The rain showed no sign of stopping.
Under the curtain of relentless downpour, five armored vehicles surged forward like iron beasts, engines roaring as they tore through the sleeping city. Water sprayed violently from beneath their wheels, scattering across empty roads and abandoned intersections.
They passed rows of darkened buildings, streetlights flickering and vanishing behind them one by one. The farther they went, the fewer signs of civilization remained.
Before long, the city gave way to emptiness.
An open, desolate area stretched out on both sides of the road. No houses. No shops. No people. Only wide, barren land swallowed by darkness and rain.
This was the outskirts.
A restricted zone.
A buffer area built for one purpose only—to block and defend against the monsters that might emerge from a Door.
It was the first time Ash had ever seen this place.
For ordinary civilians, the outskirts were forbidden territory. Growing up, his parents had warned him countless times never to come here. Not even curiosity was worth the risk.
Inside the vehicle, Ash sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the rain-smeared window. His expression remained calm, almost emotionless. Reflections of passing lights slid across the glass, briefly illuminating his face before disappearing again.
The soldiers surrounding him remained silent as well.
No one spoke.
No one moved unnecessarily.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle was heavy, dense enough to press against his chest. It wasn't fear—more like anticipation, restrained and controlled.
After about ten minutes, something massive emerged from the darkness ahead.
A wall.
At first, it looked like a shadow cutting across the horizon. As they drew closer, its scale became undeniable.
The wall was built from reinforced alloys, towering thirty meters into the sky and stretching endlessly to both sides. Two meters thick, it loomed like a metallic mountain range, cold and unyielding.
This was the city's defensive wall.
The first line of defense of New Age City.
Ash recalled the name almost absently.
New Age City.
A metropolis with a population nearing three hundred million. A city with complete production systems—from clothing and electricity to heavy industry and weapons manufacturing. One of humanity's remaining strongholds.
As the vehicles approached the wall, Ash felt its presence more strongly with each passing second. It wasn't just large—it was oppressive. The sheer scale of it stirred something primal inside him.
An instinctive fear.
The kind humans had always felt toward structures too massive to resist.
The vehicles slowed, then came to a halt beneath the wall, stopping before a colossal gate sealed tightly shut. Its surface was scarred with countless marks—scratches, dents, and traces of past battles that time had failed to erase.
The engine cut off.
Ash was escorted out of the vehicle.
Cold rain struck his face immediately, soaking his hair and clothes once more. He straightened instinctively, blinking away water as boots splashed against the ground around him.
"Follow me."
A soldier stepped forward, gesturing sharply.
Ash had no choice.
He followed in silence.
They headed toward a small building constructed directly beneath the city gate. It looked insignificant compared to the wall towering above it, like an afterthought clinging to a giant.
As Ash walked, a sudden pressure slammed down on him.
It was instantaneous.
His shoulders felt as if they were being crushed beneath an invisible weight. Breathing became difficult, his lungs struggling to draw air, as though several thousand kilograms had been placed directly on his back.
Cold sweat poured down his spine.
The sensation was familiar on a primal level.
Like a rabbit frozen under the gaze of a wolf.
Every instinct screamed danger.
Then—
It vanished.
The pressure lifted as abruptly as it had appeared. Ash staggered slightly, forcing himself to steady his breathing. His heart pounded once, then gradually slowed.
He raised his head.
Standing before him was a man in his forties.
Tall—around 1.9 meters. Broad-shouldered. His skin was fair, though slightly darkened, as if weathered by long years under harsh conditions. His eyes were sharp, cutting through the rain with frightening clarity.
Even standing still, the man radiated an overwhelming presence.
Under the pouring rain, his figure seemed almost unreal.
The moment Ash saw him, a single word surfaced in his mind.
'A Chosen.'
Ash was led to stand before the man.
The soldier in front raised his hand in a crisp military salute.
"Sir, the mission is complete. The target has been brought here."
The man nodded once, then shifted his gaze toward Ash.
"Hello, Ashfei. My name is Hearth. I am the captain in charge of guarding this gate."
His voice was deep, steady, and surprisingly calm.
"Sorry about the pressure earlier. I just wanted to test you."
Ash studied him briefly.
Strict, unmistakably so—but there was no hostility in his eyes. Beneath the sharp exterior, Hearth carried himself with a professionalism that bordered on courtesy.
Hearth paused for a moment before continuing.
"I am a Descender. I have passed through the Door."
Ash's eyes widened slightly.
Not because Hearth knew his name—but because of what he had just revealed.
He had suspected the man was a Chosen.
But a Descender?
It should be noted that among the Chosen, they were ranked into different tiers based on the number of Doors they had successfully cleared.
Specifically, the hierarchy was divided as follows:
1.The Opener
2.The Descender
3.The Ascendant
4.The Integrated
5.The Architect
6.The Paramount
An Opener referred to someone who had conquered 'The First Door.' While they were considered the weakest in this hierarchy, they were by no means to be underestimated; a single Opener possessed enough power to overwhelm a hundred well-trained soldiers.
Meanwhile, the individual standing before him held the rank of Descender, a level of existence far superior to that of an Opener.
For ordinary people, even meeting an Opener was rare. A Descender stood an entire rank above that—a being who had survived multiple Doors.
"I apologize for bringing you here so suddenly, especially in the middle of the night," Hearth said. "But this is an emergency."
Without waiting for a response, he continued.
"We possess a device capable of detecting the early appearance of a Door, as well as identifying Chosen through the unique energy emitted by the mark."
"And according to our readings…"
Hearth's gaze sharpened.
"You, Ashfei from Ash Area, are a Chosen."
A Chosen.
Me.
Ash repeated the words silently.
When an ordinary person learned they were a Chosen, there were usually only two reactions.
Joy.
Fear.
Joy—because entering a Place offered the chance to obtain power far beyond ordinary humans. Status. Wealth. Recognition. A future rewritten by strength.
Fear—because entering a Place was almost the same as walking toward death. Monsters lurked everywhere. Even humans inside could become enemies. Survival itself was uncertain.
Ash felt neither.
His thoughts settled quickly.
'So I am a Chosen.'
That was all.
No trembling.No excitement.
He looked at Hearth calmly.
"I understand. What should I do next?"
Hearth blinked, clearly surprised.
He had expected panic. Or disbelief. Or at least hesitation.
"That's a good mindset," Hearth said after a brief pause. "I hope you can maintain it when you step through the Door."
He turned slightly.
"Now, follow me."
After speaking, Hearth addressed the soldiers.
"You've completed your mission. Return to your posts."
"Yes, sir!"
Leaving the soldiers behind, Ash followed Hearth into the wall.
As they walked through reinforced corridors lit by cold white lights, Hearth continued speaking.
"You likely already know the basic information about Doors, so I won't repeat it."
"Your primary objective is simple—locate the Core and destroy it."
"Inside, you'll encounter monsters. They will only be at the Spawn level, but don't let your guard down."
"And avoid revealing that you are a Chosen to the residents inside. Otherwise, you won't just face monsters—you'll face the inhabitants as well."
"Oh, one more thing."
Hearth reached into his pocket and took out a pair of black fabric gloves, handing them to Ash.
"Put these on. Once you do, never take them off."
Ash slipped them on.
To his surprise, they fit perfectly. The fabric felt soft yet resilient, hugging his hands without restricting movement.
"These gloves are specially designed," Hearth explained. "They can withstand significant impact and repair themselves if damaged."
Ash flexed his fingers.
Impressive.
"They can also be used as a weapon," Hearth added.
"How?" Ash asked.
"By punching."
Ash paused.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"If you're wondering why we didn't provide firearms—once you enter the Place, all firearms will become scrap metal. Cold weapons will be forcibly returned to Earth. Only clothing can be brought in."
"What? Disappointed?" Hearth asked.
Ash shook his head.
"Something is better than nothing. These gloves are enough."
Hearth studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"You're quite optimistic."
Ash didn't respond.
Optimism had nothing to do with it. As long as he had something to use, that was enough—even if it was just a pair of gloves.
They continued forward.
Beyond the inner gate, the world opened up.
A vast forest stretched before them, trees towering high, their outlines blurred by rain and darkness. The air felt different here—damp, heavy, carrying the faint scent of earth and leaves.
Three armored vehicles waited ahead.
Eleven soldiers stood nearby.
They looked different from the ones Ash had met earlier—stronger, sharper, their presence far more intimidating.
Hearth led Ash toward them.
A soldier stepped forward and saluted.
"Sir, Eagle Team is ready for the mission."
"Good," Hearth replied. "I'll be joining you. Our sole objective is to escort Ash to the Door's emergence point and prepare for the worst possible outcome."
"Yes, sir!"
Hearth turned to Ash, his gaze steady.
Ash met it.
"I'm ready."
That was all he said.
Moments later, Ash boarded the same vehicle as Hearth and the soldiers.
The engines roared to life once more.
Under the heavy rain, the vehicles sped deep into the forest—
toward the place where Ash's fate would be decided.