"Thanks for the exam, sir," he bowed.
Zion stepped away from the training hall, his breath still a little unsteady, but his eyes burned with resolve.
As he approached the reception desk, Helga was still frozen in place, her mouth slightly agape.
She hadn't moved an inch since the end of his duel with Vren.
"Miss Helga," Zion called softly, his tone respectful.
Helga's eyes snapped to him, still wide with disbelief.
"Y-Yeah?" she stammered, her voice uncharacteristically shaky.
"The rank-up process," Zion reminded her.. "Can we continue it?"
"Oh, right, right," Helga said, quickly gathering the necessary forms.
She glanced back at him, still struggling to process what she'd seen. Her eyes flickered with curiosity.
"You… you're not bad, kid. That's not something I'd expect from someone at Rank F."
Zion nodded but remained quiet as she scribbled down the required information.
"By the way," Zion asked, glancing toward the training hall. "Who is Vren?"
Helga's hand paused mid-write, and she gave him a look of surprise.
"You're telling me you didn't know?" She clicked her tongue, shaking her head.
"He's one of the strongest fighters here. Technically, he's just a guild staff member now, but he's a Rank A adventurer. He's done solo missions against ogres. People say he's strong enough to take on an S-rank monster if he's serious."
Zion's eyes widened for a moment.
"I see," he muttered, his gaze briefly turning toward the training hall's entrance.
Yes, he knew that if it had been a real sword, he would have already lost from that hit earlier. And that still wasn't his true strength.
"Lucky for you, he was only using a wooden sword," Helga added with a grin. "He's known for being ruthless with rookies, so don't think you're special. But…"
She leaned forward, her eyes sharp.
"You're not normal, Zion. Keep climbing, and maybe you'll surprise all of us."
Zion's lips twitched into a small smile.
"I'll do that."
After completing the necessary paperwork, Helga handed him his new adventurer's badge.
The polished metal had a "D" etched into its surface, signaling his promotion.
Zion stared at it for a moment before slipping it into his pouch.
"Congratulations, Rank D Adventurer," Helga said, a hint of pride in her tone. "If you're looking for your next step, check the Rank D quest board."
She pointed to a larger board across the hall, where Rank D adventurers were gathered, scanning for jobs.
Zion nodded. "Thanks."
He turned toward the board and began scanning it.
The quests were more dangerous now—monster hunts, escort missions, and investigations in areas known for beast activity. His eyes locked onto one in particular.
Quest: Hunt the Howling Lurker
Location: Shadelurk Woods
Objective: Eliminate 1 Howling Lurker
Duration: 5 days
Reward: 50 silver
Helga's voice called from behind him. "That's a tough one. Howling Lurkers aren't to be taken lightly. They're Rank D, but their speed is no joke. Think it over, Zion."
"I'll take it," he said, pulling the quest slip from the board.
Helga's face twisted into a concerned frown.
"Why are you in such a rush?" she asked softly, but Zion's gaze didn't waver.
He'd already started walking toward her to register the quest.
"I'm not wasting time," Zion replied, his tone quiet but firm.
Helga's eyes softened, and she processed the quest with a nod.
"Just don't push yourself too hard, alright?" she muttered as she stamped his quest slip and handed it back to him.
Once outside the guild, Zion's eyes wandered through the capital's streets.
The smell of baked bread, roasted meat, and fresh produce filled the air.
Merchants shouted about their wares, while children weaved through the crowd, playing tag. His stomach growled, and he glanced at his coin pouch.
With his newfound silver, he had some room to treat himself.
He stopped at a food stall run by an elderly woman, the sign overhead reading, "Ryn's Roasted Bites".
"What'll it be, young man?" the old woman asked, her smile warm but her hands quick as she flipped sizzling meat over a grill.
"What's the cheapest meal?" Zion asked, counting his coins.
"Grilled skewers, 1 silver for two sticks," she said.
Zion glanced at the skewers lined with chunks of seasoned meat and fresh vegetables. The smell was mouthwatering.
"I'll take two skewers," he said, handing her one silver coin.
The old woman handed him the skewers with a smile. "Eat well, kid. You're gonna need it."
Zion nodded and took a bite.
The burst of flavor from the tender meat and the subtle char of the grill hit him all at once. He ate slowly, savoring every bite as he walked toward the city's gates.
With his hunger satisfied, Zion set out for the Shadelurk Woods. The journey was a few hours on foot, but the path was clear.
The trees grew thicker as he approached, their branches interlocking like a web. The air grew colder, and the distant sounds of birds were replaced by eerie silence.
Zion's eyes stayed sharp, scanning his surroundings.
Crack.
A twig snapped to his left.
Zion's body tensed, and his fingers twitched with readiness.
A small, green-skinned creature with sharp teeth emerged from the bushes—a wild gremlin.
It hissed at him, crouching low like a predator about to pounce.
"Just one?" Zion muttered, stepping back.
His eyes narrowed as he crouched low, one hand pressing firmly against the ground.
He could feel the cold, rough texture of the soil beneath his palm.
A faint glow of magical energy pulsed from his fingertips, and the dirt began to shift.
The gremlin lunged, claws swiping the air.
Zion's foot shifted, and he sidestepped with practiced ease.
His hand remained on the ground as he focused his magic.
The dirt quivered, and with a sharp rise of his palm, a chunk of hardened mud shot upward, striking the gremlin's leg.
The creature stumbled, screeching in confusion.
Zion didn't waste a second.
He stood up and aimed the gremlin with his palm. He got a small stone and shaped it into a sharp point again and…
Bang!
The creature let out a final screech before collapsing to the ground, motionless.
Zion looked at his hand.
"Still weak," he thought.
He moved deeper into the woods.
As he did so, a growl echoed from ahead.
Zion's heart quickened.
He crouched low, slowly approaching the source. His eyes locked onto a figure moving between the trees—a large, wolf-like creature with glowing yellow eyes and a jagged scar on its face.
The Howling Lurker
Zion's grip on his dagger tightened as he crouched lower, muscles coiling like springs.