Chapter 1 (Part-I): The Returnee
"H-hey, please… just one, I need just one more chance! I assure you that I won't fail this time!"
Was what the man said crawling on the floor of a gymnasium at the dark of the gloomy raining night.
"Sigh… Yoo Seungeun-ssi, how many times has it been? You've been constantly behind on your debt for months at end now. Just accept it, you were born without any talent."
Said a man with a bulky figure while stroking his chin for a while.
"Please, I promise! I'll definitely awaken this time Minchul-ssi, just… I just need a little more time!"
"Please, I beg you. Plea-"
Baamm!!
The sound of something crashing against a metallic surface sounded throughout the empty hall, it was Yoo Seungeun who was dealt a violent blow to his chest and crashed onto the bench press.
"Kuughh-!" said Yoo Seungeun as blood was being vomitted from his body at a rapid pace.
"Aigoo… You fucking piece of shit head, did you seriously think you could act all chummy with me and ask for another grace period just because we've known each other for a few years?"
As the man walked towards Seungeun, these were the words he said.
When he arrived in front of him, Minchul grabbed Seungeun's neck and stared with a murderous intent into his eyes.
"Let's see… if I were to sell these well trained organs of your body, it seems it'll make at least 10 million won…"
Jang Minchul with a crazed glare in his eyes as he held Seungeun with his right hand said these words.
The moment he heard he was about to be killed, chills ran down his spines and he felt as if he was a mere pray in front of an apex predator.
"Aaaahhhh!!!!"
Screamed Minchul as he suddenly got bitten by Seungeun who was squirming to get rid of his grip, and due to the successful attack, Minchul released his grasp.
Taking advantage of the situation, Seungeun started rushing towards the police station after exiting the building.
"Huff… Huff… "
"I need to make it! I need to make it! If I don't, it'll be the end of my goal. "
As he kept on blabbering these stuff to him, he kept rushing and rushing forward in the rainy night that followed.
But, as if fate had other plans… A car came rushing at him as if it had lost all control and crashed directly at him.
Krieeeek!!!
Screeched the car as it came to a halt and a man came out rushing and asking if he had been alright or was he in a severe state as blood continued to flow out of seungeun's head.
"H-hey! Are you alright?!"
"Hey, wake up!"
"Please, say something!"
"Hey! Hey! He…!"
"... "
Silence came to be as he came to consciousness an continued staring into an endless abyss.
"Aah… so, is this how it all ends?"
"Is this how my fate has destined to be? Am I fated to achieve nothing in my entire life?"
"My life… it has been full of regrets and challenges… nothing I ever did has ever brought any positive change around me…"
"I guess… struggling for even more than a decade is worthless in front of real talent… "
A flashback suddenly starts before Yoo Seungeun starts accepting that his life has come to an end…
"Mom! Look, look! I made a drawing of us three together at the aquarium!"
Was what a young but sweet child, with a cute face with black pupils and brown hair who looked none older than 6 years old said as he rushed towards his mother.
"Aww, you did a splendid job, my Seungeun! "
A woman apeeared who was strikingly beautiful with long, straight brunette hair, stretching all the way down to her waist wearing a casual dress. She was tall, slender, had black pupils, a sweet charm, along with a stunning face that matched her elegance.
"Hey, little champ! What did you draw today that your mother's so happy? Come on, show me!"
Soon after, a handsome man with short hair, a tall figure with deep black hair and blue pupils wearing office clothes came out of the living room and went straight to the kitchen where the two mother and son were at.
"Daddy!"
Was what young Seungeun said as he was lifted into the arms of his mother whereafter, his father soon hugged them both from behind.
It was a happy family who cared for each other.
[A Day Later, 2006 5th July]
It was the serenity of the dusk as night was about to unfold. At first glance, it seemed as though it was a peaceful sight. But as one would come near the bridge, they would notice the chaos and blood scent starting to follow the surrounding air.
It was a "Gate Break!"
"Save me!"
People were seen breaking out of their vehicles and rushing to the other side of the gate breach as if their life depended on it. And yes, It was a necessary measure, the Gate Break was estimated to be of "B-Rank!"
It was enough to be called an immense natural disaster, currently there were no signals beforehand regarding a gate appearing on Incheon Bridge and thus, no hunters were assigned to nearby posts. It was a scene of absolute devastation!
"Save me! Help!'
As a man came screaming and banged on the glass of Seungeun's family's car! He kept shouting to save him continuously as monsters started rampaging towards the people on the bridge.
Slash!
"Kuuughhh!!"
A slicing sound appeared to be heard and soon after the man's silhouette turned completely bloody and lifeless.
"Kyaaa!!!"
Screamed Seungeun and his family as they saw the man's corpse being dragged around the window glass of the car.
"Kireeekkk!!"
Screeched the monster and sliced of the cars around it and came straight at Seungeun's family.
"H-Hurry! Hurry and get Seungeun out of here!"
"I'll hold this monster back!"
As these word's came out of Seungeun's father's mouth, he was cleanly stabbed by the monster in his heart and ripped apart slowly.
"H-Honey!"
Said the mother in a trembling voice as she covered Seungeun from the blood splatter.
"D-Da-Daddy?"
Seungeun in a confused and bewildered state was all he could say as he was trembling.
"W-We need to run…"
"Seungeun, we need to run…"
"M-Mommy?"
"I said we need to run, Seungeun!!"
As those words came out from his mother's mouth, she grabbed him and started running. After running for what felt like an eternity, they finally came to a stop as Seungeun's mother saw an abandoned crate.
"S-seungeun, you're a brave boy right?"
"Y-yes…"
"Alright, promise me. Promise me that you won't come out of this crate or utter a single noise until someone comes for you. Got it?"
"B-but… "
"I SAID PROMISE ME, SEUNGEUN!!!"
In a calm but yet terrified and trembling voice, young seungeun promised to his mother.
"Y-yes."
Soon after, as if this was the last moment of their meeting, she hugged seungeun as hard as she could and cried profusely and kissed him before leaving him and luring the monsters away with her voice to an area away from her child.
Later on, seungeun heard voices of her mother screaming and while contemplating admitted that she had died.
[A Few Hour's Back]
"Daddy! Mommy! Let's go visit granny! I wanna go today!"
Young Seungeun had wanted to go visit his granny as he had a close and intricate bond with her, and as she always used to adore him thus, his longing for her was always alot.
"Hmm… alright then, we'll go to your granny's house today in the afternoon!"
As Seungeun was happy and fumbling around due to the immense joy he had, his parents were discussing regarding the trip in the background.
"Honey, is it really ok for you to skip your work today?"
"It's alright. There's no major work at the office today and there doesn't seem any gate issues according to the Hunter's association to where we're going."
"..."
"Sigh… if it's fine with you, I guess we can give this a shot."
[An hour later]
They packed up their belongings and were ready to go as they were sitting inside their car.
"Seungeun, are you ready to leave to granny's house?"
"Yesss!"
"Seungeun, don't spill your juice on the seat."
"Aaah! No, you spilled it after I told you not to!"
"Honey, you could at least be a little strict to him…"
The man jerked off his wife's comments and was solely focused on the road and kept on talking to seungeun.
"Alright, off we go!!"
[Present Day 2026]
"Aah… that was the last memory of my parents… "
"If only… if only I hadn't asked to go on that trip that day… "
"If only I had talent. "
"If only thing's weren't as they seem to be."
"This… this… wouldn't have happened… "
"If only I had talent to change my life"
As he was pondering these thoughts as death approached him, he silent started drowning into this infinite abyss. But, suddenly a mysterious thing happened. A message popped up in his consciousness.
[Tower Of Trials]
[You've Been Chosen As A Challenger Of The Tower Of Trials]
[You Are Being Forcefully Teleported To The First Floor Of The Tower Of Trials]
[Task: Defeat or survive against the Shadow Golem
Time Limit: 20 minutes
Reward: Stone of Regression (EX Rank)]
"Huh? Wh-What's going-"
Dammit.
This might truly be my chance to turn my life around!
_____
Chapter End