Ethan straightened his jacket, feeling the weight of his promotion as he stepped into the Guild Branch Master's office. Word had already spread that Ethan Walker, barely a few months in as an E-Rank merary, was being promoted to D-Rank. And while it came with new privileges, he k would carry higher expectations and risks.

  The office was quiet, its polished surfaces and dim lights refleg the authority and discipline of the Valeris City guild branch. Kael stood to the right of the Branch Master, whose gaze was sharp, unyielding. He gestured for Ethan to sit, and as he did, Kael offered a nod of aowledgment.

  "Walker," the Branch Master began, his voice firm. "Your as over the past few months have shown not only your skill but your itment to our cause. Eliminatihar aroying his pound was no small feat, especially as an E-Rank merary, even with a D-rank merary as reinfort." He paused, studyihan's face with an iy that cut through any trace of formality. "Do you uand what it means to hold the D-Rank title in this sector?"

  Ethan aking a steadying breath. "I uand it's more than just tougher missions, sir. D-Rank es with responsibilities, both to the guild and to the meraries who work under me."

  The Branch Master's expression softened, revealing a faint smile. "Good. D-Rank isn't just a title. It's a step toward the upper ranks of the guild, and while D-Rank is the highest level avaible here in the Asheor, it's a gateway. If you ever wish to reach k her, you'll o travel to the higher gactic sectors in the Orion Federation, or beyond."

  Ethan nodded, realizing that his progress wouldn't end here. The Asheor was a stepping stoo move further up, he'd o seek out more dangerous and plex missions elsewhere, in regions where the guild held influence among powerful fas and where the stakes were higher than anything he'd faced on Kynara.

  "Uood, sir."

  The Branch Master tinued, "As a D-Rank merary, you're now eligible for specific resources that are standard across all guild branches in various gactiations. This includes access to enhanced onry, advaraining modules, and specialized missions. And, of course, these upgrades e at a cost. It be either gactic credits or points, earhrough pleted missions and rank achievements." He leaned forward, holdihan's gaze. "Every choice matters at this rank. D-Rank missions will test more than your strength; they'll test your strategic abilities and your uanding of the guild's objectives."

  Kael tapped on his tablet, projeg a list of avaible resources and gear onto the wall. "Ethan, with your points earned from your progress from F-Rank to D-Rank, you afford some of these upgrades now. Let's gh a few options you might want to sider."

  The list was impressive, showing equipmehan had only heard of: precision ser pistols with variable output, cloaking modules fh-stakes infiltration, psma daggers with enhanced durability, and even high-density body armor with resistance against psma rounds and energy bsts. Each item had a credit cost or a point requirement, and he could see that while his points were substantial, he'd o choose carefully.

  "I'd reend starting with the basics," Kael said, pointing to the psma dagger upgrade and a reinforced tactical suit. "These will offer better prote and enhanced capabilities without blowing through your entire point bance."

  Ethan looked over the options, seleg the psma dagger with its increased bde length and psma iy. It would be invaluable for close-quarters bat, especially in tight corridors ainst armored targets. He then chose a reinforced tactical suit, which offered flexibility for a range of mission types and a yer of defense against psma attacks.

  "These will do," he said, watg as Kael tapped oablet, dedug the points from his bahan could feel the excitement stirring within him, knowing these new resources would give him an edge on the Syndicate missions awaiting him.

  The Branch Master turned his focus back to the holographic map, which showed Kynara and highlighted Syndicate activity. Red markers indicated key strongholds, and two particur points stood out in former Xelthar territory. "Our intel suggests the Syndicate is moving to retake some of Xelthar's former bases near his pound. They've likely sent forces to recim what they lost, particurly resources they deem essential for their onry development."

  Ethan's eyes narrowed as he studied the markers. The outposts were positioned along crucial trade routes, perfect for intercepting supplies and imposing trol over the surrounding regions. Reg them would meaablishing the Syndicate's influend revenue in that part of Kynara.

  The Branch Master tinued, "At D-Rank, you're expected to think strategically. We're not simply asking you to engage in bat. We need you to assess the situatioermiheir strengths and weaknesses, and disrupt their efforts. These missions require precision."

  "I uand," Ethan replied, a new sense of responsibility settling over him. He realized that D-Rank missions would demand more than physical strength. They would require him to think and adapt quickly, using strategy over brute force.

  Kael added, "These new resources you have access to will be critical. You test out the VR bat simutions tailored for D-Rank and above, which will allow you to prepare for different sarios and develop your tactical awareness." He brought up another s, showing a series of training modules Ethan hadn't seen before. Each module simuted bat sarios, including stealth infiltrations, ambush tactics, and rge-scale skirmishes. The training would be invaluable, especially now that the missions he faced would be signifitly more dangerous.

  "You'll also want to pn each mission with greater attention to detail," Kael said, his gaze serious. "With the Syndicate mobilizing, it's possible they've anticipated our moves. These aren't simple skirmishes anymore; they're pnned operations. Think through every angle before you proceed."

  Ethan studied the training options, abs the advice. The st missioaken before had shown how perilous D-Rank really was. The Branch Master's words echoed in his mind: D-Rank wasn't just about him; it was about the guild's reputation and the safety of his allies.

  The Branch Master leaned back, his expression less formal. "Walker, I don't give promotions lightly. I've seen other promising meraries rise through the ranks quickly only to fall because they grew reckless. You're here because you've shown the guild that you're willing to put in the effort, but D-Rank is oftehings bee real."

  Etha his gaze steadily. "I uand, sir. I've e this far to do what o be done, not to get cocky. And I'm not here just for rank; I'm here to put ao what the Syndicate is doing on Kynara."

  The Branch Master's faint smile returned. "Good. That's what I wao hear. D-Rank is an honor, but it also be a target. Don't let pride blind you to that. Your enemies are watg, and the Syndicate knows your name by now."

  The weight of his words settled over Ethan, a sharp reminder of what he faced. The Syndicate's presence ran deep, with yers of influend resources, and now, as a D-Rank, he'd face higher-profile targets and be subjected to the scrutiny of powerful enemies.

  Kael looked at Ethan with a firm nod. "Your missions will be observed by other meraries, and you may o coordih D-Rank meraries. The Syndicate's operations here on Kynara are just one piece of a rger pn. Remember that as you carry out your duties."

  A sense of resolve filled Ethan. His journey in the Asheor was only beginning, and the path before him was growing more treacherous. But he was ready. He'd fought to make it this far, and he wouldn't let the Syndicate or anything else stand in his way.

  As Kael processed his poiions and issued the newly equipped ons to his at, Ethahe excitement of his neabilities mixed with the uanding of the responsibility they represehis wasn't about being fshy or powerful, t was about using every tool at his disposal to protect those who depended on the guild and to undermihe Syndicate at every turn.

  "Walker," the Branch Master said as he dismissed him. "Report back after your sed D-Rank mission. And remember, strategy, caution, and resolve. You have the talent; now let's see if you have the wisdom."

  Ethahe office, the door sliding shut behind him as he walked through the hallways, drawing gnces from other meraries who had heard the news. There was a quiet, knowing respe their eyes. He wasn't just Ethan Walker, the E-Rank newer. He was han Walker, a D-Rank merary of the Valeris guild branch. And this promotion was his entry into a much rger world.

  He passed through the main hall aered the armory, seleg his new equipment: a ser pistol with enhanced accuracy, a psma dagger with aended bde, and a reinforced tactical suit. Each item was a reminder of his new role and the tasks awaiting him.

  With the suit secured, he moved toward the VR training area, ready to test his skills in the new D-Rank simutions. The walls shimmered as the training simution loaded, ahan's muscles tensed, his instincts sharpening. The missions ahead would be unlike anything he'd faced so far, but he was ready to meet them head-on.

  He took a deep breath, activating the simution as his mind honed in on the Syndicate's threat. The future was uain, but he'd fought hard to get to this point, and he'd do whatever it took to see this through.