MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Before Anthony could continue speaking with the manager, the lively atmosphere of the adventurer guild's hall was shattered as a drunkard adventurer staggered toward Anthony.

The acrid stench of alcohol clung to the man's disheveled form, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Anthony with misplaced confidence.

"So, you're the new guy, huh?"

The man slurred, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Listen up, rookie. There's a protection fee for newbies like you"

Anthony tilted his head, studying the man with mild interest.

A flicker of amusement crossed his face as the man continued, his words growing bolder and more nonsensical.

"If you don't pay up"

The drunkard threatened, his finger jabbing toward Anthony's chest,

"I'll make sure you and your family regret it. No one messes with Vaz!"

Anthony froze for a moment, the man's words echoing in his mind.

Then, almost involuntarily, a chuckle escaped him.

'The standard adventurer arc cliché is really happening to me, it seems even I, an Anomaly can't escape this law'

Anthony thought, the absurdity of the cliché scene nearly sending him into a fit of laughter.

Vaz, mistaking Anthony's silence for fear, grinned maliciously.

It wasn't entirely Vaz's fault.

The way Anthony had stepped into the Adventurer Guild, his eyes alight with wonder as he admired every detail of the hall, had painted him as an obvious target.

To those around him, he exuded the telltale signs of a wide eyed beginner, a newcomer barely stepping into the world of adventurers.

Vaz hadn't been the only one to assume as much.

The entire hall had silently labeled Anthony as the newest of the new, a fledgling who had barely scraped past the gates of the guild.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? I knew you'd..."

Before Vaz could finish, Anthony's gaze turned cold.

He spoke telepathically to Kerm, the demi-human manager observing the exchange with mild curiosity.

"Am I permitted to kill someone like him in the guild?"

Kerm's lips twitched upward in a subtle smile.

She replied in his mind, her tone laced with amusement.

"As long as you can dispose of the body, there's no issue"

Anthony smirked, her response giving him the freedom he needed.

'Let's show off a little'

Anthony mused

Before Vaz could react, his body began to contort in an unnatural and grotesque manner.

The air grew heavy with the sound of bones snapping, flesh compressing, and sinew tearing under invisible pressure.

Each movement was precise, calculated, and unnervingly silent, save for the faint, sickening symphony of destruction.

The hall, once alive with boisterous laughter and casual chatter, fell into a stunned hush.

All eyes were drawn to the horrifying spectacle unfolding before them.

Vaz's body twisted further, the grotesque shape coiling inward until it formed a dense, misshapen orb of flesh and blood, a grotesque monument to Anthony's chilling mastery.

With a subtle flick of Anthony's fingers, a surge of crimson flames ignited beneath the grotesque sphere.

The fire roared to life with an almost ethereal brilliance, consuming the flesh and blood in a matter of moments.

The flames danced unnaturally, devouring their target with surgical precision, leaving no trace of smoke or odor.

When the flames subsided, only a faint pile of ash remained, delicate and weightless.

Anthony raised his hand once more, and the ash dissolved into nothingness, vanishing into the ether as if Vaz had never existed.

The silence in the room deepened, the weight of Anthony's display of power suffocating any thought of resistance or retaliation.

The hall was silent.

All eyes were on Anthony, the disbelief tense.

Then, as if a dam had broken, one adventurer burst into laughter.

"Vaz the Newbie Killer, killed by a newbie!"

The man exclaimed, his voice carrying through the hall.

The others joined in, their laughter growing louder and more raucous.

"Drinks on me tonight!"

Someone shouted, the declaration met with cheers and a frenzy of orders for more beer.

Anthony watched the scene unfold, shaking his head in mild exasperation.

'What a predictable group'

He thought, though he couldn't deny the entertainment value.

As the raucous laughter continued, filling the air with boisterous mirth, Anthony's attention drifted back to Kerm.

Her composed expression remained unchanged, but there was a subtle glimmer of amusement in her eyes, a faint acknowledgment of the unexpected spectacle that had just unfolded.

For a moment, he stood there, allowing the noise to wash over him, before his focus sharpened again.

He had already dealt with the unexpected disruption, but there were still questions left unanswered about this new world he had entered, and the guild seemed like the perfect place to learn.

He cleared his throat, breaking the casual hum of the room.

"Is there anything else I should know about the guild?"

Anthony asked, his voice steady, betraying none of the curiosity that sparked within him.

Kerm gave a slight nod, her feline ears twitching slightly as she leaned forward, her poised figure becoming even more alert.

"The adventurer ranks start at Rank 10 and go all the way up to Rank 0"

She said, her tone firm and matter of fact, as though imparting essential information.

"Rank 10 is where all beginners start, regardless of their mana or cultivation rank. It doesn't matter if you're a world class mage or a prodigy of a sword, you all begin at the same level here"

She paused for a brief moment, letting the weight of her words settle.

Anthony absorbed them, his mind already piecing together the logic of such a system.

It made sense, in a way, the adventurers had to prove themselves through deeds, not simply their raw power.

It was the culmination of experience and skill that mattered, not just the potential that could be perceived on the surface.

"The ranking system"

Kerm continued, her voice steady and calm.

"Is based on one factors: The difficulty of the missions you complete. It's about how well you perform in real situations, facing challenges head on and coming out victorious"

Anthony nodded, his thoughts aligning with the information she provided.

It seemed straightforward, mission completion was tied to one's growth in the guild, their ability to survive and thrive through increasingly difficult trials.

"But"

Kerm said, her expression turning a touch more serious,

"For powerhouses, there's a separate classification. It's called the Star Rating"

Her voice lowered slightly, as if to emphasize the significance of this system.

"The Star Rating is reserved for those who surpass the regular ranks. It's for individuals who have achieved feats beyond ordinary comprehension, people who've pushed the boundaries of what adventurers are expected to do"

Anthony considered her words carefully.

Star Rating.

A separate class for the truly extraordinary.

It was an exclusive tier, meant for those who had proven themselves as more than mere adventurers.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his newly issued adventurer card.

He ran his fingers along its edge before flipping it over.

As his gaze fell upon the golden lettering that proclaimed his rank, Rank 10, he felt a small flicker of unsatisfaction.

Kerm watched him closely, no doubt noticing his attention to the rank.

She didn't speak, but when Anthony met her gaze again, she added.

"Your rank is a reflection of your current status. You're a newcomer, and no one knows your battle prowess yet. That's why you're at Rank 10. But as you complete missions and grow stronger, that will change"

Anthony smiled slightly, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.

He had expected as much.

He knew that his true strength, honed through years of intense training and refined through the unique experiences of his life, would soon become evident.

The number on the card meant little, what truly mattered was the strength behind it, which he would demonstrate in due time.

"Thank you, Kerm"

He said, his voice polite, his gratitude sincere.

He gave her a respectful nod, a small but genuine gesture of appreciation for the information she had provided.

Kerm returned the nod with a smile of her own, though it was subtle, her eyes lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary.
Stay tuned to empire

The brief connection between them seemed to convey a mutual understanding, an unspoken acknowledgment of the strange, almost surreal nature of their current situation.

With that, Anthony turned, his gaze now fixed on the bustling scene around him.

The adventurer guild was alive with activity, a cacophony of voices, the clinking of glass mugs, and the occasional thud of a heavy object being dropped.

But in that moment, Anthony felt a strange sense of peace settle over him.

He had crossed a threshold today, one that would lead him into a world that was both unfamiliar and brimming with possibility.

The challenges that lay ahead were daunting, no doubt, but he knew that with each step forward, he would continue to grow.

With a final glance toward Kerm, who had returned to her duties, Anthony made his way toward the mission board.

A smile graced his lips as he walked.