Surpassing the most celebrated Lightning Warden, even if it was in preliminary training, was a huge boost to one's confidence.
Being the highest in the organisation didn't feel as impressive as beating the young World Order.
Keith wanted to be him. Yet I surpassed his score during the first training session.
Didn't it mean I surpassed Keith in the first training?
Well, that is a given since he is so cowardly to participate in the first place.
"Why is your element hidden, Killian?" George asked.
Killian returned to reality. "It is just hidden. I set it up that way."
"Oh?" George kept eye contact. Killian looked away but could still feel his gaze.
He is now onto me. I don't blame him for asking, really.
A Warden's element is usually public knowledge because that is how they fight.
A firm pat landed on his shoulder. It was Evelyn, and she looked so proud. She also looked like she would cry with happiness if she spoke.
So she only gave a thumbs up and a smile.
Killian smiled back. "Thanks."
"Finally, a Dominic is really up in those ranks. This is so nice!" Juda's outburst made Killian cringe.
They all received a notification on their WLog at the same time. Killian didn't check immediately and kept scanning the list. He saw another familiar name.
[The End: 70 Points || Element: Hidden || Growth: ×7]
That was the first runner up in the last training. He had also hidden his element.
In the total list, he was ninth. Since he hid his element, he might also have a secret or two.
Or just thought it was cool to keep it that way.
George closed his laptop, and rose from his seat. "Before leaving for our first mission, let us pay a visit to a training facility. Are you with your weapons?"
"Oh, I have to go get mine!" Evelyn raised her hand.
"Me too." Killian added.
Now he had a spatial storage, he could keep the Void-Bat closer. George dismissed them.
Killian walked slowly towards the B-Rank offices.
Quara's office was at the very last place. He entered after knocking and getting no response.
He looked inside and found some things in a box, including his bat. "She's not even here when she told me to show her my badge." He grabbed the bat.
The extras in the box were snacks. He remembered he didn't have breakfast, so she must've noticed.
"I'll live." He walked out of the room.
The hallway to the A-Rank office was quiet. Many Wardens seemed to not stay in their rooms. Killian increased his pace, and entered George's room.
George was dressed in a black evening suit, which was odd for training.
But the major thing about the suit was how it was scuffed at the waist, and tighter at the thighs, highlighting his narrow waist and thighs.
Evelyn kept moving around him, like paparazzi to a celebrity. Juda leaned towards Killian. "My sister has clothes like these but this guy looks better in it."
So he had an older sister that he freely dissed? Maybe they don't treat him with animosity.
"Let's go." George opened the door of his closet, but it led to another room.
Without wasting time, they all headed out together. There was silence between them.
They arrived soon after. George stopped in front of a door. He input something on the screen.
C-Rank. Direwolves.
Killian's brows knitted together. Evelyn glanced at him, then at Juda, but neither of them said anything.
This George either overestimated them.
Or still wanted to kill them. But it was likely the latter.
They stepped inside.
The air felt different, cooler and heavier. It was clear they were no longer in their realm.
Before them was a wide cave system with rough stone walls and dim light leaking from cracks, the ground uneven and split into three clear paths ahead.
George stayed near the entrance.
"This is training before your next mission, but take it seriously. Everything is real. There have been deaths. Few. Like two in a hundred."
The silence that replied him was heavier than the one that existed before.
Evelyn rubbed her mechanical gear nervously, while Juda held his head as if his headache worsened.
Why inform us of those statistics in the middle of being those statistics!
"I'll watch from here," George continued, tapping a device on his wrist. "There are no cameras inside, but if you need me, just break this."
Killian didn't respond, and took a similar device from him.
Evelyn and Juda nodded once, taking one for themselves as well.
Without hesitation, the three of them split, taking a different path like it had already been decided.
Killian moved forward, gripping the bat tightly.
I don't want to believe that there are no cameras so I'd keep up with the lighter-mana combo like before.
The cave narrowed slightly as he walked, the sound of his steps echoing faintly before other footsteps joined it. It was heavier, and then a growl.
Killian stopped. He waited for it to come to view.
A direwolf stepped out slowly. Large body, three feet tall and built thick. Its white fur dull under the cave light while its underbelly stayed dark.
The weight was clear in the way it moved, each step pressing into the ground.
A C-Rank Monster, huh? It definitely looks like it.
It lunged.
He stepped to the side and swung.
Bam!
The impact landed clean, but the wolf barely staggered, its body absorbing the hit as it turned again. It was faster this time.
Killian adjusted, and swung, missing it narrowly.
Another rushed in from the side.
Killian clicked his tongue and shifted his stance, swinging again, this time harder.
Crack! The second stumbled back, but not enough.
His arm stung from the impact. The Void-Bat pulsed as it fed and grew lighter.
The wolves kept coming. A third one.
Killian moved, dodging low and swinging high.
He forced them to a corner so he could use the skill at once.
They didn't attack at once, so it was a little easier to handle compared to the rabbits.
But each hit took more from him than he liked, and his breath growing heavier as the wolves pressed.
The first one finally dropped. The bat connected with its skull and it fell. The second followed after another strike, weaker this time.
The third lunged straight at him at the same time.
Shit.
Killian's swing came late. The wolf slammed into him, forcing his back on the wall.
It clamping its jaws on his neck, bruising his neck with its grip.
"Argh!"
Killian's heartbeat quickened as he reached for his device.