The following week was a blur of small victories and steady progress. Between training quests at the Fighter’s Guild and miscellaneous tasks from the quest board, Nick and Ray tried to adapt themselves to the city’s rhythms. The training quests were helpful in adapting to their combat stats, while the miscellaneous tasks were a special kind of hell that tested their patience to the limit.
Tasks like guard duty were boring the kind of boring that is acceptable on occasion, but neither of them wanted to shovel sewage ever again. After seven days of repetitive, mundane tasks, they couldn’t take it anymore. They had to increase their rank so that the guild would let them tackle combat requests.
The Adventurer’s Guild was buzzing with its usual midday activity, the clatter of boots on stone floors blending with the hum of chatter and the occasional clang of a weapon bumping against a counter or table.
Nick and Ray made their way to the front desk, weaving through groups of adventurers laughing, arguing, and exchanging stories of their exploits. The stern receptionist was engaged in a hushed conversation with a weathered adventurer who towered over the desk.
When she noticed their approach, she dismissed the adventurer with a polite nod before turning her attention to them.
“Back again,” she said.
Nick smirked. “I’m doing fine, Marlin. We appreciate your concern about our health, but you don’t need to ask every time.”
Marlin rolled her eyes but smirked faintly. “You’re getting a little too comfortable for someone stuck at G-rank. What’s the worst that could happen to you? Did you stub your toe on a brick?”
“No,” Ray said. “But he did trip and fall into the…”
Nick placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. “Anyway, we’re here for something a little different today. We’d like to request an F-rank evaluation.”
Her brows lifted slightly, though her professional demeanor returned almost immediately. She picked up a small clipboard and flipped through its pages, scanning the list. “You’re in luck,” she said. “We have a D-rank examiner in the guild at the moment. Most of the time, you’d need to schedule these in advance.”
Ray leaned forward, her mismatched eyes lighting up. “So we can do it today?”
“Yes,” the receptionist replied. “If you’re sure you’re ready, I can have you evaluated within the hour.”
“We’re ready,” Ray said firmly, glancing at Nick for confirmation. He nodded without hesitation.
Marlin reached for a quill, jotting something down on a slip of parchment before handing it to Nick. “Take this to the evaluation hall on the west wing. The examiner’s name is Ferris. He’ll go over the rules and procedures before the trial. Good luck.” Her gaze flicked between the two of them, and she hesitated for a moment as if considering whether to say more. Finally, she added, “F-rank evaluations aren’t as lenient as you might think. They’re designed to test your limits and prove that you are capable of defending yourself from monsters.”
“We’ll manage,” Nick replied with a faint smile, taking the parchment. “Thanks.”
The evaluation hall was a stark contrast to the bustling common area. The space was quieter, its high ceilings and polished floors giving it an air of formality. Nick and Ray followed a hallway lined with training rooms and private meeting spaces until they reached a set of heavy double doors. The parchment instructed them to wait just inside.
As they entered, they found themselves in a wide, open chamber. A small audience area was set up along one wall, with rows of benches overlooking a combat ring in the center. A few adventurers lounged there, watching the ongoing evaluation—a 2v1 sparring match between two G-rankers and a stocky examiner who barely seemed to be trying.
Nick and Ray stepped forward, their boots echoing faintly on the polished stone floor. A tall, broad-shouldered man with a closely trimmed beard and an easygoing air approached them. His armor was practical and worn, and he carried a long mace slung across his back.
“You must be the next candidates,” he said, his tone warm but commanding. “I’m Ferris. I’ll be your examiner today.”
Nick extended a hand, which Ferris shook firmly. “Nick, and this is Ray.”
“Good to meet you both,” Ferris said, sizing them up with a practiced eye. “Let’s see what you’re made of.”
Before the conversation could continue, the door at the far end of the chamber creaked open. Nick turned just in time to see a familiar figure step inside—Siegfried, his blond hair gleaming, his expression sharp and unreadable. Beside him was an older man who moved with a slow, deliberate gait. His greasy, unkempt hair and threadbare robes gave him the look of a forgotten scholar, but the glint in his eyes hinted at something far more calculating.
‘I wonder why they’re here…’ he thought. Before he could dwell on it, another flicker of movement caught his attention. In the shadowed rafters above the audience benches, a hooded figure crouched, her emerald eyes flashing briefly in the light. She gave Nick and Ray a subtle nod, a smirk curling across her lips.
She mouthed a message that he carefully deciphered.
I see you. Do you see me?
Ferris clapped his hands, drawing their attention back to him. “Alright, here’s how this works. You’ll be sparring against me. The goal isn’t to beat me—that’s not going to happen—but to demonstrate your teamwork, adaptability, and combat potential. Show me you’ve got what it takes to handle an F-rank quest without falling apart.”
Nick and Ray exchanged amused grins.
“Any questions?”
Nick shook his head and gripped the hilt of his short sword. “We’re ready.”
Ray twirled her halberd experimentally. Ferris’s eyes fell on the halberd with interest. “Interesting choice,” he said. “Not many G-rankers can handle a halberd effectively. Maybe you’ll be an exception.”
She smirked. “Guess you’ll just have to find out.”
“Good. Take your positions. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
The other examination concluded while they were talking and the ring opened for their use. They moved to opposite sides of the combat ring, the polished stone beneath their boots gleaming faintly under the chamber’s soft lighting. The murmurs of the small audience faded as Ferris stepped to the center, his mace resting easily on his shoulder.
“Alright, on my mark,” he announced, his stone steady and commanding. “Show me what makes you think you’re ready.”
Nick adjusted his stance, his body low and ready. Across from him, Ray mirrored his focus, her mismatched eyes locking on the examiner. A faint smile played on her lips, a hint of excitement brimming beneath her calm exterior.
“Three…two…one…begin!”
Ferris didn’t hesitate. His movements were deceptively quick for someone so broad-shouldered, and his mace came down in a swift arc. Nick sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow, while Ray dashed in from Ferris’s blind spot, her halberd glowing faintly as she used her new fighter skill, Power Strike.
Ferris twisted just in time, raising his arm to block her strike with the shaft of his mace. The impact echoed across the chamber, and he let out a low whistle. “Not bad, kid. You’ve got some strength.”
Ray grinned, stepping back to avoid his counterstrike. Nick capitalized on the moment, darting in with a quick slash aimed at the man’s side. The examiner parried with a fluid motion, his mace spinning like an extension of his arm. Nick barely had time to block the counterstrike, the force of the blow rattling through his short sword and into his arms.
“Good reflexes,” Ferris noted, stepping back and resetting his stance. “But you’ll need more than speed if you want to keep up.”
Nick smirked. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ray advancing again, her halberd sweeping low. Ferris hopped back, but the blade caught his ankle guard with a screech of metal. The examiner stumbled, just slightly, and Nick took the opportunity to lunge, his blade aiming for Ferris’s exposed shoulder.
But Ferris wasn’t going to let himself be cornered. With a grunt, he spun his mace in a wide arc in attempt to force both Nick and Ray to retreat.
Nick obliged, daring back to avoid the heavy swing. But Ray stood her ground, her halberd planted firmly as Ferris’s mace bore down on her.
The sound was sickening. A sharp crack echoed through the chamber as the mace connected with the side of her head. Her neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and her jaw hung askew as her body staggered under the blow. Gasps rippled through the audience, and Ferris froze mid-motion, his eyes widening in shock.
Nick took note of the examiner’s stunned reaction and darted forward, his sword aimed in a precise thrust toward his unprotected side.
Ferris reacted just in time, twisting to deflect the blade with the haft of his mace. “What the hell—?” he began, his voice trailing off as movement behind Nick caught his eye.
Ray was moving.
Her hand reached up to her head, fingers gripping her twisted neck. With horrifying calmness, she yanked her head back into place with a sickening pop, her mismatched eyes blinking as if testing her vision. Then, without missing a beat, she placed her other hand on her dislocated jaw and snapped it back into alignment, rolling it experimentally.
“That was a good hit,” she remarked, her voice hoarse but steady. Her grin, though slightly crooked, returned as she hefted her halberd and spun it with renewed vigor.
Ferris couldn’t maintain his composure when faced with such an unrealistic sight. “What in the gods’ names—”
He didn’t get the chance to finish. Nick closed the gap, his sword slicing upward in a calculated arc. Ferris, still reeling from Ray’s display, barely managed to block, his mace raised defensively. But Nick pressed the advantage, his strikes relentless, driving the examiner back step by step.
Ray joined the assault, her halberd whistling through the air in a wide, sweeping strike that forced Ferris to abandon his defensive posture. The mace caught the halberd’s shaft with a resounding clang, but the force of the blow knocked him off balance.
Nick pivoted, his short sword slamming against the examiner’s armored chest with enough precision to send him stumbling back. Ferris raised a hand, signaling the end of the bout.
“Enough!” he barked, his voice shaking. His breathing was heavy, his face flushed, but his expression was one of incredulous respect as he looked between them.
Nick lowered his sword, stepping back to regroup with Ray. She spun her halberd once before planting it on the ground, her usual grin widening.
Ferris stared at them both, shaking his head slowly. “You two are… something else. I’ve never seen rookies fight like that, and I’ve definitely never seen anyone take a hit like that and keep going.” He gestured to Ray. “Are you even human?”
Ray winked. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Ferris huffed a laugh, wiping sweat from his brow. “Well, however you did that, you’ve more than passed this evaluation…”
“I’d say so,” a voice interrupted.
The tone was calm but carried enough authority to draw every eye in the room. They followed the voice to see a man descending the stairs from the audience area, his gait confident and measured. He was tall and lean, with sharp features framed by neatly combed chestnut hair. His piercing gray eyes seemed to weigh every person in the room with a cool, analytical air. He wore a sleek, dark jacket over light armor, the ensemble clean and efficient, with a faint aura of magic crackling around him—a subtle but unmistakable sign of his prowess.
“Sebastian,” Ferris greeted, straightening slightly. “What brings you here?”
The man’s gaze swept over the chamber before settling on Nick and Ray. His expression was inscrutable, but there was a faint, unreadable curve to his lips. “I heard about these two from my aunt. Thought I’d see for myself if they were worth the hype.”
Nick exchanged a glance with Ray, then stepped forward while sheathing his blade. “Your aunt?”
Sebastian nodded. “Tabitha Vale. She runs an inn in the lower quarter. She mentioned a couple of new adventurers who stood out to her, so I thought I’d see if you lived up to her assessment.”
Ray crossed her arms, her grin faltering slightly under his scrutiny. “And? What’s the verdict?”
Sebastian shrugged. “You’ve got potential. But potential alone doesn’t get you far. Care to handle a real test?”
Nick raised an eyebrow at Sebastian’s challenge. “The test just now wasn’t enough for you?”
Ferris chuckled under his breath. “If he’s offering, you might want to take it. Sebastian doesn’t make casual suggestions.”
Sebastian ignored Ferris, his gaze fixed on Nick and Ray. “You’ve shown that you can handle Ferris, but F-rank isn’t just about raw strength. It’s about strategy, adaptability, and being able to handle unexpected challenges. Consider this a bonus round.”
Ray tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What kind of test are we talking about?”
“Nothing complicated. Another duel, both of you against me. Show me that you can think on your feet. Impress me, and you’ll walk out of here not just as F-rankers, but with my respect—and maybe a little something extra from me.”
Nick exchanged a glance with Ray. He could see the excitement building in her, and despite himself, he felt a flicker of anticipation as well. “Alright,” he said. “We’re in.”
Sebastian nodded approvingly and gestured toward the ring. “Then let’s not waste time. Ferris, would you do the honors?”
Ferris raised his hands in mock surrender. “All yours, Sebastian. I’ll just enjoy the show from the sidelines.”
At some point, the stands had filled with dozens of people, all of them keenly focused on the events in the ring. As Sebastian stepped forward, the room seemed to go quiet, the gathered adventurers leaning forward with interest. He drew a sleek longsword from his side, the blade shimmering faintly with an enchanted glow. Sparks of magic danced along its edge.
Nick unsheathed his short sword and settled into a ready stance. Ray gripped her halberd, her expression eager but focused. They moved to opposite sides of the ring, silently agreeing to pincher him from his flanks.
Sebastian raised his sword in a relaxed but confident stance. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Nick didn’t hesitate. He surged forward, feinting a strike to test his opponent’s reaction. As expected, Sebastian parried with ease, his movements smooth and precise. Ray followed immediately, sweeping her halberd in a low arc aimed at his legs.
Their opponent stepped into the arc of the halberd and the enchanted edge of his blade flickered toward Ray. She barely twisted out of the way, and then shrieked as arcs of electricity leapt from the edge of the sword and struck her in the chest.
Nick took advantage of the distraction to close in, aiming a series of quick strikes at Sebastian’s midsection. Sebastian met each attack with a practiced rhythm, the glow of his sword flaring briefly as he activated another spell. A shockwave of force erupted from his blade, sending Nick flying. He crashed into the ground, rolling to deflect as much of the impact as possible.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow as Nick rolled back to his feet. “Quick recovery,” he remarked, his tone cool and composed. “But how long can you keep that up?”
Nick wiped a streak of dirt from his cheek, his eyes narrowing as he tightened his grip on his short sword. “Long enough.”
Across the ring, Ray straightened, her halberd glowing faintly as she activated a skill. The arcs of electricity still danced across her clothes despite their lack of metallic properties, but her eyes blazed with determination. She rolled her shoulders as though shrugging off the pain and charged forward again, her weapon sweeping up in a devastating diagonal strike.
Sebastian sidestepped effortlessly, his sword humming with energy as he countered. Sparks erupted when their weapons collided, the enchanted blade biting against the halberd’s reinforced edge. Ray gritted her teeth and pushed harder, forcing Sebastian to shift his stance. He gave a faint smile, almost impressed.
Nick seized the opening. He darted in from the side, feinting low before twisting into a powerful upward slash aimed at Sebastian’s exposed side. The man reacted with a speed that seemed impossible, twisting his blade to parry Nick’s attack while simultaneously pressing Ray back with a pulse of magic.
“You’ve got some coordination,” Sebastian admitted. “But you’re holding back. Did you really think you could hide that from me?”
Nick smirked. “Alright.”
Raising his free hand, he channeled his mana, feeling the familiar heat surge through his veins. Flames coalesced in his palm, forming a searing sphere of energy. With a sharp motion, he flung the fireball.
The adventurer’s eyes widened briefly before his sword flicked up, a glowing barrier of magic intercepting the projectile. The fireball exploded, sending a wave of heat and light rippling through the arena. The crowd gasped, murmurs breaking out as smoke swirled in the aftermath.
But Nick wasn’t done. Before the smoke had cleared, he raised his hand, fire sparking to life in his palm. The crackling flame swirled and grew, a second fireball forming beside it. Then another. And another.
=Multi-Fireball=
-Active Skill-
->Mana: 20%
->Rank: 10/-
->Description: Throw one or more f*cking fireballs.
The ability description didn’t specify a limit to the number of fireballs that could be summoned with a single cast. After some experimentation, Nick had discovered his current limit.
Within seconds, the air around him shimmered with heat as fireballs multiplied, spinning in perfect orbit. Two became four. Four became eight. Eight became sixteen.
The crowd fell silent, tension thick in the air as the spinning inferno lit the chamber with a fiery glow. The intensity of the heat forced a few onlookers to lean back in their seats. Even Ferris, watching from the sidelines, muttered a low, “By the gods…”
Sebastian’s stance shifted, his sword glowing brighter as he braced himself. His sharp eyes darted between the spinning fireballs, and for the first time, his confident smirk faltered. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he said, his voice low and steady.
Nick gritted his teeth, the strain of maintaining the spell evident in the sheen of sweat on his brow. “Yeah, well…” he muttered, his voice tight with exertion. “I’ve always liked to raise the stakes.”
He raised a hand and pointed a finger gun at his opponent.
“Bang.”
Eight fireballs streaked toward Sebastian in an erratic pattern, forcing him to react. His sword moved in a blur, the enchanted blade meeting each projectile with precise, explosive counterattacks. The chamber shook with the force of the detonations, but Sebastian held his ground, stepping nimbly through the fiery barrage.
Nick didn’t let up. As the first wave faded, the remaining fireballs spiraled faster, their movements becoming unpredictable. He sent the second volley hurtling toward his opponent, forcing Sebastian into a defensive whirlwind of magic. Sparks of electricity danced across his sword as he deflected the incoming inferno, each impact pushing him further back.
From the sidelines, Ray watched with amusement. “Only sixteen?” she muttered under her breath. “Why does he always hold back?”
Sebastian parried another fireball, the enchanted glow of his sword dimming slightly under the strain. He clenched his teeth, his sharp features set in determination. “Well, isn’t this something…” he growled, the words barely audible between the loud explosions. “Fireball doesn’t work like this!”
Nick’s energy began to waver as he summoned another round of sixteen fireballs. Each cast still consumed 20% of his total mana, so this third cast dropped him to around 40%. His breathing grew heavier, and his vision blurred at the edges, but he refused to back down. With a final surge of willpower, he activated the spell a fourth time and doubled the number of fireballs orbiting him to thirty-two.
He launched every single one of them all at once, the spiraling projectiles converging on Sebastian in a fiery tempest.
Sebastian planted his feet, raising his sword high as it flared with magic. With a roar, he unleashed a wave of energy, the barrier expanding outward to meet the onslaught. The impact was deafening—a collision of fire and magic that sent shockwaves rippling through the arena. The heat was suffocating, forcing the crowd to shield their faces as the explosion engulfed the ring.
The smoke cleared just enough to reveal a humanoid silhouette standing in the center of the scorched arena, his blade planted in the ground for balance. His armor was singed, and a faint trickle of blood ran from a cut on his cheek. But he was still standing.
Nick, on the other hand, dropped to one knee. His breathing was ragged, and his vision swam, but he managed a weak grin. “Still… standing, huh?” he panted.
Sebastian chuckled, shaking his head. “You put up a good fight. But you’re out of—”
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
He flinched as Ray’s halberd came streaking out of the fading smoke, spinning in a deadly arc. The weapon wasn’t aimed directly at him—it was a feint. Her glowing blade crashed into the ground just in front of him, sending a shockwave of force that staggered him backward.
Before he could recover, Ray disappeared in a flicker of motion—her body blurring as she activated Shift, her new rare skill.
Sebastian’s eyes widened in shock as she reappeared to his left, her halberd slicing through the air in a low arc aimed at his legs. The sudden movement caught him off guard, his blade still swinging defensively toward where he thought she’d been, leaving him wide open. He gritted his teeth, trying to twist his body away from her strike, but her movements were too fast. The blunt end of the halberd struck with a resounding crack, forcing him down on one knee. She twisted her weapon, sweeping the pole across his back to pin him down.
“Yield,” she said, her voice steady and commanding despite her heavy breathing.
Sebastian froze for a moment, his sharp eyes darting between her and Nick. Then, with a faint smile, he let his sword drop to the ground. “I yield.”
The room erupted into cheers and gasps, the gathered adventurers leaning forward as they replayed the scene in their minds, marveling at the unexpected finish. Ray stepped back, planting the halberd beside her as Nick managed to rise to his feet, wobbling slightly but grinning nonetheless.
“I wasn’t expecting you to go for the finish,” he said, his voice hoarse but amused.
Ray offered him a sly grin. “Couldn’t let you have all the fun.”
Sebastian stood, brushing himself off with a laugh. “Impressive. You’re both reckless, resourceful, and apparently full of surprises.” He looked to Ferris and nodded. “I’d say they both passed.”
Ferris scoffed. “If these two failed after all that, nobody would ever pass the F-rank exam.”
The crowd’s cheers began to settle as Ferris approached the trio in the ring. His expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief as he clapped Nick on the back. “I’ve done a lot of F-rank evaluations in my time, but winning against a C-rank evaluator? That’s one for the record book. If you two keep this up, you won’t stay F-rank for long.”
‘C-rank?’ Nick was surprised to hear Sebastian’s rank.
He gave Ferris a weary grin, leaning on his sword for support. “That’s the plan, at least.”
Ray twirled her halberd and rested it on her shoulder, her grin as sharp as ever. “Does that mean we’re officially F-rank now?”
Ferris chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “You’ve more than earned it. You’re both F-rank adventurers as of this moment. Congratulations.” He glanced toward Marlin, who had entered the room during the commotion and was now scribbling furiously on her clipboard. “I’m sure the paperwork will get sorted out quickly.”
Marlin didn’t even look up as she called. “It sure will be. If we don’t get these two out of here quickly, half the adventurers in the city will stop their work to gawk like the idiots in here. We can’t have that.”
Sebastian stepped forward, his expression more reserved as he retrieved his sword and sheathed it. “You both exceeded my expectations,” he said, his tone laced with approval. “You’ve got talent, and there isn’t much at F-rank or D-rank that will give you trouble as you are now. Keep getting stronger, and you might become really powerful someday.”
Nick inclined his head slightly, his gaze sharp despite his exhaustion. “We’ll do just that,” he promised.
Sebastian’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I’m sure you will.” He turned to leave but paused after a few steps, glancing back over his shoulder. “My aunt will want to hear how you did. I’ll pop by the inn sometime to make good on my promise from earlier.” With that, he strode toward the exit, the faint crackle of residual magic still lingering in the air around him.
As the crowd began to disperse, Nick’s attention flicked upward to the rafters where Lila had been perched earlier. He couldn’t see her now, but he had no doubt she was still watching, taking in every detail. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Whatever her game was, he had the distinct feeling that she was probably more interested in them now than she was before.
Ray nudged him, her grin softening into something almost gentle. “You look like you’re about to collapse.”
He gave a weak chuckle. “I might be. But, y’know. Worth it so we don’t have to shovel shit anymore.”
She laughed, slinging an armor around his shoulders to steady him. “You’re right. It was definitely worth it.”
Ferris cleared his throat to regain their attention, his expression serious. “Listen, you two. You’ve got serious skills, but don’t let this win go to your head. F-rank means you can take challenges outside the city, but that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter more dangerous threats. Monsters don’t care about ranking, and they don’t care how clever you are.”
Nick nodded. “We’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good,” Ferris clapped them both on the shoulders before stepping back. “Now, get some rest. You’ve earned it.”
As Nick and Ray made their way toward the exit, Marlin caught up to them, her sharp eyes scanning them both. “You two are full of surprises,” she said, her tone brisk but not unkind. “I’ll make sure your guild cards are updated. You’ll be able to take F-rank quests starting tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Marlin,” Ray said with a cheerful wave.
As they stepped out into the sunlight, Nick felt the weight of the day begin to settle over him. His body ached, his mana reserves were low, and the hum of the crowd’s cheers still lingered faintly in his ears, bringing back memories of a less painful time—days when laughter came easier, and life didn’t carry the same weight.
Beside him, Ray’s eyes were bright, her grin unshakable as she adjusted the halberd resting on her shoulder. “Now we can fight,” she said, her voice carrying a quiet reverence.
Nick glanced at her, then let his gaze drift toward the horizon, where the city walls met the open sky. It felt like both a promise and a warning as if the world was daring them to take their first real step.
He nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile.
“Yeah,” he murmured, more to himself than her. “Now we can fight.”
Project Knightfall 