The Roaring Dragon Settlement was huge; as the sole safehouse around the Iron Tree Forest, it attracted awakeners from hundreds of kilometers away. Most of the young awakeners lived and worked here until they saved enough to buy their ticket back to their home world.
Spread over an area the size of a small metropolis, it was governed by the Roaring Dragon Guild with an iron fist after they first took control of it tens of years ago.
Outside one of the twelve main entrances of the Roaring Dragon Settlement, an elaborate stage was set up. Dignified men dressed in pure white battle gear, with the symbol of a dragon flying through the sky, worked hard to make the final arrangements.
A middle-aged man with a vertical scar running across his face watched everyone with a slightly frosty look in his eyes; under his supervision, none of the first-grade members of the Roaring Dragon Guild dared to slack.
This middle-aged man was a Grade A member of the Roaring Dragon Guild, Mr. Azeroth. He was directly responsible for recruiting talented young awakeners.
After all, one should not forget the Star Dimension's crazy high mortality rate. Thousands of men died every day; if they didn't recruit, the guild might cease to exist.
Soon, as if directed by some unseen hand, all the new awakeners who had just been teleported to the Star Dimension started to gather at this already prepared stage. Mr. Azeroth's eyes lit up in happiness; he couldn't stop himself from muttering, "This time the number of young awakeners is quite higher than usual."
His happiness was similar to a farmer who was expecting a bountiful harvest; after all, to the Roaring Dragon Guild, the young awakeners were no less than crops.
When Lukas and Ryan reached the stage, Mr. Azeroth finally walked up to the podium and started addressing the crowd. Although his voice was low, it reverberated in the minds of young awakeners like Lukas and others like thunder.
"Young awakeners, the Roaring Dragon Settlement welcomes you..."
Immediately, no matter what others were doing, after these words the attention of everyone present was focused.
Not just the young awakeners, but a bunch of small groups who were eyeing the young awakeners. Other than the Roaring Dragon Guild, there were many small groups; once the guild finished recruiting, they would take the leftovers with them.
By Lukas's side, Ryan, who just needed an opportunity to open his mouth, started speaking in a hushed voice.
"Just how good it would be if we were to join the Roaring Dragon Guild. Not only would we get a low-grade Star Energy absorption method, but we would also get 100 Star Crystals every month, not to talk about resources..."
Lukas silently nodded his head; this was also something that he knew. Alas, this was just a dream. There was no way the Roaring Dragon Guild would accept someone like him with only two-star potential.
The best he could reach was the Blood Transfusion stage. The path of a Star Energy Awakener was rough. After awakening, they became a Star Refiner Grade lifeform, refining their body with the help of Star Energy to prepare themselves for the next stage, the Blood Transfusion stage, and so on.
No one would want to invest in someone with no future.
While he was thinking of his future, Mr. Azeroth had already started explaining the rules to the young awakeners.
"You must pay the settlement ten Star Crystals to enjoy its protection..."
After that, he went on to explain some other rules which Lukas was already familiar with; everyone patiently waited.
Once Azeroth finished the usual procedure of explaining rules, his eyes flashed with sharpness as a warm smile appeared on his face. Now was the real event to begin.
"Now, I would like to ask everyone who is interested in joining my Roaring Dragon Guild, please walk up to the stage..."
Immediately after his words, the crowd exploded with excitement, discussing in feverish voices.
A young man who looked slightly worried said in an anxious voice, "I hope the guild accepts me..."
Another girl with a beautiful face heard his words and said in disdain, "Stop dreaming. Why would they accept trash like you with only three-star potential? You should work on pleasing these small forces..." By the end of her words, the girl pointed at the number of small stalls that had suddenly appeared after Mr. Azeroth finished speaking the rules.
All of these powers were waiting to recruit the people who had been rejected by the Roaring Dragon Guild.
The young man hearing the girl's arrogant words fumed and was about to retort but stopped when he noticed who the girl was.
Natalie Ashweaver of the Ashweaver Clan, one of the three young awakeners with five-star potential.
The young man's mouth opened but no words came out. On the other hand, Natalie only snorted in disdain. Beside her stood two other figures: one young girl dressed in golden armor with green hair—anyone who was even slightly knowledgeable knew she was from the prestigious Green Serpent Clan. Beside these two women stood a proud-looking man, his head held high, not even bothering to look at others as if no person was worth looking at.
As the process began, the others could only watch in envy as the three of them were easily accepted by the guild. Mr. Azeroth looked like a completely different person when talking with them.
Finally, after them, ten people were directly rejected in a row, all of them walking down the stage with their heads hung low.
Ryan looked at Lukas and said with a nervous smile on his face, "We should try our luck as well. There is no point in wasting time."
Lukas nodded, although his expression was slightly ugly. If even someone with three-star potential was rejected, there was no way he was going to be accepted.
From what he had noticed there was no one except him with two-star potential, so why even bother going up to embarrass yourself?
So with that thought in mind, he looked at Ryan with a smile on his face. "Brother Ryan, you go ahead. I already have a group in mind that I wanted to join..."
Ryan's mouth opened wide in surprise. He wanted to say something to convince Lukas to at least try... but in the end, he shook his head. Lukas was not a kid; he knew what was best for him.
So he simply nodded his head and walked toward Azeroth.
Meanwhile, Lukas watched the scene below the stage. Most of the young awakeners looked as if they swallowed shit while talking with the representatives from smaller forces. Clearly the terms were not great; still, he saw most of them unwillingly nod their heads.
Slowly, step by step, Lukas stopped moving. He didn't bother approaching even a single small power. If even the awakeners with three stars were not satisfied, there was no way they would offer any terms to a two-star awakener like him.
Some might say Lukas was being overly pessimistic; why not try his luck? But this was not what Lukas thought. He had long learned to accept reality as it was and move on. Hanging onto false hope was a poison that he had no intention of consuming. Although his situation looked grim, he was still not out of options yet.