Early the next morning, with the sky just beginning to lighten, Ryan had already left the academy and stepped alone into the northern district of the city.
There, towering among the stone buildings, stood a structure that stood in stark contrast to its surroundings. Constructed from polished obsidian and laced with silver magical runes, the high-towered hall gleamed under the dawn light. Its arched gateways were engraved with legendary battle scenes and summoning arrays, emanating an aura of solemn grandeur.
This was the Awakener's Guild.
In nearly every major city, a building like this could be found at its heart. It wasn't just a symbol of the authority granted to Awakeners—it was the nerve center of missions, resources, information, and progression for all who had stepped onto the path of power.
Ryan entered through the main gates. The heavy steps of his boots echoed softly on the stone floor beneath his feet.
Before long, a receptionist dressed in a pale golden uniform quickly approached, her gaze complicated as it swept over him.
"You must be… Ryan Blackwood?" she asked, confirming with careful tone.
"Yes," Ryan replied with a slight nod.
"So it really is you…" she said, clearly surprised. Her voice dropped slightly as she continued, "Last night, Principal Hope came in personally to handle your registration. He even spoke with our Guildmaster for nearly an hour. It's extremely rare for someone who just awakened to draw so much attention in a single day."
Ryan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Guildmaster?"
"Yes," she said, nodding. "Our Emberflame Province branch is led by Herman Avery, a Level 60 Holy Paladin. He's someone even most of us only hear about but never see in person. But last night, he made time to meet with Principal Hope face to face."
Ryan said nothing more, simply nodding again in acknowledgment.
"If this is your first time here," the receptionist continued, "you can check the mission board at the center of the hall."
At the center stood a massive floating magic screen, hovering silently. Dozens of mission slips floated around it, held aloft by magical glyphs. Each mission listed its code, target area, rewards, and objectives in clear lettering.
"There are six mission tiers," the receptionist explained. "From lowest to highest: C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS."
"C-rank missions are generally non-combat. Things like resource gathering, cleanup, or simple escort tasks."
"B-rank missions involve lower-level combat. Typically, these include clearing small groups of hostile enemies or mid-level tracking assignments. They're moderately dangerous."
"Missions ranked A and above require a party to accept—solo applicants are not permitted. They usually involve beast lairs, mutated zones, or explorations into highly hazardous environments."
"As for S, SS, and SSS missions… those are the highest-level challenges. Most of them are tied to strategic warfare, national defense, or classified operations from the Starlink Federation itself. A single mission could affect the stability of an entire sector."
After her explanation, she smiled politely and handed Ryan a mission intake sheet.
Ryan nodded silently and turned toward the mission board.
His gaze soon settled on a mission framed with a blue border.
[Mission Code: B-076]
[Mission Type: Elimination of Hostile Creatures]
[Mission Details: In the forested outskirts of Emberflame Province, numerous kobold raiders have recently been spotted. These creatures have repeatedly attacked merchant caravans and supply wagons, resulting in significant casualties and property damage.]
[Rewards: 1200 EXP, 100 Starlight Coins, additional loot randomized]
[Notes: Estimated enemy numbers are in the dozens, with scattered patrols exhibiting moderate intelligence and group coordination. Most active at night. Solo entry into dense forest regions is strongly discouraged.]
[Special Notice: According to recent intelligence, sightings of "Mutated Kobolds" have been reported. If encountered, retreat immediately. Do not engage under any circumstances.]
Starlight Coins were the standard currency throughout the Starlink Federation. Accepted in every province and district, they could be used to purchase equipment, potions, skill manuals, or even daily essentials. For Awakeners, it was the hard currency that governed both power and survival.
Ryan narrowed his eyes as he read through the mission details, mentally calculating the numbers. With the base reward plus the bonus from eliminating monsters, reaching Level 7 was almost certain—and Level 8 wasn't out of reach either.
He reached out and cleanly tore the slip from the mission board.
[System Notification]: Mission Accepted — B-076 [Kobold Raiders]
The receptionist, watching from the desk, smiled knowingly. "The forest isn't far. You'll be able to make it there and back in a day. Still, be careful—rumor has it those kobolds have gotten sneakier lately."
Ryan nodded once more, confirming the mission acceptance via the task panel. Then, without another word, he turned and made his way toward the exit.
Whispers followed in his wake. More than a few people had seen him, and even more recognized what mission he had just taken.
"Is he insane? A B-rank solo?"
"You didn't hear? That's the guy who solo-cleared the newbie dungeon yesterday. Principal Hope came to register him personally."
"Oh! The one with the forbidden class? That's him?!"
The murmurs grew louder, but Ryan ignored them completely. His steps were steady, his figure upright as he exited the guild hall, eyes fixed forward.
This was only the beginning.