Journey to Become the Zenith-Chapter 17: A Guild Built Like a Battlefield

A Guild Built Like a Battlefield

After explaining a portion of his plan to Videl and Lane, Victor received nothing but silence in return.

Videl’s sapphire eyes narrowed slightly. Lane’s expression remained calm, unreadable as always.

They both understood what he was implying.

He was gambling on timing. On reputation. On human nature. On pride.

Too many moving parts.

Too many coincidences.

Videl exhaled softly. "You’re assuming a lot."

Victor only shrugged, golden eyes glinting. "I always do."

Lane tilted her head slightly. "And you’ve never failed."

That was true.

So in the end, they trusted him.

They always did.

---

The Adventurers Guild stood at the center of Fantom City like a silent war monument. Smaller than the knight academy, yes — but heavier. More grounded. The stone was darker. The structure thicker.

Victor slowed his steps slightly.

The air around the building shimmered faintly.

Defensive magic.

Layered. Interwoven. Reinforced with multiple spell matrices.

His lips curved slowly.

This wasn’t just a guild hall.

It was a fortress within a fortress.

Destroying it?

Possible.

At his current strength — roughly five percent of what he once possessed as Anos — he could do it.

But it would cost too much mana.

And whoever designed these defensive formations...

Was strong.

Very strong.

Victor’s pulse quickened.

Finally.

Something interesting.

---

When the trio stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately.

The guild hall was loud — laughter, clanking mugs, armor scraping wood, boots dragging across stone floors.

Dozens of eyes turned toward them.

Then turned away.

Just another group of kids chasing glory.

Not properly equipped.

Not worth noticing.

The veterans didn’t care.

They had already learned the only truth that mattered:

A great adventurer isn’t the one with the best weapon.

It’s the one who survives.

If you wake up tomorrow, you’re good.

If you don’t — you were never that great.

---

But the young ones?

The aspiring adventurers?

The recently successful rookies drunk on their first victory?

They noticed.

And they smirked.

First — they saw Videl.

Rusty armor. Cheap make. Slightly worn leather straps.

And then they actually looked at her.

Long golden hair tied loosely behind her shoulders.

Bright sapphire eyes.

Firm posture.

Graceful figure.

Heroic presence.

She wasn’t just pretty.

She was radiant.

Then they looked at Lane.

Black hair.

Dark eyes.

Elegant curves that her simple attire could not hide.

Calm, dangerous beauty.

The kind that made men swallow unconsciously.

And then there was Victor.

No armor.

A ridiculous number of hunting knives strapped around his waist.

Looking almost absurd.

Like a boy who wandered in by mistake.

The rookie group laughed.

"Look at that armor."

"He looks like he robbed a barn."

"Why does he have that many knives? Planning to cook dinner?"

But their laughter shifted.

Because they were looking at the girls now.

And they weren’t subtle about it.

Videl’s fingers tightened around the hilt at her waist.

Lane’s gaze darkened just slightly.

Victor noticed.

Of course he did.

---

The veteran adventurers didn’t move.

Guild rules were strict.

You don’t touch anyone inside without cause.

But the aspiring adventurers?

They didn’t fear consequences yet.

A group of five approached.

Well-equipped.

Organized.

Two frontliners.

A healer. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

A thief.

A mage.

They looked legitimate.

Their leader carried a massive greatsword across his back.

He didn’t look at Victor.

He didn’t look at Videl.

His eyes were on Lane.

He stepped forward.

Victor moved first.

Blocking his path.

Calm.

Casual.

The greatsword wielder frowned.

"I have no business with you. So get out of my way while I’m still being nice."

His hand rested on his blade’s hilt.

Threat.

Victor didn’t even look at him.

Instead, he turned slightly and addressed one of the receptionists.

"Excuse me, guild lady."

The receptionist blinked, surprised he was speaking so casually.

"Yes?"

"If someone attacks me, and I kill him in self-defense, is that alright?"

The entire surrounding area went quiet.

The receptionist hesitated.

Then answered professionally.

"Yes. If they attack first, no matter if you kill him, you will not be held responsible... That is, if you have witnesses."

Victor nodded.

Then glanced lazily at the greatsword wielder.

"Hear that, small fry? If you don’t want to die, you better back off."

Silence.

Then—

Laughter.

The group burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA! You think you can take me on?"

Victor finally looked at him.

Golden eyes flat.

"Not only can I take you on. I can kill all of your friends as well. So if you’re coming — then come already."

The thief twitched.

A knife flashed from his sleeve—

An arrow snapped through the air.

CLANG.

The knife flew from his hand.

Lane lowered her bow calmly.

"Don’t help me, Lane. I’ll do this myself."

She nodded once and stepped back.

The greatsword wielder roared and swung downward.

Full force.

Enough power to cleave stone.

The blade descended like judgment.

Victor raised one finger.

His pinky.

Mana coated it.

The blade struck.

Stopped.

Dead still.

The greatsword trembled.

Didn’t move an inch.

Gasps filled the hall.

"Hey boss... why did you stop?"

"Finish him off!"

The boss’s face turned red.

Veins bulged.

He was using everything.

And it wasn’t enough.

Panic rippled through his team.

"Damn it — all attack!"

Victor smiled slowly.

Yes.

Perfect.

This was exactly what he wanted.

One display.

One overwhelming show.

And the entire guild would understand.

Videl watched with clenched fists.

She knew.

He planned this.

From the moment they walked in.

Her heart twisted.

She believed people could change.

She believed in second chances.

If she were stronger...

She could’ve stopped this before it began.

She could’ve talked.

Disarmed them.

Beaten them without killing.

Everyone deserves a chance.

...Don’t they?

But she wasn’t strong enough to change Victor.

And that truth hurt more than anything.

Lane’s gaze shifted briefly toward Videl.

She could see the conflict in her.

Hero and woman.

Justice and love.

Victor couldn’t hear her thoughts.

If he could, he would have scoffed.

Second chances?

He remembered heroes who spared demons.

Demons who slaughtered villages afterward.

Millions dead because someone believed in redemption.

Hypocrisy.

Weakness disguised as virtue.

But he didn’t know her thoughts.

He only knew one thing:

This was his stage.

And he was about to make sure no one in this guild ever dared look at Lane...

Or Videl...

Like that again.

And Victor was fully focused on how to show these men and the people in the guild that he is not someone anyone would want to mess with.