The next morning arrived quietly, sunlight slipping through the base windows like a silent signal.
Arthur was already standing by the door when we stepped out.
"Well, look who's finally awake," he said with a grin. "Let's go. You're about to meet your new teammates."
Raidan frowned slightly.
"New? Aren't you and Elilia joining our team?"
Elilia shook her head, a gentle sadness in her eyes.
"Sadly, no."
Arthur clapped his hands together.
"Henro will introduce you. Let's move."
-Meeting Henro-
The halls of the association buzzed as we walked, adventurers of all ranks passing by. Raidan broke the silence.
"Arthur," he asked, "what rank are my siblings?"
Arthur didn't hesitate.
"Both A-rank."
Raidan stopped walking for half a second, then smirked.
"…Figures."
Soon, we reached a wide chamber where Henro was waiting, arms crossed as usual.
Elilia stepped forward.
"Henro, we'll leave them in your care."
Henro nodded firmly.
"Leave it to me."
He turned to us.
"Hello, Raidan. Iris. Mart."
He gestured toward three figures standing nearby.
"These are your teammates."
"You three will remain in the dorms for now," Henro continued.
"When you catch up to them and rise to Rank D, you'll move into your team base."
Mart's eyes lit up.
"So the Emberstalkers is like the HQ?"
Henro smiled.
"Definitely. Now, everyone, introduce yourselves."
"I'm Raidan."
"This is Iris."
"And he's Mart."
The three members responded.
"I'm Sorla."
"I'm Nowous."
"And I'm Norla."
Nowous stepped forward, confidence radiating from him.
"I'm the current captain of this humble party, Prince Raidan."
Raidan raised an eyebrow.
"Just Raidan. We're teammates, aren't we?"
Mart muttered, "You sure about that?"
Iris snapped back instantly.
"Shut up. He nailed the correct move."
Nowous chuckled.
"In that case, we'd like you three to take an entrance exam."
Iris smiled sharply.
"Gladly. But I won't hold back. Don't beg for mercy."
Raidan smirked.
"That was my line."
"Sorry," Iris replied without meaning it.
-The Entrance Exam-
We entered a wide training hall, barriers activating around us.
Norla explained,
"Each of you will fight one of us, according to your level."
Raidan rolled his shoulders.
"Bring me the game boss."
Nowous stepped forward, flames flickering around his hands.
"Did someone ask for me?"
He leaned closer.
"Don't get mad and use your authority to take revenge after I beat you."
Raidan's aura sharpened.
"Not happening."
-Raidan vs Nowous-
Fire & Earth vs Fire & Earth
The moment the signal sounded, Nowous slammed his foot down, pillars of earth erupting forward. Raidan dashed between them, heat bursting from his blade as flames wrapped around the steel.
Nowous countered with a wave of fire, forcing Raidan
back. The room roared with heat and impact.
Raidan switched tactics. He grounded himself, earth reinforcing his stance, then launched upward, fire exploding beneath him like a thruster.
Nowous barely blocked before Raidan smashed down, shattering the ground beneath him.
A final clash. Fire against fire. Earth against earth.
Raidan pushed through.
Nowous hit the ground hard, laughing despite the loss.
"…Well played."
Winner: Raidan
-Iris vs Norla-
Water & Ice vs Water & Ice
Cold filled the room instantly.
Norla summoned sharp ice lances, launching them like arrows. Eris flowed between them, water bending around her body like armor.
The fight turned into a frozen storm. Ice shattered, water froze, then shattered again.
Norla attempted to trap Iris completely, sealing her legs in ice.
Iris smiled.
She slammed her palm down, freezing the entire floor, then shattered it in one explosive motion, knocking Norla off balance.
A blade of condensed ice stopped inches from Norla's throat.
Norla raised her hands.
"…I yield."
Winner: Iris
~Mart vs Sorla~
Earth & Air vs Earth & Air
Mart charged forward confidently, wind boosting his movement. Sorla met him head-on, earth reinforcing her strikes.
Their fight was fast and brutal. Mart tried to outmaneuver her, but Sorla's control was sharper, her movements precise.
A sudden air burst knocked Mart off balance. Before he could recover, earth bound his legs.
He hit the ground.
Sorla offered a hand.
"You fought well."
Mart sighed, taking it.
"…Guess I've got more training to do."
Winner: Sorla
A New Party
"We won 2–1," Raidan said calmly.
Nowous crossed his arms, impressed.
"You and Iris are seriously strong."
Norla nodded.
"In that case… why don't you two name our party?"
Iris turned to Raidan.
"I'll leave the naming to you."
Raidan thought for a moment.
"Clover."
Everyone agreed.
Henro registered the party without hesitation.
Urgent Missions
Suddnly Two figures appeared....
"Urgent mission," Arcit said.
"I got one too?" Iris blinked.
"So did I," Raidan replied.
Arcit spoke firmly.
"Raidan, take your bond and team with the Silver Claws. Reach D-rank."
Arcitia Turned to Iris.
"Iris, you'll go with the Crimson Fangs . Reach D-rank."
"The Silver Claws?" Raidan asked.
"That's me," Iris said.
"…Then I'm Crimson Fangs," Raidan muttered.
Iris smirked.
"Let's grab a quest and clear it."
"Wait," Raidan said. "Let's check the mission details first."
Together, Arcit and Arcitia said:
"Reach D-rank.
Train your bond to D-rank.
Learn a unique ultimate skill."
Raidan sighed.
"It's never simple when the system is involved."
Iris crossed her arms.
"How are we supposed to learn a unique ultimate skill? It talks like it's easy."
"We experiment," Raidan said.
"Different fighting styles. That's my theory. But a unique and an ultimate? That's extreme."
"So," Eris said slowly, "we pick the hardest quest available."
"With zero experience," Raidan added.
The Quests
Celia listened carefully, then handed us three requests:
• Hunt 50 Cocodas – crocodile-like monsters
• Hunt 50 Ice-Wrols – enormous wolves from frozen regions
• Hunt 50 Gogaco – gorilla-like beasts from muddy wetlands
Iris stared at the list.
"Are we cooking this time… or getting cooked?"
"These are C-rank quests," Raidan said.
"She has high hopes for us."
He clenched his fist.
"Let's press forward. Conquer the quests and missions. Unlock new powers."
He paused.
"…Oh right. Mart."
"Poor thing," Iris said.
"Your sacrifice won't be in vain," Raidan added solemnly.
Meanwhile…
Mart screamed internally as his new comrades dragged him
"Again!"
"Faster!"
"No breaks!"
Mart realized something important that day.
Losing had consequences.