First Hunt
It had been a year since our training began. In that time, we had become skilled in our elemental abilities—both in Shadow's element and my dual elements of lightning and arcane. Our bond with Sara and Asher had grown from mere friendship to a deep, unbreakable camaraderie.
We often hung out in the city together, and our presence had gained popularity among the citizens, especially due to my dual elemental abilities and our connection with Duke Childers.
But today was different. Today, we were going to test our real strength. Mentor Shane had decided it was time for us to face real monsters.
The excitement in the air was palpable, especially for me. I was finally going to see a real monster in this world, not just the butchered meat my father used to bring home. Today, I would not only see a monster but also hunt one.
As we gathered at the training hall, Mentor Shane addressed us. "Today is the day you've all been preparing for. You've trained hard, honed your skills, and built a strong bond with each other. Now, it's time to put your abilities to the test against real monsters."
We nodded eagerly, our eyes shining with anticipation.
"Asher, Clara, Sara, Aric," Shane continued, "you have all shown remarkable progress. Today, you'll be facing a group of monsters in the nearby forest. Your objective is to work together, use your elemental abilities, and successfully hunt them."
The mention of the forest made my heart race. I had always imagined what kinds of creatures might lurk there, and now I was about to find out firsthand.
Shane led us out of the hall and towards the edge of the city, where a dense forest stretched out before us. The sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The air was filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls.
As we neared the dense forest, Mentor Shane stopped and turned towards us, his expression serious. "Before you start getting excited," he began, "let me tell you about this forest. It's primarily inhabited by F-class monsters, so this should be relatively easy for you. However, there's a chance you might encounter some E-class monsters as well.
But don't worry, this area is restricted for anything above E-class, so you won't have to face anything too dangerous. Remember, as E-class warriors, you should be able to defeat them easily. Don't disappoint me."
His words filled us with determination. We were more motivated than ever to prove ourselves and not let Mentor Shane down. It was important to remember the power levels of the monsters we were facing.
In this world, monsters were classified by rank—F-Rank for common, low-threat creatures, and E-Rank for common, moderate-threat creatures.
Today, we were hunting E-Rank monsters, which meant they could pose a moderate challenge to us. However, thanks to our rigorous training, we were well-prepared to handle them.
With Mentor Shane's words echoing in our minds, we entered the forest, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Our weapons were at the ready, infused with our elemental powers, and our spirits were high. We moved cautiously but confidently, knowing that we had each other's backs and the skills to overcome any obstacles in our path.
Just as we entered the forest, Asher couldn't contain his excitement. "Guys, I'm really excited! I want to test my powers now, so the first one to come out will be mine, alright? I'll be the first one to fight."
Sara shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever. If you want, you can have the first kill. But if you find it difficult, then we'll step in, okay?"
I nodded in agreement. "It's alright, Sara. He's strong; he can handle them."
Clara chimed in, "Yes, and the next one will be mine, okay?"
"Ok, as you wish, Aric," Sara replied.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush, and an ugly green creature emerged. Its small, twisted body and malevolent red eyes identified it immediately.
"Oh, a green ugly creature—is that a goblin?" I asked.
"Yes, that is an F-class goblin, Aric," Sara confirmed.
Asher grinned, gripping his greatsword. "Haha, first hunt for me! Guys, please, he's my hunt, so don't interfere."
We stepped back, giving Asher space to face the goblin alone. The creature snarled, brandishing a crude club. Asher raised his greatsword, the blade glowing with fiery energy.
The goblin lunged at Asher, but he was ready. With a swift, powerful swing, he struck the goblin's club, shattering it. The goblin recoiled, its eyes wide with fear and surprise. Asher didn't give it a chance to recover.
He followed up with a flaming strike, cutting through the goblin with ease. The creature fell to the ground, defeated.
Asher turned to us, a triumphant smile on his face. "That was easier than I thought. Who's next?"
Clara stepped forward, eager for her turn. "My turn now. Let's find another one."
We continued deeper into the forest, alert for any signs of movement. The thrill of the hunt was upon us, and our confidence grew with each step.
We knew that our training had prepared us well, and we were ready to face whatever the forest had to offer.
As we moved through the underbrush, we encountered more goblins and other F-class creatures. Clara, Sara, and I took turns engaging them, testing our skills and refining our techniques.
Clara's sword sliced through the goblins with precision, while Sara's ice-coated blade slowed and froze her opponents. My lightning-infused sword crackled with energy, delivering swift, decisive blows.
Defeating the goblins had been an easy feat for us due to their low class. They fell swiftly to our combined skills and elemental abilities. However, we knew that this was only the beginning.
As we ventured deeper into the forest, the real challenge we were waiting for finally appeared.
A large, imposing creature emerged from the shadows. It was a giant wolf, easily twice the size of an average one, with dark fur that seemed to absorb the light and glowing yellow eyes that fixed on us with predatory intent. This was an E-class creature, a true test of our abilities.
My heart pounded with a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was the moment we had been preparing for, the opportunity to test our powers against a creature of equal rank.
"Alright, team," I said, my voice steady. "This is what we've been training for. Let's put everything we've learned into this hunt."