"Can you train ?"
"...?"
Brandon's head tilted further in perplexion.
Train him?
Why should he do that?
Unless Brandon wanted to reveal his tricks to Raven, there was no reason why he should train him.
In the first place, Raven already had a teacher for himself.
'So go ask him.'
Brandon thought to himself, keeping his expressions steady.
"So? Can you train ?"
"No."
A flat–out refusal.
"....Of course."
A defeated expression spread across Raven's features as he lowered his head with a somber smile.
He looked like a defeated puppy.
However, training was the only problem. Helping Raven beco strong in his own way wasn't.
"Alright, I kinda expected that answer. Forget I ever asked, thanks for hearing out."
Just like that, Raven walked ahead.
"Hold on."
But stopped as Brandon called out to him.
"Yes?"
Raven turned around, eting Brandon's gaze. Despite Brandon's refusal, Raven didn't seem disheartened in the least bit.
"I did say I wouldn't train you. But I never said I wouldn't help you."
"Oh, you will?"
Raven's eyes glimred.
"Firstly, are you a validated ranker?"
***
"So this is what you were up to when you were gone?"
"Sothing like that."
Raven asked and Brandon shrugged.
It didn't take long for them to arrive at the main guild.
The hub that oversaw all the present guilds, requests, and labyrinths.
The two stepped inside the building soon after.
It had to be said, Raven was already a verified ranker, and was ranked a bit higher than him.
After completing his first job–regarding Carl's matters, Brandon was given the right to be evaluated.
Of course, he had already gotten his evaluation, the mont he turned in Carl's request—stamped completed.
Currently, his card displayed ranked–A.
"Welco."
The receptionist greeted them as they entered the bustling guild hub, filled with the hum of rankers going about their business. Notices covered the walls, displaying jobs, and missions.
It had to be said.
Brandon was already well aware of Raven's current standing within the main guild.
He was an A–ranker as well.
Brandon's ranking on the other hand, was outdated. However, he knew that it wouldn't take long for his information to be updated.
But for now, it seed like the guild kept his ranking a secret.
"Raven Blackheart and Brandon Locke, A-ranked. Here's your confirmation for the labyrinth access."
The receptionist handed a docunt to the two, glancing at the na.
Raven's eyes widened slightly as he accepted the papers.
"Labyrinth? That's what we're doing?"
"You wanted to get stronger, didn't you? The labyrinth is a good start."
Brandon smirked. He was the one who had personally chosen the request.
Raven let out a low whistle, flipping through the details.
"Ah, I see. An A ranked labyrinth. Alright, I see the vision."
Just like that, after getting everything else validated the two set off for the labyrinth.
"Follow ."
One of the guild staff led them towards a peculiar basent. As they looked around, several rankers were already present.
Large portal fras were neatly arranged. So deactivated, while so shimring a purple swirling glow.
"You've rented a total of five hours. If you go over the tir, you'll be charged extra."
The guild staff inford them before activating one of the portals. Atop the fra—embedded; 'A '.
Most likely categorizing each portal to their designated ranked labyrinths.
"Enjoy."
Brandon and Raven stepped through the portal, erging into the mouth of the A ranked labyrinth.
The first thing that hit them was the sheer size of the entrance. This labyrinth was rather different from the labyrinth Imperial Academy usually rented out.
The stone archway towered above them, its surface covered in ancient, glowing runes.
A cold draft swept past, carrying with it the scent of damp stone and sothing else.
An imdiate hint of danger.
WHIII—
Raven's hand extended forward, and a dagger imdiately materialized. Pulling back, Raven held the dagger in a stance, peering out for any signs of danger.
Brandon on the other hand, casually walked ahead, hands clasped at the back of his head.
"Aren't you supposed to stay focused?"
"I am. But I want to see what you can do first."
"Huh? But you're already aware? We've fought dozens of tis."
"Not that. I wanna see what you can do without mana."
"...."
Raven looked at him with an expression as if saying, 'Are you crazy?
After all, this labyrinth was ranked a bit higher than him.
Tackling the labyrinth without any usage of mana was probably a death sentence for anyone.
Brandon rely shrugged and sat on one of the boulderstones.
"Trust . I won't let you die, don't worry."
'I'll just ss with you a bit.'
Brandon thought to himself, holding back a sneer.
"Okay, I trust you—"
Raven's sentence cut off as sothing shot out of the darkness.
Clank—!
Imdiately, Raven held his dagger up and sparks flew in the air. Gritting his teeth, Raven was pushed back.
Out of the darkness, a beast erged—a Scale Ravager.
Its large, reptilian form was covered in jagged black scales that glistened under the faint light of the labyrinth.
Its yellow eyes glead fiercely, and its claws scraped against the stone floor.
It wasted no ti, lunging at Raven with a speed that didn't quite match its size.
The Ravager's fanged maw opened wide, aiming straight for him.
Raven barely had a mont to react.
Clank—!
The impact sent sparks flying as he parried the beast's massive claws with his dagger.
The force of the blow pushed him back once more, feet scraping the ground as he struggled to maintain balance.
"Nice reflexes."
Brandon comnted from the side, leaning casually against a rock. He still didn't plan on intervening.
"Not helping!"
Raven growled through gritted teeth, repelling the Scaled Ravager's attacks without any mana to help him.
Cuts began to appear on Raven's clothes as he was having a hard ti to even land a counter–attack.
Brandon shook his head and held his hand up.
A thread extended from his fingertip and whistled in the air. Raven hadn't realized it, but a thread had latched onto his leg.
Just as the Scaled Ravager was about to swipe its claws at him….
Swoo—
"Ah—Ukeh!"
Thud!
Raven fell flat on his face as Brandon rely pulled his hand back.
"Dude!"
Raven exclaid. He didn't seem angry, but rather baffled as he noticed the threads wrapping around his right leg.
"I helped you. Now roll to the right."
Raven blinked his eyes before realizing the Scaled Ravager was about to swipe at him again. Brandon's initial action wasn't without reason.
Raven had been too occupied with its claws, that he hadn't realized he was being pushed back to the wall.
For that reason, Brandon gave him space to recover his thoughts.
Crack!
Claws scraped the ground where he laid a mont before. The force of the swipe sent dust and small stones flying.
Brandon's voice ca out calmly from the side.
"You've got so room now. Make it count."
"I hate how you're enjoying this…."
Raven cursed under his breath, quickly getting back on his feet.
He tried to catch his breath but there was no ti.
The Scale Ravager was already preparing for another attack, its muscles coiling for another deadly leap.
"Alright, I see where this is going."
Raven muttered to himself, flipping his dagger back into a defensive stance.
The Ravager lunged forward again, and this ti, Raven was ready.
Slash—!
He sidestepped just enough to avoid its strike while slashing upward across the creature's exposed underbelly.
"Hueek—!"
The beast screeched in pain, but it wasn't done yet. It snapped back at Raven with lightning speed, forcing him to jump back to avoid its gnashing fangs.
"Huaam…."
Brandon watched the scene unfold and yawned, still relaxed but his eyes were sharp, analyzing every movent.
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