Tori stared up at the man towering over him, the kind of guy who looked like he bench-pressed horses for breakfast. His armor gleamed, polished to a mirror finish — now stained with a splash of liquor.
Tori smirked, awkward but trying.
"I'll buy you a drink… eh, big guy?" he said, patting the man's shoulder like they were old friends.
The man didn't flinch.
"No, actually I don't want a drink," he growled. "Why don't you lick the liquor you stained on my beautiful armor!?" He roared.
Spit flew with the words, landing on Tori's cheek. He blinked. Slowly.
"Look, dude, I said sorry. If you won't accept my kindness, then get the hell out of my face. Your size doesn't intimidate me whatsoever!"
He pulled up his sleeve, slamming his foot on the table in front of the man.
The man's eyes narrowed.
"What the hell did you just say?" He rose—his fist, following shortly after, thick and heavy, like it had ended arguments before they started.
Sunless facepalmed.
Mica leaned in, grinning. "Yeah, kick his ass, Tori!"
The two were about to hit each other but...
Before their fists could fly, a tall man stepped between them. Long hair. Glasses. Calm expression. He caught both punches mid-air like they were paperweights.
"Now, now," he said, voice smooth. "Any altercations inside the Association would reflect poorly on the World Order. And the control we hold over the adventurers."
Tori froze.
His Eye of Constellation activated instinctively, scanning the man's mana signature. B-rank. Not someone to mess with.
He lowered his arm.
"My bad," he muttered, tossing a few silver coins onto the table. "Drinks are on me."
He turned to leave.
The man with glasses glanced at the armored brute with his sharp green eyes. "Can't you let it go too?"
The brute scoffed, snatched the coins, and sat down.
Sunless and Mica followed Tori out. He didn't say anything at first, just walked with his hands in his pockets, shoulders tense.
His fist throbbed.
The guy hadn't even landed a hit, but the brief contact — reinforced by pure mana— had left a bruise beneath the skin.
'There's a huge gap between a normal person and a ranked person' he thought. 'And we're supposed to compete with that his strength was unreal.'
"Hey, slow down," Sunless said.
Tori blinked, then slowed his pace.
"Sorry, guys," he said, voice lighter. "It's just… that guy was crazy strong. Starting to doubt if we can really do this."
His gaze dropped.
Mica stepped in front of him, smiling like she hadn't heard a word of doubt.
"With us together? We can do anything."
Tori smiled back.
"Hey, Sunless, why don't we give you a nickname that contrasts well with our vibe as from today onward, you're now Eluetheria's sunny!"
Sunless groaned. "Don't go changing my name now."
"No, listen. 'Sunless' sounds too...Omnibus might jinx us even more than the fact that you're the unluckiest mortal. Doesn't fit our guild vibe at all. So I'm calling you Sunny. Balance the darkness, you feel me?"
Sunless stared at him.
"That's not bad at all!" Mica chimed in.
Sunless smiled. "Fine. You can call me Sunny. But only for a little while."
Back then, his parents had tried to be poetic when naming him. "Sunless" was supposed to mean depth, mystery. But even they regretted how heavy it sounded later on.
Back on the ship, Sylph, Beatrice, Issac, and his butler were waiting. Boxes of gear surrounded them — armor, weapons, food, and the artifacts Sunless had requested.
Issac waved. "How'd it go?"
Sunless shrugged. "Pretty well. Tori nearly got into a fight, but it was resolved."
Issac sighed and launched into a lecture about recklessness and public image. Tori nodded through it, chewing on a sandwich Issac had brought.
"This is great!" he shouted, mouth full.
The crew ate like they hadn't seen food in days — a feast before the storm.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Issac raised his glass.
"Tomorrow's the day we've all been waiting for."
His butler poured drinks, silent and efficient. He'd been sending letters to their families in Aspin, using mail birds — spirit beasts trained by the World Order to deliver news across continents.
"We've gone over the plan a million times," Tori said. "Let's make it count."
Sunless nodded. "We got this."
Mica raised her glass. "Hell yeah."
Sylph chimed in "Yeah."
They slept on the deck that night, beneath a sky full of stars. No walls. No ceilings. Just the quiet hum of the ocean and the weight of tomorrow pressing down.
Morning came fast.
Everyone woke early, quiet and focused. No jokes. No shouting. Just the sound of gear being strapped on and boots hitting the floor.
Tori felt the nerves creeping in. More than he expected. But he didn't let it show.
They walked together toward the examination area, heads high, steps steady.
"Alright, Eleutheria," Tori said, looking at his crew. "Let's kick ass today, alright?"
"Right!" they shouted.
The boys and girls were separated for the physical. Tori entered the waiting room with Issac and sunless scanning the crowd.
Then a peculiar fellow.
Sandy blonde hair. Crimson bandana. Crimson eyes. Smiling like he owned the room.
"Hahaha! Everyone here, just leave now. No one here can beat me!" he shouted, arms crossed.
People muttered.
"Who is this punk?"
"Just who does he think he is?"
Tori smirked at the guy's confidence.
Issac grabbed his shoulder. "Don't be a fool."
"I wasn't going to do anything," Tori whispered.
They watched.
Then, of course, someone stepped forward.
Purple hair. Golden eyes. Long, elegant features. His voice had a soft accent, smooth and deliberate.
"Excuse me," he said. "Are you saying no one in this room is qualified to become an adventurer?"
The blonde guy grinned. "Yep. That's correct."
"Then perhaps indulge me in a small duel?" The elegant one proposed while smiling.
"Sure. Whenever you're ready," the blonde one said, dropping into a offensive stance.
The room went silent.
Issac glanced at the cameras locked on the boys' room.
'Their observing but not stepping in huh...' he thought, examining the rising conflict.
The two stood face to face.
And prepared to fight.