Chapter Six: The First Hunt
The selection process did not take long. Once the applicants had been assessed, they were immediately briefed and sent out. No written exams. No second chances. Only one test mattered was survival.
Kael stood among the others as a Guild instructor addressed them, his voice firm and commanding.
"You will be entering assigned dungeons in groups of four. Your task is simple. Clear it. Those who prove themselves capable will be accepted. Those who fail…" He paused briefly, letting the weight of his words sink in. "…will be removed."
A ripple of tension spread through the crowd. They had taken their ranks why didn't they just use the ranks to gain the spots? What was the purpose in all these?...
Moments later, teams were assigned. Kael found himself standing beside Cherry, a tall bald man with a broad build, and a quiet boy who looked no older than sixteen. The boy said nothing, his gaze distant, as though he wasn't even fully present.
"Name's Jones," the bald man said, cracking his knuckles as he glanced at the group. There was confidence in his posture, the kind that bordered on arrogance. "A rank. Earthen attribute."
Cherry nodded casually. "Cherry. Flame Cracker. A-rank."
Jones smirked slightly, clearly pleased. Then his gaze shifted to Kael and the quiet boy, and the smirk twisted into something more dismissive.
"Never mind. I'm D rank." Kael muttered calmly. Jones chuckled softly.
"Let me guess," he said bluntly. "You two are the weak ones." Kael didn't respond.
The quiet boy remained silent. Jones let out a short laugh. "Figures." He turned to Cherry.
"We'll handle this faster if it's just the two of us. No point dragging dead weight around."
Cherry frowned slightly. "We're a team."
"And they'll slow us down," Jones shot back. "You can come with me, or you can babysit them. Your choice."
Cherry's expression hardened. "I'm not leaving anyone behind."
Jones clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. "Suit yourself."
Before the argument could continue, the dungeon gate activated. A swirling vortex of energy opened before them, its dark interior pulsing with an ominous presence. Without hesitation, the four of them stepped through.
The moment they entered, the atmosphere changed.
The air was damp, thick with a strange, sticky scent. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, covered in patches of slick residue that glistened faintly. Strange noises echoed in the distance chittering, low growls, movement in the shadows.
"Stay sharp," Cherry said, flames flickering faintly around her fingers.
They didn't have to wait long. From the darkness ahead, creatures emerged. Small, hunched figures with slimy, translucent bodies and elongated limbs. Their eyes glowed faintly, and their movements were erratic, almost playful yet predatory.
"Slime Monkeys," Jones muttered. "Low-tier pests."
The creatures lunged. Cherry moved first. Flames burst from her hands, arcing forward in a wave that engulfed the nearest group. The Slime Monkeys screeched as their bodies sizzled, collapsing into bubbling masses.
Jones followed immediately. The ground beneath him rose sharply, forming jagged spikes that impaled the remaining creatures with brutal efficiency.
Within moments, the first wave was gone.
Kael watched quietly, analyzing. Their strength was clear. Efficient. Ruthless. But his focus wasn't on them. It was on the dead bodies.
The fallen Slime Monkeys lay scattered across the ground, their forms slowly dissolving but not completely.
A faint glow flickered in Kael's vision. The system activated.
[Weave Corpses Available]
[Limit: 3 Active Units]
[Restriction: Cannot exceed host rank by more than 2 levels]
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. So there were limits. That made sense. Still…
He stepped slightly back, ensuring no one was watching. Cherry and Jones were already moving ahead, while the quiet boy lingered near the edge of the group, uninterested.
Kael extended his hand subtly.
"Weave Corpses."
A faint, dark energy flowed from him, connecting to one of the fallen Slime Monkeys. The body twitched, then stabilized, its form tightening and solidifying slightly.
[Weaved Unit: Slime Monkey]
[Rank: D+]
[Status: Active]
Kael exhaled slowly, a flicker of excitement rising within him.
It worked and no one had noticed. He dismissed the creature for now, letting it remain hidden as he followed the others deeper into the dungeon.
"Such easy things. This dungeon is weak." Jones bragged.
"Do us a favour and keep quiet already." Cherry snapped.
Suddenly, more Slime Monkeys appeared.
This time, there were more of them. They rushed forward in a chaotic wave, their screeches echoing through the cavern.
Jones stepped forward with a scoff. "More pests."
Cherry ignited her flames again, preparing to strike...
But Kael moved first.
"Go," he whispered under his breath.
From the shadows, the Soldier Ant emerged.
The creature lunged forward with surprising speed, its hardened body slamming into the nearest Slime Monkey. Its mandibles snapped shut, tearing through the creature with ease.
Kael followed, moving alongside it. His agility carried him forward, allowing him to strike at weakened targets while the ant created openings.
One fell.
Then another.
Then another.
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
The notifications flashed rapidly in his vision.
Kael's heart began to race.
This…
This was working.
The Soldier Ant tore through another Slime Monkey, while Kael struck down another with precise movement. The combination wasn't overwhelming but it was effective.
[+10 EXP]
[+10 EXP]
Five kills.
Kael stepped back slightly, breathing steady, his eyes glowing faintly with excitement.
He could feel it now.
Progress.
Real, undeniable progress.
For the first time…
He wasn't falling behind others in everything.