Association

Two teenagers walked ahead of Vell, their voices carrying in the morning air as they approached the imposing Player Association building. 

"Hey, what rank do you think you will get?" one asked, his tone full of anticipation. 

"I do not know, but I hope it is at least an apprentice rank," the other replied.

"Yeah, I imagine getting human rank. I would be so embarrassed, I might even kill myself if that happened." 

"I know, right? Seeing all these trash players walking around just makes me want to vomit sometimes."

The first one laughed. "Well, let us not blame them too much. It is not their fault they were born with bad luck." 

"Hahaha, you are right," the second one said. "Let us head in; we will ace this test." 

Vell watched them disappear through the large entrance. He scanned the street, observing the flow of people, before he followed them inside.

The interior of the building was vast and opulent. He noted the polished floors and high ceilings. He looked up and saw a massive, pink flower suspended high above, slowly releasing a fine, glittering pollen into the air. 

'Is that thing making the air smell... pleasant?' he thought. 'Fancy. And probably expensive.' 

[Yes, master. It is a species of flower that specializes in fragrance. This particular one produces pleasant scents, but there are also varieties that emit foul odors, often used for defensive purposes or in less reputable establishments.] 

He took a few more moments to look around, observing the numerous people moving with purpose. It was the first time he had been in such a lavish place. He quickly became aware of hushed conversations and sideways glances directed at him.

His newly acquired, stolen clothes were clean but simple, and the plain white slippers stood out. He ignored the attention.

A brightly lit, holographic display dominated one wall, listing the official Player Ranks. His eyes scanned it briefly.

- Supreme Being

- God Rank

- Demigod Rank

- Constellation Rank

- Divine Rank

- Transcended Rank

- Supreme Rank

- Heroic Rank

- Titan Rank

- Elite Rank

- Expert Rank

- Adept Rank

- Apprentice Rank

- Human Rank

He had heard whispers about the vast differences in power between these tiers.

Even a "Human Rank," the lowest, supposedly possessed capabilities far beyond an ordinary person. It was the pursuit of this power, and the accompanying wealth and status, that drove so many. 

In this world, influence and opportunity were overwhelmingly concentrated in the hands of Players. Those without power often faced difficult lives, unless they could find a Player willing to support them.

---

The origins of this system were rooted in a cataclysmic event five centuries ago. A colossal planet had approached Earth, obscuring the sun for years and leading to global devastation.

After Earth was apparently absorbed and reformed, larger than before, strange purple trees had spread, releasing a gas that revived many of the dead, imbuing them with extraordinary abilities. Then, the Dungeons and Zones had appeared. 

Dungeons were generally understood as places to fight monsters for rewards. Zones were more complex, said to contain entire worlds within them. A persistent, internal urging compelled Players to enter these zones, with the unspoken threat of losing their powers if they refused for too long. 

After five hundred years, the "why" of it all had faded for most, replaced by the practicalities of gaining strength and resources.

---

Suddenly, a clear voice resonated through the hall, drawing everyone's attention. Vell looked towards a raised platform where a man in an impeccably tailored white suit stood. The man radiated an aura of authority and considerable power. A single glance told Vell that this individual was exceptionally strong. 

"Welcome, everyone," the man said, his voice amplified but calm. "I am pleased to see so many new participants compared to last week. To avoid wasting your valuable time, I will briefly explain the assessment process for those who might be unfamiliar. There are three tests. Each one will assess your current power, inherent skills, and your judgment under pressure. You can enter the designated testing areas after registering your presence, but I trust everyone has already completed their initial registration days ago, as per the instructions. So, let us not delay any further and begin. Please take out your registered ID cards and proceed to any of the ten marked doors. You will then wait for the test to commence." 

The man turned and walked off the platform with an air of efficiency.

Vell remained where he was, a slight frown touching his lips. He had anticipated a straightforward examination of his mana, perhaps a simple demonstration of ability. This talk of ID cards and pre-registration was an unforeseen complication. 

'Shit,' he thought. 'Now what am I supposed to do? I don't have an ID. Maybe I should just go to the help desk and ask for assistance. What's the worst that could happen? They say no?'

He waited until the large hall had mostly emptied of the other participants. He was now one of the few individuals remaining, and he noticed several staff members looking at him with expressions of puzzlement. 

"Hey, is that shabby-looking guy also here for the test?" one staffer whispered to another, just loud enough for Vell's enhanced hearing to catch. 

"Maybe he is lost?" the other replied. 

He ignored their hushed comments and approached the main information desk. He placed his hands on the polished surface and looked directly at the two female attendants. They appeared slightly uncomfortable under his direct gaze. 

"Hello," he said. "I am new here and I would like to register to participate in the test." 

One of the women, who seemed to be trying to appear professional despite her evident unease, began typing rapidly on her console.

'Huh, why is he registering on the day of the exam? This is unusual. Whatever, he gives me the creeps. Let us just get this over with quickly.' 

She then placed a crystalline orb, connected by fine wires to her console, onto the desk. "Can you please grab this orb, sir?" 

'Is he even awakened?' she wondered, watching as he placed his hand on the device. The orb began to glow faintly. A subtle energy flowed from it, attempting to enter his body, but it was met by his own mana and forcefully repelled. 

The orb pulsed erratically and then, with a soft cracking sound, shattered into pieces on the desk. 

The woman stared, her mouth slightly agape in shock. Vell himself was unsure what had just occurred. 

'Hey, system, what just happened?' he thought. 

[Hmm, that energy which attempted to enter your body was flowing in the opposite direction of your own mana, so it was repelled. That is strange. Why are they using such energy on humans? It appears to be more pure in some ways, but that is definitely corrupted mana.] 

'So, it is basically bad then? Strange indeed. Now what should I do?' 

[I suggest you leave this place immediately, master. I do not trust these people or their methods.] 

The attendant was now looking at him with open suspicion. No one, in her experience, had ever broken an orb during registration. Vell's silent, seemingly unfazed reaction only amplified her concern. She discreetly pressed a button under the desk. Her immediate task was to keep him there until her superiors arrived. 

"Sorry about that, sir," she began, forcing a strained smile. "It seems our equipment—" 

Vell did not wait for her to finish. He turned and moved quickly towards the main exit. 

"Sir, stop!" she called out, her voice rising in alarm. 

He ignored her. Security personnel were already moving in from the entrance, their expressions serious. They made to block his path, and one even began to manifest an ability, but Vell leaped cleanly over them with an ease that surprised them. 

Once outside the building, he quickly disappeared around the corner of an adjacent structure, evading any immediate pursuit. 

One of the guards, breathing heavily, leaned against the building. "Hah, hah, what the hell was that? He moved like a cat. Where did someone like him come from?" 

The other guard was already on his communicator, alerting other units in the city.

Back inside the Association building, a woman with a severe expression and attire that marked her as a high-ranking official—the head secretary—had arrived at the information desk. 

"Report," she commanded. 

"He broke the orb, ma'am," the attendant said, her voice trembling slightly. "I am not sure how it happened, but the energy refused to fuse with his body." She was clearly nervous about being blamed for the incident. 

The head secretary, however, was focused on the security footage being displayed on a nearby screen. She ordered the playback to pause when it showed a clear image of Vell's face. 

"Vell?" she murmured, her voice tight with an unreadable emotion. Then, louder, she addressed the room, "Find him. You are to find him, no matter what it takes. Do you hear me? No matter what." 

She turned and walked away, her posture rigid, barely containing the power that seemed to simmer beneath her controlled exterior. 

"Y-yes, ma'am," the attendant stammered to her retreating back.