Noa and So-Rin turned around to see Eden who just told them something surprising.
The guy two years older than them, and he also looked thin and normal. Did he really know of a guild?
"Really?" So-Rin asked, her eyes bright with excitement. "Please tell us where we can find it."
"You can join guilds online via the system, but to defeat the monsters, you need to head to the closest dungeon," Eden explained.
"What's the name of this guild?" Noa asked.
"Shadow Syndicate Guild or SSG," Eden answered.
Noa immediately searched for the guild's name that Eden had suggested. He opened his system menu and navigated to the guild tab. After finding the guild, he was impressed by the guild's impressive statistics.
[Guild stats:
Name: Shadow Syndicate
Founded: May 2250
Rank: 7th
Members: 2,052,479
Humans: 533,345
Androids: 1,519,134
Completed quests: 521
365 daily quests
52 special quests
104 hidden quests
Monsters bosses defeated: 1,582,798]
After checking the guild's information, Noa commented, "Wow, their stats look really promising."
"Yes, our guild is in the top ten even though only 1% are active members," Eden felt proud.
Without hesitation, Noa and So-Rin decided to join the guild. They didn't have to wait long to get approval since Eden was one of the admins.
[Welcome to the Shadow Syndicate.]
The guild's chat room opened, and Noa and So-Rin started receiving notifications.
They felt a surge of excitement as they read the welcoming messages from their new guildmates.
"So, what's our next move?" So-Rin asked.
"We should explore the dungeons and defeat the monsters," Noa replied.
"Sounds like a plan," So-Rin said with a smile.
Eden nodded in agreement. "But before we do that, we need to ensure we're well-equipped and prepared. We don't want to go in unprepared and end up being killed by the monsters."
"That's right," Noa said, looking at his inventory. "Currently, I only have electrical traps, a laser gun, and a conventional shoulder gun. But they're all basic level weapons."
"I have an EMP Grenade, Plasma Grenade, and a protective jacket as a shield," So-Rin added. "I also have an electromagnetic pulse device. However, it is a one-time-use device and cannot be used to destroy a monster."
"Don't worry," Eden assured them. "You can qualify to buy upgrade materials for your weapons and armor by completing the training at the guild's base. As members of a guild, we also have access to better equipment. It makes quests and defeating monsters more convenient."
Noa and So-Rin were grateful for Eden's offer. They knew that being in a guild, especially one within the top ten, would help them progress faster.
While So-Rin and Eden finished their meals quickly, Noa kept his share of pasta in a small lunchbox. After that, Eden led them to the guild base.
"Follow me," Eden said, leading the way through the apartment. So-Rin and Noa trailed behind her, scanning the surroundings for any signs of the guild.
After walking for a few minutes, Eden finally stopped.
"This is it," he said, gesturing towards the entrance.
Noa was surprised to find out that the guild's base was located in their apartment area, precisely in the basement. No wonder Eden was so happy when he moved to Noa's apartment.
Upon arriving at the guild's base, they were struck by its grandeur. The walls were adorned with intricate murals depicting legendary battles, and the floors gleamed under the light of the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
The main hall was bustling with activity as guild members gathered in groups, chatting or checking on their weapons.
As Eden, Noa, and So-Rin made their way towards the guild reception desk, they were greeted by a friendly NPC receptionist. "Welcome to the Shadow Syndicate, how may I assist you today?" she asked.
"We're new here and would like to do the training," Noa replied.
"Excellent. Please sign here first. After filling it up, you will have access to our guild," the receptionist said with a smile.
After signing the necessary documents as per the receptionist's instructions, Noa and So-Rin were granted access to the guild's private room.
They were welcomed warmly by several guild members.
The training room was dimly lit, with only a few neon lights flickering in the corners. The air was filled with the hum of energy weapons and the clatter of metal as the guild members practiced their moves.
Without wasting any time, Noa and So-Rin retrieved their weapons from their inventory.
Noa walked to the center of the room, grasping the laser gun tightly. Its glowing blue accents and deadly yet elegant design caught his attention.
A fierce expression was set on his face as he aimed the gun at a holographic target hovering a few meters away. He fired a barrage of laser beams with pinpoint accuracy, each one hitting the target precisely. The laser gun spat out deadly beams of light.
"Playback," Noa commanded, and the holographic target started replaying its movements while he kept shooting his gun.
He put the laser gun back into the inventory and took out an electrical trap, attempting to immobilize a virtual target. It snapped shut on the target with precision.
So-Rin practiced detonating virtual grenades at holographic targets. She moved with precision, knocking out her targets.
As Noa and So-Rin continued their training, Eden stood there watching them, impressed with their skills and dedication to training.
[Guild Task: Basic Training Completed
Rewards:
• 100 Guild Points
• Guild Storage Access]
[Guild Bonus: Excellent Skills
Rewards:
• 50 Guild Points]
"Great job, guys," Eden said. "You can use the Guild Points to purchase materials from the Guild Storage. If you received bonus points, it's an incentive for doing well with the training. But remember, training is just training. You need to apply these skills in the field."
Eden offered tips and advice, knowing that their success in defeating monsters depended on their ability to work together as a team.
Noa and So-Rin fully understood what Eden was saying. They were determined to work together and use their skills to complete the quest.
"Alright, the quest only lasts for 12 hours. Let's go to the dungeons then," Noa suggested.
"You're right. Let's go," So-Rin responded.
As soon as they were about to leave the guild's base, a loud voice suddenly yelled at them, "Stop right there!"
They turned around to see a figure approaching them. It was a man in body armor, his eyes staring intently at them.