"Sir, your time is up."
A young man with a half-covered face sat at the reading table, several books scattered around him. He was completely engrossed in the book he was holding when the voice pulled him out of his focus.
"It's already time for us to close, sir. Can you kindly exit?"
"Time's up already?" Tarkan muttered, surprised. He had been so absorbed in reading, he hadn't noticed the passage of time.
Glancing around at the open books scattered on the desk and floor, he quickly stood up and began gathering them. "Sorry about this," he said to the girl behind the counter, bending to pick them up and return them to their shelves.
"No need, sir," she said with a small smile. "We'll take care of it."
After apologizing once more, Tarkan exited the library, this time under the firm insistence of the librarian.
As he walked outside into the cooler evening air, a satisfied expression settled on his face. For the first time since arriving here, he felt less ignorant. The library had been helpful, it had filled in so many of the gaps in his knowledge. The issues he'd had with understanding this world were beginning to fade.
Now, he knew the name of the world he stood in Tharn.
A newly discovered world, found a hundred years ago, Tharn had been labeled a low-level world. It showed no signs of possessing any valuable resources, and much of it remained unexplored. Because of this, none of the strong individuals known as ascenders had ever bothered to spend their time clearing or developing it.
Most of the people who lived here were ordinary, those who couldn't afford to live in higher-tiered worlds. The system in place, established by the global association, divided worlds into different classes. People were distributed accordingly, and those without background or means to afford the Lifestyle were dropped into lower-tier worlds like Tharn.
The inhabitants here fulfilled minor roles like sewing clothes, making shoes, doing basic trade work. They kept society moving, but without ever touching true influence or power.
Yet, the world hadn't always been like this.
Around five thousand years ago, people lived normal lives.
According to what he had read, human used to be ordinary just like on Earth. studying, acquiring skills, aging, and dying. Life was ordinary. Peaceful. But not Until the portals appeared.
They had arrived suddenly, in different parts of the world. At first, people simply stared. Scientists observed the phenomena from a distance. Nothing happened. For a time, the portals were just strange occurrences, floating gateways with no interaction.
Then it changed.
Abruptly, animals began to mutate. Trees, plants, life itself started transforming. Some of them gained awareness. Others turned into bizarre, twisted creatures. And scattered among the chaos were strange fruits and materials that carried unique, powerful properties.
But the problem was with all this changes humans weren't affected.
The fruits that transformed beasts into stronger, faster predators had no effect on people. Human scientists tried everything studies, surgeries, chemical tests. Nothing worked.
Meanwhile, the creatures grew stronger, some gaining harder skin, others with boosted agility or regeneration. The balance tipped. Eventually, they began attacking cities in waves. At first, humanity held them off with firearms. But as the beasts continued to evolve, those efforts began to fail.
In desperation, the global powers assembled a task force. Scientists had long theorized that the portals were gateways to something or somewhere. With nothing to lose, they selected a group, military elites, researchers, and specially selected individuals and sent them through.
And when they came back, everything changed.
Among the returnees was the first human with special abilities someone who could defend against monsters not with weapons, but with raw power. He was celebrated, showered with praise, power, and wealth.
From that moment forward, the portal became a doorway to transformation. People began traveling through it, making contact with other races. From those races, humans learned how to craft talismans, brew potions, forge new types of weapons, and exchange resources. Their technology advanced rapidly, and they began to hold their own against the monstrous waves.
But the danger didn't end.
They later discovered that monsters could also enter the portal and return stronger—just like humans.
After years of bloody conflict, a form of uneasy balance emerged. While all-out war no longer consumed the world, monsters still attacked from time to time. In some cases, they destroyed cities before being pushed back. In others, they were defeated swiftly.
And not all humans fought with noble purpose. Some awakened individuals hunted monsters purely for profit. Monster blood was sold for rare alchemy materials. Their skins were used to create talismans and other goods.
And thus began what the world came to call the Era of Awakening.
If one wanted to change their fate, there was only one path:
Become an Ascender.
***
Walking away from the library, Tarkan glanced at the badge pinned to his chest.
No change.
It hadn't shown any reaction yet. Maybe it would activate once he completed his awakening and exited the portal.
He continued on, heading toward the Awakening venue.
When he arrived, two guards stood at the entrance, firm and still. Tarkan approached and presented his badge without a word.
One of the guards scanned it with a small device. A soft light flickered over the surface of the badge. After a moment, the guard handed it back.
"Straight ahead," he said. "Take the first turn on your left. You'll see the Awakening Portal. Best of luck."
Tarkan nodded and moved forward.
---
The hallway inside was narrow and metallic, humming softly with energy. Pale lights illuminated the floor, guiding him step by step.
He reached the left turn.
There it was.
The portal.
It was round, black, and glowing faintly, floating just inches off the ground like a dark mirror to the sky. The surface shimmered, absorbing light instead of reflecting it. It gave off no heat, no sound yet it exuded an undeniable pressure, as if daring him to step forward.
Tarkan stood still for a moment, staring at it. This was his first time seeing a portal with his own eyes. He had read about it, its origin, its role, its danger. But seeing it was something else.
He couldn't help the mixture of awe and fear building in his chest.
Taking a slow breath, he steadied himself.
This was it.
The start of his path. The test that determined his future.
He closed his eyes for a brief second.
Then stepped into the portal.