Audi groaned, clutching his stomach. "I'm hungry!! I'm so upset—the meat from the Big Bad Wolf is gone!!"
Dodge approached with a smirk. "Hah! You really thought you'd get to eat all that?"
She laughed, then crossed her arms. "Listen, I've been thinking. Floor 5 is coming up. You and I should form a party."
Audi raised an eyebrow. "You serious?"
"Yeah. We fight well together, and, well... we're the only ones left from our group." Her voice was casual, but there was a weight behind it. "Besides, I wanna see what that summon trick of yours can really do."
Audi exhaled, considering. Before he could respond, Hundred stepped in. "Actually, you don't have to worry about the qualifications."
Audi turned to him. "What do you mean?"
Hundred crossed his arms. "The requirement for Floor 5 is already met. You needed to defeat any boss from Floors 1 to 3 with a party of five. Since you took down the Big Bad Wolf, you're in."
Audi smirked. "That easy, huh?"
Hundred shook his head. "Not quite. Floor 5 is different. It's the first real challenge for adventurers—because it's where you qualify for your first Job."
A ripple of reactions spread through the recruits nearby. Some murmured in excitement, while others exchanged uneasy glances.
Dodge's eyes lit up. "Wait, so if we pass, we finally get a class?"
"That's right." Hundred's expression darkened. "But you won't just be fighting monsters. My twin brother, Ninety, is the examiner. He'll decide if you're worthy of progressing."
A nervous hush fell over the group. One of the recruits muttered, "I heard only forty out of a hundred applicants actually pass..."
Hundred nodded. "That's right. The Floor 5 trial isn't just about skill. It's about mental strength, adaptability, and how well you handle pressure. Fail, and you're stuck grinding the lower floors—if you survive at all."
He glanced around at the recruits. "And then there are those who don't fight fair. Some applicants—especially the rich ones—hire mercenaries to fight for them. These aren't just random sellswords. They're adventurers who've already passed the first Job Trial. With the right price, they'll make sure their client gets through."
Dodge scoffed. "Figures. So money really can buy power."
Hundred's gaze hardened. "Maybe. But Ninety's not an idiot. He knows who relies on themselves and who hides behind others. Some mercenaries are strong enough to brute-force a trial, but anyone who can't hold their own won't last long in the higher floors."
Hundred let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, I need to report this to the Adventurer's Guild. A Floor 4 boss showing up on Floor 1 isn't normal—something's off."
Audi and Dodge exchanged glances.
Hundred turned back to them. "Before I go, I wanted to say—I see real talent in both of you. If you manage to pass the First Job Quest, consider applying to our clan, The 5th Power."
Audi raised an eyebrow. "Clan?"
"Yeah. Right now, there are nearly ten clans. Think of it like an adventurer's guild, but more tight-knit. You'll learn more after you pass the trial." Hundred handed them a small emblem with a wolf's insignia. "If you're interested, use this to find me."
Dodge smirked, flipping the emblem in her fingers. "Huh. Not bad."
Hundred nodded. "Alright, I gotta go. Need to report what happened on Floor 1 before things get worse." He turned and began walking away, leaving Audi and Dodge to prepare for the trials ahead.
Audi smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Well, I guess it's time to meet Ninety."
Hundred returned to the Adventurer's Hall, stepping through the towering entrance as the scent of parchment, ink, and steel filled the air. The hall bustled with adventurers—some boasting about their recent conquests, others huddled in quiet discussions.
He made his way to the front desk, where a receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman in a formal uniform, greeted him with a nod.
"Back already, Hundred? What's the report?"
Hundred crossed his arms. "A Floor 4 boss showed up on Floor 1. The Big Bad Wolf. It wasn't supposed to be there."
The receptionist's expression darkened. "That's not the only strange occurrence. We've received multiple reports about unusual activity on Floor 20. Something's happening up there, and the guild is considering an official investigation."
Hundred frowned. "What kind of activity?"
The receptionist glanced at a document before replying. "A party led by the three siblings, including Ford, reported encountering a Zombie Goblin. At first, it sounded like an exaggeration, but now, with the irregular boss spawn on Floor 1… this might not be a coincidence."
Hundred exhaled sharply. "A Goblin turning into a zombie… That's not natural. If undead are starting to appear in the Tower, then something—or someone—is behind it."
The receptionist nodded. "The guild is investigating. For now, stay alert. If Floor 4 bosses are showing up where they shouldn't—and with the Guild Chairman Uno and His entire party of Second-Class adventurers wiped out, leaving only Chairman Uno alive—there's no telling what else might happen."
Hundred tapped his fingers against the counter, his thoughts racing. After a moment, he muttered under his breath, barely loud enough to hear, "Yeah… really weird. Audi has a summoning skill—even though those are supposed to be for Second-Class advancements. There's something about that kid... and I don't think it's just luck."
He exhaled, shaking his head slightly. Second-Class skills at this stage… That shouldn't be possible.
Audi and Dodge were now preparing for the journey to Floor 5, anticipation and determination fueling their steps as they ventured forward.