outside the dormitory window was no longer the Seoul Han Joon-seo knew.
It wasn't the cars, or the sirens, or the hovering helicopters. It was the air—heavy, humming, vibrating faintly like a distant engine. Every breath tasted metallic, every shadow seemed darker, and every reflection rippled as if soaked in oil.
The Tower's presence changed the world.
And inside Joon-seo's chest, the Summon Gate pulsed like a second heartbeat.
59 minutes until the Tower opens.
He stared at the countdown floating in front of him.
His palms were cold. His throat was dry.
He had never been brave.
Never been heroic.
Never asked to be chosen.
But he was chosen anyway.
A soft knock broke the silence.
It was the old dorm caretaker—Mr. Go. Clothes shaking, eyes bloodshot, holding a broom like a war weapon.
"J-Joon-seo… the police said candidates are marked. Is it true?"
Joon-seo nodded.
Mr. Go swallowed.
"You're a good kid. Don't… don't die in there, okay?"
He gave a trembling pat on Joon-seo's shoulder and hurried away before the fear in his eyes spilled out.
The hallway felt emptier than usual as the last few residents rushed downstairs with luggage, phones, and shaking hands. Everyone was evacuating. Everyone was running.
Except him.
He opened his door again, stepped into the small room, and let out a slow breath.
The Summon Gate symbol on his right hand flickered.
A faint ringing began in his ears.
It was calling.
He sat on the floor, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.
He needed to try again.
His first attempt failed.
The second nearly tore his head apart.
The third caused the light bulbs in the café to explode.
But he didn't have a choice.
If he entered the Tower alone and unprepared…
He would die.
Slowly, he exhaled and whispered:
"Summon Gate… activate."
The air in the room thickened instantly.
His breath fogged.
The temperature dropped.
Shadows stretched unnaturally in every direction.
A deep, echoing thoom vibrated through the walls as a circle of blue light formed beneath him—runes rotating around his legs, lines branching like the veins of a leaf.
> [SUMMON GATE — Activation Required]
[Luckflow: Stabilizing…]
[Attempt #4 Initiated]
His heartbeat raced.
Sweat coated his forehead.
The Gate began to open.
A black crack tore across the circle—small, then larger, like a mouth forming in reality. Tendrils of smoke curled upward. Something inside moved.
His vision blurred.
His ears rang.
His breathing hitched—
"Come on… come on…"
The Gate resisted him like a locked door.
He pushed harder.
Pain stabbed his skull.
His nose bled.
His hands trembled violently.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Not with an entire Tower waiting to kill him.
And then—
The crack exploded outward.
A shockwave whipped papers, blankets, and objects across the room.
The lights flickered violently.
The floor vibrated.
And from the splitting darkness… a shape emerged.
Not humanoid.
Not beast.
Something in between.
A small creature crawled out, its form trembling like it wasn't fully solid. It had a round head, thin limbs, and eyes that glowed blue like broken moonlight.
Like a spirit trying to remember it once had a body.
It stared at him… almost shyly.
Joon-seo's breath caught.
"You're… my summon?"
The creature blinked once.
Then a new system message materialized:
> [SUMMON SUCCESSFUL]
Name: ??? (Name Unknown)
Type: Echo Spirit — Variant]
Affinity: Luckflow
Stability: 23%
Personality: Unformed
Status: Bonding…]
The tiny spirit floated upward, its head tilting as if studying him.
Slowly, carefully… it touched his forehead with one small glowing hand.
A warmth spread through his skull.
Memories?
Emotions?
Images?
No—connection.
A bond.
A real one.
Joon-seo inhaled sharply as the world sharpened around him.
The colors deepened.
The shadows brightened.
His heartbeat steadied.
This… creature.
This little spirit.
It strengthened him.
It trusted him.
Maybe even liked him.
He smiled—small, fragile, real.
"…Hello there."
The spirit blinked, blue eyes shimmering like morning dew.
Suddenly—
The windows rattled violently.
The ground shook.
Sirens wailed outside.
People screamed.
Joon-seo ran to the window.
The Tower—dark, towering, monstrous—radiated a wave of force that shook the entire city block.
A broadcast blared from a police drone passing overhead:
> "ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS — THE TOWER OPENS IN 30 MINUTES. ALL CANDIDATES MUST REPORT TO DESIGNATED ENTRY ZONES."
Joon-seo closed his eyes.
Thirty minutes.
He looked at the small creature floating beside him.
"We're really doing this… huh?"
The creature nodded.
A weak nod—like an uncertain child.
But a nod nonetheless.
He wiped the blood from his nose, washed his face, and tightened his jacket.
Then he grabbed the small backpack he had prepared.
Inside:
Water bottle
First-aid kit
Portable charger
One granola bar
His father's old silver wristwatch
The watch didn't work anymore.
But he wore it anyway.
It made him feel less alone.
He picked up his phone.
A notification flashed on the news app:
BREAKING — PAKISTANI RANKER WAQAR ENTERED HIS TOWER.
THE WORLD'S FIRST CONFIRMED ENTRY.
A picture showed Waqar—a tall, armored man, face hidden by a scarf—walking into a desert tower without hesitation.
Joon-seo whispered:
"He's brave."
The little spirit mimicked the gesture—lowering its head respectfully.
Joon-seo smiled faintly.
"Alright. Let's go meet him one day."
The spirit brightened.
He stepped outside.
The city was chaos.
Police megaphones.
Crying families.
Candidates with glowing marks on their wrists.
Reporters screaming for interviews.
Ambulances waiting with engines on.
Every step he took, someone stared.
Not at him—
At the glowing symbol on his hand.
The Summon Gate.
People whispered:
"That kid… he's chosen too."
"Poor thing…"
"Does he have anyone with him?"
"Someone should accompany him—he looks alone."
But no one approached.
People feared the chosen.
It made sense.
Chosen meant death trial.
Joon-seo tightened his backpack strap and walked toward the barricaded path leading to the tower zone.
The spirit floated beside him, flickering faintly but staying close like a nervous animal.
He whispered, "Don't worry. I'm scared too."
The spirit's glow softened.
Together, they walked.
Step after step.
Closer to the Tower.
Closer to the unknown.
Then—
A soldier blocked his path.
"You're Candidate #341-KR?"
He nodded.
"Summon Gate ability?"
Another nod.
The soldier studied him for a long, heavy moment.
Then the man removed his helmet.
He was young.
Barely 25.
Tired eyes but steady hands.
"Look… kid," he said quietly, "I can't stop you. I can't protect you either. But… don't panic in there. That's how most die."
Joon-seo swallowed.
"I'll try."
The soldier placed a small patch in Joon-seo's palm.
A charm—just a tiny sticker with the Korean flag.
"It's a good luck patch. Military tradition."
Joon-seo bowed deeply.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For treating me like a person."
The soldier froze.
Then silently nodded.
It was enough.
The final path to the Tower was quiet.
No screams.
No sirens.
No engines.
Only the sound of wind howling around the massive, obsidian structure rising from the ground like a spear aimed at the sky.
The air buzzed with an unnatural hum.
The ground vibrated softly.
The atmosphere felt… hungry.
A dozen candidates stood ahead—men, women, teenagers, an old man in a suit, a chef still wearing his apron.
All chosen.
All trembling.
All alone.
Until Joon-seo arrived.
Eyes turned toward him—some curious, some respectful, some terrified.
One girl whispered:
"Is that… a summon? Already?"
Dozens stared at the little blue spirit.
Joon-seo felt exposed.
But the spirit floated forward, puffing its tiny chest proudly.
A soft ripple of laughter spread through the group.
Not mocking.
Warm.
The tension broke a little.
Someone murmured, "Cute guy's got a head start."
Someone else said, "Lucky him."
Joon-seo smiled weakly.
If only they knew the truth:
Luck was never free.
A deep voice echoed in the air.
Not from a speaker.
Not from a drone.
Not from any human.
It came from everywhere.
> [ALL CANDIDATES — ENTER THE TOWER.]
[THE TRIAL BEGINS NOW.]
The Tower's entrance cracked open—splitting darkness glowing with blue flames.
The ground shook.
A cold wind roared outward.
And the Tower whispered like something alive:
Come.
Joon-seo took a shaky breath.
The spirit floated to his shoulder and tapped him gently with its tiny hand.
"I'm not alone, right?" he whispered.
The spirit shook its head.
Then pointed toward the Tower.
Together, they stepped forward.
And the world swallowed them whole.