By late afternoon, the steam train pulled back into Terra Nova’s main terminal. The large crowd of F-Rank recruits drifted back toward the Guildhall plaza. Among the mixed ranks of humans, sturdy dwarves, and tall elves, many carried small bandages or bruises from charging Omni Boars and snapping Wild Hares, though none had suffered fatal injuries.
Inside the grand central assembly room, a distinguished figure stepped up to the wooden podium overlooking the massive hall.
It was Chairman Vitalis, a veteran Human Wizard in his early 50s hailing from the eastern realm of Elyria. Draped in deep blue mantle robes with fine silver embroidery, his eyes held a sharp, commanding intelligence.
“Welcome back, recruits,” Chairman Vitalis began, his voice amplified across the hall by a subtle resonance spell. “You have all taken your very first steps beyond the safety of our walls. Some of you carry bruises, but every scrape earned today is a testament to your survival.”
He raised his hand, resting it on the podium edge. “Before we finalize your records today, I must impress upon you the structure of our brotherhood. The Adventurers' Guild is not merely a collection of mercenaries—it is a ladder built on discipline, merit, and unity.”
Vitalis gestured to a massive carved slate board behind him detailing the guild hierarchy:
[TERRA NOVA GUILD RANKING SYSTEM]
F-Rank: Solo permitted. Limited to basic farming sectors and collection duties.
E-Rank: Party of 2 required. Access to expanded farming sectors.
D-Rank: Party of 3 required. Farming, hunting, and common loot drops.
C-Rank: Party of 4 required. Farming, hunting, easy quests, uncommon loot drops. Unlocks: Guild Shop Access.
B-Rank: Party of 5 required. Normal quests, easy dungeon raids, rare drops. Unlocks: Auction House & Guild/Clan Formation.
A-Rank: Party of 5 required. Hard quests, normal/hard dungeon raids, epic drops. Unlocks: Raid Approval, Open Adventure, Daily Ranking Updates.
S-Rank: No party limits. Unknown dungeon raids, legendary material drops. Unlocks: Raid Leadership, Uncharted Map Exploration, Forbidden Magic Research, and Eligibility for Guild Chairmanship.
“Remember this well!” Vitalis’s voice rang with firm intensity. “Ranks are not handed out to flatter your ego. They exist to keep you alive! Do not attempt to conquer what your rank is not equipped to bear. Work together, form reliable bonds, and respect the wilderness of Gaia Pangea.”
The crowd erupted in applause as Vitalis concluded his speech and stepped down.
Shortly after, a senior guild officer stepped up to the counter with a heavy parchment scroll.
“Attention recruits!” the officer bellowed. “Out of today's initial 1,394 registrants, exactly 323 recruits have met the performance quota to immediately receive their promotion out of F-Rank!”
Among the named recruits were Alister and Trevor.
At the distribution counter, the clerk handed over two heavy leather pouches containing their quest reward: 600 Terra Coins. The clerk then stamped their personal iron tags, upgrading them directly to E-Rank.
“Since you are now E-Rank,” the clerk explained, “the guild mandates that you operate as a registered party of at least two members. How would you like to register?”
Trevor looked down at Alister. “You're the party leader, kid.”
Alister blinked, startled. “Me? Are you sure, Mr. Trevor?”
“You know the local customs better than I do,” Trevor said calmly. “Make the call.”
Alister nodded eagerly and turned to the clerk. “Our party name is Apex Squad. I’ll be the Leader.”
“Understood,” the clerk said, quickly quill-penning the details onto a golden registry sheet. “The Apex Squad is now officially recognized as an E-Rank Party, led by Alister Simmons with Trevor Van Heimer as party member. Please note: Party rankings, slay counts, earnings, and completed contracts carry over on your permanent record until the party is formally disbanded.”
Later that evening, the duo decided to celebrate their success and rapid promotion. They bypassed the grander taverns and entered a low-key, budget-friendly tavern in the lower district.
This reproduction came from where the story was originally posted without approval; the author's official page supports the writer.
Sitting at a quiet wooden table, Trevor casually swirled a dark red wine in a heavy steel goblet. His cybernetic digestive filters didn't need alcohol, but he enjoyed tasting the vintage as a quiet hobby while his cold eyes silently mapped out every adventurer inside the room.
“You know, Trevor...” Alister mumbled through a mouthful of bread, “I've been thinking about getting rid of my wooden staff. I think I'd prefer casting with a wand instead.”
Trevor took a slow sip of his wine. “If it fits your comfort zone, go for it. A staff offers better mana concentration, but a wand significantly reduces your casting time. In real combat, speed usually beats raw concentration.”
“Can I use my share of today's reward to buy one tomorrow?” Alister asked, his eyes brightening.
“It's your money,” Trevor replied. “Just make sure you don't spend it all on gear. Keep enough back for stamina, mana, and basic healing potions.”
“Got it!” Alister grinned.
Before Alister could take another bite, a shadow fell over their table.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar across his jaw and a smug grin towered over them. Behind him stood three other seasoned adventurers in decent leather-and-plate armor.
“Hey there, fresh meat,” the leader sneered, leaning over Alister. “Name's Osgard. How about you hand over some of those coins and buy me a drink?”
From a table across the room, a veteran dwarf called out, “Hey, Osgard! Picking on the new E-Rank kids again? Show some dignity!”
Osgard ignored the dwarf, slamming his broad palm onto Trevor and Alister's table with a loud CRACK. “I asked nicely, kid.”
Alister flinched, clutching his coin pouch. “S-Sorry... but I need my money for new equipment and supplies...”
Trevor sat back quietly. Without a word, he raised his steel goblet and splashed his full glass of red wine right into Osgard's face.
“That's your free drink, pal,” Trevor said, his voice deadly calm.
The entire tavern went dead silent for a second before erupting into loud laughter and jeers from the other patrons.
Osgard’s face turned bright red with rage as the cheap wine dripped from his chin onto his chest. “You... bastard! Do you have any idea who we are?! We're C-Rank Adventurers!”
Suddenly, Trevor’s cold expression shifted. He offered a surprisingly calm, polite hand gesture toward Osgard.
“Ah... my apologies,” Trevor said smoothly. “Pardon my terrible behavior. Allow me to make it up to you and buy your group a round.”
Osgard puffed out his chest, wiping wine from his eyes as he smirked. “Ha! That's more like it! Learn to show some respect to your superiors!”
Osgard reached out his right hand to accept the handshake.
Before Osgard’s fingers could even close, Trevor casually raised his left hand—still holding the thick steel wine goblet—and casually squeezed it. Under his super-human cybernetic grip, the heavy steel goblet crumpled like soft paper, folding into a mangled ball of scrap metal.
Osgard’s eyes widened in horror.
Before he could react, Trevor’s right hand clamped onto Osgard’s outstretched hand like a hydraulic vice.
Trevor didn't just shake it—he squeezed.
A sickening crunch of breaking finger bones echoed through the tavern. Osgard fell instantly to his knees, his face pale as he shrieked in agony. “AAAAAGH! MY HAND! LET GO! PLEASE, LET GO!”
Trevor looked down at him with cold, dead eyes. “Listen to me, C-Rank bitches... don't get so cocky just because you managed to reach that rank.”
Osgard sobbed on the floor, nodding frantically. “Y-YES! YES! I'm sorry! Let me go!”
Trevor released his grip, tossing Osgard aside like trash.
“You bastard!” one of Osgard's party members roared, stepping up and throwing a full-force right hook directly at Trevor’s temple.
Trevor didn't even bother dodging or blocking.
THWACK!
The fist slammed hard against Trevor’s skull—and Trevor didn't budge an inch. It was like striking solid titanium.
The attacker screamed in agony, falling backward while clutching his wrist. His knuckles were shattered and his wrist completely dislocated from the impact.
Since town laws strictly stripped licenses from anyone using magic or weapons in a city tavern, the brawl was kept entirely bare-fisted—which played directly into Trevor’s hands.
In less than twenty seconds, Trevor dismantled all four C-Rank adventurers single-handedly. He delivered a short, brutal punch straight to Osgard’s chest, the blunt force shattering two of his ribs and sending him crashing through a wooden table.
Groaning and bloody, Osgard and his beaten squad scrambled toward the doorway on all fours.
“Y-You're gonna pay for this, Brawler!” Osgard spat blood as he dragged himself into the street.
Trevor picked up a clean napkin, casually wiping a speck of dust off his crimson coat. “Just go ahead. Be my guest.”
The tavern remained dead silent. Every patron stared at Trevor in absolute shock.
Alister stood frozen by the table, his mouth agape. “T-Trevor... you just picked a fight with C-Rank Adventurers... if they have connections or a larger clan, they'll ruin our lives!”
Trevor leaned in close to Alister, his voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper that sent shivers down the boy's spine.
“I don't care how many friends or clan members they have,” Trevor whispered. “If they try anything... I'm going to kill them all.”
Alister swallowed hard, terrified by the sheer darkness in Trevor's eyes. “B-But why...?”
“Because they were bullying you, my friend,” Trevor said simply, turning toward the exit. “Let's go.”
As the two stepped out into the cool nighttime air of Terra Nova, high above on a shadowy roof ledge across the street, a solitary silhouette stood motionless in the moonlight, quietly watching their departure... end of chapter