Chapter 16: The SS-Ranked Summoner
The air was thick with silence, and the smoke from the shattered orb still lingered in the room. Everyone was frozen in shock, staring at the fragments of the once-powerful mana-testing crystal now scattered across the floor. The receptionist's hands trembled as he fumbled to check the system records. His eyes widened, his face turning pale.
"Ahhh… Mickey Windgrace's adventurer rank is… is… SS!!" the receptionist shouted, stumbling back in awe. "Double-S Rank… that's the second in the entire kingdom and the tenth in all of Mecatopia!"
Gasps filled the room. The Adventurer's Guild staff and other registrants murmured in disbelief, some looking at Mickey with admiration, others with jealousy and fear.
Hearing the explosion and the commotion, the heavy wooden doors burst open. The Guild Master, a broad-shouldered man with a rugged face and commanding presence, stormed into the room. His black cloak with a golden phoenix insignia fluttered behind him as he narrowed his eyes at the haze.
"What happened here? That blast—was it a monster attack?"
The receptionist hurriedly bowed. "N-No, Guild Master! It was the mana test... the orb... it exploded. And the one responsible is this boy—Mickey Windgrace. He measured at SS Rank."
The Guild Master's stern expression shifted to curiosity, then to excitement. He turned his attention to Mickey, scanning him from head to toe.
"So you're the cause of that powerful aura I sensed. Remarkable… Such overwhelming power coming from someone so young." The Guild Master stepped closer, a faint smirk forming. "And that dark aura… intriguing. Very well, Mickey Windgrace, are you willing to become an official adventurer of this country?"
Mickey, still processing what had just happened, stood firm and replied confidently, "Yes, I want to. But first, my companion Draco Windgrace would like to complete his mana test."
The Guild Master raised an eyebrow. "Draco Windgrace? Very well. Step forward."
Draco calmly emerged from the crowd. His disguised human form was sleek and refined, with sharp features and an aura of mystery. As he approached the next testing crystal, the room once again fell silent.
"Place your palm on the orb," the Guild Master instructed.
Draco placed his palm gently atop the orb.
Instead of glowing as it did for Elena, or exploding like it did for Mickey, the orb began to… crystallize.
A shimmering frost-like texture spread across its surface, forming intricate patterns of magical ice and light. The crystals reflected dozens of colors as they expanded outward, encasing the orb in a beautiful yet eerie lattice of magical energy.
Everyone watched, wide-eyed.
"Wh-What's happening?!" the receptionist stammered.
The Guild Master, unfazed but clearly impressed, let out a low chuckle. "It's reacting to something ancient… something beyond standard ranking protocols."
He stepped forward and declared, "Mr. Draco Windgrace, your power has been assessed at S Rank. A rare level, reserved for beings who can bend the battlefield to their will."
Draco smiled slightly and stepped back. Elena, who had been quiet until now, blinked rapidly. "W-Wait… then what about me?"
The Guild Master turned to her, flipping through the updated mana records.
"Ah… my apologies, Miss Elena. There seems to have been a miscalculation earlier. You're not D Rank… you are in fact A Rank. Impressive for someone your age."
Elena flushed with a mix of embarrassment and pride. "I-I see… Thank you."
The Guild Master addressed all three. "You are now officially registered as adventurers under the Grand Crown of Mecatopia. Your Guild Registration Cards will be ready for collection tomorrow. Make sure to bring identification tokens."
Mickey stepped forward, offering a respectful bow. "Thank you, Guild Master. I also apologize for breaking the orb."
The Guild Master waved it off with a hearty laugh. "No worries, boy. I've never seen an orb shatter from sheer mana pressure before—it was worth the cost for a phenomenon like this. We'll have it replaced by tomorrow."
As the group began to leave the testing chamber, whispers followed them—rumors already spreading like wildfire.
"Did you see that kid? SS Rank?"
"And the other guy—he crystallized the orb!"
"They're not just adventurers… they're monsters in human form!"
Mickey ignored the voices as he walked with Elena and Draco, the three of them now bonded not just by loyalty, but by reputation. He glanced at the guild badge given temporarily and clenched his fist.
This is just the beginning. The world will remember the name Mickey Windgrace.