Pixa City, one of the jewels of the Fellims Kingdom, was bathed in the warm sunlight of the season. However, for three young people who had recently become the talk of the town, time seemed to crawl.
Day after day had passed since the shocking incident at the rank promotion test. As a result of that event, Party Noiver was slapped with a temporary suspension sanction. Their status was left in limbo, and the privilege of accepting missions from the request board was frozen until a decision came down from headquarters.
For a true adventurer, being forbidden from adventuring is a torture more cruel than fighting monsters.
To kill the boredom and keep their combat instincts sharp, they headed to the forest. However, whenever they passed through the gates, the soldiers didn't even bother checking their identities because they already knew the three teenagers all too well.
From the crack of dawn until late afternoon every day, the clashing of steel and explosions of mana rang out ceaselessly, sounds that could even be heard all the way to the entrance gates of Pixa City.
Keyzier moved with lightning agility, combining his sword strikes with chantless magic. He created footholds in the air, leaped, and slashed through wooden training logs, splitting them in two.
On the other side, Donovan swung his massive sword with raw power, every slash creating wind pressure that sent dust flying.
Meanwhile, Novalia sat cross-legged in a quieter area, training her focus and mana control for her support magic, ensuring her buff spells could be cast in a fraction of a second.
Finally, on the late afternoon of the fourth day after the promotion test incident, a guild staff member arrived hurriedly at their inn. He was breathless, but his face carried a non-negotiable urgency.
"Party Noiver! The Guild Master is summoning you!" he said quickly. "The decision from headquarters regarding your promotion has arrived. Please report immediately."
The news was like a splash of fresh water in the middle of a desert. The fatigue from training instantly evaporated. Faces that had been gloomy with boredom turned bright.
Without wasting time, they cleaned themselves up, donned their best combat gear, and rushed toward the guild building with long, spirited strides.
Walking along the stone streets of Pixa City, their hearts beat fast.
"Key, Novan..." Novalia broke the silence amidst the sound of their footsteps. There was a note of anxiety in her voice. "What do you think we'll be promoted to? What if the result is bad?"
Donovan shrugged, though his hands were clenched tight to hide his nervousness. "I don't know. I have no idea."
Keyzier, walking at the very front, looked back with his signature wide grin. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Whatever the rank is, let's just get to the guild!"
The feelings of the three of them were a mix of emotions: relief that the wait was over, anxiety about the decision, curiosity about the result, and a burning spirit to return to adventuring.
The Adventurer's Guild building seemed busy that afternoon. However, when the large double doors opened and Party Noiver stepped inside, the crowd slowly quieted down. All eyes fixed on the three young figures walking toward the reception desk.
There, Patrick, the Guild Master, stood waiting. His posture was upright, his face serious, and his arms folded across his chest. An aura of authority radiated strongly from him, making anyone who looked at him hold their breath.
Keyzier, Donovan, and Novalia stopped right in front of Patrick. Their hearts pounded, awaiting the verdict.
The atmosphere inside the guild lobby turned into total silence. No clinking glasses, no chatter. All the other adventurers held their breath, tense as they watched this moment unfold. Party Noiver and the Guild Master faced each other, locking eyes in silence for a few agonizing seconds.
"Party Noiver!" Patrick's voice was heavy and echoed throughout the room. "After a long meeting with headquarters via magic communication, the final decision regarding your rank promotion has been determined by the central authority!"
Patrick paused for a moment, letting the tension creep up everyone's spine.
"We hope that the three of you, and everyone present here, can accept this decision!"
The atmosphere became increasingly gripping. Patrick's words sounded ambiguous, causing Donovan to swallow hard. The three members of Party Noiver were now in a state of uncertainty. Cold sweat began to trickle down. This was a historic moment that would determine the future of their careers.
Slowly, the serious expression on Patrick's face cracked, replaced by a warm, proud grin.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting in suspense! The decision issued by headquarters is: They have agreed to make Party Noiver Rank S Adventurers! Congratulations to the three of you!"
Silence reigned for one second due to disbelief. Then...
"WOOOAAAHHH!!!"
The guild lobby exploded.
Joy instantly bloomed on their faces. The atmosphere, once tense, turned into a chaotic uproar of cheers. Everyone clapped, whistled, and shouted congratulations to Party Noiver.
This was no ordinary promotion. Patrick explained with a loud voice so everyone could hear. "You are officially recorded as the fastest party to reach Rank S in the history of the Fellims Kingdom! In just two months since officially joining, you have reached the peak that every adventurer in this world dreams of!"
Two months. A crazy record that might not be broken for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years to come.
Patrick then handed over three beautifully glittering cards. "These are your new license cards."
Keyzier, Donovan, and Novalia accepted the cards with trembling hands due to their excitement. The golden cards felt heavy and cold, made of a special material far more luxurious than their previous ones.
They read them with sparkling eyes:
Name: Keyzier Almon / Donovan Harlan / Novalia
Rank: S / S / S
Party: [Rank S] Noiver
What made the cards even more special was the existence of two official stamps in the bottom corner: one stamp from the Guild of the Altoria Kingdom, and another from the Fellims Kingdom. This was proof of international recognition of their power.
Keyzier stared at the card intently. His smile widened from ear to ear. He raised the card high into the air and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"FINALLY!! WE ARE ALLOWED TO GO ON MISSIONS AGAIN!!"
Instantly, silence blanketed the room again.
Donovan and Novalia, who were moved by their "Rank S" status, turned robotically toward their party leader, their jaws dropped.
It wasn't just them. Patrick and all the adventurers in the lobby were equally stunned. They looked at each other with confused faces.
"Keyzier..." Patrick called out in disbelief. "Why are you so happy about the mission suspension being lifted? Do you realize you just became Rank S? The highest peak of the adventuring world?"
Keyzier lowered his hand, looking at Patrick with an innocent face free of sin.
"Rank S? Honestly, I don't care about rank. Rank S or Rank G, it's all the same. I just want to take missions again, and go to places I've never seen!"
The answer was so honest, so simple, and so... Keyzier.
Patrick fell silent for a moment, then his shoulders began to shake.
"So that's what you've been thinking about all this time? You really are a true adventurer, aren't you? Hahaha!"
Patrick's laughter exploded, followed by the laughter of Donovan, Novalia, and finally, the laughter of everyone in the guild lobby filled the room. The tension completely vanished, replaced by the warmth of celebration for the birth of this unique new legend.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in the Mayor's office.
News that Party Noiver had officially become the fastest Rank S adventurers in history had reached the ears of Wilson, the Mayor of Pixa. He stood looking out his office window with a satisfied smile.
He felt relieved and pleased. The guild had made a very wise decision. By granting the Rank S title, they not only acknowledged the terrifying power of those young kids but also effectively quelled the uproar and negative rumors that had circulated during the promotion test.
"This kingdom will become even more interesting with them around." Wilson muttered softly, closing the report file in his hand.