Chapter 8: Awakened One Rank Measurement (2)

The rank measurement proceeded quickly.

When a person called out walked up to the platform and placed their hand on the monolith as instructed, the information about the Awakened One appeared, just as Lieutenant Han Siyeon had demonstrated.

A soldier standing by entered the Awakened One's information, and that was it.

The process was handled swiftly, like a conveyor belt, and in no time, the rank measurement for those in line was completed.

"How was it?"

"Nothing much, right? Take a look."

Before the monolith's rank measurement values disappeared, Kang Jiye took a photo with her phone and showed her measurement results.

- Rank: B

- Level: 8

- Stats: Strength [2], Vitality [5], Mana [15], Agility [3], Perception [1]

- Skills: Healing Hands, [Unacquired], [Unacquired], [Unacquired], [Unacquired]

"Your stats are really at the bottom. But there are four unacquired skills?"

Thinking Kang Jiye was teasing her about her poor stats, she was about to get angry, but then she relaxed and made a V sign with her hand when she heard the next part.

"Hey! According to the explanation, it's potential, right? It means you can learn four more skills in the future."

Given that Lieutenant Han Siyeon had only two unacquired skills, it seemed Kang Jiye's potential was exceptional.

Kang Sahoo looked at his sister with renewed interest.

"Maybe the talent you couldn't get as a Necromancer was hidden here."

"…Are you challenging me?"

Kang Jiye's eyes instantly turned fierce.

At that moment, as if planned, Kang Sahoo was called last.

Kang Jiye's eyes turned deadly as she watched her brother, who got up from his seat as if running away, patting his buttocks.

"What's this? This timing seems planned."

"No way. I've never seen those soldiers before."

"But how did you get called right after I scratched myself?"

Kang Jiye asked, her voice full of indignation, and Kang Sahoo shrugged.

"Well, you and I were the only ones left, right?"

"...Really annoying."

Kang Jiye gritted her teeth, knowing her brother had planned to get her called right after him.

As he walked up to the platform, Lieutenant Han Siyeon, who had demonstrated the monolith's rank measurement method earlier, was waiting behind a screen.

"Mr. Kang Sahoo, Awakened One. Is that correct?"

"Yes, do I just put my hand on it?"

"That's right. When you place your hand, the monolith will absorb your mana."

Kang Sahoo nodded and stood in front of the monolith.

Fingerprints were faintly visible, as if the monolith had been wiped clean each time someone placed their hand on it.

As Kang Sahoo placed his hand on the monolith, he felt his mana, or qi, being absorbed through the point of contact.

While the rank measurement was ongoing, Kang Sahoo continued to think.

'This situation isn't so bad for us. It was already difficult to reveal that Jiye and I are Necromancers. Now, it might be better to naturally explain our powers as a result of awakening.'

If they were to openly investigate Awakened Ones, it would be easier to explain the Necromancer's powers as something gained through awakening.

The fact that they were calling Awakened Ones to check their ranks indicated that the government had not yet fully understood everything about Awakened Ones.

Thus, while they might suspect the Necromancer's powers, they couldn't be certain they were false.

In other words,

There was no longer a need to hide and live like they were dead just because they were Necromancers.

'Necromancers can be recognized and come out into the world.'

The joy of liberation was proportional to the long period of oppression, and a smile naturally formed on his lips.

At that moment, he turned his head at the commotion from the side.

Lieutenant Han Siyeon and the soldier sitting beside her to record the data looked flustered and stared at him.

"Why? What's wrong…."

Kang Sahoo followed their gaze and fell silent as he looked at the monolith where he had placed his hand.

The monolith was displaying a completely different, inexplicable phenomenon from what Lieutenant Han Siyeon had demonstrated.

The lines that seemed to form letters, as they had before, continued to move as if trying to form words, but they never did. Instead, they scattered and gathered like waves on the sea.

"…It seems there's an error. Please wait a moment."

"Should I take my hand off?"

As Kang Sahoo spoke and tried to remove his hand,

The monolith, which had been continuously absorbing his mana, began to vibrate violently.

"Ah, ah! Captain!"

"What? What's happening?!"

Lieutenant Han Siyeon looked flustered as she stared at the monolith.

Kang Sahoo, who had not yet removed his hand, was now unsure whether to remove it or not.

"Lieutenant, can I take my hand off?"

"Just a moment! I've never heard of this situation…!"

"What? What's going on?"

The screen, set up for privacy, was just a hastily made curtain that prevented people from seeing inside.

Thus, the sounds of Kang Sahoo and Lieutenant Han Siyeon's confusion could be heard by those waiting outside.

"Hey, is something wrong?"

"Just a moment."

Another soldier, waiting outside, hurried to the screen.

"Captain, is something wrong… Ah!"

The soldier, who had lifted the screen, was startled by the monolith, which was glowing and vibrating intensely.

Lieutenant Han Siyeon glared at the soldier who had entered without permission and put her finger to her lips.

"First, go outside and prepare to evacuate the other Awakened Ones…."

Crack.

As the soldiers, caught off guard by the unexpected situation, panicked, cracks began to appear on the monolith.

As the monolith emitted a bright light, as if about to explode, Lieutenant Han Siyeon shouted.

"Everyone, get down-!"

Crash!

Immediately after her shout, the monolith began to shatter and collapse.

The screen collapsed, and those who had been waiting outside and had dived to the ground lifted their heads in confusion.

"What, what is this?!"

"What's happening?"

Pushing through the murmuring crowd, Kang Jiye ran up to the platform.

"Brother!"

She climbed up the platform and looked for Kang Sahoo.

However, it was not Kang Sahoo who responded to her call.

Clack.

"Brother… Huh? You?"

Kang Jiye's eyes widened in surprise as she saw four giant hounds, which had appeared to protect Kang Sahoo.

One of the giant hounds had crushed the monolith with its body, ready to block any potential explosion.

"Why did you come up here?"

Kang Sahoo asked, looking at Kang Jiye, who was indignant.

"I came up because I was worried you might be hurt! Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

He answered calmly and waved his hand, signaling the giant hounds that were protecting him to step back.

The giant hounds looked around to ensure there was no additional danger before slowly moving away from Kang Sahoo.

"Thank you."

As he walked out from among the giant hounds, he patted the head of the one that had blocked the monolith with its body.

The giant hound, which had appeared in the state it was when it died, moved its jaw in a clacking sound, as if pleased.

"Ah, ah! What is that?"

"It's a monster! Another monster has appeared?!"

"Just a moment! Calm down!"

Seeing the summoned zombie giant hounds, the Awakened Ones panicked and prepared for battle, but Lieutenant Han Siyeon regained her composure and tried to calm them.

"This is his ability! He's not an enemy!"

The Awakened Ones, who had been excited, gradually relaxed.

Feeling the need to quickly calm the commotion, Lieutenant Han Siyeon hurriedly sent Kang Sahoo down.

"There was an unexpected issue, but the rank measurement for all Awakened Ones is now complete. The results will be sent to you later, so you can leave for today."

It was clear that she was suddenly dismissing everyone.

However, the Awakened Ones, who had gained their powers a month ago after encountering monsters, welcomed the decision and quickly dispersed upon seeing the giant hounds.

Kang Sahoo, scratching his head, ordered the giant hounds waiting for him to return to the Spirit Realm.

The four giant hounds guarding Kang Sahoo obediently returned to the Spirit Realm.

However, the giant hound that had blocked the monolith with its body refused to return to the Spirit Realm, defying Kang Sahoo's command.

"Why aren't you returning?"

Clack.

Shaking its head, the giant hound that had defied his command approached him cautiously.

Kang Sahoo, puzzled, looked at the giant hound, which then slightly opened its mouth to show him something.

"…Hmm."

Understanding the giant hound's intention, Kang Sahoo took something from its mouth and secretly put it in his pocket.

"Brother? What is that…."

Kang Jiye, curious about his action, was about to ask when Kang Sahoo quietly put his finger to his lips.

Her mouth, which was about to open, closed, and Kang Sahoo, confirming that the remaining giant hound had returned to the Spirit Realm, took Kang Jiye outside.

Feeling the gazes of those watching them from behind, he knew that if they were caught now, it would cost them a lot of time, so he did not stop.

Most importantly, his attention was focused on the object the giant hound had given him, which he had put in his pocket.

A fragment that had come from the monolith.

* * *

After the rank measurement was over.

Lieutenant Han Siyeon, who had come to report to her superior, stood at attention with a serious expression.

Two stars on the chest of the person sitting in front of her gleamed.

The man, who had been watching a video in silence for a while, exhaled.

"So, this person's rank measurement didn't work properly."

"I will correct it! I will call him back soon and measure it again!"

Her determined answer made the head of the National Crisis Management Center, Han Seonghoon, frown.

"What if the monolith is destroyed again? Do you have a plan? Do you know how rare the monolith is in our country?"

Han Seonghoon's consecutive questions made her face pale.

"I'm sorry!"

"Tsk… Think before you speak. You will have to lead and command these 'Hunters' in the future. How can you do that with such short-sighted thinking?"

"I will correct it!"

"Hmm…."

Han Seonghoon, frowning, looked at the video Lieutenant Han Siyeon had secretly recorded.

The screen in the video showed lines that were completely unreadable, like shapes that couldn't be considered letters.

Recalling the 'command' given to him by the government, which they claimed was a 'prophecy received from a seer,' Han Seonghoon moved his red pen over Kang Sahoo's rank field.

"Alright, you can go now."

"Yes! Understood!"

Lieutenant Han Siyeon received the document with both hands.

In the rank field of the Awakened One Kang Sahoo, the word 'EX' was written in red.