The Berserk Stronghold Guild was located at the town's center, its blazing logo of a tiger fighting a lion impossible to miss. Tsuoma and the Draconics walked inside, where they saw a crowd of people. Natael pointed to a group of seven young men huddled together. "They're still here. I thought they went on a mission."
"Hey, Natael! Looks like we finished earlier than you," one of the boys said, coming over to meet him. "Oh, you brought guests. Are they joining your party? I'm sure you bribed them to accept, knowing you have to have seven members to go on D-class missions like we do. You're still on E-class missions, so why aren't you satisfied? D-class missions are difficult, you know. Now you're bringing them to the guild to be registered? Am I right, or am I right?"
Tsuoma looked at the party, seeing the anger on their faces. He decided to check the statuses of the other party members. He saw their party name was the Salamander Party, and their leader, who was talking to Natael, had a few stats superior to his. What was most surprising, however, was that the two were brothers.
STATS
Name: Coron Feirysky
Specie: Human, Holy Knight
Rank: Level 60, D class
Health: 630/700
Agility: 250/250
Speed: 300/300
Strength: 400/400
Stamina: 350/350
Mana: 1000/1200
Magic & Skills Used: Summoning magic, fire magic, sword magic.
Even as brothers, they had different magical attributes.
"Elder brother, you should be ashamed of yourself," Coron suddenly said angrily. "Anyway, I will be the heir of the Feirysky house, mark my words! Our father hates having a weak son. We have the same fire magic, but mine is..."
So fast that before he could blink, a punch hit Natael's face, sending him backward with enough speed to smash into every desk he came across. The entire guild hall fell silent. The members of the Salamander Party looked at their boss, barely able to see him beneath all the debris. One of them, after regaining his composure, ran over to the groaning figure on the floor. Small birds flew over Coron's head as he lay disoriented.
"What the hell just happened?" Karis Jamus, the sword mage of the Draconics, asked in shock.
"Sadeo sword technique, first form, swordless," Tsuoma said calmly. Karis was shocked that he had used a sword skill without a sword.
"We decided to follow him; we are not his party members," Tsuoma said, stepping forward. "We simply followed him to find the guild. He's a great leader and fighter. Don't mock him; I won't have it."
"Let's be civil here," a female elf said, coming between Tsuoma and the disoriented Coron. "We might be berserkers, but we must abide by the rules."
Tsuoma checked her stats.
STATS
Name: Tiatha Audark
Specie: Light Elf
Rank: Level 60, D class
Health: 700/700
Agility: 300/300
Speed: 400/400
Strength: 600/600
Stamina: 380/380
Mana: 1500/1500
Magic & Skills Used: Shapeshifting magic, healing magic, creation magic, lightning magic, possession magic.
She was powerful; perhaps he could invite her into his party if she wasn't in one. Things were really getting interesting. He remembered he hadn't seen Teruki's stats yet, but before he could check, he felt a strong, domineering presence. Many of the parties in the guild, including the Draconics, were forced to their knees—all of them except Tsuoma and Teruki.
A man with a black aura came down from a staircase, followed by a Kitsune with six tails. Tsuoma wondered how a Kitsune could be in this world and why she wasn't affected by the malevolent aura. He checked their stats, starting with the Kitsune.
STATS
Name: Jiyoki Kyrsaku
Specie: Kitsune
Rank: Level 90, Rank A
Health: 2000/2000
Agility: 1000/1000
Speed: 1500/1500
Strength: 3000/3000
Stamina: 800/800
Mana: 3000/3000
Magic & Skills Used: Shapeshifting magic, elemental bending.
She was a little far ahead of him and strong enough to withstand the evil aura, but her mana wasn't as much as his. He then checked the guild master's stats.
STATS
Name: Armand Auren
Specie: Vampire
Rank: Level 150, Rank SS
Health: 5000/5000
Agility: 5000/5000
Speed: 6500/6500
Strength: 5000/5000
Stamina: 6000/6000
Mana: 6000/6000
Magic & Skills Used: Shapeshifting magic, dark magic, summoning magic, possession magic, necromancy, sword magic, blood magic, hypnosis, flight.
Tsuoma's eyes glowed in shock. This was the strongest individual he had seen so far and he was level 150, Tsuoma had thought the level capped at 100 but now he saw 150. What then was the highest level. He was higher than Tsuoma in everything. He wondered if the Kitsune was the second strongest. He would have to train harder to become the strongest.
Tsuoma looked at the guild master, realizing the menacing aura was gone. Everyone looked at him and Teruki in shock. "Well, we survived his domineering aura," Tsuoma whispered to himself.
The Kitsune looked at Tsuoma and smirked as her tails receded. The guild master came to meet Tsuoma. "I haven't seen him get a good thrashing before, although violence is not allowed in here, stranger."
"He got on my nerves. I'm sorry, owner," Tsuoma said with a hint of sarcasm.
The guild master looked hard at Tsuoma, who didn't feel intimidated. "You look promising. My name is Armand Auren; I am a vampire and the owner of this guild, which has thirty parties. With me is a Kitsune, her name is Jiyoki Kyrsaku. You must be new here. Fine, I will pardon your misconduct, but only if you go and kill a basilisk. Mind you, it's a C-level beast, but you should be able to defeat it, right, Tsuoma?"
Tsuoma was shocked and quickly drew his sword. "How did you know my name?"
"Come on, little one," Armand said, "I may not have the Eye of Truth, I can use blood magic to break through a person and find out a few things, but I can only see names, if they are a danger and also ranks, and you are Rank B."
Tsuoma gritted his teeth angrily. "Anyway, since you have no party yet, you will be included in the Draconics. Jiyoki will follow you there; she knows the location of the basilisk. For now, go and settle down. You will return here tomorrow at dawn. I expect you will be ready."
Just like that, he was gone. Tsuoma looked away angrily and marched to the door. "I'll kill him one day. He'd better watch his back. What are you looking at, Teruki?"
"Don't go berserk on me now, Tsuoma," Teruki giggled as they both walked out of the guild.
"So this is the Berserk Stronghold Guild," Tsuoma said, chuckling. "The boss sure looks like a berserker."
______________________________________________
In the Princess's Palace
Meanwhile, in the Straterfall Kingdom, in a building recognized as a palace, the princess was seated on her throne with guards at her side. "Damn that empress! After killing my father, she thinks I will just give up," she fumed. "But still, why did the summoning go wrong?"
Unknown to her, time had frozen, and the goddess was looking at her. "My child, Emile."
Princess Emile jerked in shock and finally looked at her surroundings. The goddess wanted to speak to her alone. "Speak, your servant listens."
"The hero is alive and well. He is here in this world, but far away from where you are. He is in Luby."
"One of the evil empress's cities! If she finds out..."
"Do not worry, I shall watch over him. And tell Agnolia about this."
"Wait, Goddess!"
"It's okay, Emile. She will find them."
"Them?"
The goddess faded away, and everything returned to normal. "Guards, one of you should go and send for Agnolia, the supreme mage. Tell her I seek her presence immediately, and also tell her it's a matter of urgency."
"Yes, princess," one of the guards said and ran out of the palace.
"It's time to get our hero," Emile said to herself. "But she said 'them.' How many heroes got summoned here? I wonder what's going on."