Jaehwan continued, "As such, you will undergo special training for one week."

The Leaders looked at each other. They understood what Jaehwan said, but they couldn't understand one thing. They knew they had to get strong and that they did not have much time left. But what would just a week of training do for them? Jagel Meng raised his hand to ask.

"Master, can I ask a question?"

Meng immediately became ashamed at raising a hand to ask a question like a little child when he was 400 years old.

"Go on."

"As you know, we are all Adapters."

It was something everyone already knew. The leaders turned to Meng.

"I know that."

"Then I guess you would know that our stage cannot just suddenly increase by themselves."

Stage. From 1 to 15. It was the number that divided Adapters within their respective ranks. Meng continued,

"It takes an average of 10 years for Non-Adapters to become 1st stage Adapters. It then takes 20 years for a 1st stage to move onto the 2nd. It takes 40 years to become 3rd, and 80 years to become 4th. Most humans then die before even reaching the 4th stage."

That was precisely why Adapters at the 4th stage or higher were called 'high-stage Adapters'. There were no humans who were able to survive as an Adapter for 150 years.

"And I believe it's only up to the 7th stage that you can climb by racking up years of training. That's why people consider the 7th stage the limit for a human."

The Leaders of the Ten-Clan were most powerful beings throughout . They were geniuses that reached the 6th or 7th stage faster than others, but they also knew that was their limit.

Jaehwan then asked, "And?"

"I heard that you are an Awakener."

An Awakener. The Leaders were shocked. Some seemed like they had expected it, like Cayman, and some were genuinely shocked, like Ryung. Jaehwan replied, "I don't know, but that's what people in this world call me."

He had no intention to hide it and Meng nodded.

"We do not know much about Awakeners."

They knew a lot about Adapters and Adaptation. But 'Awakening' was a completely different thing. Meng continued, "All I know is just a few rumors. I heard that Awakeners become awakened by some kind of insight into the truth."

Jaehwan then remembered when he first became himself by breaking out of the system.

"What are you getting at?"

"You certainly are aware that we are Adapters, and that we cannot get strong all of a sudden."

"Right."

"Then there's only one answer."

Meng looked straight at Jaehwan and asked, "Are you trying to get us to become Awakeners?"