Solo Leveling: Monarch of Knowledge

(Monday, June 17, 2026 – 3:10 PM)

Héctor turned towards his guild members, raising a hand to gather their attention. The squad of twenty A-Rank Hunters stood in disciplined formation on the docks, fully geared and ready to enter the gate. They all exuded strong mana signatures, but Adam, with his enhanced perception, immediately categorized their roles within seconds.

Four of them radiated a calm, nurturing aura, their mana aligned towards healing and support.

Healers. A necessary addition for high-risk dungeon expeditions, but also low ones as you're not normally allowed to enter agate without a healer, unless you're National Rank.

Six bore the distinct, dense mana of Tankers, their bodies reinforced with armor and shields, exuding durability that made them the foundation of any frontline.

The remaining ten were a mix of Fighters, Mages, Assassins, and Rangers, each specializing in different forms of offense, mobility, and range. Adam could tell from the way their mana fluctuated around them, tuned to their respective combat styles.

Héctor gestured towards a woman standing beside him. She was a striking figure, about a head shorter than Adam but still taller than Marie. Her long, dark brown hair cascaded past her shoulders, framing a strong, confident face with sharp hazel eyes. Her battle gear, a fitted combat suit reinforced with enchanted fabric, accentuated her toned physique without restricting movement.

She stepped forward, offering Adam a warm smile before extending her hand. "I'm Sofía Delgado, Adam Sen, you're quite the celebrity already." she said in a smooth, pleasant voice. "That dragon of yours made waves. The entire world is talking about it."

[Image]

Adam met her handshake with a neutral nod. "Not much I can do about that." he replied, keeping a neutral tone.

The Sofía chuckled lightly before shifting her gaze to Marie. "And you must be Marie." she greeted, her voice just as warm, but something in her expression carried an edge.

Marie returned the greeting with a polite but measured nod with her posture subtly stiffening. "That's me." she said simply.

Adam immediately caught the unspoken tension between them, Marie's narrowed eyes, the slightly forced smile, and the barely noticeable shift in Sofía's demeanor. He internally sighed. 'No need to worry, Marie...'

Héctor, either unaware or uninterested in the silent exchange, gestured towards the gate. "Alright, introductions are done. Let's get moving. We've wasted enough time."

With that, the squad began making their final checks before stepping onto the boats that would take them closer to the swirling portal above the sea. Adam and Marie followed, stepping aboard as the waters rippled beneath them.

(3:15 PM)

Adam stood silently as Sofía cleaned her twin swords, she hummed softly while her movements were precise and deliberate. His attention, however, was focused on the large, swirling blue gate in the distance.

Suddenly, Adam heard Awà's voice in his mind.

[Warning: The portal is a Red Gate.]

Adam's eyes narrowed, his mind immediately recalling the crucial details about Red Gates. He had studied them thoroughly, extremely rare and unpredictable, these gates were classified as B-Rank and above. But once they turned red, their difficulty escalated beyond what any sensors could predict.

Time inside flowed differently, environments changed unpredictably, and their mana signature was sealed off. If left unchecked, the dungeon inside could easily overwhelm anyone attempting to enter.

Turning to Héctor, Adam decided to speak, "I sense that this is a Red Gate." Adam said with his eyes locking onto the imposing structure.

The group around him paused with the words hanging in the air. Héctor, who had been scanning the gate with his focused gaze, furrowed his brows. The other hunters exchanged skeptical glances, unsure of Adam's assessment. But Marie, standing next to him, nodded slightly, she knows that he doesn't lie.

Héctor's suspicion was clear, but he trusted the strength of those around him. Still, he wasn't willing to jump into anything too quickly.

After a moment of silent thought, Héctor pulled out his phone. 'I'll call the vice Guild Leader.'

Adam's senses heightened as he watched Héctor make the call with his eyes moving between the gate and the members of the guild. Some were still hesitant, unsure whether to proceed. They knew about Red Gates but had never faced one firsthand. The air around them was tense with the decision of stopping hanging in the air.

Meanwhile, Adam turned to Marie and materialized a small cube made of mana in his hand. He handed it to her with a smile.

"Here, take this." he said.

Marie looked at it curiously, not sure what it was. "What's this?"

Adam chuckled softly. "You can't go in there without armor and protection, you know? Trust me, it'll help."

Marie looked down at her outfit, realizing with a jolt that she was still in her civilian clothes. After everything that had happened, she had completely forgotten that she wasn't geared up for the mission. She looked back at Adam with a raised brow, but he simply nodded at the cube.

"Go ahead." he urged.

Marie hesitated for a moment before crushing the cube in her hand. As it shattered, the fragments of mana swirled around her, encasing her in an elegant but solid armor that covered her body. The helmet formed last, showing her face with her signature braids framing it.

"Whoa!" Marie gasped, her eyes wide with amazement as she felt a surge of strength rush through her. She flexed her arm experimentally, surprised at how light and powerful the armor felt.

The rest of the group looked on in stunned silence. They could feel the immense mana emanating from her new armor. It was unlike anything they'd expected. Even Héctor, known for his impeccable control, looked momentarily impressed. The others exchanged looks with disbelief in their eyes.

Sofía, who had been observing quietly, finally closed her eyes and smiled to herself. She had seen many things in her time as a strategist, but this… this was a pleasant surprise. Adam's abilities were far beyond what she had expected.

"So, you didn't think I'd come unprepared, did you?" Adam said with a smirk, watching Marie adjust the armor, clearly satisfied with the result.

Marie grinned back, shaking her head in awe. "I knew you had something up your sleeve."

Héctor finally finished his call and looked up from his phone. He gave Adam a long, appraising glance before nodding.

The others around him seemed less doubtful now, their earlier hesitation giving way to cautious respect. Héctor cleared his throat and addressed his squad.

"We're going in." he said firmly with his voice echoing with the authority that had made him Spain's strongest S-Rank hunter. "But let's stay alert. We don't know what we'll face inside."

With that, they made their way toward the gate, Adam and Marie leading the way as the rest of the team followed closely behind, ready for whatever awaited them.

(3:23 PM)

The moment Adam, Marie, Héctor, and the rest of the Colmillo de León squad stepped through the swirling blue gate, an ominous shift occurred.

Outside, the portal pulsed violently with its surface rippling like disturbed water before emitting jagged streaks of black-red lightning. The bright blue hue rapidly darkened, replaced by an eerie crimson glow. The transformation was instant and absolute.

A surge of power spread through the air, causing nearby Hunter Association officers to recoil. The instruments monitoring the gate flickered erratically before flatlining, no mana signature, no readings, nothing.

The gate had sealed.

A Red Gate.

[Image]

The officers standing watch immediately realized what had happened with their faces going pale. The worst-case scenario had just unfolded before their eyes. No communication. No tracking. No way in or out.

Inside, the only option was survival.

Or was it?

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