The car rolled smoothly through the city of Ofinas, with Mike focused on the road while Elara sat beside Jasper in the back. She glanced toward her brother for a moment before quietly reaching out with her mana.
A faint connection formed between her and Jasper.
Can you hear me?
Jasper's eyes widened slightly as her voice suddenly appeared inside his head. He turned toward her, visibly startled.
What the hell?
Elara gave him a small smile.
Telepathy.
How?
I am a cultivator.
Jasper stared at her for another second before glancing toward Mike, who remained completely unaware of their silent conversation.
Or so they thought.
The moment that faint strand of mana left Elara's body, Mike noticed it. He had sensed something unusual earlier as well, particularly regarding the strange connection between the two of them. Elara had told him that a magical pact bound Jasper to her and allowed her to impose her will upon him, but Mike couldn't actually see any visible connection.
He hadn't mentioned it.
Everyone had secrets, and as long as his sister wasn't in danger, he was willing to give her some privacy.
So what do you want? Jasper asked through the connection.
I thought I should explain a little about this world before we reach the Association.
Jasper gave a small nod.
Okay.
Elara looked through the window for a moment before beginning.
About six hundred years ago, strange gates suddenly appeared throughout Atheria. Nobody knew where they came from, and monsters started pouring out of them.
Jasper's expression slowly became more serious as he listened.
At the beginning, humanity couldn't deal with them. The monsters kept coming, cities were destroyed, and billions of people died.
She paused briefly.
Almost seventy percent of the world's population was wiped out.
Jasper remained silent for several seconds.
That's a lot.
It was.
Elara continued, her explanation becoming slightly softer as she recalled what she had learned throughout her childhood.
Then some of the people fighting those monsters began awakening powers. Different abilities appeared in different people, and some received classes that gave them supernatural abilities.
Jasper listened carefully.
Those were the people who eventually saved humanity from extinction.
Awakeners.
Yes.
She nodded slightly.
They weren't the only reason humanity survived, but they were among the most important.
Jasper looked outside at the city again, seemingly finding it difficult to connect the peaceful city around him with the history she was describing.
What happened afterward?
Elara continued.
For roughly the first hundred years, killing the monsters could result in people awakening. But eventually, that stopped happening.
Jasper's eyebrows drew together.
Stopped?
People who were already awakened could still grow stronger by fighting monsters, but killing them no longer caused new Awakeners to appear.
She paused.
Researchers spent a very long time trying to figure out why.
Did they?
Eventually.
Elara shifted slightly in her seat.
They discovered that the monsters appearing during the first hundred years weren't exactly the same as the monsters appearing later. Their properties were different.
Jasper listened without interrupting.
So how do people awaken now?
Awakening Stones.
Jasper looked at her.
What's an Awakening Stone?
When a gate is completely closed by killing every monster inside, sometimes a special stone is left behind. Those stones can be used to trigger an awakening.
Jasper nodded slowly.
And everyone can use one?
No.
Then who can?
Children between sixteen and eighteen.
His expression changed slightly.
Only those ages?
Yes. Sixteen is generally considered the best age. Seventeen is worse, and eighteen is the final opportunity.
Jasper looked thoughtful.
How many people actually awaken?
Very few.
She hesitated for a moment before giving him the number.
There are around five billion people in Atheria, but fewer than three hundred thousand Awakeners.
Jasper's eyes widened.
That's incredibly low.
Awakeners are extremely rare.
He remained quiet for a moment before asking another question.
Then what does everyone else do if they want power?
Cultivation.
Jasper looked at her.
What's cultivation?
Another way for humans to become stronger.
Elara continued before he could ask anything else.
Unlike awakening, anyone can cultivate. But becoming strong through cultivation depends on talent and resources. Someone without talent might never progress very far, while someone talented and wealthy can reach much greater heights.
Jasper nodded slowly.
How many cultivators are there?
Around five million.
That finally made Jasper look genuinely surprised.
That's a lot more than Awakeners.
Yes.
And they're still weaker?
Elara shook her head.
Not necessarily individually. There are cultivators who are extremely powerful. But Awakeners are qualitatively stronger because of their classes, abilities, and access to resources ordinary cultivators don't have.
Jasper remained silent.
Elara continued.
The biggest advantage is Genesis World.
Jasper immediately looked toward her.
Genesis World?
Yes.
What's that?
It's another world.
Jasper stared at her for a moment through the connection.
Another world?
Elara nodded.
Awakeners can travel there through their Gift of Genesis. It's a strange place that resembles a game in some ways, but it's very real.
Jasper's expression became more interested.
What do people do there?
Explore, fight monsters, find resources, discover treasures, meet other civilizations, and become stronger. There's more nuance to it than that, but those are some of the main reasons people go there.
Jasper glanced toward the road again.
And cultivators can't enter?
No.
He nodded slowly.
So that's why Awakeners are considered the better path.
One of the reasons.
Elara leaned back slightly.
There are far more cultivators than Awakeners, but Awakeners generally have greater potential. Some talented Awakeners also cultivate, so they're capable of following both paths.
Jasper looked at her.
Like you?
Elara smiled.
Exactly.
There was unmistakable pride in her response.
I'm Rank Two.
Jasper looked at her for a moment before giving a small nod.
You're proud of that.
Of course.
He almost smiled.
Fair enough.
Elara then continued explaining the rank system, telling him that there were nine ranks for both Awakeners and Cultivators, each representing a major increase in power.
Jasper listened quietly. He didn't interrupt unless something genuinely confused him, mostly absorbing the information as Elara slowly filled in the enormous gaps in his understanding of Atheria.
After a while, he looked toward the front of the car.
And your brother?
Elara glanced at Mike.
Rank Six Awakener and Rank Five Cultivator.
Jasper's eyebrows lifted slightly.
Oh.
That was all he said.
Elara smiled faintly.
He's strong. But there is a difference between his two ranks.
Jasper looked at her.
Why?
It's considerably easier to increase an Awakener's rank, at least until Rank Six. Cultivation takes much more time and requires far more resources, and my brother doesn't have as much time to spare.
Jasper nodded, accepting the explanation without saying anything further.
He looked back toward the window, watching the unfamiliar city pass by as the building of the Supernatural's Club gradually came into view.
The car slowed as Mike approached the entrance.
Elara looked toward the building.
We're here.
Jasper stared at the imposing structure for several seconds. Its dark glass walls reflected the morning sunlight, while a golden spear emblem stood prominently above the entrance. Numerous people were entering and leaving, some accompanied by strange creatures, while others looked unusual enough that Jasper couldn't immediately tell what they were.
Mike parked the car.
The engine fell silent.
Jasper looked toward Elara, then toward the building.
He exhaled quietly.
"All right."
The three of them stepped out of the vehicle and walked toward the entrance of the Supernatural's Club.