In 2020 the first Bridge appeared at Mount Elbrus in Russia.
Scientists believed these bridges were portals to different dimensions.
But it wasn't the bridges that caused the world unrest.
It was the monsters that emerged from these them.
This erupted a third world war, with countries rising up with their military forces to defend earth.
The army tried everything but these monsters couldn't be killed by man-made weapons.
More bridges began to appear at various parts of the world.
Mankind was at the brink of extinction until they had a breakthrough.
When monsters die, they leave behind power crystals.
These crystals are then refined into weapons that were capable of killing monsters.
Over the course of the years since the appearance of bridges and monsters, people started coming out.
People with awakened abilities were hired by licensed modern day guilds to kill monsters and be rewarded handsomely.
Such people were called Rangers.
Rangers became the most valued individuals on earth.
They rake in money for the guilds as well as granted protection to non-awakened civilians.
Twenty years had passed and mankind had advanced in technology to defend himself against monsters.
However, despite the government's best efforts, they couldn't stop these bridges from appearing nor was the origin of the bridges known.
* * * *
The INFINITE GUILD was crowded with lively activities when the door suddenly opened, and a young man entered.
"Hey, check it out. It's Harry, the chicken," someone called out.
Everyone sneered and wrinkled their noses in disgust as Harry walked passed them.
"Ew, he smells," a blondie snapped. "Does he even bath?"
"He reeks of poverty, that's for sure," another person jeered. "I wouldn't want him on my party. Look at him. He's a walking skelton. My dog would eat him for breakfast."
"Har—har, very funny," the rest of the Rangers broke out in laughter.
Harry dragged his feet towards the receptionist counter, looking like a dejected wet hen.
He couldn't even look up straight.
Everywhere he went, it was clear from the first sight that he was not just poor but weak.
In today's world, it was a grave sin to be weak.
It was an abomination for a Ranger to be poor, and Harry was the poorest of the lot.
"Good evening, Sheila," Harry said to the receptionist. "Are there any E-rank requests available?"
Sheila shook her head sadly. "Sorry Harry. There hasn't been an E-rank request for the last three months. The monsters have been more intense lately this season. Only B and C-ranked requests are available."
Harry clenched his teeth. If things go on like this, he and his mother would starve to death.
He only took up E-rank jobs because they were the easiest at his level to complete.
An E-rank jobs pays less than others but the money helps him to get by his daily expenses and his mother's medicine.
Sheila looked compassionately at Harry. "Harry, if it's money, I could lend you some. You don't have to go hunting."
Harry gave her a sheepish smile. "I appreciate your concern, Sheila, but no, thanks. I still owe you $30,000."
"I don't mind," Sheila said softly.
"You're a good friend Sheila," Harry rubbed the back of his head. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to earn some money. I must do what I can."
Sheila bite her lips. One of these days, she feared Harry was going to kill himself.
Mages are a horribly weak class. They have the lowest health stats and no combat skills.
They are incredibly fragile; a few solid hits can end a mage before they've even begun to cast their spells.
In Harry's case, he was just too weak. He was reputably the weakest mage in Sun city.
No Rangers wanted him in their party. That's why he does solo quests.
Sheila considered it a miracle he hasn't been killed yet by the E-rank monsters he fought.
Suddenly the city's alarm blew, startling the Rangers out of their wits.
"Rangers, listen up," a pretty girl said from the announcer. "This is an emergency request. All rangers, regardless of ranks are expected to be at Zone C downtown. There has been a BREAK-IN."
When monsters by-passes the city's magic barrier, designed to ward off monsters, a BREAK-IN has occured.
BREAK-IN's usually happens once or twice a year.
The guild rangers looked at each other, uncertain of themselves.
"A BREAK-IN by this time of the season?"
"You're kidding."
"Such a pain in the ass."
The girl announced again. "Announcements, inorder to motivate you guys, the guild master has promised to award each ranger $1000 for each kill."
As expected, this news fired the rangers up and they roared with enthusiasm.
Harry's eyes lit up. $1000 per kill?
"This is a perfect opportunity to earn some real money," Harry said to Sheila. "I'll join the others."
Sheila had a bad feeling about this. "B-but Harry, you've never done a BREAK-IN before."
"Don't worry," Harry was already heading towards the exit. "I'll only fight the weakest monsters I can find. If it gets too much for me to handle, I'll run for safety."
Sheila clutched her chest. Her heart was pounding hard against her ribs. "Please, come back alive, Harry," she shouted.
"I won't die," Harry winked at her and ran out.
* * * *
"I'M DEAD," Harry's whimpered, his jaws dropping. "I am so DEAD!"
People were screaming and running for their dear lives. The only people charging forward were the ranger.
But now, even the rangers are standing still, petrified by the monsters infront of them.
The Scythe-Claw mantis were A-ranked monsters, twice the height of an average man.
These monsters attack with lightening fast strikes.
They bore blade-like claws that could tear down a human in halves with one powerful strike.
To Harry's horror, these mantis numbered over a hundred, and they were closing in fast.
"What the hell was I thinking?" Harry ran away. "I'm an E-rank Ranger. There's no way in hell I can kill those bugs. I must hide. I'll only survive if I hide."
Suddenly, Harry felt something impale him from behind.
A chill rushed throughout his system as he glanced down.
His face sagged with dread at the sharp claw of a mantis that had stabbed him through his stomach.
He couldn't look back, couldn't meet the eyes of the monster which hissed behind him.
"Oh my God," Harry shivered. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!"
The mantis pulled out its claws and chopped off Harry's limbs with lightening speed.
Harry dropped to the ground in the pool of his own blood.
He could see the other Rangers being slaughtered and eaten alive.
These bugs are strong enough to take out an army. The rangers weren't strong enough to defeat them.
"Send for an S-ranked hunter," a B-ranked ranger cried out. "We can't defeat these bugs alone. There's too many of them."
"Is this how I'm going to die?" Harry said in a low voice. "Oh, I see. It was always going to end up like this."
Harry recalled his mother's voice loud and clear in his head.
"Quit being a ranger and get a safer job."
"You'll get yourself killed. I can't afford to lose you like I lost your father."
"You're not cut out to be a hunter, Harry. Just stop."
Those were her words but Harry didn't listen.
The world was a cruel place. You either survive or you get killed.
Tears smarted Harry's eyes. "I became a ranger so I can protect my mom. If I die, she'll be left alone in this cruel world."
Harry's eyes became blurry and his breathing thinner.
He had lost so much blood. He only had a few seconds to live.
"I need more power," he coughed out blood. "I need to stay alive. For the sake of my mom."
Struggling with his last effort, he yelled. "That is why, I can't die here."
Suddenly time froze. The screaming and noise in the city ceased. The rumbles, the monsters, the rangers stood still.
Then a luminescent screen appeared before his face:
[DO YOU ACCEPT TO BECOME AN ARCHMAGE AND SAVE THE WORLD?
You have 60 seconds before your heart stopped beating.....
YES/NO...]