In Asher's hands, the metal registration card was heavy. Not because of how heavy it was, but what it represented.
He had earned his way in.
No connections. No guild sponsorship. Well, pure willpower and war instinct clad in steel.
The raucous atmosphere of the underground arena from his win still echoed around him, but Asher could hardly even hear it. His body had a loud scream from the brutal fight. His muscles were sore, his ribs seemed cracked, and his knuckles puffed.
But even through the hurt, something inside him throbbed with excitement.
He had felt it—a spark.
It wasn't exactly mana, nor did this resemble the so-called Awakening abilities of this world. It was something else, something raw.' It had emerged from the fight, leaving him with that last crushing blow.
And now he'd get to find out what it was.
Grimm gave him a long look. "You still standing?"
Asher took a breath, willing it to be a deep one, and continued through the fatigue. "Barely."
The older man smirked. "Good. You're going to need that stubbornness where you're headed next.' He pointed to the registration card. "That pass is your entry into the Awakening Test. Gonna need to show up tomorrow 9 am-ish, Sector 7. You will see one such facility at Hunter's Gate."
Asher peered more closely at the card. It bore his new name inscribed on it:
Asher Vale – Upcoming Awakening Assessment
Inside the metal was embedded a small chip, probably some kind of digital verification.
"This is your one shot, kid," Grimm said. "You pass, you receive your Awakening. You fail…" He shrugged. "Well, you can always return to the pit fights. If you survive long enough."
Asher pocketed the card and left. "I don't plan on failing."
Grimm chuckled. "We'll see."
The Road to Hunter's Gate
Asher drove to Sector 7 the next morning. He had managed a few hours of sleep in a rented storage unit, funded by his winnings from the underground fights.
His body was still sore, but he was accustomed to working through pain.
Stepping out into the city, he saw more around him.
Gigantic holographic billboards projected ads for the top guilds and their recent dungeon runs.
"Join the Drakken Fang Guild — Where Only the Strongest Survive!"
"Unlock Your True Potential with New Awakening Potions Now Available!"
The streets were filled with people, and most looked like ordinary civilians, but every now and then a Hunter would stride by—indistinguishable from their accessorized combat wear, skin-tight suits over reinforced armor, and the distinctive, colorful medals on their shoulders that signified their guild.
They made way for the people. Some out of respect. Others out of fear.
Hunters were more than just fighters.
They were above the law.
Hunter's Gate
What Asher found was not Hunter's Gate.
It wasn't a grand arena or a training facility.
It was a huge government building, protected by armed guards and screening devices. The site resembled more of a military checkpoint than an evaluation center.
Asher rifled through the pockets of his coat and approached the main entrance, where a long line of hopefuls was already forming. Most of them resembled everyday citizens — some donning combat gear, others just plain civilian garb.
We all had the same goal here.
To become a Hunter.
"Step forward!" a mechanical voice called.
People were processed at the gate, one by one. The guards waved their ID cards and ushered them inside.
Asher made his way to the front and presented his card.
The scanner flashed green.
"Proceed."
He walked through the doors.
The Awakening Chamber
Inside, the establishment was sleek and clinical. Dozens of individuals stood before large cylindrical pods, their exteriors illuminated by arcane-infused technology.
On an elevated platform stood a woman in a white lab coat. Her short silver hair gave her an air of authority.
"My name is Dr. Linara," she said to the crowd. "This is why you are here — to go through the Awakening Process. If you succeed, you will become a Hunter in name.
She gestured to the pods.
"You will all enter a chamber, where the extent of your hidden potential will be gauged. You receive a dose of the Awakening Serum if you are found to be compatible. If you are not…"
She didn't need to finish.
Everybody knew what failure meant.
Some had the genetics to Awaken naturally. Other elementals needed specialized potions, training or guild sponsorship.
But if a person's body completely rejected the process, there was no going back.
Asher exhaled slowly.
It was time.
The Test Begins
When his turn came, he sat inside the pod. The glass door slid shut around him, and a low hum permeated the room.
The flickering screen in front of him.
Running Awakening Analysis…
Scanning Neural Pathways…
Evaluating Mana Signature…
Asher stiffened.
Mana signature?
That shouldn't be possible. His mana had vanished when he was reincarnated.
A dull vibration coursed through his body. A sort of tingling sensation ran through his veins.
Then, the screen flashed red.
WARNING: Mysterious Energy Discovered
Classification: ERROR
The hum intensified. The glass walls surrounding him rattled as the machine attempted to calculate something beyond its comprehension.
Adjusting Parameters…
Reanalyzing Subject…
And for the first time since coming to this world, Asher felt it.
A pulse. A rush of something primal through him.
Not magic. Not an Awakening ability.
Something entirely new.
It surged through his limbs like fire and lightning combined—raw, unbridled, unlike anything this world had ever known.
The machine started to overwhelm. The monitors sparked, and the glass walls shattered.
Alarms sounded throughout the facility.
"Shut it down!" Dr. Linara shouted. "We're having an uncontrollable reaction!
Guards ran in with weapons raised.
Asher lurched forward, his vision swaying. His whole body felt foreign. Stronger. Faster.
The woman seized his arm, her look sharp and tenor.
"What the hell are you?" she demanded.
Asher took a deep breath. His fist curled into a finger. He sensed power flowing through his body.
Not magic.
Not an Awakening.
Something else entirely.
He looked her in the eyes.
"I was just going to ask you the same question."