Knock! Knock!
The team stood in the middle of a clearing, in front of a door that had no physical attachment to any building. Just a door in the middle of a courtyard.
"Are you sure the A-Rank is here?" Juda asked, looking around. "He probably didn't get the alert like we did."
Evelyn made small jumps at a spot. "I can't believe our assigned leader is The Big Stepper! I feel like we'd get to D-Rank Higher in less than a year!"
Killian looked around the empty place.
The garden and plants looked taken care of, and constant irrigation came in.
The alignment of the garden spaces was pretty too. This assigned leader might be someone with a softer side for plants.
All I know about him is his ferocious fighting style. He isn't a Fire User so I never really paid attention.
Seeing how Evelyn was excited, Killian guessed she watched the Warden on TV a lot.
Their elements were incompatible but she could learn his fighting style since she also wanted to use brute force with her Wind Element.
Killian stepped back. "If he's not available, we can come another day. We should stop by the training realms. Maybe C-Rank. We have our badges now."
The badges allowed access only to D-Rank and E-Ranks for them, but since he had a C-Rank badge, he could take them to a better competition.
Evelyn's excitement switched to the new plan. "Yes! C-Rank realms! They'd definitely be tougher than those E-Rank but that's the fun of it, right?"
"Right." Juda wasn't as spirited. "I have a splitting headache, but of course, let's skip D-Rank training realms and go for C-Rank. Very reasonable."
The moment they all turned away from the door, it creaked open. There was momentary silence after their necks cranked to look at the door.
Evelyn moved back, hiding behind Killian. "Y-You see that, right? That's a…"
Totality Art: Realmcraft.
It is my first time seeing anything like this.
There were countless floating pieces of earth that shifted in every direction.
They sat in spaces, defying gravity and forming paths that tilted, slid and rearranged silently. Each one looked like the real deal.
And they spanned as far as eyes could see.
"This A-Rank is much stronger than we assumed." Killian stated. That was the worst outcome for him.
The WLog couldn't inform anyone that he was a Void User, as it worked with the element and never disobeyed its programming.
But there was still human intelligence.
If an A-Rank Warden watches him fight once, they'd realise that his Fire display is fake.
If they stumble on him using his element, they'd know he awakened the Void. Quara could tell with a glance.
The WLog couldn't go against its programming but it is programmed to protect the other hosts, as well.
Hence a threat like a forbidden S-Rank element, Void, needed the supervision of an A-Rank Warden.
I have to learn to devour the fire element to wield it. It will save me so many explanations.
"Should we go in?"
Evelyn and Killian turned to Juda in disbelief.
"That is his domain. You can't just enter someone's crafted realm or it could actually kill you."
That was Realm Craft 101. It was a final move. A sure kill. Not something that should be in here.
Is this guy trying to kill the newbies who are looking for him? Or is he after a particular person?
Not an anomaly, right?
"Hmm?"
All three froze, only hearing his footsteps after he made a sound behind them.
"Are you three newbies looking for me? Have I already been assigned?"
They spun around in tandem. "Yes, sir. We are…"
Killian was the one to stop talking after the first word. Juda finished the introduction, but Evelyn stared in confusion, then admiration.
So this Big Stepper… is a femboy?
He was tall, and slightly muscular but his build softened to smooth, pale skin. Long hair that fell on his shoulders loosely, framing his soft feminine face.
He had a strong presence and confident posture, typical of Wardens— especially one as famous as he was— but the way his hips tilted to the side suggested something else.
"I see." He replied to Juda, a faint smile coming to his lips. "You already searched for your leader the moment you got the notification. Adorable. I look forward to being taken care of by you all. Okay?"
"Okay!" Evelyn cheered.
Anyone could see she had already accepted the leader, forgetting the last few minutes.
He sneaked up on them, and nearly killed them with an exposed realmcraft. There was also the looming question of why newbies were assigned to him.
Also, isn't he the one supposed to take care of us?
How shameless to ask newbies to take care of him.
It might be because he's a potential danger to me, but I don't really like him.
The three followed the Warden past a door that materialized as he got close.
"This is all an illusion. I wanted my garden to be the focus. Pretty, right?"
Evelyn nodded vehemently. Juda and Killian quietly followed. They walked out another door that led to the Organisation buildings.
Portals. Is he also a Mage? He is pretty versatile.
If there was any benefit to having him as their leader, it would be a faster growth curve and protection while battling in their D-Rank realms.
"My name is George, by the way." The Warden sat on his desk and moved his legs across, to get to his seat.
Killian wondered why he didn't just walk around.
"Can you tell me your names for confirmation?" George opened his laptop. "Our first mission is already set."
Already? Well, the sooner the better.
"Killian Dominic."
Killian studied his face for any hint of an ulterior motive, but George only nodded.
"Evelyn Constantine."
"Juda Dominic."
George and Killian looked up.
"We are cousins so we share a family name." Juda explained. "Why did you look surprised?"
Killian shook his head. "Nothing."
I didn't even know you existed a few days ago, and you also share the same surname as me?
When he asked Quara, after training, she said the last son of their father's younger brother was rarely spoken of due to his slow growth compared to his older siblings.
So I will try to be nicer to you. Our fathers are brothers with horrible parenting styles.
"Oh, you." George's voice snapped Killian from his thoughts. "You are the Grim Warden with 106 points. Do you know that it is actually the highest score in our history?"
"Huh?"
George smiled, and a hologram expanded in front of them. The students stepped back to view it in full.
Their jaws dropped. At the very top;
[1. Grim Warden: 106 Points || Element: Hidden || Growth: ×10+]
The room was pin-drop silent, apart from George's occasional tapping on the laptop.
I broke a record. Ten times the required!
Killian's eyes moved down. The second name.
His eyes widened as he recognised the name of the Legendary Lightning Mage from his mother's line.
The man everyone expected Keith to take after, even if it was only half as much
The man who had been defeated by death alone, and even that was by his own permission.
The very embodiment of Thunder and Lightning itself — World Order!
I surpassed him!