The world had learned long ago that peace was only a rumor.
It started with the Crawling Age.
No one knew where the first creature came from. Some said the sky split open. Others claimed the earth itself rejected something buried deep within it. Ancient records only agreed on one thing:
They did not belong here.
They came in forms that defied reason — some towering like mountains, others small enough to hide in shadows. Some walked. Some floated. Some did not even possess bodies that humans could fully understand.
And when they arrived…
Humans changed too.
Abilities awakened across the world like wildfire. Some people could control elements. Some could crush steel with bare hands. Some could sense danger before it existed. Others developed powers so overwhelming they were called demi-gods.
These awakened humans became known as:
Scalers.
Because their strength could climb endlessly — if they survived.
The Federal System
To prevent the world from collapsing, the Federal Government was formed.
The land was divided into six regions, each controlled by a supreme leader known as:
The General.
There were eight generals in total across departments — each representing one of the Eight Resonances:
Light
Shadow
Flame
Frost
Storm
Gravity
Spirit
Void
Each resonance defined a Scaler's core nature.
Some were born compatible with Heaven Stones — pure energy sources that amplified stable abilities.
Others bonded with Demon Stones — volatile, terrifying power that could corrupt or evolve the user.
And then…
There were Depth Portals.
Gates that appeared randomly across the world, glowing in different colors:
White — Safe scouting level
Blue — Combat level
Red — Catastrophe level
Black — Annihilation level
No civilian could approach them.
Even trained Scalers died in groups.
Only Generals could walk into a Black Portal and return alive.
Region Four — Federal Registration Facility
Elias Somiki stood in line, hands inside his worn jacket pockets.
The building ahead of him looked less like an office and more like a fortress. Steel walls layered with energy shields. Turrets mounted on rooftops. Armed guards wearing resonance-detection visors.
A massive sign hung above the entrance:
FEDERAL SCALER REGISTRATION — REGION FOUR
Below it were smaller words:
"Power determines survival. Weakness determines death."
Elias exhaled slowly.
"So this is where it begins…"
Behind him, two recruits whispered nervously.
"Did you hear about last week's test?"
"They say half the rookies didn't even make it inside…"
"That's normal," a third voice cut in coldly. "If you can't survive registration, you don't deserve to face a portal."
Elias turned.
The speaker was a tall boy with sharp eyes and a resonance scanner strapped to his wrist. His uniform already marked him as a cadet.
"First time?" the boy asked Elias.
Elias nodded.
"What's your ability?"
Elias hesitated.
"…Research."
The boy blinked.
"…That's it?"
Elias forced a calm smile.
"It lets me analyze objects and opponents. Scan utilities. Detect hidden data."
The boy laughed openly.
"So basically… you're a walking notebook."
A few others chuckled.
Elias didn't respond.
He was used to it.
Research-type abilities were considered support class.
And support class Scalers…
Rarely survived their first year.
Inside the Registration Hall
The moment Elias stepped inside, the air changed.
It felt heavy.
Charged.
Like invisible pressure pushing down on his bones.
A massive digital board displayed rankings:
SCALER CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
S-Rank — Generals & Demi-God Level
A-Rank — High Command Scalers
B-Rank — Elite Combat Units
C-Rank — Standard Combat Units
D-Rank — Support & Trainee Level
Most names on the lower half were marked:
DECEASED
Elias swallowed.
"So many…"
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOOM
The entire building shook violently.
Alarms screamed.
Red lights flashed everywhere.
"DEPTH PORTAL ALERT — RED LEVEL DETECTED NEAR REGION FOUR BORDER."
Recruits panicked instantly.
"W-What?! A Red Portal this close?!"
"That's impossible—"
A federal officer stormed into the hall, his aura pressing down like a storm cloud.
His resonance radiated Flame.
"LISTEN UP!" he roared.
Silence dropped instantly.
"You wanted to become Scalers?"
His eyes burned as he scanned the room.
"Then watch carefully. This is reality."
He pressed a control panel.
A giant screen activated.
Live footage appeared.
A federal combat unit stood before a swirling red portal in a ruined city zone.
Then—
Something crawled out.
Not walked.
Not ran.
Crawled.
A creature with a skeletal frame, elongated limbs, and a mouth that opened vertically down its entire torso.
It moved—
And instantly—
One elite Scaler was sliced in half before anyone could react.
Another fired a storm resonance blast.
The creature walked through it like mist.
The officer's voice echoed coldly:
"Rank — Dread Class."
"Estimated kill count — over 1,000 Scalers worldwide."
Elias felt his chest tighten.
This wasn't training footage.
This was happening right now.
On screen, a squad leader shouted:
"RETREAT! WE NEED A GENERAL—"
The words never finished.
The creature's arm extended like a blade.
The camera feed cut in static.
Silence filled the hall.
One recruit collapsed to his knees.
"…They died… just like that…"
The officer turned toward the room.
His voice dropped to a deadly whisper:
"THIS… is why weak Scalers die first."
His eyes locked onto Elias for a moment — as if sensing something.
"Registration begins now."
"Only those who survive the evaluation… will earn the right to face monsters."
Elias' First Realization
As recruits moved toward testing chambers, Elias' hands trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
From clarity.
For the first time…
He understood.
This world did not care about dreams.
Or fairness.
Or effort.
Only strength.
Only survival.
Only power.
And somewhere deep inside his mind—
His ability activated unconsciously.
A faint interface flickered in his vision:
ABILITY: RESEARCH — PASSIVE SCAN
A strange reading appeared near the portal alert signal.
Something hidden.
Something no one else noticed.
A classification…
That did not exist in any federal record.
ENTITY TYPE DETECTED: UNKNOWN
POSSIBLE MATCH — ANCIENT ARCHIVE ENTRY
KEYWORD: "THE OUTCAST."
Elias' heartbeat stopped.
"Outcast…?"
Before he could process it—
A voice suddenly spoke behind him.
Calm.
Cold.
Overwhelming.
"Interesting."
Elias turned slowly.
Standing there was a man in a black federal cloak.
His presence alone made the air feel like it was sinking into darkness.
The officers nearby instantly bowed.
One whispered:
"…A General…"
The man's eyes glowed faintly with a resonance so deep it felt endless.
Void.
He looked directly at Elias.
And smiled slightly.
"Your ability… sees things it shouldn't."
Elias felt a chill run down his spine.
"Tell me, rookie…"
The General stepped closer.
"…what exactly did you just detect?"