The Gate of Ages

The world changed on the day the first Gate appeared. A massive, swirling vortex of energy erupted in the heart of New York City, towering over the skyline. It was unlike anything humanity had ever seen—a shimmering doorway to the unknown, pulsing with a power that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Within days, similar gates began appearing around the globe, from the Amazon rainforest to the Siberian tundra. Scientists were baffled, governments were alarmed, and the military mobilized. These Gates, as they came to be known, allowed only a limited number of people to pass through at any given time, depending on the "level" of the Gate. The world quickly learned that beyond these portals lay realms filled with monsters, creatures straight out of ancient legends and nightmares. The monsters were deadly, their strength and ferocity determined by the disaster level of the Gate they guarded. But those who managed to defeat them found treasures of immense value—items of great power and utility, and most importantly, the Crystals.