Ash hesitated for a moment. If this band can count kills and assists, what are the odds they can access my system?
Fuck it. If it were that easy to peek into someone else's screen, hiding my profession would be pointless. It would be exposed sooner or later.
He hoped that wasn't the case. But if it was, then he would have to adjust his entire attitude toward this world.
"We are in a party." Jessie grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the registrar handing out the wristbands.
The man at the desk was a bulky figure with a scar running down his left cheek. His eyes were cold, scanning every new recruit with indifference.
"Names?" he asked, bored.
"Jessie Morn. Mage."
"Ash…" He paused for a second, unsure whether to give out his profession openly. Then he smirked faintly. "Hunter."
The man tapped something on a crystal tablet, and both their names lit up on the giant screen above.
Squad 21: Jessie (Mage), Ash (Hunter).
"You'll enter in the third batch," the registrar said, strapping the glowing bands onto their wrists. "Remember: no outside interference, no sabotage. Survival is your own responsibility. The bands will record kills, assists, damage dealt, and contribution score. Your ranking depends on it."
Jessie raised her chin proudly, already picturing her name flashing on top of the list. Ash, on the other hand, stared at the faint runes glowing on the wristband. The symbols pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.
This isn't simple tech. It's more like a monitoring artifact… The moment I use a skill, will this thing log it?
The recruits around them were buzzing with nervous energy—checking weapons, whispering strategies, bragging about their levels. Some formed squads of five, others, like them, only two.
From the side, a group of four well-dressed recruits sneered at Jessie and Ash.
"Two-man squad? Dead weight already," one of them chuckled, brushing back his glossy hair. His band gleamed with golden trim, marking him as a noble's son.
Jessie clenched her jaw, muttering, "Arrogant bastards."
Ash smirked. "Relax. They'll fall harder when you will help us pass."
Suddenly, a deep voice boomed across the square. A C-rank guild officer stepped onto a raised platform, wearing black armor adorned with silver insignia. His presence silenced the crowd instantly.
"Listen up, recruits! This is the Guild Entry Test. You'll be placed inside an E-rank dungeon. Your task: survive, fight, and prove your worth. Rankings will be displayed live on the board outside. Top five squads will receive recruitment offers from major guilds. Bottom-ranked squads will be disqualified immediately."
The officer's gaze swept across the crowd, sharply there were around forty squads and in every turn 10 squads would enter.
"Inside, there are no rules—other than survival. Cooperate if you can, backstab if you dare. The dungeon doesn't care. And neither do we."
Murmurs erupted. Some looked nervous, others thrilled.
Ash's lips curled slightly. No rules except survival? That's my specialty.
The officer raised his hand. The glowing portal behind him flared brighter, humming with power.
"First ten squads—enter!"
The first group walked through the blue light, vanishing instantly. The screen updated, showing their progress.
Jessie tightened her grip on her staff. "We'll show them. I'll get us into the top five."
Ash only chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "You do your best. I'll do the killing."
Ash seeing two 20 go in and come out realised something, no one died till now there were obvious injuries which were caused by God knows what.
The dungeon clearing time screen and guilds personal point system screen were different.
No one moved on Timing ranking but the number ranking screen had changed when second turn squads came out but their points weren't shown on the screen.
Finally it was their turn, looking at almost forty people entering beside him gave a ominous feeling to Ash. He knew things will go wrong and his thoughts were solidified when he saw those arrogant kids entering with him.
The portal swallowed them whole.
Ash felt a chilling pull as his vision blurred, and then—
Whoosh.
They emerged into a dense forest bathed in eerie green light. The air was damp, heavy with the smell of moss and earth. The sound of rustling leaves and distant growls made Jessie stiffen.
"So this is an forest dungeon…" she muttered, gripping her staff tightly.
Ash's eyes scanned the terrain. The trees were unnaturally tall, their twisted roots breaking through the ground like coiled serpents. The atmosphere reminded him of a hunting ground—except this time, he wasn't the only hunter.
"Be on your toes," he said quietly, drawing the blade at his waist. The familiar weight steadied him. This was the perfect chance to test his other skills.
A growl echoed to their left. Ash raised a hand, signaling Jessie to hold still. His senses sharpened, luck kicking in.
Two creatures emerged from the shadows—wolf-like, but their bodies were covered in thick, obsidian scales instead of fur. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the them.
"No way, another wolf fight" Ash cried but then he sighed "at least these are with different attributes"
Jessie's breath stoped. "Scaled direwolves. E-rank beasts. They hunt in packs..."
Before she could finish, Ash darted forward.
The nearest wolf lunged, jaws wide. Ash sidestepped, fluid and precise, his blade flashing. A clean slash across its leg made the beast stumble. It snarled, but Ash was already moving again, circling behind.
The second wolf leapt at Jessie. She raised her staff, chanting quickly.
"—Ignis Burst!"
A ball of flame erupted, striking the wolf mid-air and knocking it aside with a yelp. The fire clung to its scales, sizzling.
Ash didn't waste a second. His blade pierced the first wolf's throat, finishing it cleanly. The wristband on his arm glowed faintly. [And number 1 showed on his hands.]
[+10 Exp] his screen flickered making him disappointed with low Exp. He remembered getting 10 Exp for killing similar level of beasts but at that time 10 Exp made significant impact making him level up.
The second wolf, burned but furious, charged again. Ash dashed forward instead of waiting, sliding low and slashing at its underbelly. The blade bit through its softer scales, spilling dark Blood. The beast collapsed.
[+8 Exp]
Jessie lowered her staff slowly. "You didn't even hesitate…"
Ash wiped the blade on the grass. "Hesitation gets you killed." His eyes flicked to the glowing rune on his wristband. "That's two down. Expect more."
As if on cue, more growls rose in the distance. Several pairs of red eyes appeared deeper in the forest.
Jessie cursed. "A pack's coming. Five… no, six of them."