In the dimly-lit room, Zed sat in a comfortable armchair, facing a metallic table.
On the other side were two people in uniform, a man and a woman.
"Mr...," the man paused before saying. He was trying to read Zed's name out.
"Zed Zeppeli," Zed said.
"Alright, Mr. Zeppeli," the man repeated with a nod.
"We have a few questions for you, mostly regarding the leak of organization's information. If you don't mind could you..."
"I found a Spore."
Zed stopped him at there.
"On the first few days, I picked up a black stone, wondering if I can keep it as a collection. Well...I didn't notice it chould fly in my kitchen, it emitted a bright light shortly, then warning me of some very, very terrible events is about to happening, and gave me a number to survive."
The two across the table exchanged their glances.
It was a good story for kids, but the whole group was in desperate need of new members.
"Fair enough. Mr. Zeppeli, we do find an used Spore with you. I just want to check that did the Spore provide you with any further information about us?"
Zed suddenly appeared relaxed, putting hands over his head, waiting for them to explain further.
The man hadn't expected a young man to have such an imposing presence. In the span of a month, the world had changed drastically, with people in some places even becoming mere resources. Zed's unusual peace gave off a dangerous aura.
But the team was in dire need of members.
They hoped that Zed was an Awakened, an individual whose emotions and abilities had been transformed beyond the norm. After a series of observations, they were almost certain that Zed was indeed an Awakened.
Zed, on the other side, aware of their scrutiny, knew that the group is not evil. They were among the first groups to help people after the collapse, known as...
"Dawnrain."
The woman spoke up, her voice filled with faith and pride. She continued:
"Dawnrain, aims to save as many people as possible after all this. We've formed alliances with several city-based shelters."
Zed listened quietly, his expression unchanged at all.
Organizations like DR had emerged in response to the world's collapse. They operated in teams, hiring members to work for them. Zed had been too weak to join the ranks previously, working as a lowly errand runner. DR was known to be the strongest team, having survived several significant disasters. Each time they survived, they grew even stronger.
Now, Zed sought to join this team early on.
"We're currently helping people, and since you're aware of what a Spore is… if you're willing to join our team, we can offer resources to the awakened like..."
"I'm in," Zed cut her off.
The woman was taken aback. Zed's calm demeanor had suggested he would negotiate, and someone who had survived the doom and obtained their own Spore would certainly have the right to do so.
But they hadn't expected Zed to agree so quickly.
It was like...he is waiting for this moment.
"Welcome," a man wearing gray gloves and smoking a cigarette entered the room from behind.
As he entered, the two interviewers immediately stood up.
"Captain."
"Captain."
The man nodded, dismissing them. With the door closed once more, only Zed and the man remained in the room with the metallic table. The suited man gave off the vibe of an intelligence agency's interrogation room.
Well, except for the sword he always carried with.
Zed was almost certain that the weapon was a katana. He had seen many strange weapons before, like grenade launchers, steamrollers, and even people using other people as weapons. But a katana was still a rare sight.
Firstly, it was a cold steel weapon, and secondly, such a weapon would be no more effective than a sturdy toothpick when facing B-class monsters with their massive size.
"Mr. Zibeilin...if you don't mind I will just call you Zed. it's nice to meet you formally. My name is Adrian," the man said, approaching Zed with a file in his hand and extending his arm.
Zed's eyebrows raising in surprise, he accepted the handshake, looking at Adrian's gloved hand.
"Although I have a feeling that you know more about the Awakened than we do, we are still willing to share all our information with you. After all, in the future, we might have to watch each other's backs..."Adrian said in smiles.
"I agree," Zed replied calmly.
"Alright, where should we start... Ah! Let's start with abilities. My ability is a combination of speed and endurance, as well as an enhancement of my skills to control sword."
As Adrian patted the katana at his waist, Zed blinked and the man disappeared.
Zed stared at the burning cigarette butt on the floor, momentarily stunned.
Adrian's voice came from behind
"Just like this."
Adrian didn't react to Zed's expression, continuing to explain as if merely helping Zed learn more about the Awakened.
"Every time I draw my sword, time slows down in my world, which I can combine with Sopre. The current ranking system for the Awakened isn't that accurate, but I should be able to easily challenge around 2,000 Brutes. I was lucky, having the interest on cold weapon before..."
"Since you already know about the Awakened and Spores, I'd like to ask, what is your ability?"
"Uh..." Zed hesitated, frowning as if he was struggling with something.
Seeing Zed's face, Adrian remained silent, seemingly anticipating this reaction and understandingly nodded.
"You're doing the right thing. In fact, this makes you a more trustworthy teammate. Although the Awakened have just emerged, it's still best not to reveal your own abilities."
He shrugged and added boastfully, "Not all organizations are like DR. The world has indeed magnified everyone's dark side, just like in novels and webtoons."
"No, that's not what I meant," Zed said, looking at Adrian, a man a hundred times stronger than him but still patiently explaining and trying to recruit him.
He felt a bit helpless.
"I don't even know my own ability."
Adrian hadn't expected this response, but he continued to nod and said, "I understand. We respect privacy and won't ask any further."
"But remember, you can always trust DR because of its principles..."
******
An hour later, Adrian led Zed out into the sanctuary. They walked through the settlement, looking various scenes unfold around them.
Children were playing a makeshift game of football with a baseball, men and women lined up for food, and people who looked like mercenaries standing guard in watchtowers with guns in their hands.
Zed even saw a man juggling throwing knives with impressive precision.
Adrian passed a poker while they walking, It was a 7 of spades made in metal material.
Light, really light.
As they walked further, they crossed through a dense forest and came upon a massive iron cage.
Inside, several people were locked up. Their tattered clothes barely covered their bodies, and filth mixed with uneaten food covered the ground. These prisoners eyed each other warily, occasionally engaging in scuffles.
Armed soldiers stood guard, making it apparent that this area was heavily secured.
Zed glanced at Adrian, seeking an explanation. He remembered that the DR ideals included a strong emphasis on freedom.
Adrian seemed to grow more solemn, an aura of anger emanating from him.
Enemies?
Zed observed more closely.
No, they didn't appear to be enemies. Even in the early stages of the doom, no organization would keep hostile forces alive, especially the men. He even saw medical staff injecting some sort of medicine into the arms that reached out from the cage.
"They're one of us."
Adrian's voice laced with an intense mix of concern and anxiety.
"Not just us...but...real us..."
He paused for a moment before adding:
"Not all Awakened are as fortunate as we are. The powers can bring about unpredictable and devastating flaws. When awakens lose control, the consequences can be unbearable for anyone involved..."
That was something truly triggered Zed's interest.
He was not well versed in actual awakened knowledge, though he had already become one.
He hadn't fully understood the complexity of the Awakened before. He didn't have any chance. Though he could used Spore abilities, there was a significant difference between only utilizing those powers and being a true Awakened.
Awakens were revered, able to face hundreds of foes on their own. In this world, they were seen as symbols of sustenance, security, and hope.
An group without a powerful Awakened would easily be swallowed by the world, whether by monstrous creatures, natural disasters, or rivals. Zed couldn't tell, but reality was often crueler.
He had never witnessed a battle between true Awakens, but he remembered seeing a leader of a smaller group use their powers to fend off a swarm of B-class monsters for three days and nights. In the end, the leader had sacrificed themselves, taking down an A-class monster in the process.
As a member of the powerful group, DR, Zed could only imagine the strength of its top members. Even if they lacked innate talent, the vast resources at their disposal would aid them in reaching peak.
Recalling all of this, Zed asked:
"What happens when these flaws spiral out of control?"
Adrian stiffened, then quickly turned around, as if haunted by a terrifying nightmare. He warned:
"No matter what, if anything unusual happens around you, do your best to control it and make it disappear. Pray that you never lose control... because the consequences of losing control... of losing control..."
He pointed towards the caged prisoners, saying, "Trust me, it's far worse than this..."
Taking a deep breath, Adrian added:
"I have my own flaws too. For instance, I used to have a mild case of OCD, and now it's gotten worse. I must wear gloves whenever I go out. But I consider myself lucky enough – mental issues are the most terrifying..."
Suddenly, he stared intently at Zed's face for a full minute, then asked:
"By the way, since you've managed to survive on your own for so long, you must get an idea of your own flaws, right? Have any strange things happened around you? I'm not talking about the dreams shared by the whole world or all Awakened, by the way don't talk that with me, it will only bring bad luck...but more specific things, something that's clearly off?"
Zed listened quietly, then turned to look at Lucy.
The girl was squatting on the ground, looking at a wildflower. It seemed like she had changed into a new dress, but Zed wasn't sure. Anyway, after escaping the office, the girl somehow have quickly regained her beauty and health.
Which make Zed truly happy.
Adrian followed young man's eye, and his face turned visibly paler.
"If you're talking about weakness,"
Zed said.
"I think I have got a girl to protect..."