Dian's gaze fell for an instant before he returned to the Duke. "We tracked down the camp of the bandits. It was… empty. There were definite signs of a battle—blood all around, shattered weapons—but no corpses. No survivors. No lead on what they did."
Maria's face grew white. "No bodies?" she whispered, her voice near inaudible. "What could have committed something like this?
"We don't know, My Lady," Dian replied, his voice weighed down. "It's like as if someone or something erased them entirely and left without a sign."
The room become silent, the unanswered questions suspended like a heavy weight.
Duke Alaric lifted his hand, his expression unreadable as he motioned for Dian to halt. "Investigate this," he stated curtly. His eyes flicked to the severed limbs on the table. The room was silent as he gazed at them, his red eyes betraying feelings he attempted to conceal. A long moment later, he spoke to the butler hovering near.
"Prepare for the funeral," he ordered, his voice steady even though his pain was clear.
The butler bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Grace."
Maria placed a shaky hand on Alaric's shoulder, her touch both gentle and firm. "I'll take care of the funeral arrangements," she said quietly. "You need to focus on… everything else."
Alaric nodded curtly, his wide shoulders dipping beneath the burden of his sorrow and responsibilities. He remained quiet, his gaze upon the tragic form of his son.
The soldiers departed individually, their faces stern as they granted the Duke and Duchess privacy to mourn.
Duke Alaric settled back in his chair, his eyes closing momentarily.
Two days later....
In Obsidian Academy's faculty building, an young man rushed down the hallway, his rapid footsteps ringing out across the buffed marble floors.
He arrived at the principal's office and knocked softly on the door before entering.
Principal Tavik Veymar, a middle-aged man with silver hair and a trimmed beard, sat behind his desk, surrounded by piles of papers and books. He glared up as the young man entered.
"Sir," the young man started, producing a letter. "This has just arrived. It's from the Caulem Dukedom."
Tavik received the letter, his face sterning as he recognized the official seal—a griffin, that of House Caulem. He broke the seal and opened the letter, scanning its contents in a flash. Reading, his face darkened, and he sighed heavily, his fingers pinched to his temples.
The young man, taken aback by the change on Tavik's face, ventured softly, "What's wrong, sir?"
Tavik reclined in his chair, his deep, grave voice. "Leonhardt Caulem… is officially dead. He was murdered on the way to the academy."
The young man's eyes widened in shock. "What? How?"
Tavik's head shook, his face disturbed. "The letter doesn't say much, but it does say he was ambushed by bandits on the way back to the academy."
The room grew silent as Tavik sat in thought. After a long pause, he looked at the young man again. "Call all the students. We'll hold an assembly tomorrow to share this sad news."
The young man nodded quickly, his face pale. "Yes, sir. I'll make the arrangements right away."
After the young man had gone away, Tavik leaned back in his chair, letter in hand. He looked at it for an instant, his thoughts racing.
"Who have gutsto assault the son of the duke?"
---
"You've got guts to face me directly."
Reo adjusted his grip on the dagger, his crimson eyes narrowing as he stared at the enormous creature blocking his path to the nearest town, Ironholt.
The Razorclaw Bear loomed over him, standing tall on two legs, its matted fur covered in dirt and its claws shining like knives in the sun.
[Scanning target…]
[Identified: Razorclaw Bear.
Classification: C-ranked monster.
Attributes: immense strength, sharp claws, and decent speed.
Weaknesses: vulnerable neck and joints. Long fights can tire it out.]
Reo tilted his head slightly, an amused smirk tugging at the edge of his lips. "okay, big guy. Let's see what you've got."
Behind him, Liana clutched the bags tightly, her face pale as she trembled. "Y-Young Master Leo," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "This… this isn't something we can handle. Please, let's escape while we still can."
Reo glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm yet commanding. "Liana, take a few steps back and keep your distance. I'll handle this."
"But—"
"No buts," Reo interjected, his tone firm but not unkind. "I'll keep it busy. Just trust me." His gaze returned to the massive bear. "I've got this."
The Razorclaw Bear roared, its bellow ringing out over the forest as it dropped onto all fours and charged. The earth trembled beneath its feet, the ferocity of its charge stunning in something so huge.
Reo didn't hesitate. As the creature charged, its razor-like claws swiping at him, he dove to the side, barely dodging the fatal strike. Its claws tore the ground, digging deep trenches where he'd only a moment before stood.
Reo countered at once, striking in and slashing at the bear's side. The dagger scraped against its thick hide, drawing blood but doing little more than angering it.
The bear turned on him, faster than he expected, swiping a massive paw in his direction. Reo ducked, rolling under the blow, but not before the edge of its claws caught his shoulder, tearing through his cloth and skin. A sharp, hot pain shot through him.
"Tch… figures you'd hit like a truck," Reo muttered, staggering back and clutching his shoulder. The bear wasted no time, charging again, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The battle was brutal. The Razorclaw Bear's sheer strength and size made every encounter a life-or-death exchange. Reo relied on his speed, weaving and dodging as he aimed for its weak spots.
He was able to get a few in—one onto its rear leg, another close to its shoulder—but these were not deep enough to hinder it at all. The bear's roars became increasingly infuriated with each blow, its movement clumsy and erratic.
Reo, on the other hand, was running out of steam. Claw marks lined his arms and legs, and a nasty bite wound on his thigh slowed his steps. Blood dripped onto the ground as he panted, his grip on the dagger tightening.
The bear was injured too, its breathing heavier, its wounds bleeding freely, but it still had the upper hand.
"This isn't enough," Reo muttered, stepping back to create distance. His crimson eyes never left the beast as he wiped blood from his lip. "I need to end this. Now."
Elynn, how many fireballs can I use now?
[HOST CURRENTLY HAS LOW MANA.]
[ONLY ONE FIREBALL ATTACK CAN BE USED.]
Reo clicked his tongue with irritation. "One shot, huh? Guess I'll have to make it count."
He raised his hand towards the bear, his fingers curled into a gun shape. A weak glow started to develop in his palm as he focused his mana, calling upon what little was left.
The bear snarled, its glowing eyes focusing on him as it crouched ready to spring. Reo did not flinch. He stood firm, pouring all his energy into the fireball forming in his palm.
The orb came to life, a tiny, wavering flame at first, but it soon expanded into a burning sphere of light and heat. The Razorclaw Bear let out a deafening roar and charged, the earth shaking beneath its massive strides.
He didn't blink, even as the creature closed in, he need heavy concentration. Rather than unleashing the fireball, he concentrated, compressing it even more.
The fireball started to condense, its light brightening as its energy was concentrated. The surrounding air rippled with heat, the pressure growing in his hand as the orb decreased to a marble size.
It pulsed with raw power, unstable yet contained by Reo's will.
"This gonna hurt, big guy," Reo muttered, his voice steady despite the strain. He waited, his crimson eyes narrowing as the bear lunged for him, claws outstretched. At the last possible moment, he aimed directly at its head.
Back in the underworld, I'd take out targets with a single shot. This is just the magic version.
"I call this," he whispered, releasing the compressed fireball. "Mini Bang."
The small marble-like orb blasted ahead at blinding velocity, traveling through the air like a bullet. It hit the Razorclaw Bear between the eyes. Nothing happened for an instant, a split second.
Then, the fireball detonated with the blow of a cannon, unloading all its contained force in one, killing blast.
The blast radiated shockwaves through the forest, the explosion so loud that Liana winced and clamped her hands over her ears. When the dust and smoke has gone, the Razorclaw Bear was dead on the forest floor, its head destroyed, the ground around it burned black from the explosion.
Reo stood over the fallen beast, his chest heaving as the last of his mana drained away. He dropped to one knee, his body trembling from exhaustion. Blood still dripped from his wounds, but a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "And that's why you don't mess with me," he muttered, his voice low and hoarse.
[Kill confirmed]
Elynn announced, her voice as calm as ever.
[Initiating healing protocol.]
Reo's gashes and bite wounds closing rapidly as his injuries healed themselves.
Liana, who had watched the entire fight in stunned silence, rushed toward him, her hands shaking. "Young Master Leo… your wounds—they're gone! How…?"
Reo pushed himself to his feet, wiping dirt from his face as he gave her a faint smile. "Turns out the goddess gave me a few upgrades," he said casually.
[ALERT!]
[YOUR MANA LEVEL HAS RISEN BY 2
YOUR STAMINA HAS RISEN BY 1
YOUR STRENGTH HAS RISEN BY 1
YOUR ENDURANCE HAS RISEN BY 1
YOUR SPEED HAS RISEN BY 1]
[STATS UPDATED]
[- STRENGTH: 26
- ENDURANCE: 21
- DEFENCE: 23
- SPEED: 31
- STAMINA: 21
- MANA CAPACITY: 7
- INTELLIGENCE: 70
- BATTLE INTELLIGENCE: 83
- RESONANCE WEPON: None]
Reo looks at the upgrades and smirks.
Liana stared at him, her fear giving way to awe. For the first time, she realized that the boy who had once been weak and cruel was gone.
Reo glanced back at the fallen Razorclaw Bear, wiping his dagger clean before sheathing it. "Not bad," he murmured to himself. "But I've still got a lot of work to do."
[CONGRATULATIONS ON HUNTING FIRST MONSTER!]
[YOU Granted AN REWARD]
Reo glanced at the system notification in confusion.
What? Reward?