The next gates did not arrive with a warning, they appeared everywhere.
Across the world, fractures opened quietly in the sky—over coastlines, deep forests, and cities still frantically repairing the damage from the first catastrophic breach. But unlike that first gate, these were smaller, more stable.
Silver text flickered across the heavens once more:
[System Notice]
[Simultaneous Gate Manifestations Detected]
[Global Gate Density Stabilizing]
[Gate classifications in progress]
The ranks appeared one by one:
E.
D.
C.
B.
There was no S-rank this time, no overwhelming pressure. Just dozens of manageable gates scattered across the planet. For the first time since the Awakening, governments attempted an organized response.
__
Inside KAMB headquarters, a massive digital map filled the operations room. Gate markers blinked across the Korean peninsula like a spreading fever. Director Adrian Cross studied the display.
"How many?"
"Five gates within national territory."
"Ranks?"
"Two D-class, one C-class, one E-class." A pause. "And one B-class."
Cross nodded, his voice cold. "Assign strike teams."
__
At Aurora Covenant headquarters, the tablet on the strategy table lit up seconds later. Lucien picked it up first. "KAMB assignment."
Mira leaned over his shoulder immediately. "Oh, this should be good."
Lucien scrolled down.
Assigned Gate Response Team: Aurora Covenant
Gate Classification: D-Rank
Location: Incheon Industrial District
Mira blinked. "...That's it?"
Kaida tilted her head. "They gave us a D-rank gate."
Garrick frowned. "We just cleared an S-rank."
Orion closed his book. "That seems intentional."
Lucien scrolled again. Another assignment appeared below it:
Assigned Gate Response Team: Regulated Order
Gate Classification: B-Rank
Location: Northern Defense Sector
Mira slowly turned toward the others. "...Wow."
Kaida smirked. "That's almost subtle."
Seris folded her arms calmly. "They're distributing opportunities."
"You mean politics," Mira snorted.
The tablet chimed again with an operational note:
Due to Aurora Covenant's recent high-risk engagement, this assignment is intended as a recovery operation.
Additional objective: Observation training permitted for non-operational members.
Kaida raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that's generous of them."
Orion translated flatly. "They want other guilds to handle higher ranks."
Lucien shrugged slightly. Everyone looked at him. "A gate is a gate."
Near the window, Kairos was staring at the tablet. "...Observation training?"
Lucien looked over. "Yes."
Kairos hesitated. "...Does that mean—"
"You're coming."
Kairos blinked. "...Really?"
"You won't fight."
Kairos nodded quickly. "I won't."
Lucien placed a hand on the boy's head. "Then get ready."
Mira pointed dramatically. "The baby gets his first field trip!"
"I'm not a baby!" Kairos groaned.
Garrick grinned. "Sure."
Orion glanced up. "...Statistically youngest."
Kairos sighed. "I hate this guild."
Nox had been silent the entire time. Lucien glanced at him. "You expected this."
Nox didn't deny it. "The second wave."
"You knew more gates would appear."
"Yes." Nox looked toward the sky. "After the first gate stabilizes, the system usually releases smaller gates to normalize density."
Mira squinted at him. "...You say that like you've read the apocalypse handbook."
Nox ignored her. His gaze returned to the assignment list. Aurora Covenant – D Rank. Regulated Order – B Rank. That part... he hadn't expected.
Lucien noticed the brief pause. "Something wrong?"
Nox shook his head. "No." But the thought remained: the gates themselves were familiar. The politics around them were not.
__
Inside the Regulated Order training facility, Elias read the same notification. Helena stood beside him.
"They gave us the B-rank."
"Yes."
Caelum stretched his shoulders. "Finally, something interesting."
Helena studied the tablet again. "Aurora Covenant received a D-rank." Elias didn't respond. Helena tilted her head. "You expected that?"
"Yes."
"And you're not concerned?"
Elias finally looked up. "Aurora Covenant does not need a B-rank gate to demonstrate their strength."
__
The team vehicle rolled through the city toward the industrial district. Kairos sat near the window, watching—nervous and excited all at once. Four small elements hovered faintly around his fingers: fire, wind, water, and earth. Balanced.
Seris noticed. "Steady breathing."
Kairos nodded. "...I'm trying."
Mira leaned over the seat. "If anything scary happens, just scream."
"That's terrible advice," Kairos said.
Orion looked up. "...Effective advice."
The vehicle stopped several blocks from the factory district. Lucien cut the engine. "Final check."
As the group gathered their gear, Nox stepped slightly away and pulled out his phone. The call connected after two rings. Inside another moving vehicle, Elias Verdan answered.
"Nox."
"You received the B-rank assignment," Nox said calmly.
"Yes."
"You're entering a steel processing complex."
Elias glanced at the mission briefing. "...Correct."
"Bring grounding rods."
A pause. Helena looked over from the passenger seat. Elias's eyes narrowed slightly. "Lightning discharge risk?"
"Yes. And metal reinforcement structures."
Another brief silence. Elias understood instantly. "...Understood."
The call ended.
Nox returned to the group. Lucien raised an eyebrow. "You're helping them."
Nox nodded slightly. "They'll need it."
Lucien studied him for a moment, then looked toward the fracture hovering above the factory. Golden light flickered faintly around him. "Well. Let's go clear a gate."
Above them, the small dimensional tear rotated slowly, waiting. Aurora Covenant stepped forward together and crossed the threshold.