Inside the red gate, Sung Jinwoo stands tall, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of ice bears he’s just defeated. With a simple wave of his hand, their shadows rise, adding to his ever-growing army. Outside the gate, only three hours have passed. Hwang Dongsoo, eager to confront Jinwoo, grows impatient. When he uncovers a connection between Jinwoo and Manager Ahn, his frustration boils over, and he turns his fury toward Ahn. But before things escalate, Baek Yoonho steps in. Energy crackles as his claws emerge, and the two S-Rank hunters clash, their blows sending shockwaves through the air.
Back in the snowy depths of the red gate, A-Rank hunter Kim Chul is spiraling into madness. Lost and overcome with despair, he stumbles upon the slaughtered ice bears. Panicked, he flees, convinced they were the victims of the dreaded ice elves.
Outside, Woo Jinchul arrives just in time to stop the S-Rankers’ fight before their attacks can connect. Hwang, still seething, demands answers, but Woo reminds him that Jinwoo was evaluated as an E-Rank. Doubting this, Hwang shifts his focus to Yoo Jinho but ultimately backs down—for now—driven more by his thirst for conflict than any solid proof.
Kim Chul’s rage
Deep in the red gate, the low-rank hunters sit around a campfire, enjoying a warm meal and some relief after their ordeal. Their peace is shattered when Kim Chul storms in. He’s furious—his comrades are dead, yet somehow these hunters survived. He draws his sword, demanding answers and threatening to kill them if he doesn’t get a confession. Before he can follow through, Jinwoo steps out of the shadows and knocks him out with ease.
Jinwoo’s attention, though, is elsewhere. He senses something far more dangerous: the ice elves hidden nearby. Their leader finally steps forward, mocking Jinwoo. Park Heejin and Han Song-Yi can’t believe it when Jinwoo answers back—in the elves’ language. It’s just as shocking to Jinwoo himself. After taking down a powerful ice elf in one clean strike, Jinwoo uncovers a chilling truth: all magical beasts are driven to kill humans, except for him. The revelation raises more questions about the strange system controlling his fate.
Barca’s deal
Barca offers a twisted deal: the safety of the remaining hunters if they surrender. Jinwoo isn’t having it. He calls forth his shadow army, kicking off an all-out battle. While the hunters scramble for cover, it’s clear Barca isn’t just another enemy. Jinwoo quickly realizes he’s way beyond the reach of his usual summons. A fierce duel erupts between them, every strike faster and more intense than the last.
Amid the chaos, Kim Chul wakes up and makes a stupid decision—he tries to go after Jinwoo. Before he can get close, Igris cuts him down in an instant. Jinwoo doesn’t waste the opportunity, pulling Chul’s shadow and creating Iron, a massive, terrifying shadow warrior. Iron might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but his strength and loyalty are unmatched. Together with Jinwoo and Igris, he joins the fight against Barca.
The three of them launch an unrelenting assault. Jinwoo’s speed, Igris’s deadly precision, and Iron’s raw power start to take a toll on Barca. In the end, it all comes down to timing. Jinwoo uses his returning dagger to distract Barca just long enough for Iron to pin him down. Without hesitation, Iron delivers the finishing blow, slamming a giant Warhammer onto Barca and ending the fight for good.
The weight of taking a life
As the battle ends, the low-rank hunters finally breathe a sigh of relief, the nightmare behind them. Outside, Baek Yoonho and Manager Ahn watch as the gate shifts back to its calm blue. But instead of Kim Chul stepping out, it’s the surviving low-rank hunters—including Jinwoo. Ahn doesn’t look surprised, casually admitting he never doubted Jinwoo would make it. Yoonho, on the other hand, is clearly shaken, still processing Chul’s death.
Yoonho presses Jinwoo for answers, but Jinwoo meets him with quiet confidence, reminding him to be grateful for the lives that were saved. Yoonho hesitates, then apologizes. As Jinwoo leaves with Song-Yi, Yoonho tells Ahn to do whatever it takes to bring this mysterious hunter into their ranks.
On the walk home, Jinwoo thinks back to the red gate. Barca’s weapon might be a great trophy, but it doesn’t make up for the weight of taking another life—a weight he’s carried three times now. By morning, though, the mood shifts. Yoo Jinho shows up decked out in shiny new armor, eager for their next job. To his shock, Song-Yi decides to join them, kicking off what’s sure to be another unpredictable day.
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