The appraiser sat at a plain metal desk in a dimly lit room filled with anxious chatter. People of all ages waited in a line that snaked around the room. Valor felt his palms sweat as he edged closer to the front of the line, his heart beating faster with each passing moment.
"NEXT!" The appraiser's sharp voice made several children jump in their seats.
Valor stepped forward; his chest puffed out with confidence. "S-Rank, right?" he asked with a smile.
The appraiser stared at him momentarily before sighing and reaching for a needle. Without warning, she pricked his finger, drawing a small drop of blood that dripped onto a metal card. Words began to engrave themselves onto the card.
Martial Class E-Rank - Apprentice Class: Sprinter
Valor's heart sank. "E-Rank? That's not right."
"You'll be going into the Scout program," the appraiser said with a pitying smile. "NEXT."
Valor gritted his teeth as he was pushed aside to make room for the next person in line. As he walked away, his fist dragged against the wall. Tears welled up in Valor's eyes as he left the appraisal room. The weight of his E-Rank classification felt like a crushing blow to his dreams. He walked along the street, staring at his phone screen as he checked it over and over, hoping to find some kind of mistake.
"This isn't right," he muttered to himself as he wiped away his tears.
Suddenly, an alert appeared on his phone: TOMB OPENED IN THE HEART OF BUSAN.
"A tomb?" Valor's eyes widened in excitement. The wind picked up around him, sending leaves and trash swirling through the air. Valor grinned as he realized the true potential of his Sprinter class. What would have been a forty-minute walk turned into just ten as he sprinted toward the location of the tomb.
As he arrived at the entrance, Valor was greeted by a deep stairwell made of cobblestone in the middle of an intersection. The only light came from ancient torches spaced a few meters apart, casting flickering shadows on the walls. No one else was around yet; the professionals were likely still on their way.
Valor ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. He was ready for this. "I'll make this a quick excavation," he said with a smirk as he put his hands in his jeans pockets and began walking down the steps.
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The air grew colder and damper as he descended deeper into the earth. The sound of his footsteps echoed off the walls, and the only other sound was the occasional drip of water. He could feel the weight of history all around him as he made his way toward whatever secrets lay hidden within the tomb.
Valor descended the steep stairwell, admiring the vivid frescoes depicting the metamorphosis of a human into a wolf. As he approached the imposing iron door guarded by two wolf statues, he noticed the inscription in Greek: Ανθρώπινο κρέας, μην τρως.
Without hesitation, he whipped out his phone, intending to search for the translation. But to his frustration, there was no internet connection. "Ah, screw it," he muttered, his impatience growing. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, finding himself in a grand hall.
Before him lay a bountiful feast with platters of succulent meats, crisp vegetables, and goblets of wine. The goblets were adorned with images of the gods, particularly Zeus, dining at a lavish banquet. A note lay beside the table.
Valor grabbed the note and chuckled. "Thanks for the meal!" he declared, filling his plate and enjoying a hearty, balanced meal. Between bites, he sipped the sweet, intoxicating wine, laughing to himself. His cheeks reddened, and he patted his stomach contentedly. "Always good to eat well before an adventure."
Continuing his exploration of the tomb, Valor found the walls closing in and the air growing colder. As he entered the next room, he encountered a wolf slumbering peacefully. He tiptoed silently, trying not to wake it, but the wine had made him tipsy. His eyes glazed over, and he stumbled, crashing into the ground and waking the wolf.
The wolf's eyes snapped open, and it glared at Valor, gnarling.
"An E-Rank Monster? No trouble!" Valor punched the wolf.
The wolf yelped in pain and lunged at Valor with its sharp fangs. Valor quickly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. He stumbled again but managed to regain his footing, his heart pounding in his chest.
The wolf growled and circled around him, looking for an opening. Valor held up his fists, ready to fight back. He knew he was no match for the wolf's strength and speed, but he wasn't about to give up.
The wolf charged at him again, but this time, Valor was ready. He ducked under the wolf's jaws and landed a solid punch to its stomach. The wolf howled in pain and backed away, giving Valor a moment to catch his breath.
But the respite was short-lived. The wolf came at him again, this time with more ferocity. Valor tried to dodge, but the wolf's claws caught his arm, drawing blood. He gritted his teeth and fought back, landing a punch to the wolf's snout. The wolf stumbled back, shaking its head in confusion.
Valor saw his chance and lunged forward, tackling the wolf to the ground. He pinned it down and delivered blow after blow, his fists pounding into the wolf's fur. The wolf fought back, clawing and biting, but Valor was relentless.
Finally, the wolf lay still, defeated. Valor stood up, panting and covered in sweat and blood. He had won the fight, but he was gravely injured. Even so Valor continued on.