As dawn broke across the globe, the world awoke to scenes of chaos and confusion. News outlets broadcast images of colossal towers piercing the skies in major cities, their presence an ominous harbinger of the unknown. Reports of monster breakouts flooded in, with rifts in space unleashing terrifying creatures upon an unsuspecting population.
In New York, the city that never sleeps found itself paralyzed by fear. The once-bustling streets were now deserted as people huddled indoors, praying for safety. The National Guard was deployed to contain the chaos, but their efforts seemed futile against the sheer numbers of monstrous invaders. Large, wolf-like creatures with razor-sharp teeth prowled the streets, their growls sending chills down the spines of those who dared to venture outside. Meanwhile, grotesque goblins, with their twisted limbs and malevolent grins, wreaked havoc, looting and destroying everything in their path.
"How are we going to survive this?" cried a terrified woman.
"Is this the end of the world?" a man whispered to himself, his eyes wide with fear.
What are these things? thought Officer Davis, his hands trembling as he clutched his firearm. How are we supposed to fight monsters straight out of a nightmare?
Across the Atlantic in London, a similar scene unfolded. The iconic Big Ben was dwarfed by a new tower, its shadow casting an eerie pall over the city. Panic spread like wildfire, with authorities struggling to maintain order. Packs of giant wolves roamed the city, their howls echoing through the empty streets. Goblins skulked in the shadows, ambushing anyone who crossed their path.
"It's like a horror movie come to life," thought Emma, a young mother clutching her child as she ran for cover. "Will we even survive this day?"
In Tokyo, citizens were no strangers to giant creatures thanks to their cultural fascination with kaiju. However, reality proved far more terrifying than fiction. The government declared a state of emergency, mobilizing the Self-Defense Forces to combat the threat. Hulking wolves with fur as dark as midnight tore through the city, while goblins with glowing red eyes ambushed civilians and clashed with the military.
"This can't be happening," thought Hiroshi, a university student hiding under a desk. "Why is this happening to us?"
Back in his apartment, Alden sat on the couch, watching the chaos unfold on the news. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, trying to make sense of the monumental events transpiring before his eyes. Suddenly, a familiar translucent panel appeared before him, interrupting his thoughts:
System Quest: The First Awakening
Objective: Enter the tower and become one of the first batch of Awakeners.
Reward: A mysterious reward upon successful completion.
Time Limit: 24 hours
Alden's heart raced as he read the quest details. So, the first batch of Awakeners are the first humans to enter the tower on Earth. That might give them an advantage.
Either way, I have to go to get the quest reward, he resolved.
He quickly gathered his essentials and raced out of his apartment, determination fueling his every step. Alden grabbed his bike and pedaled furiously through the chaos of the city. As he neared the tower, he saw a perimeter set up by the police, their flashing lights creating a barrier between the people and the mysterious structure.
"Stay back! No one is allowed near the tower!" an officer shouted, waving his hands to keep the growing crowd at bay.
Alden observed the scene, looking for an opening. He noticed a narrow alleyway leading to the side of the tower, away from the main commotion. Carefully, he made his way through the alley, keeping low and out of sight.
When he reached what looked like a door, it shimmered with a strange, otherworldly glow. It wasn't just a door; it was a portal. Alden took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. This was it.
With a final glance back to ensure he wasn't being followed, Alden stepped through the glowing portal, his surroundings shifting as he entered a new realm.
Alden found himself in a blank white space, disoriented by the sudden change in environment. Around him, people from different places around the world stood, all equally confused.
"What's this panel in front of me?" a young man asked, looking around anxiously.
"Can you see this too?" a woman in a business suit inquired, her voice tinged with panic.
"No, but I can see a panel in front of me," the young man replied, glancing at the transparent system panel floating before him. It seemed that each person had their own panel, visible only to them.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance, walking towards the group. As it came closer, Alden's eyes widened in surprise. The figure had a gentle smile and was dressed in a suit and bow tie. But what caught everyone's attention was the fact that he was a panda wearing a suit.
[Ding...]
At that moment, Alden received a system notification. However, he didn't check it because the panda had caught his attention.
"Welcome to the first floor of the tower," the panda said with a grin. "I am the First Floor Admin. Yeah, you heard that right, a panda in a suit. Bet you didn't see that coming, did you?"
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to react.
"Alright, settle down, folks," the panda continued with a playful tone. "I'm here to explain the rules of the tower and give you your first trial. And yes, I know you all have a lot of questions. Like, 'Why is a panda talking?' and 'Does he do birthday parties?' Well, the answer to the second one is no. But let's focus on what's important."
The panda's sarcasm didn't make their confusion ease at all; instead, it only seemed to deepen.
"Here's the deal," the panda said, pacing back and forth. "This tower has rules, and you'd better pay attention if you want to survive. Your first trial is coming up, and it's going to be a blast. And by 'blast,' I mean it could be dangerous. So, let's get started, shall we?"