The Babel Tower Opens

"......You've arrived."

Jeon Se-han greeted the two with practiced familiarity. The newly repaired window had been smashed again, but that wasn't important right now.

Kwon Yul released her grip on Ryu Shin-ah's sleeve and stepped forward.

"Explain."

"Please have a seat first. We were just about to start."

Without a word, Yul pulled out a chair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and sat. Ryu Shin-ah naturally took the seat right beside her. As the rest carefully found their places, Gu Se-ji entered the conference room. Unlike usual, he sat silently, his eyes demanding an explanation of the situation.

Jeon Se-han opened his mouth.

"Straight to the point. At 11:24 a.m. today, a 'Tower' appeared in the sea off Haeundae Beach in Busan Metropolitan City. And this isn't just our country......"

Beep.

News feeds from various countries flashed across the screen TV on one wall. Paris, France; New York, USA; Sydney, Australia; Interlaken, Switzerland...... Every one of them featured the same 'black tower'.

"It applies to the entire world, every country."

"......Ha."

"Are the locations random?"

Jeon Se-han nodded at Lee Yu-na's question. Some were in capitals, others not.

"You must have seen the system window just now. But this time, it's not just Hunters—it's visible and applicable to unawakened civilians as well."

"Damn it."

"So, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠isn't this not the time to be sitting around like this, Director?"

"Other countries are attempting investigations and entries, but there's no progress. They can only report that entry is impossible...... The directors from each country are focusing primarily on that recent 'system'."

System. The very first entity to appear when Gates broke open, shrouded in mystery—an intangible existence. Visible and accessible only to Awakeners and Hunters, serving as proof of awakening itself.

And now it had expanded to civilians.

Whatever that meant, there was one reason he brought it up now.

As if on cue, the guild leaders stared at the empty air before them. With their gazes, the recent system window reappeared.

Ryu Shin-ah grabbed Yul's hand under the table. The tightly clenched fingers burned hotter than lava.

Jeon Se-han spoke.

"......As announced, the 'priority entry ranking' has been revealed."

It pointed to one thing.

All eyes turned to Yul. Her bandaged face was utterly cold and expressionless, exuding an aura so chilling it made even approaching her difficult.

"Hunter ThisSeatWillKillLeeSeonjwa."

"......"

"It seems you're the one to open the way."

* * *

Haeundae, off the coast of Busan.

Hunters dispatched from the Busan branch office blocked civilian access, while media outlets swarmed to capture those who would resolve this massive incident.

Whoosh.

Then the air split open like black fabric. As the curtain of darkness parted, about thirty people emerged into the sea off Busan.

And among them, the most prominent figures at the forefront.

Guild Twilight's guild leader, Sae-byeok Bich (A+).

GiveMeBackMyDailyLife's fusion, Lee Yu-na (A+).

Guild Deep Sea's guild leader, Hae-pa-ri (S-).

SuperFreakout's guild leader, Gu Se-ji (S-), and others.

"Hunters! It's the Hunters!"

"There, ThisSeatWillKillLeeSeonjwa...!"

The crowd on the beach cheered at the arrival, including Yul and Ryu Shin-ah.

"Hunter ThisSeatWillKillLeeSeonjwa. Are you alright? Is there anywhere you're uncomfortable......?"

A black-haired man who had dispelled the darkness bowed politely to Yul. He bent his upper body despite his tall frame over 180cm.

Domestic ranking 2nd, S- Hunter Joo Young. His traits: darkness, space. Korea's one and only spatial movement Hunter. That's why he'd been tasked with transporting everyone here.

Yul nodded silently.

Ryu Shin-ah smoothly stepped up, inserting himself between them.

"Back off, fanatic. King, any contact with your Constellation?"

"......Not yet."

"Everyone's in the same boat right now...... Looks like it's tied to that system."

Ryu Shin-ah muttered bitterly.

Yul followed his gaze to the scene before them.

A tower towering at the beach's edge, as if the seawater might touch it any moment. Smooth black walls like polished obsidian, dotted with rare geometric patterns in dark purple. Its peak was nowhere in sight.

"......What the hell is this thing, seriously."

"Can't even reach my Constellation, driving me nuts."

Sae-byeok Bich and Hae-pa-ri sighed from behind. Their gazes naturally turned to Yul's back.

Standing alone before the tower, Yul's demeanor had softened considerably from moments ago. Just before departure, she'd gotten word from Kang Young-hwa that she was safe, evacuated nearby with other Hunters.

Mom's...... safe. It's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fine. Can't reach Star-nim, but once we deal with this, it'll come back, right.

Using her powers was no issue. And since it applied to Hunters worldwide, it was probably nothing unusual.

Her only slight worry was the 'warning' on her status window.

What exactly was it warning about? The tower's appearance? The communication cutoff? Mom? ......Or approaching this tower itself?

If it was trying to stop me from coming here, then what.

As she sank into such thoughts—

"Hunter ThisSeatWillKillLeeSeonjwa."

"Got it."

Yul replied to Jeon Se-han's words.

She casually brushed back her bangs.

Fine, no point in just thinking. Needless worrying wasn't her style. Especially not now, when the solution was blatantly presented.

"Be careful, King."

"Don't worry."

Leaving Ryu Shin-ah's worried plea behind, Yul slowly walked across the sand toward the tower. Just like that day four years ago, everyone held their breath, focusing every sense on her actions.

With the whole world watching live.

Another history was about to be made.

Crunch.

Yul reached the tower. Sand crumbled beneath her white sneakers, leaving deep footprints.

She slowly extended her hand.

Vmmm.

As if sensing her presence, the patterns on the outer wall glowed faintly purple-black. A heavy vibration hummed outward like ultrasound.

Then, a window appeared before everyone once more.

Yul stared at the final window that appeared only before her. Though visible solely to her, its size allowed those nearby to see it too.

Open the tower, or not.

It all hinged on her choice.

But was that weight heavy? Well.

"-Open."

She wasn't so weak as to balk at one more burden.

Yul stated flatly. Her low voice echoed clearly across the beach.

The tower vibrated once more. Right where Yul had reached out, a faintly glowing line appeared on the flawless outer wall, forming a door-like shape.

"My god......"

"Whoa."

"Wait, doors are appearing in other countries too!"

"Does that mean entry's possible there as well?"

Global news updates spread amid the murmurs. Only the Hunters remained tense.

Is that it, then.

Door made, job done.

As Yul withdrew her hand and began to step back—

Flash!

"......!"

The light forming the door erupted even brighter. Caught in the sudden explosion, Yul frowned and reflexively tried to retreat, but her body froze as if snagged by something.

"Damn, what is this......"

"King!!"

"ThisSeatWillKillLeeSeonjwa-nim!"

She felt Ryu Shin-ah and Joo Young rushing toward her from behind. But neither their hands nor cries reached her.

Whoosh—.

Blinding light enveloped Yul in an instant and swiftly receded.

Where the light vanished, Yul was gone.

Only her footprints remained.

"Sh-she vanished......"

"Wh-where did she go?!"

The world's No. 1 ranking Hunter, gone before their eyes. Everyone gasped in disbelief at the impossible sight.

Ding!

As if mocking them, a cheerful alert rang out again.

The tower's patterns shifted, displaying the same message at the highest visible point.

First Entrant.

Its meaning was obvious.

Ryu Shin-ah's face twisted in anguish.

Yul had entered the tower.