CHAPTER 230: TAKING THE HUNTER’S TEST (BONUS CHAPTER)

The first part of Liam’s exploration was simple — to see the world with his own eyes.

After the system’s revelations and Lucy’s data transfer, he wanted to witness how civilization had truly changed since the Great Awakening. So, he drove.

The Alfa Romeo purred quietly along the smooth highway, its sleek red body cutting through the highway like a blade.

He had spent the last few hours circling through Old Bethesda and the surrounding cities. What he found surprised him.

The city was immaculate. High walls reinforced surrounded most residential districts. But unlike the chaos Lucy’s report described, this region was peaceful.

And Liam understood why.

The document had mentioned that Old Bethesda was one of the safest cities in the world, but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely. The reason was simple—the only SSS-Rank Hunter in the world lives here.

In this world, an SSS-Rank wasn’t just strong. They were legends, living deterrents capable of leveling mountains with just a wave of their hand. Having one reside in the area meant that no monster dared come within hundreds of miles.

The result? Peace. Prosperity. And a land value so astronomical that only the wealthiest could even dream of owning property here.

No wonder Alice Hathaway’s tone had shifted the moment he mentioned Dark Dragon Villa, Dragon Cave Estate. She must have known instantly that whoever owned a property in this district wasn’t ordinary.

Liam smiled faintly. "The system really went all out this time," he murmured, steering onto a side road.

But he hadn’t come out to admire real estate. He had another goal today—something far more personal.

He wanted a Hunter License.

While he hadn’t awakened yet, Liam was confident that even in his current state, his physical power and mastery over his body were far beyond normal standards. After all, he had easily slain a couple of orcs.

He wanted the license not for fame or recognition, but for convenience. In this world, being a licensed Hunter meant freedom—

access to gates, unrestricted travel between regions, and, more importantly, access to information, among other benefits.

A license would make him just another part of the system. Hidden in plain sight.

After an hour of driving, he finally arrived at his destination, a tall silver building—the Hunters Association, Maryland Branch.

Liam parked the car and stepped out.

The plaza in front of the building was alive with movement. Dozens of people m—young, old, men, women—streamed in and out of the entrance. Some wore casual clothes, others in office attire. The difference in their expressions was striking.

Those walking in had eyes full of hope and determination. Those coming out carried a mix of joy, disbelief, and disappointment. A few even wept quietly in corners.

"Interesting," Liam murmured. He could already guess the reasons behind each emotion.

He walked into the building. Inside, the lobby was vast—glass walls, marble floors, a massive screen showing real-time monster activity reports in the state and the country.

A group of recruiters in sleek suits stood in a corner, handing out business cards to freshly-ranked Hunters.

"Recruitment right at the gate. Efficient," Liam said quietly, amused.

He walked to the reception desk. The receptionist—a young woman with short silver hair and a headset—greeted him politely.

"Welcome to the Hunters Association, sir. How can I assist you today?"

"I’d like to take the Awakening Test," Liam said calmly.

She glanced at him, her eyes flicking briefly over his attire and posture before nodding, "Of course, sir. Please proceed down the hall to the right. Room A-17. The test hall is open."

"Thank you."

He followed her directions, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor.

At the end of the hallway, double doors opened into what looked less like a testing room and more like a stadium. The space was massive—easily large enough to hold a small concert. Dozens of people were scattered across the hall, each engaged in one of several tests.

Large digital panels displayed different stations: Strength, Stamina, Agility and Mana. The air was filled with shouts and the thud of fists striking reinforced pillars.

Liam took it all in quietly, watching how organized the process was.

Each test was overseen by staff in black suits carrying digital tablets. In one corner, a massive screen ranked test-takers in real time, flashing results for everyone to see.

He noticed that most people hovered around E to D Rank. Occasionally, a C-Rank score would flash, drawing murmurs and envious stares.

The few people attempting the Mana test struggled, most even failing to unleash a basic skill.

"Same everywhere," Liam thought. "The ones with real power are rare."

He walked towards the receptionist to register himself for the test.

"Welcome, sir. Your name and age, please?" The lady asked.

"Liam Scott. 18"

The lady nodded and imputed the information into the system. After she had done that, she gave him a bracelet with his name on it

"Mr. Scott. Please proceed to the Strength Test first. Your scores will update automatically," she said.

"Thank you," Liam said, smiling faintly.

He joined the queue behind a group of young test-takers. Most looked nervous. Some bounced on their heels to psych themselves up; others whispered prayers under their breath.

A tall man ahead of him stepped forward, took a deep breath, and slammed his fist into the black impact plate. The impact was silent but the result was displayed immediately, as numbers scrolled across the small LED screen top of the apparatus before stopping.

Result: E+

The man’s shoulders slumped immediately. He gave a bitter smile and stepped aside.

"Figures..."

The next in line, a girl with bright green hair, stepped forward. Her stance was better and precise. Her punch connected sharply, and the result flashed: D-.

Her friends cheered from behind the barrier. She smiled, half-relieved, half-proud.

Liam watched each result with mild curiosity. The strength readings were consistent with what he expected. By his estimation, an average E- Rank punch measured around 2,700 kilograms of force. D- Rank would likely start around 5,400. But this was just his estimate.

When his turn came, he stepped forward with a confident smile on his face.

The examiner looked up from her is tablet.

"Name?"

"Liam Scott."

"Ready when you are," she said, stepping aside.

Liam placed his wristband near the scanner. The black plate glowed blue, confirming his registration. He loosened his shoulders, inhaled slowly, then exhaled.

To everyone else, it looked like he barely moved. His body didn’t tense and there was no visible strain. But when his fist shot forward, the sound was like air splitting.

BOOM!