The news about the shift in the gate's position had caused 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.
The silence.
Jason noticed it before anyone else. Just moments ago, the classroom had been alive—the teacher lecturing 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. Above them, the gate finally opened. It split apart.
Students froze. Some screamed, while others ran. Jason, however, didn't move. He stared at it, watching as if he had always known it would open one day.
Then—light, blinding and cold.
Everything disappeared.
When Jason opened his eyes again, he wasn't in the classroom.
"…Where are we?"
Voices echoed across a massive hall. Dozens, maybe hundreds, of students 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. It became heavy and oppressive. A figure appeared above them—not walking, not descending, just *there*, suspended in the air.
Silence fell instantly. When it spoke, the 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, and someone else 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. Beside him, Peter stared at the scene in shock, and Aurora slowly formed an ice staff, brimming with power. Jason 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 and more terrifying. Jason exhaled slowly. *So it's survival of the fittest.*
Then, a faint sound, different from the surrounding chaos, echoed inside his head.
[Signal detected…]
Jason froze.
[Scanning host…]
His eyes narrowed. "…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, the chaos continued, but Jason stood perfectly still.
[System Activated]
In that moment, everything changed.