One of The Strongest Guild

Ares widened his mouth as he yawned in the morning.

"Beautiful day," he muttered as he stood up from his bed, walked down the stairs, and sat on the couch.

He had many options for the day—he could either meditate or go outside for a run. His second choice was to make breakfast or buy unhealthy fast food.

However, Ares ignored the second option entirely and focused on meditation. It was the perfect time—his surroundings were still silent, allowing his mind to shut down for a few moments. He closed the windows and anything else that could disturb him.

Now, only his own breathing filled the space. He crossed his legs like a cat, took a deep breath, and exhaled, releasing an extreme gust of air from his mouth. With his mind now ready, he closed his eyes, trying to feel his surroundings.

He was so focused that nothing else came to mind.

After that, the system recognized how clear and sharp his mind had become, granting him additional points in intelligence.

[You have been given +3 Intelligence points.]

- Intelligence: 10 [+3]

He opened his status screen and allocated his remaining points into MP, expanding his mana pool to allow him to summon even more shadows.

— Status —

Level: 30 [30%]

Title: Shadow Master

HP: 100

MP: 100/100

Strength: 35

Agility: 12

Sense: 11

Intelligence: 13

Fatigue: —

Skill(s): [VOID MANIPULATION] [Phantom Skill] 

------

Unassigned Points: 5

MP: 250/250

Now, he could summon at least five shadows at once, as each shadow required 50 mana to summon.

Still in the morning, Ares felt that he had already accomplished a lot. Before heading to work, he decided to prepare breakfast for his little sister.

"Scrambled eggs," he thought as he walked into the kitchen.

He placed a pan on the stove and turned on the heat. Once the pan was hot, he added oil, followed by chopped onions and tomatoes, stirring them together until they became soft and tender. Next, he cracked three eggs at once, mixed them well, and poured them into the pan. Afterward, he sprinkled a little salt to balance the flavor.

Tasting it, he found the scrambled eggs had a savory taste. Satisfied, he quickly placed them on the table and covered them with a container to keep them warm.

After that, he immediately goes outside toward the dungeon to break some mana crystals.

As Ares walked near the dungeon exit, Jayce and the other mining team members immediately approached him with big smiles, waving at him. Ares was dumbfounded, not knowing why they were so happy in the morning. There was only one thought in his mind—maybe Darius had told them his secret. As he convinced himself that this was the reason for their energy, it didn't happen as he expected.

Cameron, an old pervert who loved teenage girls, immediately went up to him. "Brat, I heard you did well in the hunt, huh? Not only that, they say you're a big fan of big chests?" His eyes gleamed with a teasing look, making Ares's face turn red with embarrassment as he heard it. The rest of the team burst into loud laughter.

Ares's body froze for a moment, unsure how to respond. However, he felt relieved that Darius hadn't told them his secret.

"Kid, you didn't let us know that's your type. Maybe we'll get you one! There's someone I know that you'll like," a red-haired man with scars on his face said.

Suddenly, Ares became the center of attention, making him even more uncomfortable.

"Tell us what happened yesterday," they asked, their voices filled with confusion.

Just as Ares was about to respond, Jayce immediately stepped in, cutting him off. "I—"

"Don't make him more uncomfortable, you fools!" Jayce shouted in a serious tone before adding, "Go back to where you belong."

One by one, they returned to their places as they waited for the hunting team.

Hearing that, Ares sighed, feeling a little more comfortable with his surroundings, and his face returned to normal.

Moreover, the S-rank guild emerged from the dungeon one by one. It was one of the strongest guilds in their country—

The Centaur Guild!

Led by Thalion Swifthoof, the guild master, his ability, Fire Hooves, unleashed fiery power that enhanced his combat style. More than that, he scorched the ground as he charged into battle like a minotaur, preparing his most powerful strike—Inferno Hoof.

This ability could burn through anything that stood in his way, including the ground and surroundings, turning them to ashes. Any foe caught in its path would be set ablaze. The skill could even create a wall of flames, deflecting all attacks.

Thalion stood at 7 feet tall with a muscular, V-shaped build. His upper body resembled that of a strong soldier, as he had once been one before the Cataclysm occurred. He was one of the chosen who had been granted an awakened S-rank. His broad shoulders were adorned with armor that clung tightly to his powerful frame.

His lower body, sleek and agile like a horse's, was powerful enough to trample his enemies with ease. His face was sharp, with piercing amber eyes and long, dark hair that cascaded down his back, adding to his wild and intense aura.

As they emerged from the dungeon, only five members appeared, leaving Ares's team stunned. This was their first time seeing a hunting team with only five members, as most teams required at least eight hunters—or six if they were exceptionally strong.

Compared to other guilds, Thalion didn't need many companions to raid an A-rank dungeon. For him, it was as easy as playing in a playground—a mere piece of cake.

As Thalion walked closer to Ares, he suddenly sensed a strong aura—but in an instant, it disappeared. Thalion lost track of it, leaving him stunned. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced since the gathering of all S-rank hunters.

He paused for a moment, narrowing his eyes in confusion, unsure of what he had just sensed.

Ares noticed something was wrong with him, and a subtle smile formed on the corner of his lips.

"Is there something wrong, sir?" Ares asked in a polite voice.

Thalion flickered his eyes and shook his head once, as if doubting his own instincts.

"Nothing," he responded coldly before turning away, his presence gradually fading into the distance.

Afterward, the mining team finished their work earlier than usual, thanks to the Thalion Guild. They had taken care of the threats, allowing the mining team to complete their job instantly.

Lastly, Ares stood out the most. He was the one who handled the toughest tasks, given how fast he moved and the power behind each of his strikes. He was so strong that a large mana crystal shattered with a single smash.

After that day, Ares received another key from the system.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE: YOU HAVE RECEIVED A KEY]

"Another key?" Ares muttered, dumbfounded. Then he added, "What am I, the god of keys? This system is really confusing me."

He mumbled to himself, rubbing his head. The system always gave him unexpected rewards, making him wonder if it was secretly running a locksmith business.

He gazed at the key's details, and its information immediately appeared on his screen.

[Key to the Demon Castle Dungeon]

Description -> A mysterious key that grants access to the infamous Demon Castle Dungeon, a place filled with powerful monsters, deadly traps, and untold treasures. Only those strong enough to survive its trials can uncover the secrets hidden within its cursed halls.

The description of the key went beyond his wildest expectations. However, with high rewards came high risks. Ares felt a surge of excitement, confusion, and fear all at once, his heart racing in his chest, reaching up to 180 bpm.

What was waiting for him on the other side? As he thought about it, his palms began to sweat, but he knew this was another chance for him to become stronger.