Aria woke up with a sudden jolt. Ever since she had the strange dream, she had occasionally experienced restless nights in which she was visited by a mysterious being in the form of a blinding light that filled her mind with knowledge. The memories had come gradually, but she could finally piece together the truth: she had been reincarnated.
She could not fully remember who she had been in her previous life or which country she had come from. However, she could recall information related to the 'bizarre' monsters that had appeared in this world. They were all seemingly creatures from a game she had obsessively played in her previous life. Seeing them in the game had been surreal enough, but encountering them in real life was an entirely different experience.
Aria sat up on her makeshift bed, a cushion made from layers of cloth draped over straw, and scanned her surroundings. Several other female tenants were still asleep on similar cushions scattered across the floor of the huge room. This was one of the inn's communal rooms, which the guild had recommended to newcomers.
Aria stood up, folded her blanket, and slowly made her way out of the room so as not to disturb the other tenants. She walked along the corridor until she reached the public bathroom at the end. It was already bustling with people.
It seemed many adventurers woke up early to grab the most lucrative quests, while others had to travel to different cities. Without another source of light during their journeys, the sun was an important part of their daily lives.
Many women of various ages were washing their faces with water drawn from a nearby river, while others had stripped down and were wiping their bodies clean.
"Looking at their clothes and equipment, they may have just returned from a night quest." Aria proceeded to wash her face before brushing her teeth with some plant fibers she had collected from the Forest of Beginners the previous day.
"Yesterday, the guild master had decided to organise a hunt to exterminate these foreign monsters. They will probably start with the Great Jaggi."
After cleaning herself, Aria headed to the inn's dining hall, where a simple breakfast of potato stew, hard bread, and honeyed jam was being served. Aria showed her plaque to the canteen lady before collecting a portion of the meal. She quickly gobbled it down. It was not as appetizing as Aria had expected, but it filled her stomach enough to start the day.
She then collected her equipment from the adjacent locker room after showing her plaque once more and headed toward the Adventurer's Guild.
Inside the guild, the usual buzz of activity filled the hall, but there was an unusual excitement in the air. Many adventurers were waiting around while checking their equipment and supplies.
Aria approached a staff member to ask what was happening. She was told that the guild master had an announcement to make, and rumors had already spread that it would involve some very generous rewards.
Coincidentally, the guild master descended into the hall just as the staff member finished explaining.
"My fellow adventurers, I am here to announce an urgent hunting quest for those brave enough to participate." The guild master paused as the gathered adventurers turned their attention toward him. "We are going to subjugate the monsters that have invaded our territories! Those who participate will receive additional rewards from both the guild and our noble lord!"
Many adventurers became riled up when they heard about the extra rewards and began buzzing among themselves. Some inquired about the subjugation request, but they were told to be patient as the guild master continued.
"We will be dividing into two groups. Adventurers of Iron rank and below will form Group One, while those of Steel rank and above will form Group Two. Group One will head to the Forest of Beginners to hunt down the Great Jaggi and its pack. Group Two will head southwest to the Cloudy Jungle to take down the Rathian."
Most of the adventurers were confused by the names of the monsters, but they continued listening, assuming they were newly discovered creatures that had invaded the region.
Aria, on the other hand, was surprised that the guild intended to hunt both monsters at the same time. Nevertheless, she remained quiet and continued to observe.
"Those who wish to participate, please register and be ready to depart when the second morning bell rings! Assemble at the southern gate entrance, where you will be led by the guild's chosen adventuring parties. I hope you will help us defend our way of life from these pests!"
Many adventurers decided to participate. While most were lured by the promise of extra rewards, others were determined to preserve their city's way of life.
Aria noticed that Daniel had also decided to participate and approached him.
"Good morning, Daniel. How are you?"
"Ah! Aria! Good morning to ya too. I'm fine, but I wanna get that extra reward and help clear out those things, so the orphans can get their income from that forest again."
"You do know how dangerous those monsters we encountered were, right? Do you still have the courage to face them? There is no guarantee that you will come out alive. I believe that life is much more important than any fame, glory, or wealth."
Daniel looked at Aria with despondent eyes. "Heh. If only others were worried about me the same way ya are. I only live once, so I wanna fill it with as much as I can. And if I fall, it just means I wasn't fated for more."
Aria could not say anything. The lives of commoners seemed to be cheaper than she had initially thought.
***
The second morning bell rang, signaling the peak of the morning bustle. Several adventurers had gathered at the southern gate of the city, fully equipped for the expedition.
Many civilians murmured among themselves at the rowdy sight while keeping their distance. Merchants, however, actively approached the adventurers to sell their products or make connections with famous adventurers. After all, most of these merchants relied on adventurers to safeguard them and their supplies during their travels.
Aria blended into the crowd and quietly waited behind several adventurers.
Soon, the leaders of the two groups announced their departure.
The party leading Group One was a famous Iron-ranked party called 'Will of the Wind', which had risen to fame a year ago after achieving a 100% success rate.
Its leader, Gunther, was a powerful swordsman with keen senses and a strategic mind. His vice-captain, Elisia, was his childhood friend - a beautiful, level-headed wind magician with excellent administrative skills.
The other members included Peter, who was tall and muscular and had known the pair since they began their lives as adventurers. He wielded a large shield and a lance. Mary and Noel had met the group around a year after Peter joined. They utilised wind magic to increase their nimbleness and lethality while wielding various weapons.
The five individuals had formally formed their party around a year ago and had since earned a coveted reputation and the trust of the guild.
Aria followed the group quietly as they made their way through the forest. She observed their demeanor and behavior, intending to use them as a template for how adventurers should conduct themselves.
As the vegetation grew denser, so did everyone's alertness. The Jaggis could emerge at any moment.
Group One consisted of thirty adventurers, but most were novices who were barely Copper rank. Seven were Bronze rank, while only the members of Will of the Wind were Iron ranked. Aria and Daniel were the only two Glass-ranked adventurers.
"I guess the reward for Group One is too little for most Bronze and Iron-ranked adventurers, while the Glass-ranked adventurers view it as too dangerous," Aria murmured to herself as she observed her surroundings.
Mary and Noel suddenly raised their right hands, signaling everyone to stay alert.
With their various weapons raised, the adventurers waited as rustling sounds reverberated through the bushes.
Several Jaggis suddenly leapt out and kicked at the adventurers. Fortunately, everyone was prepared and countered with deadly force. Some of the Jaggis were killed, but many others escaped while calling for reinforcements.
"Everyone! They're coming! I can sense a big one!" Gunther drew his sword and warned everyone. Just as he finished speaking, the Great Jaggi emerged from the bushes and swung its tail at the group. Fortunately, the adventurers managed to dodge the attack.
Gunther immediately took the lead and charged at the Great Jaggi while giving orders. "Bronze-ranked adventurers, come and take care of the big boss with us! The others are to keep the goons away from us!"
Aria and the others moved to surround the main party as they engaged the leader of the pack.
The Jaggis and Jaggias coordinated their attacks, attempting to penetrate the adventurers' ranks and disorient their prey.
The Copper-ranked adventurers fended off their advances with various weapons. Swords cut through their necks, spears pierced their bodies, magic inflicted additional damage, while bows and arrows struck the monsters from afar.
Aria moved nimbly among them, using her sword and magic to attack the monsters while defending her fellow comrades. The others were in awe of her magic, which could easily kill two Jaggis with a single blow.
"Wind. Be my arm, be my blade that cuts my enemy. Air Blade!" Aria chanted as she swung her enchanted blade, beheading a Jaggia that charged toward her. "I guess small monsters are rather easy to deal with..."
"Fire. Burn my passion onto my enemy. Fire Shot!" Several sparks ignited in the air. Aria directed the flames with her left hand and fired them at the Jaggis emerging from a burrow along the cliffside, killing two while injuring the rest.
Aria looked around and noticed several Jaggis and Jaggias heading toward the Great Jaggi. She immediately ran past several injured adventurers to intercept them.
In the chaotic battlefield, the Great Jaggi suddenly performed a sideways body slam against Peter. He raised his massive shield in time to defend himself, but the difference in mass sent him flying backward and crashing into Elisia, who was in the middle of chanting.
Gunther immediately charged at the monster to distract it, giving both of them time to recover with healing potions. However, several Jaggis broke through the formation and leapt at Gunther, throwing him off balance. He stumbled and fell onto the rocky ground.
Several Bronze-ranked swordsmen rushed in to attack the Great Jaggi, but their strikes only inflicted superficial wounds. Mary and Noel fired several wind-enchanted arrows at the monster, but were forced to switch targets when more Jaggis entered the fray.
The Great Jaggi performed another body slam, followed by a tail whip that sent several adventurers tumbling away.
Seeing an opening, Aria leapt from a nearby rock formation and landed a deep cut across the Great Jaggi's back. She then climbed onto the beast like a rider and repeatedly stabbed its tough hide with her knife.
The beast soon succumbed to the continuous assault and collapsed onto its side.
"This is our chance!" Aria shouted as she jumped away, giving Elisia, who had finished chanting her wind magic, an opportunity to unleash a hurricane upon the struggling monster. The powerful winds tore through the earth and ripped branches from nearby trees as they battered the beast from all directions.
As the wind subsided, the battered Great Jaggi limped away, attempting to escape into the denser part of the forest.
"Do not let it escape! Pummel it to death!" Gunther had recovered and climbed back to his feet. He shouted with vigor as he charged after the fleeing beast.
The remaining Jaggis and Jaggias rushed in the same direction as their king to protect it.
"Curses! Get out of my way!"
Several arrows took down some of the Jaggis, clearing a path for Gunther. With the way clear, Gunther leapt from a ledge just as his target was about to cross a stream. He landed a powerful strike on the Great Jaggi's head, shattering its frill.
After sustaining so much damage, the beast finally let out its last call before collapsing to the ground, never to rise again.
Gunther raised his blade and announced the death of their prey.
The other adventurers cheered as they finished off the remaining monsters, many of which were confused and disoriented by the death of their alpha.
As the extermination operation came to an end, most of Group One rested beside the nearby stream while the others tended to the carcasses and harvested anything they deemed useful.
Aria was helping harvest materials from the Great Jaggi when Gunther and the rest of Will of the Wind approached her.
"That was a marvelous display, young lady. It's hard to believe that you're only a Glass-ranked novice."
"Well, I just did my best." Aria blushed at the compliment from the senior adventurer. "But thank you for the compliment."
"Ya were amazing when ya rode that thing! It was like ridin' and tamin' that monster to behave! Right, Noel?"
"Indeed, indeed, Mary! Ya made it kiss the ol' earth!"
"It is because of you that I was able to land that hurricane. You should be proud of yourself."
Surrounded by praises and warm gazes, Aria smiled, enchanting those around her with her ephemeral beauty. However, gazes of jealousy and envy were already spreading among the Copper- and Bronze-ranked adventurers.
Aria walked into the shallow stream and noticed Daniel washing his bloodied equipment. She approached him and asked if he was all right.
"It was terrifying, but yet exhilarating. The young me would never have imagined being part of such an incredible expedition after only one year of being an adventurer. Though I think it's more accurate ta say that I've had two years of experience. Some alumni brought me out and taught me the ropes of being an adventurer when I was just ten years old."
"In that case, let this expedition serve as a learning experience, and count yourself lucky. What does not kill you makes you stronger. I am learning from this as well."
"Haha. I bet ya gonna go on and do more amazing feats like that."
The two chatted and laughed until Aria finished filling her leather costrel with water. She then returned to dismantling the carcasses, leaving Daniel to continue cleaning his blade.
Suddenly, a chill ran down Aria's back. She turned around. A huge azure bear was charging at Daniel from the opposite bank of the stream.
"Daniel!"
Daniel raised his sword defensively, but the beast swiped him aside with its enormous claw and pinned him to the ground.
With the sudden commotion, all the other adventurers immediately readied themselves to confront the new threat.
"What in the mighty name of God is that thing?!" Gunther rushed forward to save Daniel, who was pinned beneath the beast's armored claws. However, the bear, which was around eight meters in length, lifted its victim, shook him violently, and hurled him out of the stream. Daniel slammed into a nearby rock face.
The bear rose onto its hind legs and roared, as if claiming the territory as its own. Its fur had an overall bluish hue, with thick layers of pelt covering its back. Its enormous arms were covered in hardened, spiky shells that resembled the armor of a knight.
Aria knew this monster.
"Arzuros..." Her eyes widened. "Bloodlust Incarnate."