1 Chapter 1: Starting out

'Dang we got sidetracked again..' Said the grey-haired boy to his friend...

'Hey don't sweat it Oza the old lady needed help so we did what was needed haha' The boy named Oza just shook his head and chuckled softly

'You know zeke we aren't some on-demand helpers..' Zeke just hooked his arm around oza and laughed

'Don't get so worked up, we're almost to danario and soon we'll have that adventure we always wanted!' he exclaimed happily oza on the other hand was serious...

'I know, I know.. There are just so many variables we have to take into account.'

'And those would be?'

'First, we have to get our ranks evaluated, Second we have to get equipment and with the money we have we can probably only get low-grade stuff, Third and probably the hardest to get done is join a guild.'

'Joining a guild will be easy, and we can probably earn more in the dungeon!'

'Your enthusiasm is exhausting..'

Oza shook his head and zeke just laughed at his friend.. soon the two made their journey towards the city of danario on occasion helping some people on the way and soon enough the two had made their way to the entrance to the bustling city of adventures...

'This is... overwhelming to say the least.'

'Come on oza! Let's go!' zeke pulled oza towards the entrance, the guard check them out and let them pass

'I heard the head office was just around the main city.'

'You sure did your research oza.'

'Like I'd go somewhere without preparing.'

'You were always the meticulous type.. nerd..'

'I'm not a nerd! God.. come on the sooner we get our ranks evaluated the faster we can earn the money.'

'I'll follow you.'

'right'

The two arrived at a building bustling with all types of people.. adventurers of different types.. zeke looked on with a somewhat serious face and oza just went to the receptionist with zeke close behind.. the receptionist noticed them and greeted them with a smile

'Hello! I'm Emma i'll be taking care of you.. so what brings you both to the head office?' Oza smiled back and answered

'Ah yes we would like to know more of the ranking system and we would like to get our ranks evaluated.'

'Very well! Please follow me so I can explain everything in better detail.'

'Lead the way, Ms. Emma.'

The silently followed emma while zeke admired all the adventurers.. they arrived in a room with chairs and a table...

'Please take a seat.' zeke and oza sat down while emma got some papers ready.. 'You both want to get your ranks evaluated? If that's the case I'll explain the whole system first.' she sat down across from the two 'To start ranks are what we categorize adventurers or dungeon crawlers... But before the ranks, there are stages called degrees and there are three of them 3rd, 2nd, and 1st degree. 3rd degree is where the lower-ranked adventurers fall in, 2nd degree is for mid-ranked adventurers, and 1st is for high the ranked adventurers.. following so far?'

'Yeah we follow..' oza then thought of something.. 'i already get the feeling 3rd-degree adventurers are always discriminated..' emma then continued...

'so in the degrees there are the ranks.. which are classified as G, F, E, D, C, B, A, And finally S' Zeke raised his hand for a question and emma let him ask...

'So to be put into a degree it will depend on your rank?'

'Yes, G F E is all put into 3rd degree, D C B is 2nd degree, And A S are all 1st tiers... That mostly explains the ranking system.. are you both familiar with the stats given?'

'Yes it's strength, defense, magic, resistance, speed, and focus.. which are all given rankings similar to the adventurers.' zeke answered smirking to himself proud that he knew.. Emma chuckled and then continue

'Since you guys know there's really no more I can tell.. just that magic isn't available to anyone and once you get your rank evaluation it can't be improved or impaired.. and there is some discrimination towards 3rd degree adventurers.. are you both prepared?' they both thought about it for a minute and simultaneously answered

'Yes, we're ready.'

Emma sighed but smiled.. she asked them to follow her they arrived in a room with a big machine at the center with a small podium.. most likely where they would stand for the test.

'Doctor these two would like to get their rank evaluations.' the fairly old doctor behind the computer stood up and approached zeke and oza

'Hello to you both you can call me Doctor gin and I'll be the one in charge of your evaluation.' The two nodded and gin started up the machine.. 'Please step on the podium, to begin with, evaluations.'

'Zeke you wanna go first?'

'Oza I know you want to go first but if you insist.' zeke smiled and stepped onto the podium.. a blue light shone in the room and the doctor looked at his results and wide-eyed at what he saw.. the machine stopped and the blue glow that emanated had dissipated.. the doctor printed some papers and handed them to zeke

'Congratulations! Mr. Zeke, you are now a 1st Degree A Rank! I once again congratulate you." Zeke looked like he just won the lottery he pumped his fist high in the sky and looked at oza who clapped his hands in congratulations...

'Nice job zeke! Now.. I guess it's my turn... I hope this goes well..'

'It sure will but you're probably going to be weaker than I am with your frail body and all haha!'

oza just shook his head and stepped onto the podium.. a faint gold glow was seen but the doctor had a confused look on his face.. after a few minutes he stood up again and grabbed the papers...

'I'm sorry Mr. Oza.. looks like you're a 3rd degree G Rank.. and the confusing part is that your stats are just below average.. nothing uncommon but still very rare to see... I suggest you drop the adventuring job and find another job..'

those words resounded in oza.. stunned he stepped off the podium.. zeke still looking at his stats came up to oza...

'Oza look! Read my stats! pretty cool huh?"

oza took his paper and looked at the stats and they stunned him

(Strength)-(A)

(Defense)-(B)

(Magic)-(S)

(Resistance)-(B)

(Speed)-(A)

(Focus)-(C)

(Magic Skill)- Brilliant Flames.

Compared to Zeke's stats his was all C being below average and not having any magic at all.. zeke still happy hooked his arm around oza...

'Come on buddy! Let's celebrate me becoming a 1st degree!'

'Let's first find a place to stay..'

'Sure thing and so tomorrow we can get started with our first adventure in the dungeon!'

'Fine..'

Oza and zeke left the head office and when they did it was already nightfall... Oza found them a nice place to stay oza headed to bed but zeke went out to celebrate a bit...

'I..I'm not giving up..'

Oza soon fell to the darkness and slept waiting for what happens tomorrow.