The night was cold and silent. A dim streetlight flickered above an empty alley, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement. A young man sat on the ground, his back resting against a wall. His clothes were torn, and a thin line of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were tired, hollow — the eyes of someone who had already lost everything.
A door opened nearby.
A man stepped out of a building carrying a bag of garbage. He noticed the boy for a moment, narrowing his eyes with quiet disgust, then casually tossed the trash onto the street before walking away without a word.
The boy stared at the bag for several seconds before slowly pushing himself up. Hunger twisted inside him like a blade. He knelt down and searched through the garbage until he found a small piece of bread. Without hesitation, he brushed it off and ate quickly, as if afraid someone might take it away.
"Why did my life end up like this…" he muttered.
Only months ago, everything had been different. He had a home, money, and a future. But his uncle had tricked him, claiming the family properties were legally transferred. Forged documents, lies, and endless court battles had left him with nothing. The system favored those with power, and he had none. Now he was just another forgotten person surviving on the streets.
He looked up at the dark sky.
"If only I could become a Hunter…"
Thirty years ago, mysterious gates had appeared all over the world. At first, no one understood what they were. A week later, monsters emerged from them, bringing destruction and chaos. Guns and modern weapons were useless. Humanity stood on the edge of extinction — until some people awakened extraordinary abilities. They fought back and became known as Hunters.
To control them, the Hunter Association was created, along with a strict ranking system: SSS-rank, SS-rank, S-rank, A-rank, B-rank, C-rank, D-rank, E, and F-rank.
Monsters were ranked the same way, based on the power of the crystals hidden inside them. Hunters were strong, respected, and wealthy. To the boy, becoming one meant hope — a chance to rebuild his life.
As he sat lost in thought, cold water suddenly began rising from beneath him.
At first it was just a puddle. Then it spread rapidly.
"What… where is this coming from?"
Before he could react, the water swallowed him whole. He struggled, expecting panic, expecting death — but strangely, he felt no pain. Darkness surrounded him, and then a glowing screen appeared before his eyes.
Your Earth has been selected for the Tower of Trials.
Choose difficulty: Easy / Normal / Hard
His heartbeat quickened. "This is my chance…" he whispered. "If I want to become strong, I can't choose the easy path."
Without hesitation, he selected Hard.
The world shattered.
Heat slammed into him. He found himself standing in the middle of an endless desert, blazing sunlight above and sand stretching in every direction. A sword suddenly fell from the sky, landing upright in the sand before him.
Another message appeared.
Objective: Survive for 10 minutes.
"Survive? Against what?" he said, confused.
The sand beneath his feet trembled.
With a violent eruption, a massive figure rose from the ground — a three-meter-tall Sand Golem, its body made entirely of stone and swirling sand. At its chest glowed a large crimson crystal, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Fear gripped him. His legs sank into the soft sand, making movement difficult. "How am I supposed to survive for ten minutes in this…?" he whispered.
The golem roared and charged.
He tried to dodge, but the sand slowed him. The creature's massive arm slammed into the ground beside him, sending a shockwave through the desert. He barely escaped. Panic grew inside him.
"This is impossible…"
Desperately, he grabbed the sword and rushed forward, aiming directly for the glowing red core. He swung with all his strength.
The blade struck — and bounced away harmlessly.
The golem didn't even flinch.
In the next instant, its giant hand closed around him, lifting him into the air. The pressure crushed his ribs, stealing his breath. Pain exploded through his body.
"So this is it… I'm going to die…"
Images flashed through his mind — his home, the betrayal, the cold nights on the street, the hunger. But instead of surrender, something inside him ignited.
"No… I won't die here."
Through blurred vision, he spotted the sword lying below. Using the last of his strength, he reached down and grabbed it. This time he forced himself to focus. He studied the golem's chest and noticed a faint weak point near the crystal — a barely visible fracture in the sand armor.
He roared and drove the blade forward.
Crack.
A thin line spread across the red core.
The golem froze. Its grip loosened, and he dropped to the ground, gasping for air. The monster staggered, enraged, its attacks growing faster and more violent. Realizing brute force wouldn't work, he changed tactics. He ran in uneven patterns, rolling through the sand, dodging by inches while the timer counted down.
Three minutes… two… one…
His body screamed in exhaustion.
The golem leaped high into the air and crashed down before him, the impact throwing him backward. The sword flew from his hand. The monster raised its foot, ready to crush him.
With a desperate burst of strength, he grabbed the sword, stood, and thrust it directly into the fractured core.
The crystal shattered.
A blinding red light exploded outward. The golem's body collapsed, dissolving into drifting sand until nothing remained.
The system appeared once more.
Survival Complete.
Floor 1 Cleared.
The boy fell onto his back, breathing heavily, staring at the endless sky above. Every muscle ached, but for the first time in years, he felt something unfamiliar.
Hope.
And deep inside, he knew—
This was only the beginning.