Chapter 1 - Prologue

In 1980, something extraordinary happened - an anomaly that defied all understanding of human science knowledge so far. For reasons unbeknownst to us, two universes collided, creating a rift in the fabric of space and time. This collision birthed dimensional gates across the globe. In various countries, these gates emerged, and with them, an unsettling presence made itself known.

From the depths of these gates, demonic creatures emerged. Strangely reminiscent of dogs, yet with a size akin to baby elephants, they possessed a ferocity that surpassed the wildest imaginations. Their jaws, robust and formidable, bore sharp fangs capable of tearing through steel as effortlessly as a knife through butter. Their claws, pointed and razor-sharp, could rend even the toughest materials. Their strength allowed them to crush a human skull as easily as one would obliterate a watermelon under a hydraulic press.

Among the demonic creatures, some took on a humanoid form, resembling humans but with an eerie pitch black aura that surround their bodies, this aura was like flames, but it was pitch black in color more like black flames engulfing their bodies. Their bodies bore a deep, shadowy hue, accented by piercing crimson eyes and long, flowing black hair. However, their resemblance to humanity was merely superficial, as they possessed an extraordinary ability to manipulate nature itself called magic. 

The fate of humanity seemed dire; conventional means of defense proved futile against these otherworldly monsters. Bullets, once considered a shield against danger, were rendered ineffective. It wasn't that the creatures were immortal, but rather their capability to conjure a protective barrier deflected bullets and rendered missiles useless. The magic-infused barrier proved impenetrable; not even a scratch could be inflicted upon it.

In the rare event that a creature sustained injury, their mastery of healing magic allowed them to regenerate at a pace far beyond human comprehension. This power became a double-edged sword, as those who faced them in battle either succumbed to death or faced a life marred by disability, unable to escape their inevitable demise. The balance of power had shifted, leaving humanity teetering on the brink of despair.

The once towering skyscrapers, symbols of a developed nation's prowess, the marvels of the world, bridges that connected cities, houses that stood as homes, farms that fed the population, and schools that nurtured young minds - all obliterated in the blink of an eye. As far as the eye could see, the landscape was transformed into a haunting panorama of devastation. Debris littered every corner, fallen buildings cast long shadows over desolate streets, and lifeless bodies were scattered, some trapped within the remains of what was once familiar.

The cityscape, once vibrant with human activity, now lay in ruins. The once rivers, now tainted with a ghastly hue, flowed like veins of crimson running through the heart of the fallen metropolis. The water itself had become a haunting red, a ghostly silence broken only by the occasional creaking of ruined structures and the mournful whispers of the wind carrying the pain of the humans who survived. 

After a few months, half of the population perished worldwide. The surviving humans began living in groups, similar to early human civilizations, near freshwater sources. The deceased humans' bodies became food for demonic creatures. It became overwhelming for the creatures to the point that, after some time, they stopped actively killing humans. Instead, they waited for them to repopulate, aiming to maintain a balance between the population and their food source. These demonic monsters eventually claimed the earth as their new home.

These demonic monsters were of low rank and intelligence, akin to creatures in the animal kingdom from a human perspective. However, lurking in the shadows, they obediently followed the commands of lesser demons or highly intelligent demons.

But amidst the ongoing battle, while the war raged on, five individuals from each country across the globe were mysteriously transported to a tower. After several months, they inexplicably returned to Earth, and a remarkable transformation had occurred within them. Their bodies now showing the skills similar to, and even surpassing, those of the demonic monsters.

These individuals had become superhumans, endowed with powers that exceeded human limits. This time it was a clash of magic against magic. The five individuals from each country led the charge, using their new abilities to vanquish the demonic monsters that had invaded Earth and threatened their homelands. 

These five superhumans later became known as the first-generation hunters. Everything started anew after the end; it was a new beginning. These five first-generation hunters formed the five families and the five bloodlines. These bloodlines were comprised of direct descendants of the first-generation hunters. Subsequently, these five families replaced the government, becoming the holders of power and the governing body of the nation. This tradition soon spread to every country, establishing a new order of governance across the world.

However, this dimensional rift was not completely closed, and danger still lingers to the present day. From time to time, these rifts open, and monsters start to crawl through them. Members of these five families step in to stop them each time. To become a hunter, one gets summoned to mysterious tall tower whose height approx. 1 KM, where they receive a System that grants them skills. After completing their training in that tower, they return to Earth.

However, not everyone or every human gets a chance to become a hunter. The selection is based on certain factors. Many of them cannot become hunters and live their lives as normal humans until their last breath.

The criteria for selecting humans to summon into a tower remains unknown, but researchers, after years of study and collecting data nationwide in 1990, made a significant discovery. They found that individuals whose age is less than 18 possess a unique stigma in their eyes. By activating this stigma, they can be summoned to a tower.

However, the appearance of this stigma on their eyes occurred randomly on any given day. The unpredictability of when the stigma would manifest created the uncertainty to the lives of those potentially selected for summoning into a tower.