Noctalis

"So, he's finally coming?" Kali asked with a light huff as she leaned back in her leather chair, a hint of irritation in her voice.

"I was wondering where he disappeared off to for two months, leaving us to handle everything," she said, her eyes sparkling with annoyance.

"Who knows? But knowing Arthur, he's probably been training like a madman, and now he's likely even stronger than before," Jin replied, twirling a pen between his fingers, the ceiling lights casting shadows across his face.

"He's a monster, after all," Kali agreed with a sigh. "Though it feels like there's a huge gap between us now, doesn't it?"

White-rank had its quirks. With her recent advancement to Integration-rank, merging her mana core with her body, Kali had surpassed Lucifer in power—something she wouldn't have believed possible just last year. It was a testament to how unpredictable and rapid the progression could be.

Jin rested his chin on his hand, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "We're working to establish Noctalis, and I have a feeling Arthur's going to take it to levels we can't even imagine."

"He transferred all that money to you, didn't he?" Kali asked, raising an eyebrow. "I still don't know how he managed to pick the one cryptocurrency that passed the scrutiny of the Council in the Slatemark Empire."

The Council, composed of the heads of major governmental organizations and influential forces, worked alongside the nobles and the emperor to oversee the sprawling empire that ruled over the central continent.

Out of thousands of cryptocurrencies, the Council had chosen to advocate for one of the more obscure ones. As a result, all other cryptocurrencies crashed, while this particular one surged in value, yielding staggering returns for those who had invested wisely. It had made Arthur, among a select few, a significant amount of money almost overnight.

"The amount he invested was ridiculous," Jin muttered, shaking his head. "The returns were staggering. We've got enough funds to run our guild at a very high level for several years, even without considering any revenue we'll generate."

"Though, to be honest, I'm more than a bit worried about us being targeted now," Jin admitted, his voice serious.

"By the other investors?" Kali asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jin shook his head. "It's not just them. Having this much capital, raising the level of our newly established guild so rapidly—that's going to draw attention. Not only from rival guilds and nobles but possibly even from the twelve great guilds."

Kali sighed, nodding in agreement. "We're stepping into dangerous territory. The twelve great guilds won't appreciate competition, especially one with this much financial backing from the start."

"Yes, those twelve," Jin replied, glancing at the screen displaying their names: Astral Claw, Eclipse Veil, Nova Vanguard, Celestine Fang, Solar Warden, Luminous Accord, Aetherial Dominion, Umbra Pact, Crimson Zenith, Azure Covenant, Stellar Gate, and Titan's Aegis.

Kali smirked. "Twelve guilds that have dominated the Slatemark Empire for decades. Challenging them is no small feat, but that's exactly what Arthur wants, isn't it? To surpass the established powers."

Jin nodded. "Exactly. And with my two guards by our side, we should be fine for now."

As a prince of the Ashbluff family—the rulers of the Western continent—Jin always needed guards. But unlike most noble protectors, his two guards were loyal to him alone, bound by a mana oath not to disclose any of his activities to his parents.

Both guards were powerful, at the -rank, equivalent to 8-star hunters, and their strength was a crucial asset to their plans.

Kali glanced at the data on her tablet, reading off their current roster. "As of now, including you, Arthur, and myself, we have two 8-stars, five 6-stars, twelve 5-stars, and nineteen 4-stars."

Jin whistled softly. "Not a bad start. The key is getting these people to trust the vision and stick with us long-term. We need loyalty as much as we need strength."

"True," Kali agreed, her eyes narrowing in thought. "The higher-ranking members are mostly in it for the power and opportunity, but the lower-ranked ones need a sense of belonging. They need to feel like they're part of something bigger—something that will change the world."

The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

Jin and Kali both looked up, instantly feeling a chill brush against their skin, causing a shiver to run down their spines.

They knew exactly what it was.

Danger.

A palpable sense of danger emanated from Arthur's very presence.

"You two worked hard," Arthur said with a smile, and just like that, the unsettling feeling vanished, as if it had never been there.

'This monster... how strong did he get?' Kali thought, forcing a smile in return.

She knew she was stronger now, having reached Integration-rank, but the gap between her and Arthur seemed elusive—he had a presence that was impossible to ignore.

Arthur had clearly grown a lot over the two months since the Sovereign's Tournament.

Jin leaned back in his chair, a grin spreading across his face. "Look who finally decided to show up. So, how was your little adventure with the Martial King?"

Arthur's eyes flickered with amusement. "Grueling, but worth every minute. Let's just say Magnus doesn't pull any punches when it comes to training."

Kali raised an eyebrow, her curiosity evident. "You look... different. Stronger. Did he have you fighting mana beasts again?"

"Something like that," Arthur replied with a chuckle. "I won't bore you with the details, but he took me beyond my limits more times than I care to count."

Jin sighed dramatically. "Lucky you, while we were stuck with the paperwork and recruitment process. Next time, take us with you to the rainforest—at least there's less paperwork out there."

Arthur smirked. "I'm sure Magnus would love the extra company. I could use a break myself."

Kali rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile. "So what now? We've laid the foundation for Noctalis, but we're still nowhere near the level of the twelve great guilds."

Arthur nodded, his expression growing more serious. "We still have a long way to go, but we've got the groundwork in place. Now it's about expanding, building trust with our members, and bringing in more powerful recruits. We need to strengthen our ranks from within."

Jin twirled his pen, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "We've got two 8-stars, including my guards, and plenty of talented lower-rank members. But we need more people who have reached Integration-rank or higher."

Arthur nodded. "And that's where I come in. I want to focus on training and motivating our members—making sure they're not just strong, but loyal. I also need both of you to keep pushing forward with our outreach. We need to keep gathering support, especially from those who feel overlooked by the existing guilds."

Kali leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with determination. "If we play this right, we'll have a group that's not just powerful, but unified. We'll be a force to be reckoned with."

Arthur's lips curled into a confident smile. "That's the goal. Noctalis will rise, and when the time comes, we won't just be another guild—they'll have to acknowledge us as something far greater."

Jin raised his hand in a mock toast. "To Noctalis—the future powerhouse of the Slatemark Empire."

Arthur nodded, his eyes meeting Jin's and then Kali's. "To Noctalis. Let's get to work."