The Adventurers' Guild sat just inside Solmere's main gate—stone-built, broad-shouldered, and loud at nearly all hours.
A place of clashing armor, raised mugs, and louder egos.
It even had its own bar.
The Vixens knew this place well.
Too well.
Every visit in the past came with the same comments, the same looks.
All women?
You'll get yourselves killed.
Need a strong man to keep you safe, bunny girl?
Join our party—I'll protect you real good.
They remembered.
But today was different.
They entered together.
And Jax walked in front.
Conversations faltered as the door shut behind them.
Not because of fear.
Because of presence.
The man leading them didn't look like an adventurer fresh from the road. He looked… composed. Confident. Broad-shouldered and calm in a way that made people straighten unconsciously.
Jax stepped up to the reception desk.
Behind it sat a young slime-girl with teal hair and translucent skin that shimmered faintly under the lantern light. She blinked once, then twice, before smiling professionally—though her eyes lingered longer than necessary.
"Welcome to the Solmere Adventurers' Guild," she said. "Name?"
"I'd like to register a new party," Jax replied.
"Oh?" Her smile widened. "That's exciting. Party name?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Jax and the Vixens."
A few murmurs rippled through the hall.
The slime-girl chuckled. "Bold. I like it. I'm Mirelle, by the way."
She tapped her system panel. "Party rank?"
"Uh… S-Rank."
Silence.
Mirelle froze.
Slowly, she looked up.
"…Pardon?"
"S-Rank," Jax repeated, a little less confident now.
Mirelle tilted her head. "Alright. Then I'll just need to verify your experience points."
Jax swallowed.
He raised his system.
LEVEL: 1
The glow reflected in Mirelle's eyes.
She stared.
Then looked at Jax.
Then back at the screen.
"…Sir," she said carefully, "you appear to be a Level One."
A few snickers broke out nearby.
Jax felt heat creep up his neck.
"I'm working on it," he muttered.
"I'm afraid I can't register a Level One party member as S-Rank," Mirelle said gently. "Guild rules."
Llandra stepped forward, her presence calm but unmistakable.
"I am the party leader," she said. "Please use my credentials."
Her system flared.
LEVEL: 22
Mirelle nodded immediately. "Accepted."
She glanced back at Jax with a sympathetic smile. "You might want to keep an eye on your friend. From his level, he'll need protection."
Nyxian wrapped an arm around Jax's waist, grinning.
"Oh, don't worry," she purred. "We'll protect him."
Jax groaned internally.
I really need to level up.
Mirelle finished typing. "Your party is registered. As a new group, you'll begin at E-Rank. Complete quests to advance—E to D, D to C, and so on."
Jax raised a hand. "Hypothetically… what if an E-Rank party completes an A-Rank quest?"
Mirelle blinked. "Technically? Nothing stops you. But we wouldn't pay out. It's a safety policy—to discourage reckless deaths."
Jax nodded slowly.
Grathok will still buy whatever we bring back, he thought.
They moved toward the quest board.
Only six E-Rank postings.
Herb gathering. Pest control. Low-level beasts.
Jax studied them intensely, pulling up his map, cross-referencing locations.
That was when the shadow fell over them.
A massive figure loomed behind Bunny.
A minotaur—nearly seven feet tall, muscles packed like stone beneath leather armor.
A massive hand landed on Bunny's shoulder.
She froze.
The fingers were thick, heavy—casual in the way only someone who had never been told no could be.
"Well look at that," a deep voice rumbled. "The Vixens are back."
The minotaur leaned down slightly, breath warm against her ear.
"Still runnin' without a real man to keep you safe?"
Nyxian's smile vanished instantly.
"Remove your hand," she said flatly.
The minotaur chuckled and ignored her, squeezing Bunny's shoulder just a little tighter.
"Relax, bunny girl. I've got protection in my pocket. You'd do just fine in—"
Nyxian stepped forward.
"Get. Your hands. Off. My sister."
That finally earned his attention.
He turned, eyes raking over Nyxian's figure, lips curling.
"Oh? A succubus?" he laughed. "Even better. Why don't you ditch the twig over there and join a real party?"
He leaned closer.
"I've got what women secretly crave."
Nyxian smiled sweetly.
"If what you're offering is body odor and bad breath," she said, "I regret to inform you—we don't."
A few nearby adventurers snorted.
The minotaur scowled.
Then he reached out—
—and grabbed Nyxian's shoulders.
Llandra's breath caught.
She turned toward Jax—
He was still staring at the quest board.
Calculating.
Completely unaware.
Oh no, Llandra thought. He's distracted.
She opened her mouth—
But Bunny moved.
In a blur.
Her hands snapped up, gripping the minotaur's wrists.
There was a sharp crack as she twisted.
The minotaur roared—half in pain, half in shock—as Bunny yanked him forward and down.
In seconds, the massive beast was on his knees.
Then on the floor.
Bunny stood over him, calm and terrifying, forcing his arms back at an angle that promised permanent damage if she applied even a little more pressure.
The guild went dead silent.
Nyxian blinked—then grinned.
"Now," she said pleasantly, "apologize to Bunny."
"I— I'm sorry!" the minotaur gasped.
"Apologize to me."
"I'm sorry!"
"Apologize to the Vixens."
His eyes darted to Llandra and Zee.
"I'm sorry—truly—please forgive me!"
Nyxian crouched slightly so he could see her eyes.
"Now apologize to all women," she said, voice silk over steel, "and promise you'll change."
"PLEASE!" he cried. "I swear! I swear I'll respect women! Don't break my arms!"
Nyxian looked to Bunny.
"Alright," she said. "Let him go."
Bunny released him instantly.
The minotaur scrambled backward, clutching his wrists, staring at her like she was a nightmare given form.
"I don't know how," he muttered to his party as they retreated. "She's freakishly strong. It didn't make sense. Don't mess with them. It ain't worth it."
The hall slowly returned to noise.
Llandra stared at Bunny.
"How did you do that?"
Bunny looked at her hands, confused.
"I… put all my iPoints into Strength and Agility this morning."
She pulled up her screen.
Strength: 45Agility: 45
Zee inhaled sharply.
"That's higher than most tanks in D-Rank."
Nyxian laughed softly.
"One night with Jax," she said. "Imagine a month."
Llandra swallowed.
"We must… train every night."
Nyxian smirked.
"After last night? Is there going to be a night we don't want to train?"
Llandra flushed.
Jax finally turned.
"Alright," he said, brightening. "I think I've got it."
They all looked at him. He had been oblivious to the whole situation that happened behind him.
"Our first mission is in two weeks," he continued. "Mana bulb gathering."
Zee blinked. "Flowers?"
"Sort of," Jax said quietly, lowering his voice. "They grow near the Crystal Caves."
Nyxian's smile sharpened.
"That's A-Rank territory."
"We'll clear it," Jax said calmly.
Zee opened her mouth to protest.
Jax raised a finger.
"Trust me."
They looked at one another.
Then nodded.
They trusted him.
"Tomorrow," Jax said, eyes gleaming, "we train."