Chapter 7. Awakened One Rank Measurement (1)

After a long day.

A month had passed since Gang Sahoo awakened.

News reports continued to come in about similar gate incidents occurring worldwide, like in Korea, and the number of people awakening had increased accordingly.

Surprisingly, the Korean government was ahead of other countries in uncovering information about the gates and awakened ones and officially released that information.

The explanation was that awakened ones have ranks and that the energy emitted from the gates can be used to measure their danger levels, along with various special minerals and plants that come from the gates.

Naturally, other country leaders questioned how such information was obtained so quickly, but the president refused to disclose the information, citing it as confidential.

Despite this, the gates continued to open, but awakened ones, mostly composed of former military personnel, managed to resolve the situations before the gates fully opened.

Some people were suspicious of the government's swift response and tried to dig for information, but this was only temporary.

Over time, those who suspected the government or conducted investigations disappeared.

For a while after the gates opened, schools and workplaces were closed, but as adaptable beings, society gradually returned to normal, accepting the information about the gates and awakened ones.

During this time,

Gang Sahoo read various news articles, NewTube, and even papers about awakened ones and the gates, deeply reflecting on his abilities and the direction of his future life.

'Anyway, with the gates continuing to open, hunters are necessary, and here, I can use my abilities without restraint.'

Gang Sahoo clenched and unclenched his hand, continuing his thoughts.

It was a dream that had seemed unrealistic and was abandoned long ago because everyone said it was impossible.

A dream he had forgotten after conforming and choosing a career as a funeral director.

'Necromancer's public emergence.'

Feeling his heart race, Gang Sahoo looked at his phone, which was sounding an alarm.

"Ugh...?"

Soon, Gang Jiye emerged from the room with puffy eyes.

As she slowly walked from the living room toward Gang Sahoo's room, she was startled to see him quietly sitting on the sofa.

"Damn, you scared me!"

"Did you wake up?"

"How can I not? I'm getting so many messages."

Beep!

Beep!

The messages arrived every minute, sounding an alarm, as if worried that someone might not hear the message or fall back asleep.

The message content stated that specific schools in each region were designated, and everyone should gather in the auditoriums.

It also mentioned, "We have sent official notices to workplaces and schools, so please attend."

"Whether you work or go to school, everyone must come. It seems something big has happened."

"Something big, indeed. So many people died. By the way, do you remember what I said before?"

"Yes, I remember. You said to be honest about our abilities but lower the rank by one level. Now that I think about it, it seems they are really investigating our abilities as you said."

Before leaving, Gang Sahoo warned Gang Jiye again, and they headed to their designated school.

* * *

At the school's main gate, despite it being 7 a.m., there was a crowd of people who appeared to be awakened ones, their families, soldiers, and journalists.

"Can you tell us what ability you awakened with?"

"Why are you gathering here? Have you heard anything?"

"Is it true that awakened ones consider ordinary people as evolutionary failures and have a sense of superiority?"

"What do you think about awakened ones committing crimes?"

As journalists flashed their cameras and thrust them forward, the awakened ones hurriedly ran toward the auditorium.

Soldiers shouted and tried to block them, but many journalists, when pushed, grabbed the parts of their bodies that were hit, shouting, "The soldiers are hitting journalists!" or "Who are you to do this?"

Anticipating the chaos, Gang Sahoo signaled to Gang Jiye to pull her hood down, and he did the same.

"Wow, big brother, you're amazing. Did you predict this situation?"

"Just like in the movies."

Though he answered casually, Gang Jiye inwardly felt that her brother was extraordinary.

After passing through the chaotic main gate and entering the auditorium, they could enter by scanning a QR code.

Upon scanning the QR code they received via text, they entered to find about a hundred people scattered around freely.

"Are all these people awakened ones? There are so many."

"According to the nationwide survey, there are about 200,000 awakened ones in Korea. Plus, this is Seoul, so it's more crowded than other places."

Gang Jiye, who had been gathering information from NewTube for weeks and had been staying up late, answered smoothly.

"200,000? That's a lot. With the current population of 50 million... Oh, it's about 0.4%."

While they were having this conversation, soldiers organized the scattered people into lines and provided chairs.

Sitting on the plastic chairs commonly used in convenience stores, a large beam projector screen began to lower.

As the projector turned on, a woman with a deeply pulled hood appeared on the screen.

People looked at the screen in amazement at the mention of a prophet.

However, the prophet, who seemed to be in a hurry, quickly continued speaking before people could think about it.

Speaking fluidly, the prophet slightly bowed her head.

The mention of gates continuing to open caused a stir among the awakened ones.

But the prophet, as if pressed for time, continued speaking.

"C, C-rank...?"

"But didn't a tank barely suppress the E-rank break that happened in a foreign country a while ago...?"

"C-rank means it's two ranks higher? Are we supposed to stop something like that?"

People murmured in fear upon hearing the gate ranks.

As if seeing their reactions, the prophet nodded.

The prophet's voice trembled.

Even from the screen, it was clear that her body was shaking, and she did not look normal or comfortable.

Most people were confused by her trembling, but Gang Sahoo and Gang Jiye, who had knowledge of necromancers, and a few other awakened ones understood the significance of her actions.

She was using her ability to its limit to see the future and explain it directly.

Struggling to continue speaking, she began to sweat inside her hood, but her mouth did not stop.

Now visibly out of breath, she finally finished speaking and collapsed to the side.

The cameraman filming her quickly lowered his camera, and the sound of people rushing in was heard from behind the screen.

Beep!

The projector turned off, and a soldier appeared on the stage.

Several sturdy soldiers were carrying a smooth, black stone about the size of a water cooler to the stage.

"Hello. I am Lieutenant Han Siyeon. Now, please come up one by one and place your hand on this 'Monolith.' I will demonstrate first."

Lieutenant Han Siyeon walked up to the black stone and placed her hand on it without hesitation. The black stone absorbed the mana from her hand.

Complex numbers and incomprehensible, swirling text appeared on the stone, and eventually, readable text began to appear on the side of the rectangular black stone.

- Rank: A

- Level: 20

- Stats: Strength [20], Vitality [15], Mana [5], Agility [10], Perception [3]

- Skills: Dragon Claw [Acquired], [Unacquired], [Unacquired]

People murmured in surprise at the text appearing on the Monolith.

Though it was their first time seeing it, people understood its purpose due to the information about awakened ones that had been released through various media.

Instead of vaguely sensing their condition, this device quantified their abilities with numbers, allowing for precise measurement.

The awakened ones, now understanding the purpose of their summons, watched the Monolith with interest.

When Lieutenant Han Siyeon removed her hand, the text that had appeared beside the Monolith faded away.

"As you can see, the purpose of the Monolith is to accurately measure the state of awakened ones. Of course, this will not be done publicly, so please rest assured."

One of the awakened ones raised a hand.

"Why do we need to do this? Regardless of our power, I have no intention of fighting those monsters again."

It was a reasonable question, but Lieutenant Han Siyeon answered calmly and confidently.

"For the safety of the Republic of Korea. Whether you use your power or not, you have become superhumans different from ordinary people."

Lieutenant Han Siyeon scanned the awakened ones.

"Moreover, as the prophet predicted, gates through which monsters will continue to appear will keep opening. When that happens, it will not be a choice of whether to fight the monsters or not, but an inevitable struggle for survival."

She narrowed her eyes.

"While you have your freedom and cannot be forced to fight the monsters, those who do not register as awakened ones will face disadvantages for the safety of the nation."

"What? Are you threatening us?"

A strong response came from one of the awakened ones.

However, Lieutenant Han Siyeon shook her head calmly.

"No, I am simply stating the facts. For example, if a arson crime occurs somewhere and there is an awakened one with fire abilities in that area, and the criminal is not identified, which would be more suspicious: if the awakened one is registered or if they are hiding?"

"..."

The awakened one who had raised his voice fell silent.

The heat from his clenched fist rose and then subsided.

Lieutenant Han Siyeon, noticing this, shrugged.

"As I said, the information is collected for security purposes. The information gathered through the Monolith will not be used for other purposes. This is guaranteed by the state."

"Your last statement makes me less trusting..."

A murmur was heard, but people pretended not to hear it.

Clearing her throat to change the atmosphere, she stood up straight.

"Then, we will now begin the verification of awakened one abilities. Please come up in the order called."

A screen was set up around the Monolith so that others could not see the content.

Watching people go up to the stage one by one, Gang Jiye sighed deeply.

"What should we do? If we follow big brother's advice, it will be impossible to hide my ability. Everyone in the world will know about my excellent and kind healing ability!"

"..."

Gang Sahoo looked at Gang Jiye with a dubious expression.

Seeing his expression, Gang Jiye giggled, but Gang Sahoo's face did not relax.

'Did you awaken this time?'

The prophet who had just gone up on the stage said she had awakened and gained her ability this time.

However, the government's response over the past month had been too swift.

If Gang Sahoo's thoughts were correct,

The prophet must have awakened much earlier.

Most importantly, if his guess was right, it would explain how the government had obtained information before other countries, recognized the dangers of the gates, and acted swiftly.

"Hmm."

Gang Sahoo stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes.

A faint blue and green light emanated from his eyes.