Chapter 12 - Too Stubborn

For the next six months, Blue moved from team to team, clearing gates. Never with the same group twice. Word had spread and fast. What happened with Tim’s raid didn’t stay quiet. The four survivors made sure of that. Stories circulated. Not exaggerated, if anything... toned down, but enough to shift how people looked at Blue. Most were intimidated. Some were outright afraid. Blue didn’t care.

When he joined a raid team, he didn’t operate like one of them. He no longer followed hierarchy, didn’t wait for commands, didn’t move with the group. He entered the gate and disappeared. Sometimes he didn’t reappear until the dungeon was already cleared. Other times, someone would find the anchor first, and Blue would simply reemerge, cutting through whatever remained of the horde and bosses like he had always been there. More than once, he cleared entire gates on his own. Quietly. Efficiently.

He responded to gate breaks too, whenever Aaron allowed it. No hesitation. No wasted movement. Everything Eve told him to do... he did. Between gates, Grayson appeared. Never pushing. Never asking again. Instead, he offered advice. Small things. Observations. Pointers that, whether Blue liked it or not, were useful. He was… almost pleasant. Titus, on the other hand, was not. Every time their paths crossed, there was something in his expression, watchful. Not distrust. But not approval either.

Blue stood outside the Association six months later. His system confirmed it.

Rank: Four-star Grandmaster

He had risen two full levels in just six months. The anchors alone had granted him another hundred years of qi, and he could feel it now, settled deep within his dantian. That strange, divine energy had grown alongside it, heavier, more present than before. "I have more qi than even So-Yeon or Wu Jin had ever carried." Blue exhaled slowly, a faint smile formed. Eve stood beside him, watching. “You seem pretty happy today.”

“Of course,” Blue said. “I’m applying for my A-rank promotion raid.” He glanced toward the entrance. “We’re one step closer to forming a guild… and starting the real work.”

Inside the Association, lines stretched across the floor. Hundreds of applicants filled each one. Each line represented a rank. Each line represented a chance. Most would be denied. Some would pass. Blue stood among them, listening. He didn’t try to, but it was impossible not to hear. His name came up more than once. Blue had become something of a story.

“From D-rank to B-rank in six months…”

“That’s not normal.”

“I told you, he’s not from Earth. Probably from Veltrax or something. Just a machine wearing skin.”

Eve nudged him lightly with her elbow. “Seems you’re popular now.”

Blue grimaced. “Don’t start. I hate it. They all think I’m some freak… or from another world.” Eve tilted her head, a small grin forming. “I mean…” Blue shot her a look. “Oh, shut up.”

“NEXT.” the voice yelled from behind the counter. Blue stepped forward. This was it. He approached the counter, steady. “I’d like to apply for an A-rank promotion raid.”

“ID card.”

Blue reached into his pocket and froze. “…Wait.”

Before he could react, Eve’s arm extended past him, placing the card on the counter. “You were in such a rush this morning,” she said. “You left it on the table.”

Blue let out a small breath and looked back at Eve. “… Thanks. What would I do without you?”

“Nothing,” she said flatly. “Absolutely nothing.” She turned, already walking away. “I’ll be in the lobby.”

The clerk scanned the card, her expression barely changing while reading the screen in front of her. Then she handed it back. “Sorry, sir. You don’t meet the requirements for the A-rank exam.”

Blue blinked. “That’s not right,” he said. “There has to be some kind of mistake. Check again.” The clerk didn’t even look up. “I don’t need to check again. You don’t meet the requirements.” She slid the card back toward him. “You can try again in thirty days. Now please exit, you're holding up the line."

Blue stood there for a moment. Then turned, dozens of people stared at him, waiting for him to move. A few even lashed out.

"Come on man, we don't have all day."

"Yeah get out of line you, you failed."

"This guy is an idiot, just standing there because he got rejected."

Frustration settled in Blue's chest as he walked away from the mob and toward the lobby. Thirty days? After everything? Then that feeling. His dantian twisted slightly. Blue stopped. “…Of course.”

A familiar voice followed. “Why so down, Blue?” Blue looked up. Grayson. He exhaled sharply. “… You just refuse to leave me alone, huh?”

Grayson smiled faintly. “I’m hurt,” he said. “I only show up when I can help.” A brief pause. “Maybe I also can now.” He tilted his head slightly. “What seems to be the problem?”

Blue held his gaze for a moment. Then answered. “They said I don’t meet the requirements for the A-rank promotion raid.”

Grayson stood with a hand to his chin. He looked back at the clerk then back to Blue. He raised a finger and gestured. “Follow me, Blue.” Grayson demanded as he turned and walked away.

Blue followed Grayson, passing through the lobby and toward the elevator, the same one Aaron had taken to Titus’ office when he first arrived. As they walked by, Blue caught Eve’s eye and gave a small shrug. She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t say anything. Grayson led him past Titus’ receptionist and straight into the office. The receptionist slammed a stapler down on her desk and muttered, “Why am I even here if everyone just ignores me and waltzes right into his office?”

Inside, Titus sat behind his desk, flipping through paperwork. Without looking up, he waved a hand in the air. “Steph, I told you I don’t want to be bothered.”

“I’m flattered,” Grayson replied smoothly, stepping further into the room. “Although I’d say Stephanie has assets I don’t, I’m still flattered nonetheless.”

Titus finally looked up. “… Grayson. To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked, clearly unenthusiastic.

Grayson stepped slightly to the side, revealing Blue. “I think you can help our mutual friend. It would be to both our benefit if you stopped getting in his way.”

Titus leaned back in his chair, his expression tightening slightly. “What do you mean, getting in his way? I’ll admit he’s gotten stronger, but we can’t read his stats, his abilities. Hell, we don’t know anything about him. That’s just for starters.” His gaze shifted toward Blue. “Raids require teamwork, and for six months he hasn’t stayed with a single team for more than one raid. We don’t need an A-ranker who refuses to work with others.”

Blue sighed and started to turn toward the door. Everything Titus said was true, he couldn’t deny it. He had been relying on himself, focused on getting stronger with one goal in mind. “Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Grayson reached out and caught Blue before he could fully turn. “Let’s not be so quick to walk away,” he said lightly. “Obviously, he doesn’t need a team. So how about this... let him take the Ranker Promotion Exam. Then he doesn’t need one.”

Titus’ eyes narrowed slightly. “You want me to put him in that kind of situation?”

“Either that,” Grayson replied calmly, “or you allow him to take the A-rank promotion. I’m sure I could find a team willing to take him.” Blue stood there, caught between the two of them. One moment, Titus seemed like he was blocking me, and now it feels like something else entirely. And Grayson… that silver-tongued bastard. It felt like he was trying to help, but why? There was always something behind his words, something just out of reach. Blue thought to himself.

He shook the thoughts loose and looked at Titus. “Sir… if I may.” Blue finally spoke for himself. Titus looked at him. “You’re right,” Blue said. “I’ve been so focused on ranking up so fast that I didn’t put any thought into forming bonds or sticking with a team. To be honest, it’s because I want to form my own guild.” He paused briefly before continuing. “So if you’ll allow it, I agree with Grayson. Let me skip the A-rank promotion… and take the Ranker Promotion Exam.

Titus didn’t respond right away. He leaned back slightly in his chair, studying Blue in silence. There was no frustration in his expression, no immediate rejection, just thought. Grayson, on the other hand, seemed entirely at ease, as if the outcome had already been decided long before he met Blue in the lobby. After a moment, Titus exhaled quietly. “You understand what you’re asking for,” he said. It wasn’t a question. Blue nodded. “I do.”

Titus’ gaze lingered on him a second longer before shifting briefly to Grayson, then back again. “The Ranker Promotion Exam isn’t a normal raid,” he said. “There’s no team to fall back on. No structure to rely on. If you fail, no one is coming to pull you out.”

“I know.”

“And if you pass…” Titus paused slightly. “Then everything changes. Not just for you.”

Blue didn’t respond to that. He already understood. Titus reached forward, as to reinforce this was not to be taken lightly. “I’ll authorize it,” he said finally. “But once you step into that exam, you’re on your own. No interference. No exceptions.” Grayson smiled faintly but said nothing. Blue stepped forward, placing his hand on the desk without hesitation. “That’s fine,” he said. Titus watched him for a moment longer, then gave a small nod. “Report back here in three days. We’ll finalize everything then.”

Blue nodded once. “Understood.” He turned and made his way toward the door. Grayson didn’t follow immediately. Instead, he lingered for just a second, his eyes drifting toward Titus. “…You made the right choice.” he said quietly.

Blue stood in the elevator waiting for the doors to close. A smile crossed his face. The ranker exam, his chance to get his own guild. "Things are falling into place. Finally." He muttered to himself. The doors the elevator started to close, then a hand slipped between as Grayson pulled them apart and stepped in and stood behind him. Blue sighed, the elevator ride was quiet, by the time Blue reached the lobby, Eve was already standing near the elevator. Before he could step out, Grayson caught him. “See? I told you, I’m just here to help. Good luck on the Ranker exam.” Blue looked back and gave a small nod and walked out.

Eve’s eyes shifted briefly to Grayson, then back to Blue, confusion written across her face. “What happened?” Blue exhaled lightly. “I’m not sure, honestly. But I’m not taking the A-rank promotion exam.”

“What?” she said immediately. “Why not? Let’s go back to the guild, we’ll talk to Aaron and figure this out.”

“Whoa, whoa, Eve... relax,” Blue said, raising a hand slightly. “I’m taking the Ranker exam instead.”

Eve stopped walking. “…How is that even possible?” She looked at him more seriously now. “Blue, that’s dangerous. I don’t know if you’re ready for that.”

“Grayson made it possible,” Blue said. “Though… it feels like he had this planned from the start.” He shook his head slightly. “I can’t get a read on him at all.” Eve didn’t respond right away. “Either way, I’ve got three days. Then I report back here to the Association leader. He’ll give me the details of the gate.” He glanced at her. “And don’t worry. I can handle it. This is what I was aiming for anyway… so it’ll work out.” They walked out of the Association together.

High above in his office Titus stood by the window, watching Blue disappear into the distance. “Tch.” He clicked his tongue softly. “He’s too stubborn.”

Elsewhere, Grayson watched as well. A faint grin spread across his face. “Too stubborn for his own good.”