1. Welcome to the new world

[Welcome to Celestia both voluntarily and mandatory]

"Huh?"

I looked at the twinkling specks of light around the statue of a woman in a hooded jacket more than three meters tall that seemed to be the source of the sound. With an emerald-studded staff the size of an adult's fist in one hand and an open book in the other, the statue of the woman looks full of holiness and knowledge.

With the limited amount of light from the specks flying around, my vision was enough to see the whole architecture that seemed classic and unfamiliar with the gray colors fixed on the walls, the ground and the sporadic old furniture that could not be used. I don't know much about history, but this place doesn't seem to resemble any kind of architecture of any period on Earth.

At least this place is like a temple. Because that would explain the appearance of the beautiful sculpture like the goddess.

I tilted my head slightly and rubbed the side of my face. Maybe I'm just dreaming, so I'll try to verify it by twisting my arm.

I did that but instead of staying awake, I felt pain with my blushed arm reddening.

This is a bit annoying.

Then I tried to remember if I had encountered anything particularly strange that led to me being here.

Apparently, my memory was so poor that I didn't notice anything impressive...

Ah yes! The notification panel on my phone once showed a game ad without an icon. Out of curiosity about the introduction, I pressed yes, but since there were no new game apps after that, I dismissed it as an error.

That's all I see as a strange thing.

In general, people around who are confused to the point of irrationality may have encountered the same situation. Luckily, there were few people who were aware of the strange situation besides me so that they could think soberly. Some are also leading the way in managing and reassuring people.

Suddenly I appeared in a place I didn't know. In a gloomy and mysterious scene like horror movies. The sound of people crying and moaning bitterly as if about to be taken to the slaughterhouse. My body trembled with a renewed sense of anxiety. However, it was weird that I found it more dejà vu than fear. Even as soon as I started trying to explain the feeling, my whole body stopped shaking and became normal again.

My fear of the unknown seemed to be wiped away. Instead, there was a terrible curiosity for the people around him.

This is even scarier than the current situation. I myself wanted to act on something outside of my thoughts as if I had been manipulated.

Someone? Do I have to find someone? I feel like finding that person will make me feel more secure.

To explain that, it's probably because of my sixth sense. Because it always made me anxious for no reason, but I never mispredicted the feeling, I was able to quickly calm down and carefully observe the people around me.

"What the hell is this?"

"What kind of joke?"

"Are we kidnapped?"

"Yoke, kidnapping... Why me? I don't even have any money!"

"What is this place? Why are there obsolete weapons here??"

"Well... swords, bows, crossbows, shields,... Where are these obsolete weapons still used?"

"No one here knows. We're in the same situation, you know."

"Excuse me!! Is anyone outside? We're trapped inside!!"

"The knocked wall has no echo, it's too thick. I don't think anyone can hear us inside."

Most people have regained their sanity to chat lively.

Standing, sitting, or lying on the floor, many people do the same action as I did before. Pinch your own cheeks or bend your arms, sometimes asking others for help just to see if this is a dream. And then, all of them will realize that this is reality. They will become chaotic out of fear and denial of the situation.

After a brief pause, a slightly mechanical sound rang out again.

[Participants are invited to the world of Celestia code 003, you are the ones chosen to save the continent of Celestia that is slowly being worn out and swallowed up by towers that are expanding their ability to invade across the continent of Celestia]

"What? Is this a game?"

"What's something like living as a fighter? What! Hurry me out!!"

"Is it an illegal program here? If you don't stop this, I'll sue you! Go to court and you'll die rotting bones."

"Me too. If my family can't find me, you'll be in trouble with my family!"

What kind of lawsuit? You can even bring your family here to talk about it. I was surprised. From the empty-handed to the one who had it all, they were all gathered here. And somehow, they make this place feel like some kind of refugee camp.

[However, to be able to enter the continent, you need to complete the instructions here as a full condition for your ability to survive. And I'm here to be your guide on how to use what's around you]

"Are you deaf? Let us go!"

"What nonsense?"

"This is illegal murder!"

Ah, these guys.

[Focus on my instructions because I'll only say it once. This will directly affect your lives. For those who still consider this a joke, please come to your senses. I'm trying to help you through this getting started guide]

I mean, could I die here? And when 'she' says 'use what's around you', must it be primitive weapons scattered all over the earth?

As I turned around to look around and assess what weapon I could use, I felt like I was being stared at in the back of my head. After calmly confirming what I was going to take, I slowly turned my head to find the other gaze. But apparently, in front of the place higher than usual only placed a statue like the goddess more than three meters high.

The gaze had disappeared ever since and I didn't make eye contact with anyone.

[Cheer up. In exchange for your hard work, we have prepared rewards for the conclusion of the difficult and arduous tutorial. It will be divided in full according to your contribution rating. Of course, if there is a reward, there will also be a penalty. If you do not have at least 250 contribution points, you will receive your penalty of death]

Everyone again stirred and raised their voices to curse. A little different from the beginning, their voices grew smaller and quieter and disappeared like mussels.

The 'woman's' explanation continued to echo calmly and mechanically.

[I advise you not to act stupidly, this is clearly closely related to your survival. So let's get the tutorial started]

Somehow, miraculously, everyone became aware of the magnitude of the problem and became completely silent. Some even held their breath waiting for the 'woman' to make the next announcement.

[First, where you are now is the starting point of the tutorial. Think of it as a kind of lounge and don't worry, this place will be safe until I finish my introduction. And the weapons here, you will be able to choose any of them to defend yourself and fight. As long as you can take them away, there will be no limit in terms of quantity. Of course, they are also divided into several levels: from the lowest F level to the highest SSS level. The weapons here will only be of class E, F or lower. As for SS-level weapons and above, I'm not sure if you guys have anyone capable of coming into contact with it. It will be lucky if you receive it from a blessed god who notices and loves you. Next, you will be provided with food and water every morning in the boxes at the foot of the 'Goddess of Knowledge' statue. However, you cannot stay here forever, the rear tutorial will soon begin and monsters will land here to rage. You will have to come here every morning, when the monsters weaken to collect supplies...]

"Forgive me for interrupting, but I'm curious where the monsters came from?"

Obviously everyone here doesn't know that, 'she' doesn't even go into it. So I raised my hand and asked in a high voice. There were some people who turned to look at me but I didn't care. Then I saw the same gaze as when someone was watching me from behind, now staring at me. But soon, that gaze disappeared again and the 'woman's' voice answered again.

[They come from dungeons and open worlds inside the tower. Celestia from the beginning of time had towers, thanks to which the people of Celestia could exploit from it as a natural condition. They even rely on towers to grow. Conversely, the towers also rely on Celestia's growth to evolve accordingly. Until now, the largest towers have grown to the point where it is possible to communicate and ask for wishes from the gods. Unfortunately, the problem here cannot be solved by those wishes, while the towers grow by eating away and devouring Celestia. The only thing that can solve them is to climb towers to complete possession of towers in no time or destroy them. That's why we need your help]

In general, if you gamble your life, can you ask from the gods for a wish if you are capable of climbing to the highest peaks of towers?

A joke. Only one?

If I were a god. I will give them as many wishes as long as they can pay for them.

[I can only answer so far. If you are still curious, then try to survive and climb the tower. The tallest towers capable of revealing the whole truth await you all]

'She' is even... promote it? Did 'she' work as an insurance agent before? I wondered if the statue functioned as a piece of media, would I own it?

[And finally, I know it's hard for people to overcome monsters with their own strength. But don't worry about that because you are all the chosen ones. You can come here because the continent of Celestia chose you. That also connects you to the general system of towers. If you say 'status window', you'll know what I mean]

People around started mumbling the phrase 'status window'. I could even hear some exclaiming in surprise, some expressing excitement as if trying a new game, some becoming nervous and confused by anti-scientific knowledge different from the kind they had been pursuing for so long.

I'm thinking about it. This one also has a strange déjà vu feeling. As I mumbled the 'status window' in my head, a blue vertical screen immediately appeared before my eyes covering almost the entire view ahead. It's bigger than my laptop screen, just... There's something strange about it.

[Character information

Name: Alma Diralda

Age: 57

God bless: None

Feature: Strategist behind the curtain (Master),Protector of Derasom- Lv4, Royal Guide Lenus- Lv7, Sage of the Holy Land- Lv3

Skills: Omniscient Perspective- Lv5 (L), Judge's Proclamation- Lv2 (SS), Personal Space- Lv9 (L), Sealing Road- Lv5 (S), Safe Zone- Lv7 (S), Separation- Lv12 (A), Mana Enhancement- Lv6 (A), Anti-Poison- Lv10 (SS),...- See also

Gift: None

Overall Ability: Strength- Lv97, Endurance- Lv94, Magic- Lv100, Agility- Lv100

Overall Rating: You are a great individual in your own way. However, you seem to be reaching your limits]

What the hell is being written on it? I mean, I just got here... and something my 'status window' says I'm about to reach my limit. It's like I started as a final boss and my mission was to kill everyone here?

As if answering the questions in my mind, the 'woman' spoke up again.

[The status window is set up as a table of your personal status. They are evaluated based on your ability and efforts to increase or decrease appropriately. And underneath, the characterization will represent your pure personality and name of fame each time you are recognized by the continent. Naturally, most people have only one dominant trait that represents their personality. But if you really have a new trait, it will come with a skill of its own and you can upgrade that trait as well as its own skill. The rest are skills in general, they are divided into ranks like weapons and can be leveled up by gaining experience and the ability to acquire your skills. Finally, the original overall capacity index is your body's ability. You can raise them to a maximum of 100, but can also break through further if your body allows it, with the prerequisite that you conquer the corresponding tower floors]

I briefly panicked in my mind without revealing it. Come to think of it, everything looks like an online game. I will have to fight monsters instead of humans in the final boss status as I thought. However, I have abandoned my weapons for too long without thinking about using them again. And the biggest problem here in particular is that the achievements in my status window are filled out of nowhere. It's like having tech hacked, but the status window wasn't right about how old my body actually was 57.

This body has only lived on Earth for 28 years, so where did the other 29 years come from? Will anyone notice my anomaly? Then Who discovered me? System? This continent? Or the gods of this place? There may also be other options that I don't know about.

What do I look like now?

Do I get old?

And also, is time repeated?

I shuddered and stopped thinking about it.

I can't reveal myself at the moment. Things could get tougher in the future if any variables like mine come up. Maybe I should find a companion for myself as a normal individual. Because I didn't want to fight, I had to find at least one other person who could do it.

So I looked around to see everyone's status window.

[Character information

Name: Chung Moran

Age: 23

God bless: None

Characteristic: Runaway Villain (Master)

Skills: Run- Lv1(D)

Gift: None

Overall Ability: Strength- Lv3, Endurance- Lv5, Magic- Lv0, Agility- Lv7

Overall Assessment: Chung Moran's personal development is like his personality, insignificant to the extreme. His strength and skill will never surpass the common level. Competence indicators should be evaluated into a new type of nightmare. To be precise, his abilities are like piles of non-recyclable trash. He might end up dying in this tutorial]

Oh? This one is really poisonous. I wonder if it's the person next to him...

[Character information

Name: Boem Ji Hoon

Age: 38

God bless: None

Feature: Corruption Team Leader (Boss)

Skills: Pressure- Lv2(E)

Gift: None

...]

[Character information

Name: Song Cheol Li

Age: 33

God...]

[Character information

Name: Jung Yi Yeol...]

[Character information

Name:...]

[Character information...]

[Character information...]

[Char...]

[...]

...

I was shocked. Their overall assessment was cruel. And they don't have anyone who is capable of outperforming high school. That's why I'm starting to think I'm the one with the problem... In desperation, however, I saw something remarkable.

It's a 'state window' deep in the corner.

Not. There is also one.

[Character information

Name: Kim Jihan

Age: 22

God bless: None

Featurer: Inspiring Person (Master)

Skills: Rocket- Lv0 (S), Marksmanship- Lv0 (S), Night Vision- Lv0 (A), Bombardment- Lv0 (SS)

Gift: None

Overall Ability: Strength- Lv7, Endurance- Lv5, Magic- Lv10, Agility- Lv9

Overall rating: Kim Jihan is full of potential and strength and will be a great assistant that everyone wishes to have in the future. Although her abilities are still limping at the beginning, her skills are extremely desirable once she smoothly develops and goes to the top. All in all, she's a ranged attack genius incomparable to anyone who's ever appeared on the continent]

[Character information

Name: Beom Jae Hwa

Age: 14

God bless: None

Characteristic: Timid Male (Master)

Skills: Assimilating Perspective- Lv0 (SS), Sharing is Power- Lv0 (S), Healing Leaves Covering Torn Leaves- Lv0 (A)

Gift: None

Overall Ability: Strength- Lv4, Endurance- Lv9, Magic- Lv12, Agility- Lv6

Overall rating: At first glance, there is nothing special about his stats. Unlike the previous rubbish, he can develop stats to the hero level. But what's special here is that he has his own unique skill in terms of support. That will help players a lot in terms of synchronizing the majority opinion and exchanging everyone's knowledge and experience in a short time. So help him grow, he's just an unpolished gem]

Last sentence, wouldn't I be the best? The 'Sharing is Power' skill can be exploited even more. And... that person named Beom Jae Hwa was still a child.

No. He was skinnier than my younger siblings around that age. I wonder if it's malnutrition...

This gives me a crazy headache.

Keeping an eye on the 'woman', 'she' had already given instructions on how to use her surroundings as previously announced. Ignoring the fact that 'she' was getting into my ending, I slowly moved towards the two individuals I had previously aimed at. About a dozen paces away, I stopped to find a shield larger than my body and waited for the announcement to begin on the 'woman's' guidance.

[Finally, get up and pick up at least one weapon. Don't ignore this, for your survival and future!]

Saying that, the specks of light around the goddess statue quickly radiated in all directions. Illuminate weapons and food chests on the ground.

'She' emphasized survival.

Obviously the goal is to survive to the end.

It does not require fighting, but self-defense.

Therefore, it should have a point of residence for rest.

However, 'she' does not mention a time limit.

Which means we will have to find our own way out of here, to death.

Now, this place is really entering chaos.

Some people are sharing personal characteristics to form a group; Some are touching swords, daggers or searching for a small shield and some are becoming unnerved as they cry and scream.

As for me, I found a shield larger than my body, a dagger across my hip and a nondescript lance.

With this preparation, I guess I can help about a dozen people. However, I would only keep a smaller number of targets than a hand while walking through the mess and picking up a few bags of food.

After all, everyone should know the grim truth that survival is a brutal concept.

And that no one will want to fight for everyone.

Of course, there may still be people who appear as if they are a hero. With an understandable truth, it wouldn't be me.