The Awakening

*Vrrr* *Vrrr*

The phone was vibrating on the ground, waiting to be turned off.

Lu Jae-sung turned over to grasp the phone, noticing a crack in the phone's corner. There was a tile sticking out, shattering the small part of it.

"What a great start from a simple nap," staring at the cracked screen. He accidentally knocked his phone onto the floor of his bed. Some people forget to put away important items after sleeping or napping.

It was the first time for him since he had never slept with his mobile alongside him. He saw his memento box near the wall on the bed. Frustrated, he hid the box behind his bed and grabbed the smashed screen phone. He headed off to the common dining room, which lay right below his micro-apartment.

He noticed a tiny figure approaching as he locked the doors. It was a muscular guy with a small height. He had short white hair, damaged from the constant dyeing, with gray eyes. His face resembled the family's head. Lu Jae-sung was over a head taller, considering how unfortunate his size was.

"You're the new family member? Launch is almost ready, so you should go there now." His demeanor wasn't polite, nor hostile, making Lu Jae-sung's guard loose. Another mistake arises when considering the head of the family.

*Slap!*

Something suddenly knocked Lu Jae-sung to the ground, leaving him panting.

"Fucking bastard!" His voice, thin and wavering, barely reached above a whisper.

"What are you saying? I couldn't hear you. Oh boy, I'd hate to be so weak—despite seeming stronger, you remain unawakened. Hahaha." Mocking Lu Jae-sung was his goal from the start. He pretended to be indifferent, which was his way of getting to someone's nerves.

After making fun of him, he got inside his room, slamming the door behind him to startle the guy down on all fours.

Lu Jae-sung gave it his all to get up, groaning from the heavy slap on his back. A burning sensation slowly felt more painful. Such a heavy hit will leave a burned mark on his back for a while. Fortunately enough, he wasn't bleeding from it, which implied he didn't have to be concerned about this injury.

He attempted to avoid limping while walking to the common dining room. He nearly stumbled on the stairs to the lower floor and eventually reached the opened double doors next to the kitchen, where lunch would be served.

Straightened up, he stepped inside to take a seat. Ten chairs lined one side of a lengthy dining table; two more sat at the head.

His parents sat on opposite sides, while his stepsister sat next to their father, observing something on her phone.

Taking a position over one chair nearer to her mother, he waited patiently for the dishes to be served, wondering when the stepbrother of his was going to arrive.

"Since Hwan-kyu won't be present, I will discuss some important matters with you two." He switched gazes with Lu Jae-sung and Bu Hae-ryung.

He had long expected that since he had to switch schools and graduate, but he didn't know where this despicable stepfather signed him up. He could make his life miserable by enrolling him in an extremely challenging high school or choosing one that is far from here, reducing his flexibility.

"Before I start with you, Hae-ryung, I need to inform my new son," Bu Bujeo prolonged his speech.

"I enrolled you in a highly prestigious school within walking distance of downtown Gongchun. I will send you the details over the phone," he said to Lu Jae-sung with an emotionless face.

"You'll also take an awakening test; unlike your hometown, you can do so anytime here in the capital."

He emphasized this to belittle his origin.

This made Lu Jae-sung mad. Although he didn't show it, his mind was overflowing with fury. At least his birthplace was peaceful, without considering the never-changing behavior of others towards him. Coastal proximity meant fewer city-wall monsters; therefore, less potential for destruction existed.

"When do you want me to take the test, dear father?" Lu Jae-sung wore a serious expression, still feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Right after lunch. You already have everything you need, so the chauffeur will await you in front of the apartment complex."

Lu Jae-sung felt anxious, fidgeting his fingers under the table. His heartbeat quickened and streams of sweat drenched his shirt on the back.

"Isn't this too sudden, father?" His unsure voice revealed slight nervousness.

Having just reached his new home, does he immediately need to undergo an awakening test? This felt cruel, in his opinion. This would determine how his family would treat him for the rest of his life. It would take a huge toll on his psychological state, which would lead to a quick burning out.

Despite Lu Jae-sung's wishes, delaying until graduation remained infeasible.

*Tsk*

He clicked his tongue and looked at his mother, expecting she could at least help him this once. But, unfortunately, he was too naïve to think she would be of any help, completely ignoring his gaze.

"Hae-ryung, are you nearing the point of tiering-up?" Bu Bujeo asked his daughter with anticipation. He fixed his gaze on her face, anticipating some good news.

"I still didn't figure out the slightest bit how to suppress my special ability. I apologize for disappointing you, father."

She looked down, sadness overflowing within her, showing sorrow and shame on her face.

"You don't have to worry much about it. You have some time before university graduation. I intend to find you someone who can help you with it."

When the conversation fell silent, sounds of clattering resonated through the dining room while maids led meal carts toward them. After the maids presented everyone with food, they started eating.

Lu Jae-sung finished first, filling himself quickly, so he could have the awakening process behind him. Despite his low expectations, a great weight pressed upon his stomach.

Leaving everyone behind, he made his way to the elevator, calling it by a small button beside the opening.

*ding*

He departed the skyscraper, slowly approaching his chauffeur.

"Thank you for taking me to the Association. I also wanted to apologize for my rudeness earlier this day," he bowed slightly before the chauffeur.

He genuinely felt that this older man deserved respect for always being available, always willing to drive anywhere, anytime, without complaint.

The chauffeur didn't expect an apology at all, making him bend backward out of surprise. With a bright mood, he closed the door behind Lu Jae-sung and sat in the driver's seat.

-----------------------------------------

After arriving in an even denser area filled with enormous multistory buildings and parks, he was dropped off right beside the path that led to the Awakening Association.

"Master Jae-sung, take my calling card. It might come in handy if I'm not taken by the head of the family." He felt Lu Jae-sung might treat him well, not like the others, entrusting him with direct contact.

"Thank you very much. At least I don't have to rely on my stepfather." Lu Jae-sung hid the card in his pocket, waving before leaving.

Without diving into deep thoughts about his active and chaotic day, he made his way through the busy trail toward the Association.

He looked at the three grand structures, which were connected by three—wide, expensive, partially see-through—bridges, creating a triangle surrounding a park between them. Those three buildings were the Association, which also managed all the others across the kingdom. The only other sector, more significant than this one, would be in the Trinity Land.

He crossed one of the few automatic entrances leading to an open area filled with rug tiles, simple decoration, and LED ceiling lights, showing simplicity over luxury. There were multiple rows of ticket dispensers before the huge stairs heading to the upper floors.

Next to the stairs were service booths, each assigned a number and a display, signaling five digits of the tickets.

"This place is so much different apart from the one in my hometown," feeling flabbergasted, he looked around in surprise. The low cost didn't detract from the majestic quality of the interior.

After approaching one of the ticket dispensers, he clicked the 'Awakening' button.

"DO YOU WANT POWER? ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP YOUR TIME?" - Yes/No.

"Wait, this doesn't seem to be a part of the machine?" Lu Jae-sung's mind filled with questions, trying to comprehend what was going on.

The blue transparent prompt was shimmering, waiting to be interacted with.

His body was shaking with nervousness, slowly pointing his finger to 'Yes.'

"CONTINUE TO AWAKEN,"

*Whirrr* *Whirrr*

Lu Jae-sung carefully took his ticket with the number '77777,' looking at one of the TVs hanging from the ceiling.

Waiting for his number to appear, another prompt showed on one of the vast displays.

"WAIT"—"PROCEED TO BOOTH 20"

This occurrence felt rather creepy, yet curiousness filled his heart. Feeling his misfortunes would end, he continued to follow the instructions.

Inside the booth was a blond woman in her 40s, showing no expression. She went through this process countless times.

"ID please," a short sentence came out of her mouth, still expressionless.

Avoiding much interaction with her pleased him. He pulled out his beat-up wallet, got his ID, and passed it to her through the glass.

Her gaze scanned Lu Jae-sung, checking if it was him on the identification card.

"Fifth floor, examination room twenty. You will be called for by name. Good luck with the last try," she said unconcerned, handing him his ID back.

"ARE YOU READY TO GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE IN YOUR LIFE?"

"WILL YOU SURVIVE THE HARSH CHALLENGES AWAITING YOU?"

"WILL YOU RISE ACROSS UNIVERSES?"

Multiple prompts started showing on the way up, slowly intensifying each step closer to the 20th room.

His heart started beating uncontrollably fast, a layer of cold sweat condensing on his skin.

While passing through the corridor to his destination, a part of it transitioned from reality to a surface filled with transparent blue frames overlapping each other multiple times.

"Lu Jae-sung," a faint call passed the closed door with '20' written on a sign.

The doors busted open when a tall and muscular guy rushed off completely pissed. He ground his teeth in anger, stomping while dashing in the opposite direction.

Lu Jae-sung ignored him, his attention aiming elsewhere.

"THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER."

Tension grew even more before he passed into a fully black room. This wasn't how it should look, yet he acted calmly, ignoring the changing surroundings.

"You probably know the entire process, so just bear with the preparations and step inside the capsule."

Lu Jae-sung nodded to the professor, slowly entering the glass tube in front of him, prepared to be secured by steel straps.

*Thunk*—*Slide*

The safety harnesses closed tightly, as well as the sliding doors of the capsule.

"INJECTING SYSTEM STARTED."

Microscopical needles penetrated his body, relaxant flowing inside his blood. The capsule glowed brightly with yellow light, and an unknown power gradually entered him.

"WHAT IS IT YOU AIM FOR?"

"POWER?"

"FREEDOM?"

"REVENGE?"

"ALL THE ABOVE?"

"DEFEAT <#*%!*%%@#??!!> TO REACH WHAT YOU DESIRE."

His mind slowly fell into darkness, chaos filling the room.