Chapter 38 - Aetheric Surge

[At Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh]

Abdul Rahman approached Naruto with a mix of relief and respect. "Welcome to Bangladesh, Mr. Naruto. Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Chairman Abdul Rahman," Naruto nodded in greeting. "How long has the gate been open?"

"Eight days now."

"The civilian evacuation?"

"Complete within a 5-kilometer radius of the gate. We've relocated approximately 200,000 people to temporary shelters." Abdul Rahman gestured toward the waiting car.

They reached the airport exit, where a crowd of reporters and onlookers had gathered. Camera flashes erupted as people called out questions. Abdul Rahman looked concerned, but Naruto raised his hand, selecting one reporter from the local media.

"Mr. Naruto, what message do you have for the people of Bangladesh?"

"The gate will be cleared today," Naruto stated simply but firmly. "You can return to your homes by evening."

Before anyone could ask follow-up questions, Naruto and Abdul Rahman entered the waiting vehicle. As they drove toward the gate location, Abdul Rahman looked at Naruto with surprise.

"By evening? That's... quite confident."

Naruto's eyes focused on the distant magical glow of the gate that was becoming visible on the horizon. "It's not confidence, Chairman. It's a promise."

---

Naruto came to the place of the Gate alone, with one of the A-Rank Hunters, as at first look, his thoughts were...

"This Gate is a little bigger than the S-Rank Gate in Korea I cleared."

Naruto stood before the massive S-Rank Gate, its swirling blue flames reaching higher into the sky than the one he'd cleared in Korea. Around him, the local hunters who had been maintaining the barrier couldn't help but stare.

"Is that really him? The new S-Rank Hunter from Korea?" one whispered.

"He looks so young," another murmured.

"I heard he cleared the Seoul S-Rank Gate solo in just two hours..."

The whispers continued until Zafar Khan, the highest-ranked A-Class Hunter in Bangladesh, stepped forward. "Mr. Naruto, we have a team ready to support you if needed. While we may not be S-Rank, we—"

"That won't be necessary," Naruto interrupted politely but firmly. His eyes never left the gate as he spoke. "Your job is more important out here. Keep the reporters at a safe distance and maintain the evacuation perimeter. Inside the gate..." he paused, sensing the immense magical energy swirling within, "you would only be putting yourselves at risk."

Some hunters looked offended, others relieved. Zafar nodded understanding. "As you wish. But how will we know if you need—"

"I won't," Naruto said simply, walking toward the gate. The blue flames reflected in his eyes as he approached. "Just make sure no one follows me in."

The assembled hunters watched in awe as Naruto stepped through the flaming portal without hesitation, his figure disappearing into the otherworldly blue light. The last thing they heard him say was, "I'll be back soon."

As the gate swallowed him completely, one of the younger hunters whispered, "So this is what an S-Rank Hunter looks like..."

"No," Zafar corrected, his eyes fixed on the gate, "this is what confidence backed by absolute power looks like."

Inside the gate, Naruto found himself in a vast cavern, its walls glowing with an eerie blue light. The air was heavy with magical energy, and the ground trembled slightly with each step he took. His Six Eyes quickly adapted to the dim lighting, allowing him to see clearly into the darkness ahead.

He hadn't walked more than fifty meters when he sensed them coming. The ground shook more violently now, and from the shadows emerged massive, dinosaur-like creatures. They stood nearly twelve feet tall, their muscular bodies covered in tough, armor-like skin. Their eyes gleamed with predatory intelligence as they surrounded him.

The first wave consisted of about thirty of these beings. They charged simultaneously, their footsteps creating small craters in the ground. One of them swung its massive fist, carrying enough force to shatter reinforced concrete – but the attack never reached Naruto. Instead, it seemed to slow down and stop just inches from his face, as if hitting an invisible barrier.

More attacks followed: powerful tail swipes, crushing stomps, even chunks of rock they began throwing. Each assault met the same fate, slowing to a halt before they could touch him. The monsters grew increasingly agitated, their attacks becoming more frenzied.

"Interesting," Naruto mused, observing their tactics. "They're not mindless beasts. They're actually coordinating their attacks." He watched as they tried to attack from different angles, searching for a weakness in his defense. "But..." he smiled slightly, "it's time to test something new."

Naruto raised his hand, his eyes glowing with power. "Let's see how this works in actual combat." The air around him began to vibrate with energy, creating visible distortions in space. "Aetheric Surge."

A wave of pure psycho-kinetic energy erupted from his body. Unlike regular magical attacks, this power operated on a different principle entirely. It was a manifestation of pure mental force, capable of affecting both physical matter and energy constructs. The surge spread outward in a concentrated wave, and as it touched the monsters, their bodies began to crumple inward as if being crushed by an invisible force.

The creatures roared in pain and confusion as the psychic energy tore through their ranks. Some tried to resist, their tough armor providing little protection against this new form of attack. Others attempted to retreat, but the psychic wave caught them all, crushing and dissolving them into mana particles.

In mere seconds, the entire first wave was eliminated. Naruto looked at his hand thoughtfully. "So that's what it feels like to use psycho-kinetic energy in combat. Quite efficient." He could feel the power settling within him, ready to be called upon again. This new ability, which he had only recently discovered, seemed to bridge the gap between physical and magical combat in an interesting way.

The cavern fell silent again, though Naruto could sense more presences deeper inside. "That was just the welcome party," he muttered, starting to walk forward again. "Let's see what else this place has in store."

His footsteps echoed through the cavern as he ventured deeper into the gate, ready for whatever would come next.