The Ultimate Awakener

Incubation Chamber

Clara smiled faintly. Even though she wasn’t in approval of Elion's desperation to be a hunter, she had to fake it—she couldn’t stop the child from his dream and what he had always wanted. This same job was what took her husband’s life, and now her son wanted to become one of them.

Becoming a hunter was like a death sentence.

She sighed silently, then gently patted him on the head. Meanwhile, Clara was standing on the other side of the bed, staring.

“Guess what…?”

Sophia smiled, leaving the puzzle for him.

Elion raised a brow. “Mum, you know I hate being left hanging… and I’m not good at guessing.”

Sophia laughed before gently patting him on the head again. “Okay, since you’re not good at guessing, let me just tell you. I was able to pay for incubation preservation into the shadow realm for you.”

“What?”

Elion couldn’t believe what his mother had just said. What she said now costs a lot of money, and in her condition, paying that will keep her vulnerable to worsening her health conditions. She won't have any money to pay her hospital bill.

“Mum… are you serious, or are you just joking with me?”

Sophia shook her head, then smiled warmly. “No, my boy, I’m not. I know you must be concerned about my hospital bills, but don’t worry—I will be fine. The main priority now is getting you into the Dream Piecer so you can awaken your core and become a hunter, as you’ve always wished.”

Elion stood frozen, his eyes welling up with tears, his lips quivering.

Years back, after the first gate appeared and havoc rained down on every part of the world, human existence almost became extinct. The only survivors were able to come together and create the city of Vanguard and its towering walls.

That incident shifted something within genetics itself and created a metaphor. Most children born after that period were affected by an illness called Spell, which could cost them their lives as time passes by. At thirteen years old, it was compulsory for them to be taken to the incubation chamber, and placed in a machine called the Dream Piecer.

The machine is capable of channeling the mind into the shadow realm, making one experience another essence of reality but within the circumference of its mind. When inside the shadow realm, they would be able to awaken their core and, as well, heal them from the spell illness.

But Elion, on the other hand, survived past thirteen without being killed by the Spell—unlike others who would die once they crossed the age of thirteen. The reason Elion never got a chance to enter the Dream Piecer was because his mother couldn’t afford it. Paying for a spot in the dream piecer incubation chamber cost a lot, and only the royals and the average people could afford it.

Sophia understood why Elion was so surprised about what she had done, but on the other hand, she had no other option. If she didn’t do what she had done, she would lose her son to the spell's illness even though he had mysteriously crossed the deadline, but that doesn't mean he is free from the havoc of the spell.

Anybody who is affected by the spell always has a burnt mark on their chest, and as time moves on, the mark increases like acid eating up their skin till they finally get consumed by the illness.

She gently held his hands, her breath heavy, her condition worsening in every second as she spoke calmly:

“My boy… didn’t you say you wanted to achieve your dreams? I want you to be my hero and follow your father’s path. Even though I’m not in support of it, I can't watch my son die in the same way my husband did, but at the same time, I have no choice.”

She gently rubbed her hands over Elion's cheek, then continued, this time her voice was low and steady:

“If you have the chance to make this world a better place, a place free from monsters, then I will be grateful.”

As she spoke, Elion stared into her eyes, and he could tell her condition was getting worse.

“Mum…” He softly clenched her hands and gently shut his eyes as droplets of tears dripped from his eyes.

“I have spoken with Sheldon, one of the army officers allocated to the Dream Piecer chamber. He will be here in the next few hours.” Sophia slowly rose from the sickbed and kissed Elion on the forehead. “Don’t worry. I will get well soon.”

Clara, who stood on the other side of the bed, also spoke. “Don’t worry, Elion. I will stay with Mum. She will be fine.”

Clara, his sister, wasn’t affected by the spell. He was the only one born with the illness.

Facing the Dream Realm wasn’t a task for the weak—it was a survival journey, one where you could die.

The Dream Piecer worked uniquely. When consciousness was channeled into the Dream Realm, one could reach their awakening and activate it. After the five-day duration inside the incubation machine was complete, one would wake up. Some died in the process. But those who survived could harness unimaginable cultivation strength, ability, and supernatural power—and they were called the Awakeners.

Elion’s dream was that once he awakened his core, he would join the Vanguard Hunter Force and become a hunter. He wanted to defend the city from any threat that came its way and also earn enough money to take care of his mother and sister, because Awakeners were paid heavily under the government rules of the city.

Elion gazed at his sister as she spoke, and all he could do was smile. “Thank you, Clara… stay with Mum. I promise I’ll be back once I awaken my core.”

Not long after, Sheldon arrived at the hospital. The moment Elion saw him, he already knew who he was—the uniform already said it all.

“We don’t have time to waste. The incubation into the Dream Realm will start in the next few hours.” Sheldon lifted his wristwatch, checked the time, then lowered it.

Sheldon and Elion were about to walk past the door when Sophia suddenly called out. “Please, Sheldon… protect my son.”

Sheldon looked back at Sophia over his shoulder before replying. “The fate of your son depends on him. You know how things are done.”

After saying those words, they both walked out, got into the car he came with, and drove away.

Within minutes, they arrived at the incubation chamber. It was a massive hall. Every inch of it was filled with transparent glass devices shaped like coffins. Elion could see other people already inside them, and more were still being placed.

“Is this the Dream Piecer?” Elion asked, but Sheldon remained silent.

“Where have you been? We’ve been looking for you, Sheldon.” A man walked toward them.

“Sorry, sir. I went to bring the last candidate.”

The man sighed, then gestured for Elion to be placed into the incubation device.

Once Elion was inside, a helmet fused with wires was placed over his head.

Just before the glass casing was sealed, Elion asked, “What does the Dream Realm look like? And how will I know how to awaken my core?”

Sheldon paused, his hands holding the glass door. “Once you get there, you’ll know… reach the castle and—”

Before he could finish, the door sealed shut. Sheldon pressed the button, and the Dream Piecer activated.

Elion’s eyes slowly closed as he drifted into the Dream Realm.