Zayne walked through the crowded streets of Ravenhold, his eyes attentively scanning every detail of the city. The voices of merchants blended with the chatter of the people, the clinking of coins, and the rich scent of spices filling the air. It was the first time he had seen such a lively settlement since arriving in this world.

  As he moved forward, he noticed various shops and stalls. One merchant was selling colorful fabrics, while another offered spiced meat cooked on iron skewers. A group of children ran through the streets, playing with an old leather ball, while two city guards patrolled with watchful eyes.

  While walking, he decided to ask a passerby for information on how to register as a resident to avoid any issues in the city. The man, a merchant with a face marked by years of experience, replied absentmindedly:

  "If you want to register, you'll have to go to the Adventurers' Guild. They handle the identification of newcomers. You'll find it at the end of this street—it's impossible to miss."

  Nodding in thanks, Zayne continued on his way. The closer he got to the Guild, the more people he saw: men and women of all ages, some armed with swords, others clad in long robes and carrying mage staves. The building was massive, with a large wooden sign displaying a symbol resembling a shield with two crossed swords.

  As soon as he stepped inside, he felt the weight of many eyes falling upon him. Several adventurers eyed him with either curiosity or mockery.

  "Another rookie… how long do you think he'll last?"

  "He looks like an ordinary kid. He won’t even make it through his first quest."

  Zayne ignored the comments and approached the counter, where a young receptionist with silver hair greeted him with a kind smile.

  "Are you here to register as an adventurer?"

  "Yes. I want to know how it works."

  The girl took out a form and explained the rules: all adventurers started at the lowest rank, Rank F, and climbed the ranks by completing quests and earning recognition. After completing the registration, she handed him a metal card with his name engraved on it.

  "Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild, Zayne."

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  Before he could ask anything else, a sudden commotion caught his attention. Two girls—one with long blonde hair and the other with short red hair—were surrounded by a group of higher-ranked adventurers.

  "Hey, you think you can cut in line just because you're cute?"

  One of the men grabbed the blonde girl’s arm with a malicious grin.

  Zayne didn’t hesitate. With firm steps, he moved forward, placing himself between the girls and the men.

  "Let them go."

  The adventurer laughed, looking him up and down.

  "Oh? And who the hell are you? Another idiot trying to play the hero?"

  Zayne didn’t answer. A fight was inevitable.

  The man threw a punch, but Zayne dodged it with a smooth, precise movement. With a swift strike to the wrist, he forced the man to release his grip, who pulled back with a surprised expression.

  "You bastard!"

  The others attacked. Zayne sidestepped a sword strike, then drove his knee into one opponent’s stomach, sending him to the ground. Spinning on his heel, he grabbed another’s arm and unbalanced him, taking him down with a clean and efficient grappling technique.

  Silence fell over the hall. No one had expected a rookie to be so skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Some high-ranking adventurers, seated in the background, watched the scene with interest.

  "He has refined technique. He's no ordinary novice…" one of them murmured.

  After the fight, the defeated adventurers dragged themselves out, muttering threats. The two girls thanked him, but Zayne simply nodded before turning back to the receptionist, who seemed more impressed than she cared to admit.

  "Well… I suppose you want to take on a quest?"

  Zayne nodded. He wanted to test his abilities. The girl handed him a hunting quest to eliminate wild wolves in the forests south of the city. It was a low-level assignment, perfect for a beginner.

  As he left the Guild, he felt the weight of the metal card between his fingers and reflected. During the fight, his strange power hadn’t activated, unlike when he had faced the bandits. Why? He still needed to understand how it worked.

  Shaking his head, he left the Guild and set off toward the forest, the setting sun beginning to paint the sky in shades of red. Along the way, he checked his weapons and ensured he had enough supplies. After a few hours of walking, he found the tracks of a pack.

  Following them, he soon realized something was wrong. The forest was unnaturally silent. The branches above him were still, as if even the wind had stopped blowing. Then, a shadow moved among the trees.

  He halted, feeling a chill run down his spine. The leaves rustled slightly, and a low growl echoed in the air. From the darkness, two red eyes locked onto him with fierce intensity. A massive wolf emerged from the undergrowth, far larger than normal, with claws as sharp as blades and a dark coat that seemed to absorb the fading sunlight.

  Zayne took his stance, clenching his fists. His breathing became slow and controlled. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins, the adrenaline preparing his body for battle.

  "This… won’t be an easy fight."