Present Day — Kairo City
It is year — 2140
kairo city is always buzzed, screamed and beutiful in Neon lights. And it is a modern futuristic city.
A hundred thousand flyers zipped across the sky in chaotic patterns that somehow didn't crash. Ads bloomed midair, massive holograms flickering between brands and slogans like:
"Ascend. Evolve. Earn Eternity."
"Tower Lottery open now. Join the Conquerors guild."
"Kairo—Eastern Alliance's crown jewel!"
People also call cairo as crown jewel of eastern alliance.
Tower became a religion now.and economy ,destiny for some . Half of the kids in the city grew up wanting to climb it. The other half didn't get a choice because of their circumstances.
{The Mansion — Stone and Steel}
In the richest part ( middle )of the city, where the real guild headquarters and skyscrapers of businessmans between all these there is one mansion didn't match those at all
It was old and futuristic at same time with Really old Stone walls,big rusted gates, And yet, every inch of it screaming with quiet tech—cloaked cameras, invisible drones, scanners woven into ivy-covered walls.that others may not see.
{Inside — Nightmares Again}
Zooming on that big mansion where spacious room located inside,Jin-Seok is sleeping peacefully twisted in his bed.
Jin seok is eighteen years old his Eyes are twitching under closed lids.
He was having nightmares again.
The sky was red. Not sunset red—bleeding. Thick, dark, endless.
And the earth—cracked, black, dead. Like something had sucked the life out of it a long time ago.
Monsters crawled out of holes in the air. Too many teeth. Too many eyes. And those eyes burned, like they hated being alive.
Jin-Seok stood there, holding a sword he swore he'd never seen before—
—but it felt like his. Heavy. Cold. Wrong.
It dripped with something worse than blood.
In the distance, someone was walking. Slow. Calm. Straight into this endless black pit that was eating the world.
Jin-Seok tried to call him out but his throat didn't work. No voice is coming ,Just a scream stuck.
Jin seok is hearing a voice he missed more than anything
Something is whispering his name.
Jin seok shot upright in bed like something had yanked him out of drowning. Sweat glued his shirt to his chest. The room was still. Quiet. His breath wasn't.
"Again," jin seok muttered.
Same dream. Different night. He is getting this types of nightmares from few past few days.
His hand twitched toward the drawer besides his bed ,He knew what was inside. He always did.but he stops himself before making contact with the drawer.
And said
"Not yet."
Whatever was in there could wait. Until he was ready
He laid back down. Staring at the ceiling. goes to sleep.
{Morning — Kairo Wakes Up Screaming}
Morning in Kairo is loud. Noisy. Kind of beautiful, if you're into chaos.
Flying cars buzz across the sky like pissed-off fireflies, cutting between buildings
Ads on every building like
"30% off your first mana booster!"
"Become a climber—Change Your Fate!"
"Ryu Han-Seok: The Sword That Saved the World."
That last one was everywhere. Wherever u go in eastern alliance u can see him ,A hundred-meter projection, front and center. His face—clean, sharp, perfect. The kind of face that brings good luck to u and people rever him as almost god .
People are still worshipping him for the things that he did for them.
Down on the street, our boy Jin-Seok walking he didn't look up.
Because He didn't need to. He knew that face too well.that is the face he is seeing everyday since he is born.
Jin seok Bag slung over one shoulder. Hands in pockets. Eyes forward.while listening music.
People moved out of his way without realizing it. Some animal instinct telling them he wasn't the kind of person you brushed shoulders with.
They didn't know why.
They just felt it.and moved out of his way.
{Central Academy — Last Day}
The academy looked more like a crystal fortress than a place kids studied. Central Academy was for the best of the best. Or the richest of the rich. Usually both.
Today was graduation day for them.
A thousand students filled the courtyard, laughing, yelling, posing for drones. Guild Sponsors buzzed around like bees, checking stats, marking down names.
Some students looked like walking advertisements. Full-body armor, weapons, spell tattoos glowing under their sleeves even through those are fakes.
Jin-Seok stood apart From everyone in a corner after entering
He wore the standard uniform. No flair. No brands. No sponsor tag.bacause he didn't choose any guilds Even through every guild offered him a sponsorship.
And the whispers came from other students .
"That's him, right? The scholarship kid?"one said.
Jin-Seok something. Top marks in everything.like mana affinity, weapons training and physical abilities.he aced everything.another student said.
What's the use of those when he has no guild sponsoring don't you know he Turned them all down.
Other student ,what is he stupid or what who turns down guild Sponsors.
Other guy maybe he is scared.
Yeah that must be the reason and everyone knows he doesn't have family. Why would anyone want to back him?
Jin-Seok didn't react. Not on the outside.
Jin seok's jaw tightens ,but he gotten used to the talk. Three years of in the academy Being the best without money made him a threat to others. Being the best without a guild sponsor made him dangerous.
Still… he stayed quiet.
He didn't need a backer to know who he was.
They think not having a sponsor is weakness. Maybe it's the only freedom I have left jin seok thought .
Don't mind them, bro,
That voice Baek Do-Hyun, loud as ever, cutting through the noise like it was nothing.
They're just salty you're better than all of them and they know it,
And just like that, Jin-Seok relaxes and a smile appears on jin seok's for first time on that day . Do-Hyun always shows up exactly when he's needed and jin seok knows this.
He's a chubby, always smiling, and somehow still manages to shine brighter than half the kids who think they're better than everyone. But the truth? Do-Hyun's real. That's why Jin-Seok sticks around him and the only real friend jin seok has in academy.
You're the only one who says that, Jin-Seok replies.
Exactly,Do-Hyun grins, like that proves his point. He grabs Jin-Seok's arm without asking, like always. "Come on, My parents want pictures with you and that little devil,and also Mom made kimchi pancakes for u. You know you're basically family. They'd be mad if you didn't show up.
Before Jin-Seok can even argue, he's being pulled into it.
_______________________________________________
{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}