Chapter 6: The Flashback Story [05] – The Hunter Association.

I finally reached the Hunter Association.

A towering ten-story building loomed before me, its sheer size making me pause for a moment. Massive.

Hunter Association – Here, Awakeners receive a Raid Card, officially recognizing them as hunters. Their skill level is evaluated, and they were assigned their hunter rank accordingly.

A hunter's rank is typically one or two levels lower than their highest-ranked skill. For example, if someone possesses an E-rank skill, they would generally be classified as an F-rank or G-rank hunter.

Take James as an example—he has two skills: one A-rank and the other B-rank. Based on this, he is designated as a C-rank hunter.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped through the front doors, immediately greeted by an elderly woman with long black hair and a radiant white smile.

"Hello, welcome to the Hunter Association. How can I assist you today?"

Her voice was warm, her smile unwavering. Despite that, I felt a bit nervous.

"U-uhh… I need to register as a hunter. I awakened yesterday."

Her eyes lit up with excitement, and her smile widened.

"Alright, please follow me."

I trailed behind her as she led me to a small booth. A single chair stood against a plain white wall.

"Please, have a seat."

I nodded and sat down.

The moment I settled in, she spoke again.

"Smile!"

I barely had time to react before the camera clicked.

She glanced at the screen, examining the photo, and then chuckled.

"You're a pretty handsome boy."

My heart skipped a beat.

I wasn't used to compliments—especially about my looks.

Back at the store, Logan used to beat me for no reason. But now... everything is going to change. I'm registering as a hunter.

This is the start of a new life.

"Alright, boy, please follow me."

Her ever-present smile remained as she led me out of the booth area and into another room.

The space was calm and minimalistic. The soft white walls gave it a clean look, without feeling too futuristic or clinical. In the center, two half-oval beige couches faced each other, surrounding a small rectangular table.

That woman gestured for me to sit. I sat down on the left couch, sinking slightly into its plush surface.

She then left the room with a smile. I waited patiently for her to return. After a few moments, she came back, carrying a white, globe-like device and placing it on the table in front of me.

Then, she asked, "May I check your status?"

I nodded and said, "Open Status."

A blue window screen appeared before me, its text glowing softly.

⟪ STATUS ⟫

[NAME: REN THRONE] LEVEL:1

[HP: 20/20] [MP: 20/20]

[STRENGTH: 10] [SPEED: 10]

[AGILITY: 10] [INTELLIGENCE: 25]

[ENDURANCE: E]

⟪ SKILLS ⟫

[EXTRACTION]

This was the window visible to others. I had hidden my skill rank and altered my endurance to appear lower.

She studied my status for a while, her eyes narrowing slightly. After a brief pause, she spoke.

"You have quite a unique skill, boy."

I nodded, my heart pounding faster with each second.

"Extraction…" She muttered. "I've never heard of this skill before."

She looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Do you know what it does?"

I shook my head.

She nodded thoughtfully, then examined the rest of my stats.

"You have a hunter's status, but your stats are quite low. However, your skill… this is something that will determine your future rank."

I nodded again.

She then said calmly, "Alright… place both hands on this globe. The color will change according to your skill level. If your skill is rare or exceptionally powerful, your classification as a hunter will depend on the evaluation results."

I nodded, understanding her point.

Those with rare or multiple skills were often placed in the D-rank category of Awakeners. After further evaluation, if an individual's skill was ranked highly, their hunter rank would be one or two level lower than their skill rank.

Once they officially received their Raid Card, they would be recognized as a hunter rather than being an awakener.

The ranks for skills were divided into G, F, E, D, C, B, A, and S.

If the globe didn't change color, it meant I was either G or F rank—essentially the weakest.

If it turned white, I would be E-rank. If it turned sky blue, then a D-rank.

Purple and violet indicated C and B-rank, respectively.

Green meant A-rank, while red signified S-rank, the strongest skills and rare in the world.

Not everyone pursued combat. Some people awakened with skills like cooking, and they had separate evaluation methods tailored to their professions.

However, for hunters, this machine determined their rank based on the potential of their skills. If someone awakened with an S-rank skill, they would be recognized as a A or B-rank hunter from the start.

Additionally, those who had two or more skills were initially classified as D-rank awakeners until their skills were fully evaluated. Once their true skill ranks were determined, they would be promoted accordingly.

My heart pounded in my chest, beating faster with every passing second. I already knew my skill rank, but still… anxiety crept in as I placed both hands on the globe.

Then—a sharp sting jolted through my palm. Strangely, it felt sweet.

The globe's color began to shift. From white to sky-blue, then to purple and violet.

The woman narrowed her eyes in confusion.

Then, the color changed again—green… then red.

Her eyes widened the moment the globe turned red.

I, too, was stunned. Seeing it shift to red was shocking enough, but then… it stopped for a moment before shifting into a color no one had ever seen before.

—Black.

My breath hitched as I stared at the dark hue. I turned to the woman, my mind racing with questions. She mirrored my confusion, her expression unreadable.

Then, with a soft ding, the globe signaled that the evaluation was complete.

I slowly pulled my hands away, but the color remained a deep, endless black. As dark as the night itself.

"This… has never happened before…" she murmured, eyes still fixed on the globe.

Then, as if trying to shake off the uncertainty, she stood up abruptly.

"Well… I think the machine might be malfunctioning," she said. "Please wait here. I'll bring another one."

She left and returned shortly after with a second evaluation globe. But the results remained the same.

Confusion settled between us like an unspoken weight.

I had assumed my skill was E-rank, but this… this was something entirely different.

"Uhh… Mr. Ren," she began hesitantly. "This has never happened before, so we'll need some time before issuing your Raid Card and officially recognizing you as a hunter."

She paused before continuing.

"Your skill… I've never heard of anything like it. I need to research more, and as for the evaluation… the globe turning black could mean it's high-ranked… or low because Black color never appeared before. We're not sure yet. I apologize for the inconvenience, but could you return in three days? I need to discuss this with my supervisor."

A sigh escaped my lips. Disappointment gnawed at me, but I nodded.

"Thank you for understanding, Mr. Ren."

I gave a small nod, stood up, and with a polite smile, left the room.

Stepping outside, I walked along the pavement, lost in thought.

"Will I even be chosen as a hunter? What if my skill isn't meant for hunting at all?"

A soft breeze swept past, brushing against my face as my crimson hair swayed slightly.

This had never happened before in the history of the Hunter Association.