The gates of [Capital City] loomed before us, tall and imposing, guarded by men clad in heavy armour. As we approached, it became clear that entry wouldn’t be as simple as strolling in. The {Guards} were stopping travellers and demanding proof of identity.
"Looks like we need something to prove who we are," I said, surveying the situation.
"We didn’t think this far ahead," Jonny muttered, adjusting the straps of his pack.
"No worries," I replied. "I’ve got this."
Using [Omnipotent], I conjured a large invisibility cloak, big enough to cover all five of us. The shimmering fabric enveloped us, bending light around us until we were invisible.
"Stick close, and don’t trip," I whispered. Together, we slipped through the gates unnoticed, blending into the flow of a passing carriage.
Once inside the bustling city streets, I led the group into a secluded alleyway before removing the cloak.
"That was easy," I said, shaking off the cloak as it dissolved into thin air.
"Now what?" Lily asked, brushing dust from her clothes.
"We’re getting [Adventurer's Cards]," I replied. "They’ll work as identity proof and give us access to more opportunities."
"Where do we even find an [Adventurer's Guild]?" May asked, looking around at the maze of cobblestone streets and towering buildings.
I scanned the area, letting out a small chuckle when I spotted the largest building nearby, complete with a grand sign that read [Adventurer's Guild]. "There. Of course, the most stereotypical location possible."
Using [Mind-to-Mind Talk], I called the others to the guild's entrance. Once we were all gathered, I said, "Let’s head in."
The Guild’s interior was a chaotic whirlwind of activity. People ran back and forth, shouting over each other as if a rare treasure had just gone on sale.
"Is PS5 and Cyberpunk 2077 on sale or what?" I muttered to myself. "Damn, I miss gaming."
We approached the reception desk, where a sharp-eyed woman sat behind a polished counter. "We want to become {Adventurers}," I announced.
Her eyebrow arched. "We?" she asked skeptically, glancing at my companions.
I nodded toward the group behind me. "Yes, we."
"And how long have you all been traveling together?" she asked, her tone laced with doubt.
"We four humans grew up together," I began, "and Jonny, our {Dwarf} companion, joined us just before entering the city."
Her lips curled into a skeptical smile. "He joined you just before entering, and now you’re best friends? That’s hard to believe."
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"Jonny’s a {Craftsman} looking for a team to hire him permanently," I explained. "The other teams he approached couldn’t meet his conditions, but we could."
She studied me for a moment, clearly unconvinced. "There’s a test," she said finally, "and a registration fee. Just so you know, now isn’t the best time to become {Adventurers}."
"We’re not here because we need money," I said confidently. "We’re here to test ourselves and experience the world. And as for money," I smirked, "we’ve got more than enough."
Her curiosity piqued. "How much are we talking about?"
"Enough to prove we’re serious," I replied, holding my ground.
She hesitated before standing. "Follow me," she said, motioning for us to follow her deeper into the Guild.
We navigated through narrow hallways until we reached a spacious training ground filled with people. The noise here was even louder, with the clashing of weapons and shouted commands filling the air.
"You said it’s not a good time to become {Adventurers}?" I asked, gesturing to the crowd.
She sighed. "All these people ignored my advice, just like you."
She led us into a small office, where she gestured toward a stack of forms. "Register yourselves here. Once you’re done, head to the test grounds. If you need anything, ask her." She pointed to a young woman sitting nearby, completely absorbed in a book titled [UNIVERSAL Myths].
As the receptionist left, we began filling out the forms. Once finished, we waited for the woman with the book to notice us. Minutes ticked by, but she remained engrossed in her reading. My patience wore thin.
Finally, I snatched the book from her hands.
"What the fuck do you want?" she snapped, glaring at me.
"When will the test start?" I asked calmly.
"How the fuck should I know? Now give me back my book!" she demanded, reaching for it. I held it out of her reach.
"You asked for it," she muttered, casting a spell. A beam of light shot toward me, but I absorbed it effortlessly using [Omnipotent].
Her eyes widened in shock. "What the—?"
"Calm down," I said, smirking. "Just answer my question, and you’ll get your book back."
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I gave her a mock bow. "The name’s Xebecs."
"How did you do that?"
"Why would I tell you my secrets?" I replied, feigning confusion.
She sighed, clearly frustrated. "Fine. Follow me. I’ll take you to the test grounds."
We followed her, weaving through the Guild once more. Along the way, my attention was drawn to a group of people in chains.
"Who are they?" I asked.
"Those are people with {Unholy Class}," she said with disgust. "We don’t have the power to execute them."
"What about [The Pit of Un]?" I asked.
Her expression darkened. "The Pit suddenly closed after the execution of {Deicide}."
I froze. That’s why there was no light from above.
"Will you sell them to me?" I asked.
Her brows furrowed. "What?"
"I have the power to execute them, as you’ve seen," I said, lifting my right hand. "Will you?"
She hesitated before replying. "I’ll... talk to my superiors." With that, she left.
We waited near the test grounds, observing other participants. Each person had to fight opponents of varying ranks, from [Lesser] to [National], excluding [Noble] and [Royal].
"I'm going for [National] since there are fewer participants," I told the group. "You all try [Upper High]. If [National] turns out to be weak, upgrade yourselves."
We split up. I sat down to wait for my turn, glancing at the ongoing match. Out of curiosity, I used [Omnipotent] to check my opponent’s stats.
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Status
Name: Chad Boss
Class: [Aura User]
Job: {Adventurer} [National Level Guild Examiner]
Title: [National Level Adventurer], [Royalty], [Noble], [Evolved Human], [Half-Dragon Half-Human]
Level: 1003/5000
Species: Draconic Human
Evolution System: Holy
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The fuck? He’s weaker than I am. I had hoped for a challenging opponent, but it seemed unlikely.
The match ended, and Chad turned to me. "Next!"
I stepped into the arena, the crowd murmuring at my lack of proper armour.
"The name’s Chad," he said. "You can grab a weapon from over there." He gestured to a rack of weapons.
"I don’t need one," I replied as my [Katana] materialized in my hand, drawing gasps from the audience.
"Let’s begin."