Morning sunlight spilled through the narrow wooden shutters of the inn, painting thin strips of gold across the floorboards. Ikarion opened his eyes, the remnants of sleep fading instantly. In his past life, mornings were a dragging, exhausted affair, a reluctance to face another gray day. Now, he woke up with a quiet, thrumming energy pulsing in his veins.
He sat up on the simple straw mattress, stretching his arms overhead. His body felt different than it had just a few weeks ago. The trials he had endured since arriving in this world had tempered him. His muscles were leaner, denser, moving with a fluid, calibrated strength that reminded him of the absolute control of a seasoned athlete.
He threw on his dark tunic and trousers, strapping his basic leather bracers to his forearms. His silver-white hair caught the morning light as he made his way out of the small room and descended the creaky wooden stairs to the ground floor.
The tavern of the inn was already alive with the clatter of wooden plates and the rich, savory aroma of boiling broth. Rikka was darting between the sturdy oak tables, a towel thrown over her shoulder, her auburn hair tied back in a messy bun.
"Good morning, Rikka," Ikarion said, his voice calm, cutting through the morning chatter.
Rikka spun around, balancing three empty mugs in one hand. Her face lit up with a bright, tired smile. "Oh, you've woken up! Good morning, Ikarion. Grab a seat before the morning rush gets any worse."
Ikarion found an empty stool at the corner of the bar. A moment later, Rikka slid a steaming, oversized wooden bowl in front of him. It was a hearty serving of white rice and a rich, meat-based ramen, the noodles thick and the broth shimmering with a layer of spiced oil.
He picked up a pair of wooden chopsticks and took a bite. The flavor exploded on his tongueโrich, savory, and incredibly filling. In his old life, meals were just fuel, often cold and cheap. Here, every bite felt like a luxury. He ate in contented silence, the warm food settling perfectly in his stomach.
As he finished the last drop of broth, Rikka walked past, struggling to lift a massive wooden crate stacked near the pantry door. The wood groaned under her grip, her face flushed with effort.
"Hey, Ikarion," she huffed, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "Help me with these boxes? The supplier just dropped them off, and my back is killing me."
"Of course," Ikarion agreed, standing up.
He approached the stack of heavy supply crates. Where Rikka had struggled, Ikarion didn't even strain. He bent his knees slightly, engaged his core, and lifted the heaviest crate with practiced ease. His raw physical stats had climbed significantly since his arrival, and the weight felt negligible in his hands. He stacked them neatly in the back pantry in a matter of minutes, his breathing completely even.
Rikka leaned against the doorframe, watching him with wide eyes. She crossed her arms, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You know," she started, her tone turning thoughtful, "with the way you move, and those fighting styles you've shown... why don't you join a guild?"
Ikarion paused, resting his hand on the top crate. He looked at her, genuinely surprised. "Wait... what? I can join one?"
"Yeah, of course you can!" Rikka laughed, though there was a hint of admiration in her eyes. "You have incredible instincts. You're strong, you're fast. Any guild in the city would be lucky to have you. It pays well, and it gives you a roof over your head that isn't my drafty attic."
Ikarion wiped the dust from his hands. "Where would I even have to go?"
"You have to go to the City Hall," Rikka explained, pointing out the window toward the sprawling center of Brightvale. "There's an entire administrative building for the guilds there. You can browse, take the entry tests, and join one that fits you."
As the words left her mouth, a familiar, cool blue light materialized in Ikarion's field of vision.
[ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ]
[New Main Quest Initiated: The Path of the Hunter]
Objective: Travel to Brightvale City Hall and officially join a Guild.
Reward: +500 XP, [Bronze Tier Equipment Box]
Failure: Missed opportunity for early progression.
[ ----------------------- ]
Ikarion read the floating text, a small, determined smile touching his lips. "Let's see what's there," he murmured.
He thanked Rikka for the meal, stepped out of the tavern, and merged into the bustling morning streets of Brightvale.
Brightvale was a sprawling, vibrant hub. Built near the intersection of major monster-hunting territories, it was a city fueled by adventure and danger. The streets were packed with merchants shouting their wares, heavily armored mercenaries riding massive beasts of burden, and rogue-like scouts draped in muted cloaks.
As Ikarion navigated the cobblestone streets, his sharp ears picked up a conversation from a group of seasoned mercenaries leaning against a weapon smith's stall.
"I'm telling you, it's impossible," a man with a scarred cheek muttered, crossing his heavily muscled arms. "Lower ranks don't even get to look at the application forms."
"For the Apex Guild?" his companion scoffed, sharpening a dagger. "Obviously. Do you have any idea what kind of monsters are in there? They have S-Rank hunters on their roster. I heard one of their vanguard captains leveled a mountain range up north during a dungeon break. They're capable of destroying an entire kingdom if they wanted to."
Ikarion's steps slowed. S-Rank hunters capable of destroying a kingdom?
The sheer scale of power in this world was staggering. He thought back to the mysterious man who had offered him a place in his faction days agoโan offer Ikarion had deflected because he didn't want to be a pawn in someone else's game. But the mercenaries' words echoed in his mind. If he joined a powerful guild, he would have protection. He would have access to resources, knowledge, and a safety net while he figured out the upper limits of the Salvation Core.
Determined, Ikarion picked up his pace, soon arriving at the steps of the Brightvale City Hall.
The building was colossal, a masterpiece of high-arched ceilings and polished stone floors that reflected the sunlight pouring through towering windows. Inside, it was a thriving ecosystem. There were different departments for everythingโdungeon mapping, monster material trading, tax collection, and bounty hunting.
He followed the glowing signs that read Guild Registration & Recruitment.
The department was massive. The ground floor was chaotic, filled with hundreds of lower-ranked hunters shouting over each other, haggling for entry into minor, gritty mercenary bands. The desks here were made of cheap wood, stained with spilled ale and ink.
But Ikarion noticed a wide, sweeping staircase leading to the upper floors. The signs indicated that the higher the floor, the higher the rank of the guilds stationed there.
Curiosity pulling him, Ikarion bypassed the chaotic ground floor and walked up the stone steps. The air grew quieter, more refined. By the time he reached the third floor, the atmosphere had completely changed. The floors were carpeted in lush crimson, and the desks were carved from dark mahogany, accented with gold. Elite hunters in pristine, magical armor sat in velvet chairs, sipping wine while discussing dungeon raids.
At the very end of the hall was a grand desk bearing a silver and gold crest: a sword piercing a crown. The Apex Guild.
Ikarion walked up to the reception desk. The woman behind it was dressed in an immaculate suit, sorting through enchanted parchment. She didn't look up immediately.
"Excuse me," Ikarion said politely. "I'd like to ask about joining."
The receptionist finally looked up. Her eyes quickly scanned Ikarion's simple dark tunic and worn leather bracers. Her customer-service smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Welcome to the Apex Guild recruitment desk," she said, her voice smooth but mechanical. "May I ask what your current Hunter Rank is, sir?"
Ikarion focused his mind, and the system obliged instantly.
Ding!
[Current User Rank: D]
"I am D-Rank," Ikarion replied honestly.
The receptionist's polite smile vanished, replaced by a look of sheer, exhausted boredom. She sighed, setting her quill down.
"I am sorry, sir. The Apex Guild only accepts S and S++ rank elites into our main forces. On rare occasions, we accept A-Rank hunters as support staff. D-Rank is far below our minimum criteria. I suggest you return to the ground floor."
Before Ikarion could respond, a heavy, suffocating pressure washed over the room.
The sound of massive, clanking armor echoed behind him. A shadow fell over Ikarion, blocking out the light from the nearby window.
"Hey, kid," a deep, gravelly voice rumbled.
Ikarion turned. Standing behind him was a mountain of a man. He was clad in heavy, dark iron armor adorned with the teeth of some massive beast. The man's arms were thicker than Ikarion's thighs, and a cruel, mocking sneer twisted his scarred face.
Before Ikarion could brace himself, the armored man shoved him.
The physical force was immense. Despite his enhanced stats, Ikarion was caught off guard by the sheer weight behind the blow. He stumbled backward, his boots skidding across the polished floor, and fell hard onto the ground.
"That place belongs to high-tier people," the armored giant spat, looking down at Ikarion with absolute disgust. "You low-rank trash belong on the ground floor with the rest of the dirt. Stop wasting the guild's time."
Heat flared in Ikarion's chest. His ocean-blue eyes narrowed, and his muscles coiled tight, ready to spring. His hand twitched toward his side, his mind screaming at him to use the Salvation Core, to analyze the brute's weak points and strike back.
But he stopped himself.
He was D-Rank. This man radiated the aura of an A-Rank veteran. A fight here, in the middle of City Hall, would not only result in a severe beating, but likely get him blacklisted from every guild in Brightvale. He needed to be smart. He needed power, but he also needed authority.
Ikarion slowly pushed himself up from the floor, dusting off his knees. He didn't look at the giant. Instead, he looked past him, locking eyes with the receptionist.
An idea, bold and reckless, ignited in his mind.
"If I can't join," Ikarion said, his voice deadly calm, echoing clearly in the sudden silence of the hall. "What does it take to make my own guild?"
The armored giant burst into roaring, chest-heaving laughter. "Make your own?! Listen to this rat! Go ahead, kid! Go make your own useless guild so you can die in a Goblin cave!"
The receptionist looked at Ikarion, slightly taken aback by the fierce, unwavering intensity in his blue eyes.
"To... to establish an official guild," she stammered slightly, glancing at the laughing A-Rank hunter before looking back to Ikarion. "The absolute minimum criteria to register a Guild Master license is C-Rank. You would also need a registered guild name, a primary base of operations, and at least three founding members."
"C-Rank," Ikarion repeated softly.
He didn't say another word. He turned his back on the receptionist and the mocking A-Rank hunter. He didn't let the anger consume him; he let it fuel him. He walked away, his posture perfectly straight, his footsteps echoing rhythmically down the stairs.
As Ikarion left the upper floor, he didn't notice the figure standing in the alcove near the staircase.
The figure was draped in a heavy, shadow-woven cloak, their face completely obscured by a deep hood. They had watched the entire exchange in total silence. As Ikarion passed by, the cloaked figure tilted their head, a faint, intrigued hum vibrating from their chest. They stepped out of the shadows, watching the silver-haired boy disappear down the stairs, before melting away into the crowd.
Ikarion pushed open the heavy brass doors of City Hall and stepped out into the cool, rushing wind of the Brightvale streets.
He took a deep breath. The anger in his chest had crystallized into absolute, unbreakable resolve. He wasn't going to beg for a place at someone else's table. He was going to build his own.
The world around him dimmed slightly as the Salvation Core flared to life, projecting a massive, cascading interface in front of him.
[ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ]
[Main Quest Updated: The Founder's Path]
You have rejected the shelter of others. The Salvation Core responds to your ambition.
Objective: Reach [Rank C] to unlock Guild Creation Rights.
Current Rank: D
Requirement: Accumulate 10,000 XP to trigger Rank Advancement.
[Generated Side Quests for Advancement]
1. The Blood of Beasts: Hunt and absorb the cores of 50 E-Rank or higher monsters. [0/50]
2. The Depths of Brightvale: Clear the abandoned 'Ironfang' Dungeon located beneath the city outskirts. [Incomplete]
3. The Body Tempered: Increase base Strength and Agility stats by 15 points each through physical conditioning or combat. [0/15]
Reward for Completion: Promotion to Rank C, [Guild Master Token], 1x System Skill Unlock [Mimic]
[ ----------------------- ]
Ikarion read the glowing text, his eyes lingering on the locked skill that would finally become his. Mimic.
He dismissed the screen with a thought, looking up at the towering spires of the city, and then down toward the rugged outskirts where the Ironfang Dungeon awaited.
"C-Rank," Ikarion whispered to the wind. "Let's get to work."