A few days later, Heath and I headed to the Normandy Guildhall to pick up a new quest. Upon our arrival at the guild, I browsed through the tier-1 quests and found a hunting quest that I believed offered the best opportunity for profit. It was a Salamander hunting quest in the mountains, which required us to collect 15 sets of Salamander eyes.
Unlike last time, Heath decided to embark on a separate quest focused on hunting wolves. After he made his decision, we set out in different directions: I headed to the Pavae Mountain Range, while Heath returned to the forest. An hour later, I arrived at the mountain range and began searching for salamanders. To do this, I befriended a bird in the same way I had previously done with the boars and sent it out to start searching.
After the vibrant bird soared into the azure sky and vanished from my view, I found a sturdy rock nearby and settled onto it, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. With a sense of purpose, I opened my system, a complex interface that glowed softly in the daylight. I had been meticulously gathering energy from the meals I enjoyed over the past month—7,500 Energy in total. With this substantial accumulation of energy, I could finally take significant steps to enhance my statistics. I carefully reviewed my characteristics, envisioning the improvements I could make, each choice potentially transforming my abilities and strengthening my resolve for the challenges that lay ahead.
After taking some time to reflect on my abilities and the overall balance of my skills, I decided to make several key adjustments to enhance my performance. I increased my Strength from 1.1 to 2, allowing me to deal more damage in physical confrontations and lift heavier objects with ease. My Dexterity saw a significant boost from 1.1 to 3, which not only improves my accuracy in ranged attacks but also enhances my agility in dodging incoming threats and improves my reaction time.
Additionally, I raised my Stamina from 1.051 to a solid 3, granting me the endurance needed to persist longer in battles and reduce fatigue during prolonged activities. I also adjusted my Intelligence, increasing it from 1 to 1.5; this enhancement allows for better strategic thinking and problem-solving in challenging situations.
Perhaps the most dramatic change was in my Mana pool, which I elevated from a modest 159 to a substantial 1,500. This increase provides me with the ability to cast more powerful spells and sustain magical activities for extended periods without running out of energy. Lastly, I increased my Luck, improving it from 1.2 to 2.11, which not only affects the chances of critical successes in various endeavors but also improves my overall fortune in both battles and daily life.
These adjustments were made with careful consideration, aiming to create a more well-rounded and formidable character ready to face any challenges ahead.
After implementing these changes, I was struck by their immediate impact on my body and abilities. My muscles had not only grown larger but felt denser and more powerful, as if they were coiled springs ready to unleash energy. When I picked up a rock and hurled it with all my strength, I noticed a surprising phenomenon: it moved slightly slower through the air, which initially confused me. However, it soon became clear that I was experiencing a heightened sense of agility; my Dexterity had tripled in comparison to an ordinary human, enhancing my overall reaction time and coordination.
While the effects of some transformations weren't immediately apparent, I could sense a profound shift within me. The most exhilarating change was my newfound affinity for magic: I now possessed the ability to cast spells of any variety at an astonishingly continuous rate. It felt as if the very essence of magic flowed through me without bounds. For instance, whenever I expended 5 mana to conjure and launch an ice spike, my mana reserve was instantly replenished, as if the universe was eager to supply my every desire. This limitless potential filled me with a thrilling sense of power and possibility, beckoning me to explore the depths of my capabilities.
Feeling the profound shifts in my environment, I set out to enhance my mana proficiency. Focusing my willpower, I began to tap into the latent energy all around me—each breath became a means to draw in the ambient mana that suffused the air like a delicate fog. As I concentrated, I could almost visualize the strands of mana weaving through the world, waiting for someone to harness their potential.
With determination, I gathered the ethereal energy, feeling it coalesce around me and form a shimmering pool. Once I amassed a sufficient amount, I turned my attention to refinement. I meticulously processed the raw mana, purifying and structuring it to ensure that it would blend harmoniously into my existing reservoir. Each refinement was a test of my focus and control, transforming chaotic energy into a potent source that would augment my abilities. Slowly but surely, this invigorating essence flowed into my mana pool, deepening my connection to the mystical forces at play in the universe.
After 2 hours of training I ended trance for the bird I sent earlier had now returned with information though before understanding the information The system informed me, "Mana has increase from 1500 to 2100"it also informed me, "Fire affinity as increased from 1 to 3", "Increasing fire based Mana attacks by 300%".After that my affinity was now: Fire Level 3, Water Level 5, Earth Level 1, Wind Level 1.
Now after all the information was finished I then received the report from the bird that there were 2,847 Salamanders in a 10 kilometer area. Hearing this from the bird I thanked it and asked it if it could take me to the closest group to which the bird agreed. 5 Minutes later I arrived in a clearing out of sight of the 60 or so Salamanders.
Seeing them I then quickly summoned Ice Spikes though this time I pointed them at their throats making sure to avoid their eyes, heart, and mana stone as they were the most valuable ingredients. After the spikes impaled all the salamanders I exited my hiding place into the clearing I put all the salamanders into my Storage bag.
After that I repeated this process 431 though my last round was a little different because on my hunt there was a different Salamander in the crowd.
It was a large white salamander, larger than the usual ones, and it almost seemed to beckon to me. Trusting my instincts, I decided to use my beast-taming skills to tame it. The salamander didn't resist; when a tamer has sufficient mana, they can tame any beast. Once I sent the mana toward the salamander, it happily approached me.
After it finished its approach, it gracefully climbed onto my back, its presence surprisingly light despite weighing around 170 pounds. I felt a curious mixture of weight and warmth as I shifted beneath its form. I hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you have a form that would be more convenient for this?" It shook its head, a silent indication that this was how it preferred to connect. Then, in a mesmerizing flicker, it began to dissolve into the air around me.
As it faded, I noticed a striking black tattoo materialize on my left arm, its intricate lines starting at my fingers and winding their way up to the midpoint of my forearm. The tattoo pulsed with a latent energy that captivated me. When I instinctively channeled mana into it, the once-static black lines began to shimmer and shift, turning into a flowing gold.
To my amazement, the image of the salamander I had named Shiro emerged in vibrant detail, each scale glimmering as if alive.
With newfound understanding, I concentrated on Shiro, and as if responding to my thoughts, the salamander dissolved back into the tattoo, causing the radiant gold to fade away. The lines returned to their original ebony color, resting quietly on my skin, a reminder of the bond we shared and the magic that connected us.
After that shock, I decided to forget about the remaining Salamander listed in my status. A new section appeared titled "Bound Beast: Shiro."
When I clicked on Shiro's name, the following information was displayed:
Name: Shiro
Age: 108
Level: 46
Mana: 2084
Class: King of Salamanders
Tier: 4
Path: The Brain
Skills: Advanced Fire Magic Level 6, Intermediate Iron Skin Level 9, …
Seeing this, I thought to myself, "Damn."
After that shock, my status was as follows:
Name: Owen Alpine
Age: 16
Level: 71
Mana: 2100
Class: Elemental Mage, Beast Tamer
Tier: 2
Path: The Brain
Skills: Advanced Reading Level 3, Fire Magic Level 2, Advanced Water Magic Level 9, Wind Magic Level 1, Earth Magic Level 1, Advanced Taming Level 4, and Advanced Interspecies Communication Level 2.
Afterward, I finally made my way back to the guild, eager to collect the substantial profits that awaited me. Upon my arrival and the completion of all the necessary processes, Asa provided me with the following details:
"A total of 4,792 Salamander Eyes at 822 Thal, 2,484 Salamander Hearts at 1,304 Thal, 39,744 Salamander Claws at 121 Thal, 2,219 Basic Mana Crystals at 2,051 Thal, and 100 Advanced Mana Crystals at 5,028 Thal. The remaining 100 Basic Mana Crystals and 65 Advanced Mana Crystals were reserved according to your instructions. This brings your total to 1,618 Ran and 9,095 Thal after the 5% processing fee.
"This, like your previous quest, has resulted in a monstrous outcome," said Asa. Hearing this, we went to the same room as last time. As we climbed the stairs, I joked, "The guild master must be extremely happy with me." She replied, "While the guild master appreciates your business, he is not pleased with the logistical nightmare you've created. If he sold all the merchandise in Caledon, the prices would collapse. So, he has to distribute it through many cities in Normandy."
After the remake, we gathered in the room upstairs, a familiar space that had seen countless collaborations before. The atmosphere felt both relaxed and charged with anticipation as we settled in. True to form, I received my payment promptly—just like always, it felt routine yet reassuring. Before making my exit, I turned to Asa, who had been instrumental throughout the process, and expressed my gratitude with a heartfelt "thank you." It was a small gesture, but it lingered in the air, a testament to our teamwork and shared efforts.
After the remake, we gathered in the room upstairs, a familiar space that had seen countless collaborations before. The atmosphere felt both relaxed and charged with anticipation as we settled in. True to form, I received my payment promptly—just like always, it felt routine yet reassuring. Before making my exit, I turned to Asa, who had been instrumental throughout the process, and expressed my gratitude with a heartfelt "thank you." It was a small gesture, but it lingered in the air, a testament to our teamwork and shared efforts.
Upon returning to the sprawling grounds of the Anthreus Estate, I was greeted by the familiar scent of the blooming garden that surrounded the grand mansion. In the warm glow of the evening, I found Heath in the study, poring over some documents from our recent endeavors. We settled into comfortable chairs, the aroma of freshly brewed tea wafting through the air as we recapped the whirlwind of events from the past few days. Our conversation flowed easily, tinged with laughter and shared reflections on our challenges and triumphs.
After our engaging discussion, we moved to the dining room, where a sumptuous dinner awaited us, the table elegantly set with fine china and flickering candles casting soft shadows. As we dined, we exchanged stories, savoring both the meal and our companionship. With the day winding down, we eventually retreated to our respective rooms, the gentle sounds of the estate settling into the night lulling us into a sense of peace.