The emergency response headquarters was louder than ever. Screens blinked red warnings, officers rushed between stations, and hunters whispered nervously about what they had just witnessed.
But one thing was clear:
Everyone saw the shockwave.
Everyone saw the monster bow.
Everyone saw Rivan standing in the center of it all.
Rivan sat quietly on a metal bench, his hands still trembling from the strange glow earlier. He tried to calm himself, but his heart was beating too fast.
Did I really do that?
How?
What is "Awakening 3%"?
He rubbed his fingers together.
They no longer glowed, but he felt a faint warmth under his skin—like something living inside him.
The door suddenly slammed open.
Rivia stomped in with her spear.
The healer girl followed behind, worried as always.
"There you are!" Rivia shouted. "Do you have ANY idea how insane you looked back there?!"
Rivan blinked. "Insane?"
"You—" she pointed dramatically "—stood there like 'hmm, giant wolf monster who could kill me in one bite? Yes, let's stare at it calmly.'"
Rivan sighed. "I wasn't calm… I couldn't move."
Rivia smirked. "Oh. So you were just frozen in fear. That makes more sense!"
The healer snapped, "Rivia! Don't tease him like that!"
Rivia shrugged. "He looked like he was about to faint!"
"I was not going to faint," Rivan muttered.
The healer girl sat beside him, eyes full of concern. "Are you hurt? Your hands were glowing earlier—"
Rivan quickly hid his hands. "I'm fine."
Rivia narrowed her eyes.
She didn't look convinced.
---
Summoned to the Higher Floor
A pair of officers approached them.
"Rivan Hale," one said stiffly. "You are requested upstairs.
By the Director."
Rivia almost choked. "THE Director?!"
The healer girl whispered, panicking, "Director Aster… the strongest hunter in the Association…"
Rivan froze.
Why would someone like THAT want to see him?
He followed the officers into an elevator that had way too many security layers. Rivia tried to follow but the guards blocked her.
"Authorized personnel only."
Rivia groaned. "Come on! I wanna see what they do to him!"
The healer girl punched her arm lightly. "Stop that! He's already stressed!"
As the elevator closed, Rivan heard Rivia shouting:
"IF THEY LOCK YOU IN A LAB, TEXT ME!"
The healer added, "W-We'll wait for you!"
The door sealed shut, leaving Rivan alone.
---
The Director of Hunters
The elevator opened to a quiet floor—too quiet.
Just one long hallway with a single door at the end.
Rivan stepped inside.
A tall woman with silver hair and piercing gold eyes sat behind a desk overflowing with reports. Her presence alone felt stronger than half the hunters downstairs.
Director Aster.
She stared at Rivan like she was reading his entire soul.
"…Sit."
Rivan obeyed instantly.
She tapped her finger against the table. "You caused quite a scene."
"I didn't mean to."
"I know."
She slid a tablet toward him. "Based on eyewitness reports, you emitted a shockwave strong enough to push back a mutated beast. Yet you have never passed above F-rank."
Rivan swallowed. "I-I don't know how it happened."
Her eyes narrowed. "Monsters don't bow to humans. Especially not mutated ones."
Rivan said nothing.
The Director leaned forward. Her voice dropped.
"Tell me, Rivan… what exactly are you hiding?"
Rivan froze.
He wanted to say "nothing," but the words wouldn't come out.
Because even he didn't know the answer anymore.
---
The Unexpected Test
Before Rivan could respond, Director Aster pressed a button.
A section of the wall opened.
A glass chamber slid into the room—inside it was a small creature that looked like a floating orb of dark smoke, chained by glowing runes.
Rivan felt a sharp pulse in his chest.
Director Aster noticed.
"Interesting."
She pointed to the chamber. "This monster is harmless unless provoked. But it reacts strongly to mana signatures."
Rivan frowned. "Meaning…?"
"Go closer."
Rivan hesitated. "Is that safe?"
The Director's expression didn't change. "If you explode, I will take responsibility."
Rivan stared at her.
Was she joking?
He truly couldn't tell.
He stepped toward the chamber.
The creature inside turned.
It floated slowly…
Its smoky form shifting…
Its single bright eye focusing on him…
The entire room tensed.
Then—
The creature knelt.
Even though it didn't have legs, it bent downward as if acknowledging him.
Director Aster stood up so fast her chair slid back.
"…Impossible."
The creature trembled as if in fear.
Rivan stepped back instinctively. "Why… why does this keep happening?"
Director Aster whispered, "You are not normal, Rivan Hale."
The chamber suddenly shook as the creature's energy surged.
Director Aster slammed a button.
"Security! Containment breach—"
BOOM!
The creature burst the runes and shot out of the chamber—straight toward Rivan.
Rivan gasped and raised his hands—
FLASH—
A wave of silver energy exploded outward again.
When the light faded…
The creature lay unconscious at his feet.
Rivan stared at his glowing hands, terrified.
"What… am I?"
Director Aster didn't answer.
She simply whispered:
"…We need to find out."