Chapter one-The Beginning
Ten years ago, the towers emerged, shrouded in mystery. These monolithic structures pierced the skies like shards of darkness, their purpose and origin unknown. The monsters that poured out of them, however, were all too real. Waves of creatures, each one more terrifying than the last, ravaged the earth, leaving destruction and despair in their wake. A game-like system granted certain individuals the power to fight back. These hunters, armed with abilities they barely understood, charged into the fray. The towers were labyrinthine, with each floor a world unto itself. Monsters spawned and respawned in an endless cycle, except for the floor bosses - powerful entities that guarded the gates to the next level. The floor bosses were behemoths, their power a benchmark for those who dared to ascend. Only those who could vanquish these creatures could progress, could hope to unlock the secrets of the towers. And at the pinnacle of the towers, the transcendent ruled. Beings from other worlds, who had conquered the towers eons ago, now stood as paragons of power. Some were gods, once thought to be mere myths, while others were warriors or swordsmen who had transcended mortality. Earth, however, had yet to produce its own transcendent. The question lingered: when would humanity find its own champion, its own legend? The towers stood as a challenge, a testament to the unknown, and a reminder of the potential that lay within.
My name is Hwon, and I'm an orphan with no parents. I've lived alone for as long as I can remember, with no idea what my parents look like or what their names are. The only thing I know is that they named me Hwon, which seems like a cruel joke considering the meaning behind it. Life hasn't been easy for me, and people often shun me, believing I'll bring them bad luck. Some even think I'm cursed. There was one family that tried to take me in, but after their daughter had a near-fatal accident, they blamed me. People whispered that I was a cursed child, and no one wanted to associate with me. But that's not logical – I couldn't have caused the accident. It's just superstition.
Everything changes today, though. It's my 18th birthday, and I'm finally eligible to become a hunter. The towers, with their mysterious powers and monsters, are now open to me. There are rare cases where younger individuals have been allowed in, but that's not my concern. Today, I'm taking my first step into a new world, one that might finally give me the answers I'm looking for.
As I stood in front of the tower, I felt a mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and a hint of fear. I had been preparing for this moment for years, and now that it was finally here, I couldn't help but wonder if I was truly ready. I took a deep breath, shouldered my backpack, and stepped forward into the tower's entrance. The doors slid open with a metallic creak, revealing a dimly lit hallway that stretched out before me like a mouthful of darkness.
The registration process was quick and efficient. A bored-looking administrator scanned my ID and handed me a small, sleek device that looked like a cross between a smartphone and a wristwatch. "This is your Hunter's Interface," the administrator explained, his voice devoid of enthusiasm. "It'll track your progress, provide you with information on the tower's layout, and alert you to potential dangers. Don't lose it." I nodded, took the device, and strapped it to my wrist. The administrator barely looked up as he dismissed me with a wave of his hand. "Good luck, kid. You'll need it."
As I stood there, the device's weight settled onto my wrist, and I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me. Was I really ready for this? The administrator's words echoed in my mind: "You'll need it." What did he know that I didn't? I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.
I thought back to my life before this moment, the struggles and the hardships. I thought about the people who had doubted me, who had said I'd never amount to anything. And I thought about the name my parents had given me – Hwon, meaning "misfortune" or "bad luck." Some might see it as a cruel joke, but I saw it as a challenge.
As I looked down at the device on my wrist, I felt a surge of determination. I was here to prove them all wrong. I was here to show that I was more than just a cursed child. I was here to conquer the tower, to rise above my fate.
With a newfound sense of resolve, I stepped into the elevator, and the doors closed behind me with a soft whoosh. The display above the doors flickered to life, showing me the floor selection menu. I stared at the options, my mind racing with uncertainty. Which floor should I choose? The first floor seemed too obvious, but I didn't know what lay beyond. As I scanned the options, my eyes landed on a button that seemed out of place. It was before the "1" button, and the writing on it was unclear – a jumbled mess of symbols that made no sense to me.
But if it was before the "1" button, that meant it must be... easier? I thought to myself. Maybe this was the floor for absolute beginners, a gentle introduction to the tower's challenges.
I hesitated for a moment, then pressed the mysterious button. The space around me began to distort and ripple, like the surface of a pond hit by a stone. I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me, and my vision blurred. The last thing I remembered was the feeling of my legs giving out beneath me, and then everything went black.
When I came to, I was lying on the floor, my head throbbing with pain. I groggily sat up, looking around in confusion. The elevator seemed unchanged, but the button I had pressed was glowing with an ominous red light. And on its surface, a rune symbol had appeared – a twisted, hellish glyph that seemed to burn with an inner fire.
The symbol seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. What had I gotten myself into? The rune symbol seemed to mock me, its presence filling me with a sense of foreboding. I stumbled to my feet, my mind reeling with questions. What floor had I chosen? And what lay ahead?
The elevator's display flickered to life, showing me a single, chilling message: "Welcome to Floor -1."