POV Logan
I followed Marie inside the guild, and she led me to a staircase descending toward the basement. As we went down, I felt the air grow cooler, and a faint glow began to appear in the distance. Finally, we arrived in a vast underground space, lit by crystals fixed to the stone walls, emanating a strong yet pleasant white light. In front of me stretched an impressive arena, surrounded by stands with a few spectators.
"This is the guild's arena. It's here that members fight to rank up or to train," Marie explained.
I watched the arena where two fighters were exchanging blows with vigor, their movements a fluid mix of strength and agility. One of them, wielding a sword, dodged with dazzling speed, while the other, armed with a spear, struck with raw power, taking advantage of his weapon's longer reach.
Marie walked over to a small desk where another receptionist was stationed, and after a few moments, she came back calmly.
"Here, you've been assigned a number. You just have to wait for your turn. I'll come watch your match."
"Why do you want to see my match?"
"You intrigue me," Marie said with a small smile before walking away.
As Marie left and I quietly sat down in the stands, I had the unpleasant feeling of being watched.
POV ???
"Hey guys, have you seen that guy before?" asked a stranger, pointing his finger.
"Yeah, he's a newbie who registered with the guild a few days ago," answered another.
"Huh! And he's already taking the test to rank up!" exclaimed a third.
"How about we go pay him a little visit?" suggested the first one with a grin.
The three men stood up and headed toward him with cheerful looks.
POV Logan
"Hey, you're the new recruit, right?" asked a man who stepped in front of me.
As I peacefully watched the spectacle offered by the arena, where fierce duels unfolded before my eyes, I was suddenly approached by three individuals walking toward me with determined strides.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Alfred, a Rank D adventurer, soon to be Rank C if I pass the test. These are my companions, Reinhard and Lewis, also Rank D," declared the tallest of the three.
Despite a bad feeling, out of simple politeness after all, I had been well-raised I introduced myself as well.
"I'm Logan, Rank F adventurer, soon to be Rank E," I replied politely.
"How long have you been registered?" Alfred asked.
"Today."
"That's more than impressive. You'll be the fastest adventurer to rank up."
"Apparently," I replied nonchalantly.
"Say, how about joining our group?" proposed Alfred, the bearded leader with gray eyes, wearing a smile.
"No, thank you," I politely declined, trying to focus back on the fights in the arena.
"Listen, our boss is making you a good offer. Here's some advice: accept it," insisted Reinhard, a smaller and frailer man.
"I'll do better on my own," I said confidently.
"I see your little rank-up is going to your head!" said Lewis, moving closer to my face.
"So I answer you politely, but since you don't like my answer, you start looking down on me. Get out of my sight now that's some advice for you," I said, staring them straight in the eyes.
"You just became an adventurer, and you're already this arrogant!" added Reinhard as he stepped closer too.
"I won't repeat myself. Out of my sight!" I said as I stood up, the floor starting to crack under my feet.
"Hey, calm down, guys, he's right. Your reaction is out of line. Please excuse my companions; they're just a little on edge," said Alfred, placing a hand on his two teammates.
They finally left, returning to their seats without causing further commotion.
"What annoying people," I thought as I watched them leave, just as a voice suddenly rang out:
"Number 15, Alfred," announced the examiner.
"Well then, let's see what he's capable of," I said, refocusing my attention.
I watched the man confidently stride toward the arena, and the fight began in a whirlwind of action where Alfred quickly demonstrated his talent. Flames danced at the tips of his fingers, crackling intensely, while the earth itself sprang from his hands, shaping into defensive shields and razor-sharp projectiles. Water joined the fray, swirling around him, sometimes forming protective walls, sometimes transforming into a lasso that ensnared his opponent.
His right hand wielded a sword, its blade gleaming under the arena lights. His opponent, the examiner, was also armed with a sword, and together they began a deadly dance of strikes and parries. The clash of metal rang out in an almost musical rhythm, captivating the audience as they followed each movement with rapt attention.
Both wielding medium-sized swords, perfect for swift maneuverability, Alfred and his examiner fought on equal footing. The blades, in their incessant ballet, traced arcs of light through the air, testifying to equal mastery and precision from both combatants.
The turning point came when Alfred, with a focused shout, ignited his sword. Voracious flames erupted along the blade, casting his face in a fiery glow and projecting dancing shadows across the arena walls. This spectacular act gave him the advantage, his strikes growing more intense and dangerous. He even launched frenzied bursts of water bullets into the mix.
However, the examiner, far from intimidated, retaliated with renewed vigor. His already fast movements became a blur, his steps blending into a rapid rhythm. At the same time, he fired compressed air bullets with surgical precision, all while dodging and darting around Alfred. Though Alfred parried each attack with his flaming blade, he found himself increasingly pressed under the examiner's relentless barrage.
In an act of desperation, Alfred unleashed a massive fire attack, a torrent of flames surging toward the examiner. The latter, with almost supernatural agility, narrowly dodged the blazing onslaught. But strangely, just as he seemed to have the upper hand, the examiner suddenly stopped dead. His body, a moment before in full motion, froze as if caught by an invisible force, his expression reflecting surprise mingled with sudden realization.
"Huh, clever idea," I remarked, having understood what had happened.
Alfred had combined earth and water to create mud, which he then hardened instantly with fire to trap his opponent for a few seconds. The examiner, caught in the trap, struggled to break free, but it was too late Alfred's sword was already pressed against his throat, ending the match.
"Alfred, you officially pass to Rank C, congratulations," declared the examiner, yielding.
Alfred stepped out of the arena and shot me a glance, a smile on his lips, which irritated me slightly.
"I don't like that... he's hiding something," I murmured.
But I didn't have time to dwell on it, as my number and name rang out.
"Number 16, Logan!" announced the examiner.
I took a deep breath and made my way into the arena, walking resolutely toward the one who would be my examiner. He was different from the one Alfred had faced, which meant examiners likely varied depending on the candidate's level. He carried an ornate staff in his hand, its carved wood faintly glowing under the arena's dim lighting, indicating he was probably a mage or sorcerer; certainly not a close-combat fighter.
His sharp, piercing eyes scrutinized me with measured curiosity, no doubt assessing my capabilities.
"I am Cirfe, your Rank E examiner. I will evaluate if you're fit to advance to Rank E yourself. Lethal attacks are forbidden. You may use any weapon or magic. If you get injured, a healer is standing by," the examiner explained.
I calmly took my stance, adjusting my posture, focusing my mind, and before the match began, I caught sight of Marie giving me a little wave from the stands.
"Have you chosen a weapon?" asked the examiner.
"I don't need one," I replied calmly.
"Very well, are you ready then?"
"Yes."
***
The moment the match began, the atmosphere turned electric. Cirfe, with remarkable agility, swiftly launched a barrage of fireballs, lighting up the field in a fiery red glow. Each of his attacks traced an incandescent arc through the air, creating a mesmerizing dance of flames that enthralled the audience. Yet Logan, unperturbed, watched the blazing projectiles with disconcerting serenity. To him, these fireballs, while spectacular, lacked the power to pose any real threat. He stood unmoving, his eyes fixed on Cirfe, who looked puzzled.
"He's not moving?" the examiner thought in confusion.
The fireballs hurtled toward Logan, like blazing meteors streaking across a night sky. Upon impact, a series of deafening explosions erupted, engulfing Logan in a whirlwind of flames and smoke. Shockwaves rippled across the arena, making the ground tremble under the feet of the astonished spectators.
"Why didn't he dodge?!" shouted one onlooker.
"He could have blocked it," added another.
But their question was quickly answered. Despite the apparent force of the attack, the result was unexpected. When the smoke finally cleared, Logan stood there — stoic and unharmed. Not a single scratch was visible on his unshaken figure. He emerged from the inferno as if nothing had happened, leaving both the audience and his opponent utterly stunned.
"What the... He didn't take any damage, how is that possible?!" exclaimed Marie from the stands, seeing Logan emerge without a single scratch.
"Well, let's finish this quickly," Logan said with a smile.
Suddenly, Logan amplified his speed using Vector Control, exploding forward with blinding velocity, becoming almost like a human lightning bolt across the arena floor. In one fluid and rapid motion, he rushed straight toward his opponent. Cirfe, panicking at the unexpected acceleration, reacted instinctively. His trembling hands conjured a rain of fireballs, flung desperately in a frantic attempt to halt Logan's advance.
However, Logan, in a display that bordered on terrifying, passed through each attack unharmed. The fireballs struck him in succession, yet caused no damage, as though he were an invincible god slipping through the flames.
In the blink of an eye, he reached Cirfe, who was still in shock; before the examiner could even regain his senses, Logan had already grabbed him by the neck and effortlessly lifted him off the ground. The scene happened so quickly, so suddenly, that the entire arena seemed to hold its breath, witnessing a moment of sheer mastery and intensity.
"It seems I've won," Logan declared, looking the man straight in the eyes.
With a sharp, emotionless gesture, Logan released his grip. Cirfe collapsed to the floor like a ragdoll, landing heavily on his backside. He was shaken, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and fear, unable to comprehend how the duel had ended so abruptly.
The fight, which had begun with such fiery intensity, was over in an instant, leaving an atmosphere of stunned disbelief hanging in the air. The arena, once filled with the roar of the crowd and the crackle of flames, fell into a heavy silence. Spectators were frozen in place—some with mouths agape, others glancing at each other in search of an explanation for what they had just witnessed.
Logan stood tall, his expression unreadable, as if nothing extraordinary had happened. He was the calm at the center of the storm, the unmoving point in a world that had just tilted into the extraordinary.
"Boss?" asked Lewis.
"Yes... he seems to have some interesting abilities," said Alfred, who had watched the fight with keen interest.
Logan walked calmly out of the arena under the multitude of staring eyes, including Marie's, who looked at him with a mix of awe and intrigue.
"You really are a monster, after all," Marie said, her gaze sweeping him up and down.
"Not at all," he replied with a smile.
Finally, he received his updated guild card with his new rank. The once pure-white borders were now an elegant, understated gray, reflecting his advancement within the guild. This subtle yet meaningful change symbolized his ascent to a higher level—a rank few ever achieved. Logan held the card between his fingers, examining it carefully. The light shimmered gently off the gray edges, creating an almost magical effect.
"Congratulations on your rank-up. All quests are posted here if you want to take one. Just a note—you can only accept quests one rank above your own," she explained, pointing toward a board covered with quest notices.
"Very well, thank you," Logan replied.
After his extraordinary display of strength in the arena, Logan headed to the counter to collect the reward for his previous hunt. He was handed a heavy pouch containing 750 copper coins, a respectable amount that testified to the success of his mission. Since it was still early and he showed no signs of fatigue, he decided to take on a new quest: the extermination of the Noras.
The Noras monsters resembling bats but far larger were known for their nocturnal nature. However, that morning, a small group of these creatures had broken their habit by attacking a merchant convoy. Their abnormal behavior triggered an urgent extermination request.
Arriving at the site of their last sighting, Logan raised his gaze toward a sky darkened by the menacing flight of more than thirty Noras. These monsters, with their impressive wingspans—six times larger than ordinary bats were an unsettling mix of black and violet.
For the first time, Logan activated his ability: "Analyze." Information flowed into his mind, revealing that the Noras' levels ranged between 10 and 15.
"I should be able to gain two to five levels. Well, since they're close by, it shouldn't be difficult to hit them."
No sooner had the Noras spotted Logan than they dived at him with the speed and ferocity of starving raptors. Their approach was menacing a wave of creatures ready to tear into their prey. But Logan was already prepared. With unmatched speed and precision, his arm flashed a motion nearly imperceptible.
In an instant, thirty stones, each perfectly controlled, shot from his hand. They sliced through the air at bullet speed, piercing each Nora with surgical precision. The creatures, struck mid-flight, plummeted from the sky like flies, their bodies crashing to the ground with dull thuds.
The spectacle was both terrifying and mesmerizing. The stones had found their marks with ruthless efficiency, leaving behind a battlefield littered with corpses. Logan, at the center of the chaos, stood still, his impassive expression contrasting with the brutality of the act he had just committed.
< A new title has been acquired. >
Pigeon Shooter:
You eliminated your enemies with unsettling ease, as if they were nothing more than pitiful training targets. No suspense. No challenge. Just targets... and you, the relentless marksman. To you, the battle was nothing but a deadly game of precision.
Name: Logan | Race: Human | Age: 18 | Profession: Avenger-??? | Level: 32
Vitality: 206 | Magic Power: 100 | Attack: 76 | Defense: 72 | Speed: 60 | Endurance: 75 | Agility: 65 | Intelligence: 212 | Physical Strength: 82 | Willpower: 190 | Calculation: 198
Skills: Analyze, Stealth
Unique Skills: (None)
Legendary Skills: (None)
Exclusive Skills: Vector Control, Ultra-Fast Learning, Encyclopedia
Elements: (None)
Titles Acquired:
Goblin Exterminator Merciless Pigeon Shooter
Monster Encyclopedia
Noras
Type: Nocturnal Flying Monster Size: 2.5 to 3 meters wingspan (fully extended), about 1.5 meters tall at rest Appearance: Resembles a giant bat; dark fur, violet membranous wings, visible fangs, large sensitive ears Element: No innate element, though some specimens develop an affinity with Darkness or Sound Intelligence Level: Instinctive to Semi-intelligent (capable of simple group strategies) Disposition: Territorial and wary
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects, small mammals, and occasionally mana-rich fruits
Notable Traits
Extremely silent flight, aided by flexible membranous wings Highly sensitive to sound; abnormal disturbances can cause an entire colony to flee Attracted to light sources in deep forests and isolated mountains Prefers to hunt alone, but gathers in colonies to sleep on rocky cliff faces Possesses a magical echolocation system, allowing navigation in complete darkness Their flesh is renowned for being exceptionally tender and slightly sweet; highly prized in certain noble cuisines despite their repulsive appearance
Description
Noras are creatures of the night, emerging at dusk to explore misty valleys, hanging caves, and isolated peaks. Their strange silhouette blends the fluid elegance of a bird of prey with the unsettling appearance of a monstrous bat. Their dense, dark fur absorbs light, rendering them nearly invisible in the shadows.
Their wingspan is impressive: with translucent violet wings, veined like the petals of a giant lily, Noras glide silently, swooping down on prey with deadly precision. Despite their aggressive appearance, they rarely hunt humans unless cornered or extremely starved.
Their piercing yellow gaze and sharp fangs have not prevented some cultures from seeing them as a delicacy. Their meat, surprisingly tender and nutritious, makes them a target despite their feral nature.
Habitat
Sheer cliffs, hanging caves, rocky mountain peaks Colonies often hidden in high natural caves, difficult to access without equipment or flying mounts
Natural Abilities
Magical echolocation (can detect through thin walls or smoke) Nearly silent flight Adapted to high altitudes and cold nocturnal climates Capable of emitting piercing shrieks with a disorienting effect when threatened
"Noras do not cry out when attacking. They do not whistle in the wind. They appear, swallow the light... and kill before you can scream."