Awakener Registration
Luckily, my pocket still held my phone and wallet, just like when I'd entered the tower.
They looked like they'd been scorched hundreds of times, yet somehow they'd been restored.
Towers really were something else.
Thanks to that, I didn't have to shiver in the cold—I hopped right on a bus and headed home.
"Hmm. This familiar musty smell."
Not that I missed it.
I pushed open the door to my dank basement studio and stared down at the dust-caked room.
"...Yeah, figures."
Six months.
Not a short time at all.
Of course the place would be buried in dust after being empty that long.
"If I hadn't set up auto-pay for rent, I'd probably be out on the street."
I tilted my head, deciding to start by wiping down the floor's grime.
Once I'd cleared all the dust, I let out a long breath and slumped against the wall.
So, what now?
I recalled the system window that had popped up when I'd thrown my fist at the guardian.
It had said my synchronization rate hit 1%, and that the Master of the Twisted Underworld was pleased.
Right after, the new Black Dragon power, Smoke, had unlocked.
"Raising the synchronization rate is the way to go, first off."
Increase the synchronization rate.
That much was clear now—it was how to break free from the Black Dragon's dominion.
But how exactly did you raise it?
"..."
No, wait.
Before that—was it even safe to raise it?
Skills with their own ego? Never heard of that.
And this one was coveting my body.
Yet here I was, needing to boost some mysterious synchronization rate.
It felt off, like something was seriously wrong.
But.
"Does it even matter? It's all the same in the end."
Don't raise it?
Then the Black Dragon gets unsatisfied and takes my body.
Raise it?
I didn't know exactly what it synced with.
But if it was with the Black Dragon, like I figured, the higher it went, the more it'd steal my body anyway.
Either way, same result.
So my choice was simple.
"Gotta raise it, then."
Just the difference between sitting idle and getting taken, or fighting back.
At least surrender without a fight wasn't my style.
If it was, I wouldn't have bothered on the 10th floor.
Besides, the Black Dragon was a skill.
I was its master, the one who wielded it.
How dare a mere skill try to devour its owner without a proper challenge.
"Anyway, that's settled."
No point overthinking now that I'd decided.
Won't come up with better ideas just by stewing on it.
I turned my gaze rightward, staring into empty air.
A system window had been floating there ever since I left the tower.
Generating additional reward...
They'd said I was the first to be acknowledged by the Tutorial Tower guardian, so they were giving extra rewards.
But it still hadn't paid out.
Wonder when it'd drop.
Figured it'd be like the unique skill—wait 30 minutes or so.
"It's dark out."
The sun had set and the moon hung high, but no additional reward yet.
I scratched the back of my head and pulled a thick blanket from the closet.
"Screw it. Time to crash."
Weirdly, I wasn't sleepy.
But mentally exhausted as hell.
Makes sense.
Died hundreds of times clearing the Tutorial Tower, at least.
Even if sleep wouldn't come, I wanted to lie down and rest.
I spread the blanket from the closet over the bed and flopped onto it.
The soft mattress felt electric after days without.
The next day.
Despite thinking I wouldn't sleep, I crashed hard and didn't wake until noon.
Then headed to Gangnam.
Simple reason.
The Awakening Association was there.
Awakened with a system? Had to register at the Association.
That was one of society's rules now.
Don't register after awakening? Straight-up criminal.
So pretty much everyone did it.
"Number 258. I'll assist with awakener registration."
Holding my ticket marked '258', I jumped up.
This was Gangnam.
Smack in the middle of the highest foot traffic.
The Awakening Association branch here.
I'd been to Gangnam once before.
Big bro hit it big on crypto, treated me to a fancy barbecue spot.
Taesung was there too.
Anyway, knew the area.
But first time at the Association.
I walked to the desk on the first floor of the sleek marble building that screamed luxury.
"May I see your ID?"
"Here."
I pulled out my ID from my wallet.
The attendant typed away, then handed it back.
"Mr. Han Mir. Confirmed, but... your eye color's different."
"Pardon?"
"Your eyes are orange now."
Orange?
I fumbled my phone on, using it as a mirror.
No way...
"Holy shit, for real."
Hadn't checked a mirror since leaving the tower.
Skipped it even in the bathroom.
Too wiped to bother.
Should've looked this morning.
Rushed out 'cause the bus was in three minutes.
Scratching my head awkwardly, the attendant smiled and pointed aside.
"Happens sometimes with new awakeners—hair or eye color changes. Common."
"Oh..."
"Didn't bring a photo with orange eyes, right?"
"Sorry about that."
"No worries. Instant photo booth right there—snap one?"
I nodded and dashed to the booth.
The ID photo I'd dug out back home? Useless now.
Almost missed the bus hunting for it.
Back with the fresh photo, I approached the attendant again.
"Got the photo. Can you share your Tutorial Tower clear time?"
Systems couldn't be shared by default.
One exception: time spent in the Tutorial Tower.
I nodded and shared the window with her.
"Here."
"4444.4 hours... Yes. Registration complete."
Tap, tap-tap.
She stared at my clear time with a cooled-off look.
Unfair.
I tried hard.
Blame running into the Black Dragon.
Clear in a month, they do special screening.
Six months? Screwed anyway.
Lipsmacking in regret, I eyed the attendant.
She finished typing and handed over a warm registration card.
"All done. Mr. Han Mir, you can now live as an awakener and F-rank hunter. Misuse your powers, risk villain designation. Want E-rank? Take the promotion exam."
"That's it?"
"Yep. You're good. Head out."
Huh.
Heard registration was simple.
Just show Tutorial Tower clear time. Done.
The one shareable system thing was Tutorial clear time.
Proof you'd awakened, cleared the tower.
Hence the easy method.
Knew it, but damn, even simpler than expected.
Expected skill demo at least.
Lipsmacking lightly, I took the card and headed to the chairs.
"Name: Han Mir... Address too."
I tilted the awakener card under the light, heading out.
Real deal in my hand.
Weird feeling.
Eye color change, huh...
I eyed my orange-eyed face on the card.
Strange.
Staring at those orange eyes... reminded me of the Black Dragon in the tower.
Probably why.
Shaking off the negative thoughts creeping in, I pocketed the card.
"E-rank promo exam next Wednesday, right."
Hunters had ranks.
Gates too.
Only matching-rank hunters minimum per gate.
Freshly registered F-rank me? Barely any gates open.
F-rank gate monsters? Tutorial level.
Need at least C-rank for sync rate gains.
"Might as well check one out since I'm here."
Pulled my phone, searched F-rank gates.
"What? None near Gangnam."
But... wait.
One.
Clicked the new F-rank gate added a week ago.
"Slime Nest? F-rank from two weeks back."
Not showing 'cause so new.
Close enough.
Hit maps, headed there.
"So this is a gate."
Saw monsters in the tower, but first gate.
A massive dimensional door humming, scattering blue mana.
Approaching, I flashed my registration at the Association hunter guarding the entrance.
"Awakener confirmed. Enter."
"Thanks."
He skimmed the card, waved me in.
F-rank accidents near zero—loose checks.
Shrugged, stepped through.
This feeling...
Body floating weightless.
95% like going up tower floors.
Eyes opening, I stood in a vast field.
"F-rank gate, Slime Nest, huh?"
Slimes.
Goblin-level or weaker.
Acid mucus bodies suffocate prey, I'd heard.
Worried on the way.
"No way these are it?"
Far off, blue blobs bouncing.
Awakeners inside blasting skills freely.
Bouncy slimes popped helplessly.
Watching... well.
"How the hell are these goblin-tier?"
Pathetic weak.
Whatever.
Goblin or slime.
Black Dragon
One punch either way.
Slime exploded, mucus spraying.
Lipsmacked lightly, glanced aside.
Synchronization Rate 1%
No surprise.
Expected, but bitter seeing it.
This was an F-rank gate? Raise sync like this?
"Kill all in sight, think while I go."
Who knows.
Maybe a slime village like the tower boosts it.
Light thoughts, advanced.
Dense grass forest ahead.
Huff, huff.
The woman ran, gasping ragged breaths.
"Ugh!"
Twisted ankle throbbed like shattering.
Hands shredded, bloodied long ago.
Body soaked in cold sweat.
"This is an F-rank gate. Why... why the hell...!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy noise behind.
Terror choked her voice—might die.
Didn't watch feet, tripped on rock.
"Ugh—!"
Crash!
Tumbled pathetic on rough ground.
Ragged clothes tore further, blood staining red.
Still, pushed legs to flee.
But.
"Ah..."
Legs wouldn't move.
Despair crashed.
Trembling, turned head.
Something never in F-rank.
Prime C-rank monster.
A green-skinned giant...
"What the hell is this."
Splat!
One hit, burst dead.
"Eh...?"
Brain lagged, she trembled, eyes shifting.
A man stood blankly, right hand black scales.
Figured something here, came to check.
Two-meter green pig-thing on hind legs.
Casual punch, exploded.
What was that?
Tilted head at lower half remains.
Something nagging memory.
Green skin monster...
The Master of the Twisted Underworld says that's an orc.
Right.
Orc...
"Huh?"
Blinked at air.
System floated, confirming.
The Master of the Twisted Underworld asks what you're staring at.
"No, uh..."
Hmm...
No.
Saved breath, turned to noise source.
There.
"Hic, hic..."
Messy bob-haired woman stared up, terror-stricken.