《 AETHER 》

2037, The First Gate

April 12, 2037.

On an ordinary spring day, the skies across the entire world split open simultaneously.

A massive crack, looking as if the sky itself were glass shattering, appeared between the clouds. The rift gradually widened, revealing a void of black space. People initially thought it was a mirage or a natural phenomenon, but just minutes later, unidentified monsters began pouring out of the rift.

Creatures entirely different from humans.

• Skin impenetrable by bullets, overwhelming strength that toppled buildings, and a cruel instinct for hunting humans.

People came to call them Monsters.

Governments worldwide immediately deployed their militaries, but modern weaponry alone could not fully stop the monsters. Despite the deployment of missiles and tanks, high-ranking entities survived unscathed, and numerous cities were reduced to ruins in an instant.

This disaster was later recorded in history as 'The First Gate Incident.'

Gates continued to manifest across the globe as time passed. Gates that were not cleared within a certain timeframe would go berserk, spilling even more monsters into reality. People called this a 'Gate Break.'

Within months, many nations lost their functionality, and humanity faced the greatest crisis of extinction in its history.

No one could find a way to stop this catastrophe.

However, a miracle occurred amidst the despair.

A tiny fraction of humans began to awaken to unknown powers.

These awakened individuals used supernatural abilities that could not be explained by existing science, such as creating fire, manipulating telekinesis, generating ice, or even nullifying abilities. Some gained superhuman strength, some healed wounds instantly, and others moved massive objects with sheer willpower.

People called this phenomenon 'Awakening.'

The Awakened headed toward the gates to protect humanity, becoming the first beings capable of standing against the monsters.

The world gave them a new name.

Hunter.

Hunters were not mere warriors.

They were the ones who cleared gates, subjugated monsters, rescued citizens, and became the last hope for humanity.

Since then, the world was no longer ordinary.

A nation's power was no longer determined by military strength alone. A new era had begun where the number of powerful Hunters a country possessed determined its survival and authority.