A Direct Ascension was a phenomenon reserved for individuals considered far too powerful to begin at the lower ranks. Instead of climbing through the normal system, those candidates were immediately elevated to the higher tiers - S-Rank or even Apex Rank.
However, obtaining a Direct Ascension was far from simple.
Even if a Guild believed an Adventurer possessed overwhelming talent, the promotion would never happen unless the Guild Concord approved it.
And the Guild Concord was infamous for being difficult to convince.
In other words, a Direct Ascension was something extraordinarily rare.
Throughout history, only a handful of Adventurers had ever achieved one.
Those individuals eventually became known throughout the world as Monsters.
"I haven't heard any rumors about this..." Derrick muttered under his breath. "Does that mean they somehow got the Concord to approve it?"
His eyes slowly shifted toward Boros.
'I always found it strange...'
'Someone that strong should've been famous already.'
Derrick had originally assumed Boros was simply some hidden powerhouse. But after learning he was actually an Adventurer, Derrick naturally came to another conclusion.
'I thought he was probably a newly recruited S-Rank from another Guild.'
The transfer window had opened shortly before Derrick departed for Ryujin Island, so the assumption made sense.
But now-
'We were trapped on that island for quite a while... just what exactly happened while I was gone?'
A cold feeling crept down Derrick's spine.
'If he managed to get those stubborn old heads in the Guild Concord to unanimously approve a Direct Ascension... then this guy might be far stronger than I originally thought.'
Derrick subconsciously gulped.
"On my ID, it says High-Grade S-Rank," Kinuko suddenly said. "So that's what it meant."
"Mine says the same thing too," Akeno added.
"Yes," Adam replied with a grin. "The two of you are officially High-Grade S-Rank Adventurers."
He then tilted his head toward Boros.
"But him on the other hand..."
Adam's grin widened slightly.
"He's an Apex-Ranked Adventurer."
A bead of sweat rolled down Derrick's forehead.
'Two new High-Grade S-Ranks... and an Apex-Rank?'
His throat tightened.
'If the White Tigers recruited monsters like these, their position in the Guild Rankings is definitely going to skyrocket...'
"As ya already know," Griffin began, leaning back in his chair, "the White Tigers Guild currently sits at Rank 10 in the Global Guild Rankings."
A grin spread across his face. He pointed toward the trio jokingly.
"Bet that's why ya joined us, eh?"
"Not really," Boros answered dryly. "We left it up to luck and joined the first Guild near where we were staying."
"Luck?" Adam let out an amused laugh.
"Ya somehow get more interestin' every time ya speak," Griffin chuckled.
He then folded his arms.
"Anyways, it's important for ya to know the current competition. So let me introduce the present Top Ten Guilds in the world."
He raised a finger.
"At Rank 10 - The White Tigers Guild."
"At Rank 9 - The Shadowfell Guild."
"At Rank 8 - The Blackiron Guild."
"At Rank 7 - The Crimson Requiem Guild."
"At Rank 6 - The Carnage Guild."
Griffin's tone became slightly more serious.
"Now then... the Top Five."
"At Rank 5 - The Storm Riders Guild."
"At Rank 4 - The Ember Fists Guild."
"At Rank 3 - The Draken Claw Guild."
"At Rank 2 - The Nexa Hunters Guild."
A brief pause filled the office. Then Griffin smiled.
"And finally... at Rank 1..."
"The strongest Guild in the entire world..."
"The Phantom Brigade."
'I had a hard enough time fighting Rudeus... and he wasn't even the Guildmaster.'
Boros leaned back slightly, his grin slowly widening.
'And Griffin's only Rank 10...
Just what kind of monsters are sitting at the top of the Phantom Brigade?'
The grin on his face grew wilder and wider until he didn't even realize everyone in the room had begun staring at him awkwardly.
Then Kinuko finally broke the silence.
"Wait... did you say the Draken Claw Guild is ranked third in the world?"
"Aye, I did," Griffin answered.
"Isn't that Derrick's Guild?" Akeno asked.
"Y-Yeah..." Derrick replied while scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
Kinuko and Akeno exchanged glances.
They clearly wanted to ask something... but held themselves back out of politeness.
Boros, however, had no such restraint.
"So why the hell were you trying to demote yourself?" he asked bluntly.
"Shiro!!" Akeno and Kinuko shouted at the same time.
"What?" Boros replied while looking between them.
"Demote?" Adam repeated with an amused grin.
"Yeah," Boros said casually. "He told me he planned to ask his Guildmaster for a transfer here as soon as he got back."
"Ohhh, so that's what you were talking about earlier," Griffin chuckled.
"My, my..." Adam covered his mouth while smiling. "Then I wonder why you said it 'didn't work out.' I'm fairly certain you haven't even asked your Guildmaster yet."
His crescent-shaped eyes narrowed slightly.
"Though... I think I already know the reason."
Derrick remained silent.
Truthfully, he didn't mind that Boros had exposed his intentions.
His original plan had always been the same.
If things worked out, he would transfer to the White Tigers Guild, earn Boros' trust, and someday stand beside him as an equal.
"Anyways!" Adam suddenly clapped his hands together. "Before Griffin forgets again, I should explain one important thing."
"There are groups within Guilds known as Parties. Adventurers can join together to form one, and missions are often assigned to Parties rather than individuals."
Boros suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"Who the hell are you?"
"My, my... so forward," Adam laughed softly while covering his mouth.
"I am Riley Adams, Vice Guildmaster of the White Tigers Guild."
'And he's been acting so casually this whole time...' Kinuko thought while staring at him.
"Wait, your name is Adams?" Akeno blinked. "We've been calling you Adam this whole time."
"Well yes," Adams replied with a pleasant smile. "But Griffin dislikes the name 'Adams.' Apparently, he thinks it sounds stupid."
"Hell yeah I do," Griffin grumbled immediately. "Why the hell does yer name end with an 's'?"
"Tch, nonsense. Might as well start calling me Gideons 'Griffins' while we're at it."
Kinuko suddenly raised her hand.
"Then why don't you handle the Party stuff for us?"
"Yeah!" Akeno added excitedly. "Just make the three of us members of a new Party."
"Well..." Adams smiled awkwardly. "I anticipated that request. Unfortunately, a Party requires a minimum of four members to officially register."
"I see..." Kinuko nodded in disappointment.
"Then let me join."
The sudden voice caused the room to fall silent.
Derrick stepped forward slightly.
"I can return to my Guild immediately and request a transfer," he said firmly.
"They really weren't joking..." Griffin muttered under his breath while covering the side of his mouth.
"It would appear not," Adams replied with a grin.
Boros stared at Derrick expressionlessly.
"Are you brain dead?"
"I already told you my answer."
"It's still no."
"Drama," Griffin muttered while whistling and staring at the ceiling.
"Shut the hell up," Boros replied while rolling his eyes.
Then-
"Why..."
Derrick's low voice suddenly echoed through the room.
Boros turned fully toward him.
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
"Why?" Derrick asked again.
He stepped forward until he stood directly in front of Boros.
Boros answered without hesitation.
"You're weak."
The next moment-
Derrick grabbed Boros by the shirt.
"You bastard-!" Akeno shouted as she lunged forward.
Boros raised a hand slightly.
She froze instantly.
Derrick's grip tightened.
"You killed my friends."
"Yeah," Boros answered coldly while tilting his head upward slightly. "And I don't regret it either."
The room fell deathly silent.
"If you weren't so weak," Boros continued, "you could've taken revenge already."
His eyes locked directly onto Derrick's.
"But here you are."
"The best you can do... is wrinkle my shirt."
Derrick's entire body trembled.
Then slowly-
His grip loosened.
"I'll show you..." he muttered in a low voice.
His head lowered.
Then suddenly-
"I'LL BECOME STRONG!!"
A violent pressure exploded from his body.
"STRONGER THAN YOU!!"
"STRONGER THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE!!"
His eyes burned with rage and grief.
"AND WHEN I DO-"
"I'LL COME BACK..."
"AND I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
Silence.
Derrick slowly released Boros' shirt before turning toward the door.
He grabbed the handle tightly.
"I look forward to it," Boros said calmly behind him.
Derrick paused for only a second.
But he never replied.
He simply opened the door...
And walked out.