Chapter 11: Recognition

Kazuki woke up the next morning feeling better than he had in years. No aches, no pains, just pure energy coursing through his body. He checked his phone six-thirty in the morning, and he actually felt rested. The level-up had done more than just heal his injuries; it had fundamentally improved his body's recovery.

His bank account notification made him smile. The magic stones from yesterday had sold for three hundred and twenty thousand yen total. After splitting expenses with Rika for gear repairs and potions they hadn't needed to use, he had cleared two hundred and eighty thousand yen. More money than he had seen in months.

First order of business actual food. Kazuki got dressed and headed to the convenience store, but this time he walked past it to the small grocery store two blocks away. He filled a basket with fresh vegetables, meat, eggs, rice, and even some fruit. Real, nutritious food instead of instant ramen.

The elderly woman at the checkout gave him an approving nod. "Good to see a young person buying real ingredients. Too many kids these days eat nothing but convenience store food."

"Just got paid," Kazuki said with a grin. "Figure I should celebrate with an actual meal."

Back at his apartment, Kazuki cooked himself a proper breakfast rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and a vegetable omelet. It was simple, but after days of barely eating, it tasted like a feast. He could feel his body absorbing the nutrients, processing them more efficiently than before.

[NUTRITIONAL INTAKE: OPTIMAL]
[TEMPORARY BONUS: +5% TO ALL PHYSICAL STATS FOR 6 HOURS]

"Wait, eating good food gives me stat bonuses?" Kazuki stared at the notification.

[CORRECT. YOUR BODY NOW OPERATES AT PEAK EFFICIENCY. PROPER NUTRITION ENHANCES PERFORMANCE. POOR NUTRITION DECREASES IT. AS YOU LEVEL UP, DIETARY REQUIREMENTS WILL INCREASE.]

"So I literally need to eat better to get stronger. That's... actually pretty straightforward." Kazuki finished his meal with renewed appreciation. Every aspect of his life affected his stats now. Diet, sleep, training it all mattered.

After breakfast, he headed to the rooftop for his daily quest. The exercises felt easier today, partially from the food bonus and partially from his increased stats. He blazed through the push-ups, sit-ups, and squats in record time, then hit the park for his ten-kilometer run.

As he ran, Kazuki noticed other joggers giving him surprised looks. He was moving faster than before, his form more efficient. By the fifth kilometer, he realized he had passed the same group of Hunters he had seen two days ago the ones who had mocked him for being weak.

"Was that the Iron Fang reject?" one of them said as he passed.

"Couldn't be. That guy could barely run without tripping."

Kazuki smiled to himself and pushed harder, leaving them behind.

[DAILY QUEST COMPLETE!]
[+50 EXP]
[+1 TO ALL STATS]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 6]
[EXP: 130/600]

After showering and changing, Kazuki checked his phone. Three messages from Rika.

"Morning! Found a C-rank Gate opening in Akihabara tomorrow. Interested?"

"Pay is way better than D-rank. Probably 500k-700k each if we're efficient."

"Also, someone wants to meet you. Important. Can you come to Hunter's Haven cafe at 2 PM?"

Kazuki frowned at the last message. Someone wanted to meet him? That seemed odd. He had only just started making a name for himself. He texted back.

"Who wants to meet me?"

Rika's response came immediately: "You'll see. Trust me, this is good. Don't be late!"

Mysterious, but Rika hadn't steered him wrong yet. Kazuki agreed to meet at two and spent the morning organizing his apartment and reviewing his status. With his available skill points, he could purchase another skill or save up for something more expensive.

The Skill Shop had hundreds of options, but most of the good ones cost between three and ten skill points. Kazuki currently had four points total two from leveling and two he had saved.

[ENHANCED REFLEXES (PASSIVE) - COST: 4 SKILL POINTS]
[DESCRIPTION: Increases reaction speed by 15%. Improves ability to dodge and counter attacks.]
[DOUBLE STRIKE (ACTIVE) - COST: 4 SKILL POINTS]
[DESCRIPTION: Perform two attacks in rapid succession. Second attack deals 80% damage. Cooldown: 15 seconds. Cost: 15 MP.]
[MANA SENSE (PASSIVE) - COST: 4 SKILL POINTS]
[DESCRIPTION: Detect magical energy within 50 meters. Useful for finding hidden enemies and sensing danger.]

All three were tempting. Enhanced Reflexes would make him harder to hit. Double Strike would increase his damage output. Mana Sense would give him better awareness. After several minutes of deliberation, Kazuki chose Enhanced Reflexes. Staying alive was more important than dealing damage, and better reflexes would help in every situation.

[SKILL PURCHASED: ENHANCED REFLEXES (LEVEL 1)]
[REMAINING SKILL POINTS: 0]

Immediately, Kazuki felt a subtle shift in his perception. The world seemed to slow down slightly, giving him more time to process incoming information. He tested it by tossing a pencil in the air and catching it his hand moved to intercept before he consciously registered where the pencil would fall.

"Okay, that's definitely useful," he said.

At one-thirty, Kazuki headed to Akihabara. Hunter's Haven was a cafe popular with Hunters, located near the Hunter Association's eastern branch office. The interior was decorated with monster trophies and photos of famous dungeon clears. Most of the customers wore Hunter gear and discussed raids over coffee.

Rika sat at a corner booth, and she wasn't alone. Across from her sat a woman in her early thirties with sharp features and long black hair pulled into a professional ponytail. She wore an expensive dark blue suit with a pin on her lapel the emblem of the Phoenix Guild, one of the top ten guilds in Tokyo.

Kazuki's steps slowed. Why was a Phoenix Guild representative here?

"Kazuki! Over here!" Rika waved enthusiastically.

The woman turned to look at him, her dark eyes assessing him in a single glance. Kazuki could feel the weight of her gaze this was someone powerful, someone used to evaluating people's worth.

[OBSERVE ACTIVATED]
[YUKI AKANE - LEVEL 23 HUNTER]
[RANK: A]
[TITLE: PHOENIX BLADE]
[THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME]

Level twenty-three. A-rank. Kazuki's heart hammered in his chest as he approached the table. This woman could crush him without breaking a sweat.

"Don't look so terrified," Rika said with a laugh. "Yuki-san doesn't bite. Usually."

"Sit down, Hayato-san," Yuki said, her voice cool and professional. She gestured to the empty seat next to Rika. "I've been hearing interesting things about you."

Kazuki sat, trying to keep his hands from shaking. "I'm not sure what you've heard, but I'm just a..."

"Level six Hunter who cleared a D-rank dungeon two days after supposedly failing an E-rank dungeon," Yuki interrupted. "Level six Hunters don't clear D-rank dungeons. Most don't even attempt them until level eight or nine. Yet you not only cleared it, you defeated the alpha boss in single combat."

"Rika helped," Kazuki said quickly. "I couldn't have done it without her."

"Rika is a capable C-rank Hunter," Yuki acknowledged. "But she's also honest. She told me you killed the alpha alone while she was occupied with the pack. That's A-rank level combat performance from a level six Hunter." Yuki leaned forward, her eyes intense. "So let me ask you directly what's your secret? Unique skill? Hidden class? Family bloodline?"

Kazuki's mind raced. He couldn't tell her about the System. That was his only advantage, his secret weapon. But what could he say that would satisfy an A-rank Hunter's curiosity?

"I'm just... a late bloomer, I guess," Kazuki said carefully. "For years, my abilities didn't develop properly. But recently, something changed. It's like everything finally clicked into place."

It wasn't entirely a lie. The System had awakened, and his abilities had exploded in growth.

Yuki studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Late bloomer. That's rare, but not unheard of. Some Hunters don't reach their potential until a crisis forces their growth." She pulled out a business card and slid it across the table. "The Phoenix Guild is always looking for talented Hunters. We're offering you a provisional membership."

Kazuki stared at the card. Phoenix Guild. One of the most prestigious guilds in Japan. The kind of organization that had waiting lists years long for membership applications.

"Provisional membership?" he asked.

"You're still low level," Yuki explained. "We can't offer you full membership yet our minimum requirement is level fifteen. But provisional membership gives you access to our training facilities, our equipment shops at discount prices, and the opportunity to join guild raids as support. If you prove yourself over the next few months, you'll be upgraded to full member status."

"What's the catch?" Kazuki asked. Guild memberships always came with strings attached.

Yuki smiled slightly. "Smart question. The catch is exclusivity. Provisional members can't join other guilds or participate in raids that conflict with guild operations. You'll also be expected to contribute to guild activities at least two group raids per month. In exchange, you get access to resources that independent Hunters can only dream of."

Kazuki looked at Rika, who nodded encouragingly. "Phoenix Guild is legit, Kazuki. I'm independent by choice, but if I were going to join a guild, it would be them. Yuki-san treats her people well."

"I need to think about it," Kazuki said.

"Of course." Yuki stood, adjusting her suit jacket. "Take three days. If you're interested, contact me at that number. If not, no hard feelings. But I will say this you're talented, Hayato-san. Very talented. The question is whether you want to grow that talent alone or with the support of a major guild behind you."

She left the cafe, her presence seeming to leave a vacuum in the air. Kazuki released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"She's terrifying," he said.

"She's amazing," Rika corrected. "A-rank at thirty-two years old, and she's being considered for S-rank promotion next year. If Yuki-san is personally recruiting you, that means she sees serious potential."

"Why did you set this up?" Kazuki asked.

Rika shrugged. "Because I know what it's like to struggle alone. Phoenix Guild could give you opportunities you'd never get as an independent. Plus, I trust Yuki-san. She's one of the few high-rank Hunters who actually cares about developing new talent instead of just exploiting them."

Kazuki looked at the business card, running his thumb over the embossed phoenix logo. A major guild was offering him membership. Three days ago, he couldn't even keep his spot in a mid-tier guild. Now, he had options.

"What would you do?" he asked Rika.

"Honestly? I'd take it. But I also understand wanting independence." Rika sipped her coffee. "The System's your choice. Just know that whatever you decide, I've got your back."

Kazuki pocketed the card. "Thanks, Rika. For everything."

"Don't thank me yet. We've still got that C-rank dungeon tomorrow. If you thought D-rank was tough, wait until you see what C-rank throws at us."

They spent the next hour planning their strategy for the Akihabara raid. The Gate had been classified as C-rank based on the mana readings, which meant monsters between levels eight and twelve. It would be Kazuki's biggest challenge yet.

But as he walked home later that afternoon, Kazuki felt more confident than he had in years. He had money in his account, food in his refrigerator, a reliable partner, and now an offer from one of the most prestigious guilds in the country.

[QUEST AVAILABLE: MAJOR DECISION]
[OBJECTIVE: DECIDE YOUR PATH - JOIN PHOENIX GUILD OR REMAIN INDEPENDENT]
[TIME LIMIT: 3 DAYS]
[NOTE: This choice will affect your future opportunities and relationships. Choose wisely.]

Kazuki smiled at the notification. Even the System recognized this was an important decision.

Three days. He had three days to decide what kind of Hunter he wanted to become.

[End of Chapter 11]