The world had changed. The earth had grown stalks of steel and stone, and with them, new dangers, powers, and opportunities. But even as Minho was rising in the Tower, questions about its true origins always lingered in the back of his mind, and he was not alone, afflicted with the change of these colossal structures-Earth would never be the same again.
The Birth of the Towers
The moment the first Tower appeared right in the middle of Seoul, it was both an enigma and a nightmare. Similar tower-like structures started rising all over the world simultaneously, and people had to adapt to these gigantic, apparently sentient buildings. Unlike dungeons, confined to a place and clearable by teams of Hunters under guild supervision, Towers were open to anyone who would dare challenge them. And unlike dungeons, viciously populated and rich in resources, Towers were known for granting power and knowledge but at a dear cost.
As their origins remained unexplained, it became clear that each of the Towers had its own rules, floors, and rewards to bestow on whoever dared to enter. First named the Tower of Trainees, it soon became the epitome of opportunity-open to any and all who aspired to gain strength. A gateway to the road which attracted people of all kinds: from ordinary citizens to active warriors, motives for stepping into the Tower vary.
The Tower and the Rise of Raiders
Few knew what the Towers actually were, or what lay beyond their walls in the early days. Most people speculated that they were built either by ancient civilizations or even alien forces. What they did know was that the rewards they offered were too good to pass by.
Before long, the Tower became a testing ground for the most ambitious of them, where one dared to risk it all against ungraspable terrors. They were known as Raiders. Raiders, as opposed to Hunters who belonged to some organized system that was tasked with the duty of clearing dungeons, were independent in nature. Operating either alone or in small groups, they challenged the Towers for personal development and power-ups. Raiders did not have any restriction or obligation from any guild; they were free agents, driven by the ambition to be on top.
While Hunters fought monsters to acquire resources, Raiders aimed to conquer the Tower itself. The Tower was their battleground, a place where they could face trials beyond their comprehension, and with each floor they cleared, they grew stronger. It rewarded them with new skills, power-ups, and most importantly, recognition-the most sought-after prize. But there were no assurances of leaving alive either. Many didn't emerge at all, smashed under the crushing load of ambition or by the very monsters they battled inside.
Dungeons and Hunters
But then there were dungeons, another type of challenge altogether. These were breaks in the chaos, unpredictable and appearing worldwide, connected with a hidden network of dimensions. Unlike Towers, dungeons required Hunters-specialized people who were trained and licensed by organizations like the Master Guild of Hunters. The role of the Hunter was to clear these dungeons, neutralize the monsters emerging from them, and extract valuable resources that could be sold or used to enhance weapons and equipment.
While dungeons were dangerous, they were more predictable in terms of structure. The monsters within were usually tied to specific environments and conditions, allowing Hunters to form teams and strategize. Raiders faced a much more unpredictable enemy in the form of the Tower itself. The Towers seemed to mock logic, as floors changed, puzzles required acuity of mind, and enemies adapted in ways no dungeon monster ever had.
Korea's Unique Role in the New World Order
Korea, more than any other nation, had been transformed by the rise of the Towers. Its position at the crossroads of global trade and technology allowed it to adapt quickly. The government established strict regulations for both Hunters and Raiders, ensuring that the powers they gained were used for national defense and economic benefit.
The government also invested a lot in research into the nature of the Towers. This gave birth to specialized research groups, universities, and companies that were solely focused on unlocking the mysteries of the Towers. The influx of resources, information, and power caused Korea to become a leading player in global politics, as its government leveraged its knowledge of the Towers to form alliances with other nations.
However, not all of Korea's efforts were entirely selfless. Some factions sought to control the Towers for their own benefit, and there were whispers of corruption within the political systems. The Horizon Hunter Guild, a subsidiary of the Master Guild of Hunters, became particularly influential during this time. While the Horizon Guild was officially dedicated to protecting the public, rumors of illegal dealings and covert operations behind the scenes spread quickly.
Yet beneath these undercurrents, the Towers conferred a privilege on such as could scale them. Successful Raiders were in political grace; their names, where the most successful, flashed across the Leaderboard for all to read. The highest ranked were held as shapers of paradigms to come.
The Tower and Earth Connection
A link to the Tower and Earth themselves remained a mystery. Nobody knew why the Towers appeared when they did, or why they functioned as they did. Some theorists speculated that they were a natural consequence of Earth's growing link to other realities; others believed they were remnants of a long-forgotten civilization, or even the work of an ancient extraterrestrial race.
The truth, however, was more elusive. What was clear was that the Towers were not simply structures of stone or metal. They were alive in ways no one fully comprehended. They adapted, evolved, and changed, sometimes shaping the world around them, rather than simply being a part of it.
Minho had seen it for himself: the Tower's quirky behavior, giving him skills, healing him, and even watching him. But one question remained-why him? And what exactly was the Tower's true purpose?
The Unwritten Future
The higher Minho climbed, the closer he was to the secrets of the Tower. He could barely make his way through some of the first floors, surviving odds and creatures that seemed unreal, but going deeper inside, the mysteries of the Tower took over his mind. Each step he took would bring him closer to the truth-one that might shake the very foundations of everything he had ever known.
The Tower had given him a vision of his possibilities. It had promised him power and rewards beyond his wildest imagination, but it was coming at an atrocious cost. And as he rose higher, Minho knew the price would only increase.
But he couldn't turn his back now.
As Minho stepped to the next floor of the Tower, the air again shifted around him, the faint shimmer of the platform at his feet lighting his way forward. With each passing floor, the Tower's power was becoming increasingly palpable, and the stakes of his climb more real. But with new rewards came new dangers.
The next trial lay in store.