Date: 13/03/2021, Saturday
Location: Ground Zero, Geneva, Switzerland / Inside the C-Rank Hell Gate
Time: 12:20 PM
It was 12:20 PM. Right in the center of the newly established restriction zone in Geneva's outer sector, a massive, thirty-foot purple and black vortex swirled ominously. This was the new C-Rank Hell Gate. A massive, fully armed GDA force stood lined up in perfect formation before it. This force comprised everyone from standard Dungers to heavily armored elite operatives. They wielded the newly forged Magitech weapons, while the mining and collection teams stationed behind them held newly designed Magitech pickaxes and excavators.
The atmosphere was a potent mix of heavy tension and electric excitement. This was no ordinary raid; it was an industrial invasion.
Richard Vance stood at the absolute front, his long black trench coat billowing slightly, exuding an oppressive S-Rank presence. Beside him stood Aris and the three GDA R&D Chiefs—Alton Moris, Vanice Flora, and Victor. Directly behind them stood two combat-ready S-Rank Dungers.
Richard stared into the swirling gate with cold, emotionless eyes. Without turning his head, he asked Aris, "Is everything ready?"
Aris immediately checked his data-pad and gave a sharp nod. "Yes, Sir. We are completely prepped. All teams are in position. We are cleared to enter the Hell Gate."
Richard raised his hand, issuing an absolute command to the entire GDA force. Without a second of hesitation, the Dungers marched into the dimension in a systematic, militarized formation.
The moment they crossed the portal, the force found themselves inside the C-Rank dungeon. The interior resembled an ancient mine warped by magic. The walls were solid, jagged rock, but deep blue, glowing crystals jutted out from every surface. The place was overflowing with raw resources; humanity simply hadn't possessed the equipment to harvest them until now.
Stepping forward, Richard addressed his team. His voice echoed through the cavernous expanse like a definitive decree. "Brace yourselves, Dungers, because today we make history. From this moment on, these monsters are no longer just our enemies. From this moment on, this cavern is our property."
A thunderous roar of approval erupted from the Dungers. The fear that usually accompanied entering a Hell Gate had been entirely eradicated. They possessed the most advanced technology in the world and were backed by four S-Rankers. The adrenaline surged because they knew they were rewriting the rules of the world.
"Strike Team, clear the path," Richard ordered.
Upon receiving the command, the S-Rankers surged forward, drawing their blades and charging as the vanguard. From the darker recesses of the cave, C-Rank monsters—massive armored beasts with bloodlust in their eyes—roared and lunged. But against the S-Rankers, they were completely outmatched. The S-Rankers' speed and strikes were so precise and lethal that the beasts couldn't even react. The monsters were effortlessly butchered, and the path was systematically cleared.
Turning to the Dungers waiting behind, Richard issued his next, and most crucial, order.
"Teams, charge the dungeon! The mining unit will extract everything, and the collection unit will gather all resources and materials for extraction," Richard commanded, his voice carrying a strict, calculative edge. "Remember, we are here to squeeze this dungeon dry. Not a single crystal, not a single monster core is to be left behind. If this operation is successful, every Dunger here is guaranteed an increment."
Hearing this, the morale of the Dungers skyrocketed. Wealth and power—these were the twin fuels driving this new era.
In the very next second, the entire mining team descended upon the cavern walls with their Magitech pickaxes. Clink! Clink! Clink! The rhythmic, metallic sounds echoed throughout the cave.
C-Rank crystals and glowing ores were carefully extracted without shattering their mana integrity. Simultaneously, the collection team systematically harvested cores and essence stones from the monster carcasses, packing them into specialized bags. It was a flawless, ruthless assembly line; the GDA was literally hollowing out the dimension.
A short time later, following the cleared path, Richard and the S-Rankers reached the deepest sector of the cave. Ahead lay a massive, open cavern where the mana pressure was exponentially denser. The Boss was just a short distance away, sealed behind its heavy doors.
Alton Moris, the S-Rank Architect, immediately stepped forward to set up the 'Barrier Machine.'
"Sir, I am positioning it here at the choke-point," Alton stated, calibrating the device. He made the final adjustments, and as he turned the main dial to 'ON', a low humming sound vibrated through the air. A solid wave of energy shot upward from the machine, connecting with the ceiling. A barrier instantly materialized—a transparent, violet-blue wall resembling unbreakable glass.
At that exact moment, a terrifying roar echoed from inside the Boss Room. The Boss had caught the scent of the Dungers. A second later, a massive, heavily armored C-Rank Boss—so large its footsteps shook the entire cave—charged out. Its eyes were blood-red with fury, desperate to crush the intruders.
But the moment the colossal beast tried to cross the threshold, a deafening BOOM! resonated through the cavern. The Boss's massive head slammed into the invisible wall, the sheer force violently throwing it backward. It charged again, relentlessly battering the barrier with its heavy fists, but it was futile. The machine had created an impenetrable spatial lock. The Boss was a prisoner in its own domain.
Witnessing this, the Dungers in the back erupted into wild cheers. The monsters that had been synonymous with death just yesterday were now utterly helpless inside a cage of humanity's making.
Richard Vance stood completely still. The Boss was gnashing its teeth and clawing at the invisible wall mere feet from his face, yet Richard simply offered that same cold, terrifying smile. He shifted his gaze from the helpless beast to the three R&D chiefs standing beside him.
"Good job, gentlemen," Richard said, his straight, sharp voice laced with sheer dictatorial satisfaction. "You have truly done the impossible. From now on, the world will no longer just clear Hell Gates... we will squeeze them dry."
Richard adjusted his coat. He had just proven that the GDA was no longer just a defensive military force; it had evolved into the most ruthless corporate and military machine on the planet. The Boss continued to roar helplessly behind the glass, while behind Richard, an entire dimension was being stripped bare, brick by brick.