So many nonposts... :punch

And to expand on what Buns' has mentioned so far with regards to underdogs and even higher ranked characters struggling against opponents of equal or lesser ranking (which I totally agree with), I want to specifically mention the three newbie H ranks will have a particularly hard time against Varren alone. Ranks are not the sole basis and determinator of strength, since a Guilders' rank is made up of a number of different factors, but they're a good qualifier in the sense that, if an opponent is a higher rank then your character, you are most definitely going to have a hard time. So working together and looking for help from others is a good way to proceed with battles, although by all means have your characters attempt to battle and fight alone, just so long as they're not effortlessly defeating an enemy and getting injured in the process for it, that's okay and adds to the drama.

What's most important to me is what makes good story, and characters effortlessly overcoming obstacles is not good story, it's boring.