"He was one of the Graves?"
The question slipped out, filled with disbelief.
Her subordinates turned to her, wide-eyed. "Manager, shouldn't we try to recruit him into the Force?"
She answered coldly, not even glancing their way. "Someone with his level of power wouldn't want to join the Agency. He'd rather go into the Gate."
Silence followed.
What she said was true...painfully so.
Only low-level Ascenders avoided the Gates. They were too dangerous. Only high Ascenders ,Transcenders and above. had the strength to fight in that world. The rest stayed on Earth, stationed where they could still make a difference without dying needlessly.
But one man defied that standard.
Even as a high Transcender, he had chosen to remain on Earth. He didn't need glory or conquest. He was already legend.
He was the Chief of the Gate Management Agency.
Grim Ross.
Revin walked home on foot, the cold wind licking at the dried blood that clung to his skin. He had given his car to Alice so she could escape.
Now, every step felt like a thousand.
He was dead tired. His body screamed for rest, every limb heavy with exhaustion. His eyes drooped, and he could barely stay upright. People stared who wouldn't? A man soaked in blood, limping through the city, looking like he'd crawled out of a nightmare.
Still, he kept walking.
Then, a car pulled up beside him. A woman inside leaned toward the window.
"Need a ride?"
Revin hesitated, then nodded. He was too tired to say no.
He got in, murmured directions to his place, and leaned back as the world passed in a blur.
When they arrived, she parked in front of his house
"Thanks," he said hoarsely.
She gave a nod and replied in a calm, professional tone. "My name is Vera Cross."
Before he could say anything more, she drove off.
Revin stumbled inside, locked the door behind him, and collapsed face-first onto the floor. He didn't make it to the couch, much less his bed.
He slept from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. straight.
When he woke, it was as if a thousand knives twisted in his gut. Hunger. Pain. Fatigue.
He groaned and dragged himself to the fridge, chugging a full bottle of milk like it was the only thing keeping him alive.
His muscles ached. His bones felt bruised.
And he hated it.
He wasn't unfit he jogged casually every morning, did basic workouts, and had a healthy build. Lean, toned, with a hint of abs.
But this? Fighting beasts, running for his life? His body wasn't built for that.
His fists clenched. His heart burned.
He wanted to go into the Gate.
But logic hit harder than emotion.
He couldn't. Not without authorization. And if he tried, the Agency would either arrest him or worse he'd die the moment he stepped into the unknown.
His thoughts drifted. Alice.
He grabbed his phone and called her.
But a man's voice answered.
"Who is this?"
Revin's breath caught. "I'm... Alice's caretaker. I gave her my car to escape. Is she alright?"
A pause. Then the man spoke. "I'm her husband."
A pause.
"They didn't make it."
Silence.
"They were ambushed. Beasts attacked their car. No one survived."
Revin clenched his jaw so hard it ached. His fists shook.
The man continued. "since you were the one who took care of my kids I would like if you would come to the burial "
But Revin couldn't mourn.
Not yet.
He had cared for that family. Looked after their children. Smiled with them, laughed with them. He hadn't realized how close he'd grown how deeply attached he'd become.
And now they were gone.
He had gotten close
Too close .
Taken by creatures that saw humans as entertainment
He stared into nothing, face blank, eyes burning.
He wanted to enter the Gate. Wanted revenge. But reality anchored him.
He was weak. Too weak. Training now would be pointless.
And worse, he had provoked higher-dimensional beings.
They watched him. And if he stayed, they would rain disaster on Earth just to break him.
But still... something Called him toward the Gate.
Something deep. Something old.
He felt connected to it
The problem? He had no license.
Only licensed Ascenders ,those ranked high enough were allowed into the Gate. It was the world's most heavily guarded resource, nestled in District 4.
Revin had no skills, no power.
He rummaged through Elina's old belongings and found a number scribbled in a notebook the Headmaster's.
He picked up his phone and dialed, uncertain if the number still worked.
Then, a voice answered:
"Good afternoon. Who am I speaking with, please?"