In the vast sky, far beyond the reach of humans, stood a grand structure high above the clouds—the throne of the gods.
The gods, having grown bored, decided to create a challenge to entertain themselves. Working together, they built a tower, filling it with monsters, items, and traps for humans to overcome.
They named this tower "The Tower of Hope."
Then, they sent out invitations to people all over the world.
A deep and powerful voice echoed across the land:
"O brave humans, if you deem yourselves worthy, enter the Tower of Hope! Reach the top floor, and you shall be granted whatever you desire!"
At that moment, a system screen appeared before them—an invitation to enter the Tower of Hope.
---
Inside the Tower of Hope, a group of new players stood cautiously. These were individuals chosen from various worlds—warriors, mages, and adventurers—all dreaming of conquering the tower and reaching its peak.
Among them stood a man in simple clothing, his expression lazy as he observed the surroundings without a hint of worry.
His name was Kael.
Yet, no one seemed to notice his presence.
Kael stood among the players, but not a single person turned to look at him or spoke to him. Even as people brushed past each other, no one touched him.
It was as if he were nothing but empty air.
Even the tower's system, which was supposed to analyze every player, did not display any notification about him.
It was as if he did not exist in this game at all.
---
Suddenly, the air on the first floor trembled, and a black portal appeared in the sky.
From within, a small white rabbit with soft fur emerged, wearing an elegant black suit and a tall top hat.
It looked adorable, but the moment it stood up on its hind legs, its aura shifted drastically.
THUMP!
An invisible pressure spread across the area, making the players swallow nervously.
With a small hop, the rabbit landed on a stone podium. It dusted off its coat and adjusted its top hat with its tiny paw before speaking.
"Welcome, players!" Its voice was loud and commanding, completely unfitting for its cute appearance. "I am Lord Bun, the Overseer of the Tower of Hope! From this moment on, you are all participants in the tower's trials!"
The players stood in stunned silence.
Some rubbed their eyes, unsure if they were hallucinating.
"…A rabbit?"
"Wait, it just talked…?"
But they quickly realized that its aura was far too terrifying to be taken lightly.
Lord Bun flicked its ears gracefully and continued, "This tower does not accept the weak. You must fight and prove yourselves. If you fail… well, that is not my problem."
Its gaze swept across the players, analyzing each one.
However, when its eyes passed over Kael, there was no reaction whatsoever.
Just like the system, even the Overseer of the Tower failed to notice his existence.
Lord Bun then hopped onto a large rock and raised its paw.
"The first trial will now begin!"