"The Hunt? What exactly is that?" Joe asked, his voice filled with newfound curiosity.
Sophia leaned forward, her tone steady as she explained. "It’s an event where adventurers compete against each other. It’s held annually in the capital of Tania. The King’s A-Rank Tools are the main prizes, which attract adventurers from far and wide. Others see it as an opportunity to gain Rank Points, money, or fame. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a rookie, The Hunt is something you can’t miss. In fact, Chloena participated in it last year."
Joe froze, her words hitting him like a thunderclap. He blinked in disbelief and took a step back. "I’m sorry... did you just say last year?" His eyes widened as the weight of the revelation began to sink in.
Sophia nodded without hesitation. "Yes. If I remember correctly, Chloena entered last year. She didn’t win, but her party, the Green Rabbits, is one of the most famous parties in the world. There was a lot of buzz about her involvement."
Joe stumbled back another step as if her words physically pushed him. "That’s impossible..." he muttered, his thoughts spiraling. "Earth was destroyed a little over a day ago. How could Chloe have been in Grisha a year ago? From the way Sophia’s talking, she’s been here for a while. Maybe even longer than just 1 year. But how?"
He clenched his fists, his mind racing in circles, drowning in questions with no clear answers. This doesn’t make sense.
"Syr, are you hearing this? How could any of this be possible? How could there be Outsiders from Earth who arrived here years before I did?"
[I Don’t Know. I Wasn’t Responsible For Their Transportation. My Responsibility Was To Guide You And You Alone. I Have No Information On When The Other Outsiders Arrived, Or Even Who They Are. You Have To Understand—We’re Dealing With Primeval Gods. When It Comes To Them, Anything Is Possible.]
Joe’s breathing quickened. If Chloe has been here for years, how much time has passed for the Outsiders? Was I the last one to be transported? His thoughts felt like an endless labyrinth.
[None Of This Matters Right Now. What Truly Matters Is That You’ve Found Your Sister. Isn’t That What You Wanted? If She Will Be There, Then Go To The Hunt. You Can Ask Her These Questions Yourself.]
Syr’s words were grounding, and Joe’s breathing began to steady. His mind cleared just enough for him to refocus.
"You’re right, Syr. I just need to find Chloe. Everything else can wait. She’s what’s important right now."
[Exactly. And Participating In The Hunt Will Also Significantly Increase Your Power.]
Joe sighed, not surprised in the slightest by Syr's words. "Of course. I should’ve known that was your real motivation for encouraging me. You just couldn’t resist, could you? I think we're done here Syr." With that, their mental link was severed.
Joe’s gaze settled on Chloe. “How would you feel about going to The Hunt?” he asked, excitement lighting up his face.
Shelly glanced up. “You’re the leader, aren’t you? I’ll follow your lead. Whatever path you think is right, that’s the one we’ll take.”
Joe grinned broadly. “Then it’s decided—we’re going to The Hunt!”
“I wouldn’t get too excited just yet,” Sophia interjected. “You still need to get yourself registered.”
Joe tilted his head, curiosity piqued. “You’re right. So, what do I need to do, exactly?”
Sophia smiled lightly. “Not much, really. I’ll just scan your card, and you’ll be good to go.”
Joe let out a relieved sigh. For a moment, he’d braced himself for some kind of dangerous initiation. After everything he’d seen in Grisha, nothing seemed off the table.
“Open the Guild’s Registration Window,” Sophia said softly.
A glowing blue screen materialized before her, its design reminiscent of Syr’s Window. Sophia began typing into it, as if filling out a form. In her hand was a sleek blue pen that seemed to have appeared alongside the screen. From his angle, Joe couldn’t make out what was written; only Sophia could see and interact with the contents.
Did everyone in Grisha have a Syr? Were these Windows a common part of life here? And what exactly distinguished a Guild Window from an Attribute Window? Joe’s curiosity deepened.
[You Have Been Registered To The Adventurer’s Heaven Guild]
[Welcome, Adventurer Joe]
[Your Ranking Within The Guild Is 3000]
[+1000 Exam Tokens Have Been Added To Your Inventory]
[Your Academy License Has Been Added To Your Inventory]
[Achievement Unlocked: Registered]
• Condition: Become A Registered Adventurer As An Outsider.
• Reward: 5,000 Rank Points
[Rank Up Progress: 13 [6,000/15,000 Rank Points Required]
“And that’s it!” Sophia declared, beaming as she looked up.
Joe’s lips curled into a smile. Finally, he was officially registered, but the weight of a new revelation clouded his thoughts.
“So, I have 1000 Exam Tokens?” he asked cautiously.
“Exactly. Every adventurer starts with 1000 tokens for free. But to participate in the Adventurer Exams, you’ll need to gather the remaining 99 000 tokens,” Sophia explained.
Joe blinked, stunned. “Wait—there’s an exam? I thought registering was enough.”
“Don’t worry,” Sophia reassured him, her tone calm. “The exams won’t take place for a few months. You’ve got plenty of time to earn your tokens and prepare. The Hunt is one of the events where you can collect more tokens."
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
“Do I have to participate?” Joe asked. “In the exams, I mean.”
“Yes,” Sophia said firmly. “That’s where you’ll earn your official rank as an adventurer. It’s also where you’ll make an important decision.”
“Decision?” Joe echoed, leaning forward slightly.
“That’s where you’ll choose which of the Great Families you’ll serve for the rest of your life as an adventurer.”
Joe’s eyes darted to Shelly. At the mention of the Great Families, her entire demeanor changed. She began to tremble, her face pale and distant.
“Are you okay?” Joe asked softly.
“I’m fine,” Shelly muttered, though her shivering and the terror in her eyes said otherwise.
Joe frowned. It was clear she didn’t want to continue this conversation. He decided to let it drop and steered the discussion elsewhere.
"Sophia, help us get our party registered," Joe said with a smile, glancing at Shelly.
Shelly attempted a smile in return, but the tension from their earlier conversation still lingered in her expression.
Sophia nodded, and the blue screen form earlier materialized before her. A glowing pen appeared in her hand, and she began to jot down information with practiced ease.
"So, what will the party's name be?" she asked, her attention still focused on the screen.
Joe looked at Shelly thoughtfully. "I was thinking Mad Dogs or Deadly Roses."
Shelly couldn't suppress a giggle. She tried to cover her mouth, but the laughter spilled out anyway. "Why would you come up with weird names like those?"
"Our name should strike fear in the hearts of other adventurers!" Joe declared. "We need something that makes them surrender before the battle even starts. How about Mad Titans?"
Shelly shook her head, her smile softening. "I was thinking of something to honor Kite and the others. Our last name was Red Stars, remember? I wanted something similar. You remember what you said, don't you? That you'd let me see the stars one day."
Joe's expression grew serious for a moment. "Yeah, I remember—and I intend to keep that promise. Mark my words, our party will be the greatest in the world."
Shelly nodded, her voice steady. "That's why I came up with this name instead. How about The Rising Stars?"
Joe's face lit up. "That's perfect!" He turned to Sophia. "We'll go with that one, Sophia."
Sophia nodded again, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen. With a final tap, the glowing interface disappeared.
A radiant blue light enveloped both Joe and Shelly, their clothing shimmering brilliantly for a few moments before the glow faded. When the light vanished, their outfits had transformed. On Joe's cloak and Shelly's dress, a striking logo of five shooting stars was emblazoned. Beneath it, the guild's name, The Rising Stars, was displayed in bold white letters.
[Achievement Unlocked: First Party]
• Condition: Establish Your First Party As An Outsider
• Reward: 5,000 Rank Points
[Rank Up Progress: 13 [11,000/50,000 Rank Points Required]
Joe and Shelly exchanged pleased looks before sharing a smile.
"I think we're ready to go," Shelly said as she got up from her seat.
"Before we leave, can you help us with some potions? Our mana is low, and we've just been through one hell of a fight," Joe asked Sophia.
"Let me check..."
Sophia reached under the counter and placed four bottles on the surface. Two of them contained a green liquid, while the other two held a vibrant blue.
"These are two healing potions and two mana potions. They aren't exactly my finest stock—my supplier is coming tomorrow with a much better batch. But these should suit you just fine if you use them wisely."
"We'll take them! How much?" Joe asked eagerly.
"That would be 5,000 gold pieces each," Sophia replied with a calm smile.
"Are you insane?" Joe's voice rose in disbelief.
"What? You guys are adventurers. I'm actually being generous here. Normally, I price them at around 15,000 each, but I'm giving you a discount."
Joe glanced nervously at Shelly. "Uh... can you pay up? I'm kind of broke right now."
Shelly let out a sigh. "That's your first act as the leader of a party? This party is in trouble, isn't it?"
Joe laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Shaking her head, Shelly paid the hefty sum, handing over the gold with a reluctant sigh. Both of them took one healing potion and one mana potion each.
Shelly immediately downed her mana potion, feeling its revitalizing effects kick in. She then activated her [Regeneration] skill, soothing her tired body and healing any lingering minor injuries. With a touch, she used the same skill on Joe, bringing him back to full strength.
Meanwhile, Joe carefully stored his potions, slipping them into his inventory.
The two of them headed toward the exit of the guild, their figures drawing the attention of every pair of eyes in the room.
[You Have Stored +1 Mana Potion And +1 Healing Potion In Your Inventory]
As they disappeared from view, a single thought lingered in Sophia's mind, one that had been nagging her this entire time.
"That kid... no, it couldn't be. If it is, then the world is just too cruel. For your sake, Joe, I hope my suspicions are wrong. Because if they're not, your heart will undoubtedly be plunged into darkness..."
[Outside Of Perina]
Joe and Shelly pressed forward, leaving the guild and the town of Perina behind. Their goal was clear, reach the Capital as quickly as possible.
"How long do you think it’ll take us to get to the Capital?" Joe asked, casting a sidelong glance at Shelly as they walked.
"If we’d taken a Mana Beast Carriage, it would’ve been a day at most. But that’s way too expensive for me right now," Shelly replied with a sigh. "Our best option is cutting through the Forest of Nightmares and the Scorching Cave Dungeon. It’s riskier and will take longer, but we don’t have much of a choice."
"Then let’s do it," Joe said with a grin.
It wasn’t long before they arrived at the Forest of Nightmares, its proximity to Perina a grim convenience.
The tall trees swayed in the wind, their dark silhouettes creaking ominously. The sound reminded Joe of the Black Forest, and the fact that it was nighttime only made the scene more unsettling.
The two exchanged a glance, then stepped forward into the forest’s shadowy depths.
"How many tokens have you collected for the exams, Shelly?" Joe asked, his tone casual despite their surroundings.
"I’ve coll—"
"Stay sharp, Shelly. Someone’s here," Joe interrupted, his eyes scanning their surroundings. His voice dropped to a whisper. "There—on the left."
Joe’s gaze locked onto a faint figure, its glowing Mana Signature betraying its position.
"Syr,"
In a flash, Joe’s sword materialized on his back. He unsheathed it in one fluid motion.
[You Have Activated The Black Sheep's Skill (Enhanced Charge]
[+20 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes. (Total:68)]
Joe bolted toward the source of the mana signature, leaping into the air and aiming for the treetops. He gripped his blade tightly, his focus unwavering.
For a brief moment, he saw the figure clearly—a thin man with messy red hair. But before Joe could fully process what he saw, a sudden burst of light flared above him.
[Branch Skill: Flaming Fist]
A second figure descended from above. It was a red-haired youth clad in a crimson cloak, his right fist crackling with flames.
Joe barely managed to raise his sword in time. The fiery punch slammed into his blade, unleashing a wave of fire that sent him hurtling to the ground. He crashed into the dirt and slid, coming to a halt against a tree near Shelly.
"Joe!" Shelly cried, her voice sharp as her eyes scanned the shadows, searching for the second attacker Joe had warned about.
From the branches above, the figure Joe had glimpsed leaped down, descending with a predatory grace. Flames erupted from his right hand, licking up his arm, while the twin red bracelets on his wrists glowed with an eerie intensity, pulsing in rhythm with his movements.
Just as he raised his hand to unleash his skill, his confident smirk faltered. Shelly was gone. His eyes darted wildly, only to catch a flicker of motion—she reappeared at his flank, her staff swinging in a deadly arc.
Instinct took over, and he twisted, using the tree trunk as leverage to propel himself away just in time.
Shelly’s staff slammed into the tree with explosive force, sending shards of bark flying and leaving a deep, jagged crack where her target had stood moments before.
As she landed smoothly, Joe was already back on his feet, brushing dirt from his shoulder as though shrugging off the earlier blow.
Side by side, they faced their foes. The attackers stepped fully into the light, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Joe’s sword caught the faint glow, while Shelly gripped her staff with a fierce determination.
Joe’s scowl deepened, his voice cutting through the tense air like steel. "Who the hell are you?"