Chapter 23 : Underestimated

Tom is an excellent student, he excels in his studies and in sports. He also has many friends because of his good character and an accommodating person. He is always a top student be it on class or on school. Tom is always doing his best for his bug brother, it is to repay him what Leo's doing for him. For his hardwork and commitment on having Tom finish his studies.

Tom is on his way to his school. He picked up his bag and his project that is needed to be pass before the day ends. He cooked some food for his brother when Leo comes back, who went out earlier and said that he has something to do.

When he's done he finally leave the house and went on his way...

After a one hour trip from home to his school Tom arrived, the time was 11:27 A.M.. He quickly walked inside the school to his classroom. He barely got on time when his subject teacher reached the classroom after him. Everyone's business came to an end and went back to their seats as the teacher started to pull out his lesson plan.

***

It was around 3:45 P.M. when Tom got a message from the Hunters Agency saying that his hunter license was ready and were being sent to him by a personnel of the Agency.

He smiled at the thought that he can now go on a dungeon raid with his big brother Leo.

He clicked the home button, turned it off and put it in his pocket.

***

Roughly around six hours earlier where Leo, Annie and Neil on their way to the gate.

While they were walking alongside each other a question came into Neil's mind and he let out of the thought and asked Leo, "Leo, I just noticed this but you became taller and your physique, you're different when I last saw you!"

Neil said unconvinced by the changes to Leo.

"Yeah me too, We used to be at the same height Leo" Annie added as she compares their height. (Annie's height is 5 foot 7)

"I was surprised too. As for my physique, I started working out to improved my stamina and strength" Leo replied.

After a brief walking, they reached the location. The other hunters were already there patiently waiting for the others to arrive. Neil and Annie called out to them and waved their hands. The others reciprocated, notice that someone was with them and asked the two of them who he is.

"I'm Leo" Leo answered in Neil and Annie's stead.

"He's the last one to fill in the needed participants" Neil continued Leo's introduction, "Though, he's E-rank and level 0, he's quiet capable in some things and can handle himself inside the gate" Neil had to tell the truth and added some good thing for them to accept Leo as the last member for the raid.

Upon hearing what Neil said, another hunter spoke up, "Ohh, so he's the rumored hunter who can't level up?" He looked at Leo, head to toe, "The rumors might be wrong since he has the height and has good physique, he seems really tough"

"It is what you heard, I'm level 0 and an E-rank hunter. I may not be that useful as I may look but--" Leo was cut off by another hunter.

"Will it really be okay to just let him in on our raid? Won't he, you know slow us down?" anyone can guess just by looking at her that she was that type of girl to look down on others because she has the money and looks. (And I know that everyone hates that)

Leo looked at the team raid leader, Von Flores. He was once a member of the number one guild in the Philippines, the 'Executioner'. This guild has no women members and prioritize on recruiting tank and warrior hunters. This guild has two rank-S hunter both maxed level.

The guild members were oppressive that Von couldn't handle and made him leave the guild and made his own. Despite the oppressiveness of the members all of their members were at the top rank that's why their position in being number one guild in the Philippines hasn't been dethroned.

"You don't really have to recruit me in this one if you think that I would just be a drawback in this raid" Leo said with manners and tried to ignore what the other hunter recently said.

"We will include you in this one, I know what it feels like to be an outcast" Von smiled directly to Leo and to the two others.

They took the opportunity to greet and introduced themselves to each other. Although the team leader had already accepted Leo to participate, the other members seemed to still feel ill towards Leo because of his rank and level.

With doubt and mistrust on Leo's capabilities still on their minds, they proceeded and entered the gate.

[You've entered a gate]

It was just a matter of time to reached the inside of the gate. There's no new nor changes to the gate's interior. The same sight everyone'll see when they entered the gate.

Upon arriving inside, Von and his guild didn't waste a single second to raise their guards and quickly formed their formation wary of their surroundings. It is because, there might be monsters lurking around the exit, waiting for their time to escape the gate and reached outside and cause havoc to the human world.

Or monsters waiting near the entrance so that they could ambush anyone who tries to enter the gate. There were a lot of incidents like that in the past.

Since there's no monsters around the exit, they decided to proceed with their guards raised. They were walking slowly, cautious while watching out for monsters. But monsters were found nowhere as they reached the dungeon halfway through the boss' room.

Von was wondering why there was no monsters when they were in the middle of it. He couldn't hide his anxiety and let it out, "Why is there no monsters around? Some of them should be around by now"

He don't know if he's gonna be happy about it or be sad because if there is no monsters there is no profit, no profit means no money. The monsters core and the magic ores serves as the money which they can sell and get back what they expended.

"Did they sensed as coming and run off to hide on their mother's skirt?" said by a man wearing a full armor and holding a sword that seemed to be extremely expensive.

"Idiot! Their mother don't have a skirt" and everyone of them burst into laughter except for Von and Leo's company.

"Don't lower your guards just because there's no monsters around" Neil said to their group.

"There's no monsters, you won't die by letting your guard down for a sec-" something flew so fast that had grazed her face. If not for Von who had quickly responded to the surprise attack, she would've been shot dead by a spear dipped in poison.

"What are they?" Annie asked as she looked at their enemies with their assegai and shield.

"Glaive Warriors?" Leo muttered to himself.