The gates finally opened. The survivors entered slowly. The kingdom beyond the Marsh was nothing like Ravenholt. Stone roads replaced dirt paths. Tall buildings rose with sharp edges and dark banners. Guards stood at every corner, armor polished, eyes cold and alert. People moved with purpose.
And everywhere badges,
Metal emblems pinned to cloaks and armor.
Ranks,some A, some B, some C…..
Aragon noticed how people stepped aside when higher ranks passed.
Power was visible here,power decided worth.The guards led the refugees toward a registration hall. A wide stone building with iron doors and a long counter inside. Officials sat behind it, writing names with mechanical precision.
"State origin," one clerk said without looking up.
"Ravenholt," Daren answered.
The quill stopped.
The clerk looked up slowly.
"Ravenholt… the redwood border village of RIVERGATE KINGDOM..?"
"Yes."
"Destroyed," Aragon said calmly.
Silence filled the hall other officials glanced over.
"How?" the clerk asked.
"Monster invasion, Organized, One leading entity."
Murmurs spread quickly.
"How many survived?"
Aragon looked at the group behind him.
"This many."
The number felt smaller when spoken without words. The clerk's expression shifted from boredom to calculation.
"You claim full destruction?"
"Yes."
The official stood.
"This information must be verified."
Within minutes, two armored officers entered the hall.
They questioned Aragon carefully.
Size of creatures. Direction they came from, Description of the leader. Aragon answered clearly,No exaggeration. No drama.When he finished, one officer said quietly, "Prepare a confirmation unit."
Messengers moved fast.
News began spreading beyond the hall.
Whispers moved through the streets.
"Frontier village wiped out." "Unidentified boss class monster." "Possible breach from outer territories."
Aragon felt the stares already. Curiosity, suspicion, dismissal. The officer turned back to him.
"Your rank?"
"F."
A short pause.The officer nodded once, already less interested.
"Understood."
The survivors were escorted to temporary quarters. But the rumor had already left the city walls.
Rivergate Kingdom
Far to the west, beneath banners of,
Red background….
Silver shield….
Crossed spear & sword (silver),
The royal chamber stood in silence. The King sat upon a high throne carved from white stone. His expression was stern as a messenger knelt before him.
"Ravenholt has fallen, Your Majesty. Monster class assault. No confirmed survivors."
A faint murmur passed among the gathered nobles.
"And the banished hero residing there?" the King asked.
The messenger lowered his head.
"F-Rank Aragon. Presumed dead."
Silence again.At the far right side of the chamber, nineteen figures stood in a line.
Newly summoned heroes. Their armor still bore fresh enchantments. Their eyes still held ambition. Among them stood a young woman with silver blue hair and sharp,steady eyes,S-Rank.
She did not move…..
She did not speak....
But her fingers tightened slightly around the hilt of her blade. The King's voice echoed through the chamber.
"The border must be secured. I will not allow instability to spread."
He turned toward the summoned heroes.
"You will proceed to Ravenholt immediately. Confirm the threat. Eliminate any remaining entities."
The heroes bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The silver haired S-Rank stepped forward half a step before stopping herself.
Her face remained calm,professional.
"Understood," she said clearly.
But inside a quiet disbelief moved through her chest.
"Dead…no??"
She remembered the way he stood during the summoning trials. F-Rank, yes. But stubborn, unyielding .He would not fall easily. She would not show doubt she never did.
The Ruins of Ravenholt
Ash still lingered in the air when the summoned heroes arrived. The village was silent. Burned beams lay scattered like bones. The S-Rank stepped forward, scanning the ground.
"Residual dark aura," she said quietly.
One of the other heroes pointed toward the forest edge, "Movement."
The Boss emerged, still massive. Still armored. Still radiating pressure.
But this time it faced nineteen heroes.
The Boss roared and charged.Darian, a S -Rank hero stepped forward and cast a flame strike. It hit the Boss's chest.The creature barely slowed. Another hero, Torin, launched a chain of lightning. The Boss swung, sending shockwaves through the ground.
The S-Rank watched for three second, measured,calculated.Then she moved faster than the others.Her blade glowed pale blue.She slipped beneath the Boss's swing effortlessly. No wasted motion. No panic.
One clean upward slash. The armored hide cracked. The Boss roared in pain.
Before it could recover she vanished from sight. Reappeared behind it.
Second strike,precise, controlled.
The horned head separated from the body.The massive creature fell.
Silence followed,the other heroes stared. The fight had lasted less than a minute. The S-Rank stood still, blade lowered.
No celebration…..
No pride...
Just confirmation…..
She turned slowly toward the ruins.
Her eyes scanned the burned ground.
Searching…..For something…..Or someone…..
But there was nothing, only ash. Her expression did not change.
"Report to the King," she said calmly.
"Threat eliminated."
She walked away without looking back.
But her grip on the blade remained tight.
Back in the Marsh Town, Brightshore
Aragon stood once more before the registration desk.This time alone,
"Full name," the clerk asked.
"Aragon."
"Previous occupation?"
"Frontier defender."
The clerk raised an eyebrow but continued writing.
"Rank confirmation required."
A crystal sphere was placed before him.
"Place your hand."
Aragon did.
The sphere glowed faintly.
Weak…. Dull…..
The clerk read the result aloud.
"F-Rank confirmed."
A few nearby adventurers glanced over. One laughed quietly.
"From destroyed village, too," someone muttered.
"Typical frontier level."
Aragon removed his hand slowly.
No reaction….
No anger…..
He had already heard worse from the Boss itself. The clerk stamped a document and slid it toward him.
"You will receive limited housing access. No combat privileges without guild approval",Dismissed.
Aragon stepped aside.Around him, higher ranked adventurers moved confidently.
Loud…Respected….important...
No one looked at him twice. Outside the hall, Daren approached carefully.
"Well?" he asked.
Aragon folded the paper calmly.
"Confirmed."
Daren hesitated.
"F?"
"Yes."
A short silence followed. In the distance, the kingdom bells rang. Normal life continued, Aragon looked up at the towering walls. At the banners, at the ranks displayed proudly on armor and cloaks. He understood something now.
In this world survival was not enough.
Rank decided the value and he stood at the bottom...of the food chain….!!!