Massive towers were erected in each country. It had already been over fifty years since these colossal structures became a part of the world.

Now, everyone took them for granted. However, when the towers first appeared, the world was thrown into chaos and fear.

Although their forms varied slightly from country to country, they were all structures beyond human technological capabilities.

The first to swarm them were scientists—renowned physicists, astronomers, engineers, architects, and countless researchers.

The world’s greatest minds gathered to analyze this unknown phenomenon.

But the result was always the same.

"With our current knowledge, we cannot explain it."

Even the material of the towers was unknown. Microscopic analysis yielded no results, and attempts to collect samples were futile.

No tools could scratch the tower’s surface. Radiation, electromagnetic waves, even sound waves and neutrons were either absorbed or reflected.

Attempts to enter the towers also ended in failure. Military forces from various nations tried everything—explosives, high-powered lasers, drills—but the towers did not budge.

It was even uncertain whether an entrance existed. No one knew how to enter.

The conclusion was clear: with human technology, approach was impossible.

The scientific community was shocked. Attempts to measure the towers’ height? All failures.

Even satellites, drones, and rockets could not detect the top.

The towers defied human logic. Since "science" could no longer explain them, religious groups claimed they were signs from God, conspiracy theorists raved about alien artifacts, and others insisted they were warnings to humanity or divine gifts.

Yet, none of these theories revealed the towers’ true nature.

The towers remained a mystery.

How many floors did they have? Why did they appear? Who built them? For what purpose?

Anyone who stood before a tower was plagued by the same questions. And the answers came from the awakened ones—those who obtained skills from the System.

Only they could enter the towers.

They all spoke in unison.

"Inside the tower is a completely different world."

"We must complete the missions given by the tower."

These awakened ones had undergone extraordinary experiences. They could conjure flames with their hands and soar through the skies. It could not be dismissed as mere fiction.

And then came another phenomenon—Gates.

Cracks suddenly appeared in the air, and from these rifts poured out monsters of unknown origin.

These creatures clearly did not belong to Earth.

They had no connection to Earth’s evolutionary history or ecosystem. Biologists who studied them were forced to discard traditional evolutionary models entirely.

The monsters possessed physical structures and abilities that transcended Earth’s natural laws.

Some could fly through the atmosphere without wings, while others freely recombined their bodies’ materials to attack.

Their appearances were beyond earthly comprehension—grotesque, with bizarrely colored flesh, modern or even mechanical-looking features.

The awakened ones' claims that "there is another world inside the tower" gained credibility.

They firmly asserted that the monsters emerging from the Gates came from within the towers.

"We've seen these creatures inside the towers. But why are they coming outside?"

The answer was simple.

If awakened ones did not ascend the towers, monsters would escape through the Gates. Even if an attempt to clear a tower failed, the result was the same.

The lower the skill level of the hunters, the higher the likelihood of monsters spilling out.

Then, what would happen if no one climbed the tower at all?

Surprisingly, a precedent existed.

The tower in North Korea stood near the Amnok River, towering over the northernmost part of the Korean Peninsula.

When the tower first appeared, Kim Jong-un declared it "a gift from the gods" and strictly forbade any approach.

"The tower is a divine relic that must be revered by all. Anyone who defiles the tower will be executed for blasphemy."

Martial law was permanently enforced. Even awakened individuals capable of climbing the tower were arrested or executed on sight.

The North Korean government eradicated them entirely. Kim Jong-un refused all persuasion and insisted on worshiping the tower as a sacred symbol.

As a result, the tower remained untouched.

"That fat-necked bastard?"

"Fucking hell. Because of that asshole, Gates are opening everywhere."

The world cursed North Korea for its stubbornness, yet the regime remained unyielding.

The consequences followed.

The tower collapsed. And from within, monstrous creatures poured out.

Winged behemoths darkened the skies, gargantuan beasts crushed everything in their path like mountains, and grotesque abominations with horns and blades rampaged freely.

North Korea’s military was powerless against the overwhelming catastrophe. The nation ultimately became uninhabitable.

The collapse of the tower had turned North Korea into a demonic realm.

And so, the world learned an undeniable truth.

If the towers were not climbed, They would collapse, And the monsters inside would be released.

Thus, climbing the towers became a matter of national security. The towers left no room for alternatives—either ascend or perish.

To address this, nations began systematically training awakened individuals. More talented awakeners were needed—people capable of clearing tower missions and defending against the threats emerging from the Gates.

Thus, the Hunter Academies were established. Cradles of heroes.

In the world of hunters, the difference between being recognized and remaining unrecognized is vast.

Unrecognized hunters fight solely for themselves. They climb towers in secret, seeking personal gain with the skills and equipment they acquire.

But recognized hunters are different.

They receive state support and undergo systematic training. Their qualifications are officially acknowledged through the national system.

The distinction between recognized and unrecognized hunters lies in whether they have graduated from an academy.

Some may ask:

"Academy? Do I really need to go? I have an S-rank skill! Shouldn’t I just rush into a tower, monopolize the rewards, and buy an apartment with a view of the Han River?"

Of course, if one can attend the academy, they should.

Skills? Levels? Powerful hunter equipment? A hunter’s strength is not determined by these alone. Relying solely on skills and equipment will not allow one to endure the upper floors of the tower. Their growth potential would be limited.

As one ascends the tower, the difficulty increases absurdly, forcing climbers into situations of extreme adversity. Ultimately, the human itself must become stronger.

While skills can be activated instantly with system assistance, understanding their principles makes it possible to use abilities even without them.

Take [Fireball], for example.

When scientists first encountered this skill, they were so shocked they nearly collapsed.

“This is a supernatural phenomenon.”

They were astonished while analyzing a hunter executing [Fireball]. It defied the basic three elements of combustion—oxygen, a flammable material, and an ignition source. None of them were present.

“This is impossible! How can such intense flames exist without the three elements of combustion?”

“The laws of thermodynamics… all of them are being overturned. Aaaah!”

One researcher tore up their thesis and screamed in despair.

“The total amount of energy within a system was supposed to remain constant!”

The principle of energy conservation had been shattered. A massive flame had been created within a closed system, completely disregarding the fundamental assumption that total thermodynamic energy remains unchanged.

“This hunter is distorting heat transfer methods. But we can’t comprehend the mechanism at all!”

The core temperature of the flames reached a staggering 2,000°C, yet the surrounding air absorbed an unusually low amount of heat. The fire remained confined and stable, almost as if isolated in space.

“The heat isn’t dispersing… even the chemical combustion process is absent. How is this possible?”

There were no byproducts of combustion—no carbon, no carbon dioxide, no residual matter. The flame was pure energy, manifested without any physical foundation.

“If it’s not chemical oxidation, then what exactly is this fire made of? Is this… truly magic?”

Witnessing such power firsthand, scientists were forced to discard conventional scientific principles.

Thus, they became desperate.

They wanted to understand this phenomenon. This skill.

They refused to simply call it ‘magic’ and leave it at that.

Their relentless pursuit of knowledge laid the foundation for today’s academies.

“So the system has features like this too.”

Am I in a hospital?

Upon opening my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar place. However, I could tell immediately that I was safe. This was one of the most secure locations in South Korea— the academy.

Feeling at ease, I calmly explored the system function called [HunterNet].

Keeping my eyes open was a burden, but system messages appeared even with my eyes closed, so it wasn’t an issue.

“Everyone’s talking about me.”

Apparently, the second World Boss in forty years had appeared. HunterNet was ablaze with discussion.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First solo World Boss raid on the entire server. Insane.[6]

So who is this Death God or Gentleman? What’s his true identity?[5]

Does anyone know the exact respawn time of the World Boss? What are the spawn conditions?[22]

Anyone who was there at the scene?[3]

What was the reward for placing first in the World Boss raid?[7]

By the way, is Korea’s hunter scene really that weak? Only one name appeared on the raid list.[355]

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First solo World Boss raid on the entire server. Insane.
(A screenshot of the system message announcing the World Boss’s defeat)
(A raid result screen showing only a single alias listed)

Fuck. What is this alias?
Did South Korea just get a new national power-tier hunter?
ㄴHow can a person’s alias be [Death God]? Insane.
ㄴDamn, that alias is badass.
ㄴThis isn’t just national power-tier. This is global power-tier, right?
ㄴSeriously lol.
ㄴHow did someone solo a World Boss?
ㄴNormally, raid result screens are filled with dozens of names, but there’s only one here…

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So who is this Death God or Gentleman? What’s his true identity?
(Emoji of a massive question mark)

Real question.
ㄴThat’s me.
ㄴIdiot.
ㄴDon’t feed the troll.
ㄴHonestly, no one knows because there were no witnesses.
ㄴNo recordings either. Every hunter nearby was wiped out, and the area was completely devastated.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What was the reward for placing first in the World Boss raid?

It’s been forty years since a World Boss appeared, so what’s different about the rewards?
ㄴWell, if you’re unlucky, you get nothing lol.
ㄴYou probably get a card pack that lets you obtain the World Boss’s skill or equipment.
ㄴThe top 100 receive one [World Boss Coin] each.
ㄴWhat’s that used for?
ㄴApparently, you can trade it with a special merchant from a specific faction, but no one knows for sure.
ㄴI saw someone with a [World Boss Coin] while climbing the tower. The tower residents freaked out when they saw it.
ㄴOh, so it can be used to gain favor with them? Thanks for the info.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The alias [Death God] was becoming legendary.

How embarrassing.

But thanks to this, I had gathered valuable information.

‘…I should probably avoid revealing that I’m the Death God.’

People were showing an overwhelming level of interest, and I didn’t think I could handle that.

After all, just a short while ago, I was a visually impaired shut-in.

“More importantly, where’s Hayangi?”

At that moment, a warm, wet sensation touched me, and my eyes opened instinctively.

Lick. Lick.

For the first time, I was able to see properly.

For a brief moment, I forgot everything. My gaze was entirely fixed on Hayangi.

“…Wow.”

Hayangi’s fur shimmered in the light, a pure white that gleamed with a soft glow. The gentle curves of its back and the smooth flow of its fur were mesmerizing. I couldn’t look away.

So this is what white looks like.

This is why people called it Hayangi.

‘I think I finally understand what cuteness is.’

If someone were to condense all the cuteness in the world and mold it together, the result would be Hayangi.

Then, a mysterious voice echoed from within Hayangi’s body.

[You have awakened.]

My excitement deflated instantly.

“What the hell did you do to Hayangi?”

[It is still your companion. I am merely using it to communicate. I have no intention of harming this beast.]

Was this true?

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Achilles]

State: Full Control of Actions (Hayangi)
Emotion: Curiosity (Intensity 100%)
Thought: Heroes do not lie. But still, this girl’s eyes are fascinating every time I see them.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My eyes perceived the truth clearly, without a hint of wavering. As expected of a being who once reigned as a World Boss, it could also recognize what I was doing.

[Hmm. Can you read my thoughts as well? That certainly speeds up our conversation. However, I advise you not to recklessly expose that power before someone of my caliber. It is highly unpleasant.]

"Hmph. You were a World Boss, right? If you’ve been defeated, just die quietly. Why are you clinging to my dog like a parasite?"

[I was once called a hero. Though I have ended up in this pitiful state, I swear upon the River Styx that I will not bring harm to you or this beast.]

There was a subtle pride in its voice, yet rather than finding it irritating, I felt oddly convinced. After all, I could see for myself that it wasn’t deceiving me.

Feeling reassured, I closed my eyes again. Keeping them open for too long made them hurt.

"More importantly, why am I here?"

[Can’t you read everything with those eyes of yours?]

"I don’t feel like opening them because it hurts."

[……You have been registered for the entrance exam at the academy.]

"The academy? Me?"

I almost opened my eyes in disbelief. Me, attending an academy? Not even once had I considered such a thing, even in my dreams. But I kept my eyes shut tight—no need to suffer unnecessary pain.

[Did you not know? In this world, humans must graduate from the academy to enter the tower. I did not arrange it myself, but that’s how things turned out. Regardless, the reason you are here is because of that exam.]

To properly control my eyes, leveling up was essential.

When I defeated the World Boss and my level jumped from 1 to 10, I had experienced an unfamiliar sense of liberation. It was strange—I had felt the pain in my eyes diminish ever so slightly, like a speck of dust being wiped away.

To level up, I had to climb the tower. That was common knowledge in this world.

And typically, only academy graduates—certified hunters—were allowed to climb the tower.

[But in your current state, you will surely fail the entrance exam.]

His dismissive tone grated on my nerves. My alias was [Death God], after all.

Unable to suppress my irritation, I opened my eyes.

A sharp pain immediately seared through them.

"Argh…"

I grimaced and shut them tightly again.

[See? Your eyes are tormenting you even now. In this state, you can’t accomplish anything. That’s why I will train you.]

“Train me?”

I asked reflexively. The words sounded so foreign to me.

His voice carried a hint of anticipation, as if he were excited about what was to come—like a warrior before battle, or perhaps a master who had just found a worthy disciple.

[It’s going to be quite tough.]