Hiro stood at the counter as Rianne took down his details. She glanced at him, not quite convinced, "Name?"
"Hiro Amadeus," Hiro answered firmly.
Rianne frowned, her eyebrow raised and laugh a little. "This is a serious process. Joking about your name isn't funny."
Hiro chuckled, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
For a brief moment, Hiro allowed a fraction of his mana to leak out. The air grew heavy, and the adventurers in the guild hall felt the sudden shift. A low murmur rippled through the room as many stopped what they were doing, staring in his direction.
Rianne swallowed hard, her playful demeanor vanishing. "Okay…okay. What city are you from?"
"Aurelia."
"Age?"
"Nineteen," Hiro replied.
Without another word, Rianne motioned for him to follow. She led him to a large door at the back of the guild hall, which opened to reveal a massive, magically enhanced testing facility. In the center of the room stood a glowing entrance, shimmering with magical energy. It was the labyrinth.
Rianne gestured to the entrance. "This is where your test begins. The labyrinth inside is enchanted. It has seven floors, and on each floor, there are two identical monsters guarding an orb from the first to five. These orbs correspond to adventurer ranks, from F all the way to S. As you defeat the monsters and collect the orbs, you'll ascend in rank."
Hiro nodded, taking in the details. He didn't show much reaction, but internally, he was intrigued. He liked a challenge, even if it wasn't much of one.
Rianne handed him a small bracelet. "This will ensure your safety. If you're injured badly, the bracelet will automatically teleport you out of the labyrinth. And don't worry, we'll be watching your progress through an artifact here."
Hiro glanced at the glowing screen next to the entrance—something like a magical projection showing the interior of the labyrinth. It was a bit like a game, but he knew it wouldn't be that simple.
Just as he was about to step through the entrance, Rianne stopped him. "Mr. Hiro, only you are allowed to enter the labyrinth. Your pet will need to wait outside."
Kaison, standing beside Hiro, immediately bristled. The air around the dragon-turned-fox shimmered with irritation. "Pet? Pet?!" Kaison growled, his sharp eyes glowing.
"It's fine, Kai," Hiro said, calming his companion. "This is my test. You'll get your chance."
Kaison, though reluctant, grumbled and padded over to the side of the room, settling down but glaring at Rianne. "Fine. But I'll be watching," he muttered, his pride wounded.
Hiro stepped into the labyrinth, the magical doorway closing behind him. The air shifted, and he found himself standing in a dimly lit room with stone walls. It was eerily quiet, and the tension was palpable. He could feel the presence of something lurking ahead.
---
Floor 1: Red Orb – F-Rank
As Hiro advanced, the first creature appeared. A blob-like figure oozed from the shadows—a slime. It moved sluggishly, leaving behind a trail of sticky residue. There were two of them, each about the size of a barrel, wobbling as they moved.
"Slime? Really?" Hiro muttered, amused. He didn't even bother drawing his sword. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of mana surged out, cutting through the air. The slimes quivered before being sliced in half, dissolving into nothingness.
The red orb hovered in the center of the room, and Hiro casually picked it up. The first rank had been cleared without effort. He continued deeper into the labyrinth, not even breaking a sweat.
---
Floor 2: Orange Orb – E-Rank
The next floor was darker, shadows flickering in the corners of the room. Hiro advanced cautiously, sensing movement. Without warning, two spider-like creatures leaped from the ceiling—Shadow Crawlers. They moved fast, their black bodies blending into the darkness.
Hiro smirked. This was a bit more interesting.
The first shadow crawler lunged, fangs bared. Hiro sidestepped easily, drawing his sword in a blur of motion. With a swift strike, the creature was cut in two. The second one tried to catch him from behind, but Hiro spun, slicing through it with the same ease.
The orange orb appeared as the bodies of the shadow crawlers vanished. Hiro picked it up without hesitation and continued onward.
---
Floor 3: Yellow Orb – D-Rank
A deep growling sound greeted Hiro as he stepped onto the third floor. Two massive hounds, each the size of a horse, stood in the center of the room. Their red eyes locked onto Hiro as they circled him, growling lowly.
Hiro could tell these beasts were stronger than the previous monsters. Their muscles rippled under their fur, and their fangs gleamed in the low light. One of them let out a deafening howl that echoed through the room.
"Alright, let's see what you've got," Hiro said, gripping his sword tighter.
The hounds attacked simultaneously, moving with incredible speed. Hiro dodged the first one, rolling to the side, then slashed upward, cutting deep into the second hound's chest. The beast yelped in pain before disintegrating into ash.
The remaining hound snapped at Hiro's leg, but he was too fast. In one fluid motion, Hiro sliced through the hound's neck, the beast collapsing instantly.
Hiro picked up the yellow orb and continued. His pace was steady, his confidence unshaken.
---
Floor 4: Green Orb – C-Rank
The fourth floor was filled with heavy, dense air. Two stone sentinels stood at attention, their massive bodies made of thick rock. They were slow, but Hiro could tell their strength was immense.
One of the sentinels slammed its fists into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling toward Hiro. He leaped into the air, dodging the tremors, and landed behind the sentinel. With precision, he slashed at its joints, aiming for weak points.
It took a few strikes, but the first sentinel crumbled into a pile of rubble. The second one was smarter, guarding its weak spots as it swung its enormous arms at Hiro.
"I guess you're learning," Hiro remarked, sidestepping the attack.
He focused his mana into his sword, enhancing its sharpness. With one powerful strike, he cleaved through the sentinel's arm, then followed up with a finishing blow that shattered its core.
The green orb appeared, glowing faintly. Hiro grabbed it and pressed forward.
---
Floor 5: Blue Orb – B-Rank
The temperature dropped as Hiro entered the fifth floor. A low growl echoed through the chamber. Two enormous grizzly bears, their fur coated with frost, emerged from the shadows. Their size was intimidating, and their claws looked sharp enough to tear through steel.
Hiro smirked. "Oh it's bringing me back to when I was still a weakling."
The bears charged at Hiro, their footsteps shaking the ground. Hiro knew he couldn't take these beasts lightly. He infused more mana into his sword, preparing for a real fight.
The first bear swung its massive paw at him, but Hiro blocked the attack with his sword. The force behind the strike was powerful, but Hiro held his ground. With a quick movement, he slashed at the bear's legs, causing it to stumble.
As the second bear lunged at him, Hiro rolled to the side, avoiding the attack. He quickly countered with a precise strike to its neck, cutting deep into its fur and muscle. The bear roared in pain before collapsing.
Hiro finished off the first bear with a swift strike, and the room fell silent once more.
The blue orb appeared, signaling the end of the B-rank floor.
---
Hiro stood still for a moment, taking a deep breath. He had easily cleared the first five ranks. The monsters were strong, but they were no match for his skills. He reached for the blue orb.
There were two more floors to go.
"Let's see what else you've got," Hiro muttered, moving forward with steady determination.