12. LAN

A few days passed since the 'young master incident'....

Gabriel layed on his apartment bed, contemplating on things that doesn't make sense and reminiscing about Earth.

["Just what is so special about this Earth that makes you reminisce almost every day."]

"It's my homeworld, Guide." said Gabriel. "Who the hell wouldn't miss...or long....for their home...."

["Those who are subjected under the cruelty of their world."]

"So you do have a sense of humor." Gabriel said sarcastically. "But what you said do make sense."

"What i'm trying to say.....is that my world is nothing special....compared to most of the worlds here in the Myriad Web...but it holds a special place in my heart."

"Earth is the place where i was born.....where i lived.....where my family lived..."

"It is where i learned about the world.....learned about the people.....learned about my self....."

"It is where i made friends and enemies.....it is where i loved and experienced pain greater than physical harm...it is how i came to be...like this..."

"But i am not overwhelmed by longing, in fact, i am filled with excitement."

"For years, i have been an avid reader of stories. From fantasy to fanfiction, from action to romance...i was able to experience the spectacle of worlds even though it wasn't real."

"And those stories made me the person that i am today; hell, if it wasn't for those stories, i might have become the usual protagonist that believes in the law of the jungle of 'kill of be killed' or become some kind of sexual deviant who creates a harem while pretending to be dense, or maybe a wholesome one.....but that's rare nowadays."

Hearing this, the Guide murmurred.

["Hmmm...maybe that's the reason the flame chose you....."]

"What?" Gabriel asked with an eyebrow raised.

["Nothing."]

"You do know i can hear you telepathically right?" said Gabriel.

["...."]

"Ahhh forget it." said Gabriel "i'm not really much interested on how my soul escaped Samsara or how the flame chose me."

"All i know is that i am here, the flame chose me, and i will follow the request of living freely."

Suddenly, Gabriel's hunter phone that was on a desk started vibrating.

"Huh..."

Gabriel gets up from his bed and grabs the phone to see what was happening.

[["LAN Warning!!!! LAN Warning!!!!]]

[["A Gate is detected near Jinzhou City Square."]]

[["Estimated to be a D-Rank Gate."]]

[["All nearby Hunters are implored to come evacuate the citizens and defend Jinzhou City from the Otherworlders."]]

[["Godspeed, Hunters." - UHO"]]

"Do we take this?" asked Gabriel

["If you want to save lives?"]

["Yes."]]

"Let's go save some lived then." said Gabriel

-----------------------------------------------------------

Jinzhou City Square.

In the middle of the city square, a crack in space forms, creating a portal to another world.

One by one, goblins and hobgoblins began popping up, causing terror and havoc throughout Jinzhou City.

From a distance, a jeep could be seen, driving at a fast pace towards the Gate.

At a safe distance, the jeep stopped and four individuals comes out of the jeep, namely: Chu Xuan, Feng Hao, Xu Qianqian, and Zhang Ruohan

"UHO Command, this is D-Rank Hunter Party: Silver Wolves" said Chu Xuan "we're

near the Jinzhou City Square, awaiting for orders."

[[".....Silver Wolves, this is UHO Command."]]

[["....Prioritize the evacuation of civilians."]]

[["Once the civilians are evacuated....retaliate with no mercy."]]

[["Do you copy?"]]

"Copy that." Chu Xuan said and confronts his party members. "Xu Qianqian and Zhang Ruohan, evacuate the civilians."

"Feng Hao, you're with me." said Chu Xuan "we'll distract the otherworlders and if possible, kill some along the way."

"Understood?

"Understood!" said the other three hunters.

-----------------------------------------------------------

As time passed, more and more hunters arrived and fends off the otherworlds while some evacuates civilians to safety.

"There still coming!" Chu Xuan shouted as he mauls a hobgoblin to death with his mace.

"Leader Chu!!, i've just received a message from Ruohan; they're finished with the evacuation." said Feng Hao

"Good, tell them to come here immediately." said Chu Xuan "we're starting get overwhelmed by the Otherworlders; we need all available hands on deck."

"I'll notify them then, Leader Chu." Feng Hao said as he contacts their other teammates.

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan fights off a few Otherworlders as he contacts one of his associates. "Miss Zhao Liying, status report!"

At a safe distance, a woman was frantically analyzing energy data from the gate using a specialized gadget.

"Chu Xuan, the Gate's energy readings are spiking at a level beyond its level, i don't know how it's happening but i believe it's some kind of irregularity!!!"

"Also, we noticed that the number of Otherworlders present is irregular; a D-Rank Gate shouldn't be able to release such a number of Otherworlders...we suspect that it will upgrade to a higher rank." said Zhao Liying.

"A Gate Irregularity?" said Chu Xuan "SH*T!!! We need reinforcments!!!"

"I've already called UHO Command, we have to hold for 40 more minutes before reinforcements arrive." said Zhao Liying

"40 MORE MINUTES!?!? WE'LL BE DEAD AT 10!!!" Chu Xuan shouted as he is sent flying from a combined attack of two hobgoblins.

-----------------------------------------------------------

A few minutes later.....

Gabriel finally arrives at the battlefield and sees multiple Hunters and Otherworlders, fighting at a stand still.

["There's something with that 'Gate', Gabriel."]

"What is it?" asked Gabriel.

["It seems to be getting stronger."]

["Sooner or later, an Otherworlder with 4th Cricle/C-Rank strength will come out."]

"Then we have to quickly deal with the weaker ones first so we can focus against the possible C-Rank." said Gabriel.

["Stop talking and start fighting."]

"Right." Gabriel said as he rushes towards the battlefield.

The Otherworlders were very familiar to Gabriel, they were goblins and hobgoblins. Very annoying and fierce monsters that can wreak havoc on an entire city if not stopped.

("Wind's Blessing!!!")

With a buff of enhanced speed, Gabriel began killing off the Otherworlders one by one.

By launching simple [Fireballs] at the goblins and binding hobgoblins with [Etheral Chains]. With help from other hunters, they began killing them at a faster and safer pace.

From a distance, Gabriel could see a hunter being ganged up by four hobgoblins and rushes there to help him.

("Ethereal Chains!!!")

Transparent chains erupted from the ground and quickly bindes the four hobgoblins in place.

The hunter seeing this, acted with swift ferocity, decapitating the four hobgoblins.

Gabriel meets with the hunter. "Are you alright?"

"No...but i'll manage." the hunter said as he raises his hand towards Gabriel.

"Chu Xuan, D-Rank Hunter.....you are?"

Gabriel grabs Chu Xuan hand and shake hands. "Gabriel, Peak C-Rank Hunter."

"Peak C-Rank!?!? Finally, we could end thjs battle." said Chu Xuan "have you heard from the others that the Gate is experiencing an irregularity and will upgrade to a higher tier.

"Yes i did." said Gabriel. "I already helped the others to deal with the weaker Otherworlders, if the Gate were to upgrade, i will deal with the C-Rank Otherworlder myself."

"That's great." said Chu Xuan

Suddenly Chu Xuan receives a call from his hunter phone. "Miss Zhao Liying, what is the matter?"

"The Gate's energy readings are spiking!!!' said Zhao Liying "It's about to become a C-Rank Gate!!"

"Okay we'll head there." said Chu Xuan "I'm bringing along a Peak C-Rank Hunter so just hang in there."

"A Peak C-Rank Hunter!?!?, that's great, that's really great." said Zhao Liying.

Gabriel and Chu Xuan quickly heads towards the Gate. They met with the other hunters and ordered them to form a perimter around the Gate at a safe distance.

Zhao Liying analyzed the continously spiking readings. "Prepare for impact!!!."

"Impact?" asked Gabriel

Suddenly, the Gate sent out a shockwave of energy, which sent the nearby hunters along with Gabriel away from the Gate.

The Gate glowed a light crimson and growed larger, from 3 meters it quickly grew to 8 metets.

"C-Rank Otherworlder incoming!!!!!" shouted Zhao Liying.

From the Gate, a large goblin that wore loose pants, a large black cloak, a necklace that is decorated with what resembles three teeth, and wielding a large axe.

"It's a Goblin Titan!!!" shouted Chu Xuan "all close-range hunters take cover! Hunter Gabriel will fight the Goblin Titan."

"All long-range hunters, take aim and fire without hesitation...i mean attack without accidentally striking Gabriel."

"ROOAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The Goblin Titan roared with great intensity to intimidate the hunters. With its large axe, it began its advance and confronts Gabriel.

("Ethereal Chains!!!!")

Transparent chains erupted from the ground beneath the Goblin Titan and locked around its legs, but due to its immense size and strength, it got out of the chains with considerable effort.

"Sh*t" Gabriel uttered as he casted more ethereal chains.

("Ethereal Chains x10!!!!!")

Numerous transparent chains emerged from the ground and binded around the Goblin Titan's legs, finally locking it on place.

"It's trapped!!! All long-ranged hunters!!! Full-force attack!!!' shouted Chu Xuan

The long-ranged hunters quickly takes aim and fires at the Goblin Titan. It was hit with numeral explosive arrows, bombs, and spells. However, it only did minor damage due to its tough hide.

"It's hide is too tough!!! We have to strike at s soft point." said Gabriel.

["Use a [Compressed Fireball] spell on its eye."]

["The damage caused by it should be able to affect its skull and burns its brain from within."]

"Got it." said Gabriel.

Suddenly the trapped Goblin Titan aimed its large axe towards the hunters and throws it with immense power.

"NO!!!!" Gabriel shouted as he rushes in front of the hunters and casted a Mana Dome.

("Mana Dome!!!!!!!")

The large axe collided with the Mana Dome which sent both sides flying. Gabriel landed on a wall and coughs up blood from the impact.

"That's the first time i got injured." Gabriel said as he wipes the blood from his mouth.

["What about the boar?"]

"It was an illusion protocol!" shouted Gabriel.

["It was also a defense protocol."]

"...d*mn you man" Gabriel said with a smirk on his face.

("Wind's Blessing!!!!)

Gabriel rushes back to the battlefield and heads towards the Goblin Titan.

"What the hell are you doing Gabriel!?!?!" shouted Chu Xuan.

"I'm going to strike it in its eyes. It should be enough to kill it." shouted Gabriel

("Compressed Fireball.")

As soon as he arrived near the Goblin Titan, a compressed red fireball quickly formed at Gabriel's left palm, just as he was about to strike the Goblin Titan, the Guide alerted him from an incoming danger.

["Gabriel!! Six o'clock!!!!"]

Gabriel turned around and sees the large axe coming towards him. "F*CK the axe has a loyalty effect!!!!"

Gabriel quickly manuevered and casted ethereal chains to move him away from the axe.

("Ethereal Chains!!!!!")

Gabriel dodged the axe, but now the axe was back in the Goblin Titan's hands, and with Gabriel at an approximate distance with the Goblin Titan, it began attacking ferociously.

"SH*T!! SH*T!! SH*T!! SH*T!! SH*T!!!!!!!"

Fortunately for Gabriel, because Wind's Blezsing was still active, he was able to dodge its attacks though barely.

Then, Gabriel quickly thought of an idea.

"Hey F*CKER!!!!! I'M RIGHT HERE!!!" Gabriel shouted as he stood in place.

"The f*ck is he doing?" Chu Xuan said from a distancr.

The Goblin Titan charged up his axe and launched an downward chop. Gabriel dodged to the side, making the axe embedded to the ground.

("Ethereal Chains!!!! x5")

Transparent chains erupted from the ground and binded around the axe, locking it in place.

"So that was his plan!!" Chu Xuan shouted in shock from a distance.

Gabriel then climbed from its arms towards its head and embedded a compressed fireball in its eyes.

("Compressed Fireball!!!!!!!!")

The moment it entered the Goblim Titan's eye, it exploded and along with it, a quarter of its head, succesfully killing the Goblin Titan.

The chains around the Goblin Titan and its axe dissipated, its body flopping to the ground.

All the hunters began cheering in victory.

"WE WON!!!!!!!"

"AHAHAHAHHAHA F*CK YOU OTHERWORLDERS!!!!!!"

"CELESTRIA STANDS!!!!!!!!!!"

As the hunters cheered, Gabriel relishes the moment and held his fist up in the air in satisfaction.

"Victory is ours!....."

End of Chapter