Arcanum City!

After several hours of travel, the towering walls of Arcanum City came into view.

The city was massive, far larger than the village he had left behind. Its stone walls stood tall, reinforced with runic carvings that shimmered faintly under the sunlight. Guard towers lined the perimeter, and at the grand entrance, a pair of iron gates stood wide open, welcoming merchants, adventurers, and nobles alike.

Beyond the gates, the city stretched endlessly, a perfect mix of medieval and magical architecture. The streets were paved with smooth cobblestone, leading into various districts—the bustling marketplace, the residential quarters, the noble district, and, most importantly...

The Adventurer's Guild.

At the heart of the city, the Adventurer's Guild stood tall—a massive structure built from enchanted stone and steel, its emblem proudly displayed at the entrance. The sight of it sent a jolt of excitement through him.

"This is where it begins."

[System Notification]

[You have entered Arcanum City - The Beginner Hub of the Eastern Continent.][First-Time Bonus Unlocked.][Hidden System Quest: 'Become an Adventurer and Reach Level 15 to Unlock Partial Seal.']

A slow grin spread across his face.

The system had practically laid out the path for him—register as an adventurer, start hunting monsters, and gradually unlock his sealed power.

Perfect.

Without wasting another second, he stepped off the wagon, blending effortlessly into the crowd as he made his way toward the Adventurer's Guild.

If this world truly thought he was a mere beginner…

Then he would prove them wrong.

The grand doors of the Adventurer's Guild loomed before him, their heavy oak surface engraved with the emblem of crossed swords and a rising sun.

It was a symbol of ambition, of adventure, of strength.

Stepping inside, the scent of polished wood and parchment filled his nostrils. The hall was spacious yet lively, with adventurers scattered throughout, either discussing quests, exchanging information, or drinking at the tavern area on the side.

Large notice boards lined the walls, covered in parchment requests—some seeking rare herbs, others calling for escorts, and a few marked with crimson seals, denoting high-risk monster subjugations.

"Just like every other fantasy world…"

A smirk tugged at his lips.

It felt familiar. But that familiarity only made him more eager to see how far this world could go.

Meet the Guild Receptionist

The registration counter was lined with adventurers, all waiting their turn. At the far end, a young woman with silver-blonde hair adjusted her glasses as she assisted an adventurer.

Her appearance was striking—not just because of her beauty, but because of the way she carried herself. Unlike the rowdy adventurers, she exuded a quiet authority, her eyes sharp despite her gentle demeanor.

The nameplate on the counter read:

[Elaina Valcrest - Senior Guild Receptionist]

"A dedicated and competent guild worker, huh?"

The adventurer in front of her finished his registration and left, giving him his turn.

He stepped forward.

"Next!" Elaina's voice was clear and professional as she looked up. Her emerald-green eyes landed on him, and for a moment, she seemed to assess him.

"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. Are you here to register?"

"Yeah," he replied casually, keeping his tone neutral.

She nodded, retrieving a blank parchment. "Please provide your name, age, and any previous experience with combat or magic."

He paused for a moment before answering.

"Kael Ardyn."

It was the name he had chosen for himself in this new world.

As for previous experience?

"More than you can imagine."

But he kept those words to himself.

Instead, he simply smiled and said, "I've trained in swordsmanship and magic before."

Elaina's gaze lingered on him for a second longer than necessary before she continued writing.

"Understood. We will conduct a basic assessment to determine your initial rank. Please place your hand on the guild crystal."

The Guild Crystal – Revealing the Truth

Kael followed her instructions and placed his palm against the cool, glowing crystal. A faint hum resonated through the air as the artifact began scanning his current level and abilities.

For a brief moment, he felt a flicker of resistance.

"The system's seal is interfering…"

It was restricting his true stats, preventing them from being displayed in full. Instead of revealing his absurd skill count and mastery levels, the crystal showed only his surface-level strength.

[Adventurer's Guild Scan Results] Name: Kael Ardyn Level: 10 Class: Unclassified Known Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship], [Fireball], [Mana Manipulation]

A few murmurs echoed around the guild as nearby adventurers caught a glimpse of the results.

"Level 10?"

"Wait, isn't that really high for a beginner?"

"Most adventurers here start at Level 5 or below…"

Elaina, too, furrowed her brows in mild surprise. "It's rare for a new adventurer to already be Level 10 before registering. You must have been training for quite some time."

Kael simply shrugged.

"You could say that."

In reality, Level 10 was a joke compared to what he should be. If the seal wasn't in place, he would have broken the crystal with the sheer amount of abilities packed into his body.

Still, even a Level 10 newcomer was already a monster compared to most.

The Dungeon – A Path to the Unknown

With his registration completed, Elaina handed him a small guild emblem made of silver. "This is your adventurer's identification. You are ranked as a Bronze-tier Adventurer, the starting rank for all new members."

He took the emblem and slipped it into his pocket.

Elaina adjusted her glasses before continuing. "As an adventurer, you will primarily take quests from the guild. However, since you are already Level 10, you might be interested in exploring the Great Dungeon of Arcanum."

At the mention of the dungeon, Kael's eyes sharpened slightly.

"Here it comes."

Elaina noticed his interest and elaborated, "The dungeon is one of the greatest mysteries of our world. It is said to be endless, with floors that stretch far beyond what any adventurer has ever reached. The further one descends, the stronger the monsters become. Many believe that at its lowest depths, the true source of the world's power lies hidden."

She paused for a moment before adding, "However, not a single person has ever reached the bottom."

Kael remained silent, processing her words.

An infinite dungeon—one that no one had ever conquered.

"So this world has yet to see true strength."

He could already tell. The so-called elites of the city were only around Level 12 to 14, meaning that no one had even reached the upper limits of human potential yet.

"Then what happens when I unlock my full power?"

A slow smile formed on his lips.

This was the perfect place to test his abilities, to push his limits, and eventually—

To surpass everything.

[System Notification]

[Hidden System Quest: 'Conquer the Dungeon's Uncharted Floors' Unlocked.][Objective: Reach the 20th Floor.][Reward: ???]

"Alright, I've seen enough."

Kael straightened, looking directly at Elaina. "Where do I sign up for the dungeon?"

She blinked at his directness before smiling faintly. "If you're serious about entering, there's a preparation process. You'll need to form a party, obtain supplies, and—"

"I'll go alone."

Her expression faltered slightly.

"That's... not recommended. Even experienced adventurers never go solo in the dungeon."

Kael simply chuckled.

"They aren't me."

For a brief moment, Elaina stared at him, as if trying to decipher whether he was arrogant or just insane. But in the end, she sighed and handed him a dungeon permit.

"If you're that confident, then at least don't die on your first trip."

Kael took the permit and smirked.

"I wouldn't bet on it."

With that, he turned and walked away, heading toward his first real test in this world.

The endless dungeon awaited.