(Opening scene — Korean Hunter Association)
Moonlight reflected off the glass windows of the Korean Hunter HQ.
Rows of monitors glowed with mana readings, gate signatures, and satellite feeds.
Every hunter present could feel it — something was wrong tonight.
Woo Jin-Chul stood in the center of the control room, jaw clenched.
"Activate the Anti-Mana Recon Drone."
Technicians saluted and got to work. Above the shimmering vortex of the newly formed gate, a metallic sphere rose into position. No boss monster detected, no dungeon signature — yet every instinct screamed danger.
Cha Hae-In watched silently, hand tightening around her sword.
"This gate… feels wrong. Like it isn't from our world."
Woo Jin-Chul nodded.
"That's why we're sending the drone. If hunters go in blindly, it could be a massacre."
The drone shot into the gate.
A beep — signal connected.
Visual feed appeared on the main screen.
Not a dungeon.
Not a raid.
A floating Japanese castle suspended in an infinite void. Corridors twisting into impossible geometry. Doors leading to nowhere. A blood-red moon burned overhead.
The entire room froze.
"What… is that… place?"
A single note echoed — a biwa plucked.
Doom… doom… doom…
The castle shifted like it were alive.
A pale woman with a biwa materialized — Nakime, Upper Rank 4.
And behind her…
A swirling mass of flesh. One red eye. Pressure so heavy the HQ screens shook.
Kibutsuji Muzan.
He stepped forward — elegant, terrifying.
Everyone in the control room held their breath.
Muzan (calm but cold):
"Someone from another world has crossed into ours."
Cha Hae-In's breath hitched.
J-Jinwoo??
Nakime bowed deeply.
Nakime:
"That outsider saved the villagers… defeated an Upper Moon… and protected the Hashira. He is not one of them."
Muzan's eyes narrowed.
"Not a Hashira… yet he defeated Upper Rank 4? Interesting."
His voice cracked like thunder.
"Find Nezuko. Her power to walk in the sun belongs to me."
Hundreds — no, thousands — of floating eyeballs erupted across a village, connected by nerve-like tendrils. The Upper Moon 4 mark pulsed.
"Search every village," Muzan commanded.
HQ members were drenched in sweat. This wasn't a dungeon — it was a different universe.
Suddenly, Muzan stopped.
His head turned — staring directly into the drone camera.
Everyone stepped back in fear.
Cha Hae-In whispered, "No way… he can SEE us?"
Muzan slowly lifted a finger.
Snap.
The drone exploded.
The feed cut to static.
The room fell silent.
Woo Jin-Chul exhaled shakily.
"At least we got enough footage to understand that world."
---
(Meanwhile — Japan | Butterfly Mansion)
Tanjiro trained relentlessly — breathing ragged, body bruised.
Muichiro stood over him, young, merciless, unstoppable.
The other demon slayers watched from a distance, intimidated.
Jinwoo sat on a rock, arms folded, not even winded.
"This is supposed to be training…? I'm not even sweating."
He checked the system:
> Status: Fatigue — 0%
Exhaustion — Not detected
A vibration — phone call.
Caller ID: Korean Hunter Association
He stepped outside and answered, voice steady.
Woo Jin-Chul spoke rapidly, tense.
"Hunter Sung. We have confirmed through surveillance — the gate leads to an alternate universe. Not a dungeon. Not a portal. A completely different world."
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed.
"So that means I'm not trapped. I got here because I beat the boss?"
"Yes. The scientist believes it's similar to a Red Gate. It only opens after the target enemy is defeated."
Jinwoo stared at the night sky.
"So I came here… because the boss of this world isn't dead yet."
Woo Jin-Chul swallowed.
"If that's true… then the final boss here is the demon we saw."
Silence.
Jinwoo felt it — a predator finally sensing another predator.
"I'm not leaving until I end him."
He returned to the training ground.
Tanjiro lay on the floor, defeated. Muichiro stood like a statue.
Jinwoo watched quietly.
"That kid… he's young. But he's already stronger than 99% of hunters back home."
Training ended.
Tanjiro limped toward him, smiling even through pain.
"Jinwoo-san… thank you for waiting."
Jinwoo placed a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder.
"Let's continue."
---
(Back to Korean Hunter Association — Ending Scene)
Scientists examined the shattered drone pieces.
One suddenly gasped.
"Everyone listen. I finally understand that gate."
People rushed closer.
"These gates are not just random teleportation. They are windows into other universes. With research… we may soon be able to choose where we travel."
Shock rippled through the room.
"We begin Project Multiverse Gate. We will build a system that can bypass any barrier — even if a world tries to block us."
Woo Jin-Chul looked at the monitor displaying Jinwoo's photo.
"If anyone can stop that demon… it's him."
To be continued