The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 177: Chapter 178: The Result of the Second Awakening

The Awakener Assessment Center was as busy as it had been during their previous visit.

The main hall was filled with Awakeners waiting for assessments, employees moving between the different counters, and guild representatives quietly observing the newly awakened individuals who were waiting for their results. Several people were sitting along the walls while others stood in line outside the assessment rooms, their expressions ranging from nervous anticipation to quiet excitement.

Ares and Ji Won entered the building together.

They didn’t need to spend much time at the reception area this time, since Ji Won had already been registered with the Awakener Association. After briefly confirming their information, they headed directly toward the assessment section.

Once they arrived, Ares took a seat beside Ji Won.

The two sat together while several Awakeners entered and exited the assessment rooms one after another.

Ares looked around the waiting area.

"There really are a lot of people here."

Ji Won glanced toward him.

"Yeah. The number of people getting awakened has been increasing recently."

Ares watched another group enter the assessment room.

"It seems like every time I come here, there are people who have just awakened."

"That’s normal now."

Ji Won smiled faintly.

"Awakening has become such a common part of society that the Association has to deal with new cases almost every day."

Ares nodded.

He looked toward the people waiting around them.

Some were nervous.

Some were talking excitedly with their friends.

Others were quietly looking at their phones while waiting for their turn.

The atmosphere wasn’t particularly different from his previous visit.

The only difference was that this time, Ji Won wasn’t here to receive his first assessment.

He was here to find out whether the Crimson Oath Ring had truly changed his potential.

Several minutes passed.

One assessment group entered.

Another came out.

Then another group was called.

Eventually, a woman stepped out from one of the assessment rooms and looked down at the tablet in her hands.

Her eyes moved across the list of names before stopping.

"Han Ji Won?"

Ji Won immediately stood.

"Yes."

The woman looked toward him.

"You’re next. Please come inside."

Ji Won nodded.

"Understood."

He glanced briefly toward Ares.

"I’ll be back."

Ares gave him a small nod.

"Good luck."

Ji Won smiled before following the woman into the assessment room.

The door closed behind them.

The woman sat behind the desk and opened Ji Won’s record.

She glanced at the information before looking back at him.

"Are you a newly awakened individual?"

Ji Won shook his head.

"No."

The woman’s expression changed slightly.

"No?"

"I’m already registered with the Association."

Ji Won reached into his pocket and removed his Awakener identification card.

"I’m here for a reassessment."

The woman’s eyes moved toward the card.

"A reassessment?"

"Yes."

She took the card from him and checked the information displayed on it.

The name was familiar.

The rank was not.

Name: Han Ji Won

Rank: E

Class: Warrior

Ability: Combat

Mana Capacity: E

Physical Enhancement: E

The woman looked back at Ji Won.

"Have you undergone a Second Awakening?"

Ji Won hesitated for a brief moment.

He was still somewhat nervous about the answer.

"Yes."

The woman’s expression became more attentive.

"I see."

She placed his card beside the assessment equipment.

"A Second Awakening can cause significant changes in an individual’s abilities, although the degree of improvement varies considerably from person to person."

She stood and walked toward the crystal.

"Please place your hand against the surface, and we’ll begin the reassessment."

Ji Won nodded.

"Understood."

He approached the crystal and placed his hand against it.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then—

FWOOM.

A faint glow appeared inside the crystal.

The woman looked toward the monitor.

Several readings appeared.

Mana capacity.

Physical enhancement.

Energy circulation.

Ability compatibility.

The crystal pulsed once.

Then again.

The light became brighter.

The woman frowned slightly.

She leaned closer to the monitor.

"That’s..."

Another wave of energy passed through the crystal.

The numbers changed.

The woman immediately began checking the readings again.

Her expression became increasingly surprised.

"That’s impossible."

Ji Won’s heart skipped a beat.

The crystal pulsed once more.

The assessment system emitted a clear confirmation tone.

BEEP.

The woman stared at the final result.

For several seconds, she didn’t speak.

Then she looked at Ji Won.

"Your reassessment is complete."

Ji Won slowly removed his hand.

"What did I get?"

The woman looked at the screen again, almost as though she wanted to make certain that she hadn’t misunderstood the result.

Then she spoke.

"A-Rank."

Ji Won froze.

"...A-Rank?"

The woman nodded.

"Yes."

She looked at the previous record.

"Your original classification was E-Rank."

Her eyes returned to the new assessment.

"And you’ve risen from E-Rank to A-Rank."

Ji Won’s eyes widened.

Ares’s words immediately came back to him.

’I told you that you could reach A-Rank.’

He had remembered those words.

But hearing the result himself still felt unreal.

The woman continued staring at the readings.

"Your mana capacity has increased dramatically, and your physical enhancement has reached a level consistent with an A-Rank Awakener."

She checked another section.

"Your Class remains Warrior, and your Combat ability has also undergone significant development."

Ji Won swallowed.

"So... it’s really A-Rank?"

The woman finally seemed to realize that she had been staring at the results for too long.

She straightened herself and cleared her throat.

"Ahem."

Her professional expression returned.

"Congratulations, Mr. Han. Your reassessment confirms that you have successfully reached A-Rank."

Ji Won remained speechless.

The woman continued.

"An increase of this magnitude is extremely uncommon. Second Awakenings themselves are rare, and while some individuals experience a significant rise in rank afterward, progressing from E-Rank all the way to A-Rank is still an exceptionally unusual result."

She paused.

"To put it simply, you were very fortunate."

Ji Won gave a slightly awkward laugh.

"I suppose I was."

The woman smiled politely.

"Your new rank will also change the opportunities available to you."

She returned his identification card after updating its information.

"As an A-Rank Awakener, you can expect considerably higher compensation for dungeon operations, access to higher-ranked Gates, and invitations from guilds seeking experienced combat Awakeners."

She continued in a professional tone.

"Several guilds may also approach you regarding contracts, equipment support, training facilities, medical coverage, and other benefits normally reserved for high-ranking members."

Ji Won stared at the updated card.

"A-Rank..."

The woman nodded.

"You should also be aware that your registration will attract considerably more attention than it did when you were an E-Rank."

She gave him a reassuring smile.

"However, you are not obligated to join any particular guild. The decision remains yours."

Ji Won nodded.

"Understood."

The woman was about to continue when the door opened.

A man stepped inside.

He was dressed in a formal dark-gray government uniform, with a silver identification badge attached to his chest.

He appeared to be in his early forties and carried himself with the calm authority of someone accustomed to overseeing the assessment center rather than conducting assessments himself.

He was the Senior Assessment Supervisor, responsible for monitoring the daily assessment operations and reviewing unusual or exceptional results.

He glanced toward the woman.

"Is everything alright? I noticed the assessment system flagged an unusual result."

The woman immediately stood.

"Supervisor."

She gestured toward Ji Won.

"We’ve just completed the reassessment of this Awakener."

The supervisor looked toward Ji Won.

"A reassessment?"

"Yes."

She handed him the updated report.

"He underwent a Second Awakening and has risen from E-Rank to A-Rank."

The man’s expression changed immediately.

"From E-Rank to A-Rank?"

"Yes."

He looked down at the report.

His eyes moved across the readings.

For several seconds, he remained silent.

Then he looked at Ji Won.

"That’s quite an extraordinary result."

Ji Won bowed politely.

"Thank you."

The supervisor looked at the previous record.

"An E-Rank Awakener reaching A-Rank after a Second Awakening is certainly possible, but the probability is extremely low."

He looked back at the new results.

"His physical enhancement and mana capacity both increased significantly."

The supervisor studied the readings again.

"You were certainly fortunate."

Ji Won gave an awkward laugh.

"I suppose I was."

The supervisor smiled.

"Regardless, congratulations, Mr. Han. Your new rank will open considerably more opportunities for you, and I recommend that you take some time to familiarize yourself with the responsibilities associated with A-Rank status before accepting any offers."

Ji Won nodded.

"Understood."

The supervisor returned the report to the woman.

"Make certain the Association database is updated immediately."

"Yes, Supervisor."

The man looked toward Ji Won one final time.

"Once again, congratulations."

Ji Won bowed.

"Thank you very much."

The supervisor nodded before leaving the room.

The woman waited until the door closed before turning back toward Ji Won.

"Your updated identification card is ready."

She handed it to him.

Ji Won accepted it.

The information was now different.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA — AWAKENER ASSOCIATION

Name: Han Ji Won

Rank: A

Class: Warrior

Ability: Combat

Mana Capacity: A

Physical Enhancement: A

Ji Won stared at the card.

A-Rank.

He had actually done it.

After everything he had struggled through, after years of barely managing to survive as an E-Rank Awakener, he had finally reached a level he had once considered completely unattainable.

"Thank you."

The woman smiled.

"You’re welcome, Mr. Han. Once again, congratulations."

Ji Won bowed politely.

"Thank you."

He carefully placed the card into his pocket.

Then he turned toward the door.

He had someone waiting outside.

---

The moment Ji Won returned to the waiting area, Ares looked up.

"How was it?"

Ji Won didn’t answer.

Instead, his expression slowly broke into a huge smile.

"Tae-ho!"

He rushed toward Ares.

"Thank you!"

Ares blinked as Ji Won stopped in front of him.

"I really became an A-Rank!"

Ares smiled.

"I told you, didn’t I?"

Ji Won laughed.

"Yeah."

He looked down at his new identification card again.

"I still can’t believe it."

He looked back at Ares.

"From E-Rank to A-Rank in only a month..."

His voice became filled with excitement.

"I actually did it."

Ares nodded.

"Yeah, congrats."

Ji Won took a deep breath.

"Then..."

He smiled.

"Let’s eat somewhere."

Ares raised an eyebrow.

"Eat?"

"It’s my treat."

Ji Won’s expression became determined.

"Please let me at least treat you this time."

Ares shook his head slightly.

"I can pay for myself."

"I know."

Ji Won smiled.

"But you’ve already done more than enough for me, Tae-ho. Let me celebrate this with you."

Ares stared at him for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"Alright, alright."

Ji Won’s expression immediately brightened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then let’s go."

The two turned toward the exit together.

As they walked out of the Awakener Assessment Center, Ji Won couldn’t stop smiling.

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