The Red Gate looked like a wound in reality.
A massive crimson portal floated in the air, crackling with unstable energy. Heat waves distorted the space around it, making the air shimmer unnaturally.
Outside the gate—
Chaos.
Thousands of people gathered behind barricades.
Fans.
Media.
Hunters.
Curious civilians.
Police struggled to control the crowd.
Camera flashes lit the area repeatedly.
"Vikram! Vikram!"
"India's No.1!"
News vans lined the streets.
Drones hovered overhead.
It didn't look like a dangerous raid.
It looked like a festival.
A circus.
And at the center of it—
Vikram.
Standing on a raised platform.
Golden armor shining under floodlights.
Cape flowing dramatically.
He waved confidently to the crowd.
"My friends!"
His voice echoed through speakers.
"Today…"
"I, The Golden Lion…"
"...will clear this Red Gate alone!"
The crowd exploded.
Cheers filled the air.
Girls held posters.
"We Love Vikram!"
"Marry Me Vikram!"
Reporters shouted questions.
"Sir! Are you confident?"
"Sir! Is this India's biggest raid?"
Vikram smiled perfectly.
"My team is just for support."
"This will be a solo performance."
Confidence.
Charisma.
Hero image.
Everything perfect.
Behind the crowd—
Kael stood silently.
Hood up.
Mask covering his face.
Hidden among hundreds of spectators.
His eyes remained cold.
"You're right…"
He thought quietly.
"They're not support."
"They're bait."
Vikram turned toward the gate.
The drone cameraman followed closely.
"Stream ready?"
Vikram asked.
"Ready, sir!"
"Then—"
Vikram smiled again.
"Show time."
He stepped forward.
His 20-member team followed.
The Red Gate pulsed.
Energy surged.
VWOOOOOM
They entered.
The crowd cheered louder.
Then—
Silence returned.
Because the gate closed.
But—
Kael moved.
He activated Shadow Cloak.
Darkness wrapped around him.
His body faded.
Invisible.
He slipped past the guards.
No one noticed.
No one could.
He stepped toward the Red Gate.
"Guest entry."
And entered.
The world changed instantly.
The heat hit first.
Then—
The smell.
Burning earth.
Sulfur.
Ash.
Kael landed silently.
The environment…
Was hell.
Volcanic jungle.
Black soil cracked beneath his feet.
Lava flowed through broken ground.
Ash floated in the air like snow.
Burnt trees stood like skeletons.
Orange-red light filled everything.
Kael scanned the area.
The team had already moved ahead.
Some low-rank porters struggled.
"G-God… it's hot…"
One collapsed to his knees.
Another wiped sweat desperately.
Meanwhile—
The drone hovered near Vikram.
Camera focused.
Vikram smiled confidently.
"Viewers…"
He spoke dramatically.
"Welcome to hell."
"But don't worry."
"As long as I'm here…"
"There's nothing to fear."
Perfect.
Heroic.
Fake.
Then—
"Cut."
The cameraman signaled break.
Immediately—
Vikram's smile vanished.
His expression twisted in irritation.
He removed his helmet.
Threw it on the ground.
"Damn heat."
He walked toward a porter.
And kicked him.
THUD.
"Where's my makeup box?!"
The porter fell.
"S-Sorry sir…"
"It was left behind—"
Vikram grabbed his collar.
"If I look bad on stream…"
"I'll throw you into lava."
The team watched silently.
No one spoke.
No one interfered.
Fear.
Kael watched from above.
Sitting on a burnt tree branch.
Invisible.
"This…"
He thought quietly.
"...is your hero."
A bully.
A coward.
And soon—
A fallen idol.
The ground began shaking.
GRRRRRRR
Lava bubbled violently.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"Here they come."
The ambush had begun.
The ground trembled violently.
Lava pools began bubbling like boiling water.
The heat intensified.
Some of the lower-rank hunters stumbled backward.
"W-What is happening?!"
Suddenly—
The lava exploded.
Creatures emerged.
Dozens of them.
Magma Hounds.
Their bodies were made of molten rock and cracked stone. Lava flowed between their joints like blood. Their glowing orange eyes burned with aggression.
At least fifty of them.
They surrounded the entire team.
The cameraman panicked.
"Sir! Monsters incoming! Should I resume stream?!"
Vikram quickly adjusted his hair.
Put his helmet back on.
Smile returned instantly.
"Of course."
"Action mode."
"Camera from my left."
The stream resumed.
Millions began watching.
The first Magma Hound lunged forward.
Vikram drew his ice sword.
Cold mist spread around the blade.
[Frozen Slash]
SWOOSH
A wave of ice cut forward.
Five Magma Hounds froze instantly.
Then—
CRACK.
They shattered.
The crowd watching online exploded.
"OMG!"
"Too strong!"
"Vikram OP!"
Vikram turned toward camera.
"Too easy."
"These A-Rank monsters…"
"...are nothing."
Behind him—
A Magma Hound slipped past.
It rushed toward a healer.
"B-Behind—!"
The healer screamed.
"Captain!"
Vikram saw it.
But—
He didn't move.
His eyes flicked toward the camera.
Wrong angle.
If he moved—
The heroic frame would break.
"Let her die."
He thought.
The Magma Hound leaped.
The healer closed her eyes.
Then—
A black dagger flew through the air.
THUCK.
It pierced the hound's skull.
The creature collapsed instantly.
The healer froze.
"...What?"
She looked around.
"Captain saved me?"
But Vikram frowned.
That wasn't his weapon.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
"Someone else…"
He muttered quietly.
Kael remained hidden.
Watching.
Analyzing.
These hounds…
Were only scouts.
The real danger hadn't appeared yet.
The ground shook again.
Harder this time.
KA-BOOOOM
The distant volcano erupted.
Lava burst into the sky.
The entire battlefield trembled.
Then—
Something massive emerged.
A giant.
Fifty feet tall.
Body made of molten rock.
Eyes glowing like burning suns.
[Magma Giant — A+ Rank Boss]
Even Vikram froze.
"...This… wasn't in briefing."
Fear crept into his voice.
Meanwhile—
The live chat exploded.
"INSANE!"
"Vikram will destroy it!"
"EZ fight!"
The giant picked up a massive boulder.
And threw it.
WHOOSH
"Tankers!"
Vikram shouted.
"Block it!"
Two tankers stepped forward.
Shields raised.
The boulder hit.
CRUNCH
Shields shattered.
Both tankers were crushed instantly.
Blood splattered.
Silence followed.
Vikram's face turned pale.
This wasn't something he could handle.
"Turn off the stream!"
He shouted quietly.
"Turn it off!"
The cameraman panicked.
Dropped the drone controller.
But—
The stream was still live.
Camera tilted.
Recording everything.
The giant stepped forward.
Vikram stepped back.
Then—
He turned.
And ran.
Pushing teammates aside.
"Move!"
"I need to survive!"
The entire world watched.
India's hero…
Running.
Cowardly.
Leaving teammates behind.
The illusion shattered.
The giant raised its arm.
The remaining team froze.
"This is it…"
They thought.
Then—
Smoke shifted.
A grey figure walked forward calmly.
Slow.
Silent.
Kael.
He stepped between the giant and the team.
He raised his hand.
[Karma Weaver — Misfortune Redirect]
The giant stepped forward—
Then slipped.
THUD.
It crashed sideways.
Shock spread across the battlefield.
Dust filled the air.
Kael stood in front of the camera.
Behind him—
Vikram lay on the ground.
Terrified.
Kael looked directly into the lens.
Cold glowing eyes.
"The show…"
He spoke calmly.
"...starts now."
The battlefield fell silent.
The massive Magma Giant struggled on the ground, trying to regain balance after the sudden slip.
Dust and ash filled the air.
Everyone stared.
Confused.
Shocked.
Terrified.
The grey figure stood calmly in front of them.
Kael.
His hood moved slightly in the volcanic wind.
His mask hid his face.
Only his glowing eyes were visible.
The surviving hunters looked at him.
"W-Who…?"
The healer whispered.
Even Vikram froze.
His breathing heavy.
Sweat covered his face.
He didn't recognize the figure.
But—
He felt danger.
Real danger.
The Magma Giant roared.
ROOOOOAR
It pushed itself up again.
The ground cracked beneath its weight.
Kael remained calm.
Watching.
Calculating.
The giant raised its massive arm again.
This time—
Faster.
Stronger.
It aimed directly for Kael.
The hunters panicked.
"Move!"
"You'll die!"
But Kael didn't move.
Instead—
He reached for his dagger.
[Fangs of the Naga]
The blade shimmered with poison.
The giant's fist descended.
WHOOM
At the last second—
Kael vanished.
Shadow Cloak activated.
He reappeared on the giant's arm.
Fast.
Unseen.
He stabbed.
THUCK
Poison entered the molten rock.
The giant roared.
It tried to shake him off.
Kael jumped again.
Landed on the giant's shoulder.
Second strike.
Third strike.
Fourth.
Each attack applied poison.
The giant slowed.
Molten cracks spread across its body.
Meanwhile—
The live stream chat exploded.
"WHO IS THAT?!"
"New hunter?!"
"He's insane!"
Vikram watched.
His fists clenched.
Someone else…
Stealing the spotlight.
No.
Stealing his moment.
Kael jumped down.
The giant prepared to stomp.
Kael raised his hand.
[Karma Weaver]
The giant's foot landed on unstable lava.
The ground collapsed.
The giant stumbled forward.
Perfect opening.
Kael dashed forward.
Activated Heavy Strike.
The dagger glowed red.
He jumped.
And stabbed directly into the giant's chest core.
BOOM
The giant froze.
Cracks spread across its body.
Then—
It collapsed.
The massive body shattered into molten fragments.
Silence followed.
Then—
System notification appeared.
[Boss Defeated]
The surviving hunters stared.
Speechless.
The camera zoomed toward Kael.
Millions watching.
He stood calmly.
Back turned.
Then—
He walked away.
Without claiming credit.
Without speaking further.
The mysterious savior.
The unknown figure.
The villain.
Behind him—
Vikram sat frozen.
His reputation…
Shattered.
Online—
The chat exploded.
"Vikram ran!"
"Who is the masked hunter?!"
"New S-Rank??"
The world had witnessed everything.
Kael stopped briefly.
Without turning—
He spoke quietly.
"Heroes…"
"...are just actors."
"And today…"
"...the villain stole the stage."
He disappeared into the volcanic smoke.
The Architect…
Had officially debuted.
Chapter 8 End.