The preliminary assessment of the Hunter's Test was a serious evaluation of skill and an important rite of passage for the candidates. Alex, his nerves tingling with a mix of excitement and apprehension, approached the testing area where the first challenge was about to begin: an Arm Wrestling competition!
His opponent was a burly teenager named Grog, whose arms looked like they could easily snap branches, or possibly small trees. Grog grinned at Alex, showing a gap where a tooth should have been.
"Ready to lose, twig arms?" he teased, eyeing Alex's relatively slender frame. Though Alex's upper body was well-built, next to Grog's massive physique, he did appear noticeably smaller.
Alex, feeling like a David beside this Goliath, locked hands with Grog.
As they started, Grog's strength was immediately apparent, his arm pushing against Alex with the force of a bulldozer.
"What's with the hoodie, huh? Hiding a face as skinny as your legs?" Grog chuckled, pushing Alex's hand closer to defeat.
But Alex, fueled by determination and his newfound strength, pushed back, their arms now deadlocked in the middle.
"You'd be surprised," Alex mused, straining against Grog's formidable force. The crowd gathered around, watching with growing interest.
The battle of muscles continued, back and forth, each boy gaining and then losing ground. Grog, now sweating, looked at Alex with a newfound respect.
"Not bad for someone who looks like they skipped every leg day" he huffed, trying to maintain his edge. As he said that, Grog internally was thinking something completely different
'How am I losing an arm-wrestling match? I've trained for three years and I'm two years older than him. How can he possibly be this strong?'
Alex, feeling a surge of energy, knew it was now or never. With a concentrated effort, he began to turn the tide, inch by inch pushing Grog's arm back.
"Maybe I have a few surprises under this hoodie," Alex retorted, smiling while making sure he didn't show any of his teeth.
Finally, with one last push, filled with all the strength he could muster, Alex slammed Grog's hand down onto the table. The crowd erupted in cheers and laughter.
"Geez!!" Grog exclaimed, rubbing his arm. "You're full of surprises, hoodie boy."
Grog really was shocked at this turn of events. He thought he was for sure going to win.
"Guess twiggy isn't so weak after all," Alex replied, panting from the effort but beaming with pride, while flexing.
The crowd's laughter and Grog's nod of respect filled Alex with a sense of achievement he hadn't known he was craving.
As the competition moved on to the next pair, Alex couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning of his journey in the Hunter's Guild – a journey filled with challenges, but also the promise of growth and camaraderie.
The next event in Alex's Hunter's Test was the Speed test, a challenge that required more than just raw strength. Ironically, hunters find themselves having to run away alot. So the Hunters guild thought it would be important that Hunters are not only physically strong, but also agile and quick on their feet.
His opponent was Dash, a lean and agile candidate who had a reputation for being one of the quickest rank 1 hunters at the Guild. Dash, with his close-cropped hair and eyes that seemed to constantly flicker with movement, was a favorite among the younger hunters.
As Alex and Dash prepared for their speed test, the bustling energy of the guild hall continued unabated. Nearby, a group of younger candidates, some barely in their teens, nervously practiced their agility, darting through an obstacle course designed to mimic the unpredictability of the Verdant Wilds.
In another corner of the hall, a candidate in her late teens, with striking silver hair, demonstrated remarkable skill with a longbow. Her arrows whistled through the air, hitting their targets with unerring accuracy, drawing impressed murmurs from onlookers.
Meanwhile, a group of older candidates, likely in their early twenties, gathered around a tactical map. They were deeply engrossed in a simulated hunt, strategizing on how to track and capture a notoriously elusive creature known in guild lore.
Their debate was intense, each proposing different approaches based on their experiences and training.
As Alex and Dash lined up at the starting line, the courtyard buzzed with excitement. The gathered hunters, many with mugs of the Guild's special brew - a strong, dark ale known as "Shadow Stout" - in their hands, cheered and shouted encouragements.
"Show him how we dash, Dash!" yelled one enthusiastic onlooker, as others laughed and raised their drinks.
Dash grinned at Alex, bouncing lightly on his toes. "Ready to eat my dust, hood-boy?" he quipped confidently.
The signal was given, and they were off. Alex's newfound agility was immediately apparent; he kept pace with Dash, much to the surprise of the crowd. "Go, Hoodie! Show him speed isn't just in the name!" someone shouted from the sidelines, causing a ripple of laughter.
However, Alex's top-heavy build made it challenging to keep his balance at such speeds. About halfway through the race, his feet tangled, and he stumbled forward, rolling into a comical somersault. The crowd roared with laughter! Feeling embarrassed, Alex was quick to recover. He sprang to his feet and dashed towards the finish line, closing the gap between him and Dash.
Dash crossed the line a mere second after Alex. Breathing heavily, Alex jogged to a stop, a mix of embarrassment and pride on his face. "Well, that was... exhilarating," he panted.
Dash, turning back, clapped him on the back. "Damn, bobblehead! You've got some serious wheels there! I would have never guessed it! Where does all that power come from? You have some real power in those twiggy legs! I'm honestly surprised i lost especially after that tumble!
As they walked back to the starting line, a burly hunter approached Alex, holding out a mug of the dark Shadow Stout. "That was a race worth celebrating, kid! Have a victory toast with us!"
Alex smiled, pushing the mug gently away. "Thanks, but if I'm too young to enter the hunters academy, I'm definitely too young to handle Shadow Stout. Maybe in a few years, though!"
The crowd around him erupted into a new round of laughter and cheers. "Well said, Hoodie! You'll fit right in here!" someone called out, as others raised their mugs in a toast to his performance.
After his eventful race with Dash, Alex took a moment to observe the other tests taking place. A young girl, no older than twelve, was demonstrating her prowess in summoning and controlling elemental spirits, a rare skill that left the audience spellbound.
Near the training dummies, a strong looking candidate, his muscles rippling under his shirt, was showcasing his strength. With a single punch, he sent the dummy flying across the room, eliciting gasps and applause from the spectators.
These glimpses into the lives and talents of his fellow candidates gave Alex a deeper appreciation of the diversity and depth of skills within the Hunters Guild. It thrilled him to realize that there was still so much more he could become. He eagerly anticipated the upcoming hunter tests that would reward the rank 2 and higher badges.
As the day's tests drew to a close, Alex reflected on his own journey. He felt a surge of pride and a sense of belonging in this world of hunters and warriors.
He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to face it head-on, armed with his newfound skills and the camaraderie of his peers.