Life is tough.
That was the thought that always crossed Eldric Vaelin's mind, an 11-year-old boy who worked almost every day in his family's small construction shop. His father, an aging carpenter, could no longer lift the heavy wooden beams. Meanwhile, his mother was busy taking care of his 7-year-old younger sister, who was sick with a fever.
They lived in a small town called Silvermist, where life moved slowly but was filled with struggles. Eldric never complained. With his small hands, he continued to help his parents, working hard so his family could eat and survive.
But everything changed that day.
The day when the once-peaceful town of Silvermist turned into a sea of fire. The sky, usually clear, was now shrouded in black mist. Dimensional cracks suddenly appeared on Earth, and from within them, a massive tower emerged. That tower was called the Tower Colossus—a colossal structure that pierced the clouds. Strange monsters suddenly poured out from within the tower.
"Run! Monsters! Run!"
Panic-stricken screams filled the air as the beasts rampaged through the town.
Crash!
A building collapsed, dust filled the air, and screams echoed everywhere. The once-peaceful city had become a death zone.
"This… this is a nightmare, isn't it?"
Eldric gripped his sister's hand tightly, running alongside his family to find shelter. But no matter where they went, destruction followed.
And then, something strange happened.
Hundreds of terrified people suddenly felt a surge of power awaken within them. Then, a voice echoed in every human's mind:
[Welcome to the Tower Era]
[You have been chosen to become a Player.]
[Adjusting body… Identifying talent…]
[Role Assigned!]
All around him, people were stunned. Some collapsed to their knees, while others clutched their heads, feeling something new awaken within them.
A transparent window suddenly appeared before several people.
They began to read their status screens, and some immediately understood what had changed.
A muscular man raised his fists, astonished.
[Role: Vanguard] – Frontline Protector.
[Initial Abilities: Fortress Stance, Guardian's Charge]
A girl in a black robe lifted her hand, and a fireball instantly formed.
[Role: Arcanist] – Destructive Magic User.
[Initial Abilities: Elemental Surge, Arcane Barrier]
In another corner, a silver-haired young man felt his body grow lighter before vanishing into the shadows.
[Role: Phantom] – Assassin of the Dark.
[Initial Abilities: Shadow Step, Silent Execution]
Those who were chosen became known as "Players", but not everyone received this blessing.
From that day forward, the world changed forever.
Tower Colossus continued to stand tall, challenging humanity to conquer it.
Seven years passed.
Over those seven years, it was revealed that the towers appearing in different countries were actually part of a single entity. Although they appeared as separate towers in different regions, they were all directly connected, allowing Players from around the world to meet inside.
The tower still loomed high, piercing the skies like a symbol of a new era. For many, it was the dawn of greatness. But for others, it marked the beginning of despair.
Over the years, those chosen as Players began forming Guilds, disrupting the world's balance with their power. To counter this, governments established the Player Association to maintain order.
The highest floor Players had reached in seven years was the 9th floor. Only the strongest guilds managed to climb that high, as they had numerous high-level Players. Meanwhile, ordinary Players were still trapped in the lower levels, struggling to survive.
And Eldric?
From the very beginning, he had never received the system's message to become a Player.
Every day, he gazed at the tower, hoping for a miracle that would change his life and his family's fate.
Now, at 18 years old, Eldric worked as a construction laborer in a factory, struggling to support his parents and younger sister. Every day, he watched Players enter and exit the tower, bringing back treasures and enjoying the riches of this new world.
"If I become a Player… I can support my family. I can even take them away from this workers' district."
But no matter how much he wished for it, the awakening notification never came.
One night, Eldric sat on the rooftop of his house, staring at the glowing tower in the distance.
"One day, I will enter that tower. One day… I will become a Player."