[Knight Training Facility, Jingshi Island, Tzu Empire]
As Greem descended the stairs of the family castle, he discovered a sight he had not witnessed for decades.
The magnificent garden was taken care by an army of gardeners and servants loyal to the family. Scent of flowers entered his nose, compelling his heart to beat with excitement. The sky, soon-to-be riddled with aerial monsters and dragons, was in an azure blue colour devoid of any danger. The land, soon-to-be replaced by an arid and red colour from necromancers' toll, was green and covered in trees, flowers and manmade infrastructures such as paved roads similar to antique romans.
It was beautiful. Pleasing. Calm.
Feelings he had not experienced for decades.
In this lifetime, he was free.
"Young Master, are you sure to go through the trial again?", the operating magic engineer spoke
She was Anna Belle.
[Anna Belle - B-rank Magic Engineer]
Although she did not hold a combat role, she played a vital role in the Knight family, and held the title of 'Elder' in the Knight guild, a role that only five people possessed including her. All of that, despite her relative young age, as she was only twenty two years old.
Hunters were ranked between E and S-rank, although four SS-rank hunters would appear in the future. Each rank referred to overall attribute stats power. The higher they were, the stronger the hunters would be.
Of course, a higher rank hunter was not necessarily stronger, since skills also mattered. But at equal skill, the higher rank hunter would win ten times out of ten.
As a B-rank Magic Engineer who manufactured hundreds of golems for the Knight Guild and protected cities and roads all by herself, Anna possessed tremendous influence in the Knight family compound.
It was funny how a single rank of power could shift people's rank and influence. Albert could only work as a teacher and advisor, as well as main butler, whereas Anna was holding the most prestigious seat an outsider could have in the Knight Guild. Wealth, glory, political power...They were completely different.
"Yes, Anna. I would like to challenge a D-rank golem", Greem spoke with some boredom.
The past Greem had failed miserably the last time he had challenged the golem, and if he followed his past footsteps, it would take him one more year before beating the trial his father had set up. However...
Greem was a veteran.
Even the patriarch, an A-rank hunter recognized by the emperor himself, was nothing in his eyes.
Greem had the experience, the skills, and the battle sense of an S-rank who witnessed the fall of humanity, and prevailed where SS-ranks failed.
Calling a D-rank golem a trial with his current attributes, though challenging for regular D-rank warriors, was a simple task for him.
Entering the underground arena and accompanied by Anna, Greem wore his set of equipment.
[Knight Guild n°38 Series Armour Set - C-rank
An armour set representing the Knight Clan, crafted by the master craftsman Anna Belle. Light but dense, the armour can help reduce the impact of blunt weapons significantly and provide slight magical resistance. With high fusion temperature metals, it also provides heat resistance...]
[Polkar Jian Sword - B-rank
An impressive artefact retrieved in the Polkar Tomb Dungeon (B-rank), and restored by the master craftsman Anna Belle. Light and sharp, the sword possesses tremendous magic conductivity and possesses three enchants: [Durable], [Sharp] and [Cursed]. Against beasts, the blade will increase chances of inflicting [Bleeding] ailments to enemies by 50%, a rare high-rank curse]
As one of the three heirs of the Knight family who possessed a monopoly on the Jiangshi Island's dungeons and master craftsmen, Greem possessed artefacts that regular hunters could only dream of. The n°38 series Armour set crafted by Anna Belle was a set of armour pieces that only the five strongest attack squads could afford after years of dedication and contribution to the guild.
As for the Polkar Jian Sword, it had been a gift from the patriarch himself, after Greem had reached the D-rank on his fifteenth birthday. The sword alone could fetch dozens of millions of Imperial Credit Coins, a sum that regular B-rank warriors could not easily afford.
With such pristine equipment, losing against a mere golem was a ridiculous thought.
[N°112 Series Golem - D-rank]
Over two-meters tall, built in clay and possessing a humanoid form, the golem was indeed a tough opponent for newly advanced D-rank warriors. Without enough perception, locating its core was impossible, leaving no option besides cutting it down. Without enough agility, its relatively dangerous attacks could break bones like wooden sticks, making it dangerous. Without enough strength, cutting through its body of clay would prove difficult.
"I will activate the golem", Anna shouted in the interphone, a curved smile showing on her face
This was the first time she had felt such intensity from one of the Knight heirs...Even the elder brother, Arthur, never showed such confidence. And it came from the youngest, Greem!
However, nothing could have prepared her for the sight displayed on the monitor.
The figures displayed on the screen made no sense.