The trio resumed their journey and eventually returned to the guild. As they approached the entrance, Haruto reached for the doorknob, but before he could turn it, the door swung open violently.
"I swear, Jack, you'll regret this! Mark my words—this third-rate guild will pay for crossing me!" a man bellowed, his voice dripping with venom. He was tall and thin, dressed in elegant robes that screamed of nobility. His eyes, cold and furious, darted around, drawing attention from the nearby guild members. Behind him, his aide, pale with fear, fidgeted nervously.
"Sir Ellion, please," the aide whispered, "remember your status. It's important that—"
*SMACK!*
Ellion struck the aide across the face without hesitation. "How *dare* you lecture me, you worthless trash!" Ellion seethed. "Do not forget your place—we are not equals. A dog should never presume to stand as a man. It seems I've let you become too comfortable." His voice was cold, dripping with condescension as he raised his hand to strike again.
Sylvie, her blood boiling at the sight, moved to intervene, but V grabbed her arm, shaking her head in silent warning.
Before Ellion could land another blow, Jack stepped out of the office. His calm but commanding presence immediately filled the room. "Ellion, if you insist on causing a scene in my building, then I hope you're prepared to deal with the consequences that follow."
Ellion's hand froze mid-air. His rage was palpable, but something in Jack's eyes—an unwavering, dangerous intensity—made him hesitate. For a moment, it looked as if Ellion might explode, but instead, he sneered.
"You fucking Warlords. Just wait. Your reckoning is coming." He spat on the floor before storming out, dragging his cowering aide behind him.
Jack shook his head as Jynx approached. "What was that about, Guild Master?"
"Nothing new. Just more political nonsense," Jack sighed. Turning his gaze toward the entrance, he saw Haruto, Sylvie, and Bane standing nearby. "Oh, you three are back."
Jynx's eyes flicked to Haruto, and an unsettling chill ran down Haruto's spine. There was something in the way Jynx was watching him.
"Are you ready to give your report?" Jack asked as they entered the office.
The trio recounted their mission in full detail, and Jack listened intently, surprised by what they had uncovered. *Who would have thought the ruins would turn out to be a dungeon? A trial one at that...*
"So, Kahl is alive," Jack mused, his face betraying no emotion. "And he's somehow ascended to become a Plane Ascender. I can't say I'm surprised. The man's luck was always unparalleled."
Haruto, Sylvie, and Bane exchanged glances. They weren't surprised that Jack knew about Plane Ascenders, but the fact that he seemed to have a personal connection to Kahl caught them off guard.
"I must say, I'm proud of you three," Jack continued, a rare smile forming on his lips. "You've not only shown remarkable progress, but you've also proven that you have what it takes to succeed as Warlords. Our guild is small, and our numbers are limited, but because of your performance, I'm promoting all of you. Effective immediately, Haruto, you are now Rank 157, Sylvie, Rank 156, and Bane, Rank 155. Congratulations."
The three were momentarily stunned. Promotions were rare, and they had only completed a handful of missions. Most of the initiates were still struggling to even break into the ranks, yet they had been promoted straight into the 100s. In a guild with only 300 allowed ranking spots, this was a significant jump. However, they knew that advancing further would require adhering to the Duel Rule—challenging others to prove their worth.
After the celebration in Jack's office subsided, he dismissed them, encouraging them to enjoy their newfound status. The trio eagerly accepted, heading out to a well-known café for a bite to eat. Once seated, Sylvie and Bane began chatting excitedly, but Haruto stared out the window, deep in thought. Despite the promotion, his mind was elsewhere. He needed to get moving—investigating the anomalies and understanding the true nature of what happening now more urgent than ever. It seemed every mission was exposing him to more dangerous circumstance and it seemed the more he learned the more he felt behind. He needed to catch up.
His thoughts were interrupted by Sylvie's voice. "Haruto! Were you even paying attention, idiot? I asked what your next move is. I think I'll spend time in the archives," she said, her tone exasperated. "Bane, what about you?"
Bane leaned back, his hand resting thoughtfully on his chin. "I think I'll meet with the Algoro advisers. I need to find out what progress has been made. My former kingdom may still be out there, and if it is, I'll become strong enough to return and restore it."
Sylvie and Haruto smiled, knowing Bane's determination ran deep. His words were always laced with quiet conviction.
Now it was Haruto's turn. They both looked at him expectantly. Haruto weighed his words carefully before speaking. "I'm going to become stronger," he said, his voice steady. "I will ascend. I need to prove to my parents that I am someone worthy of their legacy."
Sylvie and Bane nodded in approval, sensing the gravity of his resolution. As they finished their meal, the three parted ways to pursue their individual goals.
As Haruto walked through the streets, a strange sensation prickled at the edges of his awareness. His wind element usually picked up sound, but this was different—an eerie whisper, almost as if it was meant for him alone. Glancing around, he noticed no one else seemed to hear it. Intrigued, he followed the sound, which led him into a narrow alley not far from the café.
The alley was empty. Just as he was about to turn back, he instinctively swung his arm—only to have it caught by an unseen force. Before he could react, a counter-strike came at him with such fluid precision that time seemed to slow. Haruto stumbled back, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth. His heart raced as he faced his opponent.
"Who are you? If you're from a guild, you're violating Warlord law!" Haruto growled, trying to assess the situation.
The stranger chuckled softly. "Very perceptive, young Kage. But do you really think an enemy will care about such petty rules if they're trying to take your life?"
The stranger attacked again, moving with such speed and grace that Haruto struggled to keep up. His wind element flickered, alerting him to a shift at his side. He launched himself into the air, forming twin fireballs in his palms, but the man was gone.
"Where?" Haruto's mind raced. *Behind me? No...*
Before he could react, a foot connected with his head, sending him crashing into the ground. Gritting his teeth, Haruto forced himself to stand, blood trickling down his temple. His attacker landed silently in front of him, a figure of lethal calm.
Haruto's eyes widened in shock as the man removed his hood. "Guild Master... Byron!?"