Chapter 229: Selene and The Ascender "Moon, is it?" Tom accepted the handshake with a firm grip, his eyes assessing Moon. His eyebrow rose almost immediately, and a knowing smile formed on his face. "You’re also half a step into becoming an Evolver. Interesting." Moon nodded respectfully. "Yes, sir." Tom’s expression showed approval. Someone on the verge of evolution was considerably more valuable than a standard awakener. They represented the next generation of elite combatants, and their participation in dangerous operations was both a test and an investment. "Good. I’ll speak to the Association representatives about securing you a spot on the clearance team." Tom’s gaze then shifted to the two individuals who’d accompanied Moon, and his eyebrows rose in interest. He looked at Selene for several long seconds, his expression thoughtful in a way that made Selene visibly uncomfortable for reasons Moon couldn’t identify. "Is this your friend?" Tom asked, gesturing toward Selene. "Yes, sir," Moon confirmed. "I was hoping my friend could join us on the mission as well. She’s also half a step into becoming an Evolver and considered an S-ranker in terms of combat capability." Tom nodded slowly, that smile present on his face widening ever so slightly, "I see...I’ll speak to the Awakener’s Association representatives about her participation as well. We’ll see how flexible they’re willing to be with team composition." "Thank you, sir," Moon said gratefully. Tom’s attention finally moved to Yara, who’d been standing quietly to the side. His expression showed curiosity but no particular concern. Registered intelligent beasts weren’t unusual in awakener society. "Alright then, you can catch up while I handle other matters. I’ll return shortly with confirmation about your entering status." With that, the Ascender left the building, heading toward the gate where Association officials were coordinating the response effort. The moment Tom disappeared from view, Selene released a breath she’d apparently been holding. "Are you okay?" Moon asked, noting her unusual tension. "You looked uncomfortable." Selene hesitated, then shook her head. "It’s nothing." Kael observed this exchange but didn’t comment, instead turning to Moon with more important concerns. "Are you prepared in terms of equipment and potions? This will be the hardest challenge we could ever face as awakeners. The kind of beasts that killed an entire team aren’t going to be pushovers." Moon nodded confidently. "Luckily, I was at the Trading Center right before coming here. I’m well-stocked on consumables and equipment." ’It’s also fortunate that I bought a variety of materials for rune crafting.’ Before leaving the Trading Center, he’d visited the lower floors specifically to acquire rune inscription materials. With his newly acquired [Rune Inscription] skill at MAX level, he wanted to leverage that advantage fully. Whether support runes for stamina enhancement, offensive runes for explosive trap creation, or defensive runes for barrier generation, Moon had purchased enough materials to create dozens of inscriptions. He’d spent nearly half a million on the supplies, but considering the usefulness of the skill, it was an investment that would pay for itself many times over. It didn’t take long for Tom Glassy to return from his discussion with the Association representatives. "Alright," the Ascender announced as he re-entered the room. "I spoke to the Association representative handling the operation. You’ll be approved for the mission to enter the gate, despite the fact that you’re only registered as an A-rank awakener on your official badge." Moon nodded. "Yeah, I just returned to Earth today. Didn’t have time to update my registration with the Association yet." "That’s fine, don’t worry about it," Tom said dismissively. The bureaucratic details were irrelevant when an Ascender vouched for someone’s capabilities. "Your actual combat ability is what matters, and yours is enough." Tom turned to address Selene. "As for your friend... she won’t be able to join you. The roster has already been filled with other S-rankers who were on-call or immediately available. You’re the only ’A-ranker’ being permitted entry due to my personal recommendation." Selene’s expression became grim, frustration and worry warring across her face. But she couldn’t argue if even an Ascender like Tom Glassy wasn’t able to secure her a spot. ’I can’t just give up...’ Selene thought. Then, without a word, she turned and left the building, walking with long strides toward the gate. "Selene!" Moon called after her, but she didn’t stop, heading directly toward the same Association representative that Tom had been speaking with earlier. Moon and Yara quickly followed behind her. Kael gave his father a glance, but did not say anything. Selene approached the representative, a stern, young-looking man despite being well over his fifties. At his strength, aging had a different meaning. He wore a neat black suit, and on his chest was the formal insignia of the Awakener’s Association. "I want to join the mission, I’m an S-ranker myself. I don’t believe I lack in strength compared to anyone else who’ll be entering that gate." The representative looked up from his display with with an interested gaze. Selene didn’t allow him to speak, saying, "If you don’t believe me... then look." Before anyone could stop her, Selene began channeling her mana with a focused expression on her face. Two simultaneous spells began forming, one of fire and one of wind. Each forming in her outstretched hands and growing rapidly in power and volume. The combination magic swirled together, creating a vortex of elemental fury that made the Evolvers stationed nearby frown and move to intervene. Clearly about to forcibly shut down what could become a dangerous display in such close proximity to the gate. But the representative raised a hand, stopping them. His eyes had narrowed as he assessed the quality and control of Selene’s spell. When the dual-element spell had reached its peak, a roaring sphere of fire wrapped in cutting wind, Selene fixed the representative with stern, unwavering eyes. "This can kill multiple A-rank beasts simultaneously and seriously injure an S-ranked one. I’m not some amateur looking for glory." Then, Moon saw the representative, who was himself an Ascender, actually laughed. It wasn’t mocking or dismissive but amused. With a casual wave of his hand, the representative extended his will. *** GT Rank: No.11 Let’s go guys, we can hit top 10! Updated Goals: Top 10 GT (Monthly - End of Month) = 10 Chapter Mass Release (in progress)