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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Awakener Rank Measurement (1)
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A month had passed since the day Kang Sa-hu awakened.
News reports poured in nonstop about gates erupting worldwide, just like in Korea, and with them came a surge in the number of people awakening.
Surprisingly, the Korean government had gotten ahead of other nations, uncovering and officially releasing information on gates and awakeners.
Awakeners had ranks, they explained, and gates' danger levels could be gauged by the energy they emitted—along with the exotic minerals and plants that emerged from them.
Naturally, other world leaders grilled them on how they'd obtained such intel so quickly, but the president dismissed it as classified information, refusing to elaborate.
In the meantime, more gates cropped up, but teams of military-born awakeners wrapped things up before any full breaks could occur.
Some folks grew suspicious of the government's swift handling and tried digging for dirt, but that suspicion didn't last long.
As time wore on, the number of people questioning or investigating the government dwindled away.
Society had shut down schools and offices for a while after the initial outbreaks, but like adaptable animals, it absorbed the facts about gates and awakeners, now easing back toward normalcy.
And during that time...
Kang Sa-hu had pored over NewTube videos, news outlets, and even research papers on awakeners and gates, deeply pondering his own abilities and the path his life would take.
'Gates will keep popping up no matter what, so hunters are essential. And here, I can wield my powers freely without a second thought.'
Kang Sa-hu clenched and unclenched his fist as his thoughts continued.
It was a grandiose dream he'd long since abandoned because everyone said it was impossible.
A dream he'd conformed to reality by choosing to become a mortician and promptly forgotten.
'The necromancer steps into the light.'
Feeling his heart race, Kang Sa-hu glanced at his phone blaring a siren.
"Ughhh...?"
Soon after, Kang Ji-ye shuffled out of her room, eyes puffy and swollen.
She was making her sluggish way through the living room toward Kang Sa-hu's bedroom when she spotted him sitting quietly on the sofa and jumped in surprise.
"Damn, you scared me!"
"You awake?"
"How could I not be? With texts blowing up like this."
Beep! Beep!
Beep! Beep!
As if worried someone might miss the sound or wake up only to nod off again, texts arrived every minute with that piercing siren.
The message directed people from each district to assemble at a designated school's auditorium.
It even noted, 'Official notices have already been sent to workplaces and schools, so everyone please attend.'
"Whether you're working or in school, they say come no matter what. Guess something huge really did go down."
"Huge is right. With all those deaths. Oh, remember what I told you before?"
"Yeah, I do. Be honest about your abilities but downplay them by one rank, right? And look, they're really gonna check our powers like you said."
After one last reminder to Kang Ji-ye before heading out, the prepared pair set off for their assigned school.
Even at 7 a.m., the school gates were swarmed with people who looked like awakeners, their families, soldiers, and reporters.
"What ability did you awaken with, by any chance?"
"Why are we all gathering here? Heard anything?"
"Do awakeners see regular folks as evolutionary rejects and hold some sense of superiority? Is that true?"
"What do you think about awakeners committing crimes left and right?"
As flashes popped and mics shoved in, awakeners bolted toward the auditorium.
Soldiers yelled and physically blocked them, but plenty of reporters clutched impacted spots, yelling "Soldiers assaulting press!" or "Who do you think you are?"
Kang Sa-hu, who had foreseen the chaos, signaled Kang Ji-ye with a glance to pull up her hood—which she was already wearing—then tugged his own down.
"Whoa, bro, you're amazing. You predicted this mess?"
"Just a hunch. Seen it in movies."
He shrugged it off casually, but Kang Ji-ye inwardly marveled at how her brother suddenly seemed anything but ordinary.
Once past the chaotic entrance, they reached the auditorium, where entry was via QR code scan.
Scanning the code from the text let them in, revealing nearly a hundred people scattered about freely.
"All these folks are awakeners? That's a ton."
"Nationwide count came in at 200,000 total. And this is Seoul, so yeah, more than elsewhere."
Kang Ji-ye rattled it off smoothly—she'd been staying up late gathering info from NewTube for weeks.
"200,000? Insane. With 50 million people here... wait, no, that's about 0.4%."
As they chatted, soldiers rounded up the scattered crowd, lined them up, and handed out chairs.
Everyone settled into the familiar convenience-store plastic seats as a massive beam projector screen descended.
When it flickered on, a hooded woman appeared on screen, hood pulled low.
"Hello. I awakened as a Prophet for this event. At the government's request, I've agreed to assist with this crisis."
The word "prophet" drew stares of fascination toward the screen.
But the prophet wasted no time, pressing on before stray thoughts could wander.
"The government is doing everything to safeguard the nation using my abilities and our tech. One key effort is recognizing awakeners as hunters and ranking them by power and potential."
Her words flowed smoothly until she dipped her head slightly.
"The gate breaks so far are just the beginning. Countless more gates will emerge, growing stronger over time."
Awakeners murmured at the confirmation of endless gates ahead.
But she barreled on as if time was short.
"Most critically, one month from now—a C-rank gate will open in Sejong City."
"C... C-rank...?"
"Wait, didn't they need tanks just to suppress that E-rank break overseas recently...?"
"C-rank's two whole steps higher? And we gotta stop that?"
The crowd buzzed with fear at the gate ranks.
As if watching them, the prophet nodded.
"I know many of you are alarmed, but it's true. I only see the C-rank gate emerging—nothing about how many others might open besides. That's why we must prepare to avert this crisis as fast as possible within the month."
The prophet's voice quavered faintly.
Even through the screen, her body trembled visibly—not a normal or comfortable sight.
Most were baffled by the shaking, but Kang Sa-hu and Kang Ji-ye—with necromancer knowledge—as well as a few sharp awakeners caught the meaning.
She was pushing her ability to the limit, viewing the future while narrating it live.
Gasping as if struggling to continue, sweat beaded under her deep hood, but her mouth didn't stop.
"To do that, you all need to understand your own powers and strength first. You'll receive instructions on how shortly, so please stay calm."
Her breaths grew visibly ragged, and with a final strained wrap-up, she collapsed sideways.
The camera jerked away amid a rush of people flooding in from off-screen.
Beep.
The projector shut off as a soldier took the stage.
Beside him, burly troops hauled in a sleek black stone about the size of a water cooler.
"Greetings. I'm Lieutenant Han Si-yeon. Please come forward one by one and place your hand on this 'Monolith.' I'll demonstrate first."
Finishing, Lieutenant Han Si-yeon stepped up to the black stone.
She placed her hand on it without hesitation, and the stone sucked in her hand's mana.
Complex numbers and writhing unknown script danced across its surface like living things, until readable text etched onto the rectangular stone's side.
The crowd gasped and murmured at the text on the Monolith.
First time seeing it in person, but with media leaks on awakener info, everyone grasped its purpose: quantifying abilities precisely, not vague self-assessment.
Awakened to why they'd been summoned, they eyed the Monolith with interest.
Lieutenant Han Si-yeon removed her hand, and the text faded smoothly.
"As you see, the Monolith gauges an awakener's exact status. Don't worry—we won't display yours publicly like this."
One awakener raised a hand at her explanation.
"Why do we have to do this? Whatever power I got, I'm done fighting those monsters."
A fair rattled question, but Lieutenant Han Si-yeon answered steadily, as if expecting it.
"Think of it as for Korea's public safety. Use your power or not, you're all superhumans beyond regular folk now."
She scanned the awakeners intently.
"Plus, as the prophet foresaw, gates—monster portals—will keep appearing. When they do, it won't be a choice between fighting or not; it'll be do-or-die survival."
Her eyes narrowed.
"We respect your freedom, so we won't force you to fight. But skip awakener registration for national security, and you'll face penalties."
"What? You threatening us?"
The sharp retort irked one awakener.
But Lieutenant Han Si-yeon just shook her head calmly.
"No threat—just facts. Say an arson happens, and a fire-wielding awakener was nearby."
She locked eyes with the irate one.
"Unresolved crime, suspicions on that awakener. Registered or hidden—which looks guiltier?"
"..."
The loudmouth shut up.
Faint heat rose from his clenched fist, then fizzled.
Observing quietly, Han Si-yeon shrugged.
"As I said, purely for public safety data. Monolith info won't be misused otherwise. The nation guarantees it."
"That last bit kills the trust..."
A mutter rippled, but everyone pretended not to hear.
Clearing her throat to reset the mood, she stood at ease.
"We'll now proceed with awakener ability checks. Called names, come up in order."
Screens shielded the Monolith so others couldn't peek.
Watching folks ascend the stage, Kang Ji-ye sighed deeply.
"What now? Can't hide my power like you said. The whole world'll know my amazing, kind healing!"
"..."
Kang Sa-hu eyed her with a flat look.
She giggled at his face, but he couldn't crack a smile.
'Awakened recently?'
The prophet on stage had claimed she awakened for this crisis.
Yet the government's handling over the past month was too sharp.
If Kang Sa-hu's hunch held...
That prophet had awakened much earlier, clearly.
And if so, it explained the government's edge: intel no one else had, proactive gate threat response.
"...Hmm."
Kang Sa-hu stroked his chin, eyes narrowing.
A faint blue-green gleam flickered in his gaze.
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