Third Person's POV
CLANG!
The sound reverberated through the silent room.
Ethan was truly satisfied as he ran his fingers along the blade and felt the intricate engravings and the unique hamrhead spike that ford its handguard.
The weapon was a masterpiece with a regal and nacing aura that developed fear in its opponents.
The crowd remained silent and their earlier cheers were now replaced by a mix of awe and unease.
Ethan's performance had been nothing short of extraordinary. It was a display of skill and power that defied his apparent age and rank.
The warden grinned faintly and, without a word, tossed him a dull rectangular tal tag that shimred softly under the dim lighting.
Ethan caught it effortlessly and gave it a slight heft in his palm.
"Mark it with a drop of your blood, young man," the warden said with an easy tone though the depth in his eyes was hard to read.
Ethan nodded after glancing around the room and noticed that no one had reacted oddly and it seed to be customary here.
He nicked his finger on the saber's edge and let a single crimson drop fall onto the tag.
Unbeknownst to him, the warden's previously lazy eyes sharpened as he silently observed and trained his focus entirely on that single drop.
Ethan remained unaware that a faint and hidden soul sense was hovering just above his hand and was discreetly examining the properties of his blood.
As the blood touched the tal surface, it was absorbed instantly and vanished like water into the dry earth.
Monts later, intricate engravings of a crossed sword and axe erged on the once-plain Steel tag.
Ethan imdiately sensed a faint connection to the tal and the feeling was like a thread that tied him to it.
"Congratulations, you are now a Steel Rank Adventurer, young man. I suggest you step aside now so the two young ladies can take their tests as well.
Then you will be able to officially form your adventurer team."
The old warden chuckled warmly and carried the air of a genial elder.
Ethan returned a small smile, yet a subtle chill crept up his spine.
The unreadable flicker and the unclear emotions in the old man's eyes sent a ripple of unease through him. It was an instinctual warning from the deepest recesses of his consciousness and his whole being.
This feeling was compounded by the warning from his battle-hardened instincts that he trusted very much.
But none of his thoughts and apprehensions showed on his face and eyes as he silently stepped aside.
Before he could voice his thoughts, the towering red-haired demon Declan, stord up to the warden while shoving through the crowd.
His face twisted in fury and rage as he shouted directly at Ethan.
"Shouldn't he be punished for his cris, Warden? He clearly cheated and sohow ssed with Tyler's senses. And didn't you notice how strange his attacks were?
I suggest we crack his skull open to see the secrets he is hiding, otherwise, how could an Elental Sea trash defeat Tyler who was in his elent?
He must have surely used so illegal and forbidden magic?"
His charade of venom ended and Ethan could feel a slight fear in his eyes with his trained senses.
So, he has truly accepted that we are now irreconcilable enemies and plans to co at with everything he has got.
Heh, but even if you begged for rcy, you wouldn't have lived to see tomorrow, shitty demon.
Ethan thought sarcastically as he had already sentenced him to death in his heart.
The connection he had with the girls around him was sothing he cherished dearly as for only one who had endured the agony of thirst could truly grasp the value of water.
His underlings nodded and imdiately began hurling curses at him but before the warden could intervene, a streak of black light flashed between them.
In a heartbeat, Ethan's saber was raised with its cold and gleaming tip hovering just shy of the demon's neck.
"Watch your tongue, little demon," Ethan said quietly but with deadly seriousness.
"Next ti, neither you nor your companions will be lucky enough to walk away only incapacitated. You should understand what I am implying?"
The red-haired demon stood frozen and was montarily stunned by the sheer speed of the strike.
A flicker of fear passed through his eyes but quickly gave way to a sneer.
Ethan took note of the shift and imdiately recognized that while the initial shock had unsettled him, the demon's battle-hardened instincts, experience, and confidence had quickly reasserted themselves.
I can tell that he has probably fought countless battles to stay calm with a saber nearly touching his throat.
He most likely believes he can overpower easily, even if I decided to finish him off right here and now.
Besides, the fact that the Adventurer Guild forbids killing within its premises must be giving him an added sense of security.
"Heh, boy, still too green. Do you really think a little trick like that will scare ? This move just sealed your fate and I will personally strike the nail in your coffin.
I promise you that the guild rules won't protect you outside these walls."
The crowd surrounding them, along with the warden and the dark elf receptionist watched the scene unfold with a mix of emotions, though none appeared shocked or fearful of such open declarations of killing.
After all, such provocations and violent displays were common occurrences in the demon continent.
In those conflicts, usually, no one interfered unless they had so of their own selfish interests involved in it.
As for the Adventurer Guild, their rules were clear, they wouldn't interfere in disputes unless a life was taken on their grounds.
Still, many could sense the inevitable clash brewing between the two.
But after witnessing Ethan's speed and calm deanor and the unreal capabilities he had shown in the battle just now, the odds in their minds had shifted and this made the likely outco less certain.
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