The destruction of Earth had come swiftly, a cruel reminder of how fragile humanity truly was. Eight billion lives reduced to less than a million. The rest were gone—lost to the monsters, the collapsing cities, or the mysterious rifts that promised salvation but offered only uncertainty.
This is what remained.
"Shit, I'm gonna be late."
I sprinted down the crumbling streets of Stargaze City, weaving through the crowd of scavengers, traders, and hunters. The air was thick with tension, as it always was. This city wasn't just a sanctuary—it was a battlefield waiting to happen. My boots kicked up dust as I rounded a corner, colliding hard into someone.
"Sorry!" I mumbled, barely stopping to glance at who it was.
The man grumbled something under his breath, but I didn't have time to listen. The Central Intelligence Bureau—CIB—was just up ahead, its rusted gates looming like a cage. I pushed my way through, chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.
"You're late," a sharp voice cut through the air.
My stomach dropped.
Standing just inside the gates was Luke "Lukewarm," the head of security for Stargaze City. He was impossible to miss—tall, broad-shouldered, and carrying an aura of authority that made most people think twice before crossing him. Luke wasn't just the city's top hunter; he was a legend. People said he'd cleared over a hundred dungeons and survived encounters with monsters no one else dared to face.
And here I was, standing in front of him like some kid caught sneaking in past curfew.
"Sorry, sir," I said quickly, trying to keep the nervous edge out of my voice.
Luke didn't reply right away. He crossed his arms, the weight of his gaze making me feel about two feet tall. Finally, he spoke.
"Abe, today's the day you enter the bridge."
"What?" The word came out before I could stop it. My stomach twisted as I stared at him. "The bridge? That can't be right."
Luke's expression didn't waver. If anything, he looked annoyed that I was questioning him.
"Unfortunately," he said, his tone cold, "you're not fit for the security force. You're the only person in this entire city who can't use skills. Unless you get stronger, you will no longer have a job here."
I felt like the ground had just dropped out from under me. "What? That's crazy! Give me a chance, sir. I'll prove myself, I swear."
Luke shook his head. "You've had plenty of chances, Abe. Without skills, you're a liability. Stargaze City doesn't have room for the weak. If you want to stay, you need to prove you're strong enough to survive."
My mind raced. The bridge wasn't just any rift—it was the most dangerous one. A massive, ominous gate located in the heart of Stargaze City. Unlike regular rifts, the bridge held three doors. The first door led to the dungeon, a place where humans could gain magic and skills. The second door led straight to Hell, a realm of chaos and monsters so deadly that even the strongest hunters feared it. The third door, however, was a mystery. It remained closed, sealed by an unknown force, its purpose shrouded in secrecy.
"I'm not weak!" I protested, my voice rising. "I just need more time. You can't just throw me into the bridge!"
"If you want a chance," Luke said, his voice firm and unyielding, "then go into the dungeon and level up. Without skills, you have no future in Stargaze City. If you want to prove yourself, the bridge is your only option."
My heart pounded as his words sank in. The bridge wasn't just a trial—it was a death sentence for someone like me. People went in for magic, for power, for skills. But not everyone came back.
I opened my mouth to argue again, but the look on Luke's face told me it was pointless. He'd already made up his mind.
"Dismissed," he said, turning away from me.
I stood there for a moment, my fists clenched at my sides, before finally forcing myself to move. The weight of his words hung over me like a storm cloud.
Go into the dungeon. Get stronger. Prove I belonged.
My gaze turned to the bridge in the distance, its swirling energy radiating a foreboding glow. Three doors. Three paths.
And one of them might kill me.