Attention

Zain was taken to the association's military base, where he was admitted to its infirmary. A week had passed, but during that time, Zain repeatedly woke up only to faint shortly after. His weakened state left him unable to maintain consciousness for long.

Whenever Zain was too weak to eat solid food, the nurses fed him liquids instead, with tea being his primary sustenance. By the second week, Zain began staying conscious for a few hours at a time. However, his body remained frail, rendering him incapable of movement.

"General, there is nothing wrong with Zain's health," the doctor reported. "However, his body has been deprived of nutrition for an extended period, leaving him too weak to absorb the energy emanating from within him."

"But, Doctor, can you at least assess the boy? It's crucial that we know his current rank," General Garry insisted, his tone firm.

"My apologies, General. As long as the boy remains in this state, we cannot conduct an assessment."

Zain's diet was gradually adjusted. The doctor introduced rice porridge, which Zain managed to eat before falling asleep soon after. His golden-brown skin, once radiant, now appeared pale and grayish. The rapid nutrient absorption occurring in his body was attributed to the rank he had supposedly reached, which placed immense strain on his physical form.

---

At the Academy

The Ascension Department, which was usually quiet and resembled an abandoned building except during the end of the academic year, had become a hive of activity. Scientists and teachers not assigned to classes rushed about—some cleaning, others repairing equipment, and others sorting through stacks of documents.

Ria walked into the building unnoticed, heading directly to the janitor's office. When she opened the door, she was met with the sight of Principal Benedict standing before her. Behind him, the hallway leading to the secret room was bustling with scientists.

"Ria, what brings you here?" the principal asked casually. As an S-rank individual, addressing the heiress of one of the great clans in such a manner was considered acceptable.

"I was on my way to see a friend. May I ask what's going on here?"

"Such a sincere student…" Benedict replied with a faint smile. "You see, Ria, this place is now a restricted area. But rest assured, your friend is fine—though he is not here at the moment."

Ria's heart skipped a beat. "Really? He woke up from his coma? Where is he?" Her usual composure slipped, revealing her concern.

"He's not at the academy, for now."

Ria exhaled deeply and left the janitor's office, walking out of the building. She couldn't stop thinking about the boy who had been in the capsule and why the academy was now so invested in his case.

---

After two months on a strict diet, Zain finally regained enough strength to walk. This also meant he could now be assessed.

The doctor, accompanied by two scientists, entered Zain's room. The doctor gave him a warm, reassuring smile.

"Zain, how are you feeling today?"

Zain sat on the bed, his legs covered by a blanket. His body, though still scrawny, no longer looked skeletal. His once sunken cheeks now showed faint signs of fullness. He looked at the doctor and responded in a weak voice, "A little better."

"Alright then, Zain. Today, we'll conduct a test to determine your current rank. It won't take long or hurt. All you need to do is place your right hand inside this cube and try to release heat through it." The doctor gestured to a metallic cube he had brought with him.

The cube was a rank tester, infused with special radiation designed to interact with an individual's energy. The process involved overwhelming the existing radiation within the cube with the radiation emanating from the individual's body, thereby determining their rank.

"Attention!" one of the rankers announced loudly as General Garry entered the room where the scientists were observing the computer screens.

Zain closed his eyes, placing his hand through a hole in the cube. A moment later, he focused on the heat within his body, channeling it to his hand, and released it.

As the heat flowed into the cube, the radiation inside began to shift and change color.

"Sir! How… how… how is this possible?" one of the scientists stammered, staring at the results in disbelief.