the gate, aligning their cannons and trajectories.

"We should get moving too."

The Korean branch of Evolution, led by Cha Ji Yeon and Chris, also began to mobilize. The vehicle was filled with a tense silence. Even seasoned hunters and mercenaries had never participated in a war of this magnitude before.

"Look at them. Just regular soldiers, but they volunteered for this mission. They all... harbor a deep hatred for the monsters. They've been out of control recently."

Shin Woo glanced at the vehicle running parallel to theirs as Robert spoke. The occupants were soldiers from Southeast Asia, their faces etched with grim determination. Not just them, but a significant portion of the Korean army's forces were also volunteers.

‘'Hatred for the monsters. I had almost forgotten.'

His expression turned grim. To him, monsters were always the enemy, the ones that needed to be eradicated. They were, in the truest sense, his sworn adversaries. The whirlwind of recent events had momentarily made him forget this. Now, he had both the power and the justification. There was no reason to hold back.

"Do you also hate the monsters, Robert?"

"Me? No, I'm more afraid of money and people. At least for now. But who knows? My perspective might change during this mission."

Robert flashed a grin, revealing his yellowed teeth. At that moment, their vehicle passed through the gate.