"Damn it! Is this some kind of joke?"
Kaira's eyes bulged wide, staring in disbelief at the word 'Pass' boldly stamped on Dustin's assessment form. It felt like a resounding slap to his face, reverberating in front of everyone present.
"You questioning the Guild now, Kaira?" Tatum sneered, baring his teeth like a hunting wolf. "That form bears the personal signature of Elder Jeremy. Who do you think you are to doubt the Elder's judgment?"
Gossip buzzed like restless flies around the hall. From the murmurs, Dustin pieced together that the white-robed elder who governed his test was none other than Jeremy—one of Novaridge City's most prominent figures. A third-tier Array Master, Elder Jeremy's reputation commanded reverence. In all of Novaridge City.
Shannon stood dumbfounded, her earlier mocking words still hanging in the air. She had confidently declared she'd chase after Dustin if he somehow managed to pass. Now, feeling the weight of his gaze, her cheeks flushed bright red.
"Hmph, little brother," she huffed, curling her seductive lips, trying to recover her composure. "Let's talk again when you grow up."
Around them, laughter erupted.
"Haha! This brat's got guts! Barely a teenager and already daring to tease the prettiest flower of Novaridge's Hunter Branch!"
"Hey, Kaira, didn't you claim you'd lop off your head and kick it like a ball if he passed? Don't go back on your word now!"
"Come on! Cut your head off, let's see some entertainment!"
Jeers and playful jabs echoed from every corner. Kaira's face darkened like a storm cloud. Not only had he lost a thousand taels, but he was now the butt of everyone's jokes. His iron-pot-black expression made it clear he was choking on humiliation.
Shannon, meanwhile, reached into her pouch and retrieved a pristine badge—two crossed swords gleaming upon its surface and handed it to Dustin with a smile.
"Congratulations, little brother. Welcome to the Hunters Guild."
The badge was pure white, embossed with the Guild's emblem, and marked with a solitary star. A One-Star Hunter.
In the guild hierarchy, hunters were classified into nine levels:
One to Three Stars – Beginner Hunters.
Four to Six Stars – Intermediate Hunters.
Seven to Nine Stars – Elite Hunters.
The higher the rank, the more privileges and opportunities one had. Yet, Novaridge's branch could only issue up to a Three-Star badge. Anything higher required travel to the county capital of Xandoria.
Suddenly, with a soft thud, a heavy pouch landed before Dustin.
Tatum grinned, his large frame looming beside him. "Little brother, here's five hundred coins. Kaira and I bet on whether you'd pass. He lost—badly. I figure you deserve half."
Dustin hesitated. Five hundred coins wasn't a trivial amount; it was more than his family could dream of. He glanced at Tatum, unsure.
"Brother Tatum, you won this fair and square. I can't take your winnings."
Tatum laughed heartily, clapping Dustin on the shoulder.
"If not for you, I wouldn't have won a damn thing. Refusing would only insult me. Go on, take it."
Dustin offered a polite nod, understanding Tatum's sincerity.
"Then I humbly accept. Thank you, Brother Tatum."
A teenage boy not yet fourteen, calmly pocketing five hundred coins amidst older, battle-hardened hunters—such a sight was bound to turn heads. Most hunters were seasoned adults well past their twenties, making Dustin's youth even more striking.
Tatum, visibly fond of the lad, insisted on sharing a drink. Despite never having touched alcohol before, Dustin soon found himself at a table surrounded by four others, Tatum introduced them one by one.
The cold-faced man was Becket, lean and sharp-eyed, exuding a dangerous edge.
The twin sisters, Makila and Satira, weren't remarkable in appearance, but their lithe, curvaceous forms spoke of agility and strength.
Together, they formed a seasoned hunter team, led by Tatum a Second-Level Energy Gathering warrior. Becket sat just beneath him, at the Ninth-Level Body Refinement, while the twins were both at the Eighth Level.
Tatum leaned over, smiling, sloshing wine into Dustin's cup.
"Little brother, I wasn't joking earlier. If you pass the exam I'll have you join my team. Well? Interested?"
He said it lightly, but there was genuine friendship behind his words. No one had anticipated Dustin to pass, not at his age. But against all odds, he had—and Tatum, true to his word, extended the offer.
However, the cold-eyed Becket narrowed his gaze.
"Captain, I'm not so sure about this," he cut in bluntly. "He's just fifth-level Body Refinement. Weak link in the chain. We can't afford baggage."
Tatum frowned but didn't retort immediately.
"Becket, how many at his level could pass the test? Dustin's young, with great potential. I'm thinking long-term."
But Becket wasn't convinced.
"It's one thing to guide noble brats into the mountains for coin. It's another to trust our lives to a boy without even a magic weapon. What's he going to do—punch a monster to death?"
The implication was clear. Becket, like many seasoned hunters, placed little faith in raw talent without battlefield tempering.
Dustin listened quietly, neither offended nor defensive. He had no intention of joining any team. He stood, offering Tatum a slight bow.
"Brother Tatum, I appreciate the invitation. Truly. But I prefer to walk my path."
Before either man could respond, he strode towards the guild's entrance without looking back.
Tatum shot Becket a disapproving glare.
"Did you have to be so harsh?"
Becket merely snorted. "Better now than dead later. He's a child, no matter how promising."
Hunters respected experience far more than youthful arrogance. Too many so-called geniuses perished in the wild, undone by their overconfidence.
As Dustin approached the guild's doorway, a glance over his shoulder caught Shannon watching him. She quickly averted her gaze, cheeks burning.
Dustin merely smiled, stepping out into the bustling streets.
"My cultivation should hit the sixth level of Body Refinement in a few days," Dustin mused quietly as he walked. "Best to hold off hunting until then. Practice is key."
His steps carried him to the northern marketplace, a vibrant, chaotic sprawl of traders and stalls. The first shop to catch his eye was one selling array devices.
In Novaridge City, alongside the Hunters Guild, were the prestigious Mage Guild, Alchemist Guild, and Foundry Guild. Array Masters held especially revered positions. Using rare materials and intricate rune patterns, they created formations capable of extraordinary effects.
A simple example: is the Spirit Gathering Array, a formation that condensed ambient spiritual energy, accelerating a warrior's cultivation.
These arrays ranged from First to Ninth Rank, corresponding to the practitioner's strength. Array Masters at higher levels could alter the course of battles or fortify entire cities.
Dustin wandered into one such shop, his curiosity piqued. His gaze landed on a white jade disc inscribed with fine runes.
"First-Order Spirit Gathering Array Device—Price: 10,000 coins."
Dustin's face stiffened.
"Ten thousand coins…?"
He instinctively touched the purse at his waist—heavy with five hundred coins, yet pitiful compared to what lay before him.
For noble families, this was pocket change. For someone like him, it was a mountain too steep to climb.