Chapter Title: Drew an EX-Class Reincarnation
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A brightly lit field. Countless people appeared above the lush expanse of green leaves.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Reincarnators are entering the dimension.]
A sound familiar to many. Hearing it, the reincarnators grimaced.
"What the hell is this?"
"A variant out of nowhere?"
"This is ridiculous."
Their faces clearly showed their annoyance. It couldn't be helped. A D-rank gate was among the lowest in overall rank.
No big rewards to be had.
And no real honor to gain either.
"If it had been a C- or B-rank variant, at least it'd be worth watching."
A man sighed, and the woman next to him snickered.
"Watching? Please. You're barely C-rank yourself. As if you could even join a C-rank variant. What are you talking about?"
"...What? Who the hell are...?"
The man glared down at her in anger, then froze at the sight of her face.
"...Black Night Witch...?"
"Hi there?"
"...W-Why are you here?"
"Why? Can't I be here?"
The alluring black-haired woman flashed a bright smile.
At the mention of Black Night Witch, all eyes turned toward them.
"Black Night Witch?"
"...Why would an A-rank superhuman come here?"
"Out for a stroll or something?"
D-rank gates usually drew at most B-rank superhumans. Several C-ranks could clear it on their own, so higher ranks had no reason to bother.
"Just felt like it. Bored, and I've got something I want to test."
An A-rank superhuman.
Black Night Witch said with a smile playing on her lips.
Those around her froze. They all knew her twisted personality well.
Confirming their reactions, Black Night Witch laughed.
"So don't get in my way for no reason. If you get caught up and die, I won't care."
Crack.
A black whip materialized in her hand. A thorny one—the weapon she wielded.
Behind their wary reactions, a strange sense of relief settled in.
With an A-rank here, they could clear it easily.
'Fun.'
Black Night Witch chuckled inwardly. Their reactions were amusing, but the timing was perfect too.
'Hope that info's legit.'
Information she'd heard in advance. Bought at great expense from an S-rank informant.
'Solo clear contribution over 50% grants special rewards.'
Info no one else knew. Makes sense. Gates weren't something you could solo more than half of.
But.
'This one's different.'
Variant gate.
That word had hooked her. She could pull it off.
'Variants are usually just monster extermination anyway.'
Gate clear conditions varied wildly.
Too many to pinpoint, but variants were simple.
Just wipe out waves of monsters within the time limit.
That's why she'd come now.
'Perfect timing.'
She checked her whip, lips curling up.
'Gave the warning too.'
She'd clear out any interferers.
'Best around here is C-rank anyway.'
About a hundred gathered. Among Asian superhumans, the top were C-rank. None she recognized.
"This'll be a breeze."
Seemed easy. Lucky.
Got the info, and a variant gate opens right away. A D-rank variant at that.
Couldn't ask for better.
Smiling to herself, Black Night Witch looked up.
[99/100]
The entry slots were nearly full.
Once it hit 100, the gate would start.
As she waited with that thought.
[100/100]
The last entrant appeared.
And in that instant.
Whoosh...
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
A wind blew in. Eyes that had been on Black Night Witch snapped elsewhere.
She was no exception.
'Who the hell is that guy?'
Black Night Witch furrowed her brow. The problem was the last arrival.
'A mask?'
He wore one. Pitch black.
'What kind of getup is that...?'
She eyed the man strangely, but that was it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ All required personnel have entered.] [■ Gate mission commencing.]
The expected alerts appeared. As Black Night Witch gripped her whip eagerly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Error occurred.]
Something unexpected happened.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ A colossal entity has entered the dimension.] [■ Gate danger level has spiked dramatically.] [■ D-rank gate danger level increased by 200%.]
'What?'
Black Night Witch's eyes widened, as did everyone else's.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
-What the hell is this!
-Danger level up? What's a colossal entity?
-Never heard anything like this...! Damn it...!
Shouts erupted from all sides.
I slowly opened my eyes amid the noise.
'...Where is this.'
I looked around. A vast field stretched out, packed with a huge crowd.
[100/100]
'Ah.'
I finally noticed the headcount in front.
'This must be...'
The inside of the variant gate. Had I really entered a gate?
My heart pounded. This was the gate interior I'd longed for.
Being here meant I was truly a superhuman now.
As I reminded myself of that.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ A colossal entity has entered the dimension.] [■ Gate danger level has spiked dramatically.] [■ D-rank gate danger level increased by 200%.]
"...?"
I held my breath at the alert.
'The gate's difficulty really went up?'
I'd seen it before entering.
Doubled? Because of me, even?
'Me entering the gate.'
My rank leaped grades, warping the gate.
'EX-rank is the real deal?'
I'd thought it wasn't a normal rank, but this was bizarre.
Still.
'More than that...'
There was another issue.
Others reacted to the danger spike. I noticed something else.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Extreme disparity between reincarnator and gate.] [■ Adjusting power multiplier based on rank difference.] [■ Reincarnator stats increased by 5,000%.]
"...?"
50 times.
My power was 50 times stronger.
'...This real?'
Unbelievable. Could that even happen?
As I wondered deeply.
"Hey."
A voice nearby. I turned toward it. There.
'...Holy shit...!'
A woman with fierce black long hair.
'Black Night Witch?'
The A-rank superhuman herself.
'...Wow, seeing her in person.'
I stared in fascination. A famous Korean-origin superhuman.
Though her fame was mostly negative, her skills were top-tier.
Suddenly, Black Night Witch pointed at me with her index finger.
"What's with the getup?"
"Getup?"
Huh?
I spoke and froze. What?
'Why's my voice so deep?'
It wasn't my voice. Completely different.
"I get hiding your identity, but... where'd you get a black mask like that? Looks like an item."
'Mask?'
I touched my face at her words. Something was there.
'A mask?'
It really was. I hadn't even noticed.
No sense of it at all.
Perfectly natural. No vision hindrance.
'What is this?'
When did I put it on?
'Come to think of it.'
A few others wore masks too. Pure white ones.
'Ah, those.'
I knew what they were.
'For hiding identity.'
Optional before entering gates.
If you wanted anonymity, you could choose a mask.
'...I didn't select that.'
I'd just entered, yet here it was. Weird.
"Don't care where you got it. You don't look high-rank anyway, so don't do anything stupid."
Black Night Witch drawled lazily.
"Guys with weird looks like you always cause trouble. Better stay put if you don't want to burst under my hand. The gate's glitch bothers me, but it's still D-rank. Nothing major."
She turned and walked off, as if done talking.
No chance to reply.
'...Feisty personality.'
Rumors were spot on.
Beautiful face and skills aside, her temper was wild.
"...Danger level up. This okay?"
"Association's gonna make a fuss again."
"Association? Can we clear the gate or not—that's the issue."
"What's the problem? Didn't you see? Black Night Witch is here."
"Ah, true."
The danger was an issue, but with an A-rank, it was fine.
Relief spread.
Ding-!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Gate mission commencing.]
A large system window appeared in the air.
'There it is.'
The start of what I'd craved.
Heat surged in my chest.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Variant gate clear condition:] [■ Eliminate all attacking beasts.] [■ Progress: 0%] [■ Mission starting.]
Alerts popped up in sequence.
And at the same time.
Crack-crack! Craaaack---!!!!
Far off, space began to shatter. Massive rifts. The superhumans prepared for battle.
So this was the vibe.
Still adjusting, I watched in wonder.
Krunch-!!
Kyaaaaah-!!!
Rifts burst, monsters pouring out.
'...Whoa.'
The numbers were immense.
Hundreds spilled from the cracks.
Superhumans charged as one.
"Alright, let's go?"
Black Night Witch strolled out leisurely amid them. Others advanced tensely.
'...Me too then.'
Monsters right from the start.
Worlds apart from school sims.
Scary.
Could I win against those?
I hesitated briefly.
Grip.
But not for long.
I forced my legs forward. Hesitating over that would achieve nothing.
None of my goals.
One step forward.
Ding.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Heaven-Shattering Martial Art usage conditions met.]
'Huh?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Use it?]
I read the alert. Heaven-Shattering Martial Art? Right, I'd learned it as assimilation rose. Usable now?
Why meet conditions suddenly?
'No idea what it is.'
Try it anyway. Skill from my past life.
But how? I fumbled, unsure.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Heaven-Shattering Martial Art activating.]
No need.
It read my intent, message flashing.
Swoosh.
My body moved on its own.
Knees bent slightly, waist twisted. Power gathered in my clenched fist.
Waist spun, fist striking air.
Thud.
A small pop.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Stats enhanced due to entity rank.] [■ Power increased by 5,000%.] [■ Range expanded proportional to boosted stats.]
Follow-up alerts.
And then.
Beeeeeeeep----!!!!
Ringing in my ears, light exploded from my fist.
The world caved in.
Rumble---!!!!
Kek...!
Charging beasts vanished in inky light, no trace left.
The shockwave raced relentlessly, hitting distant rifts.
Krunnnch--!!!!
The force engulfed everything, sweeping rifts away.
Drip... drop...
Like a tsunami's wake, ruins remained on the rift-free plain.
It happened in a blink.
Charging superhumans froze like statues.
Then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [■ Progress: 100% achieved.] [■ Congratulations.] [■ D-rank gate cleared.] [■ Rewards distributed based on contribution.]
Shrrrk.
A ranking window unrolled. At the top, one name.
⚔ RANKING ⚔
[■ 1st Place Contribution: Martial God (100%)]
[■ Congratulations.]
Silence fell, devoid of sound. All sound lost.