Morning mist still lingered when Raden returned to the terminal. His body was covered in small cuts and his clothes were torn, yet not a single complaint left his lips. In his hand, he held proof of participation from the public gate, and behind the system interface, the reward chest he received earlier trembled slightly, as if calling out to him.
He walked to the corner of the terminal and sat on the same wooden bench as before. Some porters glanced at him, noticing the blood and dirt on his clothes, but none dared to approach. Raden opened the system in his mind.
[Daily Reward Chest x1]
Open now?
[YES] / [NO]
Raden chose YES.
A glowing screen appeared before him. The wooden virtual chest slowly opened, and a soft light enveloped his hand.
[You received: Ebon Dagger (Common), 1x Small Healing Potion, 10 Bronze Coins]
His eyes widened. The name Ebon Dagger caught his attention immediately. He called up the item's status.
---
[Ebon Dagger]
Type: Weapon (Dagger)
Attack Power: +12
Bonus Effect: +5% Critical Hit
Durability: 60/60
Description: A lightweight dagger with a deep black color, capable of piercing the hide of low-tier monsters.
---
"Damn..." he muttered. Compared to the blunt dagger he took from goblins, this was a massive upgrade. He quickly equipped the new weapon and stored the old one in his system inventory.
The small healing potion was no less important. He could use it in a critical situation. And 10 bronze coins—though not much—were enough to buy him food for a day or two.
For the first time, Raden felt like this system was truly on his side.
After resting briefly, he sold all the dropped items to the nearest Hunter Association office. Goblin coins, bone necklaces, crystals, and other trinkets fetched a decent price.
---
[Total Sale: 78,000 Rupiah]
[Bonus: +1 Bronze Coin for new participant identity]
---
Raden stored his money and bought cheap food at a stall near the terminal. While eating, he overheard beginner hunters chatting at the bench behind him.
"You heard? The Green Gate almost had a dungeon break yesterday. They say there was weird monster activity inside."
"Yeah, and the government is sending investigators from the central organization. Rumor has it there's a mutation going on."
The conversation made Raden stop chewing. Mutation? Could this be related to what happened at the Rank C gate recently?
He clenched his fists. If something really was going on inside the gates, he couldn't just sit still. But he was still too weak to investigate on his own.
After cleaning himself up and changing clothes, Raden returned to the public gate queue. This time, his body felt lighter, and the Ebon Dagger was well-hidden beneath his jacket.
"Back again?" asked a gatekeeper who had seen him the day before.
Raden gave a faint smile. "Still got things to settle inside."
The gatekeeper looked him up and down. "You looked beat up yesterday. Sure you can handle it?"
"Just a bit of warm-up," Raden shrugged. "Besides, I need to sharpen my instincts."
The gatekeeper nodded and scanned Raden's participation ID without more questions. Raden knew—mentioning the system or any quests would immediately raise suspicion. He had to guard that secret carefully.
As soon as he entered the gate, the damp forest air greeted him again. The goblins were just as he remembered. But now, with a better weapon and a readied body, he moved faster and more precisely.
Strike after strike landed perfectly. The Ebon Dagger sliced through goblin throats like wet fabric. In a matter of minutes, three goblins fell.
---
[EXP +50]
[EXP +50]
[EXP +50]
Level Up! (Level 7)
EXP: 110/300
---
Raden took a deep breath. Another level up, and he could feel his reflexes and movement speed improving slightly. But just like before, stats didn't increase automatically. He opened the system status.
---
Level: 7
EXP: 110/300
Stat Points: 5 (available)
Attributes: STR 11 / AGI 10 / VIT 9 / INT 5 / LUK 3
---
He assigned 3 points to AGI and 2 to STR. His steps felt lighter instantly.
As he continued through the gate's forest, he spotted a group of goblins roasting something over a fire. Without hesitation, Raden ambushed them from the bushes and attacked.
The fight ended swiftly. He used a rock to distract them, then plunged his dagger into the leader's back. The others panicked but couldn't fight back effectively.
---
[EXP +50] x4
Level Up! (Level 8)
Total EXP: 10/350
Item Drop: Goblin Necklace x1, Green Gemstone x1
---
Raden grinned. Two levels in one day. He sat behind a tree and opened the system again.
He stored the loot and prepared to exit the gate. He didn't want to exhaust himself chasing levels all at once. Better to be cautious and endure for the long run.
Outside the gate, he passed by the same guard again.
"Back so soon? That's quick. Most folks take longer."
"Just looking for something I left behind," Raden replied casually.
The guard chuckled. "Well, don't get addicted. I've seen people lose themselves in these gates chasing money."
Raden simply nodded and walked away.
As night fell, he returned to a cheap resting place not far from the terminal. The room was cramped and stuffy, but it was enough to sleep. On the system screen, his stats had grown.
---
Name: Raden Dharma
Level: 8
EXP: 10/350
Stat Points: 5
Attributes: STR 13 / AGI 13 / VIT 9 / INT 5 / LUK 3
Weapon: Ebon Dagger
Coins: 12 Bronze
Inventory: Goblin Necklace, Green Gemstone, Old Dull Dagger, 2x Small Healing Potion
---
Raden stared at the screen for a moment, his thoughts swirling with dungeon breaks and monster mutations. If there truly was a shift in gate patterns, a bigger disaster might be coming.
"I need to keep leveling up… before this world completely changes," he whispered.
And with that determination, he closed his eyes and let his body rest.