Aldoria: Am I a hero...or not?

{{Ironclad Adventurer's Guild – Sparring Grounds}}

A booming voice shattered the tense silence.

"PLATINUM!"

The declaration thundered across the sparring grounds, causing every adventurer present to jolt in surprise. Eyes snapped toward the source of the voice, and an overwhelming pressure filled the air.

Standing on the second-floor balcony, arms crossed and gaze sharp as a blade, was Darius Ironfang.

The Guild Master of the Ironclad Adventurer's Guild.

The moment his presence was registered, silence fell over the crowd.

Then, without warning—

BOOM!

Darius leapt from the balcony.

The wooden railing snapped apart from the sheer force of his jump, and his massive frame hurtled through the air like a boulder. For a split second, his shadow loomed over the ring before he slammed into the ground with an earth-shaking impact. Dust exploded outward as the ground cracked slightly beneath his heavy boots.

The gathered adventurers held their breath.

Standing near the center of the sparring area, Kael, masked as Jin, remained completely still.

His black mask, marked with a single white crack running along the side, concealed his expression, but his stance was unreadable.

Darius's sharp gaze swept across the arena before locking onto Leo.

"So what if he's a Light Red Aura user?" Darius's deep voice rumbled like thunder. "Are you saying aura alone determines strength?"

Leo flinched, his mouth opening to respond, only to hesitate.

Darius took a slow, deliberate step forward, the ground beneath him seeming to tremble slightly. "I've seen countless warriors, some with towering auras, others with barely a flicker… And do you know what determines victory?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Skill. Experience. Willpower."

A tense pause.

Then, Darius turned his gaze to Jin.

"You defeated someone who relies too much on his aura. That's why you won."

Leo clenched his fists but said nothing.

The watching adventurers shifted uncomfortably.

Some had thought Jin's win was a fluke.

Others had assumed he had hidden power beyond what was seen.

But hearing the Guild Master himself confirm the truth… It sent a wave of realization through them.

Darius let the words settle before turning.

"Jin." His deep voice cut through the air like a command. "Walk with me."

Murmurs erupted among the onlookers.

Jin gave a slight nod and followed.

{{Ironclad Adventurer's Guild – Guild Master's Office}}

The office smelled of aged parchment, steel, and faint traces of whiskey. Weapons lined the walls, some polished, others bearing the scars of countless battles. A large map of Aldoria stretched across the desk, marked with various notes.

Darius leaned back against his chair, arms crossed as he observed Jin in silence.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then—

"You're an interesting one," Darius finally said. "No background. No fame. No known master." He smirked slightly. "Yet here you are, defeating a Gold Rank adventurer and proving half the fools out there wrong."

Jin remained silent.

Darius reached into his desk and retrieved a small wooden box. With a flick of his wrist, he opened it, revealing a gleaming Platinum Medallion.

The polished metal glimmered in the dim light.

"This," Darius said, lifting the medallion, "is something most adventurers will never obtain."

He tossed it toward Jin.

Without hesitation, Jin caught it midair, feeling its unexpected weight in his palm.

Darius's smirk widened. "Wear it well. The real trials start now."

Jin clenched the medallion in his fist.

"…I won't disappoint," he said.

Darius chuckled. "I'll take that as a promise."

{{Ironclad Adventurer's Guild – Quest Board}}

As Jin stepped into the main hall, adventurers turned to look at him, some with curiosity, others with a newfound respect.

He ignored the stares and walked toward the massive quest board. His fingers skimmed over the parchment, searching for something suited to his new rank.

Then—

A hesitant voice spoke beside him.

"…Hey."

Jin turned his masked gaze slightly.

Standing there was Leo.

The Gold Rank adventurer looked uncharacteristically uneasy. His usual arrogance was gone. He exhaled before speaking again.

"I was wrong about you," Leo admitted. "I let my pride get in the way. And… I'm sorry."

Jin studied him for a moment.

Then, his voice came out calm.

"Don't be the kind of person who drags others down," he said simply. "Adventurers should be stronger than that."

Leo let out a short chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… I get it."

Jin turned back to the board. His gloved fingers pulled down a high-ranking quest.

Without another word, he walked toward the exit.

{{Royal Capital – Duskban's City Gate}}

The sun hung low as Jin approached the massive stone gates leading out of the city.

"Mr. Jin!"

He turned just as Tristan skidded to a stop in front of him.

Her crimson hair was slightly messy, and her golden eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I saw what happened! Platinum?! That's insane!" she said, still catching her breath.

Jin shrugged. "It's just a rank."

Tristan grinned. "Maybe, but it suits you." Then, hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Can we team up? Just for a while?"

Jin shook his head. "No."

Tristan's smile faltered. A flicker of disappointment crossed her face.

"…I see."

She turned away, walking in the opposite direction.

Jin watched her go for a brief moment before continuing toward the city gate.

As he passed through, a strange energy prickled at the edges of his senses.

He frowned.

Something… felt off.

{{Forest – Near The Gate of Duskban}}

The towering trees stretched toward the sky, their dark leaves rustling softly in the breeze. Jin moved through the dense foliage, following the path toward his next destination.

Then—

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted ahead, shaking the entire forest. A brilliant white light flooded the area, forcing Jin to shield his eyes.

His instincts flared.

Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the source.

The closer he got, the more the energy in the air twisted and churned, something unnatural, something powerful.

Jin skidded to a stop as the light began to fade.

And then—

His eyes widened.

Tristan was there.

And she wasn't wearing any clothes.

Kael's mind short-circuited, his face behind his mask, mark with confusion. What the hell just happened?