Cavern of Glassblaze Bears

Advancement Quest was simple.

One just had to kill 10 Silver-ranked monsters.

Almond, Lily, and Natalia left the Nest of Willowbee and arrived in the second large area of the Fairy Mountain, containing Silver-ranked from level 1 to 3.

It was a huge cavern inside the mountain, with four entrances available for people to go inside. 

The trio entered inside through the southwest entrance of the Cavern.

Almond opened a map of the cavern. Such maps were available in the market, and he used those maps to create his own on the magic map parchment, like the Nest of Willowbee area.

Cavern of Glassblaze Bears (Silver Level 1 to 3)

—This shimmering cavern is home to the Glassblaze Bears, enormous, crystalline bears that breathe fire and have molten cores. The cavern walls are lined with crystalline formations that reflect light, creating a mesmerizing but dangerous landscape.

—Key Features: Jagged crystal walls and flickering lava pools.

—Monsters: Glassblaze Cubs, Glassblaze Brute Bears, Elder Glassblaze Bears.

"Here's the map. We are near area number 25. If we walk just ten meters and turn north, we'll likely see a group of Glassblaze Bears.

Lily nodded. "These Glassblaze Bears are both tough with their armored exteriors and powerful because of their lava and glass-based skills, but they are not as fast. This won't be hard."

"Sword is a bad weapon against them, right?" Natalia turned to Almond, "If you use this sword to deflect their lavatic attacks, its durability will decrease even though it's rare grade."

"I'll just have to kill them by moving fast. One attack is enough," Almond's eyes glinted as he took the lead, his sword ready to taste a new prey.

As the trio approached, Almond's keen eyes scanned the field ahead. The bears shimmered under the reflection of the crystal-laden cavern walls. Eight in total—an Elder Glassblaze Bear stood in the middle, its fiery core pulsating with heat like a molten heart. Surrounding it, four massive Brute Bears paced slowly, their jagged crystal hides catching the ambient light, while three Glassblaze Cubs skittered around, small but still dangerous.

Almond glanced at Natalia and nodded, who used her clone skill to attract the bears first so that they would have an easier time initiating the attacks.

Seeing Natalia's clone, the Bears roared. Elder Glassblaze Bear was the first one to attack. Opening its mouth, it released a glassy orb containing fiery lava that shot at Natalia's clone and exploded, destroying it.

Ash and sparks covered a small area, a perfect smokescreen.

Almond and Lily both went out with Physical Enchantment activated.

"I'll kill the Elder one," Almond said as he jumped in an arc, going straight toward the Elder Glassblaze Bear, his sword's blade gleaming sharply.

*Swoosh!*

The bear swiped its paw as if it wasn't bad even though Almond attacked suddenly, but alas, it wasn't fast enough.

*Slash!*

A head rolled down a second later, and a notification entered his ears.

[You have killed a Silver level 3 Elder Glassblaze Bear.]

Leveling was impossible while Advancement Quest was ongoing, but he got 28 gold coins for killing it.

Lily threw two Willowbee Daggers at two Glassblaze Brute Bears, paralyzing one. She attacked one that wasn't paralyzed, her figure vanishing before a sharp slashing sound of flesh-tearing rang out as the Glassblaze Brute Bear's head rolled down.

She didn't wait and attacked the one that was paralyzed, though it had freed itself already in half a second, but that was enough.

'Phantom Slash.'

With a wave of her dagger, a black slash with a violet hue shot at the bear, tearing through its armor and slashing its head off.

Its whole body was armored, but the neck area was still weaker than other parts.

As for Natalia, she copied Lily's Phantom Slash and shot it at the Glassblaze Cubs.

They didn't have armored plating on their bodies yet, but they were small, nimble, and powerful.

One of the Bear Cubs rolled away from the slash, but one got killed.

Meanwhile, Almond had swiftly dispatched the last two agile Glassblaze Cubs with his sword after slicing a Glassblaze Brute Bear. 

These small Cubs, capable of launching lava-infused claw projectiles with a mere swipe of their paws, were responsible for most of the deaths among novice adventurers, who often underestimated them due to their size and armor-less exterior. 

A Glassblaze Brute Bear remained, but Almond and Lily just watched as Natalia dealt with it.

Releasing the Light Pebble skill on the surface near it, it exploded in light and blinded it, which was further enhanced by the cavern's glassy style. 

Right after that, she used Action Mirage again, unleashing Almond's slashing attack as an ethereal slash projectile swiftly beheaded the monster.

"Their items are going to be very good," Almond smiled as he captured all spirits. "But first, it's time to get strong."

He had told them about the Spirit Devour skill as well since there was no point in hiding just this given his increasing power that would become obvious.

"Let's take a break and eat something before continuing," Lily said.

"True! I made sandwiches, so let's eat those first," Natalia grinned. "Lily, take 'em out."

The trio decided to rest for a bit and eat something since this area in the cave was closed on all sides except for the north, though at the north, two passages parted, one at the west and another at the east.

Meanwhile, Almond began.

He would only be able to get stats from nine to twelve spirits at a maximum of these three types of Glassblaze Bears, so he wanted to do that first.

[You have devoured an Elder Glassblaze Bear Spirit. +2 Strength, +1 Perception, +1 Mana.]

[You have devoured a Glassblaze Brute Bear Spirit. +1 Health, +1 Stamina, +1 Strength.]

[You have devoured a Glassblaze Brute Bear Spirit. +1 Focus, +1 Health.]

[You have devoured a Glassblaze Brute Bear Spirit. +1 Stamina.]

[You have devoured a Glassblaze Brute Bear Spirit. +0.5 Strength.]

[You have devoured a Glassblaze Cub Spirit. +1 Mana, +1 Perception, +1 Stamina.]

[You have devoured a Glassblaze Cub Spirit. +1 Focus, +1 Strength.]

[You have devoured a Glassblaze Cub Spirit. +1 Mana.]

[Almond]

-Adventurer rank: Bronze.

-Level: 10 [—]

-Class: Spirit Dealer (SS)

-[Vitality: 100%]

-[Mana: 342/462]

-Stats: 0 unassigned points

—Physical:

↳[Strength: 31 | Health: 17 | Stamina: 17.5]

—Mental:

↳[Mana: 18.5 (+27.75) | Focus: 22 | Perception: 20.5]

…

The trio had just finished eating and resting for ten minutes when they suddenly heard something and their faces fell.

"I swear if that bitch is here, I am going to capture her! Henry, you better act fast this time."