Raven walked out of the alleyway, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. He paused, hands in his pockets, as he considered his next move.
"I should go to the Adventurers Guild… register myself," he muttered to himself, his crimson eyes scanning the bustling streets.
Looking up, Raven spotted a line of vendors along the road, their stalls filled with goods ranging from fruits to trinkets. He walked to one of them, an old man with a kind face tending a produce stand.
"Hey, old man," Raven said, his tone flat but not unkind. "Where is the Adventurers Guild?"
The old man looked up, squinting at Raven for a moment before smiling and nodding. "The Adventurers Guild, you say? Head straight down this road until you see a big stone building with banners flying out front. You can't miss it."
Raven gave a small nod. "Thanks, old man."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, following the old man's directions. His steps were silent, his aura naturally keeping people at a distance as he passed through the busy street.
After a few minutes, Raven reached his destination. In front of him loomed an enormous building with massive stone walls and intricate carvings of swords and shields etched into the entrance. Above the wide double doors hung a large banner emblazoned with the guild's crest: a crossed sword and shield surrounded by a laurel wreath. Bold letters across the front read Adventurers Guild.
Raven stared up at the building for a moment before giving a faint nod.
"This must be the place," he murmured.
Pushing open the heavy doors, Raven stepped inside. The moment he entered, the noise of the guild hall hit him like a wave. The interior was massive, with high ceilings and a wide-open layout. To his left was a huge bar with adventurers gathered around tables, laughing, yelling, and swapping stories. To his right stood multiple mission boards covered in quests of varying ranks. At the far end, a long reception counter stretched across the room, where guild staff assisted adventurers.
As the door creaked shut behind him, the noise in the hall lessened. Heads turned, and dozens of adventurers looked in Raven's direction. The murmurs began almost immediately.
"Who's that guy?"
"What's with those creepy red eyes?"
"He doesn't look like much. Think he's a rookie?"
Some laughed, mocking him for his appearance.
"Hah! Bet he wouldn't last a day on a real quest," one adventurer sneered.
Raven ignored them all. His expression didn't waver, and he kept walking forward with purpose, his cold gaze fixed on the receptionist counter at the far end of the hall.
Behind the counter stood a young woman with short blonde hair and bright green eyes. She wore a neat uniform with the guild emblem pinned to her chest. Noticing Raven's approach, she straightened up and offered him a warm, professional smile.
"Hello there! Welcome to the Adventurers Guild," she said brightly. "My name is Mira, and I'm one of the guild receptionists. How can I help you today?"
Raven stopped in front of the counter, his crimson eyes meeting hers.
"Raven Cross," he said calmly, introducing himself. "I want to join the guild."
Mira blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, maintaining her cheerful demeanor. "Ah, I see! You're here to register as an adventurer. That's great!" She pulled a ledger out from beneath the counter and opened it, flipping to a blank page.
"Before we proceed, let me explain the guild rules and what it takes to join," she continued, her voice clear and professional.
Raven nodded silently, listening intently as Mira began to outline the requirements and rules for joining the guild.
Guild Rules and Registration Requirements:
Registration Process: To become an adventurer, one must first provide their name and undergo a simple evaluation to confirm their capabilities.
Rank System: Adventurers are ranked from F to S, with F being the lowest and S being the highest. Ranks are earned through successful quests and achievements.
Quest Guidelines: All adventurers must accept quests appropriate to their current rank. Taking quests too far above their level is forbidden.
Guild Fees: A small commission will be taken from rewards to help maintain the guild.
Conduct: Adventurers are expected to uphold the guild's reputation. Causing trouble, attacking guildmates, or abandoning missions without cause can result in penalties or expulsion.
Evaluation: New adventurers must prove their strength and capabilities through a basic combat assessment or by demonstrating unique skills.
Mira finished her explanation with a smile and looked back up at Raven. "That's about it! All new recruits are required to go through the evaluation process to ensure they're capable of handling quests. Once you pass, you'll be officially registered."
Raven nodded once, his gaze steady. "Understood."
Mira gestured toward a side door leading to another part of the guild hall. "Please head through that door. The evaluation will take place in the training grounds out back. One of our guild instructors will assess you."
Without another word, Raven turned and walked toward the indicated door, his footsteps echoing faintly in the hall. The adventurers who had mocked him earlier watched him curiously, some snickering under their breath.
"Bet he'll fail," one whispered.
"He doesn't look like much at all," another sneered.
Raven ignored them, his expression unchanging as he disappeared through the door leading to the evaluation grounds.
The Evaluation Begins
Stepping into the training grounds, Raven was met with a wide, open field surrounded by wooden fences. Several training dummies lined one side, while on the other, an area had been set up for mock combat. In the center of the field stood a tall, muscular man with a scar running down his cheek. He wore leather armor and carried a massive broadsword on his back.
"New recruit?" the instructor called, his deep voice booming as Raven approached.
"Raven Cross," Raven replied calmly, his crimson eyes locked on the instructor.
The man studied Raven for a moment, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You don't look like much, kid, but we'll see what you're made of." He pointed to the center of the field. "Your evaluation is simple. Show me what you can do. Prove you have what it takes to survive as an adventurer."
Raven stepped forward without hesitation, his hand drifting toward the hilt of his sword. He calmly unsheathed the Eclipsing Fang, the blade shimmering faintly as its runes glowed.
The instructor raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Alright then. Hit that training dummy with everything you've got."
Raven nodded, raising the sword. His aura darkened slightly, and a faint pulse of power radiated off him as he whispered:
"Skill: Shadow Edge."
The blade of the Eclipsing Fang pulsed with dark energy as Raven moved forward in a flash. His strike was quick and precise, cutting clean through the wooden dummy in a single motion. The dummy split in half, collapsing to the ground with a thud.
The instructor's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. "Not bad, kid… not bad at all. Let's see how you handle something that fights back. Prepare yourself."
The instructor's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. "Not bad, kid… not bad at all. Let's see how you handle something that fights back. Prepare yourself."
Raven tightened his grip on the Eclipsing Fang, his expression unchanging as he met the instructor's gaze. His voice, cold and calm, cut through the air.
"Bring it on, old man."
The instructor grinned, clearly excited by the challenge. "I like your attitude. Alright, here I come!"
Before Raven could blink, the instructor vanished from his spot. His movements were impossibly fast, leaving nothing but a faint gust of wind where he once stood. Yet Raven didn't flinch. His crimson eyes scanned the field with calm precision, unbothered by the sudden disappearance.
Calm down. Focus, he thought to himself, his posture unwavering.
The instructor reappeared in an instant, directly behind Raven. With a booming voice, he yelled, "Skill: Blazing Strike!"
A flaming arc of energy erupted from the instructor's weapon, swinging down toward Raven with overwhelming force. The heat alone radiated through the air, enough to stagger an average person. But Raven remained composed.
"Skill: Sonic Step."
In a blur of motion, Raven disappeared, leaving a faint ripple in the air where he had stood. The instructor's attack slammed into the ground, sending sparks and smoke flying as it missed entirely.
The instructor's eyes widened in shock as he turned, trying to track Raven's movement.
"What…? Where did…"
Raven reappeared a short distance away, his body steady and his gaze as cold as ever. His voice carried across the training grounds, devoid of fear or arrogance.
"Is that all?"
The instructor turned to face Raven, a mixture of surprise and excitement flashing in his eyes. He couldn't help but grin.
"Well, well… you're full of surprises, kid. This might actually be fun."
Raven said nothing, raising the Eclipsing Fang slightly in preparation for the next exchange. The air between them grew tense, as if the very field was waiting for their next move.
But before continuing, Raven narrowed his crimson eyes and whispered, "Skill: Appraisal."
A blue translucent status screen materialized before him, detailing the instructor's abilities and stats. Raven's eyes scanned the information calmly, taking in everything:
Instructor Status:
Name: Garrick Stormblade Rank: A-Class Adventurer Skills: Blazing Strike Shadow Dash Thunder Cleave Iron Guard Wind Cutter Special Trait: High-Grade Mana Control Strength: 300 Agility: 250 Endurance: 280 Magic: 220 Attack Power: 290
"Not bad," Raven muttered to himself, nodding faintly. The instructor's skills and stats were impressive, far beyond what most would expect. But Raven's composure remained unshaken.
The instructor, noticing Raven's unwavering confidence, grunted and gripped his sword tightly. "You done reading my stats, kid? Let's see you keep up!"
Raven ignored the remark. Instead, he raised both of his hands out to his sides, his palms opening. His voice, steady and emotionless, cut through the air:
"Skill: Twirling Tornado. Skill: Abyssal Devourer."
Instantly, a vortex of grayish-black energy erupted around Raven. The swirling aura twisted and expanded, forming a miniature storm that radiated an ominous presence. The ground beneath him trembled slightly as the energy grew, the dark tendrils whipping and curling through the air.
The instructor took a step back, eyes narrowing as he observed the strange skill. "What… what the hell is that? You think a fancy light show will scare me? Fine, have it your way!"
The instructor charged forward, his movements quick and deliberate. "Skill: Thunder Cleave!" he bellowed, his sword crackling with blue lightning as he brought it down toward Raven.
The blade struck the swirling vortex—only for the attack to vanish entirely, sucked into the storm. The crackling lightning disappeared as though it had never existed. The instructor skidded back, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"What… what just happened?"
Raven's body remained obscured within the twisting grayish-black aura as he continued to spin slowly, absorbing the attack. Then, a faint ding echoed in Raven's mind, followed by a mechanical voice:
Ding! New Skill Acquired: Thunder Cleave.
The instructor gritted his teeth. "So, that's how it is, huh? You're absorbing my attacks?! Fine, let's see how much you can take!"
"Skill: Blazing Strike!" he roared, flames erupting along his weapon as he charged in again.
But just like before, the moment the fiery strike met Raven's vortex, it was consumed entirely. Another ding echoed in Raven's head.
Ding! New Skill Acquired: Blazing Strike.
The instructor growled in frustration but didn't stop. He unleashed a flurry of skills, one after another:
Shadow Dash: absorbed.
Wind Cutter: absorbed.
Iron Guard: absorbed.
With each attack, Raven's aura seemed to grow darker, denser, as though it fed on the energy being drawn in. The ding sound repeated in his mind, and new skills added themselves to his repertoire. The instructor finally skidded back, breathing heavily, his expression a mixture of disbelief and awe.
"This… this isn't possible," he muttered, sweat dripping down his brow. "How can you just… absorb everything? What are you?"
The storm of grayish-black energy finally began to dissipate. Raven slowed his movement, and the swirling aura vanished completely. He stood still, his black coat unmoving, his crimson eyes glowing faintly.
Silence filled the training grounds as Raven lifted his gaze to meet the instructor's. His voice was calm, steady, and colder than ever:
"Status."
A glowing blue status screen appeared before him, detailing all his new acquisitions. Raven scanned the information, his expression unreadable.
New Skills Acquired:
Thunder Cleave
Blazing Strike
Shadow Dash
Wind Cutter
Iron Guard
Additional Traits:
Enhanced Mana Absorption
Raven nodded faintly to himself, satisfied with the outcome. Lowering his hands, he turned his attention back to the instructor.
"Let me end this," Raven said, his voice devoid of emotion.
The instructor, still panting and gripping his weapon tightly, managed a small, confident smile. "Alright, kid… let's see what you can really do."
Let it be continued...