The next day, James left home early before his sisters woke up and made his way into the city.
"After working odd jobs for over a year...I've finally saved enough to awaken."
He stopped at a large building with bold, glowing initials — AA — engraved at the top.
"If I'm able to become at least a level 3 Awakener, I can finally start earning enough money from Void Breaks."
James steeled himself and stepped through the massive glass doors. The interior was just as polished...as the exterior—gleaming marble floors…high ceilings, and an expansive lobby filled with people. Most wore battle gear, clearly seasoned combatants. But by the far side of the room, civilians like James — wearing casual clothes — stood in a long, quiet line.
He joined the queue and waited until it was his turn.
He walked up to the counter where a clerk sat, eyes still locked on her glowing monitor.
"Welcome to the Awakeners Association. How may we help you today?" she greeted, her voice polite but routine.
"Yes, I am here to take the Awakening Exam," James said.
She pointed at the digital pad embedded in the counter. James tapped his wristband and placed it against the glowing screen.
Beep.
40,000 CP sent.
As soon as the clerk confirmed the transfer, she gestured toward a hallway.
"Take the door at the end…"
James sighed and walked down the hall. His wristband buzzed—notification incoming
CP Balance: 3,075
He clenched his jaw.
He opened the door at the end and entered what looked like a classroom. Several people were already seated — nine others in total. Six males. Three females. James quietly took a seat at the back.
Before long, a woman soon entered from the front.
"I will try to keep this brief," she said, her tone sharp and direct.
"I am Miss Donna, your Awakening Supervisor. I'm sure you know why you're here, but regardless, it's mandatory to educate you all on what you're getting into."
She cleared her throat and tapped a control. A massive holographic projection flared to life, stretching across the front wall of the room. Footage of a chaotic world flickered into view — cities in flames, civilians screaming, creatures erupting from glowing rifts.
"Ten years ago, Void Cracks first appeared on Earth, plunging the world into chaos… A lot of people lost their lives and families to the monsters that poured out from these rifts."
She paused as the screen shifted to scenes of soldiers failing to take down monstrous beasts.
"We don't know why, but killing monsters is almost impossible with human technology. The only way to stop them effectively is with this…"
The projection changed again, revealing a sleek, glowing weapon pulsing with energy.
"Void Weapons. These weapons, made from a special material called Energy Ore and developed by the AUN, brought hope to the world. Through them, the age of the Awakeners began — warriors who fight back against the monsters threatening our existence."
The screen flickered off. Donna's gaze swept over the group.
"I'm sure all of you have your reasons for wanting to become an Awakened — whether it be for fame, validation, or wealth. An Awakener earns that and more… But remember, it's also one of the most dangerous jobs in the world."
She clapped her hands together.
"Alright, let's see if you all have what it takes to Awaken."
The group stood up and followed Donna through the same door she had entered from.
They descended a narrow hallway into a vast underground facility. Everyone stared in awe, their eyes fixed on the enormous chamber sealed behind a glowing translucent barrier.
James' gaze locked on the anomaly at the center.
"I guess that's a Void Crack."
Donna stopped at a door — the entrance to the armory.
"Change into your safety armor and pick a weapon that you believe fits you," she instructed before descending an escalator to the lower level.
James was the first to step into the room, the others following behind. It was lined with racks of armor and weaponry, the most common choices among Awakeners — swords, spears, daggers, and more.
He selected a suit in his size and brushed his hand across its surface. The armor was soft to the touch, yet somehow felt more durable than steel.
"They were able to sew Energy Ore into a carbon fiber outfit."
"Move it."
A voice snapped behind him, pushing him slightly. James barely flinched. He turned around to see a cocky high schooler — no older than his sisters — glaring at him.
James sighed and ignored him, walking toward the changing room with the armor in hand.
But the boy, Kade, wasn't done. He grabbed James by the shoulder.
"Don't ignore me, you jackass!" Kade yelled, drawing attention from the others.
Kade flashed a grin, glancing toward the three girls in the room — though none of them seemed remotely interested.
"I was looking for the perfect bait to impress those ladies."
"Tch…" he scoffed when they didn't respond.
"Can you let go?" James asked flatly, glancing at the hand on his shoulder.
"Huh…" Kade finally took a proper look at James — his rough clothes, his quiet confidence.
"You're even a resident from Zone C… and you dare interrupt me? Know your place!" he shouted and threw a jab at James.
James caught the punch with ease.
"You know, I tend to get pissed off when punks like you look down on Zone C residents."
His mind flickered to the sight of his sisters, covered in bruises and wrapped in blood-stained bandages.
James' expression shifted — his eyes turned cold, his grip tightening around Kade's fist.
"He didn't mean no harm," Kade's friend, Jide, stepped in quickly.
James looked at Jide, then at the others now staring at him.
He released Kade's hand and walked toward the changing room.
Kade stared at his hand, now red and throbbing.
"What kind of insane strength does he have…?"
---
Once everyone changed into their gear, they gathered by the escalator and descended to the chamber floor.
"Seeing it up close… this place is huge," James thought, taking in the vast room.
Donna didn't waste time. She led them toward a heavily reinforced wall with several doors lined along it.
"Okay," she said. "Inside these doors are low-level monsters. You are not allowed to leave until you awaken, because you won't be getting a refund."
"What do you mean we won't get a refund?" someone protested.
"Yeah, what if we get injured or something dangerous happens?" another shouted.
Donna sighed, her expression sharpening.
"That shouldn't be a problem. The room is programmed to send out one monster at a time, so you won't be critically injured. If you still find it difficult to awaken, even under these controlled conditions…" Her voice grew colder. "Then you never stood a shot at becoming an Awakener."
Murmurs stopped. Silence followed.
Everyone moved toward their respective doors.
James stepped into his chamber. A red light scanned his body. A holographic display flickered above.
Low-Level Monster Eliminated: 0
Time: 00:00
The door in front of him opened. A goblin burst through, snarling as it lunged at him.
"It's fast."
James drew his void weapon from its scabbard. The goblin leapt, jaws wide, teeth gleaming — but James sidestepped and swung downward, decapitating it cleanly.
Low-Level Monster Eliminated: 1
Time: 00:15
The door opened again. Another goblin charged.
James dropped into a ready stance, blade low and steady.
---
Time passed.
The scent of blood filled the room. Goblin corpses lay scattered across the floor beneath James' feet.
Another goblin emerged. James, now breathing heavier, swung downward again. His blade split the creature in two. James wiped the blood off his cheek panting slightly.
Then—
A sharp throb ran through his body.
He felt his skin burning up. His vision began blurring and his legs wobbled trying to keep balance.
"Arghh… it hurts real badly," James grunted, grabbing his head as it pounded.
The display turned red.
Detected: User has Awakened. Please exit the room.
James sheathed his weapon and stepped out, his balance still unstable.
Another participant — a girl — also exited her room, moving sluggishly.
Donna, monitoring from a nearby station, rushed over to them.
"It's okay if you feel dizzy. Your body is still trying to evolve. It'll subside in a minute."
She guided them to a bench, then returned to her station, monitoring the rest of the participants in the room.
As she checked the screens, her fingers froze as she blinked in shock.
"Are you kidding… what's with this absurd record.". she muttered, her eyes still fixed on the screen.
Room 1: Kade Mossberg — Awakening in Progress — Monsters Killed: 3 — Time: 6:07
Room 2: Jide Smith — Awakening in Progress — Monsters Killed: 4 — Time: 6:07
Room 3: Sophia Zubairu — Awakening Achieved — Monsters Killed: 9 — Time: 5:42
Room 4: James Conor — Awakening Achieved — Monsters Killed: 12 — Time: 5:52