The atmosphere had changed.
What was once a gathering of uncertain hunters had transformed into something sharper—focused, dangerous, and driven.
No one spoke unnecessarily.
No one moved without purpose.
Because now—
They had chosen.
To stand under one name.
Blood Ascendants.
At the center of it all—
Kael Varyn stood before them.
His presence alone silenced the room.
"…We begin now."
No speeches.
No theatrics.
Just reality.
Kael raised his hand.
A massive system interface expanded across the hall.
Guild Initialization Protocol
Phase 1: Core Member Selection
Phase 2: Capability Assessment
Phase 3: Survival Qualification
A murmur rippled through the group.
"…Survival?" someone whispered.
Zarek smirked from the side.
"…You'll see."
Kael's gaze swept across the applicants.
"…Only ten of you will become core members."
The tension snapped instantly.
Out of over three hundred—
Only ten.
"…The rest," Kael continued,
"…will either prove useful later…"
His eyes hardened slightly.
"…or be forgotten."
Silence.
No one questioned it.
Because deep down—
They already understood.
Phase 1 — Core Selection
Kael stepped forward.
"…Step up if you think you belong at the top."
For a moment—
No one moved.
Then—
A man stepped forward.
Tall.
Scar across his face.
Aura sharp like a blade.
Ragnar Kain.
"…I don't think," Ragnar said calmly.
"…I know."
A few others followed.
A woman with icy-blue eyes, her presence chilling the air.
Lyra Frost.
A massive figure, muscles coiled with raw strength.
Darius Stone.
A quiet boy, barely noticeable—
Until you felt the pressure around him.
Eren Vale.
One by one—
Ten stepped forward.
Each one radiating power far beyond the rest.
Zarek glanced at them.
"…Not bad."
Kael nodded slightly.
"…We'll see."
Phase 2 — Capability Assessment
The floor of the hall shifted.
Transforming.
Walls expanded.
Space distorted.
A combat arena formed instantly.
"…Fight."
No countdown.
No rules.
Ragnar moved first.
His blade flashed—
CLANG!
Lyra blocked with a wall of ice, countering instantly with a barrage of frozen shards.
Darius charged forward, smashing through attacks with brute force.
Eren—
Didn't move.
He vanished.
Kael watched carefully.
"…Interesting."
Zarek smirked.
"…That one's dangerous."
Within seconds—
The arena erupted into chaos.
But it wasn't random.
Each movement revealed something.
Strength.
Speed.
Control.
Instinct.
Kael's eyes tracked everything.
Every weakness.
Every advantage.
Until—
"Enough."
The entire arena froze.
Mid-motion.
Mid-attack.
Kael stepped forward.
"…Five of you."
He pointed.
Ragnar.
Lyra.
Darius.
Eren.
And—
A quiet woman who had barely moved the entire time.
Selene Vire.
Zarek raised an eyebrow.
"…Her?"
Kael nodded.
"…She didn't need to move."
The others froze slightly.
Because they hadn't even noticed.
Selene smiled faintly.
"…You're observant."
Kael ignored the comment.
"…The rest of you."
His gaze hardened.
"…You're not ready."
Some clenched their fists.
Others lowered their heads.
But none argued.
Because they felt it too.
The gap.
Phase 3 — Survival Qualification
Kael turned to the five selected.
"…Now the real test begins."
Zarek pushed off the wall.
"…This is where it gets fun."
The system pulsed again.
Dungeon Simulation Activated
Type: S-Rank Survival Trial
Participants: Core Candidates
The environment shifted instantly.
The hall disappeared.
Replaced by—
A ruined battlefield.
Dark.
Silent.
Dangerous.
Kael's voice echoed.
"…Survive for ten minutes."
A pause.
"…Against this."
The ground cracked open.
A massive creature emerged.
Towering.
Monstrous.
Radiating overwhelming pressure.
Abyss-Touched Beast
The five candidates froze.
"…That's not S-rank…" Ragnar muttered.
Zarek grinned.
"…Welcome to the guild."
The creature roared.
And charged.
Outside the Simulation
Kael watched silently.
Arms crossed.
"…Let's see if they're worth it."
Zarek glanced at him.
"…And if they're not?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"…Then they die."
Silence.
Not cold.
Not cruel.
Just truth.
Inside the Simulation
The beast attacked.
Fast.
Too fast.
Ragnar barely blocked.
Lyra's ice shattered instantly.
Darius was thrown across the battlefield.
Eren vanished again.
Selene stepped back—
Calm.
Calculating.
"…It's adapting," she said quietly.
Ragnar gritted his teeth.
"…Then we hit it harder!"
Selene shook her head.
"…No."
Her eyes sharpened.
"…We outlast it."
The others hesitated.
Then—
They adjusted.
For the first time—
They fought as one.
Ten Minutes Later
The simulation ended.
The battlefield vanished.
The five stood—
Breathing heavily.
Injured.
But alive.
Kael nodded once.
"…Accepted."
Relief.
Exhaustion.
Victory.
All at once.
Zarek smiled.
"…Looks like you've got a team."
Kael turned away.
"…No."
A faint smirk appeared.
"…I've got weapons."
Far away—
Beyond the crack in the sky—
Something stirred again.
Watching.
Waiting.
Because the pieces—
Were finally coming together.