Continuing the Journey

The air crackled with anticipation as the strike landed, causing Auric's heart to skip a beat. Time seemed to freeze for a fleeting moment as the blade found its mark, penetrating the Ogre's defenses. A gasp escaped Auric's lips as he realized he had delivered a critical blow. The wounded Ogre staggered backward, its monstrous face etched with surprise.

Seizing the opportunity, Auric pressed his advantage. A newfound determination surged within him, propelling a flurry of strikes. Each blow landed with resounding impact, further weakening the already injured creature. The Ogre's furious roars transformed into anguished cries as it struggled to maintain its footing.

As the battle reached its climax, exhaustion threatened to overwhelm Auric. His muscles burned with exertion, and sweat and fatigue blurred his vision. Yet, he refused to yield. Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, he once again tapped into his magic, calling upon the elements for assistance.

Activating the thunder, Auric conjured a tempest of lightning. Thunder crackled through the air, and a devastating Thunder Wave was unleashed, sending a surge of electrical energy coursing through the battlefield. The shockwave struck the weakened Ogre, causing its massive frame to convulse and tremble.

With a final, bone-jarring crash, the Ogre collapsed to the ground, defeated. Silence enveloped the air as Auric stood amidst the aftermath of the intense battle. His body trembled with exhaustion, but a triumphant smile graced his lips. Against all odds, he had faced a creature far stronger than himself and emerged victorious.

As the dust settled, Auric's gaze shifted from the fallen Ogre to his sword. The blade, once unfamiliar and foreign in his hands, now felt like an extension of himself. It had been his guide and companion throughout the desperate struggle, a symbol of his determination and newfound resilience.

[* DING!!*] A notification sounded, but Auric chose to ignore it.

He knelt beside the fallen creature, experiencing a strange mix of triumph and sympathy. The battle had been fierce, and Auric couldn't help but acknowledge the formidable strength and tenacity of the Ogre. It had pushed him to his limits, forcing him to dig deep within himself to find the strength to prevail.

With a deep breath, Auric rose to his feet, his gaze now fixed on Magnus.

*clap* *clap* *clap*

"You put up an impressive fight... Had you not faced the challenge head-on, my decision to bring you to the main house might have been in doubt. I will not allow anyone to disgrace the name of the Emberclaw. Bravery runs deep in the blood of each and every member of the Emberclaw clan."

"Well, enough about that. I genuinely enjoyed your fight, but I must ask, why did you choose to engage in a battle of strength? From what I can see, you had a clear advantage in agility, and a hit-and-run tactic could have secured an easy victory."

"Ah... about that, I realized the importance of confronting my fears and challenges directly. Despite having the advantage of speed, I deliberately chose to engage in a battle that played to the Ogre's strengths—strength itself. I did it to prove to myself that I am capable of embarking on the path of becoming stronger."

"Hmm... Very well. I will see for myself just how much stronger you can become. Make it interesting for this old man, boy."

Upon hearing Magnus' words, Auric nodded.

"Let's go back then," Magnus said, heading towards the wyvern.

"Uh, what about the carcasses?" Auric asked as they walked.

Stopping and turning towards Auric, Magnus smiled. "You may take them if you want. They currently hold no value to me."

"Alright then," Auric replied, and he proceeded to gather all the corpses into his inventory using the spatial ring. There were a total of nine ogres, including the one Auric defeated.

After cleaning up, they boarded the wyvern once again and made their way to the capital.

Recalling the notification, Auric glanced at it and was quite surprised.

[HIDDEN QUEST COMPLETED!]

[QUEST: Overcome Yourself!]

DESCRIPTION: Magnus has orchestrated a pivotal moment for you, challenging you to conquer your inner barriers and showcase your true potential by engaging in a battle that mirrors the immense strength of the ogres. Success will earn Magnus's unwavering support, while failure will leave him disappointed and revoke his backing. Furthermore, your personal journey toward self-improvement will come to an abrupt halt, relegating you to the status of an inconsequential figure in this perilous world.

REWARD:

Experience Points: 10,000

SP: 1,200

+10 Dexterity Stat

+5 Agility Stat

[* Rank C Ogre killed! Obtained 3,000 EXP, 1,000 SP!]

<Status!>

[Name: Auric Everlight

Age: 10 years

Level: 28 (EXP: 19,397 / 29,000)

SP: 5,011

Strength (STR): 52

Agility (AGI): 67

Dexterity (DEX): 50

Intelligence (INT): 30

Mana: 210 + 30 (Curse Seal Jewel)

Element: Dark, Thunder

Skills:

Passive:

Language Sense Level 2

Active:

Shadow Sneak, Fear, Shadow Cloak, Dark Orb, Night Vision, Shadow Bind, Shock, Static Charge, Lightning Steps, Spark, Lightning Shield, Thunder Wave

Appraisal Level 3

Mana Sense Level 1

Artifact: Curse Seal Jewel

Available Attribute Points: 0 ]

*

"Well, that's good. I grow stronger with every fight. Let's keep it that way."

Auric snapped out of his stupor when he heard Magnus calling out to him. "Young master, what kind of weapon do you want to take up? From what I can see, it seems you don't know much about weapon techniques."

"I never had the chance to learn any. What do you think, Sir Magnus? What should I try to learn?"

"Honestly, your body seems to be developing in a unique way unlike anything I have ever seen. From my point of view, you can learn any weapon you want."

'Fuck!! It must be because of the system! It's just so overpowered.'

"Young master, can I offer you some advice as your mother's guardian?"

"Yes, please."

"I hope you can become strong quickly. The competition in the main house is quite severe. As just a worthless subject, I cannot interfere in the matters of the house. If you don't prove your worth, you will be devoured instantly. But I believe you can rise above everyone else, so please do not disappoint my faith in you."

"Okay."

"Well, that's good to hear," Magnus said with a smile.

"Big brother! I will also become strong! I am good at archery! Sir Magnus, can I train in archery at the main house?"

"Of course, young miss. I have a very good friend who is skilled in archery. Although he is an elf, I am sure he will be thrilled to teach you," Magnus said, a huge smile plastered on his face, While Auric just nodded in approval slightly smiling.

As he peered ahead, Auric overheard a faint voice emanating from Magnus' direction, "And if he doesn't, I'll simply pummel him until he agrees."

A shiver ran down Auric's spine upon hearing those words. Although Magnus hadn't directed them at him, Auric instinctively swallowed, realizing he must avoid any conflicts with this formidable old man until he grew stronger. With that thought, Auric closed his eyes, seeking some rest and sleep...

Unbeknownst to Auric, Magnus grinned slightly, sensing Auric's apprehensions. 'Good luck, kid. I eagerly await the day when you triumph. It will be my most joyful moment, and I can pass away without regrets.'

*

A few days later, precisely three days, they finally arrived at the capital city of Pyrothorn.

*

*

Meanwhile, in the Everlight state...

*ksch* *ksch*

"Hmmm... The report indicates that everything is proceeding according to plan. I hope the dday is near," a deep voice resonated from behind the desk, which bore magnificent decorations that evoked thoughts of sheer opulence.

A shadowy figure materialized suddenly by the window and respectfully bowed to the man seated behind the desk.

"Master!"

"Duval, how did it go?"

"The mission has been accomplished."

"Where are your two subordinates?"

"They perished."

"Why did it take you so long?" the man raised an eyebrow, questioning the bowed figure.

Duval's back was drenched in cold sweat as he attempted to respond. "W-well, I had to execute the task as covertly as possible, and afterward, cleaning up the aftermath took some time. I was alone in this endeavor. Please rest assured, sir. Anyone who investigates the incident would conclude that the village was ravaged by a horde of monsters."

"Very well. Is the boy truly dead?"

"Yes! I ended his life in the 'Mists the Eldrak' ."

Duval silently mused to himself, 'There's no way I can admit that I left the boy in the company of some simians... Still, there's no chance that the kid could survive that pack, so I'm in the clear. He's as good as dead. Rest in peace, kiddo. No hard feelings—it's just business.'

"Here," the man rose from his seat and walked over to the ornate cupboard situated beside the adjacent wall. He opened a drawer, retrieved a pouch, and tossed it toward Duval, who caught it with practiced ease. Duval studied the man's face—it was Avalon. "Return and await further instructions."

"Yes!" Duval responded, disappearing from sight.

"Hmm... It's time to initiate the next phase. Let us anticipate the chaos that shall ensue."