Code Collector

Paradise. A place filled with stronger beast than its preceding world. This world had three suns and seven moons, all appearing on different time. No sun nor moon would show up in the sky at the same time.

Allen just ascended. He opened his eyes and found himelf standing in a platform that was similar to the ones he entered on. The same-looking portal, the same-looking building, but the people looked different.

The boy also realized that his position was changed. Back in Haven, he was facing the portal, but now he was facing away from the portal. A smile made its way to his lips and the boy grinned at himself.

"I finally reached Paradise," Allen whispered. He was then led away from the platform as the portal lit up again, this time Jeremy was the one who walked out.

"Jeremy!" Allen waved his hand. "We're finally here."

Soon, Gwen and Gary also came. They walked towards Allen as the guards grouped them up. The four were ecstatic, smiling at each other as they finally reached the second world. This was one step closer to their goal, and this was definitely a big step towards it.

A woman approached Allen and bowed to him, "Congratulations, everyone and welcome to Paradise. My name is Rachel and please come with me so we can get you started."

"Get us started?" Allen tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

In order to fully register into Paradise's system, a Hunter that had just ascended was required to undergo a series of tests. These tests were necessary in order for the system to understand each Hunter better.

The first test was a medical test where the medical personel in Paradise were to examine the newly ascended Hunters. They were tested for blood type, brain scans, and other laboratory tests even psychological.

The second round of tests were the physical test. The Hunters were to be tested by their capacity in combat. Each one of them are assigned in their respective roles, given the fact that not all Hunter have the same stats.

The last round of tests was the interview where the Hunters are going to face veteran Hunters while they answer questions regarding their hunt. These tests were necessary because part of the system in Paradise was the raking system.

Hunters are ranked based on the result of the tests, each rank contains a bracket of the number of points the Hunter got from their tests. Higher rank means more benefits, while lower ranks will have less, albeit not game-changing, benefits.

"So, basically if you're strong you get treated right and if you're not, you get treated like trash," Jeremy scoffed. He watched the envelope which contained his schedule in anger. "This is trash. No wonder Allen wanted to change them."

"This is only part of it," Allen sighed as he showed them their folder, the three gasped after seeing the one letter that was on Allen's file. "They also want everyone to comform."

Rank D

There were four ranks in Paradise that a Hunter could belong to, D, C, B, and A. A means the highest while D is the lowest. The benefits of having a high rank was that you could go to queues over the others, and will have more discounts and better service in the establishments

The A rank Hunters were basically treated like kings in the world. They could trample on another Hunter's entire existence, and nobody would stop them. Not even the other A rankers because they are all the same. 

The Hunters organization think that this was only right because the A rankers are the Hunters that are in line into ascension to highe realms. They said that since everyone in Paradise had experienced hardship in Haven, they know the process of getting stronger.

The ones in D rank won't stay in D rank forever. Instead, in time, the Hunters that are at the bottom will rise because that was the essence of being a Hunter.

There are currently only fifty A rankers in Paradise. They are all in line to Eternity, so they should be given the best treatment. That's what the Hunters organization believed in.

That being said, on the other end of the spectrum, the D ranks come to play. If a D rank is in line, for say coffee, a higher ranked Hunter is not only allowed, but obligated to cut in front of them. This kind of treatment was a way to motivate D rankers into getting stronger, that's what the organization said.

This rule doesn't work in other ranks. Say, a C rank Hunter was in line, a B rank Hunter is not allowed to cut in front. The middle ranks are only there to filter the ones who are about to get stronger and those who are ways behind them.

These were all part of the Hunters organization's view of what the future generation would look up to. They wanted the Hunter to strive and grow in order to progress into better worlds.

But their vision was blinded by the fact that they do not know what it feels like to be at the bottom.

The Hunters organization's key personel are the Primordial Beast Bearers and the rich people who owned big companies. They think that what they are doing are going to be a good reflection of themselves, but it wasn't.

That was because there was a factor that they didn't anticipate. A factor that was right under their noses, but for them who only looks at what's in front of them, they couldn't see it.

That was abuse.

As Allen and his group walked to their own apartment units where they are to stay while they're in Paradise, he saw how much difference each rank has. Since the other three are still unranked, they were to stay at a regular-class units.

Him however, who was refused to be given another rank after he refused to get a role, was given an apartment unit at the slums of the camp.

"Bullsh*t," Jeremy growled as he watched the room Allen was assigned on. It was dark, the room was small and it was unclean. There were litter everywhere and the area stinks like people died around the building. "Why are they treating you like this?"

"I told them that I don't have a rank nor do I want one," Allen said. "They got mad and put me here."

"They're so pathetic," Gwen growled. "I can't believe this is what Paradise looks like. It's worse than in Haven. At least in Haven, equality existed. Somewhat."

"This is more reasons why we need to get stronger fast," Gary said. "If this keeps on, more and more Hunters will leave."

Allen leaned his back on the kitchen counter as he crossed his arms and smirked, "Do you know how many A rank Hunters are in this camp alone?"

"Fifty," Jeremy replied. "You already told us that."

Allen chuckled, "But do you know how many D rank Hunters are there in this camp alone?"

The other three looked at each other. When they didn't know the answer, Allen just raised his finger to his lips and shushed them gently. It stayed like that for a couple of seconds until he broke the silence, "Do you hear that?"

Gwen shook her head while trying to reach her ear out, "I don't hear anything."

"Exactly," Allen smirked. "That's because in this building where the D ranks are supposed to board, only my unit is occupied. Among thousands of Hunters in Paradise, only twenty are D rank. The others quit."

"What?" Jeremy gasped. "I thought no one would stay a D rank for too long because they would get promoted to higher ranks?"

Allen laughed lightly. "That's that they say so nobody would panic and question them."

"Wait a minute," Gwen raised her hands and walked in front of Allen. "How did you know all these?"

Allen shrugged, "Let's just say that I know someone who has information of everything."

The door of Allen's room opened, making everyone look at it. A person walked inside, yawning as he slouched on the sofa. "You left me behind. I was looking all over the Portal House for you."

"A woman took us all away," Allen said. "She said she'd bring us to test us for our ranks and then we came to her."

"She's really mad," Rourke hummed. "Fantasia, I mean. She was threatened by Dante's power that she used her own power and abuse it. She was the one who ordered that woman to make you live like hell here, so that you wouldn't catch up."

"W-What?" Allen asked. "But I thought it was a due process?"

"It was," Rourke stood and walked closer to Allen. The man was almost a foot shorter than Allen, so he had to do his best so his hands could reach Allen's shoulders. "But as someone who doesn't have any role, you are to be tested in all roles and get the average points. Then you will be ranked."