Chapter 91: Into Hell’s Gate

Beep. You’ve entered Hell’s Gate.

Current number of entrants:

7..

13..

29..

40!

The dungeon will begin in one minute. Please get ready.

A slight dizziness hit Yenir as he realized he’d been transported into a mine.

Inside the dim mine, the only light came from eerie blue crystals embedded in the walls, evoking the sensation of being deep beneath the ocean in a claustrophobic abyss.

Men and women, armed Awakened fighters, slowly opened their eyes and sized each other up.

Forty people…

Surveying the scene, Yenir’s pulse quickened as he noticed a group of soldiers in standard-issue gear. A closer look revealed that all twelve sported the East China Battle Zone insignia on their right arms, marking them as members of the 7th Group Army.

The numbers were impressive – this time, Hell’s Gate had double the usual entrants. It made sense; tougher dungeons attract more players, and some ultra-difficult events even require an entire group army.

Like him, everyone present was evaluating their fellow Awakened fighters, judging strength by the speed of their awakening.

The faster one awakens, the stronger they’re assumed to be.

To many fighters, Yenir’s swift awakening instantly earned him a reputation for solid strength, even when his aura was undetectable.

Although resisting teleportation is closely tied to willpower, people still assumed that only top-tier fighters had the capacity to boost that attribute. After all, it’s rare to see a Willpower Type taking on a high-difficulty dungeon.

Dong-dong.

A few knocks echoed as three fighters, seemingly new to this mine, tapped the wall behind them, trying to dislodge one of the Spirit Crystals.

“There are so many Spirit Crystals here!?”

Their eyes lit up; to them, even a small exposed piece of a Spirit Crystal could fetch around 7,000 to 8,000 Credit Points – seemingly an easy pick.

Delighted, they hadn’t expected such a windfall right off the bat.

“Stop tapping,”

among the Military’s Awakened fighters gathered nearby, a soldier in his early thirties barked coldly:

“All ore inside Hell’s Gate can only be dropped by monsters.”

“Even if you pry them loose, you won’t be able to take them.”

Huh?

Hearing this, the few tapping at the crystals forced a laugh, their eyes filled with regret.

Entering Hell’s Gate for the first time, they were visibly excited by the abundance of Spirit Crystals and ore. But after the officer’s announcement, they tried a bit more before ultimately giving up.

What a shame…

Putting the minor setback aside, the largest contingent from the Military saw a Colonel step forward and scan the room:

“Let’s cut to the chase. Our Military will lead this Hell’s Gate dungeon—consider yourselves lucky.”

“I’m Wang Yangping, Colonel of the 7th Group Army, Third-Stage!”

“This dungeon is no walk in the park. From the 20 tunnels you spotted, you’ll immediately encounter enemies upon entry.”

“The optimal strategy for each tunnel is to enter in groups of three to maximize rewards. Overcrowding a tunnel will drastically cut your gains.”

“By the 7th level, the tunnels converge, and we’ll have to face even tougher foes together.”

“So later, you can team up in pairs and join forces with one of our Military fighters.”

The group cheered at this prospect.

Entering the dungeon alongside Military fighters was undoubtedly the best option. Unlike private groups, the Military usually showed greater restraint and were quick to assist when needed. Many noticed that among the twelve Military fighters, four Third-Stage combatants unabashedly displayed their strength, leaving the crowd in awe.

Also, who wouldn’t want a powerhouse on their side?

Some of the less formidable solo Awakened fighters began eyeing the situation, pondering which high-ranking Military leader they might team up with.

Noticing the growing interest, Wang Yangping chuckled:

“But let me be clear.”

“If you stick with our Third-Stage team, we’ll claim 70% of the rewards! Of course, our Third-Stage fighters will do their best to keep you alive!”

“If you opt for the Second-Stage Peak option, you’ll get 50%!”

With that, Wang Yangping silently scanned the crowd as three Third-Stage fighters from his unit stepped forward, nonchalantly waiting to be chosen.

Orders had been issued for this dungeon run—to maximize Spirit Crystal collection, they didn’t mind splitting up to lead separate teams.

A hush fell over the crowd before whispers broke out.

“Teaming up means splitting the rewards? That much too?”

Though sticking with the Military’s Third-Stage team was undoubtedly safer, the idea of surrendering at least 70% of the rewards didn’t sit well with everyone.

No matter how much safety is assured, it’s only marginally better than teaming up with fellow solo fighters.

After all, isn’t everyone entering the dungeon ready to risk their lives for resources? The Military was asking for far too much…

Among the crowd, several non-Military Third-Stage fighters also reached that conclusion and stepped forward to introduce themselves:

“Huang Kai, Third-Stage Basic. Safe Zone 175. If you team up with my fighter, I’ll take only 50% of the rewards! But I’ll only accept those who are Second-Stage Advanced or above.”

“Yun Ming, Third-Stage Basic, from the Wasteland Demon Hunting Corps. I won’t say much more. 50% split, any level will do.”

Following suit, two Third-Stage fighters among the 28 non-Military group also stepped forward, clearly inspired by the Military and aiming for a bigger share.

The fighter named Huang Kai donned bulky armor while wielding a war hammer and shield—clearly favoring a defensive build.

His short, sturdy frame exuded reliability; to everyone, he epitomized a frontline melee fighter.

Yet, judging by his terms, the other fighters realized that Huang Kai leaned more toward defense than offense, meaning his partner needed to be fairly capable.

As for Yun Ming from the demon hunting corps, those familiar with the Wasteland Demon Hunting Corps were taken aback. The group was notorious in chat channels; led by a high-ranking Third-Stage fighter, they only recruited elite Second-Stage Awakened fighters.

Like everyone else, several Military Third-Stage fighters eyed them, having heard of the Demon Hunting Corps’ reputation.

This Third-Stage fighter, Yun Ming, was clearly stronger than Huang Kai. His brief introduction revealed a man confident in his might, especially with that giant axe slung over his back.

With six Third-Stage fighters suddenly available for selection, everyone hesitated for a moment.

At the other end, four Military Third-Stage fighters watched the indecisive crowd with casual confidence. Despite the competition, they were sure the fighters would eventually choose them.

After all, there were only so many Third-Stage slots – six teams could only cover 12 fighters.

If you’re slow to choose, you’ll either have to team up on your own or settle for joining a Second-Stage Peak Fighter.

One minute passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as everyone made their choice, a calm voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

Standing alone, disguised as a youth, Yenir stepped forward into the crowd and spoke briefly:

“Ye Lin, Third-Stage Basic, 40%—no restrictions.”