When monsters called me the king

The next morning, Jin Woo woke up with a mixture of apprehension and resolve. The agent's words still echoed in his mind: "Others are searching for them too. And not all of them are human."

He clenched the shard in his hand, its faint warmth grounding him. Whatever the cost, he needed to uncover the truth about these fragments and his connection to the gates. 

--- 

At Seoul Academy, the usual rhythm of classes and training was disrupted by a sudden announcement. 

"All students, please report to the main auditorium immediately," a voice over the intercom instructed. 

Jin Woo joined the throng of students making their way to the massive hall. As he took a seat in the back, the school's headmaster, **Park Hye Jin**, stood at the podium. Her presence commanded silence, her stern gaze sweeping across the room. 

"Students, we have received news of a newly opened gate in Busan," she began. "This is an E-rank gate, manageable but still dangerous. The Awakener's Association has requested our school's assistance. Selected teams will accompany senior awakeners on this mission as part of your field training." 

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. For most students, this was an opportunity to prove themselves. For Jin Woo, it was a chance to get closer to the truth. 

"Team assignments will be posted shortly," the headmaster concluded. "Prepare yourselves." 

--- 

Jin Woo's name was, unsurprisingly, listed under one of the less impressive teams. 

His team consisted of: 

- Yoo Mi Rae, a C-rank healer with a sharp tongue and a no-nonsense attitude. 

- Kim Tae Min, a D-rank speedster with a tendency to act before thinking. 

- Choi Hyun, a burly E-rank brawler who looked more intimidating than he actually was. 

As Jin Woo approached the group, Tae Min groaned audibly. "Great. We got stuck with the F-rank." 

Mi Rae crossed her arms, her gaze critical. "Just stay out of the way, Jin Woo. We don't have time to babysit." 

Hyun, however, gave Jin Woo a small nod. "Everyone deserves a chance. Let's just get through this." 

Jin Woo bit back his frustration and nodded. He wasn't here to make friends—he had his own reasons for joining this mission. 

--- 

The Busan Gate 

The team boarded a sleek transport vehicle bound for Busan, accompanied by two senior awakeners overseeing the operation. The journey was tense, with Mi Rae and Tae Min exchanging jabs while Hyun tried to keep the peace. 

Jin Woo remained silent, staring out the window as the cityscape blurred into the countryside. 

When they arrived, the gate loomed ominously in a secluded industrial area. The portal shimmered with dark blue energy, its surface rippling like water. 

"Remember, stick to your roles," one of the senior awakeners instructed. "This is an E-rank gate, but underestimating it can get you killed." 

The team nodded, though Jin Woo could sense their unease. 

--- 

Inside the gate, the air was thick and humid. The landscape resembled a twisted version of a dense forest, with gnarled trees and glowing fungi casting eerie light. 

The group moved cautiously, with Mi Rae scanning for injuries, Tae Min scouting ahead, and Hyun keeping close to Jin Woo. 

Suddenly, a guttural growl echoed through the forest. The team froze as a pack of **Shade Wolves** emerged from the shadows, their glowing red eyes fixed on the intruders. 

"Positions!" the senior awakener barked. 

The team sprang into action. Tae Min darted forward, distracting the wolves with his speed, while Hyun charged in with brute force. Mi Rae stayed back, ready to heal any injuries. 

Jin Woo, however, found himself frozen. His Echo Sense flared, overwhelming him with the wolves' predatory energy. 

"Jin Woo, move!" Hyun shouted, narrowly avoiding a wolf's snapping jaws. 

Snapping out of it, Jin Woo activated his ability, trying to locate a weakness in the pack's formation. His senses locked onto a faint pulse of energy—a signal deeper in the forest. 

"This isn't all of them," Jin Woo muttered. 

"What are you talking about?" Mi Rae demanded, hurling a healing spell at Tae Min. 

"There's something bigger nearby," Jin Woo said, his voice steady despite the chaos. 

--- 

As if on cue, the ground trembled. From the shadows emerged the **Alpha Shade Wolf**, a massive beast twice the size of the others. Its fur shimmered with dark energy, and its growl sent chills down Jin Woo's spine. 

The senior awakeners immediately took charge, engaging the Alpha with precise strikes. But the creature was faster and stronger than they anticipated. 

"Jin Woo, get back!" Mi Rae yelled, her focus split between healing and staying out of the Alpha's path. 

Jin Woo hesitated. The shard in his pocket pulsed again, its warmth spreading through his body. His Echo Sense flared, revealing a faint crack in the Alpha's energy—a vulnerability. 

Without thinking, Jin Woo grabbed a fallen spear and lunged. 

"Are you insane?!" Tae Min shouted. 

Jin Woo ignored him, his focus solely on the Alpha. He drove the spear toward the crack in its energy, the shard's warmth guiding his movements. 

The spear struck true, piercing the Alpha's hide. The beast let out a deafening roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into ash. 

--- 

The forest fell eerily silent as the remaining wolves fled. The team stared at Jin Woo, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. 

"What... just happened?" Hyun asked, his voice trembling. 

Jin Woo dropped the spear, his hands shaking. "I don't know." 

The senior awakeners approached, their gazes heavy with suspicion. 

"You're coming with us," one of them said. "We need to report this to the Association." 

Jin Woo nodded, too exhausted to argue. 

--- 

Unbeknownst to the team, a shadowy figure watched from the edge of the forest. Clad in dark armor and radiating otherworldly energy, the figure smirked. 

"So, the king awakens," it murmured before disappearing into the darkness. 

--- 

*End of Chapter 6*