Reborn: Vanguard Of Hope

Chapter 18:

Kai sat in the corner of the guild hall, a cup of steaming herbal tea in his hand. The adrenaline from the free-for-all match had faded, leaving him to wrestle with his thoughts. The victory was satisfying, but it wasn't enough.

"Two battles a week," Kai murmured to himself. "Two chances to climb, and no room for failure."

The rules of the virtual system were clear: only two matches could be fought each week. Players needed to plan their fights carefully to maximize their point gains.

[Rank Progression System]:

Iron: 100 points to advance to Bronze.

Bronze: 200 points to advance to Silver.

Silver: 400 points to advance to Gold.

Gold: 800 points to advance to Emerald.

Emerald: 1,600 points to advance to Diamond.

Diamond: 3,200 points to advance to Mythical.

Each win in Iron Rank granted only 2 points per elimination and up to 30 points for a match victory. For Kai, these limitations were more than just hurdles—they were a challenge he was determined to overcome.

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Meeting New Faces

As the team gathered to discuss their next steps, a loud commotion at the entrance of the guild hall caught their attention. A group of players, clad in mismatched armor and gear, barged in, laughing boisterously.

One of them, a tall man with spiky red hair and a massive axe strapped to his back, scanned the room with a smirk. "So this is where the rookies hang out."

Lyra frowned. "Who are they?"

"They're from the Ember Fang Guild," Aelric whispered. "Bronze rankers. They're known for crushing teams just for sport."

The red-haired man's gaze landed on Kai. "Hey, you're the guy who won the free-for-all, right? Nice moves, rookie. Shame you'll hit a wall soon."

Kai met his gaze evenly. "We'll see about that."

The man chuckled. "Name's Drax. Remember it—because you'll be hearing it a lot when we cross paths in Bronze."

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Preparing for the Next Match

After the Ember Fang players left, the team turned their focus back to strategy.

Kai looked at his teammates. "We need to get stronger. And fast."

Lyra sighed. "Easier said than done. Our gear is still subpar, and we don't have enough resources to improve it."

"That's where dungeons come in," Kai said.

The room fell silent. Everyone knew dungeons were dangerous, even at F-rank. The challenges ranged from puzzles to powerful monsters, and success depended on teamwork and preparation.

"If we can clear an F-rank dungeon, we'll earn items and materials that can boost our strength," Kai continued. "It won't be easy, but it's our best option."

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Entering the Dungeon

The team stood before the entrance of a nearby F-rank dungeon, a massive stone archway inscribed with glowing runes.

[Dungeon: Forgotten Catacombs]

Rank: F

Challenges: Maze, Traps, Low-Rank Monsters

The system notification appeared as they stepped inside, and the entrance sealed shut behind them.

The air was damp and cold, and the faint glow of the runes on the walls provided the only light.

"We stick together," Kai said. "No splitting up, no unnecessary risks."

The group moved cautiously through the maze-like corridors, marking their path with chalk to avoid getting lost.

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The First Challenge

As they turned a corner, they encountered their first obstacle: a narrow hallway filled with pressure plates. Each plate was connected to a series of darts, arrows, and swinging blades.

Vorn whistled. "Looks like someone doesn't want us to pass."

Lyra examined the plates carefully. "This is a puzzle. We need to step on the plates in the correct sequence to deactivate the traps."

Kai nodded. "Let's figure it out quickly. We don't want to waste time."

Using their combined skills, the team solved the puzzle, stepping carefully on the plates to create a safe path.

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The First Fight

Further into the dungeon, they encountered their first group of monsters: skeletal warriors armed with rusted swords.

Kai took the lead, activating Radiant Shield to block their attacks while Vorn and Lyra flanked the enemies. Aelric provided support from the back, using his healing abilities to keep the team in fighting shape.

"Don't let them surround us!" Kai shouted, slashing through a skeleton with his Solar Slash.

Within minutes, the group defeated the monsters, but not without sustaining minor injuries.

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Reaching the Core Room

After hours of navigating traps and fighting off more skeletal warriors, the team reached the core room.

A massive, rune-covered sarcophagus stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by glowing orbs.

[Challenge: Defeat the Guardian to Claim the Treasure]

The sarcophagus opened, and a towering skeletal knight emerged, wielding a massive sword.

"Stay focused!" Kai shouted.

The fight was intense, with the knight's attacks shaking the ground and forcing the team to adapt quickly. Kai used his Spectral Copy ability to replicate the knight's movements, predicting its attacks and creating openings for his teammates.

Lyra delivered the final blow, her dagger piercing the knight's glowing core.

[Dungeon Cleared!]

Rewards: F-Rank Weapons, Materials, and Experience Points

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Aftermath

Back at the guild hall, the team reviewed their spoils. The items they earned weren't powerful, but they were enough to give them a slight edge in their next match.

Kai leaned back in his chair, exhaustion and satisfaction evident on his face. "This is just the beginning. We'll keep climbing, no matter how hard it gets."

His teammates nodded, their resolve stronger than ever.

End of Chapter 18.