The news about the shift in the gates position had caused a lingering chaos in the human race. The gate had always been there—floating high above the city, silent, unmoving and untouchable.
At first, people panicked,then they studied it.
Then… they got used to it.
Until….
The first sign… was the silence.
Jason noticed it before anyone else.
Just moments ago, the classroom had been alive—teacher teaching as usual, students side chatting others answering questions, the scraping of chairs—
Then suddenly—
Nothing.
"…Did you guys hear that?" someone whispered.
No one answered.
Because above them—
the gate finally opened.
It split open.
"Students froze. Some screamed.
Some ran.
Jason however didn't move. He was staring at it, watching like he had always knew it would open up one day.
Then—
Light, blinding.
Cold.
And everything disappeared.
---
When Jason opened his eyes again—he wasn't in the classroom.
"…Where are we?"
Voices echoed across a massive hall. Students—dozens, maybe hundreds—were scattered across the unfamiliar ground.
The ceiling stretched endlessly above them, fading into darkness.
"This isn't funny!" someone shouted.
"Is this a prank?!" another voice came from behind Jason.
Jason slowly got to his feet, his gaze scanning the surroundings.No exits, no windows.
Just… space.
Then—
The air changed.
Heavy and oppressive.A figure appeared above them.Not walking, not descending.
Just… there, suspended above them.
Silence fell instantly.
When it spoke, its voice came from everywhere at once.
"Welcome… to Edenfalls."
A ripple of fear spread through the crowd.
"You have been brought here… according to the will of the Gatekeeper."
"What the hell is going on?!" someone yelled.
No answer came.
"This realm offers power beyond the limits of your former world."
The figure raised a hand slightly—
—and everything changed.
Jason felt it.
A shift. Like heat rushing through his veins.Around him, students began to react.
"My hands—!"
"I can feel something—!"
A boy nearby suddenly burst into flames—yet he didn't burn. Another's eyes glowed. Someone screamed as the ground cracked beneath their feet.
Panic erupted.
"Your bodies are awakening."
The voice remained calm and unmoved.
"Those who awaken… will survive."
Jason clenched his fists.
Peter stared at Jason, still shocked by everything unfolding. Aurora slowly formed an ice staff, brimming with power.
He waited—Focused
But—
Nothing happened.
The heat he felt… faded, leaving behind only a faint, almost unnoticeable change.
"…That's it?"
His brows furrowed.
Around him, power surged. Abilities manifested. Chaos unfolded.
But Jason—Felt almost the same.
"Those who fail to awaken…"
The voice paused.
"…will be cast into the far reaches of this realm."
Silence fell again, this time heavier. More terrifying.
Jason exhaled slowly.
"…So it's survival of the fittest." At least that's what he thought.
Then—
A faint sound, different from the others. Not from the surrounding chaos,
Inside his head.
[Signal detected…]
Jason froze.
[Scanning host…]
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What?"
[Compatibility confirmed]
A cold sensation ran through his body. Unlike the others, it was sharper and deeper.
[System initializing…]
Jason's heartbeat slowed.
Not fear. Focus.
[Awakening: Unique Condition Met]
For the first time—Something real appeared in his eyes. Around him, chaos continued.
But Jason stood still and then—
[System Activated]
And in that moment—Everything changed.