Marcus stared at the million pieces of the Titan Core Scale covering the floor. A machine designed to handle the absolute peak of human strength had just been turned into dust by a casual, mana-less punch.
Instead of getting angry about the destroyed guild property, the massive Level 45 Guild Master threw his head back and began to laugh. The booming sound shook the underground chamber.
"Guild Master!" Elara, the examiner, cried out, still on her knees. "He destroyed a priceless artifact! We must arrest him—"
"Shut up, Elara," Marcus snapped, his laughter stopping instantly. He looked at Aryan not with anger, but with a burning, almost fanatic intensity. "Arrest him? With what army? If he wanted to level this entire building, he could have done it before we even drew our weapons."
Marcus walked heavily toward Aryan. He reached into his deep leather coat and pulled out a sleek, obsidian-black badge etched with a glowing gold 'S'.
He held it out to Aryan.
"Protocol says you need to pass a written exam, a survival test, and a psychological evaluation to move up from F-Rank," Marcus said, his voice deadly serious. "To hell with protocol. You are an anomaly. You are exactly the kind of monster this city needs right now."
Aryan looked at the black badge. In the outside world, an S-Rank Hunter was treated like royalty. They were above the law, above the military, answering only to the Awakened Council.
He calmly took the badge and pinned it to his torn, blood-stained shirt. The contrast was almost comical, but the aura Aryan radiated made it terrifyingly fitting.
"I don't work for free, Marcus," Aryan said, his purple eyes flashing.
"I wouldn't expect you to," Marcus grinned, showing his teeth. "Two days ago, a Level 50 Abyssal Gate opened in the Northern Wastes. Our military blockade is failing. A-Rank teams have gone in and haven't come out. The monster wave is going to break through in less than twenty-four hours and wipe out half the city."
Marcus leaned in closer. "I need someone to go in there alone, kill the Boss, and close the gate. If you do this, I will give you unrestricted access to the Guild's Secret Vault. You can take any three items you want. Legendary weapons, ancient skill books... anything."
Aryan's holographic system chimed loudly in his mind.
[Ding! Sudden Emergency Quest Triggered!]
[Quest: The Abyssal Nightmare.]
[Objective: Clear the Level 50 Abyssal Gate solo.]
[Reward: 5,000,000 EXP, 1x Mythic-Tier Weapon, Guild Vault Access.]
Aryan licked his lips. A Level 50 dungeon? A Mythic weapon? The EXP alone would skyrocket his levels to insane heights.
"Tell your military to step aside," Aryan said, turning toward the exit. "I'm going hunting."