The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 174: Chapter 174: What Happened Inside the Gate?

That evening, a private meeting was held at the headquarters of the South Korea Awakening Administration.

The conference room was located on one of the upper floors, far from the ordinary administrative offices. Access to the room was restricted, and the documents placed on the table were classified under the highest security level available to the Administration.

Chairman Kang Dong-wook sat at the head of the table.

Across from him stood Director Han Seung-ho, holding a sealed report in his hands.

The room was silent.

Dong-wook finally looked up.

"Director Han, you requested an immediate meeting."

"Yes, Chairman."

Seung-ho placed the report on the table.

"The investigation concerning the D-Rank Gate has concluded, at least as far as the initial response is concerned."

Dong-wook’s expression became serious.

"Then give me the report."

Seung-ho opened the file.

"Two registered Awakeners entered the Gate before the abnormality occurred."

Seung-ho turned the first page.

"They entered the Gate legally and were recorded by the entrance security system. Shortly after their entry, the Gate underwent a major dimensional disturbance."

Dong-wook leaned back.

"The Dungeon Shift."

"Yes."

Seung-ho continued.

"The Gate’s internal readings changed almost immediately. Mana density increased beyond the expected range for a D-Rank dungeon, and external access became impossible."

Dong-wook’s expression hardened.

"How long did the abnormality last?"

"We don’t have an exact duration."

Seung-ho paused.

"The Gate eventually returned to its original state."

"And the two Awakeners?"

"They emerged after the Gate stabilized."

Dong-wook looked at him.

"Alive?"

"Yes."

"Casualties?"

"None."

The Chairman remained silent for a moment.

"Then what is the problem?"

Seung-ho looked down at the report.

"Their testimony."

Dong-wook’s gaze sharpened.

"Explain."

Seung-ho turned several pages and placed them in front of the Chairman.

"Both individuals stated that they experienced no Dungeon Shift."

Dong-wook frowned.

"No Dungeon Shift?"

"That is what they claim."

Seung-ho pointed toward the reports.

"According to their statements, they entered an ordinary D-Rank dungeon, hunted monsters normally, and remained inside the same dungeon until they found an exit."

Dong-wook studied the documents.

"What monsters did they report?"

"Giant Ants and Dire Wolves."

"Nothing else?"

"According to their statements, no."

Dong-wook looked up.

Seung-ho placed several photographs on the table.

"The magic stones they carried were consistent with Giant Ants and Dire Wolves."

Dong-wook examined them.

"They actually collected these inside the Gate?"

"We’re still verifying that."

Seung-ho’s tone remained measured.

"But the materials themselves are genuine."

Dong-wook remained silent.

After several seconds, he asked,

"How did they explain the change in the Gate?"

"They didn’t."

Seung-ho answered.

"They said they were unaware that anything unusual had occurred."

Dong-wook’s expression became more serious.

"Then what concerns you?"

Seung-ho looked directly at him.

"The consistency."

Dong-wook raised an eyebrow.

"Consistency?"

"They gave essentially identical accounts despite being interviewed separately."

Seung-ho closed the file.

"Normally, that would strengthen their credibility. In this case, however, their explanation conflicts with every piece of data we collected from the Gate."

Dong-wook nodded slowly.

"Continue."

"The internal readings indicate that the dungeon underwent a significant structural transformation. The dimensional fluctuations were far beyond anything we would expect from a normal D-Rank Gate."

Seung-ho’s expression remained composed.

"Yet the only two people inside claim that they simply continued hunting low-ranking monsters."

Dong-wook glanced toward the photographs again.

"Did they sustain injuries?"

"Nothing consistent with surviving an environment containing unusually high-level monsters."

Dong-wook remained silent.

Seung-ho continued.

"They also displayed no signs of prolonged exposure to extreme mana density."

The Chairman’s eyes narrowed.

"That should not be possible."

"That is my assessment as well."

Dong-wook leaned back.

"Could the Dungeon Shift have occurred after they left?"

Seung-ho shook his head.

"No."

"You’re certain?"

"The timing doesn’t support it."

He pointed toward the monitoring records.

"The abnormal readings began shortly after their entry. Their return occurred after the Gate stabilized."

Dong-wook studied the data.

"So they were inside when it happened."

"Yes."

"And yet they claim nothing happened."

"Yes."

The room became silent.

Dong-wook looked toward Seung-ho.

"Do you believe they are lying?"

Seung-ho paused.

"I believe their statement is incomplete."

Dong-wook watched him carefully.

"That’s a cautious answer."

"There is insufficient evidence to make a direct accusation."

Seung-ho remained composed.

"They entered legally, they returned without incident, and the materials they presented are legitimate. We have no evidence that they caused the Dungeon Shift or intentionally interfered with the Gate."

Dong-wook nodded.

"But you don’t believe their story."

"I don’t consider it credible enough to dismiss the inconsistencies."

The Chairman looked down at the report again.

"Did you investigate their backgrounds?"

"Preliminary checks have already been conducted."

"And?"

Seung-ho hesitated briefly.

"Yoon Tae-ho’s registration is unusual."

Dong-wook looked up.

"How so?"

"He had no previous Awakener registration."

Seung-ho turned another page.

"His assessment was conducted immediately before the incident. He was classified as E-Rank, with a D-Rank mana capacity and a Healer class."

Dong-wook’s expression became thoughtful.

"A newly registered Healer."

"Yes."

"And Han Ji Won?"

"E-Rank."

Seung-ho paused.

"He has an established record as an independent Awakener, but his combat performance has historically been consistent with his rank."

Dong-wook looked at him.

"Meaning?"

"Before entering the Gate, he would not have been capable of surviving a serious encounter with a high-ranking monster."

The Chairman’s expression became increasingly serious.

"Yet both returned."

Seung-ho placed another document on the table.

"The researchers believe the Gate may have undergone a temporary restructuring rather than a complete collapse."

Dong-wook studied the report.

"Can they determine what caused it?"

"Not yet."

"Then continue the investigation."

"Yes, Chairman."

Dong-wook closed the folder.

"Anything else?"

Seung-ho hesitated.

"No, Chairman."

Dong-wook nodded.

"Then that will be all."

Seung-ho left the room.

The door closed behind him.

Dong-wook remained alone at the table.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

The apartment was unusually lively that evening.

The small dining table had been completely covered with food.

Several boxes of pizza were stacked beside each other, along with fried chicken, bowls of instant noodles, side dishes, drinks, and enough snacks to make it obvious that neither Ares nor Ji Won had any intention of cooking tonight.

The two sat on opposite sides of the table, facing each other as they ate.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

They simply enjoyed the food.

After everything they had experienced inside the dungeon, it was nice to finally sit somewhere comfortable without having to worry about monsters, Gates, or government officials asking questions.

Ji Won eventually put down his chopsticks and released a long breath.

"Haah..."

Ares glanced at him.

"Hmm?"

Ji Won leaned back slightly.

"I’m just relieved."

"About what?"

"That they didn’t suspect us."

He picked up a piece of fried chicken.

"I was honestly terrified earlier. When all those important people were standing there asking us questions, I thought I was going to collapse."

Ares continued eating calmly.

He reached for another slice of pizza.

"That’s exactly why I told you beforehand that we should give them completely different answers."

Ji Won nodded.

"Right."

"If they had interviewed us separately and we gave identical explanations, it would have been suspicious."

Ares took a bite.

"And besides, I hate interviews."

"If we’d told them the truth, they’d probably have kept us there for hours asking questions about what happened inside the dungeon, how we survived, what we encountered, and how we managed to defeat an S-Rank monster."

He shook his head.

"I have no interest in answering that many questions."

Ji Won nodded in agreement.

"That’s true."

He picked up his drink.

"But there’s another problem."

Ares looked at him.

"How are we going to explain all of those when we sell them at the Awakener Equipment Shop?"

Ares paused.

His eyes moved toward the bags.

For a moment, he said nothing.

"Hmm..."

He leaned back slightly.

"Now that you mention it, you’re right."

Ji Won gave him a helpless look.

"We can’t exactly walk in with all those materials and pretend we found them in an ordinary D-Rank dungeon."

"Yeah."

Ares rested his chin against one hand.

"We’ll figure it out tomorrow."

Ji Won sighed.

"Hopefully."

He looked at the bags again.

"Still, just thinking about how much those materials might be worth..."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"To think we might become millionaires in a single day."

Ares looked at him.

"Maybe billionaires."

Ji Won nearly dropped his chopsticks.

"Yeah, Billionaires"

Ares smiled.

"Although..."

He paused.

"Even becoming a millionaire would already be more money than I’ve ever had."

Ares didn’t answer immediately.

He understood what that meant to Ji Won.

The money from the dungeon wasn’t simply extra income.

It could change his life.

His father’s hospital expenses.

His debts.

The apartment.

His daily living costs.

For someone who had spent years struggling to survive, even a relatively small fortune would mean something completely different.

Ji Won eventually looked back at him.

"There’s something else I’ve been wondering about."

"What is it?"

"If we go back to the Awakener Assessment Center and request another assessment..."

He hesitated.

"Would my rank increase?"

Ares looked at him.

"Of course."

Ji Won’s eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Judging from how quickly your body adapted to the Crimson Oath Ring, your physical abilities have already increased considerably."

Ares paused.

"If you underwent another assessment now, I’d expect your results to reach around A-Rank."

Ji Won’s mouth opened slightly.

"A-A-Rank?"

"Probably."

Ji Won stared at his own hands.

"Really?"

"Yes."

He slowly clenched his fist.

"To think I could actually reach A-Rank..."

Ares nodded.

"Your current registration doesn’t reflect your actual abilities anymore."

Ji Won remained silent for a moment.

Then he looked at the ring around his finger.

"I’ve never heard of anything like this."

He examined the Crimson Oath Ring carefully.

"Magical artifacts are supposed to strengthen people while they’re being used, but even if someone equips several high-ranking artifacts, their official assessment doesn’t normally change."

"Artifacts generally enhance your existing abilities. They don’t permanently change the foundation of your Awakening."

Ji Won pointed toward the ring.

"So why is this one different?"

Ares glanced at the artifact.

"Because that ring isn’t like the other artifacts sold here."

Ji Won looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Ares smiled faintly.

"Let’s just say it’s considerably rarer than anything you’ll find in the equipment shop."

’And technically, it isn’t merely an artifact.’

’It’s a relic from the past that Draven possessed.’

Ares kept that thought to himself.

There was no reason to explain the Crimson Oath Ring’s true origin.

Ji Won continued staring at it.

"Then..."

He hesitated.

"Could this be related to a Second Awakening?"

Ares raised an eyebrow.

"Second Awakening?"

Ji Won nodded.

"You haven’t heard of it?"

"No."

Ji Won leaned forward slightly.

"Then I’ll explain."

He placed his drink on the table.

"When someone first awakens, their initial rank is determined by the abilities and potential their body displays at that time."

Ares listened.

"For example, someone awaken as a C-Rank."

Ji Won held up three fingers.

"They could spend years training and become stronger, but their basic Awakening classification doesn’t necessarily change just because they’ve equipped better weapons or artifacts."

Ares nodded.

"That makes sense."

"But there are rare cases where an Awakener undergoes another awakening."

Ji Won’s expression became more serious.

"It’s called a Second Awakening."

"What happens?"

"Nobody knows exactly why it happens."

Ji Won shook his head.

"Some people experience it naturally. Others have awakened again after surviving extremely dangerous situations, being exposed to unusually dense mana, or encountering something that causes their original abilities to evolve."

"So it’s unpredictable."

"Yes."

Ji Won nodded.

"And when it happens, the change can be enormous."

He leaned back.

"Someone who was originally C-Rank might awaken again and become B-Rank."

Ares listened quietly.

"Sometimes they jump from C-Rank to A-Rank."

"That’s a considerable increase."

"It gets even more extreme."

Ji Won looked at him.

"There are people who have undergone a Second Awakening and reached S-Rank."

Ares raised an eyebrow.

"So an Awakener’s rank isn’t necessarily permanent."

"Exactly."

Ji Won smiled.

"That’s why Second Awakening is considered such a major event. Someone who was considered average before can suddenly become one of the strongest Awakeners in the country."

Ares glanced at him.

"How common is it?"

"Extremely rare."

Ji Won immediately shook his head.

"Most Awakeners will never experience it. The possibility is slim."

"Then what happens to their assessment?"

"They’re reassessed."

Ji Won explained.

"If someone undergoes a Second Awakening, their mana capacity, physical enhancement, abilities, and overall potential can change dramatically. The Association conducts another assessment and issues a new classification."

Ares nodded.

Ji Won looked at his ring again.

"So, that’s different from what happened to me."

"Yeah."

Ares answered immediately.

"The artifact changed your physical abilities."

Ares smiled.

"But unlike ordinary artifacts, the effect of this one is powerful enough that your body is adapting to it on a much deeper level."

Ji Won stared at him.

"So if I remove it..."

"You’d lose the additional strength."

Ji Won’s expression changed slightly.

"I see."

Ares continued.

"But as long as you keep wearing it and continue adapting, your body will gradually become accustomed to the increased power."

Ji Won slowly nodded.

"Then I definitely want to become stronger."

Ares smiled.

"That’s the right attitude."

Ji Won looked at him for a moment before suddenly asking,

"Then shouldn’t we go to the Awakener Assessment Center tomorrow?"

Ares shook his head.

"Only you."

Ji Won blinked.

"Only me?"

"Yes."

"But what about you?"

"I’m not planning to go."

Ji Won stared at him.

"But you’re already strong enough to be considered S-Rank."

Ares continued eating.

"That doesn’t mean I need the title."

Ji Won looked genuinely confused.

"Why wouldn’t you want it?"

He leaned forward.

"Do you have any idea how valuable an S-Rank Awakener is in South Korea?"

Ares looked at him.

Ji Won’s expression became serious.

"An S-Rank Awakener is basically considered a national treasure."

He began explaining.

"If someone awakens as S-Rank, the six major guilds will practically fight over them. They’ll offer enormous signing bonuses, luxury housing, vehicles, equipment, private benefits, and all kinds of other incentives just to convince that person to join them."

Ares raised an eyebrow.

"That much?"

"More than that."

Ji Won laughed.

"Some guilds would probably offer enough money to make an ordinary person rich for the rest of their life."

He paused.

"And the Korean Awakening Administration would also be extremely interested because of national defense."

Ji Won nodded.

"An S-Rank Awakener can respond to high-level Gates, national emergencies, and threats that ordinary forces can’t handle. The government would probably offer you a house, financial support, special privileges, and whatever else they could reasonably provide."

Ares stared at him.

"That sounds troublesome."

Ji Won blinked.

"Eh?"

"T-troublesome?."

Ares calmly picked up another piece of chicken.

"I don’t want guild representatives constantly following me around, and I certainly don’t want government officials calling me every time a Gate appears somewhere."

He shook his head.

"I’d rather hunt alone."

Ji Won stared at him.

"You’re really serious."

"Of course."

Ares looked at him.

"As I said before, I’m not the type of person who wants to work for someone unless it’s necessary or unless I actually want to."

Ji Won slowly nodded.

"That’s true."

He sighed.

"But I suppose I should respect your decision."

Ares smiled faintly.

"You should."

Ji Won smiled back.

Then his expression softened.

"Still..."

Ares immediately noticed.

"What?"

Ji Won looked at him.

"Thank you."

Ares sighed.

"That again?"

Ji Won laughed quietly.

"I can’t help it."

He placed his chopsticks down.

"If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now."

His expression became sincere.

"Because of you, I’ve already paid off all of our family debts. I can finally afford my father’s treatment without constantly worrying about whether I’ll have enough money left for rent or food."

He looked down at the Crimson Oath Ring.

"And now I have this."

His fingers tightened slightly.

"I don’t even know how I’m supposed to repay you."

Ares leaned back.

"You’ve thanked me more than enough already."

"I know."

Ji Won smiled.

"But I still mean it."

Ares shook his head.

Sigh.

He picked up another slice of pizza.

"Alright, alright."

Ji Won laughed.

"Thank you, Tae-ho."

Ares looked at him.

"Yeah, yeah."

The two continued eating.

For the first time since Ares had returned to Earth, the unfamiliar world no longer felt quite so unfamiliar.

He had found someone he could trust.

And Ji Won, who had spent years struggling just to survive, finally had a chance to build a future that didn’t revolve entirely around debt, hospital bills, and dangerous dungeon hunts.

Outside the apartment, Seoul continued moving through the night.

And neither of them realized just how much their lives were about to change.

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