Kara stepped forward, her expression focused, and raised her hands toward the injured man. A gentle glow began to emanate from her palms as she summoned her perfected healing skill—[Life Heal]. The air around her shimmered as the flow of mana surged through her, transforming into something far more potent.
Sora watched, knowing the extent of her spells. As Kara channeled her mana into life force, the healing power became almost tangible, as though the very essence of life had been woven into the spell, delicate yet overwhelmingly strong.
Her class was specialized in making her efficiency in refining mana into life force and combined with her supreme skill, the effects were superb.
The life force swirled around her hands, radiating warmth as it moved through the air, gentle but unstoppable. Plants sprouted beneath her feet, flowers blooming from the sheer presence of the spell. It was as if life itself was drawn to the power she commanded.
The energy reached the burly man, and Sora could see the exact moment it touched him. His body jerked slightly, then a look of relief washed over his face as the healing force flowed through him, knitting his burned flesh back together, easing the pain, and restoring his vitality. His breathing steadied, the tension in his muscles releasing.
But something more profound was happening. The life force didn’t just heal—it lingered, as if planting a seed in his very essence. His HP didn’t stop when he was full—there was a barely perceptible increase in his overall vitality, like the spell had left behind a permanent boost.
The burly man’s eyes widened as he sat up, patting his chest in disbelief. "What... what was that?" His voice was filled with awe. "I feel... slightly more durable."
The short man and the other examiners froze, their expressions ones of pure shock. This wasn’t an ordinary healing spell. This... was something far beyond what they had expected from a healer of Kara’s level. The flow of life force, the sheer potency—this wasn’t normal. It wasn’t possible with a skill like [Heal]. Yet they had seen it with their own eyes—it looked like [Heal], but it felt... different.
The short man blinked, at a loss for words. He glanced at his colleagues, who were equally baffled, then back at Kara. "What... what just happened?" he muttered.
The examiners exchanged glances, minds racing. The guildmaster’s healing abilities were legendary, but seeing something like this from Kara was unheard of. The similarities... could it be possible?
Sora smiled, his arms crossed as he watched the reactions. He knew Kara was strong, but seeing the shock on other adventurers’ faces was something else.
The burly man stood, still rubbing his chest, disbelief written all over his face. "That wasn’t just healing," he muttered. "It was like being fed with superior life force. I feel stronger, more alive. "
The short man stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "There’s no need for more testing. With healing like that, you belong in the highest ranks of the war teams. I’ll especially award you a Phoenix Adventurer’s Badge."
Kara blinked, stunned. She knew her level wasn’t high enough for a Phoenix Badge, yet here she was. She glanced at Sora, gratitude clear in her eyes. She had worked hard for this, but she knew he had helped pave the way for her.
After Kara’s display of her incredible [Life Heal], the atmosphere shifted in the room. As the short man turned to Sora, ready to ask him if he was prepared for his own test, one of the women in the back interrupted, her voice cutting through the stunned silence.
The group exchanged knowing glances, their intentions clear. They were determined to recruit Kara, by any means necessary. A healer with such an extraordinary skill set would make them unstoppable, and they weren’t about to let other teams benefit from her abilities.
But as the woman stepped forward to test Sora, the crowd’s attention shifted. Whispers spread as players wondered if the man who stood beside Kara could match her level of talent.
Some, especially the higher-leveled players, watched closely, knowing there was no way he could amount to a portion of her potential. He had an even lower level.
The real question in everyone’s mind wasn’t just about Sora’s abilities—it was whether or not Kara would choose to stay with him if given the choice to pick her teammates. Some in the crowd had already begun plotting, their minds spinning with ways to draw her into their ranks. To them, Kara was too valuable to remain in the background.
Meanwhile, Sora stood calmly, unaware of the brewing storm around him. He exchanged a glance with Kara, who smiled at him, aware of his overwhelming power. Sora knew she was now exceptional thanks to her class and supreme skill, but he had no idea just how many eyes were now set on her—and by extension, on him.
As the test for Sora prepared to begin, there was a palpable tension in the air.
Sora stood there, fists clenched, knowing full well that he had the strength of a Phoenix-level fighter despite only applying for the Shadow badge.
He hadn’t planned on going all out at first—his goal was simple: secure the badge he needed to move forward. But now, with Kara having earned a Phoenix badge, there was no use in being low key anymore. He glanced around, aware of the many eyes watching. They had been noticed, some people even looking suspicious, staring at Kara.
His gaze shifted toward his opponent. She stood across from him, calm, composed, and tying her long red hair back. The badge she wore was one he didn’t recognize—it seemed even higher than Celestial. Sora’s instincts told him that defeating her was out of the question, but she would likely restrain her strength for the sake of the test.
She wore weathered gear, designed for speed and maneuverability, with claw-like weapons strapped to her hands. Her aura was sharp and lethal, yet there were no visible signs of mana indulation around her, a subtle hint that her control over her body and energy was exceptional.
A master of both form and function, she exuded a dangerous level of refinement in her movements and presence. Sora’s level was too low to see through how she handled her mana, but he knew enough to be cautious.
The woman stepped forward, her crimson hair falling in soft waves as she finished securing it. Her green eyes sparkled with confidence as she introduced herself. "I’m Elena," she said with a smile. "Are you ready for your test?"
Sora’s smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I am ready, Ralph... but let’s raise the challenge to Phoenix Badge."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as she crossed her arms, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Phoenix level? Don’t get ahead of yourself. Only healers or special talents get that kind of treatment. You haven’t earned that title yet, so stick to the Shadow Badge challenge like you planned. Phoenix-level players are typically above level 75, and you’re what, level 62? There’s no way you can match that strength."
Annoyed by her dismissal, Sora rolled his shoulders, loosening up. "Just do your job and don’t underestimate me."