The slums had a rhythm to them, one that Mikhael had learned to move within almost effortlessly. Chaos was his ally, and now, as he stared into the growing storm of bounty hunters and power-hungry demons, he knew he was closer to the next step in his plan. Control over the The Raven's Mark would offer him not only a steady flow of money but a key position within the political landscape of the underworld.
But before he could even think about controlling the guild, he needed to get in. And not just get in—he needed to rise. Fast.
Jin Sparrow had done his part, gathering all the necessary information about the structure of the guild. Three platinum ranks, the highest, were demons whose levels ranged from **40 to 50**. Twelve gold ranks followed, each between level 30 and 37. The silver ranks were a group of 28 demons in the level 22 to 26 range, and beneath them were the bronze ranks, about 40 demons ranging from level 10 to 19.
Then there were the unranked, the lowest of the low, demons at level 5 to 9—the entry-level members of the guild. This was where Mikhael was expected to start if he entered. But Mikhael had no intention of wasting time at the bottom. He needed to stand out. He needed to rise above the ranks quickly.
And that was where the Test of Merit came in.
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Guild Entrance - The Test of Merit
The Raven's Mark had an established system for inducting new members. Every demon who wished to join had to undergo the Test of Merit, which determined their rank and standing within the guild. It was a trial by combat, designed to measure strength, skill, and the potential of the recruit.
Mikhael stood in the shadow of the guildhall, his crimson eyes gleaming as he watched other hopefuls enter the building. He was here for the test, but his goal wasn't just to pass. He needed to prove himself—to rise as quickly as possible within the ranks and make his way into the heart of the guild. Vince had already infiltrated the outer circles of the guild as an informant, but Mikhael needed a more active role.
The entrance to the guild was guarded by two demons, both bronze-ranked members, their scarred bodies a testament to their experience in combat. As Mikhael approached, they eyed him warily.
"You here for the test?" one of them growled.
Mikhael nodded. "I am."
The second demon glanced at the first, then grunted. "Another one for the meat grinder. You sure you're ready for this, kid?"
Mikhael didn't respond to the taunt. His expression remained calm, unreadable, though inside, he was already analyzing the situation. He wasn't here to impress the guards—he was here to make his mark on the guild.
The first demon motioned for him to enter. "Good luck," he said with a sneer. "You'll need it."
---
Inside the Guildhall
The guildhall was a dark, imposing structure made of stone and iron, with rows of weapons hanging from the walls and torches casting flickering shadows across the floor. As Mikhael stepped inside, he could feel the weight of eyes on him. Other recruits, demons of varying sizes and abilities, were gathered in small groups, talking in hushed tones about the test ahead.
At the far end of the hall was a raised platform where the guild's Test of Merit would be conducted. Several higher-ranked members—some gold, some silver—stood nearby, watching the recruits with keen eyes.
Mikhael quickly scanned the room, using his system to gather information on the various demons around him. Most were unranked, their levels barely scratching the surface of his own power. He felt no concern about them.
But then his eyes landed on the bronze-ranked examiner waiting on the platform. The system immediately kicked in, revealing the demon's stats:
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[Target: Bronze-Ranked Examiner]
Level: 17
Strength: 45
Durability: 42
Agility: 38
Wisdom: 20
Intelligence: 19
---
Mikhael assessed the situation. The examiner wasn't weak by any means, but he wasn't insurmountable either. Mikhael's own level and abilities gave him the edge, though he knew this fight would require more than raw power. The Test of Merit was as much about strategy and precision as it was about strength.
He quickly glanced at his own **stats** via the system:
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[System Interface]
Name: Mikhael
Race: Demon
Level: 9
Experience: 150/400
Stats
- Strength: 20
- Durability: 19
- Agility: 18
- Intelligence: 13
- Dexterity: 13
- Wisdom: 12
---
Mikhael had prepared for this. His stats were carefully balanced, and his abilities—Dash, Charge, Shadow Step, and Dark Pulse—gave him a versatile toolkit. But the key to passing this test wasn't just in winning the fight. It was in earning a high score.
The score system was simple but brutally effective in determining rank. To become a bronze-ranked bounty hunter, Mikhael needed to achieve a B score, which would place him at the bottom of the bronze ranks. But that wasn't good enough. Mikhael had his sights set on something higher. An A score would elevate him immediately to mid-tier bronze rank, and if he somehow managed to achieve an S score, he would be ranked as a nominally silver rank, bypassing the lower levels entirely.
It was a steep challenge, but Mikhael had no intention of aiming low.
---
The Test Begins
The room fell silent as one of the silver-ranked guild members stepped forward, his voice booming across the hall. "The Test of Merit begins now. Recruits, step forward one at a time. Prove your worth, or leave in disgrace."
The first recruit, a bulky demon with jagged horns, stepped forward. The bronze-ranked examiner watched him with cold eyes, clearly unimpressed. The fight that followed was brief—a brutal clash of strength and desperation. The recruit fought hard, but it was clear from the start that he wasn't prepared for this. The examiner toyed with him, deflecting his attacks with ease before finishing the fight with a single crushing blow.
The recruit fell to the ground, his body battered and broken. He had barely earned a D score—average, at best.
Mikhael watched closely, analyzing the examiner's fighting style. He was fast, but not overly so. His attacks were powerful, but predictable. Mikhael knew how to exploit that.
Several more recruits followed, most of them failing to earn a rank. A few managed to scrape by with C scores, which placed them just above the unranked but below the bronze ranks. None had impressed the examiners.
Finally, it was Mikhael's turn.
He stepped forward, his gaze locking with the examiner's. The bronze-ranked demon looked him up and down, his expression hardening. "You think you've got what it takes, kid?"
Mikhael didn't respond. His focus was entirely on the fight ahead.
The silver-ranked member who was overseeing the test motioned for the combat to begin. "Begin!"
---
The Fight
The moment the words left the overseer's mouth, the bronze-ranked examiner lunged forward, his movements quick but not unpredictable. Mikhael activated Dash, his agility stat increasing by 50%, allowing him to sidestep the attack with ease. He felt the rush of wind as the examiner's fist missed him by inches.
Mikhael wasted no time. He countered with a quick strike, his hand glowing with dark energy as he unleashed Dark Pulse. The blast of energy slammed into the examiner, sending him skidding back a few feet. It wasn't enough to do serious damage, but it was enough to make the examiner reassess his approach.
The examiner growled, his eyes narrowing as he charged again, this time with more force. Mikhael could feel the pressure of the demon's power, but he remained calm. He activated Charge, feeling his damage output increase by 10% with every passing second. He blocked the examiner's next strike, his muscles straining under the force of the blow, but with Charge boosting his strength, Mikhael was able to hold his ground.
The two demons clashed, exchanging blows in a flurry of speed and power. Mikhael used Shadow Step to dart around the arena, avoiding the examiner's heavier attacks while landing precise strikes of his own. Each hit he landed was calculated, designed to weaken the examiner without wasting too much energy.
But the examiner wasn't giving up easily. He swung a heavy fist toward Mikhael's chest, and though Mikhael managed to dodge most of the blow, the edge of the attack clipped his side, sending a sharp pain through his body. He gritted his teeth, refusing to give the examiner any indication of weakness.
This fight needs to end.
Mikhael activated Dash again, his speed increasing as he darted behind the examiner, positioning himself for a final strike. With Charge at its peak, Mikhael unleashed a devastating blow to the back of the examiner's head, the force of the attack amplified by his abilities.
The examiner crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
The hall fell silent as Mikhael stood over the fallen examiner, his breath steady. He had won.
---
The Score
The silver-ranked overseer stepped forward, nodding in approval as he glanced at the unconscious examiner. "Impressive," he said, his voice measured. "Not many recruits manage to defeat a bronze-ranked member on their first try."
He looked down at the defeated examiner, then back at Mikhael. "We'll tally your score."
Mikhael waited in silence, his heart steady. He knew he had done well, but the question remained—how well?
The overseer finally nodded. "You've earned an A score. Exceptional performance."
Mikhael allowed himself a small smile. An A score meant he would be ranked as a mid-tier bronze, bypassing the lower levels entirely. It wasn't an S score, but it was more than enough for now. He had established himself within the guild, and that was the first step toward his goal.
The overseer gestured for Mikhael to step forward, where a bronze insignia was handed to him. "Welcome to The Raven's Mark."
Mikhael accepted the insignia, his eyes gleaming with ambition. The guild was just another piece of the puzzle, another tool he would use to seize control of the slums. He had passed the first test, but there were many more challenges ahead.