The streets outside the dungeon were quiet in the early evening. Rin trudged back into the town, dragging his now-famous sword along. Dirt, dust, and minor cuts marked his clothes, but he couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips.
"Guess we survived," Lyle muttered, limping beside him.
Rin raised an eyebrow. "Survived? I think we dominated."
Lyle groaned. "Sure… dominated… if you say so. I nearly died like ten times."
The shield man grunted. "I hate my life."
The spear woman folded her arms. "I'm done commenting. You're insane, Rin."
Rin shrugged. "I'm not insane… just a little lucky."
Word of their victory had already spread. Hunters were whispering as they passed by. Some laughed, some frowned in disbelief.
System Update: Daily Quest Completed – +3 Skill Points
Rin felt the system pulse warmly in his chest. Three skill points ready. That meant he could unlock even more abilities. He smiled.
But before he could celebrate, a loud voice echoed from the guild entrance.
"Rin Ashford! Report to the guild immediately!"
Rin's stomach sank. That voice could only belong to Marek, the guild clerk.
"Guess the fun isn't over yet," Rin muttered.
Inside the guild hall, the usual chaos of hunters arguing, laughing, and drinking filled the air. Rin's entrance caused a ripple of murmurs and curious stares.
Marek, standing behind his desk, adjusted his glasses and fixed Rin with a piercing gaze. "Step forward, Rin."
Rin complied, dragging a chair behind him and plopping down.
"Another rank test," Marek said flatly.
Rin groaned. "Seriously? We just survived a dungeon boss fight, and you want to test my rank again?"
Marek ignored him. "Place your hand on the mana plate."
The other hunters crowded around, smirking. Some whispered jokes about Rin's previous failures.
Lyle muttered, "Ten coins says F-rank again."
"Make it twenty," the spear woman muttered. "It'll be fun to watch."
Rin rolled his eyes and placed his hand on the glowing mana plate.
Nothing happened at first. The plate blinked faintly, then…
Glitch.
The lights on the plate flickered. Numbers jumped and shifted like they couldn't keep up with Rin's actual power.
Marek's frown deepened. "This… shouldn't be happening."
The hunters murmured in confusion. "What's wrong with the plate?"
Rin grinned slightly. "You tell me."
After a few tense seconds, the plate finally displayed:
RANK: F
Laughter erupted. "F-rank! Again! Classic!"
Rin sighed, standing up. "See? Nothing changed."
But Marek wasn't laughing. He leaned closer, whispering to himself, "No… this isn't normal."
The clerk tapped the side of the plate and adjusted some settings. The numbers flickered again. Rin realized the guild's devices were struggling to measure his real power.
System Message: Hidden power increasing. Caution advised.
Rin's pulse quickened. He hadn't even unlocked all his skills yet. If the plate couldn't read him now… what would happen when he fully leveled up?
Lyle whispered behind him, still pale. "Kid… maybe you are cheating the system."
Rin smirked, ignoring him. "Lucky, mostly."
The guild clerk looked at Rin with narrowed eyes, suspicion sharp as a blade. Marek scribbled some notes in a ledger, as if plotting to figure out Rin's secret.
New Quest Available: Investigate a Strange Dungeon Event
Rin blinked. The system had already picked up anomalies. Something about the dungeon's boss monsters… and something hidden behind the scenes.
The F-rank hunter might be weak in name, but Rin knew one thing: the real game was only beginning.