CHAPTER 7 — HUNTER BUREAU PHILIPPINES
The Gates and Anomalies Bureau (GAB-PH) headquarters in Quezon City was a fortress:
200 meters tall, shimmering blue barriers, constant drone patrol.
Cedric was escorted into a massive examination hall.
Hunters whispered.
"That's the Tondo survivor."
"He cleared a gate alone?"
"No way—he looks like a normal kid!"
Cedric ignored them.
A circular platform lit up beneath him.
A machine descended — the A.R.E.S. Scanner, a device that measured Hunter rank and potential.
"Cedric Aaron Feraldo," the scientist said, adjusting his glasses, "please stand still."
The machine hummed.
Rings of light scanned Cedric from head to toe.
Then it beeped.
Then flickered.
Then… sparked.
A loud boom echoed in the hall.
The scanner shut down — smoking, glitching.
Scientists screamed.
"H-How—?! It overloaded!"
"Rank too high! It wasn't designed for this!"
"The system can't read him!"
The captain stared at Cedric, pale.
"You… broke the scanner."
The system popped up.
[ ANALYSIS COMPLETE ]
[ RANK EXPRESSION: UNREADABLE ]
[ YOU EXCEED LOCAL MEASUREMENT LIMITS ]
Cedric scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Sorry?"
The director of the Philippine Hunter Bureau walked in —
a stern, commanding woman in red armor.
She examined Cedric silently.
Then said:
"New policy. If our scanner cannot classify you—"
She handed him a black card.
"You will be designated as Rank X."
Gasps filled the hall.
Rank X —
A rank above S.
A classification reserved for beings too strong or too dangerous to measure.
Cedric…
an unknown kid from Tondo…
had been placed at the apex of Philippine hunters.
The world would feel his footsteps soon.
end of chapter 7