Raizen and Aeris entered the tower. The interior was filled with guild members of all kinds; some adventurers were training their offensive magic while several medical captains analyzed healing abilities in different rooms. There were even a few elves conducting magical tests near the upper floors.
And among all the people…
Kael was there.
Leaning calmly against a wall, as if he had been waiting for them.
Raizen looked at him with exhaustion.
Raizen: Hey… are you following us or what?
Kael raised an eyebrow, confused.
Kael: Not at all, Raizen.
He crossed his arms.
Kael: I come here almost every day. I just check if my training is still paying off.
Aeris let out a slight sigh.
Aeris: Well… let's just go in.
The two of them began walking toward the measuring area, but suddenly Raizen accidentally bumped into someone.
THUD.
The presence of that person felt heavy.
Raizen slowly looked up.
In front of him stood a man with dark hair, a katana at his waist, and an intimidating gaze.
A rank A adventurer.
Hanzo.
Hanzo: Hey, kid… watch where you're going.
His eyes scanned Raizen from head to toe.
Hanzo: Can't you see I'm here?
Raizen slightly frowned, but before he could respond, Kael spoke from behind.
Kael: Hey… don't go too far, Hanzo.
Hanzo turned his gaze toward him.
Kael: He's just a rank C adventurer.
Hanzo let out a small laugh.
Hanzo: Mmh… rank C, huh…?
His eyes lingered on Raizen for a few seconds, as if he had noticed something strange about him.
Aeris gently took Raizen's hand.
Aeris: Come on… let's head to the measuring device.
And without giving it much thought, they continued deeper into the tower.
Raizen looked at the massive magic circle in the center of the room while various lights slowly moved across the tower walls.
Raizen: Hey, Kael… is there any risk the device might fail?
Kael immediately shook his head.
Kael: Not at all. That thing has been running for decades.
He pointed at the magic circle.
Kael: Depending on the color of the light, your rank is determined.
He raised his hand slightly while explaining.
Kael: Brown for rank C… gray for rank B… gold for rank A…
He paused briefly.
Kael: And purple for rank S.
At that exact moment, the entire tower began to tremble slightly.
FWOOOSH.
A massive gray flash pierced through the ceiling and shot into the sky.
Several adventurers began murmuring in surprise.
Kael looked up with no particular emotion.
Kael: As you can see… there's a new rank B.
Then he turned his gaze to Raizen.
Kael: Your turn.
Raizen took a deep breath and slowly stepped into the magic circle.
For a few seconds…
Nothing happened.
Aeris watched in silence, slightly nervous.
Then—
The tower shook again.
A gray light violently erupted around Raizen and shot upward.
Aeris opened her eyes in shock.
Aeris: A-rank B…?
Aeris: How is that possible…?
Raizen looked at his own hands, still feeling that strange energy flowing through his body.
Kael remained silent for a few seconds.
Kael: Uhm…
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Kael: That's impressive, without a doubt…
His gaze briefly lingered on Raizen.
Kael: But ranking up that fast isn't normal.
For a moment, he discreetly activated his visual ability.
And then he saw it.
The purple gem hidden under Raizen's clothes.
Kael's eyes changed slightly.
Kael: (thinking) So that's it…
But he said nothing.
He simply smiled faintly and stepped closer.
Kael: Well then… congratulations, adventurer.
He casually placed an arm over Raizen's shoulder.
Kael: Tonight, we drink.
Aeris stepped forward excitedly.
Aeris: My turn! Let's see what rank I am!
Without hesitation, she stepped into the magic circle. Energy slowly surrounded her as everyone watched in silence.
And then—
A brown light shot upward.
A few seconds of silence followed.
Aeris puffed her cheeks slightly and turned her head with a small pout.
Aeris: Uhm…
Raizen looked at her for a moment… then burst out laughing.
Kael also let out a small laugh.
Raizen: Come on, don't make that face.
Aeris crossed her arms, still pouting.
Aeris: You suddenly jump to rank B and I stay the same… that's unfair.
Kael casually ran a hand through his hair.
Kael: Not all monsters appear that quickly.
Aeris glared at him.
Aeris: That doesn't help.
The tension slowly faded, and in the end they spent the night in a tavern in the town. Between laughter, drinks, and calm conversations, everything felt normal again for a moment.
However…
None of them knew that this would be the last night of peace for a long time.
The next morning—
The town alarms began to ring violently.
WOOOOOOON— WOOOOOOON—
The sound echoed across the capital.
Kael stood on a tall tower, watching the horizon. The wind gently moved his clothes as he listened to the alarms without changing his expression.
Kael: Uhm…
Far away, Hanzo sat on a mountain, quietly drinking sake while meditating. His katana and bow rested against a nearby tree.
As soon as he heard the alarms…
He slowly opened his eyes.
Hanzo: An attack… knowing there are so many rank A adventurers in the city today?
A small smile appeared on his face.
Hanzo: This is getting interesting…
Suddenly—
BOOOOM.
A massive explosion shook the center of the capital.
The ground trembled violently.
Entire buildings were destroyed, and many people died instantly.
Screams.
Smoke.
Chaos.
From within the huge gray cloud, a figure slowly began to walk forward.
A man wearing a black hat and a dark suit.
His footsteps echoed through the rubble as he smiled calmly.
Mysterious person: Well…
He slightly adjusted his hat.
Mysterious person: Allow me to introduce myself.
He raised his gaze.
Mysterious person: I am Joker.
A disturbing smile appeared on his face.
Joker: And I've simply come to pay a visit… along with a warning.
Several rank C adventurers immediately rushed toward him.
But it was useless.
They couldn't even get close.
One after another, they were defeated and collapsed to the ground.
Joker sighed in disappointment.
Joker: Oh please… don't be stupid.
At that moment, a strong magical pressure appeared behind him.
A light-haired woman slowly descended among the destroyed ruins.
Her presence was completely different from the other adventurers.
A rank A.
Sofia.
Sofia: And who do we have here…?
Her eyes locked onto Joker.
Sofia: An intruder?
Joker studied her for a few seconds.
Then he smiled.
Joker: I see… so you're rank A.
He slowly raised a hand.
And behind him, two figures in white cloaks and hoods appeared.
Dark energy emanated from both of them.
Joker: Let's see if you can handle these two first…
Sofia easily defeated the cloaked men.
Her movements were fast and precise.
One was thrown through a wall.
The other was sent crashing into the ground.
Sofia: Pathetic…
But at that moment…
Joker appeared right in front of her.
Before she could even react—
BOOM.
A brutal punch struck her abdomen directly.
Sofia's eyes widened in shock as she was sent flying backward through destroyed buildings.
The ground cracked beneath her body.
Still…
She stood up immediately.
Breathing heavily.
Sofia: Tch…
Joker watched her with a twisted smile.
As if he was enjoying every second.
Joker: Not bad for a rank A…
Sofia took her combat stance again.
Wind began to surround her.
Sofia: I won't let you go any further.
Joker lowered his head slightly…
And started laughing.
An uncomfortable laugh.
Sickening.
Joker: Then die.
The atmosphere changed completely.
The magical pressure became so heavy that even nearby adventurers stopped moving.
Joker slowly raised his hand.
Joker: Absolute Domain… Divine Slash Judgment.
Above him…
A massive black-winged statue began to manifest.
It resembled a dark god watching from the sky.
Sofia's eyes widened.
Sofia: What… is that…?
Then—
The slashes began.
Thousands of invisible cuts tore through the air at impossible speed.
Nearby buildings were shredded.
The ground split open.
Even the wind itself was being cut.
Sofia tried to defend using magic…
But it was useless.
Her body began to be pierced again and again.
Blood.
Cuts.
Pain.
And in the background…
Joker's laughter echoed through the city.
Joker: HAHAHAHAHA!!
His voice sounded completely insane.
As if he was enjoying a masterpiece.
The execution lasted only a few seconds.
But to Sofia…
It felt eternal.
Finally—
The domain disappeared.
Silence filled the area.
Sofia's body slowly fell to the ground.
Covered in cuts.
Dead.
Joker looked at the corpse for a few seconds… then began looking around obsessively.
Joker: Where are you…?
His smile slowly faded.
Joker: Where are you, gem…?
Suddenly—
A presence appeared behind him.
Leaves floated in the air.
Hanzo was there.
With his swordsman hat.
A blade of grass in his mouth.
And a completely serious expression.
Hanzo: Mmh… so you're the rank S known as Joker.
Joker turned slightly.
And smiled.
Joker: Wow… I'm famous.
Hanzo placed his hand on his katana.
Hanzo: You are the only rank S considered a world threat.
Hanzo: I assume the king didn't like your experiments.
Joker let out a small laugh.
Joker: Hanzo… the kingdom's greatest swordsman.
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
Joker: Let's see if the rumors are true…
Joker: HAHA…
Meanwhile…
Far from that battle—
Raizen was desperately running through the destroyed streets with Aeris.
Holding her hand tightly as they dodged rubble and explosions.
Raizen: Don't worry… I won't let anything happen to you.
Aeris: Raizen! Don't worry so much about me!
But Raizen didn't slow down.
Because for the first time…
He felt real fear.
Kael was thrown through the air, crashing through buildings before stabilizing himself in the ruins. In front of him, two figures slowly descended through the smoke.
Kael: Damn it… I thought we were comrades…
His eyes locked onto them.
Kael: Alexa… Koko…
Koko calmly fixed her hair.
Koko: I prefer being on Joker's side.
Alexa smirked.
Alexa: Who do you think you are, insect?
Kael clenched his fists.
Lightning-like pressure began to surround him.
At that moment, Raizen tried to attack from behind, but Koko appeared instantly and struck him.
BOOM.
Raizen was sent flying and lost consciousness for a moment.
Aeris: Raizen!!
Kael clicked his tongue in anger.
Kael: You bastards… you're rank A! You should protect the kingdom, not destroy it!
Koko looked at him calmly.
Koko: I have principles… and logic.
Alexa crossed her arms.
Alexa: Staying here would only slow my path to rank S.
Kael stepped forward.
His eyes began to glow slightly.
Kael: I'm going to kill you if you keep talking…
Aeris quickly dragged Raizen to safety.
She knew they couldn't interfere.
Not in a battle of this level.
Meanwhile…
Elsewhere in the city—
Hanzo and Joker continued fighting.
Shockwaves destroyed nearby buildings as they exchanged attacks at impossible speeds.
Joker smiled as he retreated.
Joker: Not bad… bravo… for the kingdom's greatest swordsma—
But before he finished—
SHING.
Hanzo appeared behind him.
His katana slowly returned to its sheath.
Joker's arm fell to the ground.
A line of blood appeared near his neck.
Hanzo: You talk too much.
Joker staggered backward, looking at his destroyed arm.
Joker: Tch…
But strange magic began to surround him.
Flesh began to regenerate.
Bones.
Muscles.
Skin.
In seconds…
A new arm appeared.
Hanzo watched silently.
Hanzo: That regeneration…
His eyes sharpened.
Hanzo: I've never seen anything like it.
Joker smiled.
Joker: Interesting, right?
Then he extended his hand.
Joker: Hanzo… join me.
Hanzo closed his eyes slightly.
Hanzo: I'd rather die.
Joker laughed.
Joker: Then you will.
A monstrous pressure spread.
Joker: Anyway… Absolute Dom—
But suddenly—
A presence appeared.
The air changed completely.
Even Hanzo's eyes widened slightly.
A man in royal cape stood there, sword sheathed.
King Arthur.
One of the strongest S-rank adventurers.
Arthur looked around with disappointment.
Arthur: I see an intruder in my kingdom…
His eyes locked onto Joker.
Arthur: And none other than Joker.
Joker looked at him.
For the first time…
His smile faded slightly.
Arthur tilted his head.
Arthur: Lost your voice?
He paused.
Arthur: Oh right…
He slowly sheathed his sword.
Arthur: I cut your throat before you could speak.
Then—
Blood exploded from Joker's neck.
Hanzo widened his eyes.
He didn't even see the attack.
Joker used healing magic desperately.
Joker: Damn you…
His eyes burned with rage.
Joker: Next time… I'll get what I want.
And then—
Smoke exploded.
When it cleared…
Joker was gone.
Silence returned to the destroyed city.
Far away, Raizen finally regained consciousness as Aeris helped him up.
Raizen: …he's gone.
Aeris nodded softly.
Aeris: Let's get out of here…
Raizen grabbed her hand tightly.
Raizen: Yeah… we'll go somewhere else, love.