Chapter Eight: The Tower's Tutorial
The park was silent save for the ragged sound of their breathing. As Minwoo and Hyejin stepped out of the now-dissolving Gate, the vibrant afternoon light was gone, replaced by the deep, unsettling gloom of twilight. The Gate, a shimmering tear in reality just moments ago, dissolved into nothingness behind them, leaving only the scent of ozone and the damp, earthy smell of the park. They were covered in mud, their clothes torn, and a thin layer of blood from their scrapes and wounds.
Hyejin stared at her hands, still trembling. "It's gone," she whispered, her voice laced with a mixture of fear and wonder. The small, green icon of her new skill, "Seed of Life," pulsed faintly in her vision. "Did that really happen?"
Minwoo, his mind already racing ahead, simply nodded. "It did. And we need to move. It's not safe out here."
The walk back to the school was a surreal journey through a city frozen in time. The streets were eerily quiet. Abandoned cars sat haphazardly in the middle of roads, doors left open. The few streetlights that flickered to life cast long, lonely shadows. The panic that had seized the city's inhabitants had been absolute; they had simply fled or barricaded themselves in their homes, leaving a ghost town in their wake. News reports blared from the windows of apartments, filled with frantic speculation about the Tower.
When they finally reached the school, the scene was one of contained chaos. Students and faculty were huddled in the gymnasium, a makeshift shelter. The usual bustle was replaced by a low hum of terrified chatter. A few teachers were trying to maintain order, but their authority was a hollow thing now. The world had changed, and old rules no longer applied.
As they entered the gym, a new, far more powerful System message appeared, this time for everyone, not just them, glowing with a brilliant, blinding light that silenced everyone. It was a global message, a tutorial for all of humanity.
[Global System Alert: The 'Tower Tutorial' has begun.]
[Humanity has been given 7 days to complete the tutorial objectives.]
[Objectives:]
* Awaken to your Class. (Must be completed within 24 hours.)
* Form a party of 3-5 members.
* Clear a Gate of F-rank or higher. (Must be completed within 7 days.)
[Failure to complete these objectives will result in a penalty.]
[Success will grant you a starting skill, a title, and a permanent increase in your base stats.]
The gymnasium erupted in a fresh wave of panic and confusion. People screamed, pointed at the glowing message, and tried to touch it, only for their hands to pass through. Minwoo and Hyejin, however, stood still. They had already done the impossible. They had already cleared the first Gate.
A new message, this one for Minwoo alone, appeared in his vision.
[System Alert: You have completed a tutorial objective ahead of time.]
[Objective: Clear a Gate of F-rank or higher.]
[Reward: Class Acquisition, Status Window Update, Tutorial Bonus.]
Minwoo felt a jolt of power surge through his veins. The suppression on his stats lifted. He could feel his mind, his body, and his soul, all fully his own again. His stats, though still low, were now unlocked. The true game was about to begin.
A second message appeared, a quiet whisper for him alone.
[Class Acquired: 'The Nameless One']
[Description: ?]
Minwoo stared at the message, a look of confusion and intrigue on his face. A question mark. A class with no description, no known purpose. It was a class that perfectly described his situation. He was not a Relentless Blade, not a champion. He was a nameless existence, a ghost in a new body. The Demon Lord's taunt, or perhaps her cruel gift, had now become his permanent designation.
He turned to Hyejin, who was staring at the global message in stunned silence. She was now a true Hunter. He had to be sure of what she could do, and what he could do.
"Hyejin," he said, his voice quiet. He extended his arm, pointing to the long, shallow gash a Cave Crawler had given him. "You have a skill now. Can you try it on this?"
She looked at the wound, then at him, her face a mask of uncertainty. "I... I don't know how. It just says 'Seed of Life.'"
"Focus on the wound," Minwoo instructed, his voice patient but firm. "Feel the skill. Think about healing."
Hyejin took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and placed her hand over his arm. A faint, soft green light emanated from her palm, and a warm, tingling sensation spread across his skin. He watched in awe as the torn flesh knitted itself back together, the pain fading until the cut was nothing more than a faint red line.
[Health Restored: 5 HP]
[System Message: Skill 'Seed of Life' (Hyejin) has been used.]
Her eyes snapped open, a look of pure shock and delight on her face. "I... it worked! I healed you!"
Minwoo nodded, a flicker of genuine relief in his gaze. The future was still on track. He had a healer.
"It did," he said, pulling his arm back. "Your skill is powerful. Now, show me your stats. We need to know what we're working with."
He knew his request was direct, bordering on rude. But there was no time for subtlety. The world was about to descend into madness, and he needed a partner he could trust completely. A partner who knew his power, and whose power he understood in return. He had to build an army of two, and this was their first act of faith.