Hiro stepped out of the labyrinth, all seven orbs are in his hand—a symbol of his newfound S-rank status. The weight of the challenge lifted from his shoulders, but he remained stoic. Rianne approached him with a bright smile, her respect evident in her eyes.
"Congratulations, Hiro. That was incredible. Not many make it past even B-rank, let alone claim the S-rank orb," she said sincerely.
Kaison, standing by her side, grinned widely. "You sure know how to put on a show, huh? I knew you had it in you."
Hiro gave a slight nod, indifferent to the praise. "Let's move on."
They made their way to the mission board, where Rianne took the time to explain the missions available to him now that he was S-rank. The missions ranged in difficulty, each one more dangerous than the last. Some were straightforward, while others had the potential to drag on for years. The toughest S-rank mission, were rare but life-threatening—dealing with strongest monsters, or world-ending threats.
"S-rank quests don't come often, and when they do, you'll need to be prepared for anything. Some of them... they've been left unfinished for years. No one dares take them on," Rianne said, her tone serious.
Hiro glanced at the board, his eyes scanning the high-level quests, but he remained silent. He wasn't here for fame or glory. His goal was clear—revenge.
Afterward, he left the facility and made his way to a nearby inn to rest. As he walked through the town, he noticed the whispers that had already started spreading like wildfire.
"Did you hear? A new S-rank adventurer just emerged from the guild!"
"Three years since the last one appeared, right?"
"Yeah, this makes the total number of S-rank adventurers ten now."
Hiro kept his head down, uninterested in their gossip, but the conversations carried on.
---
"What's his name again?"
"Hiro Amadeus."
"Wait... Amadeus? Wasn't that the clan that got wiped out? I heard before that their leader, Harkin, had a one son."
"But how did he survive?"
---
"Why did he only appear now? It's been thirteen years since the Amadeus clan was wiped out."
"He must've been training non-stop all this time. It makes sense."
---
[S-Rank Adventurers Responds]
An older adventurer sat in a dimly lit room, a mug of ale in hand. His expression turned thoughtful as he heard the news. "An Amadeus, huh? I wonder how strong he is."
Meanwhile, in a different part of town, a lively young S-rank adventurer burst into his partner's room, practically shouting, "Heyyy, Karl! Another S-rank just appeared! That makes ten of us now, right?!"
Karl sighed. "Yeah, interesting. But can you stop shouting? I'm just right here beside you."
The hyper adventurer just laughed, clearly excited about the news.
---
Somewhere far away, a girl overheard the name. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she muttered to herself, "Hiro... Amadeus? Could it be? No way... after all these years..." She clenched her fist, her thoughts racing.
---
Back at the inn, Hiro sat by the window, looking out at the bustling town. Kaison lounged across from him, clearly impressed with Hiro's swift rise to fame.
"So, you really know how to make a name for yourself, huh? In just a day, you're already all anyone can talk about." Kaison chuckled.
Hiro's face remained as emotionless as ever. He stared at his hands. "Another step toward my goal," he said quietly.
Kaison smirked at the response, recognizing the fire that burned within Hiro, even if it wasn't always visible. "Just don't forget, revenge takes time. You've got strength, but patience is key."
Hiro didn't respond. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, letting the silence fill the room. His mind was focused, calculating his next move. The whispers outside didn't concern him, and neither did the praise. The only thing that mattered was that he was one step closer to avenging his clan.
Just as the atmosphere in the room began to settle, a rustle came from the corner, followed by a sudden burst of vines laced around Hiro's feet. They tightened instantly, paralyzing him. Hiro's eyes widened as he sensed the source of the attack.
Before he could react, a man stepped forward, grinning with an air of confidence. "I heard you're the new S-rank. Accept this as my way to congratulate you," he said, his voice smooth and casual.
"Who are you?" Hiro managed to ask, straining against the grip of the vines.
"Theo," the man replied, casually gesturing with his hand as more vines writhed around Hiro. "S-rank adventurer, power: Thorn Arsenal. Impressive feat, by the way."
Kaison, now in his fox form, leaped in front of Hiro, clearly agitated. "Kneel, you pest!" he shouted, his dragon tongue lacing his command with magic.
Theo instantly fell to one knee, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Hiro's bloodthurst surge and his mana burst, causing the Theo to tremble. "Hey, if you're going to enter someone's room, you should knock first," Hiro said angrily.
Hiro pulls the vines binding his feet, destroying it. "You don't seem like a threat, but that doesn't mean I'll let you walk all over me," he said, eyes narrowing.
Theo chuckled, a hint of respect in his voice. "Hey, hey, I have no bad intentions. I'm just interested in you. S-rank adventurers like to stick together, after all."
As Hiro's burst of mana faded, so did the effect of Kaison's dragon tounge. He could feel the tension in the air shift.
"Just come back tomorrow," Hiro said, rubbing his sore feet. "I want to rest."
"Sure thing, Hiro," Theo replied, still grinning. "But don't think I'm done with you. I'll be around."
Hiro watched as Theo exited the room, his mind still focused on the looming quest for revenge. As the door clicked shut, he exhaled deeply, the adrenaline ebbing away.
Kaison hopped back onto the chair, ears perked up. "Looks like you've got a fan," he said with a smirk.