Chapter 9: The Underground Manor.

After the last awakened individual finished demonstrating their ability and joined the others, the old man, seemingly satisfied, instructed the guards to escort them to a place where they could rest.

Then, they were guided back through the extensive cave network to a different area. The guards' treatment, to their surprise, was less harsher now. They were no longer being dragged or glared at.

They even removed the cuffs from those who had just joined the awakened group. This made things significantly more comfortable, especially for Dawn, who had kept his on deliberately to avoid drawing attention.

As he was led through previously unexplored sections of the underground cave, Dawn was once again astounded by its vast size. 

The intricate, maze-like system was immensely extensive, and he couldn't comprehend the amount of time and resources it would take to construct something like it.

'If you ventured in here without a map, there's little chance you'd be able to find your way out...' Dawn concluded as he trudged along.

His eyes then drifted to the individuals walking single-file in front of him. Not one person had failed. Everyone who had awakened in the solitary confinement cell had made it through regardless of the strength of their ability.

Sure enough, there were some remarkably powerful individuals among them. Their strength even took Dawn by surprise. Perhaps motivated by the silver-haired girl's display, they had actually tested their newly discovered abilities on the boulders.Though their effects weren't as dramatic as hers, some of them had still managed to inflict significant damage on the boulders.

As for power, Dawn's ability, Umbra Kinesis, was above average but far from the strongest in the group. Moreover, there were others from the original group who had yet to show their abilities.

Therefore, if their abilities were ever set against each other, there was no guarantee that his would reign superior. Well, his ability at least... if they actually had to contend with Dawn himself, that was an entirely different matter.

Regardless, Dawn resolved to remain watchful and cautious. For the sake of easier reference in the future, he decided to label his group as the "forced awakened" and the others as the "naturally awakened."

Before long, they reached their destination - a large cave-like space. Inside this vast area stood a sprawling manor, its surroundings dimly lit by the flickering torchlight.

The first aspect that caught one's attention was their rundown condition. The exteriors were weather-beaten, the wood tarnished, and the stone masonry eroded.

The rickety wooden doors barely held onto its hinges, and broken window panes were webbed together by thick cobwebs, with shutters hanging off.

Roof tiles were scattered haphazardly with some missing, and the walls were crumbling with overgrown vegetation spilling from them. The structure bore the desolate look of abandonment, and this was just the outside view.

'Yikes… how did it even end up like that while underground.'

The next thing that caught Dawn's attention was that the manor was divided into three buildings, each appearing to serve a distinct purpose. 

To his left, Dawn noticed what seemed to be the sleeping quarters. Through the entrance, he could see rooms furnished with beds made from straw and crates for storing personal belongings.

The building in the middle, with its rough stone exterior, was the largest of the three. A peek at its entrance revealed various weapons hung on the walls and scattered training dummies and targets. It seemed dedicated to physical training which was quite interesting.

However, it was the building to the right that truly caught Dawn's attention. It resembled a study or library. He could see tomes and scrolls neatly arranged on wooden shelves through its open entrance.

For Dawn, a spy, it felt like a treasure trove. There, he could gather information about this new world. He might even get lucky and find a map or learn more about the strange phenomena that granted people abilities in this world, as well as understand what the term 'core rank' meant.

It was a challenge to resist rushing in there, but he forced himself to wait. There were more pressing matters at hand at the moment, and that required staying with the group.

'Wait, isn't this another world? Would I even be able to read the language of whatever's written in there?' 

Just as this thought crossed his mind-

"You've all been instructed to get some rest. Make sure you do if you wish to survive training," the guard snickered before returning back the way they had come.

With the guard gone, a sigh of relief swept through the group.

"Finally, that fucker is gone…"

The first to break the silence was a boy with spiky, fiery red hair that partially shadowed his striking brown eyes. He was relatively tall and had a well-built physique for someone his age. 

He was part of the naturally awakened. According to [Inspect], his name was Blaise, and a scar showing the number [308] adorned his left shoulder.

"H-Hey, what if they hear us?"

The question came from a short boy with mossy brown hair and matching eyes. He had a smaller build and exuded a timid aura.

According to [Inspect], he was Karol and part of the forced awakened. His healing scar faintly displayed the number [343].

"Don't worry, this idiot has been cursing them out these past few days, and they haven't done anything," chimed in the third speaker, a girl about Karol's height. 

She had wide, cerulean eyes and straight, lavender hair cut in a bob that framed her oval face, accentuating her doll-like features.

She was part of the naturally awakened, and according to [Inspect], her name was Freya Sinclair. The numbered scar on her back read [312].

Unlike most of the other kids, who only had a first name, she had a surname. This piqued Dawn's curiosity.

"Who are you calling an idiot?!" Blaise retorted, shooting her a glare.

"You, who else?" she shot back, grinning and meeting his glare head-on.

The atmosphere charged with tension as the two squared off, setting off sparks in the air. Everyone watched, anticipating a confrontation.

"Now, now… why don't we all calm down?" a fifth voice interjected, stepping between the two combatants. 

Her rose-tinted, shoulder-length hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, and her eyes were a soft hazel. Despite her age, she exuded a mature air.

She, too, was part of the naturally awakened; and according to [Inspect] her name was Ayleth Gale. The number on her scar read [318].

'Yet another person with a surname…' Dawn noted silently as he observed the unfolding scene from the crowd.

"Those who've just just joined us look tired, I'm sure they'd rather be resting than dealing with our bickering," Ayleth suggested.

Indeed, those from Dawn's group had dark circles under their eyes and looked exceedingly pale. The only reason they were still on their feet was thanks to the pill they had been forced to ingest.

Seeing Ayleth's intervention, Blaise clicked his tongue and looked away, and Freya did the same. Ayleth seemed to have some sway over the group.

"A-Actually… before we rest, is there anything to eat?" Karol asked tentatively.

"Yes, I'm famished… please, some food…"

"I'll eat anything…"

"My stomach has stopped making weird noises, I don't think that's a good sign…"

"And some water too… I'd do anything for that…"

The forced awakened were desperate for nourishment, having gone days without food. By contrast, the naturally awakened wasn't showing signs of hunger at all.

"You haven't eaten…?" Ayleth gasped in disbelief. "Follow me, we'll sort that out quickly. We had just finished preparing food when they dragged us out."

With that, Ayleth led the group toward the building on the far left of the manor. Meanwhile, Dawn stayed in the background, silently watching as the events unfolded.

He noted that the silver-haired girl who had been intensely gazing at him earlier was nowhere to be seen, bringing him some relief.

Upon entering the left building, the first thing Dawn noticed was the stark contrast between the exterior. Everything had been properly tidied.

The room was dimly lit by scattered torches, and while the walls were in a state of disrepair and most furnishings were severely damaged, there was surprisingly little dust or trash.

They continued through a long corridor leading to a large hall filled with tables. One end of the hall showcased a spread of ingredients on a table, next to an open hearth. Over the fire, pots hung from a crane, filled to the brim with some sort of chicken soup.

The sight and smell of food reduced some of the forced awakened to a pitiful state. They drooled, and their eyes watered, not just over the bowls of food but also at the sight of a fountain at one end of the wall beside it.