THE GUILD BASE WAS BUZZING WITH ENERGY.
ELARA ENTERED RYUJIN'S ROOM WITH A SEALED ENVELOPE.
"Ryujin, the Association has given you an opportunity.
Clear the A-rank dungeon assigned to you, and your hunter rank will be upgraded to A-rank Hunter immediately."
RYUJIN LOOKED AT HER, EYES COLD.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then they'll keep you locked as B-rank and use it against you forever," Elara replied sharply.
"It's a political move. Pass the test, and you gain freedom."
ARIANA SMILED AT HIM,
"We're coming with you. You're not doing this alone."
THE TEAM STOOD BEFORE A GIGANTIC A-RANK GATE, ITS LIGHT PULSING LIKE A HEARTBEAT.
KAI CRACKED HIS KNUCKLES.
"Feels like a trap, honestly."
RYUJIN HELD HIS KATANA.
"If it is, then they'll regret setting it."
THE TEAM ENTERED.
THEY WERE SWALLOWED BY DARKNESS.
THE DUNGEON WAS A MASSIVE UNDERGROUND FORTRESS CRAWLING WITH DEMONIC BEASTS.
THE MOMENT THEY STEPPED INSIDE, A PACK OF CERBERUS-LIKE DEMON HOUNDS CHARGED.
"Careful! Those things are tough!" Kai shouted.
RYUJIN MOVED FIRST.
VOID STEP ACTIVATED—HE VANISHED, REAPPEARING BEHIND THE LEAD HOUND.
A SINGLE DARK MOON SLASH SPLIT IT IN HALF.
"One hit…" Ariana whispered, shocked.
RYUJIN TURNED TO THE REST, HIS EYES COLD.
"Move forward. I'll clear the path."
THE PARTY WATCHED AS RYUJIN CUT THROUGH MONSTER AFTER MONSTER, HIS ABYSSAL AURA SHAKING THE FORTRESS WALLS.
EVEN THE ELITE DEMONS FELL IN ONE OR TWO BLOWS.
"This… this is beyond A-rank," Ariana muttered.
"He's not even trying," Kai added.
THE DEEPER THEY WENT, THE STRONGER THE ENEMIES GOT—
OGRE CHIEFTAINS, ARMORED DEMON SOLDIERS, AND FLAME WRAITHS—
BUT RYUJIN KEPT MOVING LIKE A SHADOW, CARVING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION.
FINALLY, THEY REACHED THE BOSS CHAMBER.
A GIANT HELL DRAKE ROARED, ITS SCORCHED WINGS UNFOLDING.
THE ASSOCIATION OBSERVERS WATCHING THROUGH CRYSTALS HELD THEIR BREATH.
"If he can kill this… he's definitely A-rank," one whispered.
RYUJIN STEPPED FORWARD ALONE.
"Stay back," he ordered.
THE DRAKE BREATHED FIRE, TURNING THE CHAMBER INTO A SEA OF FLAMES.
RYUJIN ACTIVATED KING'S WILL.
HIS STATS SPIKED VIOLENTLY—
ONE FLASH, ONE DARK MOON ARC, AND THE DRAKE'S HEAD SEPARATED FROM ITS BODY.
SILENCE.
"That's… overkill," Kai muttered.
"That's Ryujin," Ariana whispered with a small smile.
THE DUNGEON SHATTERED.
ASSOCIATION OBSERVERS RECEIVED THE REPORT:
"DUNGEON CLEARED IN UNDER 2 HOURS. RANK UPGRADED TO A-RANK HUNTER."
RYUJIN WALKED OUT OF THE GATE WITH HIS TEAM.
HIS AURA FELT HEAVIER THAN BEFORE.
A-rank hunter… one step closer.