Alix's steps carry him deeper into the city until the sound of hammering steel draws his attention. Ahead, a wide, open-front weapon shop glows orange from the forges inside. Racks of blades, axes, and polearms line the walls—some crude but powerful, others refined, almost regal.

He walks in. The air is thick with heat and metal, every breath tinged with iron. A towering blacksmith—a four-armed ogre with soot-streaked skin—grunts a greeting but doesn't pry as Alix begins to look around.

On a display table, he pauses before a sword forged from crimson steel, faint runes running along the edge. Mana-reactive alloy, he notes silently, brushing a gloved finger near it. Good, but too brittle for my use.

While he studies the weapons, voices drift from the side of the shop—two beastkin talking near the counter, their tones hushed but uneasy.

"Hey," the first monster murmurs, a wolf-headed warrior with a jagged scar over his eye. "You heard the news from Silent Grove?"

The second, a shorter, stockier bearkin sharpening his axe, glances up. "Silent Grove? What about it?"

"I heard a whole horde of beasts were found dead there," the wolfkin says, voice lowering. "Not just a few—hundreds. Even some tier 6's among them. No one knows who or what could've done that."

The bearkin's hand stills over the grindstone. "That many? Tch. That's not just strange—that's bad news. If something's killing beasts in that number, the rest might panic."

The wolfkin nods grimly. "Exactly. You know how those creatures are. The lower-tier ones barely think—they just follow instinct. But the tier sixes? They're smarter. Some of them lead packs, mark their own territory. If one of their kind dies, the rest might see it as an invasion."

The bearkin exhales sharply through his nose. "You mean a beast tide?"

"Yeah." The wolfkin's tone tightens. "If the Beast King of Silent Grove decides someone's threatening his domain, he could rally every beast in that forest. And if that happens…"

The bearkin pushes his axe aside, worry creasing his brow. "They'll raze this city in minutes. Brodon's farther — we should move there."

The two go quiet after that, their words swallowed by the ring of metal and the hum of the forge.

Alix stands motionless near the weapon racks, eyes half-lidded, his expression unreadable. Silent Grove, he repeats inwardly. Hundreds of beasts dead… sounds familiar.

A faint smile touches his lips, brief and almost imperceptible. He turns away from the display and steps back into the cool mountain air.

The city bustles on, unaware of the tension rippling beneath its surface.

Alix doesn't dwell on it. Beast tides, beast kings… none of that concerns him right now.

He turns his steps back toward the adventurers' guild, the rhythmic clang of forges fading behind him. By the time he enters the tall, stone-walled building, the hall is more crowded than before. The warm light of mana lamps glows over rows of tables where adventurers eat, drink, and exchange missions.

Near the counter, Bue stands speaking to a group of armored figures. At the sight of Alix, she straightens slightly and gestures for him to approach.

"Ah, you're back," Bue says with her practiced, cordial smile. "Perfect timing. The Iron group just arrived."

Alix stops a few paces from them, his gaze calmly sweeping over the newcomers. Five monsters stand together—each radiating power that weighs faintly on the air. Their equipment is worn but well-kept, the kind that's seen real battle.

Bue motions toward them with a flourish of her hand. "Allow me to introduce them."

The one who steps forward first is massive—a bear-like monster nearly eight feet tall, covered in dense, earthen-brown fur streaked with faint scars. His eyes are steady and dark, carrying a calm authority. The armor on his chest bears the emblem of a hammer and shield crossed.

"I'm Bragg of the Iron group," he says, his voice deep, like rolling thunder. "Leader of this group."

He turns slightly, introducing the others in turn.

"This is Toren and Mave," Bragg gestures toward two armored warriors behind him—both roughly his height but leaner, their armor dulled by use. Toren, with his wolfish features and twin short swords, nods silently. Mave, reptilian with scaled arms and a broad claymore strapped to his back, gives a respectful bow.

"They're our frontliners," Bragg continues. "Low-level tier sixes, but they can take on a middle-level tier 6 beast if they work together."

He glances to the side, where a slim, sharp-eyed woman stands—her ears long and pointed like a jackal's, her cloak patterned in muted greys. "That's Kyra. Tracker and scout. Tier 6 as well—don't let her quiet look fool you. She's the one who makes sure we don't walk into deathtraps."

Kyra's amber eyes meet Alix's briefly, then flick away, assessing.

"And lastly," Bragg gestures behind him, "our healer and mage—Verrin."

The final member steps forward, his body lithe, robes trimmed with faded runes. His skin has a faint metallic sheen, his eyes soft silver. "A pleasure," Verrin says with a small smile, bowing faintly. "I specialize in support magic and mid-range control. You can rely on me for barrier setups and regeneration."

Bue, standing nearby, folds her arms lightly. "The Iron group has one of the best success records in the guild. They're based here in Shade and often handle cross-region requests. Reliable and discreet."

Bragg grunts in acknowledgment, then turns back to Alix. "You're the one who requested an escort for your rank-up mission, right?"

Alix gives a simple nod. "That's right."

Bragg's thick arms cross over his chest, his heavy armor creaking softly. "Then you chose the right group. We've helped plenty of solo adventurers complete their rank-ups before."

He flashes a confident grin, the corners of his fanged mouth pulling upward. "You won't find a steadier team in this city."

Alix studies him briefly, expression calm. "We'll see."

Bue chuckles quietly from behind the counter, the sound smooth and measured. "Well then, let's move on to your actual mission, shall we?"

Alix turns toward her. "So—what is it?"

"It's simple," Bue says, sliding a small crystalline plate across the counter. Its surface ripples with faint silver light—the mark of a high-tier assignment. "You need to complete one Diamond-ranked mission from the board."

Alix glances at the board where dozens of missions flicker in glowing script. "That's all?"

"That's all," Bue confirms, but her tone carries a note of amusement. "Though I wouldn't take it lightly. It may sound easy now that you have the Iron group backing you, but completing a Diamond mission isn't something most adventurers attempt."

Alix raises a brow slightly. "Is it that hard?"

Bue's smile widens a touch. "It is. Understand that Diamond missions aren't designed for solo work—at least not here." She gestures to the wide hall around them, where adventurers gather in small groups, all of them clearly seasoned. "In other regions, powerful individuals sometimes take them alone. But in this part of Pharanthia, monster-owned cities are scarce. That means most Diamond missions take place deep in human territory—or in unstable beast zones."

Verrin, the healer, adjusts his gloves as he listens. "Which means heavy resistance and unpredictable interference," he adds thoughtfully.

Bue nods. "Exactly. It's not just strength you'll need. Coordination matters, and having a team increases your survival rate."

Kyra leans slightly against a post, her voice quiet but firm. "Last solo who tried was a high-level tier 6. Never came back."

Bue's tone softens, professional but sincere. "That's why I'm assigning the Iron group to you, Alix. Think of it as a partnership for this mission. Once it's complete, your rank-up to Diamond will be officially recognized."

Alix moves toward the glowing mission board, his boots clicking softly against the polished stone floor. The board hums faintly with mana, hundreds of requests shifting and fading in and out of view as adventurers browse. Most are gold or adamantine-tier—ordinary jobs: beast subjugation, escort work, recovery missions.

But near the top, two silver-edged crystals gleam faintly—the Diamond-ranked missions.

Alix stops before them, scanning both.

Bue joins him, her tone light but measured. "Only two available this week," she says. "Diamond missions aren't posted often—usually handled by the guild's top members."

Alix's eyes glide over the first one, reading the flowing script aloud.

[Diamond Mission – Lost Citadel of Varuun]

Investigate the ruins beyond the Blackvale Gorge. Multiple explorers have gone missing; cause unknown. Estimated threat: Tier 6. Objective: Identify and neutralize the source of disappearances.]