It has been 15 days. Fifteen days since fractures/cracks started appearing all over the world. The first country to quickly regain control was Korea, followed by China, Japan, England... etc.

These fractures killed many people. They had no idea what was about to happen. All they wanted was to enjoy a day like any other, but fractures opened and killed hundreds and thousands of people. The creatures from within didn’t care about the elderly, children, men, or women. They had no sympathy for each other from the beginning, so why should they show sympathy to other species?

England regained control of their country because they had already prepared their army for some parade or event.

Japan managed to control their country through martial arts bloodlines awakening, rather than magic and swords, which were in the minority there. The majority consisted of martial artists.

China controlled their country through the awakening of cultivation, which was the majority, with martial arts second, and magic and swords being the lowest minority.

As for Korea, it was a mix. Currently, magic and swords were the majority, followed closely by cultivation and martial arts. Controlling the country could have been a disaster if not for the presence of multiple talented people compared to other nations. But the biggest reason for their stabilization was the "Dark Scythe Wielder."

'Who is that, you may ask?'

'Well, it’s me… Cale Roth,' Cale thought, sipping tea in an office. 'The one who went all over the country to destroy F~E-Rank fractures, and even some D-Rank, since I was the strongest in the country and the first to be a "Fracture Restorer."' He closed his eyes.

'How did I get here? Well, some people made videos of me and put them on Vteb... I got famous, and the country’s president asked for my help. So, I made a deal with them, and together with the president’s younger brother, we stabilized the country according to my suggestions and created "The Fracture Restorer’s Alliance."'

'I, along with Soojin, created "The Fracture Restorer’s Alliance," with various countries offering us help in exchange for our alliance.'

'And right now, I sit in front of Soojin,' Cale opened his eyes fully now, looking seriously at Soojin, who had a fit body and appeared to be around 26 years old.

"What should we do now?" Soojin asked Cale in a voice that was almost a whisper.

"Why are you asking me that?" Cale replied, not taking his words seriously.

*_* Soojin was a bit taken aback by Cale’s careless behavior.

"You’re the one who suggested things we didn’t know. Things like ranks, Their species, that these things are called 'Fractures,' made an alliance through us, and more. But when we asked if you were from the future or a prophet, you rejected it. So tell me... who am I supposed to ask, if not you!?" Soojin was serious this time.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"...Fine, fine, I get it. I’ll stop messing around. I do have a suggestion," Cale spoke with a bored expression, raising both hands to shoulder height.

"That's more like it. I’m all ears," Soojin replied, placing both hands together as he listened carefully.

"Why don’t we hold a competition to gather talent from our country? The top five winners would get rewards and benefits," Cale suggested seriously.

"But the country..." Soojin began to argue, but stopped and thought hard about it as he glanced at Cale. "That should be feasible," Soojin agreed, furrowing his brow.

"Great, that settles it. But... HAVE YOU PREPARED WHAT I ASKED?!" Cale said happily but then changed his tone to a colder, deeper one, staring seriously into Soojin’s eyes, making him flinch and feel a chill run down his spine.

"Of course!" Soojin hurriedly replied, shouting in response.

Cale sighed at his answer and smiled at him. "Tell me everything."

"It’s just as you said... A Green Serpent was spotted in your neighborhood. It killed some civilians and then ran away," Soojin reported, looking up at Cale. But Soojin’s eyes widened at what he saw—Cale was visibly angry. His entire aura was filled with malice, as if he had already killed someone.

"Calm down!" Soojin hurriedly said.

'Well, he’s not wrong. I should calm down because I found that son of a bitch,' Cale thought, looking at his fist as red veins popped up.

"Do you have anything else to tell me?" Cale asked seriously. He couldn’t afford to miss any leads. He wasn’t doing this for the "quest"—he was doing it for revenge.

"Yes, I do," Soojin replied simply, avoiding getting on Cale’s nerves.

"The green serpent is a C-Rank. It retreated back into its fracture... something we haven’t seen until now," Soojin continued, looking worried.

"That green serpent is something only you can handle. But you’ve only just become a D-Rank," Soojin added, his face still full of concern. 'If we lose him, we lose not only the confidence of our country but also the confidence in our alliance!' Soojin thought, contemplating all the worst-case scenarios.

"Do you think I will lose?" Cale questioned coldly, his eyes turning red and dark.

"N...No," Soojin stammered, unable to speak properly under Cale’s deadly gaze, despite being an E-Rank.

"You don’t need to worry. I won’t kill that 'snake' just yet. I’ll get a little stronger first, and then I’ll make it feel not just horror, but true dread!" Cale’s aura grew stronger and stronger making cracks in the office but then calmed down again.

"Hold the competition in one month. After that, we need to have a barbecue. Okay?" Cale said, clapping his hands happily.

"One month? Are you serious? How can we organize a nationwide competition in one month?!" Soojin exclaimed, trying to explain how troublesome it would be to plan such an event.

Cale understood that. "How about this then? Hold the competition in my name," Cale said confidently.

"What? In your name?" Soojin asked, did not quite understand it.

"I mean, tell them, 'Whoever gets into the top three will fight me, and if they’re highly talented, I’ll take them onto my team,'" Cale said, showing his confidence in his ability to influence the citizens.

'If it’s this guy, then... Yeah, he can do it,' Soojin thought, closing his eyes before opening them again. "Fine, I’ll arrange it."

"Great. Then I’ll be taking my leave," Cale said as he prepared to leave.

"Where are you going?" Soojin asked.

"Where to? Creature hunting," Cale replied with a devious smile, his red eyes glowing.

Bonus : "Where the Fuck are you going. Who is going to pay for the office?!" Soojin shouted as he looked fearfully at the cracks.