The orientation hall of the UA Headquarters was a cathedral of modern ambition. Overhead, the ceiling arched in ribs of brushed titanium, housing recessed magi-tech strips that hummed with a soft, sterile glow. The air here didn't smell like the damp streets or the cheap dish soap of Atlan's kitchen; it smelled of ozone, expensive air filtration, and the collective, frantic hope of a thousand teenagers.
In the shadows of the stage wings, a man paced. His suit was charcoal grey, tailored so sharply it looked like it could cut glass. He checked a holographic display hovering above his wrist, the blue light reflecting off his polished cufflinks. Another man, equally well-dressed but with the harried expression of a career bureaucrat, hurried up to him.
The first man leaned in, his voice low but authoritative. He informed the latter that Hall 1 had reached maximum capacity and that the orientation was cleared to begin.
"Ok, ok, let's get this show on the road," the man replied, straightening his tie and stepping toward the center of the dark stage.
"Please, lights," he commanded.
The house lights died instantly, plunging the massive cavern into a heavy, expectant darkness. A single, piercing tracking light snapped into existence, a white pillar of brilliance that followed his every stride as he claimed the center of the platform.
"I hear you guys wanna walk the walk," he said, his voice amplified by a sound system that made the very floorboards vibrate. "Well, it sounds easier than it is. In fact, everything in life sounds easier than it always ends up being. My name is Milahnes Bull. I'm an A-Rank Walker."
Milahnes was a man who looked like he had been carved out of granite. Even under the fabric of his suit, the dense, powerful musculature of an A-Rank combatant was evident. His jawline was square, his hair cropped short in a military fade, and he carried himself with the terrifyingly calm posture of someone who had stared down monsters that could level city blocks.
"I'll be giving you guys what might possibly be the most important lecture of your ever-changing lives," he declared, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Sit back and let's have a talk."
The crowd erupted. It wasn't just a cheer; it was a physical wave of sound that shook the rafters.
At the very back of the hall, Ander sat tucked into the shadows of the final row. From this distance, Milahnes was a mere speck of white light, but the massive holographic projectors flanking the stage made up for it. They cast a three-story-tall image of the A-Ranker into the air, every scar on his knuckles and every glint in his eye visible in high definition. The surround-sound speakers ensured that even in the cheap seats, Milahnes's voice felt like it was whispering directly into Ander's ear.
"I can't believe we're getting our orientation from an A-Rank," a boy a few seats down whispered, his face illuminated by the glow of the stage.
"The association must really be going all out this year," another responded, his voice thick with awe. "I mean, getting an A-Rank for something as basic as an orientation... that must cost a lot of money."
After a while, the feverish energy of the crowd began to ease. Milahnes waited for the perfect moment of silence before continuing. A small, smirk-like grin played on his lips.
"Wow, wow," he let out, a dry chuckle echoing. "I didn't know I was that popular. The guild must not be paying me enough for all those sponsored products if I'm getting this kind of reaction from you guys."
His expression shifted then, the playfulness vanishing into a mask of professionalism. "Ok, but on a serious note: awakening is only the first of many steps before you become a certified Walker. This orientation is meant to enlighten you of the possibilities. That goes without saying, but everything I'll be telling you all today would never be heard again. This isn't some rinse-and-repeat outline every batch will hear. No."
He paced the length of the stage, the spotlight dancing to keep up. "This orientation is structured in this manner to ensure new recruits have and know as many routes as possible to become the best Walker they can be. What I am saying is that you should make the most of everything I am going to say. If it were Kad Lair who did this orientation, he'd say an entirely different thing. Or if it was Barlee, he'd tell you something else entirely. We will all host these and speak from our many years of experience. And with that long preamble out of the way—what the hell does it mean to be a Walker?"
The crowd clapped hurriedly and swiftly. He had fully grasped their attention; the air in the room felt thick, charged with the weight of his experience. It was now time for the payoff.
"A Walker is a unit that makes up a guild," Milahnes explained, his shadow stretching long across the stage. "The guild is nothing without the Walker. A guild is the force that quells the gates and beasts. A guild protects the world from the dangers that lie beyond. I am sure that nothing I have said is news to any of you, but this is where things get spicy."
He paused, letting the silence hang. "The gates are not just a source of resources for our home world. Walkers don't only close gates for national security reasons. Gates are also a breeding ground for monsters. I don't mean monsters like the ones Walkers eliminate. I mean monsters as in Walkers with abilities maxed out in ways never before conceived."
He stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance. "Like..."
He trailed off, refraining from saying the name, though the implication hung heavy in the air. "You all know who I wanted to cite as an example. So let's not waste time doing that."
He resumed his talk, his voice turning more practical, more grounded. "Most of you won't get chosen by a guild early on, but that's fine. You can make a sect with friends, partake in joint raids, and eventually, you can get scouted—not individually now, not just on your own merit, but based on the team's effort. I say this because some of you think it's all over for you, especially those of you who awakened as D and E ranks. You'll find that this world is harsh to people like you. Use your friends, build sects, and get the most out of your very situation."
Then, his voice took on a sharper, colder edge as he addressed the high-rankers. "Now, even though I say that, I have a message for you—those of you with ranks most would dream of. Don't let friendship bog you down. Don't make the mistake of joining sects that'll yield no fruit. Chances are, even your elite talent can die down when not nurtured properly."
He straightened his suit jacket, looking out over the sea of young faces. "I welcome you all to this fine profession. I know most of you have waited for this chance your whole lives, idolizing Walkers as your heroes. Well, now it's your turn to step up and know what it took your heroes to get that praise. On behalf of the UA, I welcome you, and I personally wish you the passion to stay on this path and conquer."
As Milahnes finished, the house lights surged back on, blindingly bright. Staff members began moving through the aisles, distributing glossy brochures. These were thick, high-quality booklets containing general information—not the personal anecdotes of the A-Ranker, but the rigid, fundamental laws and maps curated by the Association itself.
Ander clutched his brochure, his eyes scanning the "S-Rank" benefits section with a dazed expression. "This is amazing," he said to himself, his heart hammering against his ribs. "I can't wait to meet up with big brother and discuss. We have a lot to plan ahead."
"Now that we've awakened, we have to outline just how we want to go about this," he added, his mind already racing with visions of their future mansion.
The mass of newly awakened youths began to filter out, a river of excitement flowing through the right-wing exit of the hall. The doors were massive slabs of reinforced polymer that hissed open, revealing the bright, bustling corridor of the UA complex.
"Now it's time to find Atlan and tell him the good news," Ander said, his pace quickening as he joined the crowd, unaware of the silence waiting for him on the other side.