The elevator slowly ascended and stopped at the 25th floor. When the doors opened, they stepped into a specially decorated room that resembled a high-end business meeting lounge — dark polished wood table, floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of the city, soft golden lighting, and comfortable leather chairs arranged around the large conference table. Holographic displays hovered above the table, showing live dungeon maps and Hunter rankings.
Jens gestured politely toward one of the chairs.
"Please, have a seat."
Sato sat down without expression.
Jens and his two companions — Mr. Habes (the greatsword wielder) and Ms. Sia (the purple-haired archer) — sat opposite him.
Jens leaned forward slightly, still smiling gently.
"So, Mr. Hunter, shall we begin the discussion?"
"Just Sato is enough," Sato replied flatly.
"Ah, understood. Sato, then… how would you like to proceed with the agreement?" Jens asked.
Sato thought for a moment.
"I think it's better if I first hear what you can offer… and what you want in return."
"Ah, that's an excellent decision," Jens said, sliding several documents across the table. "If you read through these, I hope you'll understand our terms."
Sato glanced over the documents quickly.
"So… when called, I help with regular dungeon clears and share a portion of the raid profits with the guild, right?"
"Yes," Jens confirmed. "In return, we provide you with items, money, and necessary gear. We also share a percentage of the raid profits with you — the split depends on your contribution."
Sato looked at the documents again, then at Jens.
"So the stronger I am, the better the rewards you give me?"
"Exactly," Jens said, smiling.
*I need some money,* Sato thought. *If I'm back… I'll need a new home. A lot of money for that.*
"Of course," Jens continued. "And you'll need to learn to work with our guild members as well."
Sato glanced at Habes and Sia.
"So I have to work with weaklings like them? And share the rest of my loot with them?" he said, pointing casually.
The room went silent.
Habes's face darkened instantly.
"Hey, what the hell? Just because the guildmaster spoke politely to you, don't get cocky. You called us weak? You've crossed the line. I've crushed guys like you before. I can beat you myself easily," he growled, gripping his greatsword hilt.
Ms. Sia leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
"Hey, do you think you're some great hero just because we spoke softly? Don't overestimate yourself."
Jens raised a hand.
"Mr. Habes, Ms. Sia — please calm down."
He turned to Sato, expression now serious.
"Do you understand what you just said?"
"Yes. I spoke the truth," Sato replied in a calm, serious voice.
At that moment, the door burst open with a loud bang.
A tall man in a black cloak entered — middle-aged, short black hair, radiating cold killing intent. He strode straight to Sato, grabbed his shoulder in a vise grip.
"I've been waiting since I heard the guildmaster brought an important guest. But all I hear is some bastard insulting my comrades and acting like he's above us."
Sato looked up at him with a serious face, then turned to Jens.
"What? Does your guild have weak dancing monkeys like this too? Do I have to work with them as well?"
This pushed the newcomer over the edge.
"You bastard—" he snarled, black energy crackling in his hand as he prepared to strike.
Jens slammed his fist on the table.
"Silence!"
Everyone froze.
Jens looked at Sato with barely contained anger.
"Do you understand what you just said?"
"Guildmaster, why are you still speaking to him so politely?" Ms. Sia asked.
Jens shot her a sharp glance.
"Ms. Sia, please be quiet."
He turned back to Sato.
"I was speaking politely because I thought you were strong. But now you've crossed the line. You insulted my personally chosen guild members. That means you insulted me."
Sato didn't flinch.
"I didn't insult you. I just said your two friends here and this new monkey are weak."
"Who're you calling a monkey?!" the cloaked man shouted.
Jens gave him a serious look.
"Mr. Woo, I haven't finished my conversation."
The man fell silent.
Jens adjusted his suit collar slightly.
"So you think they're weak. How about a duel? One of them. Prove your words."
Sato thought for a second.
"If I'm going to get a big reward from this… I should show I'm worth more than them."
He looked at all three.
"I'll fight all three of them. At the same time."
The room exploded in outrage.
Habes stood up.
"You little—"
Ms. Sia laughed coldly.
"You're delusional."
Mr. Woo cracked his knuckles.
"I'll crush him myself."
Jens raised a hand again.
"Quiet."
He stared at Sato.
"You're serious?"
Sato nodded.
"If I don't finish all three of them in under 5 minutes — standing and unable to fight — I'll give you all my gear and loot. Legendary items included."
Jens's eyes narrowed.
"And if you win?"
"We'll discuss that later," Sato said.
Jens leaned back.
"Fine. Let's go."
He stood.
"Follow me."
Everyone rose.
Sato followed.
And so did the fight that would decide everything.
The elevator descended smoothly to the lowest level of the building. When the doors opened, they stepped into a vast underground chamber — enormous reinforced walls made of gleaming white stone, sealed by a massive iron gate. The air was cool and slightly metallic, filled with the faint hum of embedded magic runes glowing along the seams. The floor was smooth black marble, marked with faint energy lines that pulsed softly.
"This is where we hold duels," Jens said calmly. "The walls are reinforced with triple-layered magical defense. They can withstand initial strikes from an S-rank mage without cracking. You'll fight here."
They entered the arena proper. The space was massive — easily the size of a small stadium — with high ceilings supported by thick pillars. Floating orbs of light hovered above, casting bright, even illumination. Observation platforms ringed the upper walls, but they were empty for now. Only Jens, Habes, Sia, Woo, and Sato stood on the floor.
Sato walked to one side. The three opponents took the opposite side.
A calm voice echoed from hidden speakers — Jens's voice, amplified and neutral.
"Mr. Sato, you must back up your earlier words. Are you ready?"
Sato's expression didn't change.
"Yes," he said confidently. "I'm ready."
"Very well," Jens replied. "Prepare yourselves."
Sato glanced at his opponents. He pulled on a sleek black helmet from his inventory — the one that matched his cloak. As he did, black energy began swirling around him, faint tendrils curling from his body like living smoke.
"I'll give you time to prepare your attacks," Sato said calmly.
Mr. Woo sneered.
"Dark knight or whatever you are — you've made a huge mistake."
Mr. Habes's body suddenly trembled. Red veins bulged across his skin. His muscles swelled, ripping parts of his armor. He grew slightly larger, eyes turning bloodshot.
**Berserker activated:** All stats +15%. Intelligence drains over time — risk of unconsciousness when it reaches 0.
"I'll tear you apart myself," Habes growled.
Ms. Sia drew her bow. Green energy gathered at the tip of her arrow — poison or acid, judging by the hissing sound.
Mr. Woo raised his staff — tipped with a glowing blue crystal.
"Rise, my soldiers!" he shouted.
The ground cracked. Skeletons erupted from the marble — dozens of them, armed with bows, swords, and shields. Two massive bear-like summons (Simons) roared into existence, fur black and spiked. Two more cloaked undead mages rose, staffs crackling with necrotic energy. All of them radiated a faint purple aura.
"Is that everything you've got?" Sato asked, voice flat.
Woo's face twisted with rage.
"How dare a bastard like you underestimate me — the strongest necromancer here?"
He raised his staff higher.
"Guildmaster!"
Jens's voice echoed once more.
The arena was dead silent for a split second after Jens's voice echoed:
"Begin."
Then chaos erupted.
Ms. Sia moved first. She drew her bow in a blur, green energy coiling around the arrowhead like venomous vines. She released three shots in rapid succession — each arrow splitting into five smaller poisoned darts mid-flight, covering a wide arc toward Sato.
Sato didn't even blink.
He sidestepped once — casually, almost lazily — letting the first spread pass inches from his shoulder. The second spread he ducked under, hair fluttering from the wind pressure. The third he simply tilted his head, and the darts hissed past his ear, embedding in the marble wall behind him with a sizzle.
Sia's eyes widened.
He didn't even move his feet properly…
Habes roared and charged.
His body was already in full Berserker state — muscles bulging, red veins pulsing, greatsword swinging in a brutal overhead arc that could split a car in two.
Sato waited until the last moment.
Then he stepped forward — not back — right into Habes's range.
Habes's sword came down like a guillotine.
Sato caught the flat of the blade with his own sword — not blocking with the edge, but pressing against it with raw strength. The impact rang like a gong. Sparks flew. The marble beneath their feet cracked in a spiderweb pattern.
Habes grunted in shock.
He… stopped my full swing?
Sato twisted his wrist.
Habes's sword slid off to the side. Before Habes could recover, Sato drove his elbow into Habes's solar plexus — clean, precise, no wasted movement. Habes staggered back, gasping, greatsword dropping to one knee.
Sato didn't pursue.
He turned toward the skeletons.
Mr. Woo was already raising more — skeletons archers nocking arrows, two massive Simons roaring, undead mages channeling necrotic bolts, four armored death knights with shields and longswords stepping forward.
Sato sighed quietly.
He walked toward them.
No skill activation. No mana flare. No Dark Steps. Just walking.
The skeleton archers fired — a volley of thirty black arrows.
Sato tilted, spun, stepped sideways — every movement minimal, almost bored. Arrows whistled past, clattering against the wall. Not one touched him.
A Simon bear charged — claws raking the air.
Sato sidestepped, grabbed its massive foreleg mid-swing, twisted, and used its momentum to slam it face-first into the marble. The bear's skull cracked. It didn't get up.
The second Simon lunged.
Sato ducked under the swipe, stepped behind it, and drove his knee into the base of its spine. Vertebrae shattered. The beast collapsed.
Undead mages fired necrotic bolts — purple-black energy orbs.
Sato walked straight through them.
He twisted his body just enough — bolts grazed his cloak, sizzling holes, but never hit flesh. He reached the first mage, grabbed its skull, and crushed it in one hand. The second mage tried to back away — Sato closed the distance in two steps and snapped its neck.
Death knights advanced — shields up, swords thrusting.
Sato moved between them like a shadow.
One shield bash — he slipped under it, elbow to the throat. The knight gurgled and dropped.
Second knight swung horizontally — Sato leaned back Matrix-style, blade passing over his face, then countered with a palm strike to the chest plate. Metal dented inward. Ribs shattered. Knight fell.
Third knight stabbed — Sato caught the blade between two fingers, twisted, snapped it, then drove the broken shard into the knight's eye socket.
Fourth knight hesitated.
Sato looked at it.
It dropped its sword and shield and knelt — surrendering.
The entire summon army was gone in under ninety seconds.
No skills used. Just movement. Precision. Brutal efficiency.
Habes, still on one knee, stared in disbelief.
Sia's bow trembled in her hands.
Woo's face was pale.
Jens, watching from the observation platform, had lost his gentle smile.
Silence filled the arena.
Sato turned toward the three still standing.
"Who's next?"
Ms. Sia raised her bow high. A shimmering green light gathered at her fingertips — an elven spirit materialized behind her, ethereal and graceful, long ears and flowing hair made of pure emerald energy. The spirit drew an invisible string, and hundreds of arrows formed in the air at once — glowing green, crackling with corrosive poison. They shot forward in a massive swarm, filling the arena like a deadly storm.
Habes roared, his Berserker state fully unleashed. His muscles bulged even further, red veins pulsing like lava. He slammed his greatsword into the ground — the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, cracking the marble floor in concentric rings. Chunks of stone flew upward like shrapnel, each piece infused with destructive force, hurtling toward Sato in a wide arc.
Mr. Woo raised his staff again. The blue crystal flared. More skeletons rose — archers, swordsmen, two new Simons, and the four death knights from before. He shouted:
"Overwhelm him!"
The undead surged forward in a black tide — arrows, swords, claws, necrotic bolts, all aimed at Sato.
Sato didn't move at first.
He simply stood there, watching the chaos approach.
Then he smiled — very slightly.
The first wave of Sia's poison arrows reached him.
He tilted his head once. The arrows curved around him like water around a rock — not one touched him. The elven spirit fired again — a second barrage, even denser. Sato stepped forward casually, weaving between the arrows with minimal movement, as if they were moving in slow motion. One arrow grazed his cloak — he flicked it away with two fingers like it was a fly.
Habes's shockwave shrapnel came next — dozens of jagged stone fragments flying at high speed.
Sato walked straight into them.
He caught one shard mid-air with his bare hand, crushed it to dust, then slapped another aside with the flat of his sword. The rest he dodged by leaning, twisting, stepping sideways — every motion economical, almost bored. One large chunk came straight for his face — he tilted his head 5 degrees. It passed harmlessly.
The undead army reached him.
Sato moved.
He stepped into the skeleton archers first. One arrow flew — he caught it mid-flight, snapped it, and threw the broken shaft back like a dart — piercing three skeletons through their skulls in a straight line. They crumbled.
A death knight swung a longsword — Sato ducked under it, grabbed the knight's wrist, twisted, and threw him into two Simons behind him. The three collided in a heap of bone and fur, bones shattering.
Woo's necrotic mages fired purple bolts — Sato sidestepped one, caught the second with his sword flat, deflected it back at the mage who fired it. The bolt hit its own caster — the undead exploded in black mist.
Habes charged again — greatsword swinging in a horizontal arc that could cut through steel.
Sato didn't block.
He stepped inside Habes's guard, grabbed the flat of the blade mid-swing, and twisted. Habes's momentum turned against him — Sato used it to flip Habes over his shoulder. The berserker flew through the air, crashing into a group of skeletons. Bones flew everywhere.
Sia fired another volley — this time explosive arrows.
Sato blinked forward with Dark Steps — appeared right in front of her in an instant. She gasped. Before she could react, he flicked her bow upward with one finger — the arrows shot harmlessly into the ceiling. Then he grabbed her collar lightly and tossed her aside — not hard, just enough to send her rolling across the floor.
Woo's remaining death knights rushed him.
Sato sighed.
He walked through them.
One knight stabbed — Sato caught the blade between two fingers, snapped it, then punched the knight's chest plate inward. The knight flew back.
Another swung a shield bash — Sato sidestepped, grabbed the shield edge, and yanked — pulling the knight off balance, then kicked him in the side. The knight crashed into the wall.
The last knight hesitated.
Sato looked at it.
It dropped its weapon and knelt.
The arena fell silent again.
Sato stood in the center, untouched.
Habes was on his knees, gasping, greatsword stuck in the cracked floor.
Sia lay on her back, bow broken beside her, breathing hard.
Woo's summons were gone — only dust and bone fragments remained.
Sato glanced at the holographic timer floating above.
Time elapsed: 3 minutes 47 seconds.
He looked up at the observation platform where Jens stood.
"Still have time left," Sato said calmly.
Jens stared down at him.
The gentle smile was gone.