Aurora Town, Azure Wood Family
The territory of the Azure Wood Family was currently in a festive mood. Delicious food was laid out, a variety of tasty dishes cooked with different meats from Vicious Beasts.
Laughter and conversation filled one area of the Azure Wood Family's territory. Everyone looked joyful, smiles brightening their faces.
"Third Elder, now that Finn is in the Sacred Dragon Institute, isn't there a risk that his life will be in danger, like what happened to Altair ten years ago?" Sig suddenly asked the Third Elder.
When those present heard this, most of their expressions darkened, and some fell silent.
Even after ten years, the death of the one hailed as the most talented Adventurer ever born in the history of the Azure Wood Family was still fresh in their minds.
When Altair passed the examination for the Sacred Dragon Institute, everyone had hoped that the Azure Wood Family would finally rise from poverty.
But that hope disappeared when they learned Altair had been killed. Poison had been found in his drink, and it was already too late—no one could save the young man then.
Altair is the younger brother of the Third Elder, so he had grieved deeply when he learned that someone had murdered his brother.
Altair's death shattered the entire Azure Wood Family's dream. Many lost hope because of his sudden passing. And to this day, no one knew who was truly behind his death.
Nevertheless, the Azure Wood Family's higher-ups had their suspicions. They suspected the Black Tiger Family was responsible.
They couldn't think of any other clan or individual who would dare such a thing apart from the Black Tiger Family.
They suspected the Black Tiger Family had feared Altair's talent. But all they could do was suspect, for they had no solid evidence to prove it.
The incident had happened just days after the young man entered the institution, so the higher-ups of the Sacred Dragon Institute hadn't bothered to prolong the issue or conduct an in-depth investigation.
They issued hardly any statements about it, keeping their mouths shut and refusing to speak about what had really happened.
Even though the Azure Wood Family disagreed, there was nothing they could do, because the words of the institution's authorities were law.
They were merely an ordinary clan, and their total strength was no match for an institution built by the Royal Clan.
Rebellion?
If they started a rebellion, they would only bring shame to their ancestors. And they wouldn't last long anyway, since even a single elder of the Royal Clan could wipe them out.
The Third Elder simply looked up at the sky. He sighed and whispered, "If something bad happens to my son, that will be the end of the Black Tiger Family. Not even the Royal Clan will be able to save them."
Sig and Damian exchanged glances. They didn't understand the Third Elder's words. They were confused, but they stayed silent, as the other Elders were quiet too, their expressions solemn.
They couldn't fight the Black Tiger Family. If that was so, who would wipe out those tigers if something happened to Finn?
And besides, was there really any clan or being in this kingdom capable of defying the Royal Clan's authority?
--
Sacred Dragon Institute, Contribution Hall
"Did I hear you right? You want to get stronger, and you're asking me to help you?" Kiden asked with a frown, eyeing the young man in front of him.
Kiden had just returned to the Contribution Hall when suddenly a young man came looking for him. This young man was none other than Finn.
On Finn's face was a look of intense determination. In his pair of golden eyes was a deep thirst for strength. He had made up his mind to grow stronger, and now he had swallowed his pride to ask for help from someone he had only just met.
If he wanted to train and grow stronger right away, he first needed the advice and help of a senior, experienced Adventurer. He had no choice but to seek help from Kiden, who was an instructor at the Institute.
"Yes, Instructor! I want to become strong so that I can protect the people close to me!" Finn replied resolutely.
Kiden rubbed his chin as if thinking. He looked into Finn's eyes and sighed. "I know what you're thinking. You believe you can save your clan from the Black Tiger Family, don't you? That's quite an ambition… but…I like that."
Kiden truly admired Finn. It was rare to see a student whose wish was to protect his own clan. For a sixteen-year-old Adventurer, such a mindset was admirable.
"There's a place in the Institute that you can go to for training. You'll gain combat experience there, but…" He paused and looked at Finn directly. Seeing that the young man was waiting for him to continue, he sighed and went on, "It's far too dangerous a place for someone at 5th Level Bronze Rank. If you're careless, you could die in there."
Finn clenched his fist and quickly responded, "But, Instructor, if I don't have the courage and if I don't face danger, I will never become strong! As an Adventurer, it is my destiny to confront trials and peril. Please, help me!"
Kiden was surprised by Finn's words. From that moment, he could no longer regard the young man as just a child. Everything Finn had said was true. But when Kiden had been that age, he had never thought that way. At that age, he himself had been ignorant and naive about the world he lived in.
"Hmm. It's a pity you were born into the wrong clan. But your clan is lucky to have you." Kiden touched the ring on his finger, and suddenly a rolled-up piece of paper appeared in his hand. He tossed it to Finn and said quietly, "Take this. It's a complete map of the Institute's Training Ground. There, you'll see where you can find weaker Vicious Beasts. But be careful—powerful Vicious Beasts roam around looking for prey, especially at night. You're only a 5th Level Bronze Rank, but you should be able to handle the weaker First Grade Vicious Beasts."
While Kiden explained, Finn's gaze had shifted to his ring. He couldn't hide his curiosity and admiration.
'That ring! That's an interspatial ring!' Finn thought.
An interspatial ring was a type of magical item that could store anything lifeless. Inside such items, time flowed very slowly, making them perfect for keeping food, water, and more.
Finn himself had a similar item, but his was only an interspatial sack given to him by his father. Compared to a ring, the sack's space was ten times smaller. If an interspatial ring had fifty square meters of space, the sack only had five.
Finn shifted his gaze away from Kiden's ring and considered the instructor's advice. He smiled with renewed eagerness.
"Training Ground… Thank you so much, Instructor Kiden!" Finn accepted the scroll and bowed respectfully.
"Hahaha. It's just a small favor. I admire your spirit, boy—keep it up," Kiden replied with a smile.
Finn thanked him again before turning and walking out of the Contribution Hall.
Kiden watched the young man's figure grow smaller and whispered, "What a pity."
He shook his head and added, "I hope you achieve your goal, and that you don't cross paths with a powerful Vicious Beast."
--
The Training Ground was located inside the Sacred Dragon Institute. This Training Ground was essentially a forest inhabited by various Vicious Beasts. These monsters could be compared to ordinary animals, but the difference was that they possessed extraordinary strength and unique abilities. Like Adventurers, Vicious Beasts were ranked according to their power. For now, Finn could only handle First Grade Vicious Beasts that were comparable to 4th Level Bronze Rank.
If he encountered a First Grade Vicious Beast comparable to 6th Level Bronze Rank or higher, his life would definitely be in danger.
Even though Vicious Beasts were extremely dangerous, they were still of great help to ordinary Adventurers.
Certain body parts of Vicious Beasts could be sold to merchants outside the Institute. Examples of valuable parts included their hides, fur, horns, teeth, blood, and—most importantly—the Magic Crystal.
The Magic Crystal was similar to the soulforce coil of an Adventurer, containing the Vicious Beast's energy.
Just like Adventurers, these beasts absorbed natural energy from the environment to create their own internal power. In a way, they were like Adventurers themselves, only with lower intelligence and far more violent instincts.
The Vicious Beasts in the Training Ground were captured by the instructors. Every year, experienced Adventurers hunted weaker beasts to ensure there was always a supply for the students to train against.
--
Sacred Dragon Institute, Training Ground
Meanwhile, in front of a tall wall and gate, a guard and a young man were talking.
The guard's brows were furrowed while the young man stared at him seriously.
"Hmm? Are you sure you want to enter this Training Ground?" the guard asked with a scowl. "If something bad happens to you, the Institute won't be responsible. You'll have no one to blame but yourself."
Finn nodded in response. He was willing to gamble with this opportunity—not for himself, but for his clan and family.
When the guard saw how determined the boy was, he could only shake his head and open the gate.
"You may enter," the guard said solemnly.
Finn thanked him and immediately stepped inside. As soon as he entered, the guard shut the door behind him. Finn glanced back briefly before starting to walk deeper into the Training Ground.
He continued on, taking out the map Kiden had given him. The area with First Grade Vicious Beasts was near the entrance, so he didn't have much trouble finding it.
Inside his interspatial sack were a few loaves of bread for when he got hungry, a container of clean water, his student emblem from the Institute, and a small dagger his mother had given him for protection.
While he was walking, Finn suddenly came across a white rabbit. Its pair of eyes were so red they seemed almost like blood. Its fur was pure white. The rabbit and Finn locked eyes.
Finn was about to approach when he stepped back in alarm—
The white rabbit abruptly changed shape, swelling to the size of a human. A horn sprouted from its forehead, and its claws and teeth grew long and sharp. In an instant, it no longer resembled the docile rabbit it had been moments ago.
"Horned Tricking Hare!" Finn's eyes went wide.
He had nearly been fooled. He knew a little about this monster—it was the ability of the Horned Tricking Hare to disguise itself as an ordinary animal to lure in its prey.
If he hadn't been cautious, he would have become its lunch.
Even though the Horned Tricking Hare was one of the weakest Vicious Beasts here, it was still not something to underestimate.
Its claws were dangerously sharp.
Finn quickly pulled out his dagger from his interspatial sack and gripped it tightly in his left hand.
"ROAR!"
The monster lunged to slash at him, but Finn jumped backward.
The moment he landed, he charged forward and sliced at it with his dagger.
The beast managed to block with its forearm, which was gashed open.
"ROAR!!!"
Enraged by the injury, it went berserk, attacking wildly with its claws.
But because it had lost control, Finn was able to dodge more easily.
'It's lost its mind! I just have to wait for the right moment,' Finn thought.
He kept dodging until he found an opening.
He clenched his fist, gathering a bit of energy into it. When the opportunity came, he kicked aside the beast's slashing arm and punched it in the gut.
Azure Wood Fist!
He used one of his clan's skills.
The Azure Wood Fist was a technique created by their ancestors. It was only a Rank 1 Adventurer Skill, so it wasn't particularly powerful. But it was enough to defeat a weak First Grade Vicious Beast like the Horned Tricking Hare.
BAM!
The monster was sent flying, rolling across the ground until it slammed against a massive tree.
Finn approached cautiously, still gripping his dagger. He inspected the beast and smiled in relief when he confirmed it was dead.
He sat down, joy evident on his face, even though he had struggled to dodge the creature's frantic attacks. That battle had drained almost half his soulforce and physical strength.
Back in Aurora Town, he had only been allowed to train his body against trees—his father never let him join the hunts in the forest.
The real forests were far too dangerous, unlike this Training Ground, where only selected weaker monsters were present for students. The Training Ground was for students, while the true wilderness was for seasoned Adventurers.
"I'm lucky it was just a weak Vicious Beast," Finn said with a grin, holding up his dagger.
Using the blade, he carefully harvested the valuable parts of the Horned Tricking Hare, including the meat—his father had told him it was delicious.
He stored everything inside his interspatial sack. Afterward, he rested for several hours, only moving on once his strength had fully recovered.
--
In the blink of an eye, three days quickly passed. Finn's appearance by now could no longer be compared to how he had looked when he first entered the Training Ground.
His entire body was covered in cuts and bruises. His once-white uniform was stained red with blood and torn in many places.
It was night, and the light of the full moon bathed the entire Training Ground.
Finn was roasting the meat of a Raging Wild Boar when he suddenly heard rustling behind a tree.
A small green wolf emerged from behind it, quickly approaching Finn and staring intently at the meat he was cooking.
Moments later, two more wolves stepped out from behind the same tree, watching Finn and their pup warily.
"Green Lone Wolves—and a whole family, at that," Finn said softly, smiling. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you."
Of course, the wolves didn't understand a word he was saying.
They continued to watch him cautiously.
Green Lone Wolves were different from other types of wolves; they usually didn't form large packs.
They either lived alone or only with their families.
In truth, even though they were wolves, Green Lone Wolves weren't all that dangerous.
They rarely attacked without provocation.
They only fought back if someone attacked them first.
Finn gently shook his head and tossed them several large pieces of meat.
At first, the wolves sniffed at the food, glancing between it and the young man.
Once they realized the meat was truly for them, they began to eat.
The smallest wolf quickly finished its portion, so its parents nudged theirs over to share.
Seeing this, Finn felt something stir in his heart.
He couldn't help but think of his own family.
"Even monsters cherish their loved ones…" he murmured with a sigh.
While he watched the wolves eat, a deep voice suddenly broke the stillness, grabbing Finn's attention.
"Finn Doria… It's a miracle you're still alive after all this time. You really are resourceful. Hahaha!" The deep voice made Finn's heart stop.
A powerful sense of danger swept over him.
Even the wolves bolted into the shadows, terrified by the presence of an Adventurer nearby.
"Who's there?!" Finn shouted.
He wasn't afraid—but he felt an overwhelming dread. His body turned cold as he sensed the terrifying aura growing closer from behind a tree.
A powerful Adventurer!
"Don't worry, boy. This will be quick." A figure dressed entirely in black suddenly leapt out and charged at Finn.
Finn tried to jump backward to evade, but the figure was too fast. He felt a sharp object pierce deep into his chest.
With all his remaining strength, he grabbed at the black cloth covering the figure's face and tore it away. As he pulled the covering free, he accidentally yanked an earring from the man's ear. And when the mask slipped away, Finn found himself staring into the wrinkled face of an old man.
"You…" Finn gasped, his voice trembling.
"Hmph! So what if you've seen my face? Since you're about to die, I'll tell you a little secret," the old man sneered. "It was by my hand that Altair Doria also died."
His lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You should feel honored—a Gold Rank Adventurer is the one ending your life."
"B-but…why?" Finn managed to choke out, struggling to breathe.
"You really need to ask? When you get to hell, maybe you'll find the answer," the old man replied.
"Farewell. Hahaha!"
He yanked the blade free from Finn's chest and quickly stepped back.
In the darkness, the old man's figure vanished without a trace.
Finn's body crumpled to the ground.
Blood poured from the wound in his chest, spreading into a small pool beneath him.
Just before he lost consciousness, he saw two rifts open in the air above him.
Thick white and black smoke poured out, swirling around something red and glowing within. The smoke wrapped around Finn's body, slowly sinking into him.
As his eyes closed, the two rifts sealed shut, and a strange voice echoed in his mind:
[The System is now linked to host's mentality.]
[Merging the System to host's soul… successful.]
[Transferring Alchemist profession… successful.]
[Transferring Blacksmith profession… successful.]
[Transferring Inscription Master profession… successful.]
[Transferring Formation Master profession… successful.]
[…]
[Transferring all the information… successful.]