1 Chapter 1- The Invited

[The message from the Guide has arrived. We recommend that all the Contracted & Invited guests confirm the message immediately.]

Kang Jin-ho instinctively stood up after that robotic announcement resounded in his ears. When he looked outside his window, his eyes shook.

What he saw was a dreary and bleak cityscape without a single ant in sight. Even the sky above was a shade of dull grey. Kang Jin-ho couldn't spot a single person or a moving vehicle.

It was desolate.

Kang Jin-ho quickly grabbed the smartphone and picked it up.

[Identity confirmed. The registration of the user has been completed.]

A robotic voice came from the device and the screen lit up next. He calmly tapped on the letter icon blinking on the corner, and texts appeared on the screen.

[Sender: The Guide]

[1: Arrive at Paradise High school's assembly hall before the time runs out.]

[2: Remaining time – 00:09:45]

The content was simple, but the sender had attached an image that turned out to be a map. Kang Jin-ho looked at the map and found that his current location wasn't too far from his new destination.

Kang Jin-ho knew that he wasn't hallucinating or dreaming. After all, what he was experiencing was far too vivid to be an illusion.

Finding his way around wasn't difficult at all. He simply followed the direction indicated on the map and needed only two minutes to arrive at the destination.

He stopped when he saw eye-catching plaque with the words 'Paradise High' written on it, which hung next to the wide-open front gates of the school.

'The white roof, right?'

The attached map said this was the location, but that didn't mean this very spot was the meeting point. Kang Jin-ho looked around and found the assembly hall. As he approached it, he could hear the murmurs of the people within.

Kang Jin-ho climbed up the steps, only to come to an abrupt halt. A blonde woman wearing a full-on maid outfit was standing by the entrance, graciously waving her hand at him.

She quietly stared at him and reached her hand out. Kang Jin-pulled his Invitation letter out from the his pocket and handed it over. It was a bronze invitation, one he had received from his sponsor in Sinyoung.

The woman received the letter and opened it while carrying a prim expression.

The blonde maid pointed towards the left side of the hall and guided Kang Jin-ho there.

The number of people gathered in the assembly hall was well over 30. What was especially noticeable was that they were divided into left and right sides as if to separate the two.

The left side with Kang Jin-ho only had eight people in total – six males and two females. They were furnished with chairs to sit on, and the general atmosphere was relaxed and easy-going.

"She wants your Invitation letter! Or your Contract paper!"

Kang Jin-ho looked back to see a new arrival, a nervous man who stood next to the blond maid. Other people didn't know who he was, but Kang Jin-ho already new his identity.

'Seol, the Brightest Star.'

It was quite disturbing to meet the man who was the protagonist in his visions, a man who would soon reach the apex and defeat gods. Especially when he looked so normal.

Seol was a Korean man of average height, with male light skin and black hair. He could be described as being rather handsome and attractive. He had a lean but muscular build, the kind you could only get through diligent training.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Kang Jin-ho watched as Seol pulled out his Invitation letter out from the pocket and handed it over to the maid.

The maid carefully folded the Invitation letter back, gathered both of her hands in front of her chest, and slowly lowered herself in a deep bow. It was an elegant yet dignified greeting.

"What's the matter with her? Why is she acting like that all of a sudden?"

"I wonder. She didn't do that when I showed up."

Kang Jin-ho ignored the audience and payed attention to his surroundings.

Things were about to escalate quickly.