Chapter 1: The Chess players

​In the city of Everest, inside one of the many public transport buses, a teenage boy sat near the back. In his hand, his phone was ringing. Glancing at the screen, he saw the name Aunt pop up. He let it ring. After a few moments, the phone went silent, replaced by a notification showing more than seven missed calls—all from her.

​The young man’s name was Smith. Closing his eyes, he pondered his situation as the bus pulled up to a station. Confirming this was his destination, he bent down, pulled a folded wheelchair from under his seat, and opened it with a bit of effort. He maneuvered himself into the wheelchair and got off the bus.

​Smith lived with his aunt in the slums. They had lived together ever since the fatal car accident on their way home from a family vacation. His parents were killed in the crash, and his legs were left crippled. His aunt, his father’s sister, was uneducated, but she worked various odd jobs just to put food on their table.

​Under normal circumstances, Smith rarely left the house due to his disability. His aunt’s frequent calls were simply out of concern, wanting to know where he was and what he was doing. However, Smith didn’t answer because he didn’t want to worry her. He was currently in the middle of the city—a place they rarely visited—and he had come today for a critical reason.

​More than a hundred years ago, the world experienced an abnormal solar eclipse, plunging the entire planet into darkness for three days. On the day the sun returned, portal-like wormholes suddenly appeared across the globe.

​Scientists initially announced it as a natural anomaly—perhaps a new source of energy. They conducted intense research on the portals, leading to massive technological breakthroughs within a single year. People thought the portals were a gift from the gods, unaware that it was merely the calm before the storm.

​Creatures soon began pouring out of the portals. As governments were overwhelmed, a group of awakened individuals calling themselves Chess Players emerged. They possessed the ability to summon extraordinary beings to fight alongside humanity. Together with the military, they managed to push back the monsters.

​After years of fighting, world order was re-established. However, governments soon realized that the Chess Players had turned their influence into political power. They had grown so strong that military forces could no longer control them. Governments were forced into collaborative partnerships with these individuals.

​Over time, powerful families, clans, and gangs emerged, employing these Awakened individuals. By the time governments tried to copy their recruitment strategies, it was too late—the factions had solidified their power and won the hearts of the public by saving them during the crisis. Today, cities all around the world are effectively controlled by Awakened factions. While governments still maintain their own Awakened forces, they struggle to match the deep foundations of the major factions.

​In this modern era, almost everyone desires to awaken as a Chess Player, but the risks are extreme. To awaken, one must undergo an Awakening Trial, where their consciousness is transported to a different dimension to complete a set task. If you succeed, you awaken as a Chess Player. However, if you die or fail the task, your consciousness dies completely, and your physical body loses all life signals in the real world.

​The proper age to attempt the Awakening Trial is between 18 and 20. During this window, a person can attempt the trial at any time, but after age 20, the opportunity is lost forever. According to various sources, the casualty rate of the Awakening Trial is as high as 80%. Because of this, ordinary people with stable lives rarely gamble with their lives. Even hot-blooded youths and those from wealthy Awakened backgrounds—despite extensive preparation—face high mortality rates.

​To enter a trial, a person must make physical contact with an Awakening Stele. These steles are usually retrieved from cleared portals (now commonly called dungeons). Steles are not consumed upon use, making them reusable resources rather than rare commodities.

​In the city of Everest—jointly ruled by the local government and the powerful Browns family—both factions have established areas where ordinary people can access these steles. Known as Awakening Platforms, these centers double as recruitment hubs. Factions offer specific pre-trial training to candidates who commit to joining them afterward.

​Alternatively, there are Free Awakening Platforms managed by the government. They offer no prior training or assistance, but if a candidate successfully awakens, they become a free agent—able to take on independent tasks for money without being bound to any faction.

​As Smith made his way toward his target destination, his phone rang again. It was his aunt. He let it ring until it went silent. He loved her deeply, but he knew she would stop him if she found out what he was about to do.

​He arrived at a simple building labeled: Everest Public Awakening Center.

​Today was Smith’s 18th birthday, and this had been his destination from the start. If he succeeded in awakening, he could earn enough money to cure his legs and give his aunt a good life. If he failed, he would at least free her from the burden of caring for him. Ever since his disability, she had done everything—cooking, cleaning, washing his clothes—while working low-paying jobs late into the night.

​Most of their money went toward his medical expenses. While advanced medical technology existed that could fully heal his legs, it was far too expensive. They had chosen a secondary option: an expensive ongoing treatment that preserved his leg tissue, keeping them healthy even if non-functional. When doctors had originally wanted to amputate, his aunt decisively refused, selling Smith’s late father’s house to afford the preservation treatment. She had sacrificed everything for him.

​Entering the lobby, Smith rolled up to the reception desk. The building was modestly decorated, staffed only by a janitor and a receptionist around his age.

​The girl looked at Smith in his wheelchair and asked, "Have you come for the Awakening Trial?"

​Smith nodded. "Yes. I’ve come for the trial."

​After scanning him visually for a few seconds without further comment, the girl stood up. "Follow me."

​She led Smith to an elevator and up to the second floor. Exiting into a large room, Smith immediately noticed a pillar-like structure in the center. It pulsed with glowing, mysterious symbols like a beating heart. Even without prior experience, he knew this was the Awakening Stele.

​The receptionist guided him toward the one responsible ,he was casually scrolling on his phone and laughing. After she whispered in his ear, the man looked at Smith. Seeing the wheelchair, he asked no questions—though he visibly doubted how well a crippled youth could perform in a trial. Still, since the boy had made his choice, the man didn’t pry.

​Standing up, the guard motioned for Smith to follow him toward the stele. "Since you’ve made it this far, I assume you know the risks. I won’t judge your choice, but a sincere warning: don’t act rashly inside the trial. Observe your environment first. To begin, just place your hand on the stele. The rest is up to you."

​Without hesitation, Smith placed his hand on the stele.

​The mysterious symbols flared with blinding light. As the glow faded, Smith slumped forward into a deep sleep state. The man and receptionist lifted his physical body onto a nearby bed. The girl returned to her post downstairs while the man resumed scrolling on his phone, treating it as an everyday occurrence.

​Meanwhile, Smith’s consciousness was pulled into a vast, boundaryless white void. Suddenly, a translucent interface appeared before him:

​Welcome to the Awakening Trial.

Do you wish to participate?

[ YES ] [ NO ]

​Without a moment’s hesitation, Smith selected YES.

​Instantly, his world went completely dark.