Prologue (1)

Two years ago, in a world that once knew peace and tranquillity, everything changed the day the Towers appeared. These colossal structures, reaching skyward with an eerie, otherworldly aura, emerged without warning across every continent. Their sudden presence defied all logic and explanation, casting a shadow of uncertainty and fear over humanity.

The Towers, shrouded in mystery, contained within them a series of floors teeming with monstrous beings. Each level presented new dangers, challenges, and opportunities for those brave enough to enter. It was soon discovered that these towers held the key to unlocking extraordinary abilities for those who dared to conquer their depths.

Humanity quickly learned that becoming Awakened granted individuals a levelling system. As the Awakened defeated monsters and completed quests within the towers, they gained experience points (XP). Accumulating enough XP allowed them to level up, increasing their power and abilities. With each level gained, the Awakened could enhance their stats, which included:

1. Strength - Physical power and melee damage.

2. Agility - Speed, reflexes, and evasion.

3. Endurance - Health points and resistance to damage.

4. Intelligence - Magical power and mana.

5. Perception - Awareness, accuracy, and critical hit rate.

The most daring individuals sought to reach the pinnacle of these Towers, where the most formidable adversaries, demonic creatures who called themselves Tower Lords, awaited as bosses on the top floors. These Tower Lords were not mere mindless beasts; they possessed a high degree of intelligence and could even communicate with humans. Their cunning and strategic acumen made them formidable opponents, capable of manipulating and deceiving those who challenged them.

The Towers varied in the number of floors they contained, each one seemingly random and unpredictable. No two towers were the same, adding an element of uncertainty to the already perilous journey. These towering behemoths became both a beacon of hope and a harbinger of doom, as humanity grappled with the new reality of a world transformed by their presence.

One harrowing aspect of the Towers was that all floors, regardless of their level, harboured respawning monsters until the Tower Lord at the tower's apex was defeated. This relentless onslaught forced the Awakened to face constant danger, testing their limits and pushing them to their very edge. Although defeating a floor boss provided temporary respite, the boss and the monsters would eventually respawn after a certain period of time, adding to the continuous threat.

However, amidst the chaos, a semblance of order emerged. Climbers would receive quests upon entering each floor, tasks that ranged from slaying a certain number of monsters to retrieving valuable artifacts hidden within the Tower's depths. Only after completing these quests could climbers proceed to the next floor, making each ascent a perilous journey filled with trials and tribulations.

Cunning Awakened soon realized that they could exploit the respawning monsters to their advantage. By avoiding the defeat of the Tower Lord, they could monopolize the resources of every previous floor, amassing power and wealth without the need to face the boss's formidable challenge. However, over time, the monsters were slowly becoming stronger as the Tower Lord lived. The Awakened, blinded by their greed, did not notice the minimal increase in the monsters' strength.

This practice, while controversial, became increasingly common among the Awakened, leading to tensions within the Tower communities. Some viewed it as a legitimate strategy, believing that the accumulation of power was necessary for survival in the ever-evolving world. Others, however, harboured deep-seated fears of the consequences of leaving Towers uncleared and areas unexploited. They worried about the potential dangers lurking within these untouched territories, fearing that unchecked growth could lead to unforeseen calamities.

Despite the controversy, the Awakened Alliance struggled to regulate and enforce rules against this behaviour. The uncertainty surrounding the Towers and the constant influx of new challenges made it difficult to establish clear guidelines. As a result, the Alliance found itself caught in a delicate balancing act, attempting to maintain order while grappling with the complexities of the evolving landscape. This struggle further complicated the already precarious balance of power within the Towers, fuelling tensions and dissent among the Awakened.

Ordinary people from all walks of life flocked to the Towers, driven by the promise of power and the allure of unlocking their true potential. These brave souls, now known as the Awakened, were humanity's best hope against the rising tide of darkness and chaos unleashed by the Towers.

Clearing a Tower was an epic achievement, causing the structure to collapse and bestowing the climbers with the ability to evolve their powers further. This process birthed humanity's top heroes, whose unparalleled abilities and feats became legendary. To regulate and prepare new generations, academies were established. Aspiring Awakened had to complete rigorous training at these academies, where they were taught the fundamentals of Tower exploration and combat.

Upon graduation, these individuals were brought into the Towers to experience their first awakening. Surviving this initial trial and unlocking their abilities, they emerged as newly minted Awakened. Each Awakened then had to register with the Awakened Alliance, the governing body established to maintain order and ensure that these newfound powers were not misused.

The Awakened Alliance played a crucial role in the new world order, enforcing rules and regulations to prevent chaos and misuse of power. They maintained a registry of all Awakened individuals, monitoring their activities and ensuring they adhered to a code of conduct. While the Alliance kept a vigilant watch, people were still free to form their own guilds, and many of the top heroes established prestigious guilds that rose to prominence.

As the world grappled with the Towers' enigmatic presence, the fate of humanity hung in the balance. Each step within the Towers brought both peril and potential, and every floor cleared brought the Awakened closer to uncovering the secrets that lay hidden within their towering walls. The path to power and survival was fraught with danger, but for those willing to face the unknown, the rewards were beyond imagination.