The training hall was dimly lit by rows of crystal lanterns embedded in the walls. The air smelled faintly of polished wood and iron. The ground beneath Yuki's feet was firm, layered with a soft texture designed to absorb impact. Along the far end of the room stood a line of humanoid wooden dummies. Each of them engraved with faint runes that shimmered faintly in the light, indicating they were reinforced for testing Awakened individuals.
A middle-aged man with a square jaw and a clipboard in hand stood beside him. His uniform was neat but worn, the emblem of the Hunter Association etched on his shoulder.
"Name?" the man asked in a flat, professional tone.
"Yuki."
"First-time applicant?"
"Yes."
The man gave a single nod. Then, with a sharp clap of his hands, another man pulled a lever. The dummies straightened, and faint hums of magic pulsed through the room.
"You will begin with the standard sequence. Three tests. First, raw strength. Strike the dummy ahead of you with your full force. Do not hold back."
Inhaling calmly, Yuki took a step forward. He raised his fist and tightened his knuckles.
Then with a clean burst of motion, he drove it straight into the chest of the wooden dummy.
Bang!
The dummy jolted backward. The impact left a shallow dent in its enchanted frame. The examiner raised his eyebrows slightly and scribbled something onto his clipboard.
"Next, agility. You will run across the marked track and avoid all incoming projectiles. Begin when ready."
The track lit up ahead. At the end of the room, three turret-like constructs turned toward Yuki, small metallic spheres loaded and aimed.
Yuki crouched, counted a silent three, and took off. His speed was sharp, his instincts honed by nature and survival. He twisted and ducked as the spheres shot forward with rapid precision. Only two grazed him—barely.
The man grunted in approval. "Next stage. Combat technique. You will engage one of the animated dummies. It will move and respond to your attacks. Disable it in under 60 seconds."
Soon, a glowing glyph activated beneath one of the dummies. It sprang to life, taking a step forward with jerky movements that quickly became smooth. Its wooden arms unfolded like blades.
Yuki breathed in deeply. Then he moved.
His steps were a little awkward, but he managed defeat it with enhanced strength.
The room fell silent.
The examiner clicked his pen once and looked at Yuki, his gaze thoughtful now.
"Not bad. For a first-time applicant, you did good. You are average strong, agile, and your combat form is awkward. There was hesitation on projectile awareness, but it can be improved."
The examiner paused and said,
"You have passed. But there's one last assessment. Demonstrate any active skill you possess. This part is optional, but it may influence your license grade and category."
Yuki met his eyes with calmly. He stepped forward and held out his right hand.
A soft hum began to resonate from Yuki's body as his fingers extended and twisted into shadowy claws, the tips glowing faintly with a cold, ethereal shimmer.
"This is my Phantom Claw skill," he said, keeping his posture calm and centered.
The examiner narrowed his eyes, observing carefully before giving a small nod of acknowledgment.
"A partial transformation skill. Likely an F-Rank. Not bad at all for someone freshly registered."
He flipped through a clipboard, then looked back at Yuki.
"Now for the results. After assessing all your strengths and weaknesses, you fall under the category of a Rank F Hunter."
Yuki blinked. "Just an F? Are you serious, Examiner?"
The man didn't even flinch. "I am always serious. And you should be content with it. Higher grades bring higher risks. With an F-Rank license, you can take on beginner-level quests with minimal danger."
Yuki let out a quiet sigh. He understood. His current strength, while formidable in his Hydra Human form, was still within the range of F rank. However, he knew that in his Original Dragon form, his power tripled. If he had revealed it, he could have easily earned an E-Rank license, perhaps higher.
But that would mean more problem.
So, this outcome suited him for now. He was not planning to rely on their quests and guidelines anyway. He had his own path to follow, his own rules to live by.
"Alright. This marks the end of your test," the examiner said, slipping the clipboard back under his arm. "You will receive your Hunter license within two days at your registered address. Until then, train hard and stay cautious."
Without waiting for a response, the man turned and exited the training hall.
Yuki remained standing in silence, his eyes cast toward the faintly glowing claw still forming at his fingertips.
"F-Rank, huh? Fine. I will start from the bottom. But I won't stay there for long."
Afterward, he walked out of the Guild, heading back to his rental home.
Along the way, he was drawn into a market by its magical ambiance and fascinating items.
A weapon shop instantly caught his eye. Glowing swords, spears, daggers, and armors were neatly displayed on the shelves.
A woman stood behind the counter as the shopkeeper, though there also seemed to be a man working in the back. He wasn't sure.
"Young man, are you looking to buy something? Ah, forget it. You're still wearing refugee clothes. How would you even have the money for these?" the woman said with a chuckle.
She didn't sound mocking or scornful, just genuinely amused.
"How much is that silver sword, Miss?" Yuki asked, pointing toward it.
The woman raised an eyebrow but replied calmly, "That's a D-grade enchanted sword. 1,000 silver. Nothing less."
Yuki touched his chin thoughtfully. "I see. Then how much would an F or E-rank sword cost?"
The shopkeeper didn't seem annoyed. "It varies. If you want a magical sword, expect to pay over 300 silver. But a basic weapon with simple enchantments would cost around 100-150 silver for F-rank, and 200-250 for E-rank swords. Understand?"
Yuki scratched his head. "Yes, somewhat. But I don't have any cash right now. Can I pay later?"
"Do you have a Hunter License?" she asked.
"No. But I'll be getting one in two days. I promise I'll come back and pay you later," he said sincerely.
But the woman shook her head. "Sorry, young man. I can't give anything without proper credentials."
Yuki sighed and turned to leave. Just then, a calm voice stopped him.
"Wait."