Jaeon stepped into the Central Tower and nearly tripped over his own feet. The hall was insane—like stepping into a giant crystal kaleidoscope. Walls sparkled with glowing runes, and the ceiling stretched so high it felt like it touched the stars. Light swirled around, warm and alive, making his old sneakers look embarrassingly out of place on the polished floor. He hugged his sketchbook tight, feeling like a kid lost in a museum.
"Whoa," he muttered. "This place is next-level."
His eyes landed on a massive glowing screen floating mid-air, like a leaderboard from one of those arcade games he used to play. It blazed with five names:
Chosen Rankings
1. Theo Brond
2. Malik Carter
3. Hina Shinzou
4. Lila Moreno
5. Jaeon
Jaeon's heart sank. Last place. Of course. He'd barely survived that demon in the Void, and now he was the weakest link? He shook his head, trying to shove the doubt away. You're here, Jaeon. That's gotta mean something.
A familiar buzz hit him, like the air was singing. He froze. He'd felt that before—in the Void, when that glowing figure appeared before and after he fought his uncle's demon. Jaeon turned, and there he was: the messenger, a tall silhouette with wings like rainbow glass, hovering above the floor. His light was warm but intense, like a campfire you didn't dare touch.
"Jaeon," the messenger's voice rumbled, soft but heavy. "Welcome to the Central Tower. You're the first."
Jaeon's throat went dry. "Uh, hey. So… what's the deal? Why us?"
The messenger's wings shimmered. "God is fading. Hellneath, the ancient void, burns through Heaven. Luciver and his demons are unstoppable. Only five mortals—you and four others—have prophet blood to awaken powers strong enough to fight back. You're the last hope."
Jaeon let out a nervous laugh. "No big deal, right?" He glanced around the empty hall. "Where are the others?"
"Patience," the messenger said. "You'll meet them soon."
Before Jaeon could ask more, the messenger waved a hand, and a jolt of warmth shot through him, like drinking hot cocoa on a freezing day. Jaeon gasped, stumbling. "Whoa! What was that?"
"Your game tab," the messenger said. "It's your guide, your key to power. Try it. Say, 'Open tap.'"
Jaeon blinked. "Like a game? For real?" He didn't feel any different—just the same old aches from his uncle's punches. "I feel… nothing."
"Trust me," the messenger said, his voice almost playful. "Say it."
Jaeon shrugged. "Alright. Open tap!"
Nada. He tried again, louder. "Open tap! Uh, Tp all? Request?"
The air snapped. The hall vanished, and Jaeon was in a dark void, golden dust floating like fireflies. A glowing screen popped up, counting down from ten. Words glowed below: Accept Tp / Decline Tp. Jaeon's pulse spiked. "Teleport? Okay, sure!" He tapped Accept Tp.
The screen shifted. Waiting for others… The countdown hit zero, and new text flashed: Everybody agreed. Tp successful.
The void melted away, and Jaeon was back in the hall. But now, four other teens stood around him, looking as freaked out as he felt. The other chosen.
A tall guy with blonde hair and a cocky grin—definitely Theo, number one. A lean guy in a hoodie, scribbling in a notebook with sharp eyes—Malik. A quiet girl with long black hair, clutching a tattered scarf—Hina. And a short girl with wild purple curls, doodling on her shoe with a marker—Lila. They all stared at each other, like strangers stuck in an elevator.
"Sup," Lila said, breaking the ice. "Anyone else just get sucked into a weird void?"
Malik snorted, still writing. "Yeah. Same glowing dude, same creepy trip."
Jaeon nodded. "The messenger. He showed up in my Void, too. After I fought a… thing."
Hina's eyes flicked to him, but she stayed quiet. Theo crossed his arms, smirking. "Fought a thing? Nice. I smoked my trial. Probably why I'm top dog." He jerked a thumb at the leaderboard.
The messenger's voice boomed, making them jump. "You've all faced trials in the Void. You've all been chosen. Now, you must grow stronger—together."
He floated higher, wings spreading wide. "The Central Tower is your training ground. To help you, you've each received a game tab. It tracks your progress, unlocks your divine powers, and connects you. But one of you carries more."
His glowing eyes fixed on Jaeon. "Jaeon, you hold the admin game tab. You're the potential leader."
Jaeon's jaw dropped. "Me? Leader? But I'm last!" He pointed at the leaderboard, heart pounding.
Theo burst out laughing. "Last place? Dude, come on! I'd be running this show already."
Malik snapped his notebook shut. "A tab's only as good as the brain behind it. This guy? Pass."
Lila rolled her eyes. "Ugh, chill, you two! Give him a chance."
Hina didn't say anything, just twisted her scarf tighter. Jaeon's face burned. They're right. I'm nobody. But that fire from the Void—the one that roared when he faced the demon—flickered inside him. He wasn't backing down.
The messenger raised a hand. "The admin tab chose Jaeon for his heart. It lets him guide trials, see hidden options, and unite you. Normal tabs track your powers and rewards. The leaderboard shows your current strength, but it's not fixed."
Theo leaned in, smirking. "So he's got, what, admin cheats? That's not how you win."
"It's not about winning," the messenger said. "It's about surviving." He waved his hand, and five small, leather-bound books appeared, floating to each of them. "Your quest diaries. They hold your path to power."
Jaeon caught his, the cover warm and glowing faintly. He opened it, and words shimmered on the first page:
Quest Diary: Jaeon
Single Quest: Face your fear alone. Reward: 100 power points.
Duo Quest: Trust a partner. Reward: 50 power points each.
Team Quest: Unite as five. Reward: 20 power points each.
Theo flipped through his diary, grinning. "Power points? Sweet. What do they do?"
The messenger's voice softened. "Power points strengthen your stats: Strength, Magic, Agility, Endurance, and Will. Use them wisely to grow your divine powers. Quests are completed through games—challenges that test your skills, courage, and bonds."
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Games? Like, what, hide-and-seek with demons?"
The messenger almost laughed. "Not quite. Games are trials in crafted realms. Some are battles, others puzzles or hunts. Each pushes you to grow. Your admin, Jaeon, can choose your first game."
Jaeon's stomach flipped. Me? Choose? His tab buzzed, and a screen appeared, visible to everyone. Three options glowed:
Game Choices
1. 10 Levels of Dungeon and Exploring – Navigate a maze of traps, monsters, and treasures. Unlock secrets to grow stronger.
2. Fight Against the Sea Lord – Battle a titan of the deep in a stormy ocean realm. Courage and teamwork are key.
3. Get the Arabian Dragon's Heart – Hunt a mythical beast in a desert of shifting sands. Only the clever survive.
Hina's voice was barely a whisper. "Those sound… dangerous."
Malik smirked. "Dangerous? Try impossible. A dungeon's got too many variables. Sea Lord sounds like a straight fight—dumb. Dragon's heart? That's a trap."
Theo clapped his hands. "Dungeon, easy. Run through, smash stuff, grab loot. Done."
Lila twirled her marker. "Nah, the dragon one's cooler! Sneaking through a desert, outsmarting a giant lizard? I'm in."
Jaeon's head spun. Each game sounded crazy, and they were all looking at him. His tab buzzed again, showing a warning: Hellneath's influence detected. Games may be unstable. His breath caught. Black flames flickered at the hall's edges, and a cold whisper echoed—"I see you…" Was that the devil child?
The messenger's eyes narrowed. "Hellneath watches. Choose carefully. Your quests begin with this game, and it will shape your path."
Theo leaned back, arms crossed. "So, leader-boy, what's it gonna be? Don't screw this up."
Malik raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, no pressure, right?"
Lila grinned, nudging Jaeon. "You got this, last-place. Pick something fun."
Hina looked at him, her eyes soft but scared. "Just… choose what feels right."
Jaeon gripped his quest diary, heart racing. Dungeon? Sea Lord? Dragon? Each could take weeks, maybe months, to conquer. He glanced at the group—Theo's smirk, Malik's frown, Lila's energy, Hina's quiet strength. They were a mess, but they were his mess. He had to pick something that'd bring them together.
"Okay," Jaeon started, voice shaky but growing steadier. "Let's talk this out. What do you guys think we can handle?"
Theo laughed. "Handle? I can handle anything. Dungeon's my vote."
Malik shook his head. "Too chaotic. Dragon's heart needs brains, not brawn."
Lila bounced on her toes. "Dragon! Come on, it's epic!"
Hina hesitated. "The sea one… maybe it's safer? Or not…"
Jaeon's tab glowed, waiting for his choice. The hall felt smaller, the black flames flickering closer. He took a deep breath, ready to say something, when—