Chapter 7 - The Snow Gate

Two days after their small mission, the regulars were called for a more serious task. Unlike before, this time they would be entering their first Gate as official members of Gatez.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was tense. The newly recruited regulars stood in neat rows, waiting for instructions from the higher-ups. In front of them, a well-built man with sharp eyes stood with authority—Gaze, one of the main leaders of Gatez.

Beside him, several other high-ranking officers stood silently, observing each regular with evaluating gazes.

"The Gate you will be entering is the Snow Gate, located in the mountainous region. The temperature is extremely low, so you will be provided with special winter uniforms," Gaze announced in a firm voice.

The regular members began murmuring among themselves. This would be their first time truly stepping into a Gate since their final exam. Even though they had trained and honed their skills at the Gatez academy, nothing could truly prepare someone for the real dangers inside a Gate.

Among them, a young man named Ezie remained silent, his eyes scanning the team list given to him. He carefully read the names written there.

Team 1:

Captain: Velka (Elite)

Kazek (Elite)

Lira (Elite)

Sever (Elite)

Ezie (Regular)

Ezie took a deep breath. As he expected, he was the only regular in a team full of Elites. Not only that, but they would be deployed alongside two other teams, forming a large group of fifteen people.

As they prepared to enter the Gate, the teams gathered in front of a massive portal that shimmered in a pale blue light. The portal stood in the middle of a snowy field, radiating a chilling aura that made the wind around it even more piercing. Snowflakes swirled in the air, drawn toward the strange energy of the portal.

Gates could affect the climate around them. This was one of the reasons why the areas surrounding Gates often experienced abnormal weather changes.

Amidst the serious atmosphere, a tall and muscular man stood with his arms crossed, looking impatient. Kazek, an Elite known for his strength, glanced at the team list before scoffing as he spotted a particular name.

"Seriously? We have to bring a regular?" Kazek muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "They haven't even had real combat experience inside a Gate. This is only going to slow us down."

Ezie heard the comment. He wasn't surprised—he knew there would be doubts like this. Still, hearing it directly from an Elite stung a little. He clenched the list in his hand, trying not to react.

Velka, the team captain, gave Kazek a brief glance before responding calmly, "This isn't our decision, Kazek. This is a directive from the Gatez Association. Regulars need real-world experience in missions like this, and we are part of that process."

Kazek scoffed again, his eyes still filled with skepticism as he looked at Ezie. "But we could've had another Elite instead. Why a regular?"

Beside him, a silver-haired woman with her hair tied back, Lira, smirked slightly. "Maybe they want to see if you can work with someone outside your comfort zone?" she teased.

Sever, another Elite who was usually quiet, chuckled. "Or maybe the Association wants to test your patience."

Kazek grumbled in frustration but couldn't argue further. Velka was their captain, and orders from the Association were absolute.

Velka patted Kazek's shoulder lightly before saying, "Listen, we're all here for the same reason—to complete the mission and make it back alive. So don't waste your energy complaining. If you really want to complain, do it after we return."

Kazek clicked his tongue but said nothing more. He cast one last glance at Ezie before turning his attention back to the portal ahead.

Ezie exhaled quietly. He knew he had something to prove—not just to Kazek but also to himself.

"Alright," Velka said firmly. "We're going in."

As they stepped through the Snow Gate, the change was immediate. The cold air wrapped around them, far more piercing than they had anticipated. Unlike at the Gatez academy, where the environment was controlled, inside the Gate, they had to face the harsh natural conditions.

Thick snow covered the ground, and towering ice-covered trees surrounded them. A white fog blanketed the area, limiting their vision.

Ezie pulled his winter uniform tighter, trying to resist the biting cold. This was his first time truly stepping into a Gate as part of an official team.

"Be careful, the low temperature will slow us down," Velka warned, scanning the surroundings.

Beside him, Kazek muttered under his breath, "Let's just hope this mission doesn't turn into a hassle."

Suddenly, movement behind a snowdrift caught their attention.

Ezie tensed. His fingers moved instinctively toward the dagger at his waist.

Something was lurking in the frozen mist.

Velka narrowed his eyes. "Stay alert. We're not alone here."

Kazek growled, "We need to move quickly. This isn't a place to waste time."

Out of nowhere, from behind the snowbanks, a pack of snow wolves leaped out!

"Multiple targets!" Lira shouted.

"Two from the right, three from the left!" Velka commanded, immediately taking a defensive stance.

The battle erupted.

Ezie dodged to the side, slashing at one of the wolves with his dagger. But the creature was faster than he expected.

Lira activated Mana Shield, blocking a sudden attack.

"We need to take them down quickly before the cold weakens us!" Kazek roared as he fought brutally.

But before they could even catch their breath, a long, eerie howl echoed through the air.

The sound sent tremors through the snowy trees, knocking loose clumps of snow.

From the depths of the frozen mist, a Werewolf emerged.

Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, its massive frame towering over a human. Sharp claws extended, ready to tear its prey apart.

"Damn," Sever muttered. "This just got complicated."

The werewolf snarled before—in an instant—it lunged at them with terrifying speed!

Ezie felt his adrenaline surge.

This was no longer just a test.

This was real combat.

And he was not going to back down.