"Looking for one extra member to take on a low-level danger zone!"
"Are there any healer ready for an early morning grind?"
"If you're above level 5, please come and join our party!"
The loud voices of trainees thundered across a certain area of the vast field, each one trying to gather teammates for the morning grind.
The rising sun bathed the entire training ground in warm light. By now, different parties had already been formed, some small with only two members, others larger with over a dozen, all preparing to raid the danger zones surrounding the training camp in order to grind levels and loot.
Marlon hung around this bustling area, searching for a trustworthy party to join.
He had already planned to grind a few levels today, both to increase his strength and to experiment with his newfound talent even more.
Unfortunately, as always, his reputation followed him like a shadow, making it nearly impossible to find a party that would accept him.
"Even if you have an SS-rank talent, I'll never team up with you after all the crap you've pulled since the day we met!" one party leader barked angrily.
"If this masochist joins, I'm out!" a young female trainee folded her arms and declared with hostility.
"Get lost!" another shouted.
Every group he approached rejected him outright, some hurling sharp insults, others even trying to pick a fight just to vent their pent-up anger from past encounters.
Marlon could only sigh. The rejection didn't pierce him, nor did the constant insults. How could they? He carried an overpowered EX-rank talent.
Since no party agrees to accept me… then why not form my own?
Once the thought formed, his decision was made.
He walked past all the established parties and headed toward a pair of anxious nerds who were fidgeting nervously, clearly trying to summon the courage to ask for an invitation.
There were two of them, both wearing glasses, which only solidified their image as the camp's nerds.
"Hey, do you guys want to form a party with me?" Marlon asked, flashing a confident smile.
The two turned to look at him, then exchanged a confused glance before facing him again.
"Ehh?" one of them let out, almost urging him to repeat himself.
"None of these guys are going to accept you into their party. Same for me. So why not join me instead? Let's form our own party and grind."
The two of them stayed silent for a moment.
It was true. No one wanted them. Even though they had awakened their talents, they had never participated in a single raid. During the horde attack last night, they had been among the many who hid instead of fighting.
After that shameful night, they swore to summon their courage and join a raid this morning, hoping to grow stronger. But just as expected, no party wanted to carry two level 1 nerds.
"So what do you say? Are you in, or out?" Marlon pressed again.
The first one adjusted his glasses and nodded.
The second, however, didn't agree so quickly. "We're all weaklings. We'd die if we entered a danger zone alone, even if it's the lowest-level ones."
Hearing that, the one who had agreed began doubting his decision.
"Don't worry," Marlon reassured them with a smile. "I have a hidden cheat that guarantees not only survival but also victory. And honestly, I only need you guys because the rules require at least three people before entrance into danger zones is allowed. If you don't want to fight, fine. I'll still give you a share of the loot as compensation."
Hidden cheat? Only using us as fillers?
They didn't believe him.
If it had been Selena or Drever, maybe. But Marlon—the infamous masochist? Not a chance.
When they still didn't respond, Marlon stepped forward and placed his hands on their shoulders, smiling. Then he increased the pressure of his grip, making both of them wince in pain.
The strength he displayed was far beyond what a level 1 could muster. Even a level 2 hunter wouldn't normally possess that much raw force.
"Do you believe me now?" Marlon asked again, this time with a smirk.
Both nerds nodded hurriedly.
"Good! Now, tell me your names and talents. We'll need to understand each other properly if we want to succeed as a party, right?"
They nodded before answering.
The first introduced himself as Ashton. He was about 5'2" tall, had black hair styled in a long mullet, and sharp black eyes behind his glasses. His talent was D-rank Pyromancy, granting him the ability to use basic fire affinity spells and skills.
The second was Logan. He stood a bit taller at 5'5", with brown hair styled in the same mullet cut, black eyes, and a face covered in blemishes. He was noticeably more nervous than his friend.
His talent was E-rank Beast Whisperer—he could communicate with small animals, but had no real offensive or defensive skills.
'Explains why no one wants him,' Marlon thought. 'But talents like these can become terrifyingly strong once developed.'
"Good," Marlon nodded. "I'm Marlon, as you already know. But what you don't know is that I'm not just good at taking beatings—I'm also good at dishing them out to monsters. Nice to meet you both."
He extended his hand for a handshake.
Ashton and Logan both extended theirs too.
But because of their anxious, jittery nature, both reached at the exact same time. Realizing it, one pulled back to let the other go first only to see the other had done the same.
What followed was an awkward back-and-forth of hesitation, retreat, and reaching again. It dragged on for nearly twenty seconds before they finally managed to shake Marlon's hand.
"The losers have finally united."
"Are they seriously trying to take on a danger zone together just because we rejected them?"
"Impossible. The three of them entering a danger zone is basically suicide."
Other trainees discussed after seeing their interactions.
But the three paid no heeds to the chattering going on about them.
Following behind Marlon, they began their journey.
....
First Week Challenge:
Every 50 Powerstones Equal 3 Extra Chaps.
Current: 34/50
Come on guys!