The Pacific Ocean became the stage for the world's next great conflict when the Last Gate emerged. It was the largest by far—a towering structure of swirling energy that reached miles into the sky and stretched as far as the eye could see. It appeared out of nowhere, causing tsunamis that devastated nearby islands and triggering earthquakes along fault lines. Ships at sea were tossed like toys, and satellites captured images of the Gate from orbit, its scale and presence unmistakable.
Scientists and military leaders from every nation quickly realized the implications. The size of the Gate suggested it was the highest level yet, which meant it could hold an unprecedented amount of Crystals. Preliminary estimates suggested that the energy contained within could power a nation the size of the United States for over two centuries. Whoever controlled the Last Gate would control the future.
The world had never seen anything like it—a structure so massive that it could be seen from space, drawing the attention of every major power. Diplomacy failed almost immediately as nations scrambled to position themselves closest to the Gate. Fleets sailed to the Pacific, and airbases were established on nearby islands. Within weeks, the region became a militarized zone, with hundreds of ships, planes, and soldiers stationed around the Gate, waiting for the command to move in.
The tension exploded into outright war. It began with a skirmish between two rival naval fleets, each refusing to back down. The battle escalated rapidly, and within days, it had spiraled into World War III. Alliances fractured, and old rivalries resurfaced. The Atlantic was ablaze with conflict, while the skies over Europe and Asia filled with smoke and fire. It became a race to reach the Last Gate, and the stakes were nothing less than the fate of the world.
On the battlefields, new weapons emerged—tanks powered by Crystals, artillery shells capable of obliterating entire city blocks, and missiles enhanced to penetrate the deepest bunkers. Yet, despite all the new technology, the war was brutal and devastating. Cities burned, millions died, and the world teetered on the edge of complete annihilation. Governments collapsed, economies crumbled, and entire regions were reduced to rubble.
Amid the chaos, the leaders of the warring nations realized their folly. The Last Gate had become a symbol of both their greed and their desperation. With the world on the brink of collapse and energy reserves running dangerously low, the surviving nations came together to form the Union of People—a fragile coalition born from necessity, not trust. With the remaining resources, they assembled the last of their militaries and launched a final, unified expedition to seize control of the Last Gate.
The Union's combined forces made their way to the massive structure, fully prepared for another fierce battle. But as they breached the outer edges of the Gate and ventured inside, they discovered something far beyond their expectations. This was not just another dungeon filled with monsters and treasures. The Last Gate led to a completely different world—a world teeming with life, civilizations, and, most importantly, an abundance of Crystals.
This new world was vast and untouched, brimming with strange magic and dangerous creatures. The Union realized that they were no longer dealing with just the challenge of clearing a Gate; they had stumbled upon an entire realm that defied everything they knew. As they stood on the precipice of this new world, the leaders of the Union of People realized that the wars they fought for Crystals were nothing compared to the battles that lay ahead.