The world had just begun to breathe.
After the bloodbath of the First Floor and the revelation of Dens, relics, and the WAU's formation, humanity dared to hope again. Guilds trained. Relics evolved. Nations adapted.
Then came the number.
[Death Count: 10,000 Awakened Confirmed]
The notification arrived like a divine whisper… followed by a global quake.
BOOM.
In the heart of India—amid the scorching plains near Varanasi—a gigantic fissure cracked open the Earth. The sky dimmed. Air rippled as if reality itself had hiccupped.
From that colossal rift, something rose.
Not a tower. Not a Den.
A Gate—blacker than shadow, rimmed with red glowing sigils, and humming like it had a heartbeat. Nearly 300 meters tall, carved in layered steps like an ancient temple—but mechanical, alien, and alive.
The Gate pulsed once.
And then, the sky across the world turned black.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – GLOBAL EMERGENCY EVENT]
[New Global Event Activated: "Save Your Country by Clearing the Gate."]
[A "World Penalty Gate" has appeared due to the death of 10,000 Awakened.]
[One (1) Country Selected: Republic of India]
[Only Awakened born, registered, or bound to this nation may enter the Gate.]
[All others will be instantly repelled or erased upon forced entry.]
[Time Limit: 30 Days]
[Mission: Clear all stages of the Gate.]
[Failure: Results in a "World System Penalty" affecting the entire planet.]
[Further details will be unlocked upon entry.]
[You may not switch national affiliations for this event.]
[This is not just your country's trial. This is humanity's countdown.]
WAU Headquarters – Emergency Summit
Within minutes, the WAU held its first Emergency Intercontinental Broadcast Summit.
Leaders, guild masters, strategists, and top Awakened gathered virtually, their faces grim.
"India has been chosen," said Chancellor Hermann of WAU, eyes narrowed. "This means we cannot interfere directly. No foreign support squads allowed. No relic transfer unless pre-owned."
"What about URs?" asked Chloe Wu, sitting beside Leonardo Takashi. "They'll need at least three to have a chance."
"India has two UR-ranked Awakened already," replied Director Aamir Khan coldly, his voice heavy. "Dev Rajan and Meera Sharma. But now they carry the weight of 8 billion lives."
The room fell silent.
Inside India – A Nation Under Fire
As the Gate pulsed at the edge of Varanasi, India's capital scrambled.
The National Awakened Command mobilized. Dev and Meera were airlifted in under escort, joined by over a hundred elite Indian Awakened. Den clearers, healers, relic wielders, and dungeon-born veterans all assembled.
People panicked. Media exploded. Streets flooded with cries and prayers.
"India got chosen? Why us?!"
"Will the world let us die if we fail?"
"Will they punish us if we succeed!?"
But among the panic... there was resolve.
A battered yet united people who had survived centuries of storms.
Dev stood before the gate with Meera at his side.
"Thirty days," he muttered. "To clear what no one's even entered before."
She looked at him, jaw tight. "And if we die… everyone dies."
A breath.
Then the Gate opened with a low hum… beckoning them forward.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – OVERRIDE INITIATED]
[Assessment Complete: National Strength Insufficient.]
[Required Clearance Probability: 4.2%]
[Threshold Not Met.]
[System Intervention Approved.]
[Awarding Emergency Ascension to One (1) Additional UR-Rank Pair for the nation of India.]
[Selection: Optimal Compatibility and Latent Potential]
[Duo Selected:]
[Name: Veer Jatav – Status: S-Rank, Background: Slumborn, Street Fighter, Relic Affinity: Unknown]
[Name: Princess Aishani Rathore – Status: S-Rank, Background: Royal Lineage, Political Heir, Element: Celestial Binding]
[Status Update: Ascended to UR-Rank Duo]
[Title Assigned: Heaven & Earth Paradox]
[Reason: Highest Synergy Detected Amidst Opposing Origins]
Somewhere in Jaipur, Rajasthan...
Veer Jatav was halfway through a rooftop brawl with a mutant ogre when the notification froze time around him.
The ogre shattered into particles.
A warm light engulfed his body. The metal rings in his arms cracked. The tattoos on his back burned gold.
"What the hell—?! What is this?!"
A golden screen formed in front of him:
[Congratulations, Veer Jatav. You have been selected by the System. You are now UR-Rank. Report to Varanasi Gate within 12 hours. Your partner has been chosen.]
In a marble palace hundreds of kilometers away, Princess Aishani Rathore—draped in white, head bowed before a council of nobles—was similarly interrupted.
Light consumed the chamber.
"Aishani Rathore," the System's voice rang. "Your awakening has transcended human limits. You are now bound by contract to save your country."
She looked up slowly, silver eyes glowing. "So… it begins."
At the Gate – 6 Hours Later
Dev and Meera stood stunned as two aircrafts landed beside the Gate.
From one emerged Veer—dusty jeans, shirtless, gauntlets glowing with strange symbols.
From the other, Aishani—regal, elegant, an aura of divinity shimmering around her.
They did not speak at first.
But when their eyes met—street flame and royal ice—a ripple shot through the gate.
[UR Pair Detected: Heaven & Earth Paradox]
[Synergy Bonus Activated.]
[New Routes Inside the Gate Unlocked.]
[Challenge Difficulty Adjusted.]
The Gate pulsed.
And the countdown began.
Global Reaction
The world watched in stunned silence as the Gate footage streamed live. Newscasters couldn't stop shaking. Children cried. Veterans of the Tower saluted the screens.
Across continents, people held vigils. The WAU's hotline crashed.
In a certain quiet apartment in Tokyo, two figures sat silently in front of the screen.
Aya Shirogane sipped her tea, face pale.
Beside her, Kaito Yamada sat cross-legged, a slight smirk twitching at the edge of his lips.
He whistled. "Damn. That's dramatic even for the System. A whole country?"
Aya turned toward him. "We're not going to help?"
"We can't," Kaito replied, voice calm. "System says no foreign interference."
She hesitated, then glanced at him. "You're worried."
Kaito's smile dimmed. "I'm more worried about what comes after the Gate."
He got up, walked to the window, and looked out at the sky.
"It's just starting," he murmured. "The Tower, the Dens, the Gates… this whole world's a sandbox for something bigger."
Aya stood too, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Then we better get stronger, masked idiot."
Kaito laughed softly. "Already am. Just pretending I'm not."
They looked back at the screen.
As India marched toward its trial.
---
India – Final Hours Before Entry
The Awakened army assembled before the Gate. Over 120 elite Indian combatants stood in formation. Dozens of support-type Awakened set up base operations. The National Broadcast played words of encouragement from every corner of the country.
Veer and Aishani joined Dev and Meera at the front.
Together, they turned toward the Gate.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Gate Entry Phase – BEGINNING]
[All eligible Awakened, proceed within the next 60 minutes. Gate will seal after countdown.]
The sound of boots hitting earth. Cries of family and tears of honor. Dev gave the first step.
Meera followed.
Then Aishani.
Then Veer.
One by one, India's champions stepped into the unknown.
The Gate roared.
And closed behind them.