The wall panel slid open with a mechanical hiss.
What emerged made Kaelen's breath pause for a moment, not from fear, but from how strange it looked.
The beast scuttled forward into the chamber with measured movements. Its six-legged frame was massive, fifteen meters long and six meters tall. Blade-like mandibles extended from its head, glowing red-hot and radiating waves of heat that distorted the air around them. A thick stinger curved from its rear, dripping with something that steamed when it hit the floor.
The beast's chitin was dark red, almost black in places where the heat concentrated. Each leg ended in sharp points that clicked against the reinforced stone with every step. Its multiple eyes tracked the space randomly, disoriented by the sudden change of environment.
The receptionist's explained to Lira what the beast was, noticing her interest. "That's a Lesser Embermaw Strider. An arthropod classification. F-rank. Its mandibles generate extreme heat on contact, six hundred degrees minimum. The stinger contains a paralytic compound that also boils on injection. It marches slowly until provoked, then becomes aggressive."
"Adding that to it's creepy looks makes it more disgusting, in comparison to the Weaver." Lira voiced her irritation.
"Well... the scourged zone won't give you what to fight and what not to."
Lira knew she was right, the wilderness won't choose how lucky you get or unfortunate you are.
Kaelen activated Analytical Scan.
[–5 A.E.]
[Lesser Embermaw Strider]
[Rank: F]
[Type: Arthropod]
[Threat Level: F-rank]
[Durability: F-rank]
[Trait: Paralytic Venom and Heat Burst]
"Interesting," Kaelen thought.
"You may begin when ready," the receptionist's voiced through the speakers.
Kaelen didn't reach for his gauntlets. The guild had offered him an F-rank weapon a standard procedure for assessments as you are allowed a weapon rank of the beast but he'd declined.
This was a test. Not just for the guild, but for himself.
He wanted to know how much he'd actually improved since the Mauler encounter, and know the difference in his raw capabilities without relying on equipment advantages.
Aether flowed into his arms, coating both fists in a thin layer of condensed energy. The familiar sensation spread through his muscles, amplifying his strength without dramatically increasing mass.
[–8 A.E.]
[A.E.: 547/555]
Kaelen moved forward at an outstanding speed. It wasn't Flash Step, but his natural speed enhanced by cultivation, constant training and stat improvement. The distance between them closed in an instant.
The Strider noticed too late. Its head swiveled toward him just as Kaelen aimed a strike at one of its front legs, targeting a joint.
The Strider reacted with surprising speed for something so large. It shifted its weight, pulling that leg back just enough that Kaelen's strike missed by centimeters. His fist passed through empty air where chitin had been a moment before. It turned its massive body, its mandibles opening as it lunged to clamp down on Kaelen with those glowing red pincers.
Kaelen shifted left, his movement fluid. The mandibles snapped shut on empty air where he'd been a second before. The heat from them washed over his side, it was uncomfortable but not unbearable.
The Strider was moving insanely fast if an unwakened or some F-rank saw it, but to Kaelen it felt sluggish. The Mauler had been faster even when it wasn't trying. That C-rank predator had moved with precision that made every motion dangerous. This F-rank beast was just... reactive.
The Strider wasn't done. Its body twisted again, the stinger whipped forward with more speed than its legs had shown. The tip aimed for Kaelen's chest, dripping with paralytic venom that steamed in the air.
Kaelen sidestepped, watching the stinger pass inches from his ribs. But the beast had anticipated that. The stinger's base contracted, and a ball of concentrated heat launched from its tip, aimed directly at where Kaelen had moved.
He threw himself backward, the heat ball passing close enough that he felt its intensity against his face. It hit the wall behind him with a wet sizzling sound, leaving a scorch mark on the protective wall.
"Ranged attacks. That was new."
The Strider charged. Its six legs moved with coordinated fury, eating up the distance between them. The mandibles opened wide, glowing brighter, the heat radiating from them intensified. A raw aggression aimed at overwhelming him through size and power.
Kaelen didn't move.
In the observation booth, the receptionist leaned forward, her expression shifting to concern."What is he doing?"
Lira pressed closer to the window, her silver eyes narrowing. Kaelen was a Chronomancer. Not a tanker.
But Kaelen had other plans.
The Strider reached him, its mandibles snapped shut with enough force to crush titanium. Kaelen moved back just enough, the pincers closing inches from his face. The heat was intense this close, making his skin prickle and sweat bead immediately.
Then he surged forward.
His hands shot out, grabbing the mandibles before the beast could pull back. His aether coating flared brighter as he channeled more energy into his arms, reinforcing his grip.
[–15 A.E.]
[Warning: Receiving Burn Damage]
[–1 HP]
[–1 HP]
The heat was immediate and intense, like grabbing heated metal. But not overwhelming. His defense stat and the aether coating provided enough protection that the damage was minimal.
[–1 HP]
[HP: 432/435]
Kaelen didn't care.
He pulled.
[–1HP]
[–1HP]
The Strider resisted, its head thrashing as it tried to snap its mandibles shut, to free itself from the grip. But Kaelen's strength had grown significantly. His base stats, the constant training, the cultivation progress. All of it came together in this moment.
He spread the mandibles apart, his muscles straining against the beast's natural closing force. The Strider screamed, the sound high-pitched. Its legs scrambled for purchase, trying to pull away.
[–1HP]
[–1HP]
[–1HP]
[HP: 427/435]
Kaelen pulled harder.
The mandibles cracked with a wet, grinding sound of chitin breaking under stress. The left one snapped first, then the right, both breaking at their base where they connected to the Strider's head.
The beast's scream cut off into a gurgling sound. Kaelen didn't hesitate. Still holding the broken mandibles, he drove them downward, stabbing both into the top of the Strider's head with all his strength.
The beast's body convulsed. Its legs collapsed, the massive frame slammed into the ground with enough force to crack the reinforced stone beneath it.
Kaelen released the mandibles and moved. His hands, still glowing with aether coating, came down in a hammering strike to the Strider's head. The impact cratered the chitin around where the mandibles had penetrated.
He struck again. And again.
The aether coating faded. He didn't bother reapplying it. Just kept punching with bare fists, each impact driving the beast's head further into the ground. The chitin cracked, then shattered. Dark fluid leaked from the breaks.
[–1 HP]
[–1 HP]
His knuckles split from the repeated impacts against hard chitin. He didn't stop.
The Strider's legs twitched reflexively. Its body tried to move, some deep survival instinct activating even with its head being destroyed. But there was no coordination.
[–1 HP]
[–1 HP]
[–1 HP]
[HP: 422/435]
The burns on his hands were opening with each impact, fresh damage mixing with his healing process but he didn't stop.
Punch. Punch. Punch.
The Strider's movements ceased and its body went still.
[Killed Lesser Embermaw Strider (F-Rank) ×1]
[+250 XP]
[Achievement Unlocked: Arthropod Slayer I (F-Rank)]
[Description: When facing Arthropod-type monsters, Defense +3, Strength +3, Agility +3]
[Base Level: 12] (2800/4000 XP)
[System Level: 11] (2900/3300 XP)
Kaelen straightened slowly, his breathing steady despite the exertion. His hands throbbed. His palms were burned, blistered from gripping the heated mandibles. His knuckles were split and bleeding from punching through chitin without protection.
But he felt... calm. Focused in a way that had nothing to do with excitement or satisfaction. Just the cold assessment of capability demonstrated.
The observation booth was silent.
"Mr. Burn," the receptionist's voice said finally, carrying a note of something that might have been shock. "Please exit the chamber."
Kaelen walked back toward the entrance, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Behind him, the Strider's corpse lay in a growing pool of dark fluid, its head completely caved in.
The door opened. Lira stood just outside, her silver eyes studying him with an expression he couldn't read.
She understood what had just happened. The brutality wasn't about anger or losing control. It was the product of someone who'd faced genuine threats and learned that hesitation meant death.
The Mauler had taught him that lesson in the worst possible way.
The receptionist emerged from the booth, her professional composure firmly in place but her eyes carrying visible uncertainty. She looked at Kaelen, then at the corpse, then back at Kaelen.
"That was..." She paused, choosing words carefully. "Effective. Though I'd recommend using weapons in future encounters. Hand-to-hand against beasts with natural armor carries unnecessary risk."
"Understood," Kaelen said simply.
She studied him for another moment, then nodded. "Both assessments are complete. Follow me back to reception for final processing."
They walked through the corridor in silence. The other adventurers in the waiting area had returned to their own business, unaware of what had just happened in chamber seven.
At the reception desk, the woman pulled up their files and made final adjustments. Two physical badges materialized from a fabricator beside her terminal. Small metal pieces, maybe three centimeters across and linked chain around it.
"Your official adventurer badges," she said, handing them over. "The color represents your rank. Both of you are starting at F-rank, which is designated by faint blue. Tags will be changed with advancement."
Kaelen took his badge, noting the subtle shimmer to it. He wore it on his neck, sitting just above the Bloodline Thread.
Lira did the same, her expression pleased.
"The mission board is accessible through any guild or their terminal." the receptionist continued. "Parties can be formed freely between any licensed adventurers. You can also accept quests from any guild as long as you hold a valid license and all licenses will be renewed annually. You can only take a mission of the same rank or lower."
She paused, her tone becoming more serious. "A word of advice for new F-ranks. Solo operations are significantly more dangerous than party work. The guild strongly recommends forming groups for your first several missions. Survival rates improve with teams. Also, you're are meant to take a mission every two month to be considered an active F-rank adventurer. And every successful mission adds to your point to rank up."
"Noted," Kaelen said."One more thing. I wish to sell some E rank crystals."
"That's not a problem," the receptionist said."I'll help with the appraisal."
Kaelen reached into his Oblivion Pouch, the dimensional space responding to his intent. Five E-rank serpent crystals materialized in his hand, each one glowing with soft amber light.
He set them on the counter.
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly at what he just did. She didn't see any inventory ring on his fingers, and wondered if that was a skill he used. She picked up the first crystal, examining it. Her fingers moved across her terminal, pulling up appraisal data.
"E-rank serpent crystals," she said after a moment. "It's of standard quality, well-preserved." She set the first down and examined the others. "No contamination, energy signatures are stable."
She set them down and pulled up market data on her screen. "E-rank crystals fluctuate based on market demand, but current rates are stable. A complete E-rank beast with harvested materials would be worth approximately five hundred fifty thousand credits. Since these are just the crystals, individual value drops to three hundred sixty thousand each."
Kaelen's chest tightened. Three hundred sixty thousand per crystal. Five crystals. That was nearly two million credits.
"Guild commission on crystal sales is three percent," the receptionist continued. "That brings each crystal to three hundred forty-nine thousand, two hundred credits after tax."
She looked up at him. "Total offer for all five: one million, seven hundred forty-six thousand credits. Payment will be transferred to your guild-linked account immediately upon acceptance."
Kaelen stared at the number on the screen. One point seven million. Added to what he already had, he'd be holding over three million credits.
"I accept," he said.
The receptionist processed the transaction. Within seconds, his wristband chimed with the confirmation. The credits appeared in his account.
[Account Balance: 3,239,980 credits]
"Transaction complete," she said, returning the now-recorded crystals to proper storage."I forgot to add. You can get a phone or a wrist band specially designed to be used in the Scourged Zone."
"Why is it different?" Kaelen asked.
But before the receptionist could reply, Lira voiced out."It's designed like the academy's wristband. A normal wristband or phone can't handle the aether interference in the Scourged Zone. But it can and it has applications for adventurers."
Kaelen paused thinking about it before speaking,"How much are they?"
She replied,"The better the quality of the phone the higher the the price." She continued." It ranges from three hundred thousand to one million seven hundred thousand credits."
Kaelen kept his composure on the outside but was screaming internally.
The receptionist spoke again."I will advise you to get a wristband called UD. It's for beginners and costs three hundred and twenty-two thousand credits."
Kaelen thought for a moment, weighing his choice.
"We will pick two," He said.
"We?" Lira asked nervously,"I don't have the—"
"I will pay." He said.
"I decline. Don't—"
"You have declined once, don't do it twice." Kaelen voiced out with an unshakeable conviction."And you need it. Please allow me."
"Fine. But when it's my turn, don't turn me down."She pouted.
"I won't be humble," Kaelen said.
"Two it is," the receptionist said.
She registered two sleek looking wristbands, amber and gray and handed it to them.
Kaelen chose the gray one and Lira chose the amber color.
"That comes to a total of six hundred and forty-thousand."
She processed the transaction and completed it.
"Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
"No, thank you," Kaelen said.
"Then welcome to the Ashford Guild's adventurer registry, Mr. Burn, Ms. Venn. Good luck in the field."
His total balance came to a total of:
[Account Balance:2,599,980 credits]
As they turned to leave, a voice called out from across the reception area.
"Kaelen? Kaelen Burn?"
They both turned. A young man was approaching, maybe eighteen or nineteen. His face was vaguely familiar, probably someone Kaelen had seen but he couldn't point out.
"I knew it was you," the young man said, stopping a respectful distance away. His expression carried a mix of recognition and uncertainty. "I didn't think i would meet with the academy's celebrity here."
Kaelen felt heat rise to his face as it clicked. "Just getting registered."
"Smart." The student glanced at Lira, then back to Kaelen. "I'm Thomas from Enhancer Combat Division. I'm here with my team, we're doing our first mission tomorrow."
"Good luck with it," Kaelen said, trying to keep his tone neutral and not unfriendly.
Thomas nodded, his expression showing genuine respect rather than the usual social posturing. "You too. Maybe we'll run into each other in the field sometime."
He walked away before the conversation could become more awkward, rejoining a group near the mission board.
They left the building, stepping back into the late morning sunlight and walked in silence.
They reached the transit station and boarded the car heading back down to the seventh tier. They claimed seats near the window.
"I'm going to do solo hunts," Kaelen said after they'd been riding for a few minutes.
Lira turned to look at him. "That's reckless. "
He met her gaze. "I need to know my real capabilities. Fighting with a team is one thing, but if I'm ever alone again..."
"You're going to get yourself killed," Lira said flatly.
"Maybe." Kaelen met her gaze. "Or maybe I'll figure out what I'm actually capable of. Either way, I need to know."
Lira was quiet for a moment, studying him with those sharp silver eyes. Then she sighed.
"Fine. But we compromise. Some missions together, some separately. And you check in regularly. If you go dark for more than the mission entails on a solo hunt, I'm coming to find you."
"Deal."
"And Kaelen?" Her expression was serious now. "That thing you did in the chamber. With the Strider..."
He waited.
"That's not you being stronger..." Her voice was gentle but firm. "What happened in the Scourged Zone left a mark. Don't pretend it didn't."
Kaelen looked away, back toward the window. The city passed below them, the seventh tier growing closer. "I'm fine."
"You're not. But you will be." Lira's hand touched his shoulder briefly. "Just don't lose yourself trying to prove something."
They rode the rest of the way in comfortable silence.
The seventh tier transit station was busier now, mid-morning traffic picking up. They parted ways at the platform. Kaelen toward his apartment.
The walk home was familiar. The narrow streets, the twilight filtered through layers of smog, the distant hum of machinery.
His mother was in the kitchen when he arrived, preparing an early lunch. She looked up as he entered, her expression brightening.
"You're back. How was your morning?"
"Good," Kaelen said, not specifying what he'd actually been doing. "Just took care of some registration stuff."
She studied him with that particular mother's perception that missed nothing. "Registration for what?"
"Nothing important," he said, which was a lie.
She held his gaze for a moment longer, then nodded. She knew he was planning something. But she also knew pushing would just make him defensive.
"Lunch will be ready in twenty minutes," she said simply.
Kaelen retreated to his room, closing the door behind him. He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the familiar ceiling cracks.
The F-rank beast had been easy. Too easy. It was supposedly stronger than the average Aether Scourge Wolves he'd fought before, and it had given him two hundred fifty experience instead of the usual one hundred fifty for F-ranks.
But it had felt predictable.
He pulled up his System interface, reviewing his current status.
[HP: 435/435]
[A.E.: 555/555]
Kaelen closed the interface and let his eyes drift shut. His hands still throbbed faintly where the burns had been, but even that was fading as his regeneration continued its work.
Tomorrow he'd start looking at a
missions. F-rank hunts to build experience and reputation.
His mother called from the kitchen. "Lunch!"
Kaelen opened his eyes, pushed himself up from the bed, and headed out to eat with his mother.
He would worry about the rest after the meal.