Chapter One: Gate Survivor
Nearly thirty years ago, the world ceased to be what it once was.
The Towers appeared without warning.
Humans entered them… partially understood them, and adapted at a pace far beyond expectations.
The Tower System resembled a game, yet it was nothing like the simplified versions described in novels.
Power was not limitless.
People were not equal.
Everyone had a ceiling—
a boundary that could not be surpassed.
With the emergence of Gates, the Awakened appeared.
Hunter Associations were formed, followed by Guilds, and eventually specialized Academies dedicated to training them.
The Gates were both a blessing and a curse.
They propelled humanity forward, yet carried a constant fear—
the fear of uncontrolled openings…
and of Rifts.
Humanity attempted to climb the Tower countless times.
Out of one hundred floors, they reached only the fortieth.
Not because they were weak.
But because the Tower was… truly strange.
After the twenty-fifth floor, challenges were no longer mere trials or ordeals.
They became entire lands—continents directly connected to the Tower.
Humans encountered people from other dimensions.
Races once considered nothing more than fantasy: Elves, Dwarves, Fairies…
It was no longer just monsters, but entire civilizations, complete with cultures and histories newly woven into the world.
The inhabitants of the Tower eventually stepped onto Earth—
a planet that had once been ordinary.
A completely new society took shape.
Dwarves dominated craftsmanship and trade.
Victorian-style kingdoms and empires rose, wielding magic and knights.
The world of Murim emerged, with its sects and martial arts.
Even the Elves…
They planted the seed of the World Tree and established their own nation on Earth, isolated between their original homeland within the Tower and their new territory.
And thus, after nearly twenty years,
the New World was born.
End of the Prologue.
Chapter One: Gate Survivor (Definition)
In a world governed by Gates, the disappearance of people was common.
Rarely… extremely rarely, some would return.
Those individuals were known as:
Gate Survivors.
In the city of Seoul, Hunters stood before a newly emerged Gate.
There was nothing particularly alarming about it—a mere C-rank Gate.
But before the invasion could begin…
The Gate's color changed.
From black… to white.
Shock rippled through the area.
"How was it purified?! It only appeared yesterday!"
"Is this even possible?!"
Inspectors from the Hunter Association arrived swiftly to assess the situation.
And suddenly…
The Gate moved.
Something emerged.
Everyone prepared for battle, assuming it was a monster.
But what came out…
Was not a monster.
It was a human boy.
His clothes were torn, his body covered in blood and wounds.
In his hand, he held a sword whose edges had been worn down by countless battles.
He stood around 180 centimeters tall, with a solid, well-built physique.
His face was handsome—refined, almost noble in appearance…
yet his condition told a very different story.
Jet-black hair. Crimson-red eyes.
He didn't look older than twenty.
He stepped forward hesitantly, staring ahead in disbelief.
"…Impossible."
"Humans?!"
Later — Korean Hunter Association, Interrogation Room.
The boy sat calmly after receiving treatment, eating a meal, and changing into clean clothes.
Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, he showed no sign of panic.
Investigator Park Cheol entered and took a seat across from him.
Strange…
Even though he didn't understand our language, he was unusually calm.
Cooperative… intelligent, even.
Park placed a magical device on the table.
"This is a translation device."
The boy examined it briefly, then equipped the corresponding piece without hesitation.
Park infused it with mana, and the device activated.
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes… I can. Fascinating artifact. Magic seems highly developed here."
Park chuckled softly.
"It's not ours. It's a relic from the Tower."
The boy glanced around with curiosity.
"So… there are Gates here as well? It seems I've arrived in a different world."
Then he looked up with a calm smile.
"Let's save my questions for later. I believe you have many for me."
"…Your name?"
"Jin. No family name. Seventeen years old."
"I'll spare you the next question."
He smiled faintly.
Seventeen only?!
Park thought in shock.
"Tell me what happened to you."
Jin let out a quiet sigh.
"In my world, Gates appeared as well.
Guilds and noble families controlled everything.
Technology there… relies entirely on magic."
He suddenly paused and pointed at a metallic object on the desk.
"But this… what is it?"
"A phone."
"We'll explain later."
Park observed the boy in silence.
His way of speaking… his sharp deductions…
This was no ordinary boy.
"Are you from a noble family?"
"No."
"I'm just a kid from the slums."
He chuckled softly.
"But it never hurts to be open-minded."
Then he continued:
"I entered a Gate. I was separated from my team… and the entrance closed."
"I remained inside for nearly two years."
Two years.
"The Gate was vast… an entire world."
"At first, I was weak. I only had a basic method of refining mana."
Jin looked down at his hands.
"But I wanted to survive."
"And then… the exit appeared."
Silence filled the room.
Two years inside a Gate…
And this boy hadn't broken.
Park looked at him with quiet admiration.
And thus…
the story of a Gate Survivor began.
End of Chapter One.