『 [Breaking News] US acknowledges the existence of the Tower! The official term for returnees is ‘Player’! 』
The moment the world's superpower, the USA, acknowledged the existence of the Tower, all global embargoes were lifted.
The existence of the 'Tower', which had been secretly kept under wraps by governments around the world, was now exposed to the masses.
『 A Tower consisting of 66 floors? If we don't climb, humanity will perish? Shocking revelations from the White House spokesperson! 』
『 The Korean government points to the ‘Tower’ as the cause of the series of mysterious disappearances that have been happening. 』
It was revealed that the consecutive disappearances had been orchestrated by a divine entity.
Moreover, this 'abduction' incident wasn't the first. As per the US government, it had happened at least 650 times. Considering that all summoned individuals were from the same country...
The total number of people summoned to the Tower globally is staggering.
『 Sitting US Vice President reveals he returned from the Tower. 』
Adding fuel to the fire was the Vice President of the USA.
He demonstrated the ability to create ice out of thin air in front of reporters, which instantly garnered a hundred million views on NewTube.
In short, the response was explosive.
- Is this even real? Do they think this is some fiction?
- If you don't believe it, check out the video on NewTube of the US Vice President creating ice!
- So, are we getting gates now? What if goblins appear in front of our houses?
- I went to buy a baseball bat, and there were at least three others like me. Stock up in advance.
While Koreans, familiar with various media about the 'Tower', had a milder reaction,
The response in the Western world, including Europe, was much more intense.
- If the Vice President isn't insane, does this mean a deity is really trying to wipe out humanity?
- Is this the 'Judgment Day' mentioned in the Bible?
- So, are we all going to die?
- We should. It's God's will.
The West has a significant Christian and Catholic population.
Debates ensued about whether this was the act of a real god or some transcendent entity.
Some extremists even suggested accepting annihilation as it was the will of God.
- But I'm not even sure if this so-called tower really exists.
Of course, many people didn't believe in the existence of the Tower.
- Don't webtoons and web novels depict a tower somewhere in the Pacific? But where is this tower these lunatics are talking about?
Firstly, the Tower didn't physically exist, at least not on Earth.
Despite all human technology, the Tower couldn't be observed. Only testimonies from the survivors existed.
But those testimonies were consistent, and the fact that survivors gained special abilities added to their credibility.
To ordinary people, the 'Tower' felt like a mythical creature.
- Why can't these returnees just say what was inside the Tower? Are they afraid their lies will be exposed?
One of the reasons people doubted the existence of the Tower was that survivors kept silent about its interior.
The Tower's existence was acknowledged, but no one had spoken of its insides. It seemed as if the survivors were trying to benefit solely.
Of course, from the perspective of the survivors, this was maddening.
- Do you think we're not talking because we don't want to? Or because you can't hear or see it?
They were constantly talking about the Tower.
- I told my mom about what happened in the tutorial, and she said I just stopped suddenly. When I posted on an online community, it only got 3 views.
- But we're talking freely about the tutorial right now, aren't we?
- That's the problem. It seems only those who haven't been to the Tower can't see this comment.
The returnees from the Tower were acting entirely rationally.
They tried to spread the word about their experiences in the Tower by contacting media houses and using online communities.
- I've been consistently posting about the tutorial on various communities, but hardly anyone reads it. Occasionally, someone does, and that person also turned out to have been to the Tower.
But all their efforts were in vain.
Ordinary people were unaware that the returnees were even trying to talk about the Tower. It's like a situation in a game where the system prevents certain actions.
You could say basic things about the Tower, such as it having 66 floors, that humanity will perish if we don't climb it, or that the Tower is God's judgment.
However, mentioning what happened inside the Tower was absolutely impossible.
But, as they say, humans are thinking creatures. Some tried to use a workaround to reveal what happened inside the Tower.
When we try to mention the tutorial, it appears to outsiders as if we just stop speaking, right? Can't we use that to our advantage?
I've asked a friend to list about a thousand words related to the Tower. My friend will show me each word.
If I recognize a word from the Tower, I'll nod, and if not, I'll shake my head. So, if I appear to stop at certain words, my friend can figure out what's in the Tower based on that, right?
- Are you a genius?
- That's a great idea! Using the fact that we stop when we try to mention the Tower.
Someone did try to use this logic to spread information about the tutorial.
However, the outcome was disastrous.
When we tried the experiment, it wasn't me, but my friend who stopped. Soon after, my friend forgot about our experiment entirely. It seems they've blocked every workaround. Let's just give up, guys.
No matter what method was used, one couldn't convey the story of the Tower's interior to those who hadn't been there.
The inside of the Tower remained a complete mystery.
For about a month, people around the world passionately debated the topic of the Tower.
Every news segment covered the Tower, online communities discussed the Tower, and people talked about the Tower whenever they met.
But every craze eventually dies down, right?
After a massive upheaval, the world essentially divided into three groups:
1. Ordinary people who didn't believe in the Tower.
2. Ordinary people who believed in the Tower.
3. Survivors of the tutorial.
Public perception of the tutorial survivors was plummeting.
- Why won't these bastards climb the Tower? I've heard only a handful even entered the second floor!
- What's in the Tower that's so frightening? I get that there's danger, but humanity is on the brink of extinction!
- Would you risk your life? Plus, you don't know what's on the first floor, do you? You're just the unlucky ones who weren't chosen.
To start, the tutorial survivors didn't want to ascend to the 2nd floor.
Except for a few, like me, who comfortably passed through the Tower... almost everyone had endured the worst experience of their lives.
Some had traumas, and some even had permanent physical injuries.
Moreover, the 1st floor was practically a paradise. You could eat anything, do anything.
Except for the fact that you couldn't bring others, it was a place where you could enjoy anything imaginable.
Not many would forsake the immediate pleasures in front of them to suffer for others. And if you narrow it down to just the survivors, the number dwindles even more.
But from the perspective of the general public, this was sheer selfishness.
- So, if you guys don't act, we die? We have to die because of you?
- Let me take the tutorial. I'll break the Tower. Do we really need to entrust humanity's fate to such cowards?
People were infuriated at the thought of their lives hanging in the balance due to the inaction of others.
But that wasn't the only issue.
『 Rise in crimes by 'Players' worldwide. Is there really no countermeasure? 』
Survivors could open a portal to return to the 1st floor of the Tower anytime.
This meant... they could commit crimes and then escape to the Tower.
They had superior physical abilities and possessed supernatural powers beyond modern tech's reach.
Capturing these criminals, who would escape to the Tower the moment they were cornered, was impossible. 『 US Police advise caution against people with physical disabilities. Controversy over discrimination against the disabled arises. 』
A common trait among criminals who use supernatural abilities is that many of them have some physical disability or missing body part.
Presumably, this is because they committed such grave sins during the 'Judgment' in the tutorial that they had to pay with parts of their bodies. Of course, this is a realm that the general public cannot understand.
Regardless of the reasons, a global social trend of fearing the disabled emerged. Naturally, the disabled community responded with strong backlash.
Just a month after the true nature of the Tower was revealed, the world is descending into chaos.
People are suspicious of one another, living in fear, and fighting.
Yet, the Tower itself hasn't done anything.
It's not spewing out monsters nor threatening humanity. It simply exists somewhere.
"...sigh."
Seeing the situation develop to this extent, I was certain.
Even if God doesn't send down divine punishment directly...
If the Earth continues like this for just 10 more years, humanity will destroy itself.