It began without warning. On a single day, 127 years ago, enormous Towers erupted from the earth across every continent—structures of impossible material, piercing through the sky. They ignored the laws of physics, emitting a strange energy known as Systemic Ether.
That day came to be known as [The Great Emergence.] Every living being was forcibly integrated into a global interface called the System. It evaluated strength, assigned skills, and even generated a universal currency—Coins—tied to tower exploration. Humanity, for the first time, shared a single technological and metaphysical framework.
The emergence of towers destroyed traditional geography. Entire landmasses shifted as if rewritten by the Towers' energy. Oceans receded or expanded, splitting nations, merging others. Some cities were absorbed inside Towers or erased by their formation.
With borders meaningless, the world plunged into chaos. Governments collapsed as communication failed and armies fell to monster outbreaks. To restore order, the surviving powers formed the Unified World Charter fifty years after the Emergence. Under its terms:
1. Each nation was renamed using simple alphanumeric codes—a mark of equality and neutrality.
A-1 → Mainland China and nearby territories.
U-1 → The former United States and allied regions.
E-2 → The combined European sectors.
2. Every renamed "Sector" was assigned Tower Jurisdictions to manage.
3. Resource conflicts and wars were replaced by Tower Contribution Rankings—the new measure of national power.
This reformation was called [The Great Simplification.]
...
"It's your birthday tomorrow, Young Master Liang. Aren't you going to celebrate like the others?" The black-suited servant asked as he set a porcelain cup of tea beside the boy's open book.
Shen Liang closed the pages gently, eyes calm behind his fringe. "Not really."
He rose from his chair and placed a hand on the servant's shoulder. "Uncle Guang, you have a daughter, don't you?"
The old man froze, unsure where the question was leading. "I—If you wish for her to come tomorrow, I can arrange it, Young Master."
Shen Liang let out a soft sigh and shook his head. "No need for that, Uncle."
He paced slowly across the room, hands behind his back, the dim light catching the silver insignia of the Shen family crest on his sleeve.
"Tomorrow," he said quietly, "I'll receive the System. I turn fifteen."
"Congratulations in advance, Young Master," the old man replied, bowing lightly.
Shen Liang's steps stopped near the window. The city lights of District 13 shimmered beyond the glass, a lattice of wealth and power built upon the backs of millions.
"When I become the official owner of the Shen Conglomerate…" He paused, his reflection staring back at him.
"…I'm going to shut it down."
"Huh…?"
The old servant's voice broke the silence, trembling as if he'd just heard blasphemy.
Shen Liang turned slightly, a faint grin curling on his lips.
"Everything will no longer be the Shen Conglomerate's," he said, his tone smooth, deliberate.
He looked out over District 13 once more, the towers piercing the clouds like silent titans.
"It'll be Shen Liang's."
His grin widened just a fraction. "All mine."
...
15th October, 2568.
Every branch of the Shen Conglomerate had been rebranded overnight. In a single move, Shen L.—now fifteen—absorbed the entire empire under his own name, monopolizing every asset, contract, and credit chain across A-1—which was formerly China.
The corporate networks that once reported to thousands now answered to one. All system authorizations, financial links, and tower investments were transferred to his personal account—the balance of a boy who now owned an empire.
But such dominance came at a cost. Thousands of staff members found themselves suddenly displaced, their positions dissolved as the conglomerate's structure collapsed into a single name: Shen L.
Yet, unlike the heartless magnates of history, he didn't leave them ruined. Each employee received five times their annual salary as severance, personally approved by Shen Liang himself. For those who had shown loyalty and talent, he even wrote individual recommendation letters, ensuring they would find new paths beyond his shadow.
...
Uncle Guang's voice was a hushed tremor in the opulent silence. "Young Master… how long have you been planning this?"
Shen Liang set his porcelain cup down with a soft, definitive click. A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Who knows? Even I cannot fully trace the roots of my own designs." He met the old man's wide-eyed gaze, his voice dropping to a contemplative murmur. "So if I cannot see the bottom of this well, what hope has anyone else?"
Shen Liang settled onto the edge of the bed, his gaze steady. "And have you decided, Uncle? About moving in."
"Ah, yes, Young Master." The old man's head bowed in profound gratitude. "My family and I… we thank you for your generous offer."
"Good." Shen Liang's voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of an unspoken storm. "It's the prudent choice. I cannot guarantee your safety if you remain far from me, not with the path I am destined to walk."
"Ah, Young Master," Uncle Guang began, his voice softening with a father's concern. "And that time you asked about my daughter...?"
A knowing look passed over Shen Liang's features. "I believed you would leave with the others," he admitted. "My intention was to provide funds for your daughter's education, all the way through her graduation." He offered a slight, reassuring nod. "But you chose to stay. So, do not trouble yourself over it. The matter is settled."
...
[Balance: 345,000,000,000 Coins]
Shen Liang's eyes flickered to the staggering number, a faint, self-deprecating smirk touching his lips. "A three-billion-coin severance package... my calculations are getting sentimental." His gaze then snapped to the clock on the wall. A jolt of genuine panic cut through his usual composure. "Damn, I'm late!"
He was out the door in a flash, his calm facade crumbling into the hurried rush of any other teenager. At the front gate, he summoned a simple bicycle from his system interface. "Unbelievable," he muttered to himself, pushing off and weaving into the traffic with uncharacteristic haste.