Leo took the card from Carlen, his eyes scanning the neatly written details.
"That was fast," he remarked, a note of surprise in his voice.
Carlen shrugged lightly. "It's just a card," he replied with a modest smile.
"Thanks," Leo said simply.
Carlen nodded then turned to Ryan. "What's your next plan?"
"We're heading to the Adventurers' Guild," Ryan answered, his tone matter-of-fact.
Carlen raised an eyebrow. "You want to make him an adventurer?"
"He needs a way to earn money," Ryan explained.
Leo had heard about adventurers, though he'd never seen one in action. They were mostly known to operate in the Kingdom of Magic, where quests and daring exploits were a way of life.
"You know you have to complete a quest first, right?" Carlen said, leaning casually against the desk.
"A new rule?" Ryan asked, genuine confusion coloring his voice.
"Yeah, they put it in place last year," Carlen confirmed.
"Can we do it together?" Ryan inquired.
"There's no rule against that," Carlen replied with a nod.
Ryan shrugged. "Then that's fine." He stood up, extending his hand toward Carlen. "I owe you one."
Carlen clasped his hand warmly. "Don't say that, brother. You saved my life; you owe me nothing. When will I see you again?"
"I'll try to drop by whenever I can," Ryan promised.
After the brief farewell, Leo and Ryan set off together. They walked for about ten minutes until they reached a large three-story building that shone under the bright sun. Bold lettering above the entrance proudly declared: The League of Adventurers.
The building bustled with activity. Groups of people in varied attire streamed in and out—one person clad in heavy armor with a massive sword slung over his shoulder, another in a flowing robe paired with an intricately carved staff. Leo couldn't help but smile; the scene felt like it was straight out of one of his favorite anime.
Inside, they entered a spacious hall with high ceiling. Several tables and chairs were scattered across the center, where clusters of adventurers chatted animatedly. Against the left wall, a large board was peppered with papers that Leo assumed listed current quests. At the far end, a long desk commanded attention. Behind it stood three individuals: a graceful elven woman with silver hair that shimmered, a striking human woman with fiery red hair whose beauty was undeniable even beside the elf, and a bald, muscular man whose presence was both intimidating and reassuring.
Ryan led the way to the red-haired woman, who greeted them with a professional smile.
"Hello, how can I help you?" she asked in a clear, confident tone.
"Mr. Victor here wants to register as an adventurer," Ryan explained.
She turned her gaze to Leo. "Does Mr. Victor have his identification card?"
Leo nodded and handed over the card with a slight, nervous smile.
Examining it carefully, she read aloud, "Mr. Victor Black, D-rank illusionist." Looking up, she added, "You'll first need to pass our test to confirm your rank, and then complete one quest."
Reaching under the desk, she produced a form and slid it across to Leo. Then, her eyes shifted to Ryan with a hint of uncertainty. "Are you accompanying him?" she asked, clearly wondering if he was an adventurer.
Ryan retrieved his own identification card and offered it to her. "Yes, I'll be going with him."
The moment she read his card, her eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Law? The boss has been looking for you," she said, her voice rising just slightly as excitement crept into her tone.
Before Ryan could offer an explanation, she excused herself and hurried out a nearby back door.
Murmurs rippled through the hall. Whispers echoed from every corner, and amidst them, the name Ryan Alston Law was quietly repeated, as if confirming a long-held secret.
After a few minutes, the girl returned. Behind her walked a towering, broad-shouldered man dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants. His rough features bore the marks of experience, his face lined with the weight of years spent in battle and hardship. His hair, though neatly kept, was stark white—a testament to the countless struggles he had endured throughout his life.
His sharp gaze swept over the hall before settling on Ryan. A flicker of recognition crossed his face, and for a moment, the pressure in the air thickened.
They stared at one another, the air between them thick with tension, as if at any moment they might lunge at each other. Every eye in the hall was locked onto them, waiting for what would happen next. But then, almost at the same time, they both broke into smiles. A second later, their laughter filled the room.
Elric stepped forward and grasped Ryan's hand in a firm shake.
"It's been a long time," Elric said, his deep voice carrying authority.
"Good to see you, Elric," Ryan replied, then gestured toward Leo. "This is Victor Black, my student."
Leo extended his hand, and when Elric clasped it, Leo couldn't help but notice how small his own hand felt against the older man's calloused grip.
"Nice to meet you, sir," Leo said.
"Please, call me Elric." Elric's eyes studied him with interest. "I heard you want to take the test?"
"Yes," Leo confirmed.
"Good. Come on, I'll test you myself," Elric said, gesturing for them to follow.
Murmurs spread through the hall once again as adventurers watched them go, some whispering in surprise, others eyeing Leo with jealousy. It wasn't every day that a newcomer got tested directly by Elric.
They followed him through a back door, stepping into a long corridor that led outside. The yard they entered was spacious, enclosed by stone walls, with patches of grass and a large dirt training ground. Several adventurers were practicing—some sparring with wooden weapons, others honing their spells.
The moment they noticed Elric, all activity ceased. The adventurers straightened, standing at attention, a clear sign of respect for the old man.
Elric acknowledged them with a nod as he strode toward a weapons rack stacked with various blades, staffs, and other training equipment. He inspected the selection briefly before turning back to Leo.
"Get ready and step into the middle of the training ground," he instructed before walking toward the center himself.
Leo turned to Ryan. "I have to fight him?"
"Yes. And be careful," Ryan said, lowering his voice. "His hair may be white, but don't let that fool you. He's an A5-ranked adventurer and over two hundred years old."
Leo's jaw nearly dropped. "A5?"
Ryan nodded.
Leo exhaled and walked over to the weapons rack, picking up a sword. It had a decent weight to it, not too different from what he was used to. He also secured his weighted bracelets around the sword hilt, adjusting them carefully. His shield was out of the question—Ryan would get suspicious if he saw him using it—but at least he could still rely on his passive spells and gems.
As he walked toward the training ground, his mind raced to come up with a strategy. But as he stood before Elric, he realized something unsettling. The old man had no visible weak points. He stood firm, balanced, and unwavering, his stance as solid as the ground beneath their feet.
Leo stood in front of Elric, who kept his arms crossed over his chest, relaxed yet unreadable. The surrounding adventurers formed a big circle, their excitement palpable.
"Come at me with everything you've got," Elric said, his tone calm but firm.
Leo stood there for a second, analyzing his opponent. The man's stance was casual, his expression amused, as if he had done this a thousand times before. The crowd murmured in anticipation.
Without wasting another moment, Leo activated his shield gem. His mana surged, and he lunged forward. With a flick of his wrist, he fired a fireball straight at Elric.
The older man didn't react. The fireball hit him squarely, exploding on impact and kicking up a cloud of dust.
But Leo didn't stop there. Using Moonlit Gaze, he locked onto Elric's position. The man hadn't moved an inch.
Seizing the opportunity, Leo dashed through the dust, sword raised, and swung down with all his strength.
The blade struck Elric's shoulder.
A sharp clang echoed across the training yard.
Leo's eyes widened. His sword had barely left a mark.
Elric glanced down at his shoulder, then grinned. "Not bad."
Before Leo could react, Elric's fist shot forward like a cannonball.
Leo smirked inwardly. 'All powerful men like to test their opponents first before doing a real attack.'
He had already let go of his sword and brought both hands up to block.
The impact was devastating. His shield shattered instantly, and a powerful shockwave rippled through his arms. Even with his muscles, the sheer force pushed him back. If Elric had been serious, Leo wouldn't be alive.
But Leo had expected this.
The moment Elric's fist connected, Leo activated Fear, layering it with Mind Control to amplify its effect.
Elric's punch still carried through, launching Leo backward. Twisting midair, Leo fired three fireballs in quick succession before landing on his feet.
The dust cleared.
Elric stood exactly where he had been, still grinning.
But Leo was already moving.
A glowing paper floated in front of Elric's face—his Mana Surge Snare. Without hesitation, Leo fired his last fireball.
Boom.
At the same time, he used Telekinesis to pull his sword back into his grasp.
He charged again.
He leaped into the air, swung his sword downward. The instant before impact, he activated his bracelets, increasing the weapon's weight.
Now nearly as heavy as a greatsword, the blade slammed down with tremendous force.
A deafening shockwave rocked the training ground, sending clouds of dust swirling in all directions.
Leo was thrown back from the recoil, skidding to a stop several meters away.
Silence fell over the yard. As the dust settled, all eyes locked onto Elric. He was still standing.
But this time, his arm was raised slightly. He had blocked the attack with his wrist. His sleeve was cut, exposing a hint of skin beneath.
Then, he chuckled.
"As expected from Ryan's student."
Before Leo could respond, Elric vanished.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of Leo. The sheer mana pressure radiating from him made it difficult to breathe.
His eyes now glowed faintly, and his clenched fist pulsed with condensed energy.
Leo barely had time to react. He twisted his sword at the last moment, redirecting the attack downward.
The moment Elric's punch connected, the force sent Leo flying again. His second shield shattered like glass.
Midair, he reached out with Telekinesis. Every weapon in the yard lifted into the air and with a flick of his fingers, they shot toward Elric at blinding speed.
But the older man took a single step forward, and his aura alone stopped them in their tracks, sending them clattering uselessly to the ground.
By the time Leo hit the dirt, Elric was already standing over him. His fist shot forward toward Leo's face—then stopped just inches away. A second later, the clenched fist opened into an outstretched hand.
"Even after all that, your eyes are still ready to fight." Elric pulled Leo to his feet.
Ryan stepped forward as the crowd erupted into applause.
"Well done, boy."
"That was fantastic!"
"I can't remember the last time someone hit Mr. Elric twice," one of the adventurers whispered.
A more experienced-looking man turned to him. "Actually, the last one who made the old man to defend himself like that was that man." He pointed at Ryan. "Ryan Alston Law."
"And?" Ryan asked Elric.
Elric rubbed his chin, giving Leo a thoughtful look.
"Hmm... A C-plus."