The exam that followed was quick to start as Cayto prepared his stance, while Grayson was clearly looking down on his opponent.

"Clan Aerith’s leftovers, don’t forget you are below me. You are a traitor and weak, expect no mercy from me," Grayson said to which Cayto only raised a brow with a smirk.

"It’s only a ranking exam, but whatever you say," Cayto snickered clearly not bothered by Grayson's words at all.

Despite this, Grayson wasn't satisfied with his answer and simply stared at his opponent before releasing his spell. "Cleansing Flame!” He shouted to which a wave of flames consisting of Physical energy left his hands and collided with Cayto, who was engulfed in the blast.

However, Cayto stepped from the flames with an electric current coating his body and sparks jumping off his skin that kept him completely undamaged.

Regardless, the blast from Grayson seemed to be enough to leave him feeling discomforted by it.

"A similar flame to Graced Clan Naria, it’s a shame your cheap copy could never be as powerful as the real deal, otherwise I probably would have been dead. Still, you could have at least waited for the announcement to commence the test. you could have hurt me,” Cayto snickered while Grayson snarled in anger.

"Shut up, you piece of Garbage! I am far superior to any of you benefactors hiding behind a Monarch's protection," Grayson retorted which made Cayto laugh before he cocked his neck to the miss announcing the exam with a smile.

“… P-Please start the exam,” she said quickly to which Cayto gave an amused grin.

“Flash step,” he said before disappearing in an instant to appear behind Grayson and delivered a kick to his midsection causing Grayson to be knocked to the arena wall.

Unlike the previous applicant, Grayson recovered almost instantly as he gave his robe a flick and looked up to Cayto with a scowl.

“Firestorm barrage!” He shouted while several fireballs formed around him and he burst from the ground launching the attack toward Cayto, who quickly adapted to the periodic explosion of flame while Grayson appeared from the last blast and swung his blade down onto Cayto.

However, Cayto quickly unsheathed a dagger from his sleeve and caught Grayson’s attack all while he smiled.

“You really underestimate your opponent with all that ego,” he said before a series of sparks shot out from his blade, which made Grayson's weapon explode into pieces, while Cayto twisted his body to avoid the last second blast of flames that came from Grayson's several orbs of flame over his body.

Cayto quickly read the movement of his opponent as he shifted from his spot. “Thunderstrike,” Cayto stated and slammed his fist into Grayson, once again knocking him back a few feet of distance.

The result left Grayson’s anger to spike even further as he charged forward once more to prove his battle art consisted more of than just sword and flame.

The next few minutes were filled with explosions as Grayson repeatedly fired his magic barrage at Cayto, while Grayson kept pressure up with precise attacks with his martial battle art.

Cayto seemed to adapt and move along with his opponent. Although Reiner still watched this exam like it was nothing more than an amusing playtime and Lilith wasn’t even remotely interested as she stared at the ceiling of the arena.

Meanwhile I had already grasped what an S rank using Physical energy was capable of, so the display before me was quite easy to read but to land myself in A-rank this display was definitely a requirement.

It wasn’t long before Grayson could no longer keep up with the superior movement of Cayto and his Battle Art which left Grayson overwhelmed by it all.

However, his arrogance didn't leave him to admit defeat as he let loose a few more attempts at striking Cayto with everything in his arsenal, before Cayto’s smirk grew.

“Storm Tether,” he stated to which his magic activated and formed under Grayson's feet before chains of lightning wrapped around him and held Grayson in place.

"What! Let me go! That isn’t fair, I wasn’t done!" Grayson screamed in anger as he struggled to break the hold the chains had on him.

However, Cayto only smirked as he turned his back away leaving the guild member to announce Grayson’s results. “Upon analyzing your skills and abilities, it was determined that you will be placed in Platinum Rank. The artifact within the arena will heal any damage done to you then please return to your seat for further instructions," she said while Grayson still tried to break free of the chains.

Regardless, the faint light lit up the arena to heal Grayson. Cayto’s binding spell released him moments after, but he wasn’t satisfied by it as he turned away with a snarl and returned to his spot.

Reiner scoffed with an amusement of his own as he leaned back in his seat and let out a breath of air.

"Heh, that pathetic Clan Naria, what a joke. I could have beaten him with my eyes closed, religious fanatics. It's not even funny," Reiner remarked with a small laugh to himself.

“It wasn’t terrible, but he did get a platinum rank," I said, to which Reiner only clicked his tongue.

"Don’t forget most Clan members almost get a guaranteed spot in the guild depending on their status as a clan, and this guy is right in there with Clan Naria," Reiner remarked like it didn't matter one way or the other.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

It wasn’t long before the next few applicants went under the eye of the two Big Four. However, as I observed each individual battle, they proved to be competent enough but none of them stood out enough to catch my interest. Regardless, the ranking exam was ending, and my name would soon be called.

The final applicant exam still played out while Reiner, Me and Lilith sat silently in our own usual demeanours.

“… I get it,” I said, which caused Reiner to give me an annoyed glare.

"Get what? what are you muttering about?" He sneered while I continued to stare into the arena.

"They aren’t only being examined by Xander and Cayto, but the arena is analyzing their mana essence to determine their rank,” I said as I watched one of the applicants leave the arena, with a ranking he wasn’t proud of.

I did begin to grasp that the arena wasn’t just a simple arena, underneath was an artifact imbued with magical energy which explained the healing function of it. Although it wasn't what I had expected at all, the artifact analyzed every applicant’s mana core and the control of it. Regardless it was the most convenient way to determine the strength of a clans, patrons, and benefactors but it also left me at a disadvantage.

“Tch, what the hell does that even mean, who cares,” Reiner scoffed obviously not understanding what I meant as I stared down at him.

"… Huh? Fine, I’ll explain,” I said to which Reiner gave a low growl before I spoke up. “You and I use Magical Energy, I don’t know much about the Artifact, but I imagine it would be able to analyze Magical Energy, what I’m saying is if I’m going to land myself in Gold Rank, I’ll have to limit myself to only the alteration of Physical energy. If that’s the case I would rather just use my physical strength and speed," I remarked some of my thoughts which left Reiner to stare at me blankly before he scoffed.

"Tch, you really are something. Why do you even care if anyone knows what you can do? If anything, Antoris is more interested in how strong you are, and with me at your side, no one can touch you,” he said which only caused my amber glare to meet his.

"Maybe, but there’s still a chance Monarchs won’t approve of what I’m capable of. My goal is to follow every single thing Theitus had told me to reach what he wanted me to find here, and that requires me to hide my capabilities for as long as I can, so I can achieve what he wanted," I said causing Reiner to sigh.

"Whatever you say," He sneered before Lilith butted in with a huff.

"Hmph, it is whatever Kazu says! Lilith knows better than anyone what Kazu can do! So shut up, stupid mutt," Lilith argued which made Reiner click his tongue while I stared at the two of them.

"Oi, I don't have to take that from you brat," Reiner sneered back which left Lilith to growl at him with a pout.

“Enough… both of you, I already have my ideal conclusion for what I need to do,” I remarked before I leaned against my hand. “And I told you both to not argue when were talking about important things,” I added while the two of them turned their attention away from each other with their own annoyed expressions.

Regardless, with their usual bickering over with the ranking exam continued as the arena announced the next applicant.

"Ah, so we’ve made it to our last applicant today, please step into the center of the arena when your name is called," the guild member said from a pedestal of the arena leaving me to let out a breath of air as she realized the name of the final applicant.

"Er… Um - I don’t really know what this is about but the final applicant… Kazu Xiao… Step into the arena," She announced with a sour look on her face like she was in a position that caused her displeasure.

It certainly wasn’t just her, the entire arena seemed to have the same expression on their faces while I stood and stared down at them with my amber gaze deflecting the mixed expressions, their existence meant nothing to me.

“Heh, good luck,” Reiner sneered as he and Lilith watched me step into the center of the arena.

Despite the people staring at me in a mixture of confusion, fear, and anger. my typical demeanour was unchanging, and it wasn’t till I took my final step into the arena that they finally broke into protesting.

"You can't be serious! A Cursed Clan in the guild! Did Vectus’s Monarch forget what their kind did!” One from a patron clan roared among the other shouts of similar protest.

However, the moment Antoris stepped into the center of the arena without Xander and Cayto on either side of him silenced the protesters. The sheer force of his aura was enough to intimidate everyone into silence as he walked to the center of the arena and stood before me with a small sigh of air.

“It was inevitable that I would have to step in one way or another. They certainly don't approve of this, that’s why I put you last so they could leave with their frustrations, I apologize for that, and I hope the wait wasn't too long for you," Antoris said while I only stared at him with my usual expression before I spoke.

"…It wasn't… either way It doesn’t really matter," I said which left him to smile for a moment before he cleared his throat.

"Very well, Kazu Xiao,” he stated before his attentions shifted to the crowd who wasn’t so keen on my presence.

"Under the law of Vectus’s Monarch, this Xiao… this Cursed Clan is allowed to take the exam and join the Adventurers Guild as a benefactor, there will be no objections on the matter from any Clans, Patron clans or Monarchs. This sanction Vectus’s Monarch provides benefactors is absolute, you will not speak out against his decision in this matter. With that being said, this applicant is also sponsored by another Benefactor, notoriously named, the hound of black flames,” he said which caused a mixed murmurs to echo throughout the stands.

“The hound?!? That murderer? You can't be serious,” one person from a clan scoffed leaving another to agree with him.

"The guild’s benefactors are all freaks, The Monarch of Vectus is a fool for allowing them into the guild.” Someone else said only to be quickly hushed by their clan member for slandering the Monarch no doubt.

Reiner didn't seem to care for their remarks as he kept his sneer focused on the crowd. However, Antoris raised his hand again silencing the crowd.

"This isn't up for discussion. Kazu will be serving the guild as a benefactor. In fact, for such an interesting individual to be among the ranks, The Monarch of Vectus specifically asked me to Rank him personally,” Antoris stated leaving the crowd to look between themselves as they murmured about what he said in both confusion and surprise.

“The GuildMaster is ranking him? Has that ever happened before!” One member of a clan said to another with a whisper.

"No, it hasn't, I mean Antoris is Vectus’s Apostle. This is only ending one way,” his friend responded with a laugh.

I didn’t miss Xander and Cayto’s reactions either as they exchanged a look of intrigue to one another.

It wasn't long before Antoris unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt before he drew his blade and pointed it toward me. “I will lend you a blade seeing as you don’t have one,” Antoris added and tossed a sheathed blade from his side toward me which I caught in midair. "Well, now that you're properly equipped, I can start the Ranking exam. I expect the one who gave Reiner a thrashing to be capable enough to impress me," he added as I drew the blade in my possession without another word.

Despite the background noise of the crowd and the tension in the air, I wasn’t just going to attack blindly, Antoris was clearly had pre-planned this. He wanted to test me, which I’d have to take whatever his intent was to make my display both believable and still limit my abilities as much as possible.

My final thoughts rolled around in my head before I let my body take the lead and stepped forward allowing the relaxed stance of Zenki Ryu to take shape. While the stiff but refined stance of Antoris met me in return.

“You may start the ranking Exam.”