Awakened: SSS Ranked Soul king-Chapter 168: From Athen to the Wind Devil valley

"Athen is the living spirit of defiance in Kong Shi. All who seek to grow powerful without bowing their heads to the administration of this godforsaken place eventually find their way here."

Eric's voice carried a strange mix of pride and irreverence as he spoke, his boots clanking faintly against the narrow metal staircase. The stairs spiraled downward in tight, uneven loops, the steel worn smooth from years of constant use. Each step seemed to echo louder than it should, as if the structure itself wanted to remind newcomers that they were crossing a threshold, leaving something behind.

Below them, the hum of activity grew louder.

Voices overlapped. Metal clashed. Laughter, arguments, and the low mechanical whine of equipment fused into a chaotic symphony.

Guilliman followed a step behind, his gaze drifting past Eric's shoulder as the lower levels of Athen slowly revealed themselves. The moment they emerged from the staircase, the space opened wide into a massive underground hangar, far larger than the exterior structure suggested. It was alive.

Hunters moved in groups, some clad in reinforced armor, others in light gear designed for speed. Weapons of every shape and size were being maintained, traded, or tested. A pair of men argued over the quality of a blade while another group huddled around a glowing map projection. Somewhere in the distance, a beast carcass the size of a carriage was being carved apart with clinical precision.

And yet, despite the apparent chaos, there was an underlying order to it all. Movements were deliberate. Exchanges were efficient. No one lingered without purpose.

It didn't look like it at first glance, but Kong Shi was entirely under the control of the administration.

That truth pressed quietly against everything.

The countless factions scattered across the city, the independent hunters, even places like Athen… none of them truly existed outside that control. The administration didn't need to interfere openly. Their authority was absolute, woven into every system that mattered.

The myriad of forces could not oppose them.

And more importantly, they would not.

Joining a faction had become the accepted path to survival. To gain protection, resources, and a semblance of freedom, one had to belong to something larger. But even those factions, powerful as they seemed, operated under the silent weight of Kong Shi's rule.

Athen was different.

Not free—but closer to it than anything else.

"It's no wonder your family still wants to cut your head off."

Guilliman's voice broke through the noise, his lips curling into a faint, bitter smirk. His eyes swept the hangar once more before settling on Eric. "You didn't just step out of line… you walked straight into the one place they can't openly touch."

There was no real judgment in his tone, only observation.

Eric let out a low chuckle, completely unfazed.

"Hehe… they're just jealous."

He shoved his hands into his pockets, walking with an easy confidence that didn't quite match the dangerous environment around them.

"I never officially joined the Seven-Colored Bonfire," he added, tilting his head slightly as if that alone explained everything.

Guilliman glanced at him, brow faintly raised.

That detail mattered more than it sounded.

One could not join Athen in any capacity if they were tied to an official faction or organization within Kong Shi. The rule was absolute. Blood relations, sworn allegiance, even indirect affiliations could disqualify someone.

Athen did not tolerate divided loyalties.

So Eric had done something far more reckless than simple defiance—he had walked the line just enough to remain untethered.

"That's a convenient technicality," Guilliman muttered.

Eric grinned.

"It's called being smart."

They continued forward, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. No one paid them much attention. In a place like this, strength spoke louder than curiosity, and unless someone gave a reason to be noticed, they were just another pair of hunters passing through.

"You two. Come over here."

The voice cut cleanly through the surrounding noise—firm, controlled, and impossible to ignore.

Both of them turned instinctively.

Off to the side, standing near a loading platform stacked with supply crates, was a tall, slender man dressed in a fitted combat suit. The material clung to his frame like a second skin, dark and reinforced at key points. His posture was relaxed, but there was a sharpness to his gaze that suggested constant awareness.

He was watching them.

Not casually.

Evaluating.

"Both of you are B-ranked, yes?" he asked as they approached, his eyes flicking between them.

Up close, the pressure he exuded became clearer.

In Kong Shi, even among the hundreds who held B-rank status, it was still considered the top one percent. Reaching that level required not just talent, but survival through countless trials.

To see two individuals this young standing at that rank…

It was unusual.

"Yes," Eric replied, giving a small nod. His eyes drifted briefly to the man's left arm.

There, embedded into the fabric of the suit, was a marking.

25BH–A.

Bold. Clean. Unmistakable.

Athen did not allow names.

The moment one stepped through its gates, identity was stripped away and replaced with a designation. Numbers, ranks, and categories—nothing more. It was a system built on merit alone, free from lineage, reputation, or influence.

25BH–A.

The twenty-fifth most successful A-rank beast hunter within Athen.

That alone spoke volumes.

"I need to fill a twenty-man slot," the man continued, his tone steady. "Would you be willing to join an expedition to the Wind Devil Valley?"

The question was direct. No buildup. No wasted words.

That was how things worked here.

Athen didn't allow permanent teams. No fixed squads, no long-standing alliances. Every expedition required fresh coordination, forcing hunters to constantly adapt, cooperate, and prove themselves.

It was harsh.

But it ensured growth.

"We're free," Eric said almost immediately, a grin spreading across his face as he shot Guilliman a quick glance, as if to say I told you so.

"When's the expedition?"

"Three days from now," the man replied. "Outside the North Wall. Behind Deadhead Creek."

His gaze lingered on them for a moment longer.

Even if they weren't A-rank, their presence held weight. Talent like this was never ignored.

"Alright," Eric said, nodding. "Give us a minute. We still need to register our codes at the head office."

The man gave a short nod in acknowledgment.

Without another word, Eric turned and motioned for Guilliman to follow, pulling him slightly to the side.

"See?" he muttered under his breath, barely containing his excitement. "First day and we already land something decent."

Guilliman didn't respond immediately.

His eyes shifted back toward the A-rank hunter for a brief moment before he exhaled quietly.

Who knew they would get such an opportunity so easily?

Or perhaps…

It wasn't opportunity at all.

—

While this was happening…

On the opposite side of the stronghold, the atmosphere shifted.

A group of figures entered through a reinforced corridor, their presence alone enough to draw attention. Conversations faltered. Movements slowed. Eyes turned.

At the center of the group walked a girl with silver hair.

It shimmered faintly under the artificial lighting, falling in soft strands down her back. Her expression was composed, almost distant, as if the attention surrounding her barely registered.

But the reaction she provoked was immediate.

"Isn't that the Burning Witch…?"

"Silver hair… that's definitely her."

"Celebrity…"

"Wait—that's the Giant with her too. Are they heading out again?"

"They just got back not long ago, didn't they?"

"Damn… they're fast."

The murmurs spread like wildfire, hushed but charged with excitement.

Unlike most in Athen, some individuals couldn't completely escape recognition.

Reputation had a way of following strength.

The group ignored it all.

Their pace remained steady as they approached the administrative building, a structure more orderly and controlled compared to the chaotic hangar. Inside, clerks worked behind reinforced counters, processing requests, assignments, and registrations with mechanical efficiency.

When the silver-haired girl reached the counter, she paused.

For a brief moment, her expression shifted.

Then she forced a smile.

"Wind Devil Valley, please…"

She slid a ticket forward across the surface, her voice calm, but carrying a faint, almost imperceptible weight beneath it.

Around her, the whispers only grew louder.