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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. But something unexpected happened—more giant wolves emerged from the bushes. Now, in front of us were three giant wolves of E-class. We were nervous but also excited; this was the perfect opportunity to test our strength.

"Aric and I will deal with two wolves, and Clara and Asher will take on the third," Sara said decisively.

"What? That's not fair! I want to fight alone," Asher protested.

"Yes, but Clara isn't as skilled with a sword yet, so you need to help her," Sara replied.

"Fine, but next time I get to fight alone," Asher grumbled.

With that, we prepared for battle. I squared off against one wolf, while Sara faced another. Clara and Asher teamed up to handle the third wolf. The tension was palpable, but we were ready to put our training to the test.

The wolf I faced lunged at me with surprising speed. I sidestepped and slashed at its side with my lightning-infused sword, sending sparks flying.

The creature growled in pain but quickly turned to attack again. I focused, channeling both my lightning and arcane energy into my blade, and struck back with a powerful, electrified arcane slash.

Sara, meanwhile, was a blur of icy precision. Her movements were fluid and deadly, her sword leaving trails of frost in the air.

She parried the wolf's attacks effortlessly, countering with strikes that slowed the creature with ice, making it easier for her to land more blows.

On the other side, Asher and Clara were holding their ground. Asher's greatsword was ablaze, cutting through the air with fiery ferocity.

Clara moved with agility with also using her arcane magic she was striking wolf with water balls and also her sword striking at the wolf's legs and flanks, disrupting its balance and making it more vulnerable to Asher's powerful strikes.

Despite their combined efforts, the third wolf was putting up a fierce fight. It lunged at Clara, but Asher intercepted, his flaming sword creating a barrier of fire. Clara used the opening to drive her sword into the wolf's side, channeling her earth energy to disrupt its movements.

Back in my battle, the wolf was getting more aggressive, its attacks more frantic and powerful. It lunged and snapped with increasing desperation, forcing me to stay on my toes.

I knew I needed to end this quickly before it managed to land a serious blow. Summoning all the lightning energy I had been practicing with, I infused it into my sword. The blade crackled with electricity, glowing with a fierce blue aura.

With a decisive leap, I drove the lightning-infused blade into the wolf's heart. The creature let out a final, pained howl before collapsing, its body twitching from the residual electrical energy.

The scent of ozone lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy smell of the forest floor.

As I stepped back, catching my breath, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. The lightning blade move, which I had trained extensively with Sara, had proven to be effective.

All those late-night sessions channeling lightning into my sword had paid off. I glanced over to Sara, who was also finishing off her wolf with icy precision.

Sara's battle was a dance of grace and lethality. Her wolf, slowed by her ice-infused strikes, was no match for her swift, calculated attacks.

With one final, freezing thrust, she incapacitated the beast, leaving it motionless on the ground.

Turning to Asher and Clara, I saw them handling the third wolf with teamwork and coordination. Asher's fiery strikes and Clara's arcane energy sword had worn the creature down. It finally succumbed to their relentless attacks, collapsing in a heap.

We regrouped, standing over the fallen wolves, breathing heavily but filled with a sense of accomplishment. The adrenaline of the fight was still coursing through our veins, but we had proven ourselves. We had faced a real challenge and emerged victorious, showcasing our skills and teamwork.

Mentor Shane approached us, a proud smile on his face. "Excellent work, all of you. You've proven yourselves capable of handling E-class creatures.

This is just the beginning. There will be greater challenges ahead, but today you've shown that you're ready to face them."

We shared a look of satisfaction and relief. Our bond, forged through countless hours of training and now solidified in the heat of battle, had shown its strength.

Together, we were formidable, and together, we would continue to grow and face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As we made our way back to the city, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and determination. Today had been a significant milestone in our journey. I knew that with my friends by my side, there was nothing we couldn't overcome.

When I got home, Mom and Dad were waiting anxiously for me in the living room. As soon as I stepped inside, Mom rushed towards me, her face lighting up with a mix of relief and excitement.

"Baby, how was your first hunt?" she asked, her eyes scanning me for any sign of injury or distress.

"It was great, Mom. We had a lot of fun," I replied, trying to convey my enthusiasm and reassure her at the same time.

"Oh, baby, I knew you were strong!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her warmth and the familiar scent of home washed over me, grounding me after the day's excitement.

Dad chuckled heartily and clapped me on the shoulder. "Haha, my boy, you have proven that you are my son."

"Yes, Dad, I'm just as strong as you," I said with a grin, feeling a surge of pride at his praise.

"Alright, let's get you freshened up and then we'll have dinner, okay, Lyra ?" Dad suggested, turning to my mother who was already bustling towards the kitchen.

After washing up and changing into comfortable clothes, I joined my family at the dinner table.

The meal was a hearty stew, filled with chunks of meat and vegetables, the kind of comforting food that made me feel at home. We talked about my day, with Mom and Dad listening intently as I recounted the hunt.

Once dinner was over, I headed to my room, eager to discuss the day's events with Shadow. The room was dimly lit, I closed the door behind me.

"So, Shadow, how was my hunt? Are you satisfied?" I asked, eager to hear his assessment.

"Yes, I am satisfied," Shadow replied, but there was a note of dissatisfaction in his voice that I couldn't ignore.

"What happened, Shadow? You don't sound happy. Are you not satisfied?" I probed further, sensing there was more he wanted to say.

"Even though you used your lightning and arcane abilities perfectly, you didn't use the shadow element," Shadow said, his voice carrying a hint of disappointment.

"Oh, that's because I can't show them my power. You yourself said that, right?" I reminded him, feeling a bit defensive.

"Yes, I said that, but without using your powers, you can't become strong," he replied, his tone firm.

"Then what should I do? Should I show them my shadow element?" I asked, feeling a knot of worry tightening in my chest.

"No, don't. If people find out about your shadow element, your life could be in danger. You don't know how people will react," Shadow cautioned, his voice grave.

"Yeah, you're right. And I'm too young for that, anyway," I admitted, the worry easing slightly.

"Yes, so if you want to grow strong, there's only one way," Shadow said, his tone serious and unyielding.

"What is that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued and a bit of apprehension creeping in.

"You have to leave your home," Shadow stated, his words hanging heavy in the air.

"What?" I was taken aback, the idea shocking me.