The Author's Draft-Chapter 44: Registration I

The next morning, Aiden stood in front of his mirror wearing clean clothes—a simple black shirt, jeans, and his worn jacket. No mask, no blood, just a normal guy about to register as a hunter.

He looked tired. The circles under his eyes had darkened from lack of sleep but otherwise, he looked nothing like the masked vigilante from yesterday’s news.

"System," Aiden said quietly. "Can we make Azazel hear you whenever you choose to?"

[I can, whenever we’re talking about books I can simply filter the words he hears.]

"Alright, do it."

[As ready as we can be. Remember: you’re a recent reawakening. Keep your story consistent, show only basic abilities during testing.]

"Got it."

*So this is who you’ve been speaking with,* Azazel interjected. *So what sort of being are you?*

Getting no response from the system, Azazel doesn’t consider it much and continues. *Anyways, we should just kill everyone.*

"We’re not killing anyone. We’ve been over this."

*You say that now. Wait until someone recognizes you, then the killing will be necessary.*

"Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that."

Aiden grabbed his keys and headed out, locking the flat behind him. The Hunter Association headquarters was in Central London, near the Thames. About forty minutes by tube if traffic cooperated.

He made his way to the station, bought a ticket, and boarded the Jubilee line heading south.

The carriage was mostly empty this early—just a few morning commuters reading newspapers or staring at their phones. Aiden found a seat near the back and tried to look inconspicuous.

*So,* Azazel said, his voice cutting through Aiden’s thoughts. *Tell me about this world’s power structure. How do these ’hunters’ compare to the cultivation world?*

Aiden glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to hear him talking to himself, then spoke quietly. "There are two types of awakened people here. Normal hunters and divine contractors."

*Divine contractors? like me and you?*

"Nope, they make contracts with beings known as Gods. Immortal beings with crazy powers."

*Go on.*

"Both hunters and contractors use the same ranking system. F-rank is the lowest. Then E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, and EX at the top."

*That’s ten ranks.* Azazel sounded thoughtful. *How does that map to cultivation realms?*

"I really don’t know but if I am to make my speculation I’d say F to C rank should be body refining to foundation establishment but B rank hunters are definitely stronger than a core condensation expert."

"While I haven’t fought a core condensation expert, I have traded blows with a king realm expert and believe B ranks can achieve that too albeit with much difficulty."

"A ranks are definitely king realm so S rank should be Emperor realm"

*And beyond that?*

"SS-rank would be Saint Realm. SSS-rank is Sage Realm equivalent. And EX-rank..." Aiden paused. "There’s only one EX-rank hunter in the entire world. The Hunter Association President. No one knows his exact power level, but he’s strong enough to keep all the divine contractors in check."

*Even the SSS-rank contractors?*

"Especially them. Divine contractors can fight one rank above their level normally. So an SSS-rank contractor could theoretically challenge an EX-rank opponent. But none of them can match the President."

*Interesting.* Azazel’s voice carried genuine curiosity now. *Though I have to say, even your EX-rank hunters wouldn’t compare to a true Saint Realm expert from the cultivation world. The power systems are similar in structure, but the quality is different.*

"What do you mean?"

*In the cultivation world, power comes from refining yourself—body, mind, and soul. Every breakthrough is a fundamental transformation. Here, from what I’m sensing, your ’hunters’ gain power through external sources. Mana gates, dungeon cores, divine contracts. It’s borrowed strength, not earned.*

Aiden considered that. "You think cultivation is superior?"

*I think cultivation creates monsters that could tear through your S-rank hunters like tissue paper. Your contractors might be different—they have divine backing. But your average SSS-rank hunter?* Azazel made a dismissive sound. *A Saint Realm cultivator would kill them before they realized the fight had started.*

[Insufficient data to confirm,] the system interjected. [However, I believe Azazel’s assessment may be incorrect.]

"Why?" Aiden asked.

[The cultivation world exists as a narrative construct—a story given form. This world is reality. The fundamental nature of power here operates under different laws.]

[Additionally, EX-rank hunters and SSS-rank contractors have demonstrated abilities that would challenge even Sage Realm cultivators. The President once destroyed an SS-rank dungeon break single-handedly. The aftermath was visible from space.]

*Visible from space,* Azazel repeated, sounding impressed despite himself. *Alright, I concede your top-tier humans might be respectable. Still doesn’t mean I’m worried.*

"You’re stuck in my soul and currently hitchhiking in my head. Maybe a little worry would be healthy."

*I’m a Primordial demon. Worry is for mortals.*

The train arrived at Westminster station. Aiden disembarked and made his way to street level, following signs toward the Thames.

The Hunter Association office was impossible to miss.

It was a massive glass and steel structure that dominated the riverfront—thirty stories of modern architecture with the association’s emblem—a shield with crossed swords—prominently displayed on the facade. Armed guards stood at every entrance. Awakened security personnel patrolled the perimeter.

This was the heart of hunter regulation in the UK. The place where hunters registered, where missions were posted, where enforcers like Kane operated from.

And Aiden was about to walk right in.

’Here goes nothing.’

He approached the main entrance. The guards barely glanced at him—just another civilian coming to register or request services. The lobby inside was enormous, with high ceilings and marble floors that echoed with footsteps.

A reception desk dominated the center, staffed by three secretaries handling a steady flow of people. Aiden waited in line for five minutes before reaching the front.

The secretary was a woman in her thirties, professional-looking with glasses and her hair tied back. Her nameplate read "Sarah."

"How can I help you?" she asked, her tone polite but efficient.

"I’m here to take the hunter evaluation," Aiden said, keeping his voice steady.

"First time registration?"

"Yes."

Sarah pulled up a form on her computer. "Name?"

"Aiden Jus."

"Date of birth?"

He provided the information. Age, address, emergency contact. Standard bureaucracy.

Then Sarah paused, her eyes narrowing slightly at her screen. "Mr. Jus, according to our records, you took the awakening test thirteen years ago."

"I did."

"And you failed to awaken."

"Yes."

"So why are you here now?" Her tone had shifted—not hostile, but suspicious. "Failed awakenings don’t reverse themselves."

This was the critical moment, the story had to be believable.

Aiden leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "A few days ago, something changed. I was at home, and suddenly I felt... strength. Energy. Like something inside me had been asleep and suddenly woke up." He met her eyes directly. "I didn’t believe it at first. I thought I was having some kind of breakdown. But the feeling didn’t go away. If anything, it got stronger." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Sarah studied him for a long moment. "Reawakening is extremely rare. Maybe one in ten million failed awakeners ever experience it."

"I know, I looked it up. But I’m telling you, something changed. I can feel power now. Real power. And I need to know if it’s legitimate or if I’m going insane."

She continued staring at him, weighing his words. Then she turned back to her computer and typed rapidly.

"Pulling up your original awakening test records from thirteen years ago..." She paused. "Confirmed. You were tested at age fifteen. Result: no mana core detected. Failed awakening." Another pause. "No subsequent tests recorded."

"Because there was nothing to test. Until now."

Sarah’s expression softened slightly. "Alright, Mr. Jus. If you’ve genuinely reawakened, we’ll confirm it with the awakening stone. If not..." She shrugged. "We’ll refer you to medical services to check for mana sensitivity delusions. It happens more often than you’d think."

"Fair enough."

She stood up and gestured for him to follow. "This way."