The Bureau chamber was an arena of held breath. The observation deck was packed to capacity, and the live feeds were a blur of racing text as the public watched the metrics that would define the new world hierarchy.
An official stepped forward, his voice amplified and clinical. "Aurora Covenant, independent guild registration candidates. Minimum requirement: one S-ranked Authority."
Lucien glanced at Nox.
Nox stepped forward first. A wave of murmurs followed him. "Guildmaster first," the official confirmed, gesturing to the Appraiser.
The Appraiser faced him, eyes narrowing. "Authority designation?"
Nox didn't answer. He simply extended his hand. The chamber remained deathly still. No flare of light followed; no visible manifestation of power disturbed the air.
The digital overlays flickered, searching for a signal.
Energy Density: —
Stability Index: —
Projection Potential: —
The Appraiser frowned, a shadow of confusion crossing his face. The system recalibrated once, then twice. The readouts glitched, the light of the monitors stuttering. "Classification... indeterminate."
Whispers hissed across the observation deck like a rising tide. "Clarify," the official demanded.
The Appraiser's voice remained calm, though his brow was tight. "The Authority does not register within the established metric architecture."
A heavy silence fell. "Rank?" the official pressed.
"...Unregistered."
The banner appeared, stark and confusing: NOX CAELIS — UNREGISTERED.
A few analysts exchanged skeptical looks, and a quiet scoff echoed from the back of the deck. Nox stepped aside without a word, his expression a mask of indifference. Lucien didn't move. Neither did the rest of Aurora. They were waiting for the real show to begin.
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Mira stepped forward next, a sharp grin playing on her lips. "Authority: Hecate — Threshold Summoner."
The chamber lights dimmed as violet sigils bloomed in a perfect triangular formation around her. Three spectral gateways flickered into existence, and summoned constructs stepped halfway through—not fully manifested, but pulsing with presence.
Energy Density: Exceptional
Stability Index: High
Projection Potential: Advanced
Rank: S
Mira turned toward the observation deck, her eyes sparking. "So we can keep the guild, right?" An uneasy ripple of laughter followed. The official offered no response.
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Garrick stepped forward next. "Authority: Atlas — Titan Foundation."
The chamber floor groaned, compressing under an invisible, massive weight. It wasn't destructive; it was an anchoring force that seemed to reinforce the very foundations of the building.
Energy Density: Exceptional
Stability: Extremely High
Projection Potential: Sustained
Rank: S+
Two. The observation deck grew noticeably quieter.
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Kaida entered the center. "Authority: Nyx — Primordial Veil."
Darkness did not fall; it unfolded. Layered shadows peeled back reality in thin, shimmering sheets, bending perception at the edges of the room. The sensors flickered as they struggled to track her coordinates.
Energy Density: Exceptional
Stability: High
Projection Potential: Complex
Rank: SS
Three. The official whispered frantically to an aide.
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Seris stepped forward. "Authority: Raphael — Restorative Conduit."
A soft emerald-gold light radiated outward, and the chamber stabilized instantly. The residual distortions from Kaida's veil smoothed over, and micro-fractures in the reinforced glass sealed themselves shut.
Energy Density: Exceptional
Stability Index: Perfect
Projection Potential: Sustained
Rank: S+
Four. The murmurs were becoming a roar. Statistically, this was impossible.
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Orion walked into the center. "Authority: Artemis — Lunar Hunt."
A silver crescent arc formed behind him. Invisible targets across the chamber illuminated with faint lunar sigils, and a single energy arrow manifested in his hand—not loosed, but drawn with lethal intent.
Energy Density: Exceptional
Stability: Extremely High
Projection Potential: Strategic
Rank: S
Five. A crushing silence fell over the deck. The Regulated Order had one SS. Aurora had five S rank or above.
Mira leaned toward Garrick. "So if we wanted, we could start another guild." Garrick didn't look at her, but the corner of his mouth twitched. The official's composure was thinning visibly. "This... will be reviewed."
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Lucien stepped forward last. The chamber felt suddenly, claustrophobically small.
"Authority: Michael — Archangelic Dominion."
Gold ignited. It wasn't an explosion; it was a command. Radiance flooded the chamber in structured, sovereign waves. The air trembled—not from chaos, but from absolute authority. The overlays surged violently.
Energy Density: Off-scale
Stability Index: Absolute
Projection Potential: Undefined
The Appraiser recalibrated again. And again. The numbers refused to stop rising. "Impossible," someone whispered.
The system updated with a final, staggering result: Classification expanding... Rank: SSS+.
The comment stream detonated. WHAT IS SSS+? IS HE ABOVE SS?! Estimated Rarity: 1 in 100,000,000.
Outside the Bureau building, the gathering crowd erupted. The small cult that once whispered in the shadows was now a chorus. "Radiant! Blessed! Hero!"
Inside, Lucien lowered his hand. The gold settled around him like a crown. He didn't bow. He simply stepped back toward his team.
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In the observation deck, Elias Verdan stood motionless. His silver eyes were fixed on Lucien—not with envy, but with recognition.
Yet, beneath the gold radiance, he felt it again. A distortion. Not from Lucien, but from the space beside him where Nox stood. An absence. A blind spot that his silver sight could not penetrate. It unsettled him far more than the SSS+ ranking.
The official cleared his throat, his voice cracking slightly. "Aurora Covenant exceeds S-rank registration requirement."
It was a severe understatement. Lucien looked at his team.
"We broke it," Mira grinned.
"They built a gate," Kaida said calmly.
"We walked through it," Garrick added.
"Now they'll react," Seris exhaled.
Nox's voice was the quietest of all. "They already are."