The road curled ahead like a ribbon of fate, and with each step, Aventia loomed larger—its towers piercing the sky, its massive stone walls glowing faintly under the morning light. The sheer scale of the city made Nyx pause mid-step.
"Wow… amazing," she whispered, eyes wide as she took in the vast skyline. Gleaming spires, curving rooftops, and bustling roads gave the city a life of its own.
Takeshi smiled faintly. "You'll get used to it. Aventia's a hub for adventurers. It only gets crazier inside."
As they approached the fortified gates, two guards stepped forward. Clad in polished steel and carrying halberds, they looked the pair over with measured scrutiny.
"Halt," one barked. "State your business."
"We're here to register as adventurers," Takeshi answered steadily.
The other guard studied them for a beat longer, then gave a curt nod. "Alright. Just stay out of trouble."
With that, the gates creaked open.
The moment they stepped inside, the city's energy swept over them like a crashing wave. The streets bustled with life—vendors shouted over one another, eager to draw attention to their wares: glowing gemstones, enchanted scrolls, weapons gleaming with runes. Adventurers in cloaks, armor, and robes bargained, bickered, and boasted. A blacksmith's hammer rang like a heartbeat somewhere nearby.
Nyx's gaze danced from stall to stall. "It's like… a world of its own."
Takeshi nodded. "It is. But we're not here to shop—come on."
They weaved through the crowds, eventually stopping in front of an enormous building. It dwarfed those around it, with a high spire stretching over twenty meters into the sky and an emblem of crossed blades carved into the stone above its archway.
"This is the place," Takeshi said, pushing open the heavy double doors.
Inside was just as hectic. The lobby teemed with adventurers—some shouting to recruiters, others sprawled across benches comparing bounties and quests. A constant clatter of boots and chatter echoed through the high-ceilinged hall.
A woman behind the front desk greeted them with a polite smile. "Welcome to V-Building. How can I help you?"
"We'd like to register as adventurers," Takeshi replied.
"Follow me, please," she said, gesturing for them to walk with her.
She led them down a hallway and into a large room already filled with hopeful applicants. The air buzzed with anticipation. Some were stretching, others showing off sword swings or spell flicks, clearly sizing each other up.
"You may wait here," the receptionist said before exiting.
Takeshi and Nyx found an empty bench near the wall. The murmurs of nervous conversation swirled around them, broken only by the occasional clang of steel or crackle of mana.
After several minutes, the room quieted as the door creaked open.
A man stepped inside—tall, broad-shouldered, clad in a sleek, dark combat suit lined with reinforced plates. His aura commanded immediate attention. Every eye in the room locked onto him.
He swept the room with a sharp gaze, then spoke, voice clipped but powerful.
"Welcome to the Adventurer Registration Exam. I am Instructor Draven. From this point on, your journey begins—not as wanderers, but as warriors. Fail here, and you go home. Succeed, and you step into a world where strength defines your survival."
Takeshi sat up straighter. Beside him, Nyx's fingers tightened around the hilt of her borrowed sword.
The air shifted.
Before anyone could ask questions, a blinding light engulfed the room.
When their vision cleared, they were no longer in the building—but in a dense, unfamiliar forest, shrouded in thick fog. The air was heavy with tension. Low growls echoed through the trees, and raptor-like beasts prowled just beyond the mist, their yellow eyes glowing with hunger.
A glowing timer appeared above them, counting down.
Then the trial began.
Chaos erupted.
The recruits scattered, some screaming in panic, others raising weapons in a desperate defense. Steel clashed with fangs, spells lit up the fog, and the cries of both beast and man filled the air.
Takeshi moved with calm precision. With each swing of his blade, another raptor fell. His attacks were clean, calculated—he wasted no motion.
Nyx, a few meters away, remained still as the creatures closed in. She raised a hand and snapped her fingers. A wave of dark energy exploded outward, obliterating the raptors in a flash of light and shadow.
The battlefield was chaos, but Takeshi's gaze sharpened. Amid the underbrush, he noticed something out of place—a partially inscribed spell circle, glowing faintly from the earth.
"This might be it," he muttered. He knelt and quickly traced the missing runes, his fingers steady. As mana surged into the circle, it pulsed with energy, then flashed—transporting him instantly.
Elsewhere, Nyx discovered a similar glyph. Without hesitation, she extended her hand and funneled mana into the design. In a burst of light, she vanished.
She reappeared at a small stone altar—clearly the endpoint.
"First to finish," she murmured, brushing a leaf from her shoulder.
Moments later, another flash sparked behind her. Takeshi landed, slightly winded but composed.
"Second place, huh?" he said with a grin, brushing off dirt from his coat.
Nyx crossed her arms, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Not bad, Takeshi. Not bad at all."