A few days ago, Soren set out on a mission where he faced off against several Ecrea. One of them was particularly strange, resembling a bug with spiky feet, a long dark horn, and powerful wings that could shoot lava projectiles from its chest. The heat from those projectiles was intense enough to scorch anything that came into contact with them, and Soren had quite a struggle trying to defeat it. Luckily, he had picked up some ice orbs from traders he encountered at the plaza before he left. He hurled them at the creature, causing painful blisters to erupt on its body, which turned out to be a highly effective tactic. As the monster reeled in pain and landed on the ground, Soren seized the opportunity to stab its thick neck with his acid-enchanted dagger, ending its life.
While he took a moment to catch his breath, he noticed that his dagger was starting to wear down. "How are Crosents so formidable?" he asked, turning to Vixra'al for answers. She explained that they were essentially plants. "Plants?" he replied, puzzled. "Yes, Crosents have seeds of awakening, and they can grow stronger because they can elevate their power levels." Unfortunately, Vixra'al then informed him that he didn't share that same ability. Soren felt a twinge of disappointment, but Vixra'al quickly reassured him that he wasn't falling behind. "Your power may not depend on Mana, but it's just as strong," she said.
Soren speculated that if Mana represented the positive side of things, Vixra'al chuckled at his cleverness but ultimately told him not to worry. She spoke in a riddle, saying, "Just like humans, you can't create your own nourishment, you rely on the food you consume to get the necessary nutrition your body needs." Vixra'al seemed to think he understood, but then he asked, "You mean I have to eat them?" Her reaction was a mix of anger, frustration, and amusement, and she burst into laughter, leaving Soren bewildered, wondering if he had said something funny.
Finally, he asked, "So, in my current state, what level have I reached, Vixra'al?" She took a moment to pause before replying, "Right now, you're at level 40, with a strength that's on par with a high A tier."
In the heart of the Mistral Forest, Thalzarach came to a sudden halt, bracing himself as Soren's aura erupted around him. He crossed his arms over his face, his left eye glows a fierce Azure. Shockwaves radiated from his body. "Base… form, Iron Wraith!" he chanted, as a black exoskeleton began to envelop him. Flames licked at his skin, transforming it into a dark mass until he was completely encased in armor forged from pure dark energy.
A symbol of his power shimmered on his chest. Soren glanced at his arms, a grin spreading across his face as he exclaimed in a haunting voice, "This is incredible, I feel… stronger!" Seizing the moment of distraction, Thalzarach charged at him with astonishing speed. Soren planted his left leg firmly and, with a powerful right fist, struck the monster squarely between the eyes, shattering its skull. The creature spun through the air, and Soren grabbed its jaw, slamming it into the ground. He unleashed a flurry of punches, building pressure within the monster until it bloated and ultimately exploded. "Ha!" Monster's innards splattered everywhere.
Once he confirmed the battle was over, he released his head transformation, the dark flames fade from his face. He scanned the area and spotted two figures still tied to a giant wilted flower, with its dark wooden branches still ensnaring them. "You two are safe now," he said, lifting them up. His gaze landed on a little girl in a white dress, and he decided to take her along.
Levar stirred awake inside a caravan, feeling it sway gently as it moved. His eyes blinked open and landed on Soren, who was looking back at him. "Am I dreaming? Where's the Mistral Forest?" he asked, his voice thick with confusion. Soren smiled and reassured him, "You're not dreaming! We've won, and I brought back some treasures I found along the way." He gestured to a pile of items, adding, "These all belong to you, Levar, for your bravery and heart." Tears welled up in Levar's eyes as he remembered his brother and sister, Migi and Tara, snugly wrapped in a warm blanket beside him. Overcome with emotion, he hugged them both tightly, sharing a moment of victory. Soren gazed up at the sky, reflecting on his good deed. "Helping others really does bring a special feeling," he said, a genuine smile lighting up his face.
The little girl in the white dress also woken up, rising from the blanket beside Tara. She squinted her eyes, and Levar was taken aback when she asked where she was. Soren glanced at her and introduced himself and the others, explaining everything that had happened. Although the girl seemed a bit confused, she grasped the situation. "What's your name?" Soren asked gently, noticing the sadness in her eyes as she replied that she didn't have a name, she had only been raised to be a sacrifice for the forest guardian. Soren turned his gaze away, letting out a bitter sigh as he assured her that her life was about to take a turn for the better.
He gently stroked her chin, deep in thought, and consulted with Vixra'al for a name. After some deliberation, they settled on Yuri. The moment the name was spoken, tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn't contain her emotions any longer. Levar wrapped his arms around her, and they both found themselves sharing a moment filled with joyful tears. It was a heartwarming scene. Then, Levar asked where they were headed. "Just look ahead," Soren replied. Levar turned to see his dad sitting next to the driver, who chimed in, letting them know they were on their way to Cardaltha for new beginnings, following the path that lay ahead of them.
Soren shook hands with Hovar as he left them in their new house near the city plaza, which they had bought with the treasures they collected from the forests. Levar, Migi, and Tara waved at them cheerfully, and he glanced back, waving in return.
Meanwhile, Yuri tugged on her sleeve, deciding she wanted to go with him. Back at the inn, the innkeeper and her mother were completely taken by how adorable the little girl was. They introduced themselves as Rosalia and her mother, Margareth, playfully poking her cheeks and patting her head. Soren felt a bit let down that they hadn't even tried to introduce themselves to him when they first met. As he excused himself to head to his room, Yuri caught up to him, rubbing her face against his waist and insisting he take her along. But the two adults stopped her, saying it was inappropriate, and instead, they excitedly took her to shower.
Finally, back in his room, Soren flopped onto the bed, sighing about how much he had missed it. He pulled out the Thalzarach core from his pocket, a purplish-black stone that flickered with energy, pulsating with a red glow. Curious, he asked Vixra'al why this core looked so different from the others, which were all reddish. She replied, "This is an elite Ecrean core, containing a higher concentration of energy, a testament to the Thalzarach's years of dominance in the forest." A wave of success washed over Soren as he closed his palm around the core, focusing on absorbing its power.
Suddenly, he felt an incredible surge of energy coursing through him, and he glimpsed an unfamiliar world he had visited before, a battlefield where heroes clashed. This time, he saw a burly warrior in heavy armor, fighting against Ecrea with a massive axe, fire burning in his eyes. Just then, he snapped back to reality. Vixra'al asked how he was doing, and in shock, he sat up, clutching his head and breathing heavily. "I saw it again," he admitted. Vixra'al listened silently as Soren vividly described the invasion he had witnessed, feeling shaken. At that moment, there was a knock on his door, Rosalia was calling for him. As the door creaked open, he saw Yuri blushing and fidgeting in a fancy dress. Rosalia and her mother couldn't hide their excitement. "Well, what do you think?" they asked. Soren forced a smile and replied blandly, "She looks fine…" unsure of what else to say. The two pouted and took Yuri away, disappointed by his response. "Jerk!" Rosalia shouted.
The next morning, Soren made his way down the stairs and found Yuri dressed just like the innkeeper. She was carrying a big tray and greeted him with a cheerful "Good morning!" as he gently patted her head in return. Rosalia had mentioned to Soren that Yuri was really talented and picked things up quickly. With her hands on her cheeks, she fidgeted, clearly overwhelmed by her cuteness. Soren enjoyed his breakfast with Yuri before heading out, and she waved goodbye to him as he set off on his errand.
The guild hall buzzed with energy as a crowd gathered. Soren pushed his way through, squeezing himself inside. One of the insurgents noticed him being jostled from behind and turned around, exclaiming, "Hey look, the kid is here!" Cheers erupted as everyone made way for him, greeting and congratulating him.
The assistant quickly filled him in on the situation, and they all caught up on his recent achievement of defeating the Mistral Forest boss, which had skyrocketed his status and made his name known throughout Carldaltha.
Soren, surprised, pointed at himself just as the doors swung open. A striking woman with maroon hair and dark skin entered, clad in a chest plate, with two intersecting leather straps at her waist, a leather skirt, bone bracers, and greaves. An emblem was etched on her collar, and noticeable scars adorned her arms. She chimed in with her followers, and Soren recognized one of them from a night at the plaza. "That guy," he thought. The woman introduced herself as Fira Lucia, the leader of the group Velvet. She approached Soren, leaning in to get a better look at his face. "Aren't you famous, handsome? Care to join my group, Velvet?"
The crowd murmured, the noise filling the hall as Soren stood there, speechless. Just as he was about to respond, another group entered the guild hall, Zereth and his two assistants. "If it isn't the troublemaker herself! Didn't anyone tell you not to harass people you just met? Learn some manners." he said. Fira Lucia turned her head to see him. "Oh, if it isn't his majesty. This doesn't concern you, so could you please go away? Shoo!" She turned back to Soren, waving her hand dismissively at him.
One of Zereth's attendants, the lady with the staff, was clearly fed up with Fira Lucia's attitude and was ready to confront her. But Zereth stepped in just in time, saying, "I didn't mean to meddle in your affairs, but as you can see, Soren here doesn't seem too comfortable in his situation." Fira Lucia turned around, arms crossed, and shot back, "You're still hanging around? Why don't you just leave? Can't you see I'm busy?" As her men started to reach for their weapons, Zereth let out a sigh and said, "Let's not jump to violence. I came here to let you know that I found Soren first." Fira Lucia scoffed and demanded proof, but Zereth had none to offer. "See? You just waltzed in here throwing accusations, just like one of your lackeys blaming Soren for crimes he didn't commit." Zereth looked away, lost in thought, and then Fira Lucia added that they had found Soren first. One of her members stepped forward, claiming he had spoken to Soren at the Plaza the night before, which Soren confirmed.
Cornered, Zereth decided to make a bold move. "If there's a way to settle this…" Fira Lucia licked her lips, intrigued. "Oh, there is." The tension in the air thickened, and while they were caught up in their standoff, no one noticed a large man quietly approaching Soren from behind. Everyone was taken aback by how someone so big had slipped past them unnoticed. He grabbed Soren's arm without a word, just standing there, breathing heavily in his worn-out robe, a white mask with small holes resembling a hockey mask, and his massive arms clad in steel-plated gloves.
"What the?" Fira Lucia exclaimed, grabbing the man's shoulders. But as she tried to yank him, she envisioned an immovable boulder standing in her way. "Ehem." Suddenly, everyone paused, holding their breath as a familiar voice cut through the tension.
A distinguished man stepped through the door, proudly labeled as the Guild Master. He wore elegant attire, had striking pink hair, a cross earring dangling from his right ear, and piercing emerald eyes behind glasses. Adjusting his collar with a finger, he inquired about the commotion, but no one dared to respond. Without uttering a word, Fira Lucia's group bolted away, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake. Zereth bowed once and slipped away silently, while the peculiar masked man also made his exit. As the crowd dispersed, the Guild Master called out to Soren, who was also heading out.
He guided him into his office, which looked like it had been plucked straight from a high-end magazine, adorned with stunning decor and elegant items. Soren sat down politely, wanting to make a good impression on this esteemed gentleman he had just met. The Guild Master introduced himself as Aster Langren and offered Soren a cup of tea. After taking a sip, Soren was pleasantly surprised by its authenticity. "I never thought I'd taste anything like this again, I assumed all such species were extinct." The Guild Master chuckled lightly, "I appreciate someone who truly knows their tea."
Soren was savoring his drink when Aster jumped straight into business. "I'm sure you've noticed, but your reputation has skyrocketed, and a lot of guilds are going to be vying for your attention to join their ranks." Soren set his cup down and explained that he didn't intend for any of this to happen, he was just trying to live his life.
Aster then shared some insights about the policies in place, mentioning that as an insurgent, having a team is crucial for completing certain missions. But this was the first time someone had actually broken that mold in such a short time "astonishing," he mused. "Tell me, what kind of power do you have to pull off such a feat?" Soren hesitated, carefully choosing his words to avoid revealing anything that might upset him. But Aster just laughed it off, saying, "No worries, as long as you're not causing harm. But are you really sure you want to go it alone? You might want to consider getting involved sometimes, I can recommend some guilds that could help fill that gap." Soren politely declined, explaining that he already had a partner and never felt alone.
"I see…" Aster said, not probing any further as he took a sip of his tea, placing it carefully on the saucer, clink. "Actually, I have a favor to ask." Soren paused, curiosity piqued. "What is it?" Aster's demeanor shifted to serious. "Out northeast from here, on the outskirts of the city, there have been some tragic incidents. Several settlements and small colonies have been wiped out by a powerful Ecrean, capable of causing mass destruction." Vixra'al chimed in, reminding Soren that it was the same poster they had picked up one night, featuring a Velkryss.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Soren took a moment to think before agreeing. Aster extended his hand for a handshake, which Soren accepted. Aster then led him to a docking point where several airships awaited them, ready to take off to their destination in no time. "This is quite urgent," Aster explained. "I've enlisted thousands of guilds across Cardaltha and beyond to tackle this infestation. With you on board, I'm confident my plan will succeed." Soren looked up, amazed at how humanity had managed to preserve and enhance such technology, adapting it to harness Aether as its power source.
The day had finally arrived. After a bit of preparation, the ship took to the skies, with Aster and a few guild assistants there to see them off.
Meanwhile, at the inn, Yuri was praying, holding tightly to a jar of dried tea leaves that Soren had given her. Levar looked up and noticed several ships gracefully soaring through the sky, all heading toward their destination.
Soren stood at the ship's gondola, gazing out at the horizon, feeling a rush of excitement about the scale of this operation. He couldn't help but get excited thinking about being part of such a pivotal event. But just as he was lost in his thoughts, the mood shifted behind him. Fira, Lucia, and Zereth's group were at it again, bickering loudly. Meanwhile, the strange masked man leaned against the side, breathing heavily. "I just want to get down…" he thought, feeling a wave of dismay wash over him, trouble always seeming to follow.