The hospital room felt strangely quiet after the investigators placed the document on the table.
Auren stared at the paper for several seconds.
The bold words at the top were impossible to ignore.
World Gate Authority – Special Hunter Evaluation Program
The letters seemed heavier than normal ink.
Because they carried meaning.
Opportunity.
Danger.
Change.
Auren slowly looked up at Elena Richter.
"…What exactly does this evaluation involve?"
Elena folded her hands calmly.
"A series of tests."
"Physical ability, energy output, combat potential, and gate compatibility."
Dr. Malik adjusted his glasses.
"Most hunters only undergo a basic evaluation when they first register."
"But in rare cases…"
He paused slightly.
"…special assessments are required."
Garrick leaned against the wall with a faint grin.
"Basically they think you're weird."
Auren gave him a tired look.
"Thanks."
Elena ignored the interruption.
"We want to determine the true nature of your ability."
Auren hesitated.
The Eternal Gate System floated quietly in the corner of his vision.
No one else could see it.
Not Elena.
Not Dr. Malik.
Not even Garrick.
That meant one thing.
If the Authority investigated deeply enough…
They might eventually discover something strange.
But refusing the evaluation would only make things more suspicious.
So Auren finally nodded.
"…Alright."
"I'll do it."
Dr. Malik's expression brightened slightly.
"Excellent."
Elena stood up.
"Then we'll begin today."
Auren blinked.
"…Today?"
"Yes."
She glanced at her watch.
"The testing facility isn't far from here."
Garrick chuckled.
"Told you your life was about to get busy."
---
One Hour Later
The sleek black vehicle moved smoothly through the streets of Neo Aurora City.
Auren sat in the back seat, staring out the window as the city passed by.
The hospital had discharged him surprisingly quickly after the Authority intervened.
Apparently their authority allowed them to bypass most procedures.
The city looked even more massive from the car window.
Hundreds of towering skyscrapers.
Billboards displaying advertisements for hunter equipment.
Large digital screens broadcasting the latest dungeon raid news.
One of the screens showed something that made Auren blink.
A clip of the dungeon battle.
His dungeon battle.
Headline:
"Mystery Silver Hunter Appears in Neo Aurora Dungeon."
Garrick noticed his reaction.
"Too late to hide now."
Auren sighed softly.
"…I really didn't want attention."
Elena spoke from the front seat.
"Attention is unavoidable for strong hunters."
Auren frowned slightly.
"I'm not strong."
Garrick laughed loudly.
"You stabbed a boss monster through the heart."
"That's strong enough."
The car finally slowed.
Ahead of them stood an enormous building.
Tall.
Wide.
Made almost entirely of reinforced steel and glass.
A large symbol was displayed above the entrance.
The emblem of the World Gate Authority.
Auren stepped out of the vehicle slowly.
The building felt imposing.
More like a fortress than a research facility.
Hunters walked in and out of the entrance constantly.
Some wore armor.
Others wore casual clothing.
But nearly all of them carried an unmistakable aura of power.
Auren felt slightly out of place among them.
His slender frame and soft appearance stood in contrast to the muscular fighters surrounding him.
Several people glanced at him curiously.
Some even whispered.
"Is that him?"
"The dungeon guy?"
"I thought he'd look tougher."
Auren awkwardly brushed a strand of silver hair behind his ear.
"…This is embarrassing."
Garrick grinned.
"You'll get used to it."
---
Testing Chamber – Level 3
The evaluation room was massive.
High ceilings.
Reinforced walls.
Several machines surrounded the center of the chamber.
Dr. Malik walked toward one of the consoles.
"We'll begin with basic measurements."
Auren stepped onto a circular platform.
Lights scanned across his body.
Energy readings appeared on nearby screens.
Several technicians watched carefully.
One of them frowned.
"That's strange."
Dr. Malik looked up.
"What is it?"
"The energy fluctuations are… unstable."
Another technician nodded.
"It keeps shifting."
Dr. Malik studied the readings carefully.
The numbers were fluctuating constantly.
Spirit energy levels rose.
Then dropped.
Then spiked again.
Almost like something inside Auren was… alive.
"…Interesting."
Elena watched silently.
Auren stood in the center of the platform, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
The scanning lights tickled his skin.
Then the system window appeared again.
---
System Alert
External Energy Analysis Detected
Masking Protocol Activated
---
Auren blinked slightly.
"…Masking?"
If the system was hiding something…
It meant the Authority might not see his full potential.
That was probably a good thing.
Dr. Malik eventually turned away from the screen.
"Well."
"These results are unusual."
Garrick crossed his arms.
"How unusual?"
Dr. Malik smiled faintly.
"In twenty years of research…"
"I've never seen anything like this."
Elena stepped forward.
"Let's move to the next test."
A massive door at the far end of the chamber slowly opened.
Beyond it lay something that made Auren's eyes widen.
A simulation arena.
Artificial terrain.
Combat drones.
And at the center…
A large mechanical combat construct.
A testing golem.
Elena looked at Auren calmly.
"This will test your combat ability."
The machine powered on.
Red lights appeared across its body.
Auren swallowed slightly.
"…I just got out of the hospital."
Garrick laughed.
"Welcome to the hunter world."
The golem stepped forward.
Heavy metal footsteps echoed across the arena.
Auren exhaled slowly.
Then something inside him shifted.
That strange energy he felt inside his chest began to awaken again.
The elegant, fluid fighting instinct returned.
His body relaxed.
His posture became light.
Almost like a dancer preparing for a performance.
Garrick noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
Auren lifted his hand slightly.
Silver light began forming again.
The Celestial Spirit Blade appeared.
Slender.
Beautiful.
Deadly.
The technicians stared in shock.
Dr. Malik whispered,
"…Energy weapon manifestation."
Elena's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Fascinating."
And as the combat golem charged forward—
Auren stepped lightly to the side.
His body moved gracefully.
Like a dancer stepping onto a stage.
The evaluation had just begun.
But something told Elena Richter…
This young hunter was about to break every expectation they had.