Date: July 15, 2018 (Sunday)
Location: GDA Central Command, Geneva / Sector-B, Berlin
Time: 11:00 AM
The atmosphere at GDA Central Command remained silent and calculated. Since Viktor Kael's appointment as Chief Blacksmith, the underground forges had begun limited production of new Magitech weapons. These elite armaments were strictly reserved for high-tier strike teams.
Richard Vance sat at his desk, observing the global tracking interface. Red markers indicating standard E-Rank gates blinked across the screen. Suddenly, the system detected a sharp frequency shift emerging from Berlin's Sector-B.
The spatial density was significantly higher. Aris immediately projected the drone feed.
"Sir, Berlin Ground Zero. This gate stands exactly twenty-five feet tall—five feet taller than usual. According to the sensors, this is our first D-Rank Hell Gate."
The staff grew alert, but Richard's veteran face remained mask-like.
"This is the perfect opportunity to test the durability of our new weapons," Richard ordered coldly. "I will not be going this time. Our forces must learn to clear these gates themselves."
The Berlin Raid
At exactly 11:40 AM, a strike squad of thirty A and B-Rank Dungers stood before the towering gate. Equipped with black Magitech swords and axes, they crossed the purple-red vortex.
The interior was a vast, dark labyrinth. They soon encountered the first wave of D-Rank monsters—creatures covered in thick, rocky scales. For an ordinary fighter, piercing this armor would be impossible. But for A-Rank elites, it was a routine exercise.
The Magitech weapons functioned flawlessly. The internal mana flow remained stable. After two and a half hours of systematic execution, they reached the deepest point of the cavern to face the D-Rank Boss.
It was a massive, heavy-built creature, but it was still only a D-Rank threat. An A-Rank Dunger effortlessly blocked its charge with a single sword. Two B-Rank fighters severed its joints in seconds. There was no drama. It was a tactical elimination.
The Level Gap Paradox
By 02:25 PM, the squad emerged safely. No major injuries. Weapons in perfect condition. As they stepped out, the twenty-five-foot door dissolved into the air.
In Geneva, the staff exhaled in relief. To the world, this was a message that D-Rank gates could be controlled. But Richard remained silent.
"The raid lasted two hours and forty-five minutes, Sir. Zero casualties," Aris reported.
Richard watched the fading feed. "The world now thinks D-Rank is easy," his voice was sharp and flat. "But this gate was only cleared because we sent our most powerful forces against a low-tier threat. We used a massive level gap to our advantage."
Richard looked at Aris, his eyes reflecting a grim reality.
"The day an A-Rank or S-Rank gate opens, we will not have higher-tier fighters to send. The threat will be equal to our limits. We are still not ready."