Chapter 1: The Awakening

The world as Jin Seol knew it had changed in the blink of an eye.

He had been asleep when the skies tore open with an unnatural roar, a flash of light so blinding it left a scar on his vision. In the blink of an eye, everything he had known—his university, his friends, the bustling city streets—vanished. And in its place stood a tower, a towering structure so vast it seemed to stretch into the heavens, eclipsing everything. It was the Tower of Gods.

Before Jin could even comprehend what was happening, a voice echoed in his mind.

> "Welcome to the Tower of Gods. Your survival will depend on the power granted to you. Proceed with caution."

Jin's heart raced. What was this? Was he dreaming? Or was this some kind of twisted nightmare?

The air around him shimmered as the environment around him distorted. The street he was standing on cracked open, replaced by a grand, glowing platform suspended in an empty void.

And there—hovering before him—was a strange holographic interface.

> SYSTEM ERROR: [Unable to grant random ability]

Glitched System Activated.

Jin blinked, unsure whether he was hallucinating. A glitched system? What was this supposed to mean?

Before he could even process this, the holographic screen flickered, and a new message appeared:

> "You have been granted the unique ability to steal, copy, and evolve skills from others."

Steal? Copy? Jin felt a rush of confusion flood his mind, but the sound of a distant roar shattered his thoughts.

His eyes snapped to the horizon where a massive creature—a giant, horned beast—stood, its eyes glowing with malicious intent. It was heading straight for the platform.

> "Objective: Survive the first trial. Defeat the Beast."

The words were cold, detached, as if the system was merely stating a fact. Jin looked down at his hands, unsure how to fight. He had no weapons, no experience. But then he remembered the system's words.

Steal, copy, evolve.

His mind focused, the words of the system clearer now than ever before. What if... What if he could take the creature's power?

A blinding flash of light enveloped him, and an eerie sensation washed over his body. In an instant, he could feel his body changing, his muscles tightening as if he had been infused with the strength of the beast itself. He saw its movements, its raw aggression.

Without thinking, Jin leapt into action, his body moving instinctively. He swung his fist, connecting with the beast's thick hide, sending a shockwave through the air. The creature roared in pain and fury. Jin barely had time to react as the beast retaliated with a swipe of its massive claws.

But the power... the glitched system... it was working.

His movements flowed with unnatural precision, every strike landing with force that would normally take years of training. It felt like the beast's power was merging with his own, as if he was becoming the predator. With one final, forceful punch, Jin's fist shattered the creature's skull. The beast crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

> Objective Completed: Beast Defeated.

Rewards: Skill "Beast's Fury" unlocked.

Jin stood, panting, his body buzzing with energy. The screen before him flashed with new information:

> "Skill Acquired: Beast's Fury."

"Current Power: Unstable."

Jin felt a surge of both exhilaration and confusion. He had killed the beast, but more importantly, he had taken its skill. This was the Glitched System. It wasn't just a system that gave him powers—it allowed him to absorb the very essence of his enemies and use their skills.

But was this power enough to survive the trials ahead? He didn't know.

Suddenly, the voice of the system boomed in his mind again.

> "The First Trial is complete. Proceed to the next floor. Your journey has just begun."

Jin looked around, the vast emptiness stretching out before him. This was just the first trial. And from what the system had said, there were hundreds of floors—each filled with more monsters, players, and deadly challenges.

If he wanted to survive, he would need to grow stronger. He would need to adapt, steal the powers of others, and dominate the Tower of Gods.

His journey had begun.