Stepping into Sarahart felt like entering a different world. The city was alive, a vivid tapestry of colors and sounds that wove through every winding street, every bustling stall, and every sandstone building.

Houses stretched across the landscape, each a mixture of tan stones and flat rooftops. Painted tapestries decorated the surfaces, while pots filled with hardy desert flowers hung from windowsills.

“Look at this place!” Kael whispered, his eyes darting around. “It’s… it’s like a whole new realm.”

Mira laughed, running ahead to get a closer look at a stand selling beaded jewelry. “I think I’m in love with this city already!”

Even I couldn’t resist the wonder of it all. Camels loaded with goods walking through the streets, their bells clinking softly with each step. Sleek, wild-looking cats lounged under shaded awnings, blinking lazily at us as we passed.

Around the west southern edges of the city, lush trees marked the path of the river, a shock of green against the dusty, tan hues. The river cut through the city, a blue vein of life that somehow made everything feel more vibrant.

We wandered through the maze of stalls, each corner brimming with something new. Vendors called out to us, urging us to try roasted nuts and spiced meat skewers. Sylas pulled me toward a stand selling tiny, delicate charms made of hammered metal and colored glass.

“Here!” she laughed, pressing a small silver charm into my hand. “A reminder of this place.”

I shook my head, grinning. “Don’t we have enough reminders by now? Look, Mira is already carrying three new sundries.”

Mira just shrugged, her hands full of colorful scarves and small bottles of spices. “It’s not every day we get to see a place like this.”

With the sun dipping lower into the horizon, the golden light cast long shadows across the streets. After a long day of battling through the Sea of Glass, exhaustion clung to us like a second skin, but there was no time to rest. We had come all this way for a reason.

Our footsteps echoed against the stone roads as we made our way toward the Adventurers’ Guild headquarters—a building that stood like a titan in the heart of the market district. Unlike the smaller guild branches scattered across different cities, this was the center of adventuring affairs in this continent.

The building was built from polished sandstone, its structure both ornate and imposing, with towering pillars lined with swirling carvings of mythical beasts and legendary warriors. Each intricate detail told a story—epic battles fought, creatures slain, and adventurers who had carved their names into history. It was a place where reputations were made and broken, where the greatest warriors, mages, and explorers had once stood, seeking glory, riches, or simply survival.

The massive double doors at the entrance bore elaborate engravings of past adventurers, their weapons raised in triumph, as if welcoming all who entered to claim a legacy of their own.

As we stepped inside, the sheer grandeur of the hall struck me.

Banners of various guilds lined the walls, each embroidered with unique sigils—some in deep blues, others in vibrant reds or rich purples. They were the marks of powerful adventuring parties, symbols of brotherhood, camaraderie, and conquest.

The hall was alive with activity.

Adventurers sat around long wooden tables, some studying weathered maps, others boasting about their latest quests over mugs of ale. A few were sharpening weapons, adjusting armor, or trading stories about battles fought in faraway lands.

A large mission board stood against the far wall, covered in parchment and notices. Some were requests for monster extermination, others called for escort missions or dungeon explorations. The scent of parchment, ink, sweat, and ale mixed in the air, the very essence of an adventurer’s life.

But we weren’t here for quests. We were here for answers.

I approached the receptionist’s desk, clearing my throat.

“Excuse me,” I began, keeping my voice steady. “I’m looking for someone. Have you seen anyone matching this description?”

The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with dark brown hair tied neatly behind her head, gave me a polite but measured look. Her eyes flickered with curiosity, but she didn’t interrupt.

I took a deep breath and began describing my mother and sister, giving every detail I could recall—the color of my mother’s hair, the softness of her features, my sister’s bright eyes, and the way she always clung to my side when we were younger.

She listened, nodding occasionally, but when I finished, she sighed and shook her head.

“Sorry, can’t say I have. Maybe try asking around?”

Frustration curled in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm.

“Alright. Thank you.”

I stepped away, turning to my friends.

“We should try asking the adventurers,” I said.

Kael nodded, already scanning the room. He was better than me at handling people, and I knew that. While I had learned to communicate well enough, Kael had a way of getting people to talk, especially if they were reluctant.

We began moving from table to table, repeating the same questions over and over again.

“Have you seen anyone matching this description?”

“No, sorry, kid.”

“Can’t say I have.”

“Never seen ‘em.”

Each time, I clenched my fist a little tighter.

Kael, ever patient, kept trying. He bought a round of drinks for a small group of seasoned adventurers, hoping to loosen their tongues. They were friendly enough, willing to trade stories, but none of them had seen or heard anything useful.

Sylas even tried using a bit of magic, weaving an illusion of my mother and sister’s likeness to show the adventurers, but it didn’t help. The responses remained the same—shrugs, polite apologies, and blank looks.

Mira watched me carefully, her lips pressed into a thin line. She could tell I was getting frustrated, but she didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to.

Kaldor, standing beside her, crossed his arms. “This place is too big,” he muttered. “Even if they’re here, finding them will take more than just asking around.”

I sighed. He was right.

After what felt like hours, we finally stopped searching. My throat was dry from repeating the same words, my patience frayed.

With a heavy heart, we left the guildhall and made our way back to our inn, the weight of another dead end pressing down on me.

Another day gone. Another failure.

But I wasn’t going to stop.

Not until I found them.

With a sigh, I turned toward the exit of the Adventurers’ Guild headquarters, my mind still stuck on the lack of leads. The idea of pinning up a notice about my family was the only thing I could do for now.

But just as I reached the door—

I crashed into someone solid, like hitting a walking wall of muscle. My back hit the floor before I even had time to process it.

“Damn,” I muttered, rubbing my shoulder.

The bulky man I had run into barely stumbled, but his thick brow furrowed as he looked down at me. “Hah?! You tryna trip me up, kid?”

I quickly stood up, dusting myself off. “Sorry about that,” I said, keeping my voice calm.

His frown deepened. “Tch. Bad luck just keeps followin’ me today, huh? First, I lose my best dagger, then my food gets stolen by some damn desert fox, and now this? You just ruined my streak, brat.”

His four teammates stood behind him, each of them looking between us.

I blinked. He seriously believed bumping into me was bad luck?

Kael raised an eyebrow. “You’re blaming him for your own misfortune?”

“Yeah, got a problem with that?” The man crossed his arms.

Sylas sighed, stepping forward with her hands on her hips. “Alright, that’s ridiculous. He already apologized. Let’s not turn this into something it isn’t.”

The man scoffed, but one of his teammates clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, Boren, drop it. Let’s not waste our energy before the big moment.”

Boren grumbled but relented. “Fine, whatever.” Then his expression shifted, and a grin broke through his previous irritation. “It’s not like I’m gonna let this ruin the day anyway.”

His team exchanged looks before, all at once, they pounded their fists against their chests and shouted in unison—

“The Crimson Drakes never stop rising!”

Their voices echoed through the guild hall, drawing the attention of nearby adventurers.

I stared at them, a little taken aback. Were they hyping themselves up?

Mira leaned closer, whispering, “That’s… oddly passionate.”

Kaldor crossed his arms, watching them carefully. “They’re determined.”

Boren smirked at us. “You brats wouldn’t understand, but today’s the day we finally crawl outta the bottom ranks. No more killing weak beasts for scraps. No more being backup in dungeons. We’re ranking up.”

Something stirred in me at his words.

Kael narrowed his eyes. “They’re Low rank too, huh?”

Sylas exhaled through her nose. “Lucky. They already got their chance.”

I watched as they strode toward the reception desk, their confidence practically radiating off of them. Their energy was infectious, in a way.

“…What do you guys think?” I asked after a moment.

Kael scoffed. “What do you think? We’ve been stuck doing easy missions for too long. We could take the test too.”

Mira bit her lip. “It’s true that we’ve grown stronger since we first started. We should be doing more than just… cleaning up after stronger parties.”

Kaldor nodded. “I won’t lie—I want a challenge.”

Sylas crossed her arms. “If they’re ranking up, then why not us? We’ve been stuck at D-rank for too long.”

The more I listened to them, the more I felt it too.

We weren’t weak anymore.

And if we were going to get stronger, then we needed to move forward.

I turned back toward the receptionist's desk.

“Let’s do it.”

The receptionist smiled brightly when I asked about ranking up.

“Oh, I was hoping you’d ask!” She clapped her hands together. “You see, rank-ups aren’t just given out. You have to pass a test.”

“That much we figured,” Kael said. “But what does it involve?”

“It depends! The test will measure your strength, and if you qualify, your rank will be adjusted accordingly.”

She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. “Sometimes you fight against monsters, other times you fight an examiner. Here at the headquarter, we have a proper testing area, unlike smaller guild branches.”

“Monsters and Examiner?” I repeated.

She chuckled at our reaction. “Oh, don’t look so nervous! The monsters are mid-rank at best some D-rank or C-rank. But they go in groups so it can be qThe examiners are some of the strongest adventurers in the city—or rather, in the entire continent. They aren’t S-rank, but…” She grinned playfully. “They’re still plenty tough.”I felt a lump form in my throat.

“So… if they’re not S-rank, what rank are they?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

The receptionist giggled at our expressions. “Ohhh, don’t look so nervous~” she teased. “The examiners are some of the strongest adventurers in the city—or rather, in the entire continent! They aren’t S-rank, but…” She leaned forward slightly, grinning. “They’re still plenty tough.”

Kael exhaled sharply. “Great.”

“As for the monsters,” she continued, tapping her pen against her chin, “they’re usually mid-rank, some D-ranks some C-ranks. But they come in groups—which means some of them end up being just as dangerous as A-rank threats when they work together.”

Mira frowned. “So we could be dealing with swarms of monsters at A-rank strength?”

“Pretty much!” she said cheerfully.

“Fantastic,” Sylas muttered.

The receptionist waved a hand dismissively. “Ohhh, don’t worry~ You won’t be completely on your own! There will be seasoned A-rank adventurers watching over you to make sure no one dies or anything. If things get too crazy, they’ll step in.”

“Step in after we get our butts kicked,” Kaldor grumbled.

I sighed, adjusting my scarf. “Alright. No backing out now.”

The receptionist beamed. “That’s the spirit!”

Though, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

The stories my parents told me about their adventuring days came to mind. My dad, Michael Caddel, was supposedly an S-rank adventurer, and my mom had been A-rank.

I had always wondered how much of it was real and how much of it was exaggeration.

“Ohhh, you guys picked a great place to rank up!” she chirped, beaming. “Sarahart City is legendary for its adventurers! I mean, we’ve had some of the craziest, most over-the-top people walk through these doors.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Like who?”

She gasped dramatically as if I had just asked the most exciting question in the world. “Oh-ho-ho! You have no idea! Let’s see… There was the Stormfang Brigade, right? They once got lost in a mana-infused thunderstorm for three whole days and somehow tamed a Sky Serpent instead of dying!”

Mira blinked. “Wait. Tamed?”

“Yup! That thing still flies around their airship to this day.” She wiggled her fingers in the air as if mimicking a flying serpent. “And don’t get me started on the Crimson Suns—those maniacs fought an entire wave of dungeon-born revenants with just three people because the rest of their team got knocked out before the fight even started. And guess what? They won.”

Kael crossed his arms. “Sounds like recklessness, not talent.”

“Heyyy, recklessness and talent aren’t mutually exclusive!” she giggled. “Then there was Dawnfire Vanguard—ohhh, they were huge! About… twelve or thirteen years ago? They slayed a wandering Sand Wyvern that was terrorizing merchant routes in a single coordinated strike! BAM! Right through the heart!”

That caught my attention.

“Dawnfire Vanguard…?” I echoed slowly.

She nodded eagerly. “Oh yeah! Top-class adventuring party. They were absolute monsters, and I mean that in the coolest way possible! Their leader? One of the fastest swordsmen of his time! People still talk about how he once dueled a warlord from the Southern Isles and walked away without a scratch!”

I froze.

Mira furrowed her brows. “That sounds… kind of fake.”

“Hey! It’s all documented!” she insisted, puffing her cheeks. “Just because something sounds impossible doesn’t mean it didn’t happen!”

Sylas nudged me with her elbow. “Hey, Duke… didn’t your dad’s party have that name?”

I didn’t answer, still stuck processing.

Wait. WAIT.

My dad was the leader of that Dawnfire Vanguard?! The one they were talking about so casually, like a legend of the past?!

The same dad who whines about paperwork and sneaks extra desserts when Mom isn’t looking?!

Kael smirked at my face, clearly amused. “Processing?”

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. “I just… I can’t picture it.”

The receptionist suddenly gasped. “Oh my gosh, am I rambling again? I totally am! Sorry, sorry! I just love talking about old adventurer stories!” She waved her hands frantically before leaning forward with a sly grin. “Aaaanyway~ Do you guys still wanna take the rank-up test, or do you need a minute to let that all sink in?”

I snapped out of it. “No, we’re good. Let’s do this.”

She clapped her hands together, grinning. “Alrighty then! I just need your nametag real quick.”

I pulled my bag off my back, unzipping a side pouch where my stone nametag was neatly stored. I set it on the table, and she picked it up, flipping it over to read the engravings.

She hummed. “Rising Dawn… D-rank… and the leader is… Duke… Caddel.”

She froze mid-sentence.

Her head slowly turned toward me, eyes wide. I simply smiled.

For a long moment, she just stared. Then she looked back at the tag. Then back at me. Then back at the tag.

“W-Wait.” She pointed at my face. “You’re… you’re Duke Caddel? As in Caddel Caddel?!”

Sylas snickered. “Yup.”

The receptionist sputtered, looking completely shook. “Wha—hold on—what?! What are you doing here?! And as an adventurer?! And—wait, are you actually—”

She caught herself, quickly slapping a hand over her mouth before shaking her head vigorously.

“Nope! Not asking that! Not my business! Haha!” She forced a very awkward laugh, then immediately pretended nothing happened, clearing her throat and writing something on a note.

I smirked but didn’t say anything.

Once she finished scribbling, she slid my nametag back toward me. “W-Well! There’s one testing slot available right now! And you guys will be facing an examiner.”

“An examiner?” Mira repeated.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Mhm!” The receptionist beamed. “He’ll be leading you to the testing area!”

A deep voice suddenly cut in from our left.

“Indeed I will.”

We turned—and standing there was a tall, armored man, watching us with calm amusement.

“Well then,” he said with a slight smile, “let’s see if Rising Dawn is ready for the next rank.”

As we followed the examiner through the hallway, I took a better look at him. He had a lean build, a bit taller than most people I’d seen, with short white-yellow hair. His face was noticeably young—almost too young for his physique. He carried a sword at his hip, but there was something about him that felt… strangely harmless?

"Ah, before we get too far," he spoke up, turning to us with an easygoing smile. "I almost forgot introductions! That would’ve been awkward, huh? Name’s Soren Valtier! I’ll be your examiner for today, so let’s all get along!"

I exchanged glances with my friends before nodding. "I’m Duke Caddel."

Soren blinked at my name, his friendly smile faltering for a brief second. His eyes flickered with recognition, much like the receptionist’s reaction earlier.

“Caddel?” he repeated, tilting his head. “Remind me of someone… Oh, are you related to Mich…...”

I just smiled. “It’s not that important.”

He gave me a curious look but didn’t push the topic. Instead, he turned to my friends, who introduced themselves in turn. Except for Kael said that he has personal excuses for not saying his last name, the introduction was smooth.

Soren nodded enthusiastically at each name. “Got it, got it! Nice to meet you all! Let’s have fun—uh, I mean, let’s take this test seriously, of course!” He gave us a thumbs-up, then turned back toward the hallway.

As we followed, my friends muttered to each other behind me.

"He looks too young, right?" Kael whispered.

"Maybe he’s just got good skin," Mira mused.

"Or maybe he's secretly a kid in disguise," Sylas said, narrowing her eyes playfully.

Kaldor let out a thoughtful hum. “Or he’s just… really lucky?”

Soren must have overheard because he suddenly chuckled. “Oh, I get that a lot! People always think I’m younger than I really am.” He shot us a grin. “For the record, I’m eighteen! And in a few months, I’ll be turning nineteen.”

We all stopped in our tracks.

“Wait, seriously?!” Sylas blurted out.

He laughed again, nodding. “Yup! I know, I know. I get that reaction all the time too.”

We shook our heads in disbelief as we continued down the hallway, weaving past groups of adventurers. The place was as lively as ever, with banter, laughter, and the occasional argument filling the air.

As we walked, Soren continued talking, his voice light and casual.

“I started as an adventurer four years ago. My family was in debt to some noble house, and well… let’s just say things got pretty bad. I was lucky my parents managed to save me, but after that, I had to wander for a while. Empty streets, dangerous mountains, forests—you name it. Eventually, I became a one-man adventuring party.”

We all stared at him in surprise.

“A solo adventurer?” Mira echoed.

“There aren’t even ten of those in the entire guild,” Kael added.

Soren gave a small, sheepish smile. “Yeah, it wasn’t exactly easy, but I managed. I hit A-rank about a year ago, and by then, I’d saved up enough to get my parents out of debt. We live together on the outskirts of Sarahart now.”

“That’s… really impressive,” Kaldor said sincerely.

Soren rubbed the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. “Ahaha, thanks! But honestly, I still have a long way to go. I got noticed by some people after my rank-up, and I kept getting invited to high-rank parties, but I turned them down. I wanted to live with my family instead. Eventually, I started looking for a job and ended up here as an examiner.”

"That’s really thoughtful of you," Sylas said.

He grinned. "Well, I figured I should do something useful. I may be A-rank, but I’m still young and inexperienced compared to the real veterans. Plenty more to learn!"

After a few more turns, he stopped in front of a wooden door and pushed it open, revealing a staircase leading underground. The torches on the right side flickered as we descended.

“I gotta say, though,” Mira said as we walked. “Reaching A-rank in just four years? That’s incredible.”

Soren chuckled. “Thanks, but it’s not just about strength, you know? It’s about managing your risks, knowing your limits, and not dying. I actually hit A-rank a year ago, but my goal was never just rank. It was to help my family.”

We reached another door, and Soren pushed it open.

A wave of noise hit us.

The underground area was massive—more like a coliseum than a training ground. Stadium-like plots were fenced off with metal barriers, and inside them, adventurers were sparring, testing themselves against monsters, or training as a group. Betting and banter filled the air, making the place feel more like a festival than a testing ground.

“Not a lot of people take rank-up tests,” Soren explained, leading us through the area. “It gets harder the higher you go, so most people stick to what they know.”

As we walked, I spotted a familiar face. The bulky man I had bumped into earlier was in one of the fenced areas, his warhammer swinging upwards in a powerful arc. His opponent, a woman, dodged effortlessly and countered with a high kick, sending him staggering back.

A loud cheer erupted from nearby, and I turned to see a group of wild-looking adventurers practically howling.

“She’s amazing!” one of them declared.

“She’s the ideal woman!” another shouted.

Sylas leaned in, lowering her voice. “She’s young too.”

Soren nodded knowingly. “She is a terrible colleague, to say the least. She is kinda rude to everyone else. My other friends said that they are jealous of me for not being a Only two years older than me. She’s one of the most talented adventurers around. And before you ask—nope, no lovers or anything like that.”

“Why does that matter?” I asked flatly.

“Because some adventurers come here just to flirt with her,” he said with a sigh. “And anytime they try, she just knocks them down immediately.”

I turned back to the fight just in time to see her duck under the warhammer’s wide swing, her movements crisp and precise. The bulky man snarled, adjusting his grip, but she was already inside his range. With a sharp twist, she drove an elbow into his ribs, forcing him to stumble back.

His teammates rushed in to cover him—one with twin daggers, the other wielding a longsword. The woman didn’t even hesitate.

She sidestepped the dagger wielder’s lunge and caught his wrist mid-strike. A sharp twist and a firm yank sent him tumbling over her shoulder. Before he could recover, she stomped on his chest, forcing the air from his lungs.

The longsword user aimed a downward slash at her exposed back. Without even looking, she spun to the side, the blade grazing past her shoulder. Her leg shot up in a high kick, catching him square in the jaw. The impact sent him flying backward, crashing against the arena floor.

The warhammer-wielding leader had regained his footing, and with a roar, he charged at her, his weapon arcing down like a falling boulder. But she met his strike head-on—not with brute force, but with calculated precision.

She stepped in at the last moment, letting the hammer graze the ground beside her, and delivered a devastating palm strike to his chin. His head snapped back, and she followed up with a spinning kick, knocking him completely off his feet. He hit the ground with a heavy thud and groaned in pain.

Silence filled the air for a brief moment before a loud cheer erupted from the spectators.

The woman adjusted her sleeves, exhaling as she looked at the fallen adventurers.

“The Crimson Drakes,” she announced, her voice calm despite the exertion. “C-rank. Congratulations on ranking up after four tries.”

A mix of cheers and laughter filled the coliseum as the warhammer-wielding leader groaned, rubbing his chin. “Four tries, huh…? We really had to work for it…”

His teammates wheezed in agreement, still sprawled on the floor.

She wiped her sweat with a towel and walked out of the plot—only to be swarmed by more adventurers, all throwing out cringe-worthy pick-up lines. She ignored them, making her way toward us instead.

Soren waved casually at the woman standing on the training grounds, a teasing grin forming on his lips. "Hey, Laire, another successful suitor purge?"

Laire, the woman from before, rolled her eyes, adjusting the towel around her neck. "Don’t start with me, Soren."

I noticed the way some of the adventurers in the background were still whispering amongst themselves, their eyes practically glowing with admiration for her. One man, broad-shouldered with a messy beard, muttered, “Man… she’s incredible…” while another groaned, “I’d let her knock me out any day…”

I shuddered at that last comment.

Soren chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "What? I’m just saying—at this rate, they should start keeping count of how many love-struck fools you’ve flattened."

Laire let out a sharp sigh, rubbing her temple. “Do you ever shut up?”

“Not when I’m having this much fun,” he replied cheerfully.

She turned her attention to us then, scanning me and my friends with a curious glint in her eyes. “Who’s this?”

I took a step forward. “Duke Caddel. My friends and I are here for the rank-up test.”

For a brief moment, her eyes flickered with recognition at my last name, just like the receptionist and Soren had earlier. She didn't say anything about it, but I could tell she was surprised. Instead, she smirked and turned back to Soren. “You’re their examiner? Hah, I don’t know if they should be worried or relieved.”

Soren placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense. “Excuse you, I’ll have you know I’m an excellent examiner.”

Laire gave him a flat look. “Sure you are.”

Then, as if she just remembered something, she tilted her head, her smirk widening. “Oh, and by the way…”

Soren blinked as she suddenly leaned in.

“That little joke earlier? Real smooth.”

Soren tilted his head. “Huh? What joke?”

A faint tinge of pink dusted Laire’s face before she scoffed and shook her head. “Idiot,” she muttered, then turned and walked away, throwing her towel over her shoulder.

We all stood there in silence for a moment, processing what just happened.

Soren sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck. “Man, Laire’s kinda rude to her colleagues, y’know? She’s like that with almost everyone.”

Sylas raised an eyebrow. “Almost?”

“Yeah, for some reason, she treats me differently.” Soren crossed his arms, his lips pursing in frustration. “And I don’t even know why! It’s weird.”

Kael smirked. “Oh? And how does she treat you, exactly?”

“Well, she doesn’t call me an idiot all the time, but she’s still kinda rough on me. Like, with other people, she just ignores them or shuts them down immediately, but with me…” He trailed off, frowning. “Actually, I don’t know. It’s like she talks to me more, but also kinda looks annoyed? Almost like…” He let out a sigh. “Like she doesn’t like me.”

There was a brief silence.

Then, all at once, my friends and I exchanged glances.

We had one unanimous thought.

This guy… completely fumbled.

I sighed. I already felt bad for this guy. Michael had been teaching me about getting girls since I was a kid, and even from my own experience in last world, I knew Soren had just fumbled a golden opportunity.

Soren glanced between us, blinking. “What?”

Sylas was the first to speak. “Soren.”

“Yeah?”

“You are so dumb.”

Kael shook his head. “No, seriously. Do you hear yourself?”

Mira pinched the bridge of her nose. “I think you just lost a battle you didn’t even know you were fighting.”

Kaldor nodded firmly.

I rubbed my temple, looking down to the ground while tapping my right foot. “Let me get this straight—you’re upset because she doesn’t treat you like she does everyone else?”

“Well, yeah!” Soren threw up his hands. “I mean, if she’s treating me differently, that means she doesn’t like me, right?”

Another round of silence.

Sylas groaned, placing a hand on his forehead. “This is painful.”

Kael muttered under his breath, “I almost feel bad for him.”

Mira crossed her arms. “Almost.”

Soren frowned, looking genuinely confused. “Am I missing something here?”

I sighed again, patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, man. You’ll figure it out one day.”

He squinted at me suspiciously. “Why does this feel like you all know something I don’t?”

We all nodded in unison.

“Because we do,” Sylas said dryly.

Soren still didn’t seem convinced, but he shook his head and clapped his hands. “Alright, whatever! Enough about my problems—time to get this test started.”

He stepped back into position, cracking his knuckles. “Hope you guys are ready, ‘cause I don’t go easy just ‘cause you’re kids.”

I exhaled slowly, tightening my grip on my sword. Right. Time to focus.

This guy might be an airhead when it comes to feelings, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t strong.

Soren stretched his arms, a confident smirk tugging at his lips. “Alright, you guys better come at me all at once.”

I frowned. “Why?”

Before I could even process the question fully, he waved his hand and cut me off. “Because if you don’t, you’ll lose right away.”

Sylas, Kael, Mira, Kaldor, and I shared a glance. None of us even bothered to question him further. We already knew the answer.

Without hesitation, we drew our weapons and took formation—our usual formation.

Kaldor stood at the front, gripping his hammer in one hand and raising his shield with the other. His role was simple: hold the line and be the fortress we built our attack around. Behind him, Sylas stood poised with her magic wand, the one me and my family gifted her for her fifth birthday, prepared to cast long-range spells and disrupt enemy movements. I stood beside Kael, both of us flanking Sylas, ready to intercept threats while also striking at openings. Mira took position in the back, her wand at the ready, supporting us with healing and barriers.

It was a basic but reliable formation. Tried and tested.

Soren, on the other hand, simply smiled at our positioning. He casually adjusted the scabbard of his sword, looking way too relaxed for someone about to fight five people at once.

“Alright, let’s get started,” he said, counting down.

“Three… two… one—”

The moment he reached zero, he vanished.

Kaldor gasped. “Where—?!”

Before he could finish, a sudden impact came from above. His instincts kicked in just in time, raising his shield to block a downward strike. But instead of a proper sword strike, it was—

“The scabbard?” I muttered, watching as Soren’s sword remained sheathed, yet the force of his attack still made Kaldor skid back.

Kaldor gritted his teeth, swinging his hammer toward him, but Soren ducked, evading effortlessly. Instead of counterattacking Kaldor, he used the opening to thrust straight toward Sylas.

Through Kaldor.

Sylas’ eyes widened, unable to react fast enough.

Mira’s hands glowed as she swiftly conjured an Earth Wall between them, barely managing to stop the strike in time.

I took my chance. Kael and I lunged at Soren from opposite sides.

But Soren’s strike toward Sylas—was a feint.

Using the momentum of his halted attack, he roll forward and—

His feet shot out, slamming straight into Kael’s and my faces.

“Gah—!” I barely managed to twist my body midair, landing on my feet, while Kael tumbled backward.

He’s targeting Sylas first. That much was obvious. Disarming the mage always made the rest of the battle easier.

As Soren rolled forward, ready to strike Sylas again, Sylas reacted quickly. A sudden gust of wind erupted beneath her, propelling her across the battlefield before Soren’s attack could land.

Soren let out a small chuckle. “Not bad.”

I narrowed my eyes, watching his movements closely. He wasn’t going for lethal strikes—most of his attacks were meant for disarming or knocking us down. He was toying with us, seeing how long we’d last.

Mira rushed toward me and Kael, her hands glowing faintly as she healed our bruises. “You two alright?”

Kael exhaled sharply. “He’s way faster than I thought.”

Kaldor, meanwhile, charged back in to assist Sylas.

I gripped my swords, forcing myself to calm down. I needed to analyze—his movements, his footwork, his attack patterns.

I dashed forward, locking blades with him. With all my strength, I forced him down, pushing my weight into the strike.

For a brief moment, I thought I had him—

Then his hand snapped upward, slamming into my chin with a speed so fast I barely saw it.

I can’t even see his attacks…

Even with my battle aura enhancing my vision, his movements were nearly impossible to track. He was that fast.

Mira had to heal me again before running off to help Kael and Kaldor, who were struggling to keep up. Despite the overwhelming difference in skill, we weren’t completely helpless. Mira reinforced Kaldor’s shield with magic, allowing him to absorb heavier blows. Kael darted around Soren with impressive speed, striking at whatever openings he could find. Even Kaldor, despite the punishment he had taken, refused to go down without a fight, his hammer swinging with relentless force.

But Sylas—she was the one pushing herself the hardest.

She stood at the center of our formation, her wand glowing as she chanted spell after spell, refusing to let up. Every time Soren moved, she was already casting something to slow him down—a sudden gust of wind to throw off his balance, a flickering illusion to obscure his vision, bursts of fire to force him into a defensive stance. It was a desperate attempt to keep him from overwhelming us, and it almost worked.

Almost.

But Soren was relentless. With each attack, he picked apart our formation, dodging and countering with ridiculous ease.

I clenched my fists.

Even five against one, he had the upper hand.

I refocused, watching him carefully—the way he moved, the way he swung his sword, how he threw punches and elbows. His footwork was swift. Precise. His attacks were flowing effortlessly, like the wind.

Wait—

Wind…?

My eyes widened slightly. Winddance Blade.

The sword style focused on agility and precision, striking swiftly and unpredictably. It was fast—almost impossible to counter head-on.

I needed a strategy.

The chaos of the battle made it hard to think—until I overheard a passing comment.

“My boots are stuck in the mud…”

Mud. I smirked.

Gripping my swords tightly, I dashed toward my team, my mind racing for a way to shift the tide of battle. Soren had made it clear that brute force wouldn't work—he was faster, stronger, and far more experienced. If we wanted to win, we'd have to outthink him. Instead of attacking him head-on, I adjusted my approach and aimed a low slash toward his legs.

As expected, he reacted instantly. With a flick of his foot, he vaulted upward, balancing on the flat of my blade for the briefest moment before twisting midair. His body spun like a whirlwind, his heel cutting through the air in a devastating kick.

I barely managed to duck in time, feeling the rush of wind as his foot nearly clipped my head. But my attack wasn’t meant to hit him—it was a message. A signal.

Sylas caught on right away.

The battle raged on, our coordination improving slightly as we adapted to his overwhelming speed. But even with our best efforts, Soren stayed ahead, breaking through our defenses with ease.

Kael was the first to fall. A single, precise strike knocked his dagger clean from his grip, and before he could react, Soren spun and delivered a forceful elbow to his ribs, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Kaldor held his ground longer, blocking and absorbing Soren’s attacks with his shield. But even he wasn’t invincible. A swift feint baited him into raising his shield just a fraction too high—Soren exploited the opening immediately, stepping in and ramming his shoulder into Kaldor’s stomach. The impact forced him back, staggering him long enough for a follow-up strike to send him crashing onto his back.

Mira and Sylas tried to counter with a massive stone wall, hoping to stall Soren’s momentum. But it only bought them a second at most. Without hesitation, Soren clenched his fist and drove it straight into the barrier—shattering it with sheer force. The debris barely had time to settle before he surged forward.

Mira gasped as his leg hooked around hers, sweeping her feet from under her. She hit the ground hard, her wand slipping from her grip. Sylas tried to retreat, conjuring a burst of wind to propel herself backward, but Soren closed the gap instantly. One smooth motion and her wand was knocked aside—then a firm push sent her sprawling to the far end of the battlefield.

Just like that…

I was the only one left.

My heartbeat pounded in my ears, but I refused to let doubt creep in. Gritting my teeth, I charged forward, unleashing a relentless flurry of attacks. Twin swords clashed against his sheathed blade, the force of each impact ringing through my arms. But no matter how fast or unpredictable I tried to be, Soren countered everything effortlessly.

With just his scabbard.

Still, something changed. His footing wavered slightly. It was subtle—barely noticeable—but I caught it. His balance was off.

A slow grin spread across my face. It worked.

Unbeknownst to him, Sylas had quietly conjured a small patch of mud beneath his feet. It was almost unnoticeable at first, but as the fight dragged on, the slick terrain had begun to take effect.

Seeing my chance, I kicked his scabbard aside and swung my sword in a decisive strike—

Only for his bare hand to catch the blade mid-swing.

I barely had time to react before his other fist slammed into my chest, knocking the breath from my lungs. The force sent me flying backward, my vision blurring as I skidded across the dirt.

Everything fell silent.

With all five of us down, Soren exhaled and casually pulled his foot free from the mud pit. “Alright, let’s call it a day.”

A few guild healers arrived, working swiftly to mend our injuries. Even after their magic dulled the pain, my body still felt like it had been hit by a carriage.

As we gathered in a loose circle, still catching our breath, Soren gave a satisfied nod. “You guys aren’t bad,” he admitted, before turning to each of us in turn. “Kaldor—solid defense, but you rely too much on brute force. Sylas—great support, but you need better mobility. Kael—you’re fast, but you hesitate at crucial moments. Mira—your reaction time is impressive, but don’t get too fixated on healing.”

Then he looked at me.

I met his gaze warily.

“You’re scary when you start thinking,” he said with a grin.

I frowned. “That was thinking?”

He laughed, shaking his head as he pulled out a slip of paper. With a quick scribble, he handed it to me. “Congrats. You guys are officially B-rank.”

I stared at the paper in my hands. A two-rank jump? Just like that?

Was B-rank easy to get, or was the gap between B and A-rank just that massive?

Soren extended a hand, and after a moment of hesitation, I shook it. “Seriously, though,” he said. “Not many people your age fight this well.”

“We just got lucky, If we fought you one on one, we would be destroyed right on your first move” I muttered.

He chuckled. “Luck or not, you’re promising. Maybe your team should join me and some seasoned adventurers tomorrow. You know, you can get some experience We’re excavating the Sunken Spire Labyrinth.”

I shook my head. “Sorry, but we’ve got personal tasks to take care of.”

“Alright, your loss.” He handed me another slip of paper. “Take this to the receptionist to update your ranks.”

I headed away from him before saying “Also, you should better talk to Laire, maybe you two sort things out”

With that, we parted ways.

As we walked through the guild hall, my friends couldn't stop talking about how ridiculously strong Soren was. Even Kaldor, who usually stayed quiet, muttered something about needing to train harder.

We arrived at the desk where the enthusiastic woman stayed and got out new rank. At first, she was surprised by how we jumped up 2 ranks and then rambling about maybe it had something to do with my genetics, but after that,t she just said sorry and handed us our nametag back.

To be honest, is my genetics that good? Is the Caddel family secretly a noble family? That would be a crazy plot twist. Or maybe I'm just overthinking. I'm just a little kid in this world, receiving acknowledgment through my dad's fame as a strong and well-known adventurer. I still have a long way to go... Not realizing the sun is setting down and the sky turning orange, I walked across the mission board.

I scanned through the listings, looking for something suitable. My eyes landed on one request in particular.

“Clearing an abandoned fortress north of Sarahart City,” I read aloud.

Sounded doable. It would be my first mission after ranking up.

I yawned, rolling my shoulders. “We’ll handle it tomorrow. For now—let’s get some rest.”