Ronan scanned the mission board, eyes skimming over the available quests. Most of them were low-tier monster hunts— Rank-One and Rank-Two creatures. He sighed, disappointed. If he wanted higher-ranked missions, he needed to be at least Adept Tier Five or form a team with a Master Tier One or above. Frustration gnawed at him as he turned away, exiting the building.
As he stepped outside, something caught his eye—a second board hanging on the wall, different from the mission board. Curious, he approached it. His lips curled into a smirk as he read the notices. "Well, well... this is new," he murmured. It was an information board detailing newly discovered monsters and their locations. He hadn't even known the academy had something like this.
One particular notice stood out. A pack of Flame Hounds had been spotted in the western mountains, about 100 kilometres from the academy. His eyes gleamed with interest. A perfect opportunity to collect flame monster cores—something other than the usual tailed foxes.
However, he knew Flame Hounds rarely travelled alone. The best strategy would be to form a team. He made a mental note to ask Orin and Samantha to accompany him once they returned from their mission. But before that, he wanted to scout the area himself.
After purchasing healing potions and mana recovery potions from the market, Ronan left the academy and made his way toward the reported location of the Flame Hounds. Upon arrival, he carefully examined his surroundings but found no trace of the beasts. Strange. Unwilling to give up, he decided to expand his search.
Hours passed before he sensed something—a battle. The faint echoes of clashing steel and snarling beasts reached his ears. Ronan moved toward the commotion, slipping into the shadows as he approached.
From his hidden vantage point, he observed four individuals engaged in fierce combat against a pack of wolves. Three boys and one girl, all heavily wounded, stood their ground against the relentless assault. Scanning them with Keen Eyes, Ronan assessed their Tiers: one boy was Master Tier One, the others Adept Tier Five, and the girl Adept Tier Six. Around them lay the corpses of at least ten wolves, yet more remained, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.
The Master mage, panting heavily, clenched his fists. "I can't hold on much longer. You all need to leave. Now!"
"No way!" one of the boys shot back. "If we leave, we leave together. If we die, we die together."
Ronan's eyes narrowed as he noticed the Master Tier One mage clutching a jade crystal—a teleportation jade, just like the one Elenor carries. The crystal could instantly transport them to their family's teleportation circle. Yet, to Ronan's surprise, the boy shoved it back into his pocket.
Loyalty, Ronan mused, gritting his teeth. Admirable.
The wolves surged forward again. The Master Tier mage barely managed to hold back the lead beast, his strength waning. Ronan saw his chance.
In a single motion, he unsheathed Eclipse Edge, his sword. Holding it in his palm, he infused it with fire mana, causing the blade to spin rapidly. Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist, sending the spinning sword hurtling toward the lead wolf's neck. The beast barely had time to react before the blade struck, the impact sending it crashing backwards.
Seizing the opportunity, the wounded trio mustered their remaining strength and took down the last wolf. Panting, they turned their attention to Ronan, eyes filled with disbelief.
The Master Tier mage, still seated on the ground, looked up at Ronan's outstretched hand. After a brief hesitation, he grasped it and pulled himself up. "Who... are you?" he asked, eyeing Ronan warily. An Adept Tier Three magic user alone in this dangerous territory?
Ronan handed out healing potions without answering. The boy accepted one with a nod of gratitude. "You finished off the wolf," he said. "The monster core belongs to you."
The others looked hesitant but ultimately agreed. However, Ronan shook his head with a gentle smile. "I don't need it. You all fought hard for this."
The girl spoke up. "Then I'll take the core." Without waiting for permission, she moved to claim it from the fallen beast.
Meanwhile, Ronan raised his hand, and Eclipse Edge trembled before soaring back to him. He burned away the blood coating its surface before sheathing it.
Suddenly, the Master-Tier mage pulled out a flying boat. "Get on. We need to leave now."
Ronan, however, summoned his flying sword instead, hovering just above the treetops. The mage frowned. Did he also sense something?
Then they saw them—three Flame Hounds emerging from the forest below.
Ronan grinned. "There you are."
The mage's eyes widened. Did he come here just to hunt those?
The three Flame Hounds prowled menacingly, their fiery eyes locked onto the wolf monster's dead body. Without hesitation, Ronan drew two knives and infused them with flame. The steel blades glowed red-hot, their heat distorting the air around them. He then unsheathed his sword, his grip firm and unwavering.
Among the group watching, a boy's eyes widened in shock. What kind of flame control is this? he thought. I've never seen someone manipulate flames like that, especially at such a low tier.
The girl, as recognition dawned, exclaimed, "Oh! Now I remember—you're Ronan! You almost defeated Elias in that duel!"
Before they could say anything more, Ronan launched the charged knives at the hounds and leapt forward. The first two Flame Hounds barely had time to react before the glowing knives pierced their necks, their bodies collapsing instantly. The third snarled, but Ronan moved too fast. With a single fluid motion, he beheaded the last one. Their lifeless bodies dropped to the ground.
He retrieved the fallen creatures and carried them onto the floating ship, where the group stood. "Mind if I use this as a safe place to absorb the flame cores?" he asked.
The boy was about to respond when the girl beside him smirked and cut in. "Sorry, but protection isn't free. You'll have to pay."
The boy frowned. "Hey, that's—"
Before he could argue, Ronan silently pulled out three Flame Cores. Then, he placed two of the Flame Hound bodies and one core before them. "Will this be enough?" he asked, his voice steady.
The girl's eyes gleamed with excitement. "More than enough! Hehe, we're going to be rich!"
The boy sighed. "You shouldn't have done that. We could've asked him to join us."
The girl chuckled, shaking her head. "Do you think he would? His mana may be low, but did you see his fire control? He was never going to join us."
Ronan ignored their exchange and sat cross-legged on the deck. He placed the remaining two Flame Cores before him, and a flame orb emerged from his body, drawing in the cores' fiery essence. An hour passed as he absorbed their power.
The boy watched in astonishment. Is his fire absorption rate even stronger than Lyra's?
When Ronan finished, he opened his eyes and stood. "Thanks for guarding me. My name is Ronan."
The boy stepped forward and extended his hand. "I'm Kael Flamecrest."
Two other boys introduced themselves. "I'm Darius," said the first, his presence sharp and electric.
"And I'm Garrick," said the other, his stance grounded.
The girl grinned. "And I'm Sylphie."
Ronan nodded before turning to Kael. "You're from the Flamecrest family?"
Kael lowered his gaze. "Yes."
Ronan noted the subtle shift in Kael's expression but didn't press further. Instead, he spoke plainly, "Do you think I can join your team? There are some missions I can only accept with a group."
Kael looked surprised. "It's possible, but why us?"
Ronan's gaze was steady. "Because you're loyal. You could've saved yourself by abandoning your team, but you chose to fight alongside them. I don't want to team up with someone I can't trust."
Kael hesitated for a moment before Sylphie beamed. "What are you asking for? You're already part of the team!"
Kael sighed and smiled. "Alright, we'll officially register you after we return to the academy. Welcome aboard."
Ronan shook his hand. "Then, I'll be in your care."
Kael nodded. "So, what's the plan?"
Ronan's expression hardened. "If you're ready, we'll wipe out the Flame Hound den."
Darius chimed in, "I already scouted their location. There were eight in total. Since you took out three, there should be five left."
Ronan nodded. "Then we strike tomorrow. But first, I need to familiarise myself with your skills and elements."
Kael smirked. "Good idea. Our base isn't far. Let's go."
Everyone agreed, and the flying boat started toward their base. As they travelled, Ronan shared, "I'm a single-element Fire user. My mana isn't high, so I focus on physical skills and swordsmanship. I have one healing skill, but no support skills."
Kael responded, "I have a special or mutated element: Mist."
Ronan raised an eyebrow. "An Illusion Master?"
Kael nodded. "Yes."
Sylphie added, "I also have a mutated element: Wood. Best healer and support you'll find."
Darius and Garrick followed. "Thunder and Wind," Darius stated.
"Earth and Fire," Garrick said.
Ronan smiled. What a team—crowd control, support, and two damage dealers.
"Have all of you learned any perception skills?" Ronan asked.
They all shook their heads. 'No.' Kael said, "I am thinking of getting one." Darius added, "Most perception skills are for Master Tier. Except for Kael, we are still low-tier.
"Then, I want to test something. Everyone, touch my hand."
Curious, they did as he asked. Ronan activated Keen Eye. Instantly, their awareness sharpened, their senses doubling.
Kael's eyes widened. "This is a perception skill! But?"
Ronan smirked. "Yes, this is a perception skill, known as Keen Eye. Then we'll use this in battle. Kael, you'll focus on crowd control with illusions. Sylphie, you'll support and heal. Garrick, you'll protect them. Darius and I will be the vanguard. Thoughts?"
Kael nodded. "That's a solid strategy."
As they reached the base, Ronan's eyes widened in surprise. "A wooden house? How—?"
Sylphie beamed. "Impressive, right? I built it myself!"
Ronan smirked and whispered something in her ear, making her giggle.
Meanwhile, Garrick was collecting wood when he suddenly tripped, landing with a comical yelp. Darius laughed. "How did you even manage that?"
Ronan and Sylphie burst out laughing. Garrick glared at them. "That was your doing, wasn't it?!"
Ronan grinned. "Just some harmless fun."
That night, they roasted meat over the fire, sharing stories and laughter. As the flames flickered, Ronan turned to Sylphie. "You're not just support—you will help us hold the monsters so we can finish them off quickly."
Sylphie grinned. "Okay."
As the night went on, the bond between them grew stronger, sealing their camaraderie. Tomorrow, they would face the Flame Hound den, not as individuals, but as a team.