"John Hale."
Silence followed.
John didn't move.
He had made it this far. Survived every test. Pushed through every bruise and setback.
But this—
This was the moment that decided everything.
His legs felt heavy.
Across the hall, Boros had been half-listening to Akeno's rant when the name registered.
His gaze shifted immediately to the reception desk.
'Why isn't he moving?'
A hand suddenly dropped onto John's shoulder and shoved him forward.
He stumbled a step before catching himself, turning to see who it was.
A tall red-haired woman stood behind him, arms folded.
"If you were scared," she said flatly, "you should've stayed the fuck home."
John swallowed.
Then forced his feet to move. He stepped up to the counter.
"John Hale?" the receptionist asked without looking up.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered, his voice tighter than he wanted.
He shut his eyes.
Waiting.
For rejection. For disappointment. For the end of it.
Instead—
He felt a light tap on his shoulder.
He opened one eye.
The receptionist was holding something out to him.
"With all those bandages," she said, glancing over him briefly, "it couldn't have been easy getting this far."
John gave a small nod.
"Well," she continued, her tone softening just slightly, "congratulations. Your hard work paid off."
She placed the golden-brown ID in his hand.
For a second, he just stared at it.
Then his fingers tightened around the card.
He snapped into a salute.
"Thank you, ma'am!"
He stepped away from the desk, heart pounding, scanning the room like he was searching for someone.
His eyes landed on Boros.
Boros quickly looked away and began whistling innocently.
A second later, he side-eyed him.
John was practically vibrating with excitement, waving the ID wildly and mouthing exaggerated words.
Thank you!
Boros exhaled through his nose and turned his head fully this time.
Akeno leaned in, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Looks like you've got a fan too."
"Shut up."
The red-haired woman who had shoved John stepped forward without hesitation.
"Rayka Thorne," the receptionist read.
"Here."
No nerves. No pause.
The golden-brown ID was handed to her.
Rayka took it in silence and stepped aside, expression unreadable.
The next man approached.
The receptionist scanned through the system.
Her fingers slowed.
Then stopped. She looked up.
"It states here that you failed the Resonance Test. As explained earlier, that automatically disqualifies you."
The man's shoulders sank.
"I understand."
He stepped out of line and walked away, eyes fixed on the floor.
Another candidate moved up quickly, as if hoping momentum would favor him.
The receptionist checked again.
Seconds passed.
Then she frowned slightly.
"You are not listed among the approved profiles either. Which means—"
"It's fine," the man said quietly, cutting her off before she could finish.
He turned and walked away without waiting to hear the formal confirmation.
The air in the hall grew heavier.
A woman with jet-black hair braided neatly down her back stepped forward next.
"Sheesh," she muttered under her breath, glancing at her palm. "I'm suddenly not so eager to go up there."
She stared at her palm.
"I hope my luck hasn't run out?"
"Lira Quilen," the receptionist called.
Lira exhaled softly.
'Its not like I have a choice.'
She stepped forward, forcing a bright, slightly awkward smile. Pressing her palms together in a small prayer gesture, she waited as the receptionist searched through the stack.
Every second stretched painfully.
Then—
"Here."
The card was placed in her hands.
Lira blinked.
Then her face lit up.
She snapped into a salute. "Thank you!"
Clutching the ID to her chest, she hurried away from the desk before anything could change.
"Finally," a tall, black-haired man muttered as he limped forward.
"Feels like I've been standing here for hours."
Twin axes were strapped across his back, their handles rising over his shoulders.
He scratched the side of his head casually.
The receptionist froze. Her eyes dropped to his neck.
A fresh cut ran across it. Still bleeding.
"Y-You're aware you're bleeding, correct?" she asked slowly.
He glanced down and touched the wound lightly.
"Oh. This?"
He gave a crooked grin.
"Just a little souvenir from a fight earlier. Some bastard got lucky."
He waved a dismissive hand.
"Don't worry about it. It's just a scratch."
"Jonas Tyrek?"
"Yeah," he replied casually.
The receptionist slid a golden-brown ID across the desk.
"Here. Welcome to the White Tigers."
Jonas took the card and stepped aside, scanning the room as if searching for someone.
His eyes locked onto Boros.
He lifted the ID slightly, flashing a grin.
Boros smirked back.
"So you got in after all, huh?"
A few more groups were processed.
Cheers. Silence. Relief. Disappointment.
Then—
"The final group."
Akeno, Kinuko, and Boros stepped forward with several others.
Minutes passed as names were called and cards distributed.
One by one, the candidates ahead of them cleared out.
Soon, only three remained in line.
Akeno stepped forward first.
The receptionist tapped through the system, brow furrowing slightly.
"It appears you're one of the late entries," she said. "Your profile has a photo attached, but no official name or details listed."
She slid an ID across the desk.
"Make sure you remain afterward for an interview. We'll need to complete your registration."
Akeno took the card with a confident nod.
"Thank you."
She stepped aside but stayed near the counter, waiting.
Kinuko moved up next.
The receptionist scanned again.
"…Another late entry."
She handed over an ID.
"Stay back for an interview as well."
"Thank you," Kinuko said politely, accepting it before joining Akeno.
The receptionist exhaled softly.
"Next."
Boros stepped forward.
She began scanning the system.
"…Another late ent—"
Her voice slowed.
Then stopped.
Her eyes moved across the screen again.
And again.
Her throat tightened.
'Aced every written test. Perfect combat assessment. Resonance machine destroyed during output phase. Multiple Nexa pads shattered. Stamina trial completed in seconds.'
She looked up slowly.
Her expression had changed.
'Who the hell is this guy?'
"What is it?" Boros asked, noticing she hadn't spoken since he stepped up.
"I–It's nothing," the receptionist replied quickly, sliding the ID toward him.
Her hands were shaking.
"Weird…" Boros muttered, taking the card and inspecting it.
"There's barely anything on here except my picture. Actually—how did you even get th—"
He paused.
"Oh? There's something else."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Rank… D."
He was still standing directly in front of the counter.
"Oi," he said, lifting the card.
"Yes?" the receptionist answered carefully.
"What's this 'D' rank crap supposed to mean?"
She blinked.
'How does he not know something that basic?'
"The 'D' indicates your rank," she explained. "All guilds follow the same hierarchy — S, A, B, C, and D."
"D rank is the entry level. Every adventurer begins there."
"The lowest?" Boros frowned. "After the way I performed?"
His jaw tightened.
"You're telling me I'm wearing the same rank as these weak bastards?"
Murmurs rippled through the hall. Plenty of people bristled at his words. But no one stepped forward.
They had all seen his fight with Jonas.
"Shiro, according to what she said it's custom for every adventurer to start at that rank." Kinuko said trying to calm things down.
"Y-Yeah," Akeno added. "See? I'm also a D Rank." she said pointing at her ID.
"I don't care about your customs," Boros replied flatly.
He stepped closer to the counter.
He was a tall man.
Tall enough that when he leaned forward, the receptionist instinctively stood up.
"Change it," he said, pressing the card closer to her face.
"Sir, I—I don't make the rules."
His hand lifted slightly, fingers twitching as if he were about to grab her collar.
"Like I said, I don't ca—"
"Oi."
The single word cut across the room.
The examiner stood a short distance away, scratching idly at the tattoo along his neck before exhaling a slow stream of smoke.
Boros turned.
A wide grin spread across his face.
"You stalking me now, you bastard?"
The examiner frowned.
"You said something like that to me earlier. Thought I'd return the favor."
He pulled off his shirt casually, revealing a heavily muscled build layered with old scars.
"If you touch her," he said calmly, "I'll kill you."
Boros laughed loudly.
"HAHAHA! So you finally found your balls?"
Scarlet rushed into the hall, breath uneven.
"Sir! Please calm down!"
Boros didn't even look at her.
"Oi! Look," he said, turning slightly toward the receptionist again, lifting his hand deliberately.
Then—
He tapped her cheek lightly.
A sharp, mocking gesture.
For a split second—
Silence.
Then—
BOOM!
The examiner moved.
A single punch.
The impact launched Boros across the hall, shattering the wall behind him and sending debris exploding outward as he crashed outside the building.
"SHIROOO!!" Akeno screamed.
Dust filled the air.
The examiner rolled his wrists slowly, cracking his neck once.
Scarlet spun toward him, horrified.
"Sir! I told you to calm down! Have you forgotten the rules?!"
Her voice trembled.
"Now because of you…"
Her eyes widened as she looked toward the gaping hole in the wall.
"That man… is dead."