Some had the ability to remain calm and composed even in the presence of elves. Some had the heart to help the weak, and the qualities of a supreme leader.

That realization struck Lia harder than she expected. For the first time, she questioned what she had been taught. And with that doubt came resolve. She would change. She would mend her ways.

"I believe you," Ray said.

Elves were too prideful to lie. It was their greatest strength and their greatest weakness. Those elves who lie too much ends up undergoing a transformation. They become Dark Elves, so it was easy to tell the good ones from the cunning and deceitful ones.

Lia's skin was smooth and milky white, proof that she rarely lied.

♦️ Your stamina has recovered to the max.

"It's time."

With this thought in mind, Ray stood up from his seat.

"Uh, there's something else," Lia said.

"I am listening," Ray replied.

"Mabo and Lucy wanted me to pass on a message to you."

Ray's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He leaned in slightly, listening intently as Lia continued.

A special event was being held in the Dragon's Gaze Guild.

Any iron-rank tamer who managed to earn one thousand Enlightenment Points within a single week would receive the guild's full support in advancing to bronze rank. Not only that, the guild would also assist them in taming their second demonic creature.

Ray could guess why this event was being held.

Guilds carried the responsibility of providing aid to towns and cities. Town masters, city lords, and even counts could request their assistance, and the guilds were obligated to respond. It was worth noting that most of the guilds' upper echelons were themselves made up of these very nobles.

Winter was approaching, and the threats it posed were too many. The Dragon's Gaze Guild would soon be flooded with requests for aid. Most of the tasks would have to be handled by iron and bronze rankers, while silver and gold rankers would only take action in cases of extreme urgency, and such matters were truly rare.

Thus, the Dragon's Gaze Guild created this event to bolster the strength of its members who proved themselves worthy, preparing them for the dreadful future looming just ahead.

"With the points they earned from conquering the Corridor of Death trial with your help, they were guaranteed their guild's help. They were so excited they wanted to share the news with you directly. But no matter how long they waited, they couldn't find you in the Main Hub. The deadline to report to the guild was closing in, so they left, assuming you had already moved on."

"Looks like the next time we meet, they'll already be full-fledged bronze rankers," Ray said with a small smile.

The news delighted him, but it also lit a fire within his heart. If Mabo and Lucy were already moving toward their next breakthrough, then he had no intention of falling behind. It only strengthened his resolve to reach bronze rank even faster.

********

Ray headed to the fourth sector.

After passing through the portal at the end of one of the many metal pathways of the main hub, he appeared in a white room about the size of a lecture hall.

It had no windows, doors, or exit.

It was an enclosed space.

Besides him, there was only one other person to be seen in this place. It was a Ratman Swordsman. Its appearance was typical of its kind: hunched posture, grey fur with bald patches, beady red eyes that glowed faintly, and a long, whip-like tail dragging behind it. Its shabby leather armor was stitched crudely, but the jagged blade in its hand radiated a dangerous aura.

"Is this for real?!" The ratman's eyes lit up in delight as it found itself trapped in the same place as a human. "I haven't had a good meal in a while, and now fresh meat has been delivered right to my doorstep! What a pleasant surprise!"

It licked its lips with crazed hunger, staring at Ray with eyes full of madness. Saliva dripped down its jaw, making its wretched appearance even more revolting.

Ray was shocked upon hearing what it said.

'It's not a demonic being.'

Firstly, demonic beings weren't allowed to enter the tower. If they somehow forced their way in, they would be hunted down by terrifying existences. Such incidents had happened before. Ray knew about them from Torvin's memories. All had ended the same way. The floor managers personally sent them to hell.

There was another reason he was certain it wasn't a demonic creature.

It had spoken in a language Ray had never heard, yet he was able to understand it. This could only mean the tower was helping him understand its words. This function of the tower only worked between seekers.

'But it's behaving no different than a demonic creature. It doesn't deserve to live.'

The look in Ray's eyes changed, intense killing intent replacing calmness.

The ratma swordsman's gaze was equally intimidating.

Their gazes collided, and sparks seemed to fly.

The tense atmosphere was broken by Arthis's jovial voice.

"Let me explain the trial of the fourth sector. You will fight two battles against fellow seekers. Each battle will last five minutes. If you survive both fights without winning them, you will pass the trial. However, in this case, you will only gain the right to challenge the next trial. You will not gain any Enlightenment points."

Arthis's explanation continued.

"You need to win at least one of the two battles to earn Enlightenment points. You will earn the most points if you win both fights."

"This is a trial where there's more than one choice," Ray thought.

"There is a way to complete this trial without bloodshed, but for that, you needs your opponent's cooperation," The Ratman swordsman smirked.

"I have no desire to cooperate with you," Ray said. "I only want to kill you."

"The feeling is mutual," the Ratman swordsman said.

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