James sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the blue screen floating in front of him.
He still couldn't quite believe what he had just read.
"A Gambler, huh?" he muttered.
He rubbed his forehead with his good hand.
"Did everyone get the same class as me… or did I just get screwed?"
He looked back at the screen and focused again, willing the system to respond.
The window shifted.
A new panel appeared.
[The Death Game]
[The world has been thrown into chaos. The towers have descended, and monsters now roam the earth.]
[Will humanity succumb to the chaos, or will it conquer the game?]
James leaned forward slightly, reading carefully.
[Each tower consists of 100 floors.]
[Upon the clearance of the 100th floor, the tower will collapse.]
[The Champion who clears the final floor will ascend to godhood.]
[How will this power reshape the world?]
James blinked.
"…Godhood?"
Another line appeared.
[Each floor contains hidden dangers.]
[Explore. Grow stronger. Survive.]
[Every Champion has received a unique system.]
[Starting abilities, weapons, and armor depend on class level.]
[System ranking ranges from F-tier to SS-tier.]
[SS-tier classes are the rarest.]
[Only one carrier exists per SS-tier class.]
James slowly sat up straighter.
"Only… one?"
His eyes moved back to the earlier screen in his memory.
Classification: SS-tier.
"Wait…"
His stomach dropped slightly.
"So that means…"
Another message appeared.
[Will you join the game…]
A pause.
[…or hide behind the safety of your home?]
The screen flickered softly, waiting for his answer. James read the entire message again. Then he leaned back on the bed.
"Yeah…" he said after a moment.
"…I'll pass."
He crossed his arms and stared at the ceiling.
"No way I'm climbing some death tower full of monsters."
"People can go play hero if they want."
He yawned.
"I'll just stay home."
Outside, distant sirens echoed through the city. James ignored them.
For now.
.....
Several months passed after the tower appeared.
Humanity didn't collapse like many had feared. Instead, people adapted.
Champions began appearing all over the world—people who had received the System. Many of them traveled to Tokyo, where the only tower on Earth now stood. They entered it, fought monsters, cleared floors, and slowly grew stronger.
With strength came fame. Groups began forming. Soon those groups became guilds, organized teams of Champions who climbed the tower together. Some rose to global fame. Others died quietly on the lower floors.
Not everyone had the luxury of the System.
Those who did but refused to climb the tower were quickly given a name. Cowards.
Many of them began hiding the fact that they were System carriers. They avoided tests, avoided Champions, avoided attention. They tried to live normal lives.
Like James.
The television in the living room blared the morning news.
"Breaking news: The 10th floor of the Tokyo Tower has finally been cleared. After months of preparation, the Dragon Guild has successfully defeated the floor boss."
Footage appeared of armored fighters walking out of the tower's entrance.
"With a team of six Champions, they fought valiantly and managed to defeat the Goblin King."
The reporter's voice grew excited.
"Jack Black, better known by his nickname 'God's Blade,' led the team to victory. The S-tier Champion, known for wielding the holy sword, carries the class 'God's Messenger.' Many believe he is one of the strongest Champions currently climbing the tower."
Images flashed across the screen of a tall man holding a glowing sword, surrounded by cheering crowds outside the tower in Tokyo. James leaned back on the couch and scoffed.
"Wow," he said flatly. "So they finally did something."
Since the tower descended, his life had unexpectedly become… peaceful. With the entire world focused on the tower in Tokyo, Champions, and monsters, the people he owed money to had bigger things to worry about.
Debt collectors had disappeared. Gangs were recruiting Champions. Everyone's attention was somewhere else. Which meant no one was paying attention to him. James had quietly hidden the fact that he was a System carrier. He had no intention to climb a tower full of monsters and gamble his life away.
"I'd rather stay safe," he muttered.
He stepped outside to get some fresh air. The streets were busy. Despite everything that had happened, people had adapted quickly. Shops had reopened. New businesses appeared everywhere.
Some stores sold armor and weapons brought back from the tower by traveling Champions. Others specialized in equipment maintenance or monster materials imported from Tokyo. Even ordinary people found ways to profit.
Some gained fame simply because a relative or friend had become a Champion climbing the tower. In many ways, life had improved.
But only for some.
Not everyone got a happy ending. Mothers lost their children. Children lost their parents. Friends never came back.
For every Champion that became famous climbing the tower, many more died inside it. In pursuit of power, money, glory… and the promise of godhood—
Some never returned alive.