As I approached the receptionist, she said immediately “Kindly display your status panel for me,” her voice almost a whisper.
My heart hammered in my chest. “But...my skill will be displayed,” I stammered, unsure of how to proceed.
She gave a slight, reassuring smile. “Don't worry, Hunter Lucas. The red line on the screen only allows me, to see your status. Your privacy is respected.”
Hesitantly, I brought up my status panel.
“Status” I chanted
[STATUS]
- Lucas Cross
- Level: 96
- HP: 960/960
- MP: 960/960
[ATTRIBUTES]
- Strength: 527
- Defense: 525
- Attack: 510
- Agility: 472
- Intelligence: 502
- Perception: 530
- PP: 96
[SKILL]
[Rare]
- King's Command (Active)
• Buff: Telepathy (Passive)
[EQUIPPED ITEMS]
[Sword of the Orc King] +30 Str. +20 Attk
[Ring of protection] +25 Def.
[Boots of the fanged cheetah] +20 Agi.
[Dragonhide armor] +20 Def. +15 Str. +10 Attk.
[Pouch of Coins]: 655,005 Copper Coins.
----------------------------------
I was relieved to see that there were no changes. My unique skill was still cloaked, and my stats remained the same
The receptionist, her brow furrowed in concentration, studied the glowing screen. Her eyes, however, widened as they landed on the “Rare” skill category.
The receptionist's gaze held a flicker of something unexpected – was it curiosity? Surprise? Disbelief?
“King's Command... ”she murmured, her voice almost a sigh. but her expression was soon replaced instantly by a professional composure.
“Please, take a seat, Hunter Lucas.”
She vanished into the back office, leaving me in the hall buzzing with the energy of other hunters, both eager and apprehensive. I sank into a nearby chair, my gaze drawn to a balcony overlooking the hall.
Four men, clad in gleaming, obsidian armor, their faces obscured by black hoods, strode down the balcony, their presence filling the hall with an oppressive air of power.
A low hum of fear and awe rippled through the crowd. Those near me flinched, their eyes darting nervously between the imposing figures and the ground. Even I, with my level 91 strength, felt a primal urge to bow, to acknowledge their dominance.
“Oh my God, it's them,” a voice whispered behind me, tinged with a mixture of fear and fascination. “Who are they?” another voice asked, a tremor evident in the speaker's tone.
“You don't know who they are? Those are A-rank elite hunters from the guild,” the first voice responded, a hint of pride in their tone. “There are only eight A-rank hunters in the city, and they are the strongest, the most powerful, the pinnacle of hunter skill.”
"That's so cool," another voice whispered, a note of naiveté in their tone.
This one, clearly oblivious to the true implications of their titles, didn't seem to understand the true power of the A-ranks. Their mere presence, a tangible force, resonated through the hall, silencing even the faintest murmur of conversation.
The A-rank hunters, their movements as silent and swift as shadows, vanished behind the massive double doors, their aura lingering like a lingering mist. The hall fell silent, the only sound the rhythmic click-clacking of the receptionist's keyboard as she resumed her work.
Minutes later, she reappeared, her expression neutral, professional. She called out five names, each hunter stepping forward to collect their ID cards.
“Hunter Lucas,” she announced finally, her gaze meeting mine.
I rose, a knot of anticipation twisting in my stomach. She handed me a sleek card, its surface etched with my name and a Capital RANK with a stark letter: E.
The air in the hall felt thick, heavy with anticipation. "Hunter Lucas, you are now a registered E-rank hunter," she said.
My heart hammered in my chest. A rank E hunter?
Was I still too weak, that I had to be placed in the E rank?. If the A rank hunter's are considered to be the top, then that makes E rank to be the lowest, right?
I asked her about the archway as it has been bugging me
“The archway...” she continued, her voice barely a whisper, “the one you passed through? It allows you to see the ranks of dungeons before you enter them, to avoid high mortality rate in newly awakened hunters. It's a new system, implemented only recently.”
Her words hung in the air, as I absorbed the information. A new system?
She handed me a sealed letter, a faint smile playing on her lips. “This is for you, Hunter Lucas. The Guild Master wanted me to give it to you personally.”
I accepted the letter, my fingers tracing the embossed seal. A wave of trepidation washed over me. What could the Guild Master have to say to a newly-awakened E-rank hunter? What secret did this letter hold?
The Guild Master's letter...what could it all mean?
I nodded, my throat dry. I thanked her, a quick, almost automatic gesture, and then I turned and left the guild hall.
The world outside the Guild was vibrant and lively, but I felt strangely detached, as if walking through a dream. I glanced at the letter in my hand, the Guild Master's seal a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation. What contents did it hold? The E-rank designation, a stark reminder of my novice status, gnawed at the back of my mind.
I knew I had to confront this new reality. But first, a new challenge awaited.
I bypassed the usual low-level dungeon portal hub, and walked to the sections with the mini dungeon portals. There was a vast number of them.
I was ready to test my skills against tougher opponents.
It was time to face my fears. It was time to step into the unknown..
...
YOU ARE READING
PHOENIX RISING (Book One In The Phoenix Hunter Series)
FantasyIn a realm of magic and monster hunting follow Lucas as he becomes one of the greatest hunters of all time
