An Invitation

The message from the Awakener's Association read:

---

Hello Mr. Cross,

We hope this message finds you well. This is an official communication on behalf of the Awakener's Association regarding the recent incident involving the D-rank Guardian Domain you successfully cleared.

As you know, such matters are of significant concern to the Association. We have been conducting an investigation into the events that transpired in the dungeon and would like to formally invite you to the Association Headquarters next week to provide your report and assist with our inquiry.

On a personal note, Mr. Cross, I hope you are recovering well. I understand you were gravely injured during the incident and were in a coma for some time. I'm truly sorry for what you've been through, but I'm relieved to hear you're back on your feet. This comes from a place of genuine concern.

— Agent White

---

As Axel's eyes scanned the message, his lips curled into a smirk.

"Agent White, huh?" he muttered, biting his thumb thoughtfully. "Yeah, of course, why wouldn't you be concerned?"

Agent White. Just the name stirred memories he preferred to leave buried. History had tethered Axel to this so-called agent in ways that were neither simple nor pleasant. But that was a story for another time.

Axel hadn't always been a nobody—a hopeless individual saddled with an E-rank ability. Once, he had been brimming with promise, eagerly looking toward a bright future. But that was before everything went dark. Before he awakened his ability. Before his parents…

His smirk faded, replaced by a faraway look.

The tragedy of his parents' deaths still hung over him, a shadow that refused to lift. Both were high-ranking officials in the Association, powerful awakeners who commanded immense respect. But even they had fallen, victims of a rogue guild subjugation mission gone disastrously wrong.

They hadn't been alone. Some other elite members of the Association perished that day, too. It was a catastrophic loss—not just for Axel but for the entire organization.

Axel had been a teenager then, reeling from the loss of his entire world. The Association reached out not long after, an olive branch extended to a grieving boy.

At first, he'd been too lost to understand the significance of their interest. He later learned it was far from ordinary.

The Association had been scouting him.

Both his parents were A-rank Awakeners, after all. Genetics mattered in this world, and the likelihood of Axel awakening an ability—a powerful one—was high. Not just any ability, though. An A-rank ability. That was the true prize.

In this strange, chaotic system of abilities, A-rank was more coveted than even S-rank. It sounded counterintuitive at first. Wasn't S-rank supposed to be the pinnacle? The ultimate expression of power and potential?

Well, this anomaly was because of the way this strange system and abilities worked in this world, which was still quite unclear even to philosophers.

A-rank abilities were rare, and those who awakened them almost always fulfilled their potential, rising to match the rank's prestige. But S-rank abilities? They were a different case entirely.

Despite sounding superior, they came with unique and often absurd quirks—catches and conditions that made them difficult to wield effectively. Growth for S-rank ability users was notoriously slow, and only a minuscule percentage ever progressed to reach their full potential.

S-rank abilities became so unwanted they earned a nickname: 'God's Prank.' How could something that was supposed to be superior feel more like a curse? By contrast, A-rank abilities, though rare, were dependable and almost guaranteed success. They didn't come with the convoluted drawbacks of S-rank abilities, making them the most sought-after class.

The expectations for Axel had been clear. Both his parents had possessed A-rank abilities, and the hereditary nature of awakenings all but guaranteed he would inherit the same potential. The pattern was too consistent to ignore. The Association's interest in Axel wasn't just about compassion for an orphaned boy—it was about investment.

Agent White, the man who had sent the message, had been assigned to oversee Axel's progress. Back then, he wasn't 'Agent White' but Silas Winter White, a young up-and-comer only a year older than Axel.

The two had grown close during that time, almost like brothers. Silas had been there not just as an agent but as a friend, ensuring Axel had everything he needed. The Association's goal was clear: recruit Axel the moment he awakened his ability, training him before any guild could snatch him away.

Life had been good back then. The inheritance from his parents transitioned smoothly into his hands, and with the Association's backing, Axel lived a life of comfort and privilege. He had every reason to believe his future was bright. He partied in luxury apartments, drove expensive cars, and lavished gifts on Kara, his girlfriend.

To him, it wasn't extravagance; it was preparation for the life he was destined to lead. A prestigious appointment in the Association awaited—all he needed was to awaken his A-rank ability.

Then came the awakening.

E-rank. Contract Blind.

It was a moment that shattered everything. The Association's disappointment was palpable, even if unspoken. An E-rank ability wasn't just a letdown; it was a dead end. Axel's future with the Association vanished as quickly as it had seemed assured. And Silas? The man who had once been a constant presence in his life began to pull away. Slowly at first, but the distance grew until their bond was little more than a memory.

The only person who stayed by his side was Kara. Their relationship had begun before his awakening, when Axel was still full of promise. He hadn't regretted spending his inheritance on her, believing she was the one steadfast anchor in his life. But as his funds dwindled, so did Kara's affection. When the money finally ran out, her true colors emerged.

It didn't even take a week for her to leave him.

Axel's smirk returned as he recalled those days, but it didn't reach his eyes. Bitterness lingered, not just for Kara but for everything he'd lost. Silas, the Association, his parents' legacy—it had all slipped through his fingers, leaving him with nothing but an ability no one wanted and a life he hadn't planned for.

If S-rank abilities were 'God's Prank,' then E-rank abilities were the universe's punchline.

"Tsk…"

Axel clicked his tongue as he recalled this bitter memory. He hated dwelling on it, a chapter of his life he now considered distant and irrelevant.

But now, with his ability reawakened, he had a second chance—a chance he wouldn't squander. This time, he would tread carefully. It was why he had silently resolved to avoid women altogether.

Axel closed the message without replying. He strolled over to the refrigerator in the living room, lost in thought, and retrieved a chilled can of soda. Returning to the sofa, he took a seat, opened the drink, and sipped slowly, his eyes distant and unfocused.

"In as much as I'm apprehensive, I still have to show up at the Association headquarters next week."

The problem wasn't going; it was going with an SSS+ ability.

Rael's message had included a subtle warning: the Association would undoubtedly check his system information. Rael must have suspected something after witnessing Axel's monstrous form in the dungeon. And if Rael had any inkling of the truth—that Axel had reawakened an SSS+ ability, an anomaly unheard of in this world—the warning would've been far more urgent.

Even if the Association extended him a new offer, Axel had no interest in joining an organization he had grown to resent. But the real danger lay elsewhere. The Association had a history of eliminating individuals they deemed a potential threat.

"Of course, with an SSS+ ability, they'll take me seriously this time. Maybe even treat me like a national treasure. But if I tell them I have no interest in joining…"

He left the thought unfinished. The outcome was clear enough.

The Association wouldn't tolerate an untamed piece on the board—especially one that could grow powerful enough to challenge the nation's elite.

'Is it possible to disguise the actual rank of my ability?'

As the question crossed his mind, he summoned the system window once more.

[Of course, as a player, System Authority permits you to disguise the rank of your ability. However, such changes can only involve a reduction in rank.]

The system's precise and timely response caught him completely off guard.