Diversity Among the Awakened

"An Awakened, huh? An Awakened?"

****

With his voice gradually getting softer, the once-shouting tone faded into eternal silence.

After the tranquil stillness gave him enough time to ponder, he asked another question – how would he go about taking such a test, and what would the compensation be for this work?

The sister, appearing visibly relieved, responded with an even broader smile, explaining that he'd only need to undergo a straightforward test.

These tests involved taking certain samples from an individual and sending them to a lab.

She added, "If you want, I can do it right now. We just need a bit of your blood, saliva, and urine."

Kaiden, thinking it would be more complicated, didn't hesitate for long and agreed.

"But what about the payment? How does that work exactly?"

Kaiden inquired with another questioning tone. "Well, that's a bit more complicated. Do you mind if I handle all the details for you?" the sister asked.

"Not at all," he replied.

With a light inhale, the sister began to open drawer after drawer, searching for specific items. Meanwhile, she explained that there were different categories for becoming an Awakened.

She began with the basics, "As she explained yesterday, some people don't react to the chips, which means they won't be able to awaken.

However, they can control huge or small robots using special chips that connect to their memories. If someone doesn't want to control robots but still wishes to fight without powers, they can use special weapons.

This is quite dangerous because if they run out of ammunition, they're essentially helpless."

Even though one could earn a living without awakening, it was always significantly less than what Awakened individuals made. This was because it was much harder to survive without any powers.

If someone did have the fortune to awaken, it still depended on the strength of the power they received and their potential level.

So, it varied greatly from person to person. In simple terms, it could be categorized into roughly ten levels.

"Levels 1 to 2 are occupied by mercenaries, meaning people who only fight with equipment and weapons.

They earn around $4,000 to $8,000 per month, including housing, depending on their type of power, and food and basic necessities are provided.

Levels 1 to 5 are for those who aren't awakened but still engage in combat with modern technology, namely their steel-clad robots. They earn between $4,000 and $50,000 per month, including food, housing, and basic needs, if desired.

Levels 1 to 10 are then for the Awakened, who can earn from $4,000 to several million dollars per month.

On top of that, I forgot to mention that everyone can earn more than their monthly secure income through extra missions from wealthy people.

They might want something like an exotic plant, the fur of a rare animal, or other valuable resources. The price for these varies.

So, even a mercenary could earn millions if they come across a very rare elixir, although that's just as unlikely as a second awakening.

However, it's possible for an awakened person to awaken again. This is very unlikely, or rather extremely challenging, and demands the utmost discipline and endurance.

Currently, there are only around a dozen thousand people worldwide who have awakened a second time.

However, there's also an elite among the elite, the top 100.

The outstanding part is that they awakened a third time. We don't know exactly how that happens, but it's suspected that it's due to the further development of willpower and endurance, which triggers chemical reactions that stimulate the chip anew.

These are only speculations."

The sister sighed and then mentioned that It wasn't possible to simply implant two or more chips.

They tried it once, but everyone who underwent that test died shortly afterward. So, it's ruled out that you can awaken again by implanting more chips.

Kaiden appeared somewhat excited and amazed. It didn't suit him at all, considering he had seemed so depressed just moments ago.

But that didn't matter to him now. All Kaiden could see was the wealth he could amass and the opportunity to provide a better life for his brother.

After he had come back to reality, Kaiden asked how much they would earn now.

The sister continued, explaining that these were truly the best of the best.

"That's why all of this will seem surreal to you. Those who are in the top thousand and have awakened twice earn impressive eight-figure sums and more.

Those with a third awakening usually earn nine-figure sums and up. And the elite among the elite earns at least billions."

"Of course, the numbers aren't exact, and we don't know precisely how much they earn, but it's estimated.

Also, salaries vary for everyone. It's possible that someone with 2 awakenings earns less than someone with just one, as their powers might be of lower quality.

Kaiden couldn't believe it. Billions monthly! He screamed inwardly but calmed down through steady breathing.

However, after his light sweat ceased and finally trickled down, he became somewhat skeptical.

How on earth would the currency withstand these payouts? The inflation must be immensely high.

The sister sighed and disagreed with his statement, as she forgot that he didn't really know much about the current world.

So, in this other world, there's a new currency called Praeter, named after the place itself. In comparison, you could say that 1000 Praeter is roughly equivalent to 1 million dollars.

Also, because Praeter has an abundance of new resources and things, the demand and supply are relatively balanced, since most resources are much more expensive compared to those on Earth. So, inflation isn't extremely high. It's affected to some extent, but as I said, not extremely high.

So, you can relax.

Kaiden, now somewhat calmer and lying back in bed, watched as the sister seemed to finish talking and opened something with a rustling sound.

Shortly after the crackling of what seemed to be paper and plastic ceased, the sister extended a slightly longer rod towards Kaiden.

The sister emphasized that he should open his mouth, which he eventually did.

With his mouth open, the sister rubbed the cotton swab in Kaiden's throat with circular motions using her incredibly soft arms.

Kaiden, from whom watery moisture reflexively emerged from his eye, gagged a bit and seemed unable to endure it much longer.

Now that the commotion was over, she wrapped the swab in a transparent bag and placed it on a small table nearby. She seemed to be retrieving items from there.

Next up was a somewhat longer object. A vessel of sorts, in the middle of which was a hole at the rear end, followed by a point at the front – it was a syringe.

However, before that, the sister looked around and probed a few times to find the veins she needed to puncture to draw blood.

Having found them, she inserted the needle carefully and pulled the rear part upward. The viscous red fluid accumulated slowly in the slightly smaller container and eventually filled it.

Once withdrawn, she also placed the syringe in a transparent bag.

Finally, there was something special, just for Kaiden. As soon as the sister brought out the lidded beaker, Kaiden immediately knew what it was.

It was a urine sample. Somewhat embarrassed or rather humiliated, he was finally freed in the lower area, and the nozzle was inserted.

Kaiden's elongated genital, which should have stood proudly, lay limp in the beaker as always.

His suspicion was confirmed. Because his two testicles were no longer there, he no longer had a proper hormone level and thus couldn't get erect.

****

A bit dejected, it stirred as somewhat yellower fluid poured out and filled the beaker. Just before it overflowed, it stopped and was sealed again by the sister."

While Kaiden couldn't do anything and let the situation unfold, he realized that it shouldn't actually be uncomfortable for him, as the sister probably did this with every other patient.

With a final gesture, the sister sealed the beaker filled with liquid with a lid. She stood up, holding the three test samples in her hand. Another bright smile appeared on her face as she kindly wished him good night.

Then she left the room quietly and swiftly, while flicking the light switch once again to dispel the lonely darkness.

Kaiden, lying there exhausted and with a headache, felt fatigue taking over. The nightly calm and silence, accompanied by a touch of drizzling rain, faded further from his awareness.

Darkness spread until only an extremely dark area, the blackness, was visible. The pupils, moving beneath his eyelids, gradually stopped their motion.

The seemingly lifeless silence was broken by light snoring, and his soothing sleep could finally begin.

****