Danger Level（1）

"If what happened today hadn't led Zachary Flynn to successfully transform into a monster, it would've been a low-tier aberration. Even if he'd been fully corrupted, it'd still only count as a slightly higher-tier mutation."

"Regardless, it's still an aberration. For ordinary people, it poses a significant threat."

"But since you eliminated Zachary Flynn before his full mutation, you've independently resolved an aberration incident. As you can probably sense, the World Will's rejection of you has lessened slightly."

Ethan Lewis focused intently, noticing that the hostility radiating from the World Will had diminished by a fraction—so subtle that he'd have missed it without careful attention.

Still, it marked a positive start.

"There's another way to avoid the World Will's rejection besides becoming an Administrator: solving these aberrations yourself.

"But this path is far riskier. The World won't reward you, nor grant access to enhancements like ours. In other words, you'd just be a disposable pawn.

"Cases like Zachary Flynn's are rare. You won't encounter them often, so relying solely on yourself to erase the World Will's rejection is impossible," Grace Quinn explained.

"So joining your organization is the only way I can live normally?"

Ethan Lewis agreed internally—the World Will's lingering hostility felt like a constant threat.

Another incident like the last one, where flames rained from the sky, might kill him. Becoming an Administrator meant striking a bargain: the World Will would cease its rejection and even offer rewards in exchange for eliminating aberrations.

All Ethan Lewis would need to do was handle minor anomalies occasionally.

It seemed like an absolute win.

"Yes. As an Administrator, the World Will won't reject you. You can also strengthen yourself using credits, drastically improving your safety in this world."

Grace Quinn continued, "But don't assume being an Administrator means handling trivial aberrations. That's impossible. Truthfully, while the title sounds prestigious, we're just survivors who've struck a contract with the World Will. To it, we're expendable—replaceable by countless others.

"To avoid being discarded, you must tackle high-risk incidents. Only then will you earn favor with the World Will."

"Wait, seriously?"

Ethan Lewis was stunned. His initial assumption had been wrong, but the reasoning made sense.

Low-tier aberrations could be solved by ordinary people, rendering Administrators unnecessary. The real threats to the World Will were the deeply rooted anomalies.

"How ruthless…"

Survival demanded constant risk-taking, confronting life-and-death scenarios, and diving headfirst into aberrations.

"Can you explain the differences between aberration tiers?"

Ethan Lewis wanted clarity on the hierarchy to prepare for future threats.

Grace Quinn nodded, gesturing to the bloodstains on the ground. "Cases like Zachary Flynn's are low-tier aberrations. They're simple to resolve—even ordinary people can handle them. But if the mutation completes, it escalates into a top-tier anomaly.

"Once you join Zhenmen, we'll show you how terrifying true anomalies can be.

"They're beyond ordinary human capability. Casualties could reach hundreds before such threats are neutralized."

Ethan Lewis inhaled sharply. The gap between low-tier and top-tier aberrations was staggering.

From solvable by one person to requiring hundreds of lives—all under the same "Level 1" classification. He'd gambled wisely by following Grace Quinn. If Zachary Flynn had fully transformed, Ethan would've been doomed.

Grace Quinn met his gaze. "Every Level 1 aberration demands an Administrator's direct intervention. If you can't resolve even these, the World Will will revoke your status and strip you of all privileges.

"Top-tier aberrations emit malice, infecting those nearby and turning them into fodder. Each victim consumed expands the anomaly's reach.

"At a 10-meter radius, it becomes a Level 2 anomaly—a 'phenomenon.' Within this domain, thoughts and bodies are assimilated. Solving Level 2 anomalies requires coordinated efforts among Administrators.

"The maximum radius for a Level 2 phenomenon is 200 meters. Entering this range unprepared means your nightmares could manifest as reality. That's the essence of a phenomenon."

"A domain?"

Ethan Lewis paled. A territory where the anomaly reigned supreme—akin to a force field. Without overwhelming power, survival was impossible.

A 200-meter radius was horrifying. Even 10 meters was dangerous, but 200? By the time you noticed, it'd be too late.

"Yes, a domain. Only anomalies with domains threaten the World Will—like rot spreading across pristine flesh. These are our primary targets."

Grace Quinn sighed. "Two months ago, Zhenmen faced a phenomenon with a 100-meter domain. Many joined the mission. Only five returned alive, three of them insane.

"Every phenomenon-level event is a near-certain death sentence."

"And the World Will only gives 200 credits for that? That's stingy."

Ethan Lewis scoffed. The risk-reward ratio seemed absurd.

Grace Quinn shrugged. "We're not equals to the World Will. Those 200 credits are a mercy. Without them, we'd have nothing."

Equality enabled negotiation, but Administrators existed by the World Will's grace. If it withdrew its favor, they'd vanish—powerless to resist.