NOVEL NEXT Chapter 111: Silver Spire
He sheathed his dagger without a word.
"…You're not a normal adventurer, are you?"
"No one worth knowing is normal."
That answer — simple, soft, and terribly honest — left her silent.
After a long pause, she reached into her pouch, retrieving a bronze plate engraved with the guild's sigil. "Xavier," she said, her tone steadier now. "By authority of the Velmora Adventurer's Guild, I grant you entry as a registered adventurer, provisional rank: Bronze — pending immediate review for Silver-class."
As she handed it over, her eyes lingered on him.
"Be careful," she said, voice lower now. "People in this city notice power. Some of them hunt it."
He accepted the badge with a faint nod. "I'll keep that in mind."
And then he turned, walking out of the courtyard as sunlight spilled over his shoulders — a man leaving behind silent awe and the faint echo of something greater than anyone there could name.
Viera watched him until he was gone, her pulse still racing.
"…Even the strongest I've ever seen," she whispered, "never made me feel that powerless."
Then she clenched her fist around her sword hilt, eyes narrowing as a memory flickered — a legend whispered through the empire.
The last man to bear that kind of aura… wasn't supposed to exist anymore.
For a long moment after the battle ended, silence reigned in the courtyard — the kind of silence that hummed with awe and disbelief.
Viera still hadn't moved. Her grip on her saber's hilt loosened slowly as the weight of what she'd witnessed settled in.
The faint crackle of mana around her faded into still air.
Xavier, however, was perfectly calm. His dagger was already back in its sheath, his clothes hardly even creased from the exchange. His composure made the entire thing feel almost unreal, as if the test had been nothing more than a passing distraction to him.
When she finally spoke again, her tone carried both respect and curiosity.
"…You really are something else," she muttered, half to herself. "I've never seen anyone read movement that way. Even the Swordmasters of the Imperial Guard can't do that without mana reinforcement."
Xavier gave a faint shrug. "Experience."
She scoffed softly, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "That's what all monsters say."
He didn't argue.
Viera exhaled and rubbed the back of her neck, still shaking her head as if trying to process what she'd just seen. "I was ready to stamp your Bronze certificate and report you for Silver evaluation later, but…" she paused, studying him again, "I don't think normal rules apply to you."
Xavier's gaze flicked to her, silent inquiry in his eyes.
She met it with a half-smile, the kind of expression that mixed challenge and admiration. "If you want your Silver Rank immediately — without going through the observation period — there's only one way."
He raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"
"You'll have to clear a dungeon of your choice," she said, tone steady now. "Solo, of course. That's the rule for instant advancement."
Xavier's expression didn't shift. Only his eyes narrowed faintly — thoughtful, assessing. "Hmm… You should have said that from the start."
Viera blinked, a small laugh escaping her before she could stop it. "You make it sound like clearing a dungeon is something you do between breakfast and lunch."
He tilted his head slightly, lips curving just enough to pass for a smirk. "Depends on the dungeon."
Her amusement faded into something more serious. "Fair warning — even the lowest C-rank dungeons have claimed lives. Most adventurers don't go alone, even after years of training. But from what I've seen…" She trailed off, her gaze drifting toward the shattered golems and the blackened resonance crystal. "…You're not most adventurers."
"Show me the list," Xavier said simply.
Viera hesitated only for a heartbeat before motioning to the attendant, who hurried forward with a crystal slate glowing faintly with runic light. When she tapped it, several names appeared in flowing script — each line pulsing with color according to rank and danger level.
AVAILABLE DUNGEONS
1. The Howling Caves (Rank C+)
A labyrinth of tunnels beneath the eastern cliffs. Known for echo spirits and blind beasts drawn to sound.
2. Obsidian Hollow (Rank B-)
Once a volcanic mine, now infested by fire wraiths and molten serpents. Extreme heat hazard.
3. Verdant Mausoleum (Rank B)
Ancient forest tomb overtaken by flora beasts. Mana density fluctuates; high regeneration rates inside.
4. The Ruined Sanctum (Rank B+)
Collapsed temple of an unknown god. Spatial distortions common. Rumors of soul-binding curses.
5. Ebon Rift (Rank A-)
A dimensional fissure near the northern ridge. Monsters born of shadow essence. Very unstable.
6. The Silver Spire (Special — Unranked)
Recently discovered. No records. Mana readings are inconsistent — possibly connected to an ancient relic site.
Xavier's gaze ran down the list, scanning each line without visible reaction. The attendant standing beside him swallowed nervously, the silence thick enough to feel.
Viera folded her arms. "You can pick any. The Guild will issue a temporary tracking sigil to confirm completion and monitor your mana signature. Once verified, you'll be given the Silver Rank plate directly."
Xavier's attention lingered on the final entry.
"The Silver Spire," he murmured. "No records?"
"None," Viera admitted. "Exploration parties vanished after three days. The few who made it back couldn't recall what they saw — just fragments. Most say it's cursed. I'd recommend the Obsidian Hollow instead if you want to live long enough to enjoy your promotion."
Xavier's fingers brushed his dagger's hilt.
His expression didn't change, but there was a faint glint in his eyes — the kind that spoke of interest, not caution.
"I'll take the Silver Spire."
The attendant froze. "S-sir, are you sure? The Guild—"
"Approve it," Viera interrupted sharply. Her tone was clipped, but her eyes stayed on Xavier. "He's not going to change his mind."
The attendant hesitated, then bowed and activated the seal on the slate. The air shimmered, producing a faint glyph before vanishing.
Viera exhaled quietly, shaking her head again. "You're either going to come back with a legend or not at all."
"I'll come back," Xavier said, voice steady, almost casual.
"And how can you be so sure?"
He gave her a small, unreadable smile. "Because someone's waiting for me."
For a moment, Viera had no reply. The quiet sincerity behind his tone caught her off guard more than his earlier power had. She finally nodded, almost reluctantly. "Then don't die, dagger-boy. I'd hate to explain to the Guildmaster how I lost the first recruit in years to ever break the Resonance Crystal."
He nodded once in thanks, slipping the badge into his pocket and turning to leave.
As he stepped out of the courtyard, the faint golden light of dusk spilled across his back, outlining the sharp edges of his figure.
The murmurs of onlookers followed him — rumors already starting to spread.
"Did you see how he moved?"
"The dagger… it didn't even shine. Like the blade itself feared him."
"They said he's going for the Silver Spire — alone."
"Crazy. Or maybe… something else."
Viera stayed behind, arms crossed, staring after him long after he disappeared into the sunlit streets. Her instincts screamed that what she'd just witnessed was more than the rise of a new adventurer. It was the spark before a storm — the kind that would shake Velmora to its core.
Xavier sighed inwardly after moving out. He didn't choose Silver Spire for no reason. Lily had convinced him — saying she'd surprise him if he did. Curious, he'd decided to go along with it.
He was already frighteningly strong, far beyond what most adventurers at his level could imagine. His control, instinct, and mana finesse came from accumulation — from experience, pain, and the traces of divinity that lingered in his being after his encounter with Diana. But even so, his physical strength hadn't caught up to his ever-expanding power. For that, he needed something raw — something alive to break against him.
He needed to kill beasts again.
The streets outside the Adventurers' Guild buzzed with a low, rising hum as word spread faster than wildfire.
"That guy— he's going for the Silver Spire?"
"Alone?"
"Who the hell does he think he is? That dungeon's practically suicide."
"No, didn't you hear? He broke the limits on every test. The examiner herself said he gave off pressure stronger than anyone she's met— even A-rankers."
"You're kidding…"
"Does he look like he's kidding?"
Xavier ignored them all as he adjusted the strap of his cloak and checked the balance of the twin daggers holstered at his side. They gleamed faintly under the noon light, edges thin as a whisper — weapons built for precision and lethality, not show. His movements were smooth, practiced, like a predator that knew its own strength but didn't need to flaunt it.
He stopped briefly at the market to restock.
Mana vials. Essence flasks. Food rations sealed in rune containers. A cloak lined with defensive thread resistant to elemental corrosion. Every purchase was swift and purposeful — no hesitation, no waste.