As the sun was about to set on the horizon, the city rising before them stood with a splendor beyond the stone age. Silver-gray walls, towers reaching to the sky and the city gate glowing with energy... As Sefa admired the view, Elira spoke over her shoulder.

"This is Valorith. Not the central fortress of the kingdom, but 1-4. This is the main gateway to floors 1-4. Whoever cannot pass through here can never go up."

Sefa nodded slightly. This was more real than he had ever seen in his childhood, even in games. It was crowded outside the city. Everyone was in line. Hundreds of people were waiting in line with documents, introductions, guild seals. Everyone had a title. They belonged to a guild.

But it was different for Sefa.

Elira continued by lowering her voice.
"You do not belong to a guild. This city can only accept you on behalf of the kingdom. But this is an even more difficult path. Because the kingdom considers you directly responsible. Any mistake you make will be written on the kingdom."

Sefa closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I am not looking for an easy way."

They stopped in front of the giant crystal gate at the entrance to the city. The guard spoke with a cold face.
"Only the Kingdom Application Form can be submitted to those not affiliated with the Guild. No entry without approval. The result of your application will be announced... not in a few hours, but in a few days. If you survive the exams, then you can walk around this city."

Sefa stepped forward.
"I want to apply."

Kingdom Application
The attendant took out a document from a small chest filled with parchment. He held out the document with a crystal seal.
"Put your hand inside this circle. Your identity will be formed. And then... say your name."

Sefa placed his hand inside the crystal circle. He felt a slight burning. The glassy transparent circle suddenly caught fire and then glowed.

"Your name?"
"Sefa... Yucel."

Letters began to be written inside the crystal flame.

Name: Sefa Yücel
Identity Type: Kingdom Candidate
 Status: Temporarily Approved
 Location: Valorith City
 Floor Access: Floor 1 (Active), Floor 2 (Needs Testing)

The attendant snapped a finger. His friend quickly approached them and spoke quietly:
"The boy applying for the kingdom has arrived. Prepare the tests. Tomorrow the test of strength begins."

Preparations
When they entered the city, Sefa's eyes darted all around. It was a completely different world inside the city walls. Lines of mana stretched into the sky between the stone buildings, and everything from the weapon shops to the tents selling magic materials was alive and bustling.

But the mana stones in their pockets were limited. Elira took him straight to the starting zone. Merchants were shouting, selling the newcomers items as cheaply as they could survive. Elira took what she needed without even bargaining:

Rusty Balance Sword - Good for quick strikes, but low impact resistance.

Leather-Metal Blend Light Armor - Good for speed, but low impact resistance.

3x Weak Health Pot - Does not seal the wound, only stops the bleeding.

As Sefa gripped the weapon, an old memory flashed through his mind. The last blow in a battle... but he couldn't remember who he was fighting.

"Elira... this won't be enough."
"No. But if you pass the test... no one can stop you now."

 Night and Silence
Valorith at night was even stranger. The buildings were silent, crystal lanterns flickered in the streets. Sefa examined his ID. There was a name. Not a title. But with this name he would rise.

"Yücel..." he whispered to himself.
"For the first time... I have a name in this world."

As Sefa stepped onto the cobbled area of the kingdom testing hall, the murmurs from the spectator stands immediately fell silent. The atmosphere vibrated with anticipation in the silence. Footsteps echoed through the thick stone walls, whispering the seriousness of the test.

The officer conducting the test seemed to be wearing an expressionless mask. In his hand was a piece of paper; the information on it was brief:

Candidate Name: Sefa Yücel
Origin: Unaffiliated
Guild Affiliation: None
Floor Request: 2nd Floor
Test: Physical Endurance and Strength

The officer raised his head, looked him straight in the eye and asked:

"Are you ready?"

Sefa gave a short and clear answer:
"Yes."

In the center of the hall, the first part of the exam, consisting of three stages, began.

Phase 1: Load Test
8 large stone blocks connected by thick chains... Each one weighed differently. The first block started at 50 kilograms. The last one weighed 300 kilograms. The task was clear: lift the blocks one by one, carry them 5 steps forward, then put them back.

The first two blocks did not cause any difficulty, except for a slight jolt in Sefa's body.

On the third block, his face tensed slightly.

At the fourth block, his arms trembled, but he didn't give up.

The fifth block... His knees felt like they were going to give out, but he kept going. Sweat began to drip from his forehead.

At the sixth block, a murmur rose from the crowd.

"Someone so young... at this level?"

The officer was still expressionless.

In the seventh block Sefa took a step, held his breath... but the block fell to the ground.

A moment of silence.

Sefa stepped back, tried again. This time he bent his knees and balanced the weight better.

He regulated his breathing.

He gathered all his strength.

He lifted slowly. His back stiffened, his hands turned white, but he completed the five steps. When he let go, the block hit the ground and echoed.

The eighth block. The hardest one.

Sefa stood in front of the stone for a moment. He flexed his fingers. The crowd held its breath. Dozens of candidates who couldn't even move the stone were still in line.

He clasped his hands and gritted his teeth.

One...

Two...

Three!

He was able to lift a little bit off the ground. One step... two... three...

At the fourth step his knees trembled, the stone sagged slightly but did not fall.

At the fifth step the whole hall stood up.

Not everyone applauded when the stone was put down, but the silence was... a sign of respect.

The officer bowed his head for the first time:

"Test of strength: Passed."

 Intelligence Test After a Click
After passing the strength test, Sefa is taken to the rest room for a short time. But this is just a short break before moving on to the next part, where not only the body but also the mind will be tested. During the rest, one of the attendants whispers:

"It's very rare that this boy has come this far without being affiliated with the guild... Did he find the mana stones himself?"

The other shakes his head.

"And to think... this is just the first test."

📚 Test Chamber: The War of Thought
The intelligence test was the most complicated part for most of the other candidates. In a room, there were no enemies. No weight, no pain, no fear. Only silence... and the questions in that silence.

When Sefa entered, there were four crystal balls on the stone table in front of him. Each glowed a different color: Red, Blue, Green, Purple.

On the blackboard in front of him was only this sentence:

"One of the four will kill you. One will lie. One tells the truth. One keeps silent. If you want to live, touch the right crystal."

Underneath were the words of the four crystals:

Red: "I will save you."

Blue: "Purple will kill you."

Green: "I am lying."

Purple: (Silent)

Sefa thought for a few seconds. This was a classic paradox trap. But he trusted his inner voice. In silence, the answers to the questions would be heard more clearly.

"If Green says 'I am lying' and it is true, he is not lying. So it's a contradiction. Green must be lying, which means he is not telling the truth."

"Blue says Purple will kill. If that's true, Blue must be telling the truth... but Red says he will save him. Either Blue or Red could be telling the truth... but only one of them is telling the truth."

Sifting through the options in his mind, he came to the silent crystal: Purple.

He slowly extended his fingers.

When his finger touched the crystal, a voice echoed:

"Right Choice. Intelligence Test: Successfully Passed."

When the walls retreated, the instructors sitting in the observation room looked at each other and shook their heads.

"A solution at this age... at this speed?"

"An independent individual. Not affiliated with the guild. Who is this child?"

"Sefa Yücel... remember that name."

 Strategy and Tactics Test: Eyes and Shadows
When Sefa comes out of the intelligence test, he is taken into the hallway for a short while. As he notices the stonework on the walls, someone behind him speaks quietly:

"Now you have come to the hardest part. You cannot swing a sword here. You don't take orders here. You will plan every step."

The attendant directs him to a large room. Inside there is only a table and a model standing on it. There are miniature soldiers, towers and gateways in this city plan-like setup.

On the table is the following inscription:

"You are a commander. The enemy has 100 men. You have 25 soldiers. You are entrusted with the defense of the city. You don't have to win. But you have to resist with minimum casualties. You have to give all orders at the same time. Time: 3 minutes."

Sefa first looks around. It takes him a moment to realize the seriousness of the things that look like toys. Each figure actually belongs to a different class. Some are archers, some armored troops. But there is nothing to show the enemy's movements.

His inner voice speaks:

"So information is lacking... This is a test of weakness. I can't know everything. I have to guess first and then decide."

The Examination Begins
With the clock ticking, Sefa quickly devises a plan:

He places archers on the ramparts.

He places armored troops near the gates.

He sends out a 3-man reconnaissance unit: If the enemy starts with archers, they will be able to retreat and set a trap with the knowledge of this unit.

He places 2 men on high towers as observers.

The rest he deploys in groups: Wherever the enemy comes from, at least they will be concentrated in one direction.

At the last moment he has a moment of indecision. Should he leave one of the doors open? It could be a trap to attract the enemy's attention... but what if it leads his army to disaster?

"I won't risk it," he says. "This test is more about patience than intelligence."

🎯 Simulation Results
When time runs out, the crystals start to burn. A wall turns into a giant screen and the simulation plays.

The enemy attacks from the left. Tower archers placed by Sefa stop the first wave. Closed gates buy time for the armor. The reconnaissance unit recognizes the enemy's route early and carries news.

But...

The attack also came from the right. Sefa put too few soldiers there. 4 soldiers lost... then 6...

When the simulation finally stops, the officer shakes his head:

"You lost 9 out of 25 soldiers. The enemy has 52 casualties out of 100. The city has not been captured. The ratio is not bad."

Someone else adds:

"But it could have been better."

Sefa nods silently. For the first time there is a trace of real thought on his face. He knows he didn't win. But he also knows he didn't lose.

"I can't know everything on my own," he says. "But I can learn every battle by surviving."

🧾 Officials Taking Notes
The official writes the following on the exam paper:

Name: Sefa Yücel

Commitment: Independent

Not guild-affiliated, but highly disciplined.
His knowledge of strategy is medium.
Quick to make decisions, but sometimes too cautious.
Potential: High.
Approval: SENT TO KINGDOM RECOMMENDATION.

New Passive Ability:
"Tactical Memory (Lv.1)" - Reduces reaction time in similar situations by remembering 20% of previous mistakes.
 New Passive Ability:
"Balance of Mind (Lv.1)" - 10% faster reasoning time under stress.
Passive Ability: "Weight Denial (Lv.1)" - Weight effect is reduced by 10% for a short time.

End of Chapter Note
Sefa started to attract more attention after each exam. Kingdom officials noted his name in their notebooks. Someone performing at this level without being affiliated with the guild was... rare. Now his application would be submitted for high-level kingdom approval.

But first, other eyes in the city had noticed him. And some of them... were not friendly.