The Death Walker's Seal

Chapter 2

The industrial district smelled like rust and old machines. Abandoned factories stood like sleeping giants in the darkness. No one came here at night. It was too dangerous.

But Baekho walked through the empty streets without fear.

He knew exactly where to go. His body remembered this path even if his mind tried to forget. He turned left at the broken street lamp, then right at the old warehouse, then straight until he reached the fence with the hole in it.

Beyond the fence was an empty lot. And in the middle of the lot was a Gate.

It looked like a crack in reality itself. Purple light leaked from the edges. The air around it felt wrong, like it was too thick to breathe.

Baekho climbed through the hole in the fence. As he got closer to the Gate, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out and saw a message from an unknown number.

"The payment is ready. Clear the Gate and the money is yours. 50 million won."

Baekho deleted the message. He did this kind of work three times a week. Illegal Gates appeared randomly, and the criminals who found them first would hire people to clear them. The monsters inside dropped valuable items that could be sold on the black market.

It was dangerous work. People died all the time. But the money was good, and Baekho needed money. His sister has a terminal illness and he needed to save her.

He stood in front of the Gate and took a deep breath.

[Warning: Entering Grade C Gate alone is not recommended.]

"Shut up," Baekho said to the system voice in his head.

[Your current seal prevents you from using 80% of your true power.]

"I know."

[You could die.]

"Then I die."

He stepped into the Gate.

The world twisted. Colors mixed together. His stomach felt like it was turning inside out. Then, suddenly, he was somewhere else.

He stood in a cave. The walls glowed with strange blue mushrooms. Water dripped from the ceiling. And in the darkness ahead, something moved.

Baekho's eyes adjusted quickly. His Night Vision skill activated automatically. He could see everything now.

Twenty meters ahead, a group of monsters sat around a fire. They were orcs, tall and muscular with gray skin and tusks. Grade C monsters. Much stronger than the goblins from the academy test.

There were five of them.

Baekho pulled out a simple iron knife from his pocket. It was cheap and old, but it was sharp.

He moved forward silently. His footsteps made no sound. Shadow Step, a skill he learned a long time ago. The orcs did not notice him.

When he was close enough, he attacked.

The first orc died before it could scream. Baekho's knife went through its throat. The second orc turned around and raised its club, but Baekho was already moving. He ducked under the club, spun around, and cut the orc's leg. The orc fell down. Another quick strike, and it was dead.

The other three orcs finally realized what was happening. They roared and charged at him together.

Baekho's expression did not change. He counted their steps in his mind. Three. Two. One.

He jumped.

His body flew over their heads. While in the air, he threw his knife. It hit the third orc in the eye. The orc screamed and fell down.

Baekho landed behind them. He pulled out another knife from his belt and killed the third orc before it could pull the first knife out of its eye.

Two orcs left.

They were smarter now. They did not charge blindly. They circled around him, one on each side.

Baekho waited.

The orc on the left attacked first. Its club came down fast. Baekho stepped to the side. The club hit the ground and cracked the stone.

While the orc was off balance, Baekho moved. His knife flashed once, twice, three times. The orc's chest opened up. Blood poured out. The orc fell.

The last orc saw its chance. While Baekho was busy with the fourth orc, it attacked from behind.

Baekho sensed it coming. He dropped down flat on the ground. The club passed over his head. Then he swept his leg out and tripped the orc. The orc fell on its back.

Baekho stood up and looked down at the monster. For a moment, something cold passed through his eyes.

Then he ended it.

Five orcs. Dead in less than two minutes.

[Combat complete.]

[You have absorbed death energy.]

[Current seal strength: 46%]

Baekho closed his eyes. He felt the power flow into him. It was warm and cold at the same time. It made him stronger. Faster. Sharper.

But it also took something away.

Somewhere in the world, someone forgot about him. Maybe it was a classmate who once lent him a pencil. Maybe it was a shopkeeper who knew his name. Maybe it was someone more important.

He would never know who.

The system always took memories from the people who cared about him, even a little bit. That was the price of his power.

Baekho opened his eyes and looked around the cave. The Gate's core was deeper inside. He had to destroy it to close the Gate completely.

He walked forward, his knife ready.

But then he heard something. Footsteps. More than one person.

"Are you sure it is safe?" A girl's voice.

"The sensors show the monsters are dead. Someone cleared them already." A boy's voice.

"Who would be stupid enough to enter a Grade C Gate alone?" Another voice.

Baekho cursed under his breath. This was bad.

He quickly hid behind a large rock and watched.

Three people entered the cave. They wore expensive armor and carried high quality weapons. Rich kids who thought they were brave.

The girl in front had long black hair and sharp eyes. She looked familiar.

Baekho's eyes widened. It was Choi Iseul from the academy test. The Grade A talent.

Next to her was a tall boy with blond hair. His armor had the symbol of the Phoenix Guild on it. His name was Lee Rowoon, the son of the Phoenix Guild master.

The third person was another girl. She had short hair and carried a bow. Her name was Moon Rael.

"Look at this," Lee Rowoon kicked one of the dead orcs. "Clean cuts. Whoever killed these knew what they were doing."

"Maybe it was a professional Hunter," Moon Rael said.

"Or maybe it was a thief," Choi Iseul said. "This is an illegal Gate. Only criminals come here."

Baekho stayed hidden and watched them. He wanted to leave, but the only way out was past them. If he moved now, they would see him.

"Let us find the core and get out of here," Lee Rowoon said. "My father will be angry if he finds out I came to a place like this."

They walked deeper into the cave.