Seranovia's streets tangled and sang around them, a maze of noise and light, until the main guild complex rose ahead, all interlinked halls, tall arched windows, and heroes cut into stone.
At the double doors, uniformed attendants watched with practiced wariness.
Inside, a vast entry hall opened under spiraling columns and age-dimmed banners. Adventurers drifted between quest boards and reception counters; steel kissed steel, boots whispering across polished floors.
The bustle tightened when eyes found their mismatched company, a formidable woman in partial armor, half a dozen metal golems, and a calm young man with power tucked under an easy posture. "It's bigger than I expected," Roy murmured, turning in place.
Maelara paused and faced them. "Welcome to the Seranovian Guild Headquarters," she said in a mild, low tone. "I trust you're prepared to register for official rank assessment."
"No, ma'am," Roy said with a mock salute.
She lingered by a desk, arms loosely folded. "You'll get a thorough test here, Roy. But you'll be recognized properly once you pass." Admiration edged her voice. "Seranovia's guild is known for rigorous standards."
"We need the right credentials, so let's get this over with." He flicked a look to Eryndra and Zehrina.
A ripple of whispers moved through the hall. "That's the First Father of Shadows…" "What would he be here for?"
Roy held his posture, refusing to shrink. Lynder Shadevale, Maelara's father, dipped his head. "I'm pleased to see my daughter safe with you. So, let's proceed."
Curious guild members drifted closer, whispering: "Is that the rumored 'Iron Whale that Swallows Slaves' group?" "The Thunder Rider's gang? I heard they knocked a kid out for nothing. He was just fishing." "Why so many metal constructs?" "Big shot or a fraud." "Not a fraud. A guildmaster showed up."
Eryndra's warning look clipped the chatter.
They followed a broad corridor into a reception bay. A stern-faced clerk took them in with a quick, professional sweep. "Mr. Shadevale, the bum of da Umbral Consortium branch, comes to stink up da place," she said, giving Lynder a mocking bow. "Who are these guests?"
"Now isn't the time, Suri," Lynder said evenly. "New arrivals from Otherrealm, from the Nightshatter itself. They seek formal registration." He set a light hand on the desk. "Shall we begin?"
"Now isn't da time, my ass," Suri shot back.
Roy fought a tear because Lynder actually remembered the Nightshatter name.
The clerk pressed her lips, then set out a stack of parchment and a small crystal orb. "Each prospective adventurer must undergo an aptitude evaluation. Fill in basic details, den proceed to da testing chamber."
Roy handed forms to Eryndra, Zehrina, Truman, JFK, FDR, Warrex, Lutrian, Takara, and the rest of the Presidroids. Orden tried to snag one but Roy pulled it back before he could blot it with enthusiasm.
The room settled a notch as another group filtered out. They wrote: name, talents, abilities they were willing to disclose, any prior affiliations or bans. Roy winced at his line, "No prior affiliation, no talents, just Light Shield," and kept going.
When the last signature dried, the clerk waved them toward another set of doors. Lynder peeled off for a side gallery. "Good luck," he said, quiet excitement in his voice.
From the gallery rail, Maelara murmured to Roy, "I'll watch from up there. Don't blow the place up. We vouched for you, and while we do get a finder's fee, any damage you do gets deducted from our reward."
A light grin tugged at Roy's mouth. "No promises, but I'll try."
The testing chamber opened into a wide hall banded with runic lines along walls and floor. Light chased those markings in slow pulses. At center, an odd, lumpy creature perched on a tall pedestal, its skin a patchwork of shifting patterns. A half-dozen proctors ringed the space in official robes. The lead examiner stepped forward.
"This entity," she said, calm and professional, "reads an adventurer's spirit and simulates a personal trial. Everyone attempting to join our ranks must face it. The device also measures mana capacity and general prowess."
He blinked. The creature gurgled, eyes rolling in different directions. "We just… touch it? That's all?"
"That is the first step," the examiner said. "Place a hand on it, let it interface with your spirit. It conjures a mental or magical challenge unique to each user." She glanced down a roster. "We'll go one at a time. Who's first?"
"With a small shrug," Eryndra said, "I'll do it." Crossing to the pedestal, she set her palm against its side. Floor lines brightened. Her eyes slid shut for a heartbeat. A pressure rolled out from her, invisible but heavy enough to make two proctors catch themselves. A casual "Huh," then she lifted her hand.
Brows lifted behind a crystal panel. "Incredible synergy," the examiner said, scanning readouts. "She overcame the mental trial in moments?"
Silence settled. Eryndra sent Roy a faint smirk. "Maze full of big monsters. I walked through the walls and reached the end. Next?"
Proctors traded impressed looks and waved her aside. "We'll tabulate that. Possibly Beyond Class," one whispered, almost giddy.
Next came Truman. The creature jiggled in brief confusion as his steel palm touched down. For a beat, nothing. Then the floor runes flared, data streams racing across the examiners' crystals. He stepped back. "Trial complete. Wish it was harder." His voice stayed even.
The lead examiner tapped her device. "You overcame it in four seconds. Another extremely high reading." Around her, quiet murmurs. "Construct or golem? Conjuration? Is that allowed?" No one objected.
Then Zehrina stepped in. She touched the creature; her eyes narrowed. A sharp crackle leapt from her fingers. The runes flashed brilliant white, then fell back to steady. The proctors blinked together. One announced, "You… overcame an armada of Srillan Phantasms near-instantaneously. That may be a record for a new entrant."
A suspicion crept in that the proctors would either faint or run out of astonishment before they finished.
After that, Warrex took his turn, jaw tight, still bearing the last of Lady Brinevein's fight. He pressed his hand to the creature and focused. Runes around him surged and flickered for roughly forty seconds. The glow eased at last, and he stepped back with sweat beading his brow.
"High synergy. Borderline S-rank, possibly A," a proctor said, tapping her crystal. Warrex gave a nonchalant shrug, but pride lit his eyes.
Lutrian approached next. The creature's lines burned for nearly seven full minutes before dimming. "Strong magic potential," the examiner called, "but overshadowed by these monstrous synergy readings." She jotted a note. "We're seeing a high B rating." Lutrian scowled, half-embarrassed that Warrex outranked him. Warrex patted his shoulder, teasing.
Bracing herself, Takara stepped forward. A gauntleted hand met the creature's side, sparks dancing as her runic enhancements interfaced with it. A tense twenty-five minutes crawled past. When the glow faded, the examiner offered a polite smile. "Solid work. C-rank performance, especially in forging synergy. Good. We are trending downward. Poor fella here was getting tired. Next." Takara exhaled, half disappointed. Roy shot her an encouraging grin, mouthing, "We'll get better."
The proctors' relief was quickly demolished as FDR and JFK also passed the test in seconds. The three present elite models passed at nearly equal times to each other, six minutes and seconds.
"Just one advanced and one base model for the next tests or we will be here all day," Roy groaned.
The advanced model took eleven minutes and the base model took twenty-seven minutes.
At last, it was Roy's turn. Curious looks gathered, shaped by Eryndra's unstoppable presence, Warrex's beastly aura, and everything else this group had already shown. No obvious mana signature. No special gear beyond odd clothes. He walked to the pedestal with a flicker of nerves, the kind that came whenever anyone stronger than a sturdy teenager gave him trouble. He set his palm to the quivering hide and steadied his breath.
A hush flooded his senses. Floor lines blazed, jumping from color to color. One examiner yelped as her device beeped in irregular bursts. Images wheeled through Roy's mind, doomsday weapons, nuclear arsenals, random Earth tech. The creature gurgled low, confounded by the shape of his mana.
After a moment that felt both instant and endless, the runes shattered with a crackle of energy. The creature cried out in pain and the building shook. Roy stumbled back, blinking as the flare faded. The lead examiner found her voice. "W-what was that? The readings spiked off the charts, then flatlined."
He gave a sheepish shrug. "I guess I'm complicated. Sorry if we fried your instruments."
Proctors gaped at the readouts. One frowned, resetting her device. Another said quietly, "This is reminiscent of an unorthodox Beyond-Class reading. We'll have to finalize it."
Roy rubbed his neck with a nervous laugh. Eryndra stood off to the side, arms crossed in smug amusement. Warrex smirked. Takara sighed and muttered, "Show-off."
When the last of them finished, the proctors huddled, whispers flying. The lead examiner turned back with forced composure. "We'll need time to finalize your official ranks, but the preliminary data strongly suggests extraordinary potential in multiple members of your party. Remain in Seranovia for the final assessment and official certification. Thank you for your cooperation."
He dipped his head. "We appreciate it. Let us know if you need more data. Or if you need to fix that creature. Because I think it's stunned."
Sure enough, the thing twitched feebly on its pedestal, eyes rolling in a confused daze. Proctors grimaced and called for a caretaker.
Lynder stepped forward and clapped once. "Congratulations on completing the initial test. Some of you soared above the usual readings. Your formal rank ceremony may be… interesting." He glanced at Roy, then at Maelara, pride bright in his eyes. "For now, rest assured you have Seranovia's interest."
Beside him, Maelara nodded, half smiling. "We'll see how the guild higher-ups handle your presence next. This city rarely sees so many top-tier arrivals at once."