Chapter One: The Emergence of the Tower of Illuminance

It was a special day - my first birthday celebration in years without the haunting presence of spirits. The room was filled with laughter and warmth as my mother, younger brother, and I gathered to mark the occasion. My father was overseas, but his presence was felt in our hearts as we cherished the moment together.

Little did we know that this day would be unlike any other, for it was on this very day that the world would change forever. As the clock struck midnight, a radiant glow ominously emanated from the distant city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The Tower of Illuminance, an enigmatic structure, materialized without warning, piercing the night sky with a brilliant, otherworldly light. Beams of luminescence shot across the city, ominously touching countless souls below.

The tower's eerie light bestowed upon those it touched a mysterious and unsettling power known as "skills." Each person gained abilities beyond human comprehension, ranging from controlling fire and summoning weapons to harnessing the forces of nature. These skills were classified into ranks - from the coveted SSS rank to the more common F rank. The rarity of higher-ranked skills added to the intrigue, making it a topic of spine-chilling whispers among people across the globe.

In a stroke of chilling fortune, my family was among the few to be touched by the tower's radiant light. My mother gained the "Garden Guardian" skill, which is Rank F, but this skill is an evolving curse; even if it's a low-rank skill, this skill can morph into an S-rank skill someday, allowing her to manipulate plants and summon sinister plant beast beings. My brother, on the other hand, was cursed with the rare S rank skill "Ignis and Glacies," granting him control over both fire and ice - a power that could unleash destructive chaos.

As for me, I received two skills, both F-rank evolving curses. The first was the "Conjuror of Spirits," which enabled me to control and summon spirits. Although the potential for its growth was apparent, its true power was yet to be unlocked as I lacked contracted spirits. The second skill, "Inari Okami," seemed perplexing at first. Its name, steeped in Japanese folklore, cursed me with the ability to transform into a fox, though its practical use was uncertain and ominous.

Despite the ominous excitement of my family's newfound abilities, I couldn't help but feel somewhat disheartened by the curses I had received. While my brother wielded the power of elements, and my mother controlled nature itself, I was cursed with skills that appeared to hold little value in battle. Yet, amidst my dismay, a chilling revelation occurred.

As I focused on the Status Screen - a device summoned by those cursed with skills to analyze their cursed abilities and attributes - I noticed a skill I had overlooked. It was called "Anja," or simply referred to as the "Third Eye." Suddenly, the chilling synchronization of my curses seemed to unlock the true potential of my third eye. Not only could I see spirits invisible to ordinary humans, but I now possessed clairvoyance, a power reserved for the rarest SSS rank curses.

Amidst the bewilderment, I realized the sinister significance of my newfound curse. The Third Eye was a skill unknown to the vast majority of those cursed with skills. This chilling revelation filled me with a sense of dread and terror as if the world had a malevolent purpose for me beyond what I could have ever imagined.

As the day unfolded and the dread of the Tower of Illuminance spread, the world held its breath in chilling anticipation. A tower with no entrance at its foot, yet a grand entrance at its top, beckoned those cursed with newfound skills to explore its depths. It resembled a cursed dungeon from the darkest of tales, a place of both spine-chilling excitement and bone-chilling trepidation.

For now, the cursed journey to the tower would have to wait. As I stood in terror of the newfound depth of my abilities, I realized that our lives were irrevocably changed. The Tower of Illuminance had not only cursed us with extraordinary gifts but had opened the door to a world of chilling adventure, malevolent mystery, and self-discovery. A world that beckoned us to embrace our curses, confront our darkest fears, and face whatever malevolent challenges lay ahead.

The government launched an extensive investigation into the dungeon and the individuals who had gained cursed abilities, now known as skills. They categorized these gifted individuals into two groups: the Hunters, those possessing the strength and bravery to enter the mysterious tower, and the Producers, who were too afraid to venture inside. The Producers, however, were not dismissed; instead, they found employment with the government, utilizing their cursed abilities to expedite various government projects.

As a young Hunter, I found myself amidst this intriguing world of cursed abilities and enigmatic dungeons. My evolving skills marked me as one of the chosen few, and I was determined to prove my worth as a Hunter. But before I could fully embrace my destiny, I needed to pass the crucial evaluation for Hunters, set to take place in just two weeks.

The anticipation and tension in the air were palpable as fellow cursed individuals prepared for the evaluation. For those who aspired to become true Hunters, passing this test was imperative. Success would grant us the official title of Hunter, acknowledging our ability to face the challenges lurking within the Tower of Illuminance.

The government made it clear that those who failed to qualify as Hunters would be designated as Producers, playing a vital role in supporting the endeavors of the Hunter teams. While this brought a sense of relief to some, others yearned to prove their worth and ascend to the prestigious ranks of the Hunters.

During the evaluation, each aspiring Hunter would face a series of rigorous tests and simulations, designed to assess their combat skills, strategic thinking, and ability to handle the various challenges the tower would present. The ultimate test was said to be against the weakest monster within the tower—Slime. Despite its seemingly harmless nature, it was rumored to possess formidable abilities that could easily overwhelm the unprepared.

Beyond the excitement and horror of becoming a certified Hunter, my heart yearned to uncover the truth behind the Tower of Illuminance. Rumors abounded, claiming that the tower held the key to unlocking humanity's dormant potential or even harboring ancient artifacts with untold powers. But amidst these thrilling speculations, a sense of caution prevailed. What secrets lay within the tower's depths? And what ominous forces might be awakened by our pursuit of these newfound skills?

The impending Evaluation weighed heavily on my mind, and it was evident that my current skillset was ill-suited for battle. However, a glimmer of hope emerged as I reviewed my Status Screen. My SSS rank skill, "Anja," had more to offer than I initially realized. In addition to Clairvoyance and Spirit Vision, it was an evolving skill, with the condition to evolve being my understanding of any skills related to vision and mind. The prospect of replicating such skills through mere comprehension seemed like an unfair advantage, making "Anja" a formidable cheat.

Fate smiled upon me, granting me the knowledge of someone possessing an E rank skill known as the "Hacker." This individual held the power to infiltrate the cyberworld and gather vital information on Hunters and Producers with vision and Mind-related skills. Though it came at the steep cost of 20,000 pesos—my hard-earned savings destined for a new phone—the invaluable knowledge it brought justified the sacrifice. With a list of addresses in hand, my first target was Vincent Ruiz, the possessor of the E-rank skill "thermal vision."

As the dark clouds hung heavy in the sky, I set off for Tanay Rizal, the gloomy and forested place Vincent called home. The twisted branches of the trees seemed to reach out like skeletal fingers, and the chilling wind carried a haunting whisper through the shadows. It was a perfect setting for someone possessing a skill as eerie as "thermal vision."

Approaching Vincent, however, proved to be a daunting task. His heightened senses, honed by his thermal vision, made it nearly impossible for me to observe him unnoticed. The gloom of the surroundings intensified my sense of trepidation, and I knew I needed a clever plan.

Then it hit me—I possessed the F rank skill "Inari Okami," which allowed me to transform into a fox. Though foxes were rare in the Philippines, they shared enough resemblance with wild dogs to potentially deceive Vincent's keen senses.

My heart raced as I transformed into the wild dog form, and with cautious determination, I began stealthily shadowing Vincent from a safe distance. Every step felt like an eternity, and I had to suppress the urge to flee from the unsettling atmosphere that surrounded him.

After an hour of nerve-wracking pursuit, I witnessed Vincent activate his thermal vision. His eyes transformed into a chilling yellow-brown hue, and his pupils narrowed into slits like those of a snake. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel like an intruder into an enigmatic realm of darkness.

Suddenly, an unnatural voice echoed inside my head, whispering, "Thermal Vision Acquire." The intrusion startled me, and I hesitated to accept the skill. However, the voice persisted, revealing that the skill had synchronized with "Anja" and its subskills.

To my shock, "Clairvoyance," which I had once considered a weak subskill, began evolving from Rank F to Rank E. Moreover, "Spirit Vision" was ascending from Rank B to Rank A, shattering my preconceived notions about my abilities. It became clear that the potential of "Anja" was far greater than I had ever imagined.

With my newfound abilities, including the enhanced Clairvoyance granting glimpses of ten seconds into the future, I knew I must seek my next target. The Tower of Illuminance had irrevocably changed my life, leading me into a thrilling world of adventure, danger, and self-discovery. As I ventured forth with my evolving skills, the future beckoned me towards untold mysteries and formidable foes, yet also unimaginable wonders and unimaginable strength that lay ahead. The darkness of the world around me only served to intensify the shadows I would have to face, but with each step, I found myself drawing closer to the truth and my own destiny.