The morning light spilled through the cracks of the inn's shutters. Shadow stirred awake, his body moving before his mind caught up, like muscle memory guiding him. His eyes shifted to the gauntlets lying on the small table near his bed. The black steel shimmered faintly, almost pulsing, as if breathing in rhythm with him.
> "…Eager today, aren't you?" Shadow muttered. The gauntlets gave off a faint hum in response, smug as ever since their reforging.
After a light breakfast, he fastened the gauntlets, slipped on his hood, and made his way to the Adventurers' Guild.
The hall was lively as usual, full of clashing voices, clattering mugs, and the constant shuffle of mercenaries boasting about their latest spoils. Shadow scanned the quest board, his eyes catching on higher-ranked missions. He was about to reach for one when a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"Shadow!"
He turned to see Ryn waving, with Sera and Lena close behind. The trio looked livelier than usual, each of them wearing the ornaments he had forged.
"Morning," Shadow greeted.
"You busy today?" Ryn asked, grinning. "We're planning to take a mid-rank extermination quest. Level twenty-eight to thirty beasts. A bit risky, but…"
"…but with you, it won't be," Sera finished, smiling softly.
Lena crossed her arms. "Don't get too cocky. But yes, it'll be easier if you come."
Shadow glanced at the quest parchment they held. A nest of [Ironhide Vultures], notorious for tough hides and group hunting tactics. He gave a short nod. "Fine. Let's move."
---
The road outside the city stretched into rolling grasslands, the morning air crisp. The trio walked beside him, chatting lightly.
"By the way," Ryn said, fiddling with the necklace Shadow had given him. "This thing… it actually made a difference. My strikes hit harder than usual."
Sera nodded. "Mine lets me focus better. Mana flows more smoothly through my staff."
"And mine increases my defense," Lena admitted grudgingly. She glanced at Shadow. "You didn't tell us you were that skilled."
Shadow shrugged, voice casual. "Just something I learned long ago."
The gauntlets gave a faint, smug vibration against his arm, as if laughing at his downplay. Shadow ignored it.
---
By noon, they reached the hunting grounds. The shrill cry of vultures echoed overhead, followed by the thunder of wings.
"Here they come!" Sera called out, raising her staff.
A shadow fell over them as a flock of iron-feathered beasts dived, talons gleaming. The trio moved instinctively, positioning themselves with practiced formation—Ryn charging forward, blade gleaming; Lena guarding his flank with her shield; Sera casting wind bursts to throw the vultures off balance.
Shadow slipped into motion, his gauntlets shifting with fluid grace. A retractable blade hissed out, slicing clean through a vulture's wing as it dove. He twisted, the blade retracting just as a crossbow formed in his grip. A bolt of mana shot skyward, piercing a beast mid-flight.
The fight grew chaotic. Vultures circled and struck from all angles, their metallic feathers deflecting weaker blows. The trio struggled but their coordination shone—Ryn cleaved one in half, Lena intercepted a diving strike, and Sera pinned another with a burst of wind pressure.
Shadow filled gaps seamlessly. When a vulture slipped past Lena's defense, his gauntlets extended into tonfa, striking the beast aside before it reached her. When Sera was nearly grabbed from above, he fired a mana-coated bolt that exploded the predator mid-air.
It wasn't easy, but it was efficient.
By the time the last vulture hit the ground with a metallic crunch, the group was breathing hard. The air reeked of iron and burnt mana.
---
"Not bad," Ryn panted, wiping blood from his cheek.
Sera leaned on her staff. "We actually managed against peak twenties…"
Lena gave Shadow a long look. "Your gauntlets… I've never seen anything like them."
Shadow didn't answer. His gaze was on his panel, faintly flickering in front of him.
> [Level Up]
Shadow – Level 25 → 26
He exhaled softly. Even after taking down monsters stronger than himself, his progress was slower than before. Each step forward demanded more.
---
They began the trek back toward the city, exhaustion replaced with relief. The sun was dipping low, painting the forest in amber hues.
But Shadow slowed. His steps became deliberate, his senses sharpening.
> …Something's wrong.
His perception spread outward, a ripple of mana awareness. Faint traces lingered in the air—mana disturbances that weren't natural. Someone had been watching the fight. No, they were still watching.
He didn't tell the trio yet. His eyes shifted to the treeline.
For just a moment, he thought he saw it: a figure, cloaked in shadow, standing among the trees before vanishing without a sound.
The gauntlets vibrated faintly, as if they, too, had noticed.
Shadow's lips curved into the faintest smile. So the game begins.