Zairon surveyed the ragtag group of recruits he had just assembled. The shackles of their past lives were gone, but that didn't mean they were ready for the kind of madness he had in mind.
Not yet, anyway.
"Alright, listen up," Zairon said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of command. The room grew silent, the former slaves now standing straighter, their eyes attentive. "You're all now part of the Sovereign Legion. Every one of you has a place, and I'll make sure you reach your full potential—whether that's with a sword in your hand or a scroll in your pocket. But before we go conquering the world, we need to level up."
A hand went up. It was one of the older men, a scarred F-Rank Hunter who had been sold into slavery.
"You want us to fight in a dungeon?" he asked. "We're all F-Ranks. We're nothing special."
Zairon grinned. "You're all about to become something special."
The former F-Ranks exchanged uncertain glances. But Zairon wasn't concerned. The strength in their eyes, that fire? It was raw, untapped potential. They were hungry.
"We're going to raid an F-Rank dungeon. It's time to level up. Nothing crazy. Just hunt, collect some monster cores, and get you all to E-Rank."
He paused, looking at each one.
"Once you're E-Rank, then we'll start hunting the real game."
The next day, Zairon led the Sovereign Legion to the nearest F-Rank dungeon—a dark, damp cave riddled with low-tier monsters. Goblins. Dire wolves. Mutant rats. Nothing Zairon couldn't wipe out in an instant, but he was focused on building his gang, not just slaughtering.
Inside the dungeon, Zairon surveyed the group. His eyes scanned his recruits—some were naturally strong, others hesitant but eager to prove themselves. The older Hunter from earlier, named Garreth, seemed the most experienced. He'd probably be the first to reach E-Rank.
"Alright, stay together. Take it slow. We're here to gather EXP, not get ourselves killed. Every monster you take down adds to your growth. You fight like you belong here, and you will," Zairon ordered.
The group nodded, splitting into smaller teams. Zairon stayed at the rear, observing his new Legion.
The monsters came in waves, and the Sovereign Legion wasn't entirely bad at handling them. A few clumsy swings here, a wild strike there—but the monsters fell quickly. Zairon didn't need to intervene unless things went south. His job now was leadership.
Garreth dispatched a goblin with a well-placed slash. He turned and looked at Zairon with a smirk. "This is easy enough."
Zairon raised a brow, his grin widening. "We're just warming up, Garreth. Just wait."
[EXP GAINED]
Garreth – 50 EXP (Total: 50/1000)
Marina (Cook) – 20 EXP (Total: 20/1000)
Lena (Healer) – 15 EXP (Total: 15/1000)
Zairon – 100 EXP (Total: 100/1000)
The Sovereign Legion fought well, learning the ropes of teamwork and hunting. Zairon took a backseat, letting them have their moments of victory. It was all part of his plan.
He was teaching them how to build strength, how to fight without burning out. They needed to earn their rank, not just be handed power.
As hours passed, Zairon watched them grow more confident. Every monster felled added a small chunk to their EXP. It wasn't fast, but it was progress.
Eventually, the group made their way to the heart of the dungeon—a small chamber with a nest of Dire Wolves. A few of the stronger ones charged at the group, but Zairon signaled for a coordinated strike.
"Focus fire!" Zairon shouted. "Use your best attacks!"
The Legion fell into rhythm, coordinating their strikes on the Dire Wolves. Garreth's blade cut through the first one with a clean sweep, while Marina and Lena supported with healing and distraction. The final wolf was slain by a combined effort of Zairon's followers.
[EXP GAINED]
Garreth – 200 EXP (Total: 250/1000)
Marina – 100 EXP (Total: 120/1000)
Lena – 100 EXP (Total: 115/1000)
Zairon – 250 EXP (Total: 350/1000)
By the end of the day, the Sovereign Legion had secured enough experience to start ranking up. Garreth was the first to hit E-Rank.
[LEVEL UP: Garreth – E-Rank Achieved]
[New Stat Thresholds Unlocked]
"Not bad, huh?" Garreth said with a grin, flexing his new power.
Zairon clapped him on the shoulder. "Good work. You're officially a member of the Sovereign Legion."
He turned to the rest of the group. "You all did well. We'll do another run tomorrow. Keep working. You're all getting closer."
Zairon's eyes glinted with determination. "Once we've all hit E-Rank, then we'll take on the next challenge. Don't get too comfortable."
As night fell and the team set up camp, Zairon pulled out a map. He traced a finger over a series of marked locations—higher-level dungeons, cities, and towns. The path was clear.
"E-Rank's just the beginning. I need an army... an army that will shake the world."