It had been a week since Beno Mark''s last encounter with the dungeon gates, and Dr. Roy was finally giving him the green light to leave. The room, filled with the smell of antiseptic and the soft hum of medical machines, suddenly felt too small. Beno stretched carefully, feeling the remnants of his injuries, though most of the pain had faded.
Dr. Roy stood beside the bed, checking his clipboard one last time before looking at Beno with a knowing smile. "You''re good to go now. Just don''t overdo it, alright?
You kind of remind me of my dog—stubborn, but strong."
Beno blinked, clearly not expecting the comparison. "Cling—what?"
Dr. Roy waved it off with a chuckle. "Never mind that. Just remember what I said. If you pull any funny stunts again, I''m making sure you don''t get away with it."
Beno grinned, a little tired but amused. "I''ll remember, Doc. Promise."
"Good," Dr. Roy nodded, his tone turning more serious. "You''re free to go now. Just take it easy for a while, okay?"
Beno stood, a slight wince crossing his face as he moved. "Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it."
"All the best, Beno," Dr. Roy said, his smile warm.
Beno gave a small nod, trying to hide the weight of everything that still lingered on his mind. "Yeah, I''ll be fine. Take care."
He turned toward the door, taking one last look at the sterile room before stepping into the world outside. It wasn''t just a hospital he was walking out of; it was the beginning of something far more uncertain.
Next Morning
A faint ray of sunlight streamed through the window, resting on Beno''s face. He stirred slightly, groaning as he buried his head deeper into the pillow. His muscles ached from the brutal training he''d forced himself through the night before—hundreds of push-ups, squats, and a ten-kilometer run.
It was all part of his plan. Get stronger. Be ready. Don''t be weak.
But right now, the only thing he wanted was five more minutes of sleep.
Then—BZZZ! BZZZ!
His phone vibrated violently on the nightstand. He ignored it.
BZZZ! BZZZ! BZZZ!
Still ignored.
RIIING!
A call. This time, Beno grumbled and blindly grabbed the phone, answering without even looking at the screen.
"…Hello?" His voice was hoarse.
"YOU IDIOT!!"
Beno flinched and yanked the phone away from his ear. Luna. And she sounded beyond furious.
"Where the hell are you?!" she yelled.
Beno blinked. "Huh? I''m at home… why?"
A pause.
Then—"You. Forgot. Again."
His half-asleep brain tried to piece together her words. What did he forget? He looked at the time. 9:45 AM.
It hit him like a brick.
"SHIT!" Beno jolted up so fast he nearly fell off the bed. The Hunter License Test was at 10 AM.
"YOU OVERSLEPT?!" Luna screamed.
"No, no! I was just… meditating!" Beno lied as he threw on a shirt and scrambled to find his shoes.
"MEDITATING MY ASS! Get your dumb self out here NOW! You have FIFTEEN MINUTES!"
He didn''t even get to reply before Luna
hung up.
Panic mode.
Beno rushed around, barely managing to tie his shoes properly before grabbing his jacket. He shoved open the door—
And froze.
A sleek black Noak Guild vehicle was parked right outside. A man in a dark gray uniform leaned against it, arms crossed, watching him with clear amusement.
"Took you long enough."
Beno stared. "Uh… what?"
The man scoffed. "Franky sent me. Said you''d probably screw up and need a ride." He tilted his head toward the car. "Get in. Now. Or don''t. Makes no difference to me."
Beno hesitated for half a second before lunging into the car. The door slammed shut, and the driver wasted no time hitting the gas.
---
Noak Guild – The Powerhouse of Lebius
The drive wasn''t long, but Beno''s heart didn''t settle.
Noak Guild wasn''t just any guild. It was one of the Five Strongest Guilds in Lebius Country. A fortress of elite hunters, warriors, and strategists.
And somehow, he had been invited.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
As they neared the massive structure, Beno gawked.
Noak Guild''s towering headquarters stood like a fortress in the middle of Veno City. High steel walls, banners with the guild emblem, and a sprawling courtyard filled with training hunters. The place practically screamed power.
Beno swallowed. "Am I… really going to work here?"
The driver smirked. "If you pass."
The car pulled up to the front entrance. Before Beno could even get out—
"You''re late."
A familiar voice.
Beno turned to see Luna, arms crossed, foot tapping against the pavement.
"Not my fault!" Beno defended. "Franky should''ve told me to set an alarm!"
Luna scoffed. "Oh, so now it''s Franky''s fault that you sleep like a corpse?"
Beno sighed. No winning against her.
"Come on," Luna gestured toward the entrance. "You barely made it. The test is about to start."
---
Inside the Guild – The Arena of Future Hunters
The moment Beno stepped inside, he felt it.
The sheer scale of Noak Guild was breathtaking.
- A massive hall with marble floors and giant digital boards displaying dungeon missions.
- A training ground where hunters sparred, weapons clashing.
- A reception area flooded with hopeful hunters waiting for their turn.
But what stood out most—the exam arena.
Hundreds of examinees were already gathered, waiting in tense anticipation. Some stretched, others meditated, and a few sized up the competition. A massive screen displayed names, rankings, and upcoming tests.
Then, the room went silent.
A tall, muscular man with a deep scar across his face stepped onto the elevated platform. Franky.
The Guild Master''s presence alone was enough to command respect. He grabbed a mic and spoke, voice carrying across the hall.
"Welcome to Noak Guild, weaklings."
Silence.
"Today, you will either prove yourselves as hunters or go back home as failures. No second chances."
His eyes scanned the crowd, lingering slightly on Beno before moving on.
"The Hunter License Exam consists of four stages."
1) Mana Affinity Testb– An orb that measures raw mana. Too low? You fail immediately.
2) Written Exam– Dungeon knowledge, boss strategies, and system mechanics. Fail this? You''re out.
3) Combat Test – One-on-one fights to evaluate real battle potential.
4) Dungeon Survival – A real dungeon raid. Survive, and you might get in.
Franky''s eyes gleamed.
"If you think this is easy, leave now."
No one moved.
He smirked. "Good. You have ten minutes before we begin. Eat, piss, or pray—whatever helps you survive."
The room exploded into nervous chatter.
Beno let out a slow breath. He could feel his heart pounding.
This wasn''t going to be easy.
But then again…
"Since when has anything in my life ever been easy?"
He clenched his fists.
It was time to prove himself.
Waiting Hall
The waiting hall buzzed with excitement as hopeful hunters gathered, eager for the exam to begin. Beno stood among them, stretching his arms, completely unaware of the burning eyes watching him from the corner of the room.
A red-haired man, dressed in a long magician''s coat, sat silently against the wall. His posture was relaxed, but his fingers clenched tightly around a crumpled photograph.
His sharp gaze never left Beno.
"So this is how you live? Carefree… like nothing ever happened?"
His grip on the photo tightened, veins slightly visible on his hand. A twisted smirk crept onto his lips.
"You disgust me."
Beno laughed at something Luna said, completely oblivious to the hatred piercing through him from across the room.
The red-haired man let out a quiet chuckle, dark and bitter. Then, he whispered to himself:
"I will make sure to kill you… and make you pay for what you did to my life."
[End of Chapter]
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, don''t forget to leave a comment—I''d love to hear your thoughts!
Also, a huge thanks for the 5 book collections and 5 power stones! Your support means everything and keeps this story going strong.
By the way… what are your theories about the red-haired guy? Who do you think he is, and what''s his connection to Beno? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I can''t wait to see your predictions!
See you in the next chapter!