(The character will be introduced immediately after the episode concludes.)

Scene 1: A New Home for Dylan

As the final duel’s echoes fade, the arena’s air still crackles with adrenaline. Amid the hushed excitement, guild scouts step forward to announce their selections. The crowd parts as a stern, imposing representative from the Wild Beast Guild—his uniform adorned with intricate wild motifs and the emblem of a roaring beast—approaches Dylan. His eyes are cold and unreadable, yet his tone carries a measured authority.

Wild Beast Scout:
"Dylan of Galere Village, your abilities are impressive. We officially invite you to join the Wild Beast Guild."

For a heartbeat, time seems to slow. Dylan’s eyes widen in surprise, and a huge grin breaks across his face, radiating uncontainable excitement. Yet in that split second, something shifts. The grin falters as a shadow of bittersweet realization crosses his features. His shoulders stiffen imperceptibly; this moment is more than just a victory—it’s a farewell.

Dylan lets out a soft, almost wistful laugh as he replies,
Dylan:
"I didn’t get into Arcane Mob, but honestly? Wild Beast might be even better! It’s a guild made just for Metahumans like me."

He turns to meet the eyes of Xero and Claude. The unspoken weight between them is palpable—a mix of pride, worry, and the first taste of real separation. Dylan hesitates a moment longer, glancing back at his friends as if to etch their faces into memory.

Dylan:
"Guess this is it for now. You two better not fail at making your guild!"

Xero smirks, an encouraging spark lighting his gaze as he replies,
Xero:
"We won’t let you down."

Claude, his tone serious and protective, adds,
Claude:
"Stay sharp out there, Dylan."

With one last lingering look that speaks of shared dreams and silent promises, Dylan nods, his usual energy surging back. He turns and jogs off confidently toward his new guildmates, disappearing into the bustling throng of recruits and seasoned warriors. The moment leaves a hollow echo in the air—this is their first true separation from an ally, and for the first time since their journey began, Xero and Claude realize they’re truly on their own.

As they stand watching Dylan vanish into the crowd, Claude’s voice breaks the quiet with determined resolve:
Claude:
"Now, let’s find Mechan."

Their words trail off as they begin their trek through the labyrinthine corridors of the Vanguards Association Satellite Office—a place alive with the murmur of recruits, the shuffling of armor, and the distinct tang of ink on parchment. The atmosphere is charged with purpose and a hint of foreboding, as if the very walls whisper of the challenges ahead.

Before they can fully discuss their next step, a commanding voice slices through the ambient chatter, halting their progress. An officer, impeccably dressed and authoritative, addresses the assembled recruits with an air of gravitas.

Officer:
"Before you proceed to orientation, let me remind you: every warrior, adventurer, and guild member begins at the lowest tier. Your Soul Energy determines your rank, which you must earn through battles, quests, and feats of courage. Your rank is the true measure of your power, skill, and experience."

At his signal, assistants circulate, handing out crisp, enchanted pamphlets—each glowing faintly with a seal that can only be deciphered with soul energy. One of these slips unnoticed, drifting through the air until Xero and Claude instinctively catch it. A pulse of their energy reveals the detailed structure of the ranking system:

·         Bronze Tier (1 Star): Initiate (1-dot), Trainee (2-dots), Aspirant (3-dots)

·         Silver Tier (2 Stars): Brawler (1-dot), Duelist (2-dots), Combatant (3-dots)

·         Gold Tier (3 Stars): Knight (1-dot), Champion (2-dots), Gladiator (3-dots)

·         Blackgold Tier (4 Stars): Elite (1-dot), Prime (2-dots), Virtuoso(3-dots)

·         Platinum Tier (5 Stars): Sage (1-dot), Sentinel (2-dots), Paragon (3-dots)

·         Diamond Tier (6 Stars): Sovereign (1-dot) (2-dots), Dominion, Overlord (3-dots)

·         Legendary Tier (7 Stars): Mythic (1-dot), Eternal (2-dots), Exalted (3-dots)

·         Celestial Tier (8 Stars): Ascendant (1-dot), Supreme (2-dots), Deity (3-dots)

Claude murmurs softly, a hint of awe mixed with apprehension:
Claude:
"So even forming a guild is just the beginning..."

Xero nods solemnly, his expression steely as he replies,
Xero:
"We have a long way to go."

Before they can ponder further, a sudden crash shakes the hall—a loud, anguished cry bursts forth from deep within the registration office, echoing raw desperation and fury. The air trembles with the onset of chaos, leaving Xero and Claude to brace themselves for what comes next.

Scene 2: Broken Warrior

The atmosphere in the registration office shatters as the heavy oak doors crash open with a thunderous bang, scattering shards of glass like lost hopes across the floor. In an instant, the room transforms into a maelstrom of chaos—overturned chairs, splintered tables, and panicked cries echo through the hall. At the center of the turmoil, Mechan stands—a once-proud warrior now unrecognizable, consumed by a raging tempest of despair.

His voice, ragged and raw, booms out,
Mechan: "You took EVERYTHING from me!"

Mechan’s golden armor, once a symbol of honor, is battered and marred by deep dents. His gauntlets, which once gleamed with pride, now bear the scars of relentless conflict. Every trembling muscle and pulsating vein in his body speaks of a heart broken and a spirit on the edge. His eyes, bloodshot and haunted, dart wildly around, as if chasing phantom memories of a lost past.

Amid the chaos, two guards struggle to restrain him.
Guard 1: "Mechan, calm down! You're making it worse!"
Guard 2: (through gritted teeth) "Dammit, he’s stronger than we thought!"

But Mechan, fueled by an overwhelming torrent of anguish, shatters their grip. With a guttural roar that reverberates off the walls, he unleashes a savage swing that hurls one guard crashing into a sturdy wooden pillar. The pillar splinters, sending splinters of wood flying like bitter reminders of what was once intact.

Silence sweeps over the room, heavy and foreboding, as every recruit and officer freezes in stunned disbelief. Xero and Claude, standing at the periphery, lock eyes with Mechan. Their faces mirror a cocktail of shock, sorrow, and urgent concern.

In a trembling voice barely audible over the lingering tension, Xero whispers,
Xero: "Mechan… what happened to you?"

Before an answer can form, a senior officer, his face set in a mask of both stern authority and deep regret, steps forward. He gestures for more enforcers to approach, their weapons drawn and eyes wary. The enforcers move in slowly, encircling Mechan with a caution born of respect and fear.

Senior Officer: (firmly) "Mechan, stand down. If you keep this up, you’ll be exiled from the Vanguards permanently."

Mechan’s erratic breathing fills the void. His shoulders heave, and his fingers twitch uncontrollably—clenching and unclenching as if trying to hold back an invisible force. His gaze shifts uncertainly, haunted by visions only he can see. Finally, his voice emerges, hoarse and trembling, stripped of the warrior’s might it once held:
Mechan: "What’s the point… if I’ve already lost everything?"

The sorrow in his words slices through the charged silence like a cold blade. Xero and Claude exchange a look heavy with unspoken memories and shared grief. This wasn’t a moment of mere anger—it was a soul laid bare, drowning in despair.

Instinctively, as the enforcers tighten their circle, Xero steps forward, his heart pounding with a mix of determination and trepidation. Claude reaches out, placing a firm yet gentle hand on Xero’s shoulder, his voice low and cautioning:
Claude: "Be careful, Xero. He’s not himself right now."

Xero’s gaze hardens as he stares into the maelstrom of pain that is Mechan. Every fiber of his being screams to help, to rescue the warrior who once embodied strength and honor.
Xero: (steady and resolute) "Mechan... let us help you."

For a breathless moment, time seems to suspend. Mechan’s eyes flicker—a brief spark of recognition, as if a memory stirs deep within. Yet his hands continue their restless twitching, and his body remains tensed, caught between fighting back and the desperate need for salvation.

The senior officer, his features etched with a sorrowful resignation, leans in slightly and murmurs under his breath, so softly only the closest can hear:
Senior Officer: "He’s still searching for her…"

The word hangs in the air—a single, devastating truth that sends a chill down Xero’s spine. Who is "her"? A lost love, a cherished comrade, or perhaps a figure from Mechan’s shattered past? The mystery deepens the heavy silence, adding layers of sorrow to the scene.

In that charged, fragile moment, the room holds its breath. Mechan stands on the precipice of collapse—a warrior teetering between utter ruin and a glimmer of redemption. The enforcers, the recruits, even the silent walls of the registration office seem to watch with bated breath, waiting for what comes next. The struggle in Mechan’s eyes is a mirror of the torment that rages within him—a battle fought on the inside, far more brutal than any physical duel.

Xero, undeterred by the looming uncertainty, takes another cautious step forward, his voice a lifeline in the tumult.
Xero: "Mechan... let us help you. We won't let you face this darkness alone."

The tension is palpable as Mechan’s tortured gaze lingers on Xero, the weight of unspoken memories pressing down. His body wavers, caught between the crushing grip of despair and the faint, yet piercing hope that someone might still save him.

As the enforcers hold their ground, weapons at the ready, the fate of a fallen warrior hangs in the balance—teetering on the edge of salvation or eternal loss.