Fifty years ago, the world changed.
Portals began appearing across the globe, connecting Earth to chaotic realms filled with monsters, magic, and ruins of ancient civilizations. In response, a new profession emerged: Ascenders—those who could enter the gates, survive, and grow stronger by conquering the horrors within.
But not all Ascenders were equal.
Sebastian Alvarin was known as the weakest among them.
A noble-born descendant from a once-great lineage that had crumbled after betrayal and war, Sebastian worked for a minor guild as a gate cleaner—responsible for entering cleared dungeons and disposing of remaining threats. Everyone mocked him.
"Still alive, weakling?" they'd sneer.
He never answered. He had no power to prove them wrong.
But everything changed on one rainy afternoon, inside a supposedly low-ranked gate.
It was dark, silent—too silent.
His party advanced cautiously. The dungeon looked abandoned, until they reached a massive stone door engraved with runes. As they stepped inside, the door slammed shut.
Statues lined the walls—tall, ominous, each holding a weapon. At the center was an altar.
Then, the statues moved.
Screams echoed. Blood was spilled.
One by one, his companions fell.
And as Sebastian collapsed beside the altar, bloodied and broken, a voice echoed in his mind:
[Ascension System Activated]
[Choose: Die here... or evolve]
Tears mixed with blood as he whispered:
"I choose... to live."
And in that moment, the system burned itself into his soul.