Chapter 1: The White Gate (1)
The strongest hunter in the country was part of the guild Cardinal. The president of Cardinal was a woman name Emilia whose skills far surpassed the average hunter but was beneath the strongest hunter who did not want to be the president of anything. He preferred to lead hunts but he did not enjoy the paperwork that came with hunting.
Nathaniel Whitman lived in the guild building because he did not want to spend money on a house of his own. A whole floor was reserved specifically for him, completed with a kitchen and a second floor.
To call him frugal or humble would be absurd because he was neither frugal nor humble. His character often rubbed other hunters the wrong way and would probably have resulted in a war if it wasn't for his companion's skillful interventions on numerous occasions.
That companion was the dubbed the strongest supporter. First and foremost, Faust was the only man who controlled light as his primary skill. Most hunters were separated first by their weapon and then by the element the weapon could accept. For example, Nathaniel was a wind-type swordmaster and the president of Cardinal was an earth-type necromancer.
Faust, however, could only control the light and cast support and healing spells, which was why most people saw him as an accessory because he was useless on his own but a source of infinite power when partnered with.
Faust's choice of joining Cardinal was not because of Cardinal's prestige but rather Nathaniel had promised a good wage if he were to work with him and his guild (though it was mostly with Nathaniel because the strongest hunter often went hunting without a group).
Nathaniel's daily routine was simple. He would wake up in the morning, go for a run, return for breakfast, then go hunting with Faust.
Finding monsters to hunt was easy. With every breath the Light Dragon released, new dragon servitors and monsters were born, rushing toward Earth through Moon Gates. Moon Gates were portals created by the Light Dragon that the Dark Dragon guarding Earth couldn't destroy.
Their appearances were often random but it could seal it off by the hunters once the Dragon Servitor guiding that group of monsters was killed. Since the Servitor often entered last, there was a fair chance that some battles might last longer than others.
And that was where teleporters came in. They would arrive first on scene to transport the Moon Gate to the open ground before erecting a barrier around so that no buildings would be destroyed. Since the Dark Dragon could seal off the gate for at most two hours before the monsters broke through, the hunters had enough time to prepare and gather for the hunt.
Of course, for Nathaniel, all he needed was a few minutes to gather his gears. Driving there was always fast and smooth because Faust could control the traffic light to their preference. That was something Nathaniel discovered a few days into their partnership, not that Faust had ever told him or would ever tell him.
"How did you change the light?" Nathaniel asked Faust who had just driven through a rather long yellow light. "What if you cause a crash?"
"I know how traffic lights work, Nate," Faust replied, keeping his eyes on the road, and brightened the screen of the phone Nathaniel was using. "Has your assault team gathered yet?"
"They said yes," Nathaniel replied, scrolling down the group chat. "Oh, hm? Matt wants to know if we'll be having lunch with the assault team later. I think that's fine since I don't have to pay. You coming? Of course, you're coming. Let's tell them this after the gate. I'll tell them we're on the way."
"Tell them we're here," Faust corrected him as he pulled into the parking lot. "Since they're here, my power is not needed. I'll be staying back to seal the gate as soon as you're done."
"You can just leave the guards to it," Nathaniel said, batting a hand dismissively as he put his phone away. "Sealing a gate consumes a lot of mana."
"If the assault team was here, the gate must be rather big."
The longer a gate stayed, the more damage it'd do to the Dark Dragon's shield and since Faust could seal Gates faster than the guards, the guild often tasked him with the larger ones.
Nathaniel didn't like that, because most Gates could only be closed by the effort of two or more guards. Despite Faust's claim that his mana reserve was stronger than most, Nathaniel still believed that closing a gate all on his own was an awful choice.
"You're stealing other people's job," Nathaniel muttered. "Does Emilia pay you handsomely for every gate you seal?"
"She does."
"Oh, wow, traitor. I'm the one paying you to work here."
"I don't work for you, Nate. I work for the guild. It's just unfortunate that you're paying my daily expense."
"Once again, I remember why I don't like you."
Faust separated from Nathaniel and headed to the guards who were waving at him. The size of this Moon Gate was larger than the last one. Standing as tall as a mansion, the gate was an ominous ball of dark energy. Faust could feel it pulsing through him and undoubtedly, so could the guards who had transported the gate here.
He nodded at them and they smiled as if praised. "Mr. Faust, everything is normal so far. There're still ten minutes until gatebreak. The assault team has gathered already and since Mr. Nathaniel is coming himself, they've requested fewer supporting hunters."
"I see. Good work."
"Since the gate is larger than usual, we've also strengthened the barrier to match the corresponding magic output from past observations. However, we have more guards on standby just in case." The energetic man paused and asked, "Will Mr. Faust be joining the fight as well?"
"No, I will be having a well-deserved break."
"Ah, of course. It's only been a few days since you last sealed a gate. You must be tired."
Faust opened his mouth to correct the very-wrong man but he decided not to and promptly walked away with a brief "Good work."
"Mr. Faust!" someone called him from the assault team. "Mr. Nathaniel said you'll be joining us for the team lunch later! We look forward to it!"
Faust did not want to join them for lunch. Nathaniel was such a liar.
The gatebreak happened a few seconds before ten minutes had passed. There was a quiet hiss as the barrier blocking the gate melted away. For a moment, nothing came out. Despite having said he wouldn't participate, Faust quietly cast a buffing circle under his team.
Then water began gushing out.
"A sea creature," someone shouted. "Guards, please keep the water level low!"
"Got it!"
Sea creatures' arrival often came with a gushing ocean because the gate was sometimes submerged in water. Faust stood on the chair he had been sitting on so his shoes wouldn't get wet. The guards managed to keep the water a bit above ankle-height. It wasn't too much, comparing to the ocean beyond the gate, but it was enough to impede the hunters' movement.
Faust cast a speed spell on them. He would partake in the water-draining process, but he didn't feel like it, not when the guards were doing such a good job. Since the sea was imbued with mana, it was easy for the guards to control.
As a container, the barriers prism kept the churning water inside.
Then, the gigantic head covered in large scales emerged from the gate. The sea behind it continued to pour.
"A…a dragon?" one of the guards exclaimed.
It was a sea serpent.
Tssssssssss. It hissed at them, baring its large fangs, but it made no move to attack as it stopped with just its head beyond the gate. As it opened its mouth, a gush of hot air and sea stench engulfed the hunters.
"Purify!" A guard immediately pushed up the spell and suppressed the smell.
"Is this a Dragon Servitor?" Matt asked.
Nathaniel looked up at the monster, gripping his glowing blade tightly, and searched for a white mark that belonged exclusively to the servitors. There were none.
This was only the first monster.
Without another word, they attacked.
* * *
Faust knelt on the cold cavern floor. In front of him, the rest of the council mirrored his pose. They were all chosen Prophets of the Dark Dragon and as Prophets, they would listen to the message of the Dark Dragon and convey them to the people.
As a light-type hunter, Faust didn't enjoy the dark cavern the dragon resided in but a summon from the Dark Dragon, which happened only once every couple of years, wasn't something he could ignore. He was promptly whisked away to Socotra Island on the fastest helicopter as soon as he'd closed the gate.
In all mythologies, there was something sinister about the dark, but in the case of the two dragons, it was different. The body of the Dark Dragon was rich and dark as if at any moment a galaxy would shine through the scales. However, the Light Dragon was an eerily white dragon with black, depthless eyes. Dragons were selfish creatures so there was no way they would help humans as the Dark Dragon had. But since it was severely weakened by the Light Dragon during the battle a few centuries ago, it'd resorted to a system with the humans.
My Prophets, the dragon was speaking, I sense dissatisfaction from you.
"The hunters want to enter the Light Dragon's realm," the First Prophet, a man with dark skin from the Eastern part of the world, relayed steadily with bowed head. "They want to strike first instead of waiting for the monsters' arrival."
The power difference is immense, the Dark dragon replied. I cannot protect you in the realm of my brother.
"We have faith in our power, Arkhos."
The Dark Dragon wasn't easily convinced but, as a dragon, it felt no obligation to dissuade the humans from an inevitable doom.
Very well, it said after a moment of contemplation. I will create a path into the Light Dragon's breeding hive. You will not survive against the trained monsters roaming the realm but you might have a chance against the fledglings.
"Pardon me if I'm wrong, Arkhos, but I wasn't aware that there are fledglings of monsters."
Indeed, creatures are born full-grown, the Dark Dragon said. However, the servitors of the Light Dragon are first created in the hives and it takes them a few days to get used to and command the creatures in that hive before they descend into the realm. Take that time to eliminate them before they amass more under their command.
"Of course." The Prophets bowed once again and left.
My Tenth Prophet, the Dark Dragon called out; its voice was heard only by its target. Your power of light will be strengthened in the Light Dragon's realm. However, I hope it will not persuade you to turn sides, my dear Prophet.
"Of course not, Arkhos," Faust replied. "I'm content with what I have."
The dragon laughed quietly and it sent an uncomfortable shudder through the deep cavern. There are no boundaries to human greed, my dear Prophet. You do not need to follow my advice but remember your mission. The future lies in your hand.
A large cloud of dust and rumbling stones rose from the depth and tumbled back down.
Then, the heavy presence of the dragon was gone and the braziers at the entrance of the cave flickered out.
Faust lit up a small orb to find his way and left the cavern behind.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone