The dungeon's Gate wavered as I emerged into the afternoon sunlight.
Outside, the Hunters Association's processing plaza was bustling. Doctors, reporters, and civilians watched the groups come out.
Right behind me, Vane and his Hunters stumbled out, pale and carrying their unconscious teammates. They didn't even look back; they ran straight to the guild van, too terrified to give the press any explanation.
I adjusted my battered jacket and headed straight for the Hunters Association building.
Inside the mirrored lobby, I walked up to the mana testing counter. The attendant, a young woman with glasses who already knew me from my other failed attempts, smiled sympathetically.
"Back again, Leo? I told you—the reclassification test costs the standard fee of..."
"I have the money," I said, placing a sack of Rank D magic cores on the counter. "And I want to test my mana power now."
The girl blinked, surprised by the sight of the gleaming crystals.
She led me to the measurement room, where a large measurement crystal stone floated in the center.
"Just place your hand on the crystal and release all the mana you have," she explained. "Your record was 12 points last time. The minimum for Rank F."
I approached the stone and placed my right palm against the cold crystal.
What happens if I release everything at once? I wondered. Better hold back a little. I don't want the entire guild coming after me on my first day.
I focused only half the energy I'd absorbed from the Shadow Devourer.
A wave of black and purple light exploded from inside the crystal. The digital panel's alarm began beeping wildly. The numbers on the screen shot upward:
12... 150... 450... 1,200... 2,800!
CRACK!
Tiny fractures appeared across the surface of the measurement stone. The attendant dropped her clipboard to the floor, her mouth hanging open.
[Association Record:] Magical Power: 2,800 points. New Rank: Rank B (Upper Limit).
"Th-this... this is impossible," the employee stammered, looking from the panel to me. "You... you were Rank F until yesterday morning! How did your core grow more than two hundred times in just a few hours?!"
"I trained," I replied simply, removing my hand from the cracked crystal. "Now give me my new ID card. I have a Rank C dungeon to clear before nightfall."
While the girl issued my new credential with trembling hands, my private system screen beeped again.
[New Daily Quest Available!] Objective: Hunt 30 Shadow element monsters. Reward: [Hidden Dungeon Key: The Tomb of the Nameless King] + 50 Free Attribute Points. Time Remaining: 11:59:59.
I picked up my new gold Rank B card from the counter, turned around, and left.
The real hunt was only beginning.