The morning sun cast golden light through Raven's cracked window, waking him earlier than usual. For a moment, he lay there, staring at the water-stained ceiling, before remembering: today was different. Today, he had money. Real money.
He sat up and checked his phone. The bank app showed his balance: £3,257. The pending deposit had cleared overnight, minus the forty-three pounds he'd spent at the grocery store. Three thousand, two hundred and fifty-seven pounds. More money than he'd ever had in his life.
Raven stood and stretched, his enhanced body feeling the difference even from just a few days of having attributes above normal human levels. His muscles responded smoothly, his joints moved without the usual morning stiffness. The awakening had changed him in ways both obvious and subtle.
He looked down at himself and grimaced. His clothes were the same ones he'd been wearing for days—faded, worn, with small tears from their encounter with the armored bear. If he was going to celebrate properly with his friends, he needed to look presentable. More than that, he needed to feel like the person he was becoming, not the one he'd been.
An hour later, Raven stood outside a modest clothing shop on the edge of Queen's shopping district. He'd passed this place countless times, always looking but never entering because he couldn't afford anything inside. Now, he pushed open the door and stepped in.
The shop was small but well-maintained, racks of clothes organized by size and style. A middle-aged woman looked up from behind the counter, her professional smile faltering slightly as she took in his shabby appearance. Raven saw the calculation in her eyes—was he a customer or just browsing?
"Can I help you?" she asked, her tone polite but cautious.
"I need new clothes," Raven said simply. "Everything. Shirt, trousers, jacket, shoes. Something practical but decent."
Her expression shifted, becoming more welcoming. "Of course. What's your budget?"
Raven considered. He had over three thousand pounds, but he'd need most of it for other things—equipment, supplies, saving for the house they'd planned. "Two hundred pounds," he said. "Maybe a bit more if needed."
"I can work with that. Follow me."
Twenty minutes later, Raven stood in front of a mirror, barely recognizing himself. Dark jeans that actually fit properly, a simple black t-shirt that didn't have holes or stains, and a charcoal gray jacket that looked casual but put-together. New trainers that felt like walking on clouds compared to his old worn-out shoes.
"You look good," the shopkeeper said, and she sounded sincere. "Very handsome. Your girlfriend will be impressed."
Raven felt his face warm. "I don't have a girlfriend."
"Well, you will soon, looking like that." She winked at him. "That'll be one hundred and eighty-five pounds total."
He paid with his temporary bank card, watching the transaction go through with a small thrill of satisfaction. The shopkeeper bagged his old clothes without comment, though he saw her discreetly wrinkle her nose at their condition.
"Thank you," Raven said, taking the bag.
"Come back anytime. And good luck, whatever you're doing out there." She nodded toward the window, where a group of awakened were walking past, their confidence obvious in their stride. "Stay safe."
His next stop was a barbershop three doors down. The barber, an elderly man with steady hands and sharp eyes, took one look at Raven's messy hair and nodded approvingly.
"Awakened?" he asked, gesturing to the chair.
"Yes, sir."
"Thought so. Got that look about you now. Seen a lot of you young people coming through these past few days. Always good to see someone taking care of themselves properly." He draped a cape around Raven's shoulders. "What are we doing today?"
"Just clean it up. Make it look intentional instead of like I cut it myself with kitchen scissors."
The barber chuckled. "I can do that."
Twenty-five minutes and fifteen pounds later, Raven's jet-black hair was properly styled—still slightly messy, but in a way that looked deliberate rather than neglected. The barber had trimmed his beard line too, making his strong jawline more prominent.
"There you go," the barber said, turning the chair so Raven could see the mirror. "Much better. You've got good features, son. No reason to hide them."
Raven stared at his reflection. The person looking back was familiar but different. Older somehow. More confident. The kind of person who could walk into a room and be taken seriously.
He paid and left, his reflection catching in shop windows as he passed. People looked at him differently now—not with the dismissive glances he was used to, but with actual acknowledgment. Some awakened even nodded respectfully, sensing something about him even if they couldn't identify what.
The meeting spot was Morrison's corner shop, same as always. Ava and Axel were already there, and Raven almost didn't recognize them.
Ava had transformed completely. Her auburn hair, usually pulled back in a simple ponytail, now fell in waves around her shoulders, clearly styled by a professional. She wore a deep green dress that brought out her eyes, simple but elegant, paired with a leather jacket and ankle boots. She looked beautiful—not just pretty, but genuinely striking.
Axel had gone for a more casual look but was equally transformed. A fitted burgundy sweater over dark jeans, new shoes, his messy hair actually styled into something that looked intentional. He'd even shaved properly, his jawline sharp and clean.
They both turned as Raven approached, and for a moment, all three of them just stared at each other.
"Holy shit," Axel said finally. "Look at us. We're like completely different people."
"We clean up nice," Ava said, but her eyes were on Raven, taking in the changes with an expression that made his chest tighten. "Really nice."
"You look amazing," Raven said to both of them. "Both of you."
"Right back at you," Ava replied, her smile genuine and warm. "I almost walked right past you. Thought you were some model or something."
Raven felt his face heat. "Don't exaggerate."
"I'm not!" Ava insisted. "Seriously, Raven, you look..." She trailed off, her cheeks coloring slightly. "Different. Good different."
Axel cleared his throat loudly. "Okay, before this gets any more awkward, can we talk about how surreal this is? Three days ago, we were scraping by on delivery jobs. Now we're standing here looking like we actually have our lives together."
"We do have our lives together," Ava said firmly. "Or we're starting to, anyway."
"So where are we celebrating?" Axel asked. "And please say somewhere with actual food, not just cheap takeaway."
Raven had already planned for this. "The Copper Kettle. It's that café near the city center. Supposed to have great food, and it's not crazy expensive."
"I've always wanted to go there," Ava said, her eyes lighting up. "I used to walk past it on my way to school and smell the food cooking. Always told myself I'd eat there someday when I could afford it."
"Well, today's that day," Raven said. "My treat."
"Absolutely not," Axel protested. "We split everything equally, remember? That's how our party works."
"Fine," Raven conceded with a grin. "We split it."
They walked through Queen's together, and Raven noticed the difference immediately. People moved out of their way. Not obviously, not dramatically, but there was a subtle deference that hadn't existed before. Whether it was their enhanced physiques, their new confidence, or simply the way they carried themselves now, something had changed.
The Copper Kettle was exactly as welcoming as Raven had hoped. Warm wood paneling, comfortable booths, the smell of fresh coffee and baking bread. A cheerful waitress showed them to a table by the window, where they could watch the street outside.
"Order whatever you want," Raven said, scanning the menu. "We earned this."
Axel didn't need to be told twice. He ordered a full breakfast—eggs, bacon, sausages, toast, beans, mushrooms, the works. Ava chose a stack of pancakes with fresh fruit and cream. Raven went for a club sandwich with chips and a side salad.
When the food arrived, they ate in comfortable silence for several minutes, savoring every bite. Real food, prepared well, served hot. It was such a simple pleasure, but after years of surviving on instant noodles and cheap takeaway, it felt like luxury.
"I could get used to this," Axel said, forking up another mouthful of eggs. "Eating food that actually has flavor. Revolutionary concept."
"We can't get too comfortable though," Ava reminded them, though her tone was gentle. "This money won't last forever if we're not careful. And we still need to get stronger."
"Agreed," Raven said. "Which is why I think we should go back. To the beta realm. Stay for a few days, hunt monsters, level up properly. Build our strength before... whatever's coming."
"How long?" Axel asked.
"Three days," Raven suggested. "Real-world time. Hunt, gather resources, sell what we find. When we come back, we should have enough money to buy that house we talked about. Somewhere we can all live together, make planning easier."
Ava nodded slowly. "A house. Our own place. That sounds... really good, actually."
"It does," Axel agreed. "No more shitty landlords, no more tiny flats with broken heating. Just us, working together, actually having a base of operations."
They spent the next hour discussing their plans. What kind of house they'd look for—something modest but functional, with enough space for all three of them. What supplies they'd need for extended stays in the beta realm. How they'd coordinate their schedules.
"We should tell our families," Ava said quietly. "Or whoever we have. Let them know we'll be gone for a few days."
"Mrs. Chen," Raven said. "I need to tell her. She worries."
"My brother," Axel added. "He's been texting non-stop since the awakening, making sure I'm okay."
"My foster family," Ava said, her expression complicated. "They probably don't care, but I should tell them anyway. Better than having them report me missing or something."
They finished their meal, split the bill exactly three ways—twenty-three pounds each, plus tip—and stepped back out into Queen's. The afternoon sun was warm, and the city buzzed with activity. More awakened were visible now, some wearing makeshift guild insignias, others moving in organized groups.
"I'll meet you both at Morrison's tonight," Raven said. "Eight o'clock. That gives us time to handle our business and prepare."
"Eight o'clock," Ava confirmed. "Don't be late."
They parted ways, each heading to handle their final preparations.
---
While Raven and his friends celebrated their small victories and planned their next steps, a very different kind of meeting was taking place in Bristol's capital city of Valen.
The Grand Assembly Hall had been built two hundred years ago, designed to accommodate Bristol's twenty regional mayors plus the President for important national matters. The hall was circular, with tiered seating arranged in concentric rings around a central speaking floor. High windows let in natural light, and the walls were lined with portraits of past leaders.
Today, every seat was filled.
Twenty regional mayors sat in their designated positions, each one flanked by a single awakened bodyguard. The bodyguards stood at attention, their presence a statement of power and protection. Nineteen of them radiated the controlled confidence of A-rank awakened—formidable by any standard, the elite tier that most people would never reach.
But two stood out even among that impressive company.
Beside Mayor Wilhelm Crane of Valen, the capital city, stood a woman in elegant combat attire. Her name was Victoria Cross, and she carried herself with the absolute certainty of someone who knew exactly how dangerous she was. S-rank.Tempest Kin. She could call storms with a gesture, lightning with a thought. Her presence alone seemed to charge the air.
And at the President's right hand stood a man who made even Victoria seem ordinary by comparison.
Master Hiroshi Takeda appeared to be in his sixties, his hair iron-gray, his face weathered but peaceful. He wore simple robes that looked more suited to a monastery than a government assembly. But his eyes held depths that suggested he'd seen more than most people could imagine, and the absolute stillness of his posture spoke of perfect control.
SS-rank. Zen Master.
President Helena Ashford stood at the center of the speaking floor. She was a tall woman in her fifties, her steel-gray hair cut short, her suit immaculate. She'd led Bristol through economic crises, natural disasters, and political upheaval. But nothing in her forty years of public service had prepared her for this.
"Gentlemen, ladies," she began, her voice carrying easily through the chamber's acoustics. "Thank you for gathering on such short notice. I know you've all been dealing with chaos in your regions. The past three days have tested us in ways we never anticipated."
Mayor Chen Li of Southport spoke up first. He was a thin man with sharp features, known for his direct approach. "Tested is an understatement, Madam President. My city is on the brink of civil war. Awakened gangs have formed overnight. They're extorting businesses, claiming territory. My police force is useless against them."
"Same in Northbridge," added Mayor Sarah Williams, a stout woman with kind eyes that currently held barely suppressed fury. "I've had three officers hospitalized trying to arrest awakened criminals. One officer died yesterday. Died! Because some C-rank thug decided he didn't have to follow laws anymore."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the assembly. Every mayor had similar stories—violence, chaos, the rapid breakdown of social order as people with power decided they no longer had to respect authority.
President Ashford let them vent for a moment before raising her hand for silence. "I understand your frustrations. I share them. But we're here to find solutions, not just catalogue problems. Our first order of business: regulation of the awakened population."
She activated a display screen that descended from the ceiling, showing statistics and data compiled over the past three days.
"Current estimates suggest approximately forty percent of Bristol's population has awakened to some degree. That's roughly twelve million people who now possess supernatural abilities. The rank distribution is as follows:
- E-rank: 45%
- D-rank: 30%
- C-rank: 15%
- B-rank: 7%
- A-rank: 2.5%
- S-rank and above: 0.5%
"That's still sixty thousand people at S-rank or higher. Sixty thousand individuals with power that rivals military weapons. And we have almost no way to control them."
"What about registry systems?" suggested Mayor Thomas Hunt of Riverside. He was young for a mayor, only thirty-five, but sharp. "Mandatory registration of all awakened, with penalties for non-compliance."
"We've discussed this," President Ashford said. "The problem is enforcement. How do you force someone to register when they can literally tear through walls or turn invisible? How do you punish non-compliance when your entire police force can't stop a single S-rank awakened?"
"We use other awakened," Victoria Cross said, speaking for the first time. Her voice was calm, measured, carrying the weight of experience. "We recruit. Offer incentives. Build our own force of loyal awakened who can counter the criminal ones."
"We're already doing that," the President confirmed. "Every region is establishing awakened police units. But recruitment is slow, and loyalty is... questionable. People with power don't always want to serve systems that previously held them down."
Mayor Wilhelm Crane leaned forward. He was a distinguished man in his late fifties, silver-haired and commanding. "Then we come to the real problem. The guilds."
The word hung in the air like a threat.
"Yes," President Ashford said grimly. "The guilds."
She changed the display, showing five logos that had appeared across Bristol in the past three days. Five organizations that had formed with frightening speed, consolidating power and recruiting aggressively.
"The major guilds," she continued. "Each one reportedly led by an SSS-rank awakened. These are the true powers we need to be concerned about."
She highlighted the first logo—a red flame on a black background.
"RedFlame Guild. Led by someone calling themselves 'Inferno.' Confirmed SSS-rank Blazing Magus. They control most of the southern territories now, having driven out or absorbed smaller groups. Estimated membership: fifteen thousand awakened, with at least fifty S-ranks in their leadership."
The numbers were staggering. The mayors shifted uncomfortably.
"Zenith Guild." The next logo appeared—a mountain peak with a martial artist silhouette. "Led by 'Grand Master Wei.' SSS-rank Martial King. Based in the eastern mountains, they've claimed jurisdiction over five cities. More disciplined than RedFlame, following traditional martial hierarchy. Estimated membership: twelve thousand, forty S-ranks."
"Blackhole Guild." A void-like circle surrounded by distortion. "Led by 'The Void.' SSS-rank Gravity Lord. Western territories. Smallest of the major guilds but possibly the most dangerous. Their leader can apparently create localized black holes. Estimated membership: eight thousand, thirty S-ranks."
"Sun Guild." A radiant golden sun. "Led by someone called 'Dawn.' SSS-rank Valkyrie. Northern territories. Primarily female membership, very selective about recruitment. They're actually maintaining order in their territories rather than causing chaos. Estimated membership: ten thousand, thirty-five S-ranks."
"And finally, Viper Guild." A coiled serpent. "Led by 'Crimson Fang.' SSS-rank Vampyros—a vampire-like class with enhanced speed, strength, and near-limitless stamina. They consume blood to grow stronger or regenerate. Unlike true vampires, they're not affected by sunlight, which makes them far more dangerous during daytime operations. Central territories, very aggressive recruitment. They've also discovered that their leader's blood acts as a powerful stimulant, temporarily enhancing the power of any jobclass. They're using this as leverage for recruitment and control. Estimated membership: fourteen thousand, forty-five S-ranks."
President Ashford paused, letting the information sink in.
"These five guilds," she said quietly, "control more firepower than our entire military. Any one of them could overthrow the government if they chose to. Together, they could burn Bristol to the ground and there's nothing we could do to stop them."
The silence was heavy.
Mayor Francis Devin of Westport, a heavyset man known for pragmatism, spoke carefully. "Then we need to make them not want to overthrow us. We need to bring them into the system somehow."
"How?" Mayor Williams demanded. "What can we possibly offer that they don't already have?"
"Legitimacy," Master Takeda said quietly. It was the first time he'd spoken, and everyone immediately focused on him. His voice was gentle, like wind through leaves, but it carried absolute conviction. "They have power, yes. But power without legitimacy creates only temporary dominion. They conquer, but they cannot govern. Not truly. Not sustainably."
"Explain," the President requested.
"The guilds are military organizations," Takeda continued. "They understand force, hierarchy, conflict. But they do not understand administration, logistics, infrastructure, diplomacy. They can take a city by force, but can they make the water run? Can they keep the power on? Can they maintain supply chains, coordinate emergency services, manage waste disposal?" He smiled slightly. "Power is easy. Governance is hard."
"So we offer them legitimacy in exchange for cooperation," Mayor Crane said, understanding dawning. "Official recognition, integration into government structures, legal authority over their territories. In return, they help maintain order rather than create chaos."
"Precisely," Takeda said. "Though I suspect only some will accept. Those who see the long-term advantage. Others will refuse, preferring independence. Those will become problems."
President Ashford nodded slowly. "We've already received communication from Sun Guild. They're interested in official partnership. They want recognition as a legitimate security force, able to operate openly without persecution."
"And RedFlame?" Mayor Chen asked. "Inferno doesn't strike me as the cooperative type."
"RedFlame is the problem child," the President admitted. "They're too powerful to ignore, too chaotic to partner with. Which brings us to our more aggressive option."
She changed the display again, showing financial projections and acquisition proposals.
"We buy one of them," she said bluntly. "We identify which guild is most amenable to being absorbed into government structure, and we make them an offer they can't refuse. Money, resources, official authority, protection from the others. We bring them fully under our control and use them as our own military force against the guilds that won't cooperate."
"That's... bold," Mayor Hunt said cautiously.
"It's necessary," Mayor Crane countered. "We can't beat them militarily. We can't regulate them legally. So we corrupt them economically. We make serving us more profitable than opposing us."
"Which guild?" Mayor Williams asked.
"Zenith is the most likely candidate," Victoria Cross said. "They're disciplined, hierarchical, respect authority structures. Grand Master Wei is old-school traditional. He understands loyalty, duty, service. If we approach him correctly, offer the right incentives, we might bring the entire organization under government control."
"That would give us twelve thousand awakened," the President calculated. "Including forty S-ranks and an SSS-rank leader. Enough to counter any single guild, though not all of them combined."
"It's a start," Mayor Crane said. "Better than what we have now, which is nothing."
"I have concerns," said Mayor Patricia Stone of Easthaven, a scholarly woman with wire-rimmed glasses. "What about contamination? The beta realm is clearly not from our world. Shouldn't we be studying it scientifically? Understanding what we're dealing with before we dive headfirst into integration?"
"We are studying it," the President confirmed. "The Royal Science Institute has established a dedicated research division. We've been collecting specimens—monsters, plants, minerals—anything we can safely extract from the beta realm. Initial analysis is... concerning."
"How concerning?" Mayor Stone asked.
"Everything from that realm is saturated with what we're calling 'mana energy.' It's an unknown form of exotic matter that doesn't follow normal physical laws. It's also potentially mutagenic. Prolonged exposure might cause changes in non-awakened individuals. We're not sure yet."
"Weaponization potential?" Mayor Hunt asked bluntly.
The President hesitated. "Enormous. If we can understand how these materials work, we could create weapons, armor, technology far beyond current capabilities. The Institute is prioritizing research in that direction."
"Because if the apocalypse is really coming," Mayor Chen said quietly, "we need every advantage we can get."
"Exactly," the President confirmed. "Which is why we're also establishing harvesting operations. Small teams of awakened, going into the beta realm under government contract, bringing back specimens and materials. It's dangerous, but the potential payoff is enormous."
Master Takeda spoke again, his voice carrying a note of warning. "Be careful with this path. The beta realm was not created for us. We are visitors in someone else's world. There will be consequences for treating it as simply a resource to exploit."
"We're aware of the ethical concerns," the President said carefully. "But this is about survival. If the Administrator wasn't exaggerating, if an apocalypse really is approaching, we need every tool we can develop."
The discussion continued for another two hours. They debated regulatory frameworks, guild partnership terms, research protocols, emergency response systems. Every mayor contributed their region's perspective, their awakened bodyguards standing silent witness to decisions that would shape Bristol's future.
Finally, President Ashford called for a vote on the major proposals:
1. Establish formal awakened registration systems, with incentives rather than penalties
2. Approach Sun Guild and Zenith Guild with partnership offers
3. Dedicate significant budget to beta realm research and specimen collection
4. Create government-controlled awakened military units in each region
5. Maintain open communication channels with all major guilds, even those not interested in partnership
The votes passed unanimously, though some mayors looked more uncertain than others.
As the assembly concluded and people began filing out, Mayor Crane approached President Ashford and Master Takeda.
"A word, Madam President?"
"Of course, Wilhelm."
Crane glanced at the departing mayors, lowering his voice. "Do you really think we can control this? Any of it? We're dealing with forces that make our conventional power structures look like children's games."
"No," President Ashford admitted quietly. "I don't think we can control it. But I think we can survive it if we're smart, flexible, and willing to adapt faster than we've ever adapted before. The old world is gone, Wilhelm. We're building a new one now, whether we like it or not."
"The strong will survive," Takeda said simply. "The question is not whether we can control power, but whether we can find wisdom to guide it. Power without wisdom destroys itself. Wisdom without power is merely philosophy. We need both."
"Inspirational," Crane said dryly. "But what does that mean practically?"
"It means," Takeda replied, his eyes distant, "that we must identify individuals who possess both power and wisdom. Cultivate them. Support them. Because they will be the ones who determine whether this new world becomes a paradise or a hell."
"You think such people exist?" Crane asked skeptically.
"I know they do," Takeda said with quiet certainty. "Rare, yes. But they exist. Young people, mostly, not yet corrupted by what power can offer. They still remember what it's like to be powerless, to struggle, to suffer. Those memories will either make them compassionate leaders or vengeful tyrants. Our job is to help them choose correctly."
President Ashford nodded slowly. "Then we'd better work fast. Before the wrong people find them first."
Victoria Cross had been listening quietly. Now she spoke, her voice thoughtful. "There's something else we should consider. The beta realm isn't just producing awakened criminals and guild leaders. It's also producing heroes. People who are using their power to help others, to maintain order, to build rather than destroy. We should identify them too. Support them. Let them know they're valued."
"Heroes," Mayor Crane repeated, his tone skeptical.
"Yes, heroes," Victoria said firmly. "Every society needs them. Especially one being torn apart. People need someone to believe in. Someone who represents the best of what we can become, not the worst."
"Do you have candidates?" the President asked.
"A few," Victoria admitted. "Small-scale so far. People who've saved lives, stopped crimes, helped their communities. Nothing dramatic yet. But potential is there. We should watch them carefully."
As the government officials discussed the future of Bristol, none of them knew about a seventeen-year-old boy named Raven Hayes, who'd just finished lunch with his friends and was walking back through Queen's to prepare for another journey into the beta realm.
None of them knew about his EX-rank status, his hidden potential, or the choices he would soon face that would affect far more than just his own survival.
But they would learn.
Eventually, they all would.
---
Raven returned to his flat above Mrs. Chen's restaurant, his mind already focused on the next three days. He needed to pack smart—light, essential items only. The beta realm provided opportunities but also dangers, and they'd be there for three full days without returning to Queen's.
Mrs. Chen was in the kitchen when he came through, preparing for the dinner rush. She looked up as he entered, and her eyes widened slightly.
"Raven? Is that you?"
He smiled, suddenly self-conscious. "Got a haircut. And new clothes."
"I can see that." She set down her knife and studied him carefully. "You look good. Grown up. Not like a boy anymore."
"I had to grow up fast," Raven said quietly.
"I suppose you did." She resumed chopping vegetables, but her voice was gentle when she continued. "You're going back, aren't you? To that other place."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Raven confirmed. "For three days. My friends and I, we need to get stronger. There's something coming, and we need to be ready."
Mrs. Chen's knife paused for just a moment, then continued its rhythmic chopping. "Three days is a long time."
"I'll be careful. I promise."
"You'd better be." She set the knife down again and turned to face him fully. "Raven, I need to tell you something. My husband, before he died, he told me that in times of great change, people show their true nature. The kind become kinder or they become cruel. The strong protect or they dominate. There's no middle ground when the world is ending."
"What are you saying?" Raven asked.
"I'm saying be careful who you become out there." She gestured vaguely toward where the beta realm existed, in whatever space it occupied. "Power changes people. I've seen it already, in the streets. Good people becoming monsters because they can. Don't let that happen to you."
"I won't," Raven promised.
"Good." She smiled then, the expression warm and maternal. "When you come back, you'll have dinner with me. Proper dinner. I'll make your favorite."
"Mrs. Chen, you don't have to—"
"I know I don't have to. I want to. You're a good boy, Raven. One of the few left." She reached out and patted his cheek gently. "Your parents would be proud. I hope you know that."
Raven felt his throat tighten. He managed a nod, not trusting his voice.
Mrs. Chen returned to her cooking, and Raven headed upstairs to pack.
His flat looked the same as always—small, shabby, the ceiling still water-stained and walls still cracked. But it didn't bother him the same way it had before. This was temporary now. In less than a week, he and his friends would have their own house. A real place, with room and comfort and the ability to plan properly.
He pulled out a small backpack and began packing essentials. A change of clothes, basic toiletries, a water bottle he could refill, a small first-aid kit. Not much—most of what they'd need would come from the beta realm itself or could be stored in his inventory.
He checked his status screen one last time:
---
ID: Avarice
Name: Raven Hayes
Jobclass: Sword Saint (EX)
Level: 2 (1%)
Title: N/A
Attributes:
Strength: 11
Agility: 11
Stamina: 11
Magic: 5
Charm: 10
Availing Stat Points: 0
Class Abilities:
- Sword Mastery (E Rank)
- Saint's Endurance (E Rank)
Skills:
- Inventory
- Basic Meditation (E Rank)
Portfolio:
‐ Pounds: £3,057
‐ Gold: 0
---
Three thousand and fifty-seven pounds left. Enough for the house deposit and supplies. But he'd earn more in the beta realm—they all would. Three days of hunting would set them up properly.
He'd allocated his three attribute points from the level-up, spreading them across Strength, Agility, and Stamina. Balanced growth seemed wisest. His Sword Mastery and Saint's Endurance were still F-rank, but he could feel them growing stronger with use, like muscles being trained.
At seven-thirty, Raven locked his flat and headed to Morrison's corner shop. The evening was cool, the sun sinking toward the horizon, casting Queen's in shades of orange and purple. The city was quieter at this hour—the awakened were either out hunting or had logged into the beta realm, while the non-awakened stayed inside where it was safer.
Ava and Axel were already there, both carrying similar small backpacks. They looked ready, determined, excited despite the risks they'd be facing.
"Ready?" Raven asked.
"Ready," Ava confirmed.
"Let's do this," Axel said.
They moved to a quiet side street, away from prying eyes. The fewer people who saw them using the Gate system, the better. Raven noticed how naturally they'd all started thinking tactically, considering who might be watching, who might take interest in their activities.
The awakening was changing them in more ways than just physical attributes.
They stood in a small circle, the same formation they'd used before. Raven looked at his friends—his party, his team—and felt certainty settle over him. Whatever came next, they'd face it together.
"Three days," he said. "We hunt, we level up, we gather resources. We stay together, stay safe, and come back strong enough to handle whatever's waiting."
"Three days," Ava agreed.
"Together," Axel added.
They clasped hands briefly, a moment of solidarity before the unknown.
"On three?" Raven suggested.
"One," Ava said.
"Two," Axel added.
"Three," Raven finished.
"Gate," they said in unison.
Golden light erupted around them, warm and overwhelming. Raven felt that familiar sensation of reality shifting, of moving through space that didn't quite exist in any normal sense. The cobblestone street of Queen's faded away, replaced by swirling radiance that was both blinding and somehow comforting.
When the light cleared, they were back at Maple's Blaze.
But this time, they were prepared. They had experience. They knew what they were doing.
Or at least, they knew more than they had before.