Sezel pushed the gate open, its hinges groaning as it swung into a vast, pristine chamber about three times the size of Captain Raelion's office.
His red eyes widened, a soft "Wow" escaping his lips. So this is where they keep all the shiny things.
The room was simple, walls painted in muted gray, contrasting the facility's sterile white, their plainness oddly grounding compared to other places Sezel had observed.
It was filled with various pieces of equipment and strange machines that looked like they belonged in a mad scientist's laboratory. At the center of it all was a large, capsule-shaped machine, a tangle of wires and pipes connecting it to everything else in the room.
Sezel drifted toward it. His fingers grazed its cold, smooth surface, a shiver racing through him.
Whoa, what is this thing? his mind unable to fathom the technology. Is this some kind of expensive coffin?
A shadow moved, and Sezel flinched. A tall man in a white lab coat stepped out from behind the capsule, his eyes glinting with the kind of excitement that usually precedes a dissection.
Oh, great. Another new face. Who the hell is this one? The chief executioner? Sezel offered him a cryptic smile
The man circled him, a grin creeping across his face. "So, you're the strange one, huh?" he said, his voice light and probing. Sezel felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him. I'm not strange. I'm just... well- yeah i am strange i guess.
"Uhm," he coughed, placing a hand against his mouth.
The man looked at him for a moment, then stroked his chin. "So the captain has sent you here."
Sezel, still marveling at the device's clarity, hesitated for a moment before nodding.
The man looked at the paper in Sezel's hand, "Give me that paper."
Sezel glanced at the paper and then handed it to the man in a wary manner. he man read the document with narrowed eyes, the silence in the room so profound that the tick-tock of a clock on the wall sounded like a drumbeat.
"I'm the doctor," the man said abruptly, offering a smile and an outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you, Sezel." His tone was warm, but his eyes held a calculating edge that made Sezel's skin crawl.
Sezel became nervous instantly; his conversation skills were at the level of an ant, which of course can't talk to humans. He hesitantly scratched the back of his head, forcing a smile, his red eyes flickering.
The doctor suddenly burst out in laughter. Sezel glared at him, utterly confused. What is he? A maniac?
"You are 16?" the doctor asked, still chuckling.
Sezel squinted and replied with a curt nod. The answer only seemed to ignite the other man's laughter.
"Are you really 16? At first, I thought you were 10," the doctor roared, doubling over.
Sezel's lips twitched, irritation flaring. What a bastard. I hope you choke.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally stood straight, brushing tears from his eyes. "Alright, enough. We're here to test if you're Awakened."
Sezel's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded abruptly. The doctor turned around, then, without warning, slammed a brutal fist into Sezel's abdomen.
Huh, what... The world went black.
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Sezel's eyes fluttered open, a gasp tearing from his throat. Sweat rolled down his temples. What... what was that?
He looked around and found himself surrounded by complete darkness. His heartbeat quickened, terror seeping into his bones.
He thrashed, but his limbs met resistance. He was confined in a tight, unyielding space, like a coffin. Am i inside that expensive coffin?
For a moment, Sezel's mind considered that all the recent things that happened to him were just an illusion and he was still inside the Spirit Realm. A sliver of light pierced the void as a glass panel slid open, revealing the doctor's face.
"Just stay silent for 5 more minutes and it's done," his voice was a distant murmur. Sezel realized he was inside the capsule, a wave of relief washing over him, quickly followed by a fresh wave of confusion. Why did he punch me?
He exhaled sharply and calmed himself. Just 5 minutes.
Each second stretched into eternity, the capsule's hum vibrating in his bones.
Finally, the capsule's door hissed open, light flooding in. Sezel squinted, shielding his eyes as the doctor helped him out. His legs wobbled, vision swimming, the world tilting like a broken dream.
"Sit down somewhere," the doctor urged, pressing a juice pack into his hand. Sezel collapsed onto a nearby chair, gulping the sweet liquid. The doctor moved to a computer, typing rapidly, then approached a steam-emitting machine, its hiss echoing like a serpent's.
Sezel felt a little nervous—no, a little would be wrong. He was trembling. He had just gone through the process of evaluation it seemed, and the doctor was working on getting out his result. His pulse fastened; after all, that's what everything depends on. The result would decide his place in this world.
The doctor opened the machine, retrieving a small device, identical to Arty's device. It was the assessment device every slayer was provided with. Sezel's heart sank, his red eyes locked on the doctor's movements.
The man studied the device, then the computer screen, his brow furrowing. He scratched his head, unease creeping into his posture.
What's wrong? Did I break their fancy coffin?
The doctor slowly walked towards him with uneasy steps, the sound of his boots tapping against the floor echoed in Sezel's ears. He stopped just a few meters from Sezel and handed Sezel the device.
"It looks like you are Awakened," the doctor concluded.
A grin broke across Sezel's face, a wave of pure, unadulterated relief flooding him. I'm really Awakened!
"But..." The doctor's voice was a blade, cutting through his joy. "The results show a Rank 0 awakening."
Sezel's smile vanished, his heart stuttering. "What?" The word was a whisper, disbelief crashing over him. Rank 0?
Rank what? 0, is that some new way of saying useless.