In the outskirts of a bustling city, Gabriel stood with great confidence.
"Jinzhou City," Gabriel declared, "this will be the true starting point of my journey."
Guide interjected, ["Your journey already began when you became the Flamebearer."]
"I consider that an origin story," Gabriel replied as he walked towards Jinzhou's City Gate. However, he was quickly stopped by the guards at the entrance.
"Stop!" a guard commanded. "Who are you? a local? or a newcomer?"
"Newcomer." Gabriel stated.
"Newcomer, huh? Show me your credentials," the guard demanded.
"Credentials?… *sigh*…..shoot," Gabriel muttered. "I don't have any credentials."
"What do you mean?" the guard asked, his spear ready in hand.
The other guards noticed the exchange and subtly approached, ready to prevent a possible debacle.
Gabriel quickly thought of something to say. "I'm a wanderer; that's why I don't have any credentials."
The guards looked at one another. Then, one of them, likely their leader, took out a phone and made a call.
"Hello, sir…"
"...Yes, he claims to be a wanderer…"
"...No, he doesn't have any credentials, sir…"
"...Should we really, sir?..."
"...Sir, yes, sir!..."
The guard put his phone back into his pocket and approached Gabriel. "What is the purpose of your visit to Jinzhou City?"
"…To apply to become a Hunter," Gabriel replied.
The guard turned to one of his fellow guards. "Get me an ID Tablet."
The fellow guard ran off and returned with a tablet, which he handed to the first guard.
"This is what's going to happen," the guard explained. "You're going to give me your name, age, and how long you are planning to stay here in Jinzhou."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow at the guard's words but answered nonetheless.
"Gabriel."
"Twenty-two years old."
"Undetermined at the moment."
"Undetermined…" the guard murmured, inputting the information into the tablet.
A few minutes later, a plastic card filled with Gabriel's information materialized from the tablet. The guard gave the card to Gabriel and provided instructions.
"This right here is a temporary Identification Card," the guard explained. "You said that the purpose of your visit to Jinzhou is to apply to become a Hunter, so we can allow you three months."
"However, you said that the length of your stay here is undetermined, so this Identification Card will only last for two months."
"If you want to get a permanent Identification Card, you'll have to go to the City Hall to apply for one."
"Also, the UHO Branch Building is right next to the City Hall, which is just straight ahead from this road."
"Additionally, if you try to prolong your stay here with an expired Identification Card, we'll have the authority to arrest you. Do you understand?"
"…I understand," Gabriel said, putting the temporary Identification Card in his pocket.
The guard nodded and ordered his fellow guards to open the City Gate.
One of the guards took out a tablet and pressed a few buttons. Seconds later, the City Gate automatically opened.
"Not bad… not bad at all," Gabriel murmured as he entered through the City Gate.
Gabriel walked straight ahead towards the UHO Branch Building. Along the way, he observed some of the sights in Jinzhou City.
It was similar to Earth's China but mixed with elements of highly advanced technology.
"Probably because of the integration of Mana with technology."
Sooner or later, Gabriel arrived in front of the City Hall. Right next to it was the UHO Branch Building, which Gabriel entered.
Gabriel met with the receptionist. "Hello, what can I do for you?" she asked.
"I'm here to apply… to become a Hunter," Gabriel replied.
The receptionist looked Gabriel up and down, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Which rank are you applying for?"
"C-Rank," Gabriel said, which slightly shocked the receptionist.
Here in Celestria, they don't use the term "Circles" for the stages of power using Mana. Instead, they use ranks, namely:
* 1st Circle: F-Rank
* 2nd Circle: E-Rank
* 3rd Circle: D-Rank
* 4th Circle: C-Rank
* 5th Circle: B-Rank
* 6th Circle: A-Rank
* 7th Circle: S-Rank
* 8th Circle: SS-Rank
* 9th Circle: SSS-Rank
* 10th Circle: EX-Rank
"Hmmm… Have you ever applied before… in lower ranks such as F, E, or D?" the receptionist asked.
"No," Gabriel said.
For someone to directly apply to C-Rank without a prior rank, this wasn't a small matter.
The receptionist quickly took out a tablet from her desk and asked Gabriel for his identification card, which she quickly inputted its information into the tablet.
"Okay… Now that I have your information, please head to the Testing Room on your left and go to Room 15," the receptionist instructed. "I hope your application is successful."
"Thank you," Gabriel said, nodding as he headed towards the Testing Room.
Gabriel entered Room 15 and saw a metallic device in the center of the room.
Suddenly, a voice echoed throughout the room. [["Good Morning, Applicant."]]
"Where did that come from?" Gabriel wondered aloud.
[["I am Aura, the AI System of the United Hunters Organization."]]
"They have advanced AI?…" Gabriel murmured. "It appears I underestimated Celestria's technological development."
Guide spoke to him internally.
["For someone who can use the flame to learn all the knowledge of this world, you should have known such information by now."]
("Oh, cut me some slack, Guide," Gabriel thought. "I'm still getting the hang of it.")
[["In order to qualify for your desired Hunter Rank, you must have the required amount of power."]]
[["In the center of this room lies a Mana Power Detection Device, MPDD for short."]]
[["You must place your palm on the imprint in the center of the device and input all of your Mana, so that the device can accurately determine your power level."]]
[["If you have any questions, you may either ask now or after the test."]]
("Guide, is it safe?" Gabriel asked mentally.)
["I don't detect any functions that can put someone in great harm."]
["But there is a function that records your Mana Signature, so that in the future they can pinpoint your location if you ever commit any crimes."]
("I don't plan on becoming a criminal," Gabriel said.)
["Then it's safe."]
Gabriel nodded, then approached the MPDD. He placed his palm on the imprint in the center and input all of his Mana into the device.
[["MPDD Online."]]
[["F-Rank threshold passed…"]]
[["E-Rank threshold passed…"]]
[["D-Rank threshold passed…"]]
[["C-Rank threshold passed…"]]
[["Detected: Power Level is beyond the regular C-Rank…"]]
[["Further analysis is enacted…"]]
[["…Analysis Complete."]]
[["Detected: Peak C-Rank Power Level."]]
[["Gabriel [No Last Name], you have been recorded to the List of Exceptional Talents."]]
[["Congratulations, you have passed the test."]]
[["You are now a C-Rank Hunter."]]
Gabriel removed his palm from the device and smirked. "I am now a Hunter…"
"The otherworlders are surely going to have a bad time…"
End of Chapter