Game of Higher Hands - A World That Measures Power 28

13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb329CwcLFw

"...What?"

I stare at the book.

The Seventh Era has ended.

I blink twice.

"...What does that even mean?"

The Seventh Era?

Ended?

I quickly turn to the next page.

"I finally found something useful. Don't disappear now..."

Before my fingers can touch the paper—

The floor vanishes.

"...Again?!"

Everything beneath me disappears.

The white space breaks apart.

"No, no, no—"

"Not now!"

I reach toward the book.

Too late.

The Archive fades away.

A second later—

Bang!

"...Ow!"

I land heavily on my bed.

The pillow flies onto the floor.

I sit up immediately.

"What the hell is this place?!"

"Every single time!"

"It always throws me out at the important part!"

I point angrily at the ceiling.

"Can you at least let me finish one page?"

Silence.

"...Fine."

I throw myself back onto the bed.

"I'm too tired to argue with a mysterious building."

Within minutes...

I fall asleep.

The next morning.

My phone starts speaking before I even open my eyes.

Breaking News.

I reach for it lazily.

The news reporter speaks with excitement.

"To help ability users better understand their powers and improve survival rates..."

"...the National Ability Evaluation Program officially begins today."

I open one eye.

The screen continues.

Every registered ability user may now receive a free evaluation.

The report lists what can be tested.

• Level

• Ability Type

• Danger Rating

There is also a short explanation.

Level measures the current strength of an ability.

Ability Type identifies its category.

Danger Rating estimates how threatening the ability could become.

"...Interesting."

I sit up.

"So now they're making rankings."

That is exactly what governments would do.

If you cannot control abilities...

at least classify them.

I scroll farther.

There are several testing centers.

One of them...

is surprisingly close.

Only about forty minutes away.

"Perfect."

I stretch.

"Let's see what they think of me."

I get dressed.

Pack my bag.

Just as I'm about to leave—

My phone vibrates again.

Another breaking news notification.

This time...

the headline is much bigger.

UNKNOWN SWORDSMAN GOES VIRAL OVERNIGHT

I immediately tap it.

Photos fill the screen.

The same black hood.

The same black scarf.

The same sword.

Charly.

Most of the photos are blurry.

Some only capture his back.

Others show nothing except a black shadow.

One headline reads:

Multiple countries begin investigating the mysterious swordsman known as "Charly."

Another says:

Is he humanity's strongest ability user?

Another:

Government agencies unable to confirm identity.

I keep scrolling.

Videos.

Pictures.

Witness reports.

Everyone is talking about him.

Some call him a hero.

Some call him a monster.

Some believe he works alone to save people.

Others think he is collecting the shards for himself.

No one agrees.

No one knows.

I laugh.

"Congratulations."

"You're officially famous."

The funny part?

They still know almost nothing about him.

Not his age.

Not where he came from.

Not where he lives.

Only one thing is certain.

Whenever a forbidden zone appears...

there is a chance Charly will appear too.

People begin giving him new nicknames.

The Black Walker.

The Silent Swordsman.

The Ghost of the Forbidden Zones.

I shake my head.

"Ghost?"

"...Actually."

"That one isn't bad."

I put my phone into my pocket.

Looks like the whole world has started paying attention.

Governments.

The internet.

The media.

Even ordinary people.

Every player on the board...

is beginning to reveal themselves.

The Chosen Team.

Charly.

The governments.

And me...

I smile to myself.

"...Still invisible."

For now.

I leave the hotel.

The morning sun shines across the empty road.

Ahead of me...

is the nearest Ability Evaluation Center.

I look once at the map in my bag.

Then at the road ahead.

"Let's find out..."

"...what level they think I am."13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z1twIY7mQ

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