Prologue

Are we alone in the universe?

This question has haunted scientists for generations. Humans have always looked up at the stars, wondering if other intelligent beings exist somewhere out there.

The Fermi paradox suggested it was nearly impossible for humanity to be alone in the universe.

And it was right.

26th April 2030.

The question was finally answered when the Tower fell into our world.

I still remember that day vividly. I was on vacation in Paris when the Tower appeared, crashing down and flattening the Eiffel Tower in an instant.

The sense of overwhelming power radiating from it was palpable. Even though I couldn't identify it at the time, my body instinctively sensed the danger.

It felt like a crucible of death itself.

The cold scythe of the Grim Reaper seemed to press against my skin.

Then, the gates of the Tower opened, and they spilled into our world.

Inexplicable beings, unlike anything we had ever imagined, poured out. Within hours, Paris was in ruins.

If it hadn't been for my father's wealth and connections, I would have died that day too. The screams, the chaos, the smell of smoke and blood—it all still haunts me. The beings that emerged were terrifyingly alien, their forms twisting and writhing in ways that defied comprehension.

That day changed everything. It was the beginning of the end of the world as we knew it, and the start of a new, terrifying chapter in human history.

"Haa haa," I exhaled deeply, recalling the first day this dreadful chapter began. My strength was ebbing away, and my grip on my sword loosened until I was barely holding it.

My exosuit was in tatters, its AI functionality completely gone, now nothing more than a dead weight on my body.

I struggled to lift myself, feeling my spine almost snap from the strain. Looking up, I saw the being staring at me with its single, unblinking eye.

Unlike other monsters, this one was somewhat humanoid, standing on two legs but with four arms, each wielding a different weapon.

A dozen tentacles hovered around it, emerging from its back. A crown of six horns sprouted from its head, and its dark crimson skin made it look like it had come straight from hell. 

Which it might have.

This was the 200th-floor boss of the original Tower.

Calamity-grade alien Ozyrokth.

That was the name given by the scientists to this monstrosity.

As expected, I stood no chance against it.

Even as the strongest human, I was still just a man with two arms and two legs.

How could I possibly beat something like that?

Thud!

My sword slipped from my grip, clattering to the ground as I collapsed.

I was losing blood rapidly and knew I would die soon.

I had always been ready to die ever since I became a Climber, but to think it would happen when humanity had almost reached its goal.

With a trembling right hand, I rummaged through my spatial pockets and took out a small box.

I opened it, almost dropping it, and pulled out the ring inside.

A soft smile graced my lips as blood dripped down my chin.

"I promised I would marry you," I muttered, looking at the ring I had bought.

My eyes fluttered shut as consciousness began to slip away.

Not yet.

With all my remaining strength, I pressed the button on the front of my exosuit, causing it to come apart and fall away.

Without the extra weight, I managed to get up more easily.

I grabbed my sword, dragging it against the ground as I heaved and made my way towards Ozyrokth.

"At least finish me off, you bastard!" I yelled, my voice raw with anger. Not just anger towards this alien invader, but anger towards myself.

For failing everyone.

For failing her.

The giant purple eye of the alien turned towards me, sending shivers down my spine.

When the fight started, I knew it was hopeless to win against something like this.

But now, seeing how much strength it still had and how little I had left, the contrast in our power was painfully clear.

"Was it fun?" I asked, moving closer, ignoring the claws of fear gripping my throat. "Was it fun to massacre the hordes of Climbers who came for you? Was it fun to make humans feel despair? Was it fun invading our world?"

This was stupid, and I knew it. These beings couldn't be communicated with. Scientists had been trying ever since the Towers appeared on Earth twenty years ago.

It was all useless.

The being tilted its head, clearly unable to understand or simply not caring enough.

Suddenly, its hand blurred as it struck me. I managed to raise my sword, using my remaining mana to block. The sword shattered, and I was sent flying through the air.

I landed hard, dislocating my hip. My ribcage was shattered.

Of course, Ozyrokth could kill me in one blow if it wanted to. It had stopped my most powerful attack effortlessly, and I had only a fraction of my strength left.

It was toying with me.

I knew it had been playing with me since the battle began. It matched my attacks, not to defeat me, but to make me feel despair without revealing the true extent of its power.

But I couldn't fathom how this was possible.

How could one being be so far above the others?

This question puzzled the scouts and scientists alike. Ozyrokth was too strong, too overwhelming.

"What's the point of thinking about that now?" I muttered. There was no use pondering the enormity of its power.

It was all over, after all.

All S-class and above Climbers had been killed by this one entity. When the timer runs out and the floor gate opens, this being will ravage Earth, turning it into a wasteland.

Humanity will end.

Swoosh—!

"Ugh!"

Spurt—!

Suddenly, a tentacle pierced my gut, destroying my liver. I puked blood, my vision blurring.

My body went limp, strength draining away like water through a sieve.

I was dying.

The pain was excruciating, every heartbeat a reminder of my impending end. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and the world around me faded. The once vibrant colors dulled, replaced by the encroaching darkness.

As I lay there, helpless, Ozyrokth loomed over me, its single eye a void of cold indifference. The ground beneath me was cold and unforgiving, mirroring the emptiness I felt inside. My thoughts drifted to those I had failed, their faces flashing before me like ghosts.

I had fought to protect them, to save humanity, but in the end, I had fallen short.

Tears mingled with the blood on my face as I whispered a final, broken apology. The weight of my failure pressed down on me, heavier than any wound.

What was death like?

Well, no one who has died ever came back to tell, but now I knew.

It was like sleeping, only much colder.

As my heart pumped its last beat, all sensory information faded away. The cold embrace of the Grim Reaper soothed my soul as I failed my duty as the strongest Climber.

The world slipped away, the pain and struggle dissolving into a numbing chill. The darkness was deep, and in its silence, there was a strange peace. My thoughts grew distant, memories of battles and loved ones fading like mist in the morning sun.

There was a moment of utter stillness, as if time itself had stopped. The cold seeped into my bones, a relentless, icy grip that sapped away the last remnants of warmth and life.

The weight of my failures and regrets lifted, leaving only a serene acceptance. The boundaries of my existence blurred, merging into the infinite unknown.

Then, a distant light pierced the darkness, growing brighter and more intense. It wasn't harsh, but warm and inviting. It enveloped me, pulling me gently towards it. I felt an unfamiliar sensation, as though I was being drawn into a new existence, a new beginning.

The light grew, becoming all-encompassing. I felt my consciousness slipping, as if I was being reborn into another realm. The warmth enveloped me completely, and I let go of my final breath, surrendering to the pull of the light.

Suddenly, I felt a rush of sensations. Sounds, sights, and smells flooded my awareness, more vivid and intense than ever before. My body felt different, smaller, and my senses were overwhelmed.

Voices echoed around me, and I heard the cries of a woman in pain.

'Where am I?' I wondered.

As my vision adjusted, the bright light receded, revealing a bespectacled man with an expression of joy on his face. He looked down at me, scanning my tiny form.

"Congratulations, ma'am, it's a healthy baby boy," he announced, his voice filled with warmth.

'WHAT?!'