Beast surges never last long, a few days at most then comes the pay out and recognition that comes with their conclusion as well as the memorials for the fallen.

The surges, when they happen, are always an exciting yet risky affair. Insurance companies get a lot of work as do the crafters, banks, markets, and guild for jobs. The hospitals get to ease their tempo back to the usual pace associated with user life.

Kyrain was no different. After the beast surge finally relented, he tore open one more rift to his bedroom. Many rifts and three or more casualty trips none as dangerous or as close as his first one, he had completely lost track of how many people he transported back and forth.

He knew it was hundreds not counting the casualty trips, but that was a problem for another day. He stripped out of his combat gear, showered, and was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He was awoken abruptly by his alarm....school.

He slowly dragged his body out of bed and got dressed. He was a total zombie of weariness as he trudged onto the bus.

"Good job during the surge Ky! Everyone is impressed with your place on the leaderboard for transport." The bus driver said excitedly, too excitedly for so early, but it got Kyrain's mind working a little faster. He nodded and found his seat pulling out his phone.

The guild had an app for tracking available jobs, stats, profile, and even leaderboard. Sure enough when he switched to the surge leaderboard tab he saw his name at the top of the transporters list and the number was staggering.

1. Kyrain Ekart: Earnings 798 C Rank Cores

Guild Award: Silver Wings first award

Personnel Transported: 734

Casualties Evactuated: 64

"Silver wings!" Kyrain exclaimed to himself. The guild silver wings was an award given to those who performed beyond expectation and came with a bonus guild sponsored cores per job by 2% per job. On top of his Initiate certification he would be making much more than your average guild member.

At school he was met with people smacking him on the back and congratulations. He felt like a hero, for a non combat role. He wondered if this is what his uncle Kody talked about when he was praised for his football and wrestling exploits. He always talked about the thrill of running out on the field on Friday nights under the lights.

School had changed so much since the bombs and the system that it had to become more adaptable. It was primarily in person, but the rest was online and by the end of the established year, each student had to pass the end of year exam with the topics published three months out. Some people couldn't go to school and caught in class lectures online where they were posted.

When he got to the guild later that day, he was super excited. He was brought into the guild award room and presented his first set of wings. Then he went to the front desk for his pay. Giving them back their travel pin scanner and they gave him his pay. Over 1000 C rank cores. They were converted into 10 B rank cores and a few C rank cores and sent to his account.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

He immediately went down to the crafters union. His new money was burning a hole in his pocket and he wanted to upgrade his weapon from the standard steel into something stronger.

Upon going through the door of the weapons shop, he was met by a huge gaggle of people. He should have known better than to go shopping right after the surge. He would pick this up later.

He headed back outside and decided to see if mom wanted to go out for dinner. He tore a rift to her office. Conveniently enough, his mom was grabbing her jacket and was about to leave.

"You ready to head home?" She asked.

"How did you know I was coming." Kyrain asked.

"I was watching and saw you look at the hospitals direction and take a step toward it." She said with a smirk.

"I was thinking we went out tonight mom." He said.

His mom gave him a knowing look.

"Burning a hole in your pocket?"

Kyrain just grinned. "Can't a good son take his mother to dinner?"

"I'm thinking Olive Garden." Kyrain said causing his mom to smile and shrug. He opened a rift.

Once seated his mom spoke. "I'm proud of you. Scared for you as any mom heading to zone 1, but you did amazing and earned those wings. Your uncle had to be convinced to give you wings as he has always been harder on you than others because he never wanted to be accused of nepotism. The local guild board forced him."

"Hello! My name is Cora I'll be your server." A young waitress came up to the table.

Kyrain ordered his usual Dr. Pepper and his mom went with a margarita.

The entire time they ordered the waitress kept making eyes at Kyrain that he seemed oblivious to, but mom noticed. A string of aether from her thread skill snaked out under the table and latched around her shoe. As she stepped away making more eyes at her son, not paying attention, the thread caught and she tripped and fell. Without looking back she ran off embarrassed and couldn't even look at Kyrain the rest of the night out of embarrassment.

Brittanie smiled to herself.

- 2 years later -

Congratulations!

You have been selected for full guild membership with initiate merit.

Please place your junior adventurer license in the slot.

Kyrain who had just graduated high school, which was the requirement to be a full member of the adventurers guild, put his license in the slot indicated.

After some wirring and laser etching his full identification popped back out. He took his nee full Iron rank license. He looked at the screen again as the message changed.

Congratulations! You are now an Iron Rank Adventurer!

As a full member your menu has now changed and different programs are now available to you

You have (1) message waiting for you.

[Open] [Back]

Kyrain opened the message and his eyes went wide.

Good day Mr. Ekart,

Your skills have been on our radar for quite a while and through negotiation with National Guild Headquarters, DC we have recieved a waiver for you to be able to join the Bounting Hunting program as a hunter.

This offer is not usually extended to Adventurers until they are at minimum, bronze rank adventurers, but as your skills are an exception, HQ has made an exception for you.

So at this time, we would like to extend to you an official invitation to the bounty hunter program. If you are interested please select the affirmation at the end of this message and one of our liasons will be in touch.

Thank you for your consideration and congratulations on becoming a full member of the guild.

Respectfully,

Tod Robinson

Grandmaster Hunter

[Accept] [Decline]

Kyrain didn't hesitate, he accepted.