GreenerThanGreen

Stories where someone with S class strength is given F rank in a guild, then after a day they start increasing it vex me. There should be Strength and competency rankings in guilds. Here is where we determine the first one. Also, I think I am incredibly bad at describing and choreographing fight scenes, so you are warned.

I do as I am told and exit the guild building through recommended door. After around 10 steps I arrive at the training yard and I have to say, it looks like an outside gym. Like the ones I have seen in movies from the 80ties and 90ties. And further back there are 9 square sand covered spaces, probably arenas or rings or whatever, for sparing and matches. There are targets and Dummies in few places, an obstacle course and other things I didn’t have the time to observe as I am approached by a man taller than 2 meters. Instead of the place I stat observing the man. He is not just tall, but also very big. I can distinguish his muscles even through his thick clothes, so that tells me he is probably not a Spellcaster. Otherwise he looks average, brown hair and eyes, tan skin and the one distinguishing feature, a scar across his nose. Wen he arrives in front of me I show him the form I was given and he takes it and starts reading. 

“So, you are a newbie. Come on, we will start your assessment. It says here you are a Summoner, so let’s start with testing your Spellcasting.” He turns around and starts walking to the targets, but I stop him in his tracks. 

“I don’t know any spells outside of Summoning. My method is different from the traditional ones, so I haven’t learnt the Magic Language, let alone any spells.” He turns around and looks at me with something between surprise and interest and some other emotions in between. He contemplates something for a minute and gestures me towards the training yard. 

“You should probably start learning Magic. Meanwhile why don’t you start with showing me the skills you have, then I will spar with you to see how good your CQC skills are. Maybe we will even find what Weapons you are good with.” I nod, but don’t say I already am learning the Magic language and start walking towards the weapons rack close by. 

Since I have the Knife Handling, Throwing and Accuracy skills I pick what looks like throwing knifes or maybe daggers, as I know Jack shit about the difference between the two or any other weapon, and walk towards the target range. Flipping and tossing one of the weapons in my hand I familiarize myself with its weight and balance. I know there are ways to throw that spins the knife, but I need to calculate the distance to the target and rotations for it to hit with the pointy end. Definitely going to throw them in a straight line flight path. 

I stand in front of the closest target, around 5 meters away and throw the first knife. The weapon sinks halfway in the target a few centimeters off center. I adjust my Aim and throw he next one followed by another 3. All the knifes sink in the center of the target without much trouble. 

After collecting the knifes I stand in line with the next closest target and repeat my performance. This time all the knifes hit the target dead center. I am more familiar with the weapon and how it moves, so my aim is definitely better. The more distant targets after that are also not a problem, until I arrive before one that is moving from left to right at random speeds. This time I missed the target entirely 1 time and had a few of center hits. Only the last knife hit dead center. I will have to practice more in the future and read the Knife Arts Skill Book I got from the dungeon. 

“Adventurers that throw their weapons have them enchanted with teleportation. That way they can reuse them as soon as they lodge in their target.” I look to the instructor as he stands behind me and observes my performance. That advice is pretty good and I plan on doing just that as soon as I get some more gold. That makes it one more thing on my list to buy, right bellow underwear and above enchanted armor. 

“You have room for improvement with your aiming. Let’s see what summons you have and after that we can test your CQC and knife fighting.” The instructor doesn’t look impressed with my skills, but that is expected. He has probably seen hundreds of people with higher level skills in his years of working fr the guild. I follow him to the rings and take out my play mat and place the public deck on it. The instructor looks at me questioning, not expecting me to need so much preparations to summon something. 

“My Summoning works differently from others. The play mat is needed or I may lose my contract to the summoned monster. I already ordered something that would work better and serve as a weapon at the same time to substitute it.” He nods to me and I play the five creatures with the highest ATK in this deck. 

Minotaurus, the beast with a big axe is the first to materialize seconds after his card is placed on thee mat. Followed by Holy Doll, the creature I used most in conquering the dungeon. Then Pale Beast appeared beside them with its snarling mouth full of teeth. Last are the Destroyer Golem and Wild Raptor. These summons were my strongest in ATK and could also pass as 3 beast summons and 2 golem, stone and wood one. Not only was I showing just a small part of my capabilities, I was also hiding my ability to summon cards without the play mat. 

“Your summons certainly look impressive! Let’s see if they actually are. Have them attack that column one by one with all their strength.” The instructor points to a column shaped machine I could guess is some kind of Strength measuring machine or is juct a normal column and based on the destruction the Strength is calculated. 

“One by one attack the column with full force. Don’t hold anything back.” The creatures line in front of the column in the order they are summoned and throw one attack each. After Minotaurus strikes it with his Axe, the number 1 700 appears close to the top, answering the question if it is a machine or just a column. The number stays there until the magic attack of Holy Doll replaces it with her ATK power of 1 800 and so forth for the rest of the summons. So, it doesn’t have to be a physical attack to measure it. 

After the last creature attacks I turn around and look at the instructor and find him failing to hide his surprised expression. ”Your Golem summon can use Spells? As far as I know, only Fairy and Spirit summons are capable of doing that.” Shouldn’t have included Spellcasters in my deck build it seems, even if they look like creatures from other types. 

“I have only a few such creatures. Most of my summons are physical attackers.” I try to mitigate the impact of the information. And it is true enough, I only have a few in this particular deck. 

“Let’s just get this over with. Hit the column with all your strength, then follow me to the ring and we will test your combat capabilities and then I will tell you what my evaluation is. Here, you will need this.” The instructor tosses me a dull, wooden knife and walks to the closest ring, or sand covered square space as it is more appropriate to call it. He can still observe me, but isn’t right next to me. I approach the column and take a fighting stance then punch with all my strength. There is a lot more give than I expected from the material and no pain at all. The resulting number is the same as my ATK 658. Next I take a step back and deliver a spin kick to the column. The result is my ATK plus my Kicking Skill 724. After seeing the results I follow the instructor to the ring. 

He takes a stance, body sideways, head pointing my way, one arm extended and the other hidden behind his body. Even an amateur like me can tell there are no openings to exploit, unless you are more skilled or faster than him and I most probably am not one of the two. I take a similar stance ad approach with my knife holding hand in front. I can tell he will use his forward hand to defend and the hidden one to attack me, so I prepare myself and as soon as he is in my attack radius I try to stab with the wooden knife. 

His forward hand sweeps my attack sideways and the hidden one approaches my face. I duck under and try to step in and punch his body, but with he same hand I ducked under, he elbows my punch downwards. It fucking hurt, but now is not the time to be whining about it. I tried to kick upward, right in his family jewels and for the first time in this spar I saw a glimpse of the instructors true level, as he moved noticeably faster than before, stopping my foot with both his arms. 

“Now, that was a very dirty move for just a sparing match!” Hopping on one foot, I smiled from ear to ear and with all the strength of my leg I jumped in order to kick him in the head. Then the world spun and I found myself on the sand ground in some kind of submission hold. I tried to move and wiggle my way out, but there was no give on the instructors hold, so I gave up the fight. 

“I give up, release me.” The instructor released his hold on me and we both quickly got back on our feet. Looking at the man in front of me, I didn’t see smugness or any other emotion, his face was a mask of neutrality. ”At the end there I couldn’t even begin to tell what you did, but I am pretty sure you released a little more of your true abilities.” 

“I didn’t want to experience the pain you intended to bring me, so I went from Rank D to Rank C status wise. That last move would have also worked, but I was already moving before I realized and pinned you down. You are a vicious fighter, going after such weaknesses. You may make a good Rogue, Thief or Assassin. With your Summoning and Earth or Light Magic, you will make a formidable adventurer in the future.” After the instructor gave his evaluation on my abilities, I couldn’t help but smile. I could become an Assassin, Thief or a Rogue. Sure Magic was the dream of every little girl that was normal, but as a kid I dreamed of being a Pirate, a dashing Scoundrel that went on adventures, stole from the rich and gave to the poor, flirted with noble ladies and then robed them blind. Found birred treasures and conquered dungeons. I later in life outgrew these fantasies and found out other girls didn’t dream of such things like being Rogues and flirting with ladies, but rather of being Magical Girls and charming princess. That also led me to discover quite early in life I was bi-sexual, but I already went too off topic. This was very good news. 

“A mercenary I read about ‘fictional as she was’ said “always go for the dick” so I took it to heart. That is one weakness every organic male shares. So about the Rogue training, does the Guild provide instructors, or will I have to find my own?” This time my words sounded too cheery, almost hyper with the emotions I have towards that particular occupation. 

“A supervisor will be assigned to you for the 20 quest probationary period. They will instruct you and help you find teachers, gear and everything you will need to complete quests and become a better adventurer. Now, let’s finish your registration. Follow me.” The instructor, who’s name I still don’t know nor am particularly interested to learn, starts walking towards the guild and I follow him. I also un-summon my creatures while walking behind the instructor, no need to leave them here to do what they want. 

Inside, he walks to the receptionist and starts talking about my evaluation, what I am good and bad at and what he recommends I learn. They discuss who to assign as my supervisor and after a few minutes the receptionist goes to finish my Guild registration. Five minutes later she returns and ask me for my ID card and slots a small rectangle piece with a crystal just like the one from the library, but with the Guilds emblem on it, then returns it to me. 

“Congratulations on joining the Adventurer’s Guild. Your starting rank is E, with no metal rank as of yet. The handling fee is 10 silver, you can pay now or 10 percent of your quest payments can be used as repayment until the cost is covered with no interest.” And here is the money discussion. But the payment plan is actually pretty fair, taking percentage of quests. This way everyone, even the people with no money can register and start earning. Even newly arrived otherworlders can register with such method and don’t need to encounter someone they have to save, so they can pay the fee. But since I do have the money, there is no need to tie myself to the guild with debt. I take 10 silvers from my pouch and pay the fee. 

“Thank you. Here are some books to help familiarize you with the guild and its rules and the local creatures and plants. This is the file of your supervisor and where you can find them. Have a nice day!” I gather the books and papers provide by the receptionist lady, but don’t leave immediately. 

“Not so fast, I have some dungeon items I want to sell” The receptionist pointed for me the reception for purchase of items and materials and I walked there. Starting to take things out of my backpack, I have to say: I have a lot of junk inside. I start by taking out all the potion bottles, even the unknown ones and showing them to the receptionist in charge of purchases. I hope she has appraisal skills and can determine what the items are and the appropriate price for them. I don’t expect to be cheated too badly with the prices if they want to retain my sales of future items. 

The healing potions she appraised as 1 silver per potions and the other ones, Magic potions at 2 silver per potion and Strength potion at 5 Silver per potion. That comes down to 5 silver for the healing, 8 for the Magic and 5 for the Strength.  

The armor pieces, leather pieces and robe I exchange for a lot less. Everything combined sold for merely 2 silver. Now the two staffs and the sword I sold for an entire gold coin. Apparently dungeon created staffs are a level higher in quality compared to ones created by craftsmen and it showed in their prices. All that was left are the 3 Skill Books, of which I only chose to sell the Shield one for 50 silver. I plan to use the other 2 for myself. While I was emptying my backpack, I tossed the dull copper knife as well for free, just to save space. 

Now with my coin pouch refilled I leave the Adventurer’s Guild and since it is a little after lunch, I return to my inn and order myself a meal. This afternoon I plan to concentrate on reading some books and learning the Magic Language. 

GreenerThanGreen

I have bad memory and am incredibly lazy, so I can't remember if I mentioned somewhere how much the kicking skill increases ATK. So here I am using 5% per level and since it is level 2 it increases ATK by 10%.