Morning sunlight filtered through the dojo windows.
Kyle had already finished his morning body training when Elias stepped out from the inner room.
Without a word, he tossed a folded piece of paper toward him.
Kyle caught it.
“What is this, Master?”
“A location.”
Kyle unfolded it.
Written neatly across the paper was an address.
Sector 8 Cultivator Administration Headquarters.
Elias folded his arms.
“Now that you’ve awakened, you’re no longer an ordinary civilian.”
“Every cultivator in Sector Eight must register.”
Kyle nodded.
“Because I awakened late?”
“Exactly.”
“The moment you complete your registration, you’ll officially become a recognized cultivator.”
“You’ll also be eligible to apply for the Dawn Awakener Academy Entrance Examination.”
Kyle carefully folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket.
“I’ll leave immediately.”
Elias stopped him.
“One more thing.”
Kyle turned.
“Don’t reveal your Space Element.”
“Not to the receptionist.”
“Not to the examiners.”
“Not to anyone.”
Kyle smiled faintly.
“I’ll remember.”
Moments later…
Kyle boarded a public transit shuttle.
Unlike the rusty buses that served the Ash District, this one glided silently above the road on magnetic rails.
Through the transparent windows, Kyle stared at the city stretching before him.
Towering buildings pierced the clouds.
Mana-powered holograms floated above shopping districts.
Countless cultivators walked the streets.
Some displayed their abilities openly.
A young man manipulated streams of water to clean the windows of a skyscraper.
Nearby, a middle-aged woman controlled the wind, sweeping an entire plaza without lifting a broom.
Earth-element cultivators repaired cracked roads with a wave of their hands.
Fire-element cultivators worked inside glass-walled forges, melting metal with flames hotter than ordinary furnaces.
Kyle watched quietly.
Not every cultivator hunted monsters.
Many simply used their abilities to earn a living.
An hour later…
The shuttle slowed before an enormous plaza.
Kyle stepped out.
His eyes slowly widened.
Before him stood the tallest building he had ever seen.
It stretched so high that its peak disappeared into the clouds.
Its silver exterior reflected the morning sunlight like a giant pillar of glass.
At the very top…
Two enormous glowing words floated in the air.
SECTOR
Beneath them…
A gigantic blue numeral.
8
Kyle stood motionless.
He had learned in school that humanity no longer ruled the entire planet.
After the Cataclysm, monsters had conquered most of the world.
The surviving human population had gathered into massive fortified regions known as Sectors.
There were dozens of them across the world.
Sector Eight…
Was now his home.
Taking a deep breath, Kyle walked inside.
The lobby was enormous.
People filled every corner.
Some wore academy uniforms.
Others carried weapons.
Powerful auras drifted through the building.
Some cultivators radiated pressure so overwhelming that Kyle instinctively avoided looking directly at them.
He silently reminded himself.
One day…
I’ll stand among them.
Just then…
Several security officers suddenly cleared a path through the lobby.
“Make way!”
“Stand aside!”
The noisy crowd immediately separated.
Kyle frowned.
He hadn’t noticed.
He continued walking toward the reception desks while reading the directory displayed on his phone.
At that exact moment…
A large man stepped into his path.
He wore the uniform of a personal guard.
His cultivation had already reached Rank Five.
The guard glanced at Kyle.
A newly awakened Low Rank One.
Without even bothering to examine him further, the guard casually extended a hand.
“Move.”
He released only enough strength to push aside an ordinary Low Rank One.
To him…
That was more than sufficient.
Kyle instinctively reacted.
His newly tempered body moved on its own.
His hand shot out.
Clap.
He caught the guard’s wrist.
The guard’s confident expression froze.
“…Hmm?”
Kyle immediately released him.
“My apologies.”
“I wasn’t paying attention.”
The surrounding crowd fell silent.
Several guards looked over in surprise.
How had a newly awakened cultivator stopped that shove?
Not because the guard had used his true strength.
He hadn’t.
But because it should still have been enough to push away any ordinary Rank One.
The guard narrowed his eyes.
His body…
Interesting.
Before he could speak again…
A calm voice interrupted.
“Enough.”
Everyone immediately lowered their heads.
A handsome young man stepped forward.
His black coat carried the crest of one of Sector Eight’s great families.
His movements were elegant.
Confident.
Behind him stood several Rank Five guards.
Kyle looked at him briefly.
Then looked away.
The young man smiled faintly.
“You’re the first person today who wasn’t frightened by my guards.”
Kyle answered honestly.
“I didn’t even know they were yours.”
A few people nearby inhaled sharply.
The young man’s smile widened.
“I see.”
He nodded once before continuing toward a private elevator.
As he disappeared…
Kyle simply continued toward the reception.
He never noticed the young man glancing back at him one last time.
…
“Next.”
Kyle stepped forward.
The receptionist smiled politely.
“How may I help you?”
“I’d like to register as a cultivator.”
She typed quickly.
“Your name?”
“Kyle Verion.”
Her fingers stopped.
She searched again.
Then frowned.
“I’m sorry…”
“Our records show you failed your Awakening Ceremony.”
Kyle nodded.
“I awakened afterward.”
Her expression changed.
“One moment, please.”
She stood and disappeared through a nearby door.
Inside a private office…
A middle-aged administrator accepted the file.
He immediately noticed another document attached beneath it.
Awakening Report
Filed by: Instructor Campbell
Classification: Abnormal Awakening Event
The administrator silently read every line.
When he finished…
He tapped the desk thoughtfully.
“So…”
“He awakened after leaving the ceremony.”
He closed the file.
“Approve his registration.”
Then, after a brief pause, he added quietly,
“And keep an eye on him.”
“Nothing more?”
The receptionist asked.
The administrator shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“Understood.”
Several minutes later…
The receptionist returned.
She smiled.
“Mr. Verion.”
“Your registration has been approved.”
Kyle let out a quiet breath.
“Thank you.”
She handed him a digital tablet.
“Please complete the remaining information.”
Kyle filled in every required detail.
When he finished, she nodded.
“Congratulations.”
“From today onward, you’re officially recognized as a cultivator of Sector Eight.”
She continued,
“Your Cultivator Identity Badge is currently being prepared.”
“You may return tomorrow to collect it.”
Kyle nodded.
“And one more thing.”
“I’d like to apply for the Dawn Awakener Academy Entrance Examination.”
The receptionist smiled again.
“I’ve already submitted your application.”
“A notification will be sent to your Cultivator Portal once your eligibility has been confirmed.”
She tapped the tablet once.
A notification appeared on Kyle’s phone.
Cultivator Portal Activated.
“Your portal contains information about academies, cultivation laws, rankings, restricted zones, monster territories, and official announcements.”
Kyle looked at the glowing notification.
An entirely new world…
Had just opened before him.
He thanked the receptionist before turning toward the exit.
Outside…
The towering headquarters stood proudly beneath the blue sky.
Kyle took one last look at the words glowing at its summit.
SECTOR 8.
His registration was complete.
The next step…
Would determine his future.