Solo Leveling: Banishment of the Anomaly

In an instant, the transport gate shimmered into existence, casting a mesmerizing glow that filled the room. It was like nothing from Jake's previous world—an ethereal vortex swirling with deep blues and purples, rippling as though disturbed by an unseen force.

At the core of the gate, a bright cerulean light pulsed rhythmically, radiating a cold, almost otherworldly energy. Tendrils of silvery mist coiled out from its edges, drifting and twisting as though the gate itself was alive, breathing softly in the stillness.

The atmosphere shifted as every hunter present, even the veterans who had seen it countless times, couldn't help but stare. For the rookies, it was a sight to behold—an undeniable proof of the power space mages like Han Ji-Hoon held. His ability to stabilize and create such a gateway was no small feat. In a world where power determined one's worth, space mages like him were coveted by every major guild and the Association alike. Their versatility in facilitating instant travel from one place to another made them indispensable to the top powerhouses, and that was clearly on display now.

Jake, who had seen incredible things during his time in this world, still found himself entranced. Damn... He thought, it's like stepping into another reality altogether. And to think that people like Han Ji-Hoon can just create this with a wave of their hand...

As Jake continued to gazed at the shimmering portal forming in front of them, his eyes widened in awe. It's incredible, he thought, marveling at the beauty of the glowing gate. The way it flickered and twisted the air around it felt almost surreal. For a brief moment, his mind wandered to the possibility—Could this be it? Could something like this... send me home?

His heart raced at the thought. If they can create a gate like this, linking this place to Gangwon... what if they could link entire worlds? He imagined it—crossing the vastness between universes, a portal leading him back to his own world. Back to his family, to the life he had left behind.

But his smile slowly faded, reality creeping in like a cold wind. Don't be ridiculous, Jake scolded himself. Even if Han Ji-Hoon miraculously became an S-rank mage, he still wouldn't be able to create something like that. The distance between my world and this one… it's probably beyond comprehension.

Jake let out a sigh, his hopeful thoughts evaporating. Who knows how many light years separate us—or if my world even exists in the same universe at all? It was absurd, after all. This was the world of Solo Leveling, a world that had been nothing more than fiction in his previous life. And now he was a part of it.

What even are the chances that two worlds—one fictional, one real—could coexist in the same universe? Jake had a lot of questions, endless spirals of curiosity, but no answers. For now, he was left with only theories—half-baked ones at that. I guess that's all they'll be for now, he thought, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand.

With one last glance at the portal, Jake resigned himself to the present. No matter how incredible the sight was, it wouldn't solve his problem.

Around him, Da-Sol, Jae-Sung, Eun-Bi, and Yoon-Ji also stood frozen, their eyes reflecting the swirling vortex before them. Even the often-arrogant Jae-Sung seemed humbled for a moment, his previous bravado dimming under the spellbinding sight.

"Alright, hunters!" Kang Ho's voice cut through the awe. "Get ready to move through! We'll be stepping into Gangwon soon!"

As they prepared to enter, Jake stole a quick glance at Han Ji-Hoon, who was intently watching him from the corner of his eye. There was something unsettling in his intense gaze—something calculating. Jake's gut twisted a little. What the... he sarcastically thought with a sigh. Just what I need, more attention...

But there was no time to dwell on it. The gate pulsed brighter, signaling that it was ready for transfer. Over a hundred hunters stood in line, waiting for their turn to step through, team by team.

The atmosphere buzzed with mixed reactions—some hunters looked calm, having done this countless times, while others appeared jittery, fear etched on their faces. Han Ji-Hoon, standing near the gate, couldn't help but smile at their expressions, as if silently mocking those who weren't used to the experience yet.

Finally, Kang Ho's voice cut through the noise, calling out, "Team 4, you're up. Enter the gate and wait at Seoraksan National Park with the others."

Jake glanced at his team. His stomach fluttered slightly. "Well, here goes nothing," he thought, forcing a grin as they moved toward the glowing portal.

As Jake was preoccupied with Han Ji-Hoon's intense, calculating gaze, Da-Sol raised his arms in the air and cheerfully called out, "Hwaiting! Leader-nim, please guide us! With you leading us, we'll finish this event first for sure!"

Jake blinked, momentarily confused. "Wait, what?! Leader-nim?" The title caught him off guard, his voice rising slightly in panic.

But before Jake could clarify Da-Sol's declaration, they were already mere centimeters from entering the gate. Distracted and not entirely prepared, Jake stepped through, his thoughts still spinning from Da-Sol's unexpected declaration and Han Ji-Hoon's unnerving stare.

As Jake stepped through the gate for the first time, it felt like an ominous sign. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, it was as if the world tugged him forward with invisible strings, his body suddenly weightless for a split second before being thrust into a new environment. Time itself seemed to stretch unnaturally, each moment dragging on like an eternity.

Soon as they arrived at Seoraksan National Park, the disorientation hit him like a wave. His vision swirled, and the ground beneath him felt uneven. Ignoring the chatter of his team members, Jake frantically looked around, scanning the area for something specific—a garbage bin.

He knew what was coming, and it wasn't going to be pretty.

Please, not here, not in front of everyone, Jake thought desperately as he hurried toward the nearest bin, bracing for the inevitable.

Though only a few people experienced nausea during gate travel, this was Jake's first time, and he felt wholly unprepared for it. He sprinted toward the nearest garbage can, the urgency of the moment pushing him forward despite the swirling dizziness.

As he leaned over the trash can and vomited, his teammates watched in a mix of shock and bemusement. Da-sol was on the verge of laughing, clearly finding humor in Jake's plight, while Yoon-ji closed her eyes, cringing in embarrassment on his behalf. Even Choi Eun-Bi's cheeks flushed as she averted her gaze, wanting to distance herself from the scene.

Jake couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger as he thought, Ugh, this stinging feeling in my throat. Why did no one tell me it would feel like being compressed and stretched out when going through the transport gate?

Closing his eyes on the verge of crying from embarrassment, he whispered, "I just want to disappear from the face of this earth. How humiliating."

The moment felt like an eternity, each silent gag and heave only amplifying his embarrassment, as he wished for nothing more than to blend into the background.

Though he wasn't the only one feeling nauseous, it was unusual for a B-rank to experience such discomfort. After a few seconds of heaving, Jake finally found relief. He muttered, "Healing Touch," willing the nausea away with his skill, and to his surprise, it worked wonderfully.

As he straightened up, he realized with a sinking feeling that his members—and likely the other hunters—had witnessed his unfortunate episode. While Jake might be a man inside, to everyone else, he was just the orange-haired girl who had vomited beside the garbage bin.

With a deep breath, Jake stopped to clean his mouth with his handkerchief, then turned around as if nothing had happened. He plastered a smile on his face, hoping to project an air of nonchalance. But inside, Jake's mind was in pure chaos, swirling with embarrassment to the point that all he wanted was to run away and hide from the world. Just act normal, Jake, he thought desperately, you've got this.

As he rejoined his team, he couldn't help but catch Da-sol's amused grin, which only made his cheeks flush deeper. Great, now I'm the entertainment for the day, he lamented internally, wishing for anything to distract from the mortifying experience.

But before Jake could even gather himself to talk to his team, the guy who had conjured the number banner back at the training center strolled over, an arrogant smirk plastered on his face. "To think someone with your skills and mastery over mana would have a hard time with something as simple as a transport gate," he said, his tone dripping with condescension as he sidled past Jake, throwing him a side-eye.

Jake's blood boiled. That crazy jerk, talking as if we know each other, he thought furiously, his fists clenching at his sides. He really wanted to unleash Verdant Growth right then and there, vines sprouting up to wrap around that smug little face of his. The humiliation of vomiting was still fresh, and this guy was only adding fuel to the fire.

Just as he felt the urge to retaliate bubbling up inside him, Da-sol and Yoon-ji quickly stepped in, their expressions serious. "Hey, hold on, unnie!" Da-sol said, placing a firm hand on Jake's shoulder. "Remember what we talked about? No fighting outside the dungeon; we could get disbanded!"

Yoon-ji nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the area as if expecting someone to jump in at any moment. "Let it go. He's not worth it," she urged, her voice low and steady.

Jake took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Right. No fighting. Just breathe. He could feel the anger radiating off him, but he didn't want to let this jerk ruin his day even further. Instead, he forced a tight smile and muttered, "Yeah, right. Just ignore him. Sorry, guys, to think you had to see that."

Da-sol chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry about it, unnie. You're not the only one who was flipping their insides afterall."

Yoon-Ji, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, her expression still serious. "You handled it well, considering... well, everything." She glanced at the garbage bin, and Jake couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment wash over him again as he covered her face.

"Yeah, that was a real show of restraint," Da-sol added, trying to stifle a laugh. "Next time, though, maybe aim for a more dramatic exit?"

Jake couldn't help but roll his eyes at Da-sol's playful tone. "Noted. I'll be sure to create a grand exit next time—without the vomit."

The group shared a light chuckle, the tension easing as they regrouped. Jake appreciated their support, but deep down, he still felt the lingering sting of humiliation. What a bedazzled first impression.

As the other hunter sauntered off, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that this would be the start of a long and annoying rivalry.