Ethan stood in a large metallic chamber filled with strange devices that blinked with neon lights and pulsed with soft hums.

    The room smelled faintly of sterilized steel and machine oil. Large support beams lined the ceiling above, and along the walls were screens displaying live biometric data feeds, rank protocols, and combat records of various registered heroes.

    This was one of the Association''s Verification Chambers—where claims of rank advancement were either certified or exposed as fraud. S~ea??h the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The guide who had initially greeted Ethan earlier had finally calmed herself after the emotional whiplash of learning that the once Level 1 recruit had somehow reached Level 4—in just three months.

    After taking several deep breaths and shooting Ethan a still-stunned glance, she excused herself and passed the registration request to the higher-ups.

    Thankfully, Agent 777 had already anticipated the chaos, pre-clearing the process with the executive branch of the Association. This would''ve normally taken hours or even days—but today, it would be swift. Mostly.

    A side door opened with a hiss of pressurized air, and in walked a man in a crisp navy-blue Association uniform, clipboard in hand and expression neutral to the point of disdain.

    "I''m Mr. Thomas," he said, voice clipped and tone bureaucratic. "I will be handling your rank-up verification today."

    Ethan offered a polite nod and half-smile.

    "Then I''ll be in your care."

    "Hmph. Don''t worry—I''ll make the process easy," Thomas replied with a forced smile.

    But inwardly, his thoughts seethed.

    ''Another one… Another pampered brat thinking he can cheat the system with his family''s influence. E-rank, and you claim Level 4? What fantasy world are you living in?

    I''ve had enough of these frauds. Not this time. I''ll expose this faker if it''s the last thing I do.''

    Ethan could practically feel the hostility leaking off the man like a leaking valve, but he didn''t even blink.

    There was no danger, just ego and red tape. A mild inconvenience at best.

    Thomas gestured toward one of the machines at the far end of the room.

    "Mr. Ethan, please step forward and stand in front of the device."

    Ethan obeyed, walking calmly to the machine.

    It was a large force-assessment device, standing nearly two meters tall. At the front, a thick cushion-like pad, dark grey with reinforced fiber lines, was designed to absorb and measure the full force of a strike.

    Behind it was a compact but dense framework of mechanical arms, pressure sensors, kinetic converters, and Aether-response detectors.

    Its purpose: to accurately measure the raw output of physical and Meta essence-enhanced attacks—especially during rank-up evaluations.

    Wires and cables ran from the pad into a series of data analyzers that fed directly into the Association''s encrypted servers. On a screen to the side, a message blinked:

    [Awaiting Combat Impact: Please Strike When Ready]

    ****

    The sterile white room hummed with quiet energy as Thomas adjusted his clipboard, eyes fixed on the black and gold Impact Resonance Machine in the center of the chamber.

    The device was designed to measure raw output—an awakened''s sheer destructive force.

    "With his so-called ''Force Might'', this machine is the obvious choice for the first test," Thomas thought, a smug grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

    "A real Level 4 should generate around 10,000 points. If he even breaks 300, I''ll be impressed. Let''s see how far this ''miracle boy'' can fake it."

    Ethan stood before the machine, expression unreadable. His eyes scanned the device.

    "Should I just use King of Force and Flow? Or go all out by using Tenbris and my Gray Fusion?" he mused silently.

    Thomas, watching Ethan''s silence stretch, sneered to himself.

    "What now? Regretting your lies? Your conscience catching up to you? Good—I''ll expose you for the fraud you are."

    But before the thought could fully form in his mind, a sudden pulse of meta essence erupted from Ethan''s body.

    The air snapped—electric, alive, suffocating. Thomas stumbled back, a cold sweat breaking over his forehead.

    Despite not being awakened himself, even he could feel the overwhelming pressure pricking at his skin like needles.

    Ethan exhaled slowly, drawing his fist back. His feet shifted slightly—stance solid, focused. He activated Flow. Then King of Force. A subtle hum vibrated through the floor. The world grew still.

    BOOM.

    The sound was instantaneous and violent, a deafening sonic crack that shook the reinforced walls.

    The machine didn''t just register the blow—it skidded back nearly half a meter across the shock-resistant platform. Alarms blinked red as internal dampeners overloaded.

    Thomas''s face twisted in sheer disbelief.

    "T-that''s… only Grandmasters… Level 7s… are supposed to be able to do that!"

    The machine''s counter began ticking upward.

    10,000.

    25,000.

    50,000.

    75,000.

    90,000.

    99,000…

    ...101,483.

    It stopped. The number glowed in fierce crimson. Thomas''s clipboard clattered to the floor.

    He stepped back, pale and trembling. His brain struggled to process what he had just seen.

    "I-it''s over… over 100,000… That''s impossible. That''s… that''s not human…"

    He looked at Ethan—not as a fraud, not even as a hero—but as something terrifying, something other.

    "What a… monster…" Thomas whispered, unable to tear his eyes away.

    Ethan simply rolled his shoulder, as if he hadn''t just shattered every standard they thought existed.

    "So… what''s next?" he said with a calm smile.

    ****

    The testing facility buzzed with low hums and flickering lights. Ethan stood calmly at the center, beads of sweat still evaporating from his body after the intense physical and metaphysical assessments.

    He had undergone a full spectrum of evaluations:

    Reflex tests with kinetic drones .Meta Essence control drills. Durability trials. Speed runs and Ability mastery.

    By the end of it Mr. Thomas once-formal and distant demeanor had softened, replaced by something bordering on respect. His voice, when he spoke, carried a touch of awe.

    "Mr. Ethan, your results have been tabulated and synced to the Association''s server. Your rank has been officially updated."

    Ethan flashed a brief smile. "So that means I''ll be able to enter Abyss-ranked dens now?"

    Thomas paused mid-step, surprised by the question. Most heroes were content with the title, the fame, the status upgrades.

    Few sought the danger that came with higher-tier dens—especially heroes so young.

    "Y-Yes… you''ll now be permitted entry into Abyss-ranked dens. You''re officially cleared."

    Ethan gave a small nod, satisfied. "Good. Thanks for the help."

    He turned, ready to leave, boots echoing softly on the tiled floor. But just as he reached the door—

    "Mr. Ethan, wait," Thomas called.

    Ethan stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "What is it?"

    Thomas approached, straightening his jacket. "There''s one more thing. It should''ve been done when you first reached Level 3, but since you never came in for your formal rank-up, we have to do it now."

    Ethan turned to face him, intrigued. "And that is?"

    Thomas tapped a panel on the wall, and a holographic screen flickered to life with his profile displayed.

    "You need to choose your Hero Name. It''ll be registered across all Association records going forward—missions, broadcasts, rankings, everything."