"I Reincarnated But Have No System? You Must Be Kidding Me!"

"W-what happened?"

"I don't really know. Everything happened too fast. I think the herbalist has a special artifact."

"All I saw was a blinding light and a loud explosion that followed."

The arena trembled under the echo of the blast. A dense cloud of dust swirled above the shattered floor, coating the air with the sharp scent of burnt mana.

The audience, frozen for several seconds, finally erupted into noise. Dozens of spectators stood up from their seats, craning their necks to see through the settling haze.

Not a single one of them expected Auren, a supposed herbalist, to wield such devastating power.

As the smoke cleared, the blinding light faded, and figures began to reappear within the ruined pit. Gasps rippled through the stands as Alyssa emerged first. She was standing upright, her silver armor smeared with dust but otherwise unscathed.

Her chest rose and fell sharply as she tried to comprehend what had just happened.

Only a few paces away stood Auren. The ground between them bore a crater nearly three meters wide, its edges charred black and still radiating faint heat.

Cracks spidered outward across the arena floor, glowing faintly from residual energy. The sight made Alyssa's pulse quicken. If Auren hadn't adjusted his aim at the last instant, that blast would have obliterated her.

Her sword was already raised, the gleaming tip pressed dangerously close to Auren's neck. The audience gasped again.

"I-I knew it! She won!"

"Hah! Told you! What's the point of flashy artifacts when you can't even hit?"

"Marry me, Alyssa! Woooh!"

The crowd roared, their voices rolling through the arena like a storm. Cheers and laughter mixed with the clinking of coins as gamblers began settling their bets. But while the naive ones shouted, a few veterans in the front rows remained silent, their eyes sharp and calculating.

They had seen it clearly—the way Auren's aim shifted at the last heartbeat before impact. He could have ended it. Instead, he had chosen mercy.

Alyssa's eyes narrowed. Her voice was low and taut. "Why? Do you think I'm not fast enough to dodge that attack?"

Her sword trembled slightly, not from fear but from restrained confusion. Auren met her glare without flinching. There was no panic in his eyes, only quiet confidence, almost as if he was daring her to strike.

He lifted his hand slowly, dismissing the massive weapon he had conjured. The bazooka dissolved into golden motes before vanishing into his storage ring. With a faint, tired smile, he raised both hands in mock surrender.

"I give up. I knew I stood no chance against you in the first place," he said, his voice casual but clearly insincere.

Alyssa hesitated, lowering her sword by an inch. Her instincts told her that this man wasn't being arrogant—he was hiding something.

Auren turned to the referee, brushing a bit of dust from his shoulder. "I guess we only have the written exam left, huh?"

The referee blinked, still stunned by what he had just witnessed. Even when he used his Observation skill moments ago, he couldn't keep up with Auren's movements.

All he saw was a flicker of mana and then the explosion. He gave a hesitant nod.

"Fight over! The winner is Alyssa!" he declared, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

The crowd exploded once more in cheers, drowning the tension with applause and whistles. Alyssa sheathed her blade, though her gaze lingered on Auren for a few seconds longer before turning away.

When the promotional test ended, the guild hall erupted with noise. Adventurers gathered around Auren as if he were a newly discovered treasure.

Tables shook as offers were thrown his way.

"Listen, kid," said a tall man wearing a wolf pelt over his armor, "I know potential when I see it. Join our team. We'll bring out that hidden strength of yours."

Another voice interjected, loud and snide. "Ignore him. He's from a D-Rank team. You'll end up scrubbing latrines. Our team, the Dungeon Experts, is aiming for B-Rank. You'll actually fight monsters with us."

"Hey, hey, don't listen to those blowhards," a third adventurer cut in, grinning. "You've got that spark, kid. We could use someone like you."

Their words tangled over each other like greedy merchants fighting for a sale. Auren sat back in his chair, his calm composure only fueling their eagerness.

He smiled politely and nodded, declining every offer with the same practiced line.

"I'll think about it."

The truth was, he already had a team in mind. He had done his research even before the test. Among all the groups in town, one stood out—the smallest, yet the most formidable. A three-member team called Blue Bound.

Their reputation was unmatched. Each member was said to be highly skilled in their field, but what truly set them apart was their Light Worker.

A healer, and a rare one at that. To Auren, that alone made them the ideal team.

As the guild began to quiet down, Auren finally found a moment of peace—until a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Can I have a bit of your time?"

He turned. Alyssa stood there, her armor now clean and polished, with two companions beside her. One was a young woman with bright eyes and a soft, welcoming smile—the healer. The other was an archer with crossed arms and a permanent frown, glaring daggers at Auren.

"Sure," Auren said, gesturing to the empty seats beside him. "Please, sit."

The three joined him.

Conversations around the guild slowed, curiosity pulling eyes toward their table. Whispered rumors fluttered through the room like restless birds.

"I'll be direct," Alyssa began, her tone steady yet commanding. "I'd like to invite you to our team."

Auren smiled faintly. I knew it.

"I thought you'd only invite me if I'd won against you," he said. "With your blade that close to my face, I'd say it was obvious who won."

Alyssa leaned forward, her eyes hard. "I know what you're trying to say, but I also know you didn't show your best."

Her words carried quiet conviction, cutting through the noise around them. The healer nodded slightly, while the archer snorted.

Auren rubbed his chin, pretending to think. "Honestly, I'd like to join your team. I've heard Blue Bound is one of the best in this town. But…"

"But what?" The archer's tone was sharp, his scowl deepening.

Auren looked at him with feigned innocence. "It seems one of your members doesn't like me. That could cause problems later."

Alyssa turned to the archer, giving him a calm but firm look. He gritted his teeth, turned away, and crossed his arms again.

"Hmp."

"Please don't mind our archer," Alyssa said, now smiling faintly. "He's stubborn and prideful, but in terms of skill, Blas is someone you can trust with your life."

Blas's chest puffed slightly at the praise, though his glare toward Auren didn't soften.

"Well," Auren said with a sly grin, "if that's how it is, maybe I can consider."

"You sound like we're begging you," Blas snapped. "Just remember, you're a level twenty-five herbalist. You only got lucky our leader wasn't prepared for that artifact. If it were me—"

THUD!

The table cracked under Alyssa's fist. Splinters flew as the hall went silent. Her eyes glowed faintly with mana as she glared at Blas.

He froze, sweat forming at his temples. The healer, Essel, sighed and cast a soft green light over Alyssa's scraped knuckles.

The faint glow sealed the small cuts instantly.

"Enough," Alyssa said, her voice low.

Blas looked down in shame, his jaw tight.

Alyssa exhaled slowly, regaining her composure before standing up. "I'll leave the decision to you," she said. "You still have your written examination tomorrow, but I'm certain you'll pass."

Auren stood as well and bowed slightly. "Thank you for the offer. I'll think about it."

As she turned to leave, Alyssa glanced over her shoulder. "When you've made up your mind, meet us here tomorrow. Same time."

"I will," he replied. "See you around."

She nodded once, then left with her team. The chatter in the guild slowly returned, the moment fading like ripples on water.

Auren sighed softly, then made his way to the front desk.

The receptionist smiled, handing him a few forms. "Congratulations again on winning two of the combat tests. \\Unfortunately, the written exams are only held in the morning at nine. Once you complete that, your final ranking and adventurer license will be issued."

"Got it," Auren said. "I'll be back tomorrow."

He stepped outside the guild into the fading daylight. The streets were alive with motion—merchants shouting from their stalls, children darting through narrow alleys, adventurers boasting about their victories. The air carried the smell of roasted meat and iron dust from nearby smithies.

Auren walked aimlessly at first, taking in the rhythm of the town. It was lively but edged with danger, like every adventurer settlement he'd known.

He passed potion vendors, blacksmiths, and a rowdy tavern where laughter spilled out of open windows. He made mental notes of places worth revisiting and began searching for an inn to stay the night.

As dusk fell, the lamps along the cobblestone paths flickered to life. Shadows stretched long, and the once-busy streets began to quiet. Auren slowed his pace, sensing something—an unease crawling behind his neck.

He glanced briefly at a reflection in a puddle. For a moment, he saw it—a faint outline on the rooftops above, keeping pace with him.

A hunter's gaze.

A figure crouched in the dark, bow in hand, eyes glowing faintly as they locked on Auren. The string of his bow tightened, mana coiling like a serpent.

"See you never, herbalist," the stalker whispered, his voice lost in the night wind.

The arrow shimmered faintly with killing intent.

The hunt had begun.