Kael woke up from a sweet dream, in which he become the strongest Awakened in the world and got countless money, food, wife and power.
He felt a little disappointed when realizing everything he experienced was unreal.
After packing the necessary supplies, Kael set off toward the nearest C-Class Exit.
His plan was simple: wait for Awakened returning from hunting Gods, then scavenge for leftover remains. If luck was on his side, he might find something to eat—something that could make him stronger. And with strength, he could finally escape this wretched edge of the Security Zone.
The journey took over 3 hours, but Kael was brimming with energy. For the first time in his life, he felt genuine hope. That exit wasn't just a gate—it was his ticket to a new fate.
It was a long journey. Crumbling ruins lined the road, most buildings long collapsed. The streets, untended for years, were littered with rubble and dust. Kael had to climb over debris more than once, his breath ragged from exhaustion.
Strangely, he encountered few people along the way. The few passerby hurried past, none of them seemed local.
Four years ago, this sector's protective barrier had partially failed. No one knew why. The barrier was the only thing keeping the Gods out—once breached, the residents were defenseless. A swarm of Gods had invaded, slaughtering for 2 days. The United Government had organized a squad of Awakened to deal with the emergence, then dispatched engineers to repair the barrier.
Fortunately, no large-scale Gods had slipped through. But the damage was done. The survivors either died or fled. The government reinforced the barrier but never rebuilt the streets or homes.
Kael suspected the reason: No one would ever trust this place's safety again.
The emptiness was a relief, though. At least no one would rob him of the food in his bag.
After a pretty long time, he spotted it—a tall blue sign with white lettering:
"C EXIT No.875"
"Finally."
But as he approached, he froze.
A crowd had gathered, packed so tightly he couldn't even see the gate.
Frowning, Kael climbed a small mound for a better view.
The exit gate loomed before him—his first time seeing one up close.
It was massive: eight meters wide, four meters tall, forged from some unknown alloy, its surface etched with layered energy shields so dense they blurred the world beyond.
In front of it stood over a dozen figures in orange-and-white hazard suits, their faces obscured by transparent helmets.
Kael's breath hitched.
Those suits—each worth more than two Silver Coins—were beyond the reach of ordinary folk. Only Awakened could afford them.
Since the United Government's rise, currency had been standardized:
Copper Coins (cheap, impure, mixed with scrap metal)
Silver Coins (1 Silver = ~1,200 Copper, depending on alloy ratios)
Gold Coins (1 Gold = ~1,000 Silver)
To Kael, even a single Silver Coin was a distant dream. Gladly that he didn't choose to go out for hunting for himself at first.
These suited figures had to be the Awakened gathered here.
But they weren't alone.
Hundreds of ordinary people swarmed around them, bundled in ragged layers, shouting offers:
"Sirs! Rest at my spa—top-tier body massage!"
"Gourmet meals here! Free for you!"
"Luxury apartments, no charge! Just take a photo with me!"
"My daughter's unmarried—she'd die for a hero like you!"
"Take me as your wife! I don't even need status to be the first one!"
The crowd surged but kept a respectful meter of distance.
The two Awakened who had removed their helmets barely reacted. After a moment, they picked a high-end restaurant and a luxury hotel, then left.
The chosen business owners glowed with triumph.
Kael stared, stunned.
He knew Awakened were welcomed—but this?
These were Security Zone edge-dwellers, desperate to hitch their fortunes to a powerful patron. Just like him, they sought to escape.
But unlike him, they had no Sequence. No hope.
A surge of gratitude washed over Kael. Thanks for his chance to get sequence and get stronger
"The Gods Eater Sequence… it's my destiny."
He tried pushing forward—only to be shoved back.
"Hey, brat! Wait your turn!"
Kael gritted his teeth. "I'm not here for them. I just need to check for some useless remains."
The crowd laughed.
"Yeah, sure. That's what they all say."
With no choice, Kael waited at the very back.
Hours passed. The gate opened and closed, Awakened coming and going, the crowd thinning.
By nightfall, Kael finally made it to the front. Although there were still lots of people waiting, he could get a better view of those Awakened back and more likely to get in touch with them.