《Seeds of wrath》 The tyrant spider In the south of the capital of the Kingdom of Valeria, there was a thriving village inhabited by people of all classes: the poor, the commoners, and the wealthy. The village was about 150 kilometers away from the royal capital. It was well known for a guild called "Lion''s Heart" and was bustling with adventurers. Among the available missions, there were various types, such as search, assistance, and combat. Ilarion stood before the mission board, where a fifth-level golden-rank mission had been posted for a long time due to the targeted monster¡ªa spider with large red eyes and long, powerful arms. Some teams had attempted to eliminate it, but they ended up becoming its prey. He took the mission and proceeded with the acceptance procedures. It was eleven o¡¯clock at night; the weather was snowy, the sky was clear, and the moon was full. He put on his clothes, took his swords, bow, a bottle of water, and some food, as it was going to be a long night. Unlike those before him, he wouldn¡¯t face the spider head-on. Understanding an opponent''s strengths and weaknesses is half the battle. The dreaded spider lived in a forest north of the village. After forty minutes, he took some time to prepare a trap. He hunted some animals to use in determining the spider¡¯s strengths and weaknesses. By the time he reached the spider¡¯s cave, it was midnight, and the moon hung in the middle of the sky, illuminating the dark, cold forest. He moved a few meters away to place the meat he had caught, covering it with blood to attract monsters. Then, he backed off, sat on a rock, and took out something warm to drink while waiting¡ªbut it was cold. Fortunately, his ability allowed him to manipulate objects: turning solids into liquids or vice versa, making the intangible tangible, or altering temperature. He heated his cold coffee and watched. An hour later, some ghouls appeared. Not the best result, but they would serve their purpose. The dreaded spider emerged, sensing their presence. It was tall, perhaps 1.5 to 2 meters, with large red eyes and eight long, muscular arms. The battle was one-sided. Watching hideous ghouls being crushed and torn apart by a grotesque spider wasn¡¯t thrilling. He repeated the baiting process twice, but it yielded no benefit other than revealing the spider¡¯s brutality. By 3:30 AM, the sun would rise in thirty minutes, signaling the final trap. "This is exhausting¡­" Three and a half hours in, just when Ilarion was about to give up, he saw light at the end of the tunnel. The spider was confronted by a lightning wolf, and at that moment, Ilarion realized its weakness¡ªlight. That¡¯s why it hid in the cave during the day. The battle between the lightning wolf and the corrupt spider was epic and brutal. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Even though the spider faced its natural counter-element, it was no easy opponent, nor was the wolf. Ilarion observed the overwhelming aura of the lightning wolf¡ªswift and powerful¡ªdodging the spider''s eight arms that tried to trap it. But the spider didn''t anticipate what the wolf would do next. The wolf unleashed a powerful lightning bolt straight into the spider¡¯s eyes. The spider shrieked in agony, and the wolf tore into its arms, maiming and disfiguring them one by one. Though stunned by the light, the spider didn''t completely stop moving. It redirected its remaining arms away from the wolf, pretending to be paralyzed. When the wolf sensed its opponent was weakened, it let its guard down and moved toward the spider¡¯s head. That was the trap. A massive violet web shot out, ensnaring the prey. The wolf was powerful, but the spider was more cunning. Enraged, the wolf unleashed all its strength, trying to burn the web with its lightning. But how much energy did it have left? The wolf lunged at the spider¡¯s neck, biting with all its might, leaving a deep wound. The spider, once again shocked by the lightning, struggled as the wolf prepared to bite deeper and unleash another electric burst. But suddenly, the wolf''s body weakened. Ilarion realized the web was poisoned. The remaining arms ripped the wolf apart. The spider retreated into its lair, and Ilarion didn¡¯t dare follow¡ªwho knew what horrors lurked inside? Instead, he gazed at the wolf¡¯s corpse, then at its glowing horn. He took the horn, considering how to use its natural power. With his innate ability, Ilarion could transform objects. He decided to convert the horn into its owner¡¯s element¡ªlightning. --- The day passed quickly. Ilarion slept, then returned to observe the spider. After hours, a terrifying howl echoed in the distance. Two smaller lightning wolves appeared¡ªthey were likely family members of the fallen wolf. Spider vs. two wolves¡­ The area lit up instantly. The first wolf unleashed a bright lightning bolt, striking the spider. It roared in pain, resisting with its arms to shield its weak spots. The second wolf, enraged, charged at full speed and climbed the spider¡¯s body. The spider attempted to ensnare it in its web, but failed¡ªthe wolf was too fast. As the wolf neared the spider¡¯s injured head, the spider released a thick web, trapping it. The wolf struggled to cut through the web, and when that failed, it tried burning it with lightning¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t enough. It suffered the same fate as its kin. It happened too fast for the first wolf to assist its sibling, as it was occupied fighting four of the spider¡¯s arms. Their plan might have been for one wolf to distract the spider while the other attacked its wounded head. But they hadn¡¯t accounted for the spider¡¯s web. They met their end. At that moment, Ilarion seized the opportunity. Charging his swords with lightning, he struck swiftly, decapitating the spider. --- When he returned to the guild, his appearance was terrifying. Everyone thought he had died, but when they saw him carrying the heads of the wolves and the spider, their respect for him soared¡ªhe had slain monsters that even the strongest in the guild couldn¡¯t defeat. With a smile, Ilarion said, "A fruitful hunt." He greeted John, the mission handler, and handed over the trophies¡ªthe heads of the wolves and spider, along with valuable materials: skin, meat, claws, and a bit of spider venom. As a reward, he received an excellent sum¡ª five silver coins for the wolves, three gold coins for the spider and the mission. "This is what I¡¯ve been waiting for all these years!" "I will go to the academy in the capital. Even though I¡¯ll be studying with people younger than me, I will benefit from it. So, trivial matters don''t concern me." "I''ll return to the capital after ten years¡­ It''s funny to think about it." "My sister and my family''s knights won¡¯t be able to harm me¡ªbecause the academy is under the Imperial Faction¡¯s protection, and nobles have no authority there." --- Writer¡¯s Questions: 1. What is the name of the royal capital? 2. What was the rank of the spider mission? Haven of the Clouds I did some running exercises for a few kilometers, push-ups, pull-ups, and sword-swinging exercises. I finished my training and went back to shower. There''s nothing better than a warm shower. After finishing, I got dressed¡ªI was going shopping to buy some things in preparation for my return to the royal capital, Valeria. The weather was cold, and the market was filled with many people¡ªmen, women, and even families. I passed by various food stalls, weapon and armor shops, vegetable and fruit vendors, and finally arrived at my destination. The clothing shop had an air of nobility and elegance. A young woman dressed in refined clothes, with a noble demeanor, welcomed me. After spending some time browsing, I got what I wanted¡ªa shirt, a black jacket, and black trousers¡ªall for 10 silver coins. I also stopped by the weapons shop and bought two daggers. They were perfect for me¡ªtheir weight, length, and sharpness were ideal. These cost 5 silver coins. The sun began to set. I needed to return to my lodging to prepare for the next day. The Next Morning I woke up at 6 AM, had breakfast, and packed a small bag since I didn''t have many belongings. I wore the new clothes I bought yesterday and placed the daggers, my bow, and a cherished book from my childhood¡ªgiven to me by my mother¡ªinto a special bag. Leaving the guild, I headed to the train station. I arrived at 7:55 AM, five minutes before departure. Trains¡ªa great invention. A massive structure of iron moving swiftly and steadily, powered by coal or magic. I sat by the window. As the train started moving, I heard the whistle blow¡ªit had begun. A man dressed in clean, well-matched clothes sat beside me and started reading a newspaper. I gazed out the window¡ªthe scenery changed rapidly. Lakes, trees, and houses filled the view, bringing a sense of happiness and tranquility. Then, I heard a calm and gentle voice: "Sir, your ticket, please." I smiled at him and handed it over. He stamped it and returned it to me. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The distance to the royal capital was 150 kilometers. After several hours, we had covered 140 kilometers. Many passengers got off at different stops, while new ones boarded. Finally, I arrived at my destination¡ªor close to it. I had reached a village. (Haven of the Clouds). As I stepped off the train, a cold breeze brushed against my face, bringing a smile to my lips. I wrapped a scarf around my neck and bought an umbrella since it was raining¡ªas if the rain was welcoming us. Walking under the rain, I saw people enjoying it, and children playing joyfully. Their happiness was contagious. After some time, I arrived at my other home¡ªthe house of my?Maternal uncle? and aunt. I knocked once, then again. Silence. A worrying silence. I knocked a third time. Fear crept in¡ªhad something happened to them? Just as I was about to force my way in, I heard a voice: "Who is it?" It was my?Maternal uncle? , Albert. I replied, "?Maternal uncle? Albert, it''s me¡ªIllarion." I heard hurried footsteps. The door swung open, revealing a man in his forties with an expression mixed with joy and sorrow. He pulled me into a tight embrace. Then, as we stepped inside, I saw my aunt¡ªstill as beautiful and elegant as I remembered from my childhood. It was a deeply emotional moment, especially for my uncle, who had thought I was dead since that incident. They invited me to a meal, filled with a variety of dishes. We sat and talked about many things¡ªmy adventures and missions. Of course, I kept things simple and avoided mentioning any hardships. I didn¡¯t want to burden them with worry. Afterward, they allowed me to take a bath. When I finished, my uncle called me and guided me to the room where I would be staying. The room was beautiful and spacious¡ªa white bed, a large window adorned with simple yet stunning patterns, a desk with flowers of various colors, and finally, a bookshelf filled with books. I couldn¡¯t resist. I delved into my uncle¡¯s library, losing track of time. Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. The Next Morning I woke up at my usual time¡ª6 AM. My aunt was already awake. I greeted her, and she welcomed me with a warm smile before preparing breakfast. As she spoke about many things, I listened without minding. After a while, I heard my Albert, calling for me. I got up and went to him. A big smile was on his face. "Come with me, there''s something I want to give you." I followed him as we walked to a room that hadn¡¯t been opened for a long time¡ªit was covered in dust. He searched for a few minutes before pulling out two swords. One was white, the other black. Their craftsmanship was exquisite. Their weight was balanced¡ªcombining both lightness and heaviness perfectly. And the intricate engravings on them complemented each other flawlessly. I looked at my uncle, Albert. "This is a good sword¡ªno, a very good one." Albert replied, "I acquired them a few years ago, but I''m getting old, so I¡¯m giving them to you as a gift for returning safely. Let me explain their abilities to you." The Black Sword ¨C "Master of Darkness" Primary Ability: The sword possesses a formidable ability to absorb mana from its wielder or opponents, whether they are human or monsters. Thanks to this, the wielder can envelop the blade with dark magic, granting it extreme sharpness and indestructibility. Not only that, but the dark energy flowing through the sword can be unleashed as a devastating attack that pierces through anything in its path. Secondary Ability: The true danger of this sword lies in its wounds. When it strikes a target, it prevents their ability to heal or regenerate for a set period, making even the slightest wound lethal. Enemies who rely on regeneration will find themselves in a desperate situation against this weapon. The White Sword ¨C "Flame of Dawn" Primary Ability: With each strike delivered by the white sword, "Flame of Dawn," the blade glows with an increasing brilliance, as if the very light itself responds to its thirst for battle. Each hit not only weakens the opponent but also strengthens both the sword and its wielder. Secondary Ability: [Unknown] Illarion smiled. "Of course, I wouldn''t refuse such swords." I thanked my uncle and took both swords. Returning to the kitchen, I found my aunt preparing tea. We sat down and enjoyed it together. After finishing, I bid them farewell¡ªready to continue my journey to the capital. --- Questions from the Author: 1-What is the name of the village in this chapter? . 2. What is the name of Illarion¡¯s uncle? . ?strange person"?
I returned to the kitchen and found my aunt preparing tea. We sat down and drank tea. After finishing, I bid them farewell to continue my journey to the capital. After leaving my uncle¡¯s house, with a valuable gift in hand, some time passed, and memories began to flood back as I approached the royal capital. Valeria remained as elegant as it was in my childhood. The sound of the carriage moving, the window adorned with oak wood, and the houses growing more beautiful and refined as I traveled further. Finally, I saw those towering walls, exuding strength and resilience, standing tall as if many soldiers were lined up to protect the capital from any threat. I arrived at the capital''s gate, stepped down from the carriage, paid the driver, and thanked him. I moved toward the gate, where long queues were formed, consisting of both commoners and nobles. My turn came after some waiting. The gatekeeper was a massive man with a muscular build and a sharp, heavy aura. A large axe was strapped to his back, and another man stood behind him¡ªclearly a swordsman. I was asked several questions: my name, age, and reason for visiting the royal capital. This would have been difficult without my badge. Thankfully, I had it with me, which saved me a lot of trouble. Of course, it took some time to verify that it wasn''t stolen and to confirm my ownership. After returning my badge, he opened the path for me to enter. I thanked him and stepped forward. A gentle breeze brushed against my face. I took my first step into the royal capital after ten years. A lot had happened, and much more was yet to come. I started walking toward the Royal Academy. Well, I wouldn''t be able to resist experiencing many amazing things along the way. Numerous food stalls, clothing shops with stunning designs, and weapon stores were all too tempting to ignore. I entered one just to take a look. There were various swords of different types and weights, along with daggers¡ªsome traditional, others enchanted. Enchanted weapons were certainly superior and more dangerous, but they were far from cheap. Alright, I should stop. If I continue examining everything, I won¡¯t leave this shop anytime soon. The capital was filled with energy and vibrancy, evoking a sense of comfort and happiness. Seeing families enjoying their time, merchants working diligently, and the numerous horses trotting about¡ªit all felt like an intricate musical rhythm, quite unlike my usual life. I glanced at the clock; it was still nine in the morning. The entrance exams began at twelve, so I had plenty of time to explore. I decided to visit some of the kingdom¡¯s historical landmarks. After asking around, I learned about several places, including the Emperor¡¯s statue, which piqued my interest. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t far¡ªperhaps a ten- or fifteen-minute walk. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I bought a drink as I walked. The sky was blue, scattered with pure white clouds. As I approached, the statue came into view¡ªa golden monument standing at about 5 to 7 meters tall, exuding strength and grandeur. The Emperor''s statue had a thick beard, a powerful and robust physique, and a proud chest. His attire, crafted from fine marble, was meticulously detailed, showcasing even the smallest features. A magnificent sword and shield added to his aura of importance and might. Coming here was definitely worth it. Well, now I needed to grab something to eat before heading to the academy¡ªI couldn¡¯t afford to be late on my first day. I searched for a restaurant that offered a unique experience. After asking a few kids for recommendations on a place with good food at reasonable prices, they pointed me toward a spot that wasn¡¯t exactly nearby. I hoped it would be worth the effort. Upon arrival, I realized it wasn¡¯t a restaurant but rather a small shop tucked away in an alley. I felt uneasy since there were no customers. I noticed a man holding a bottle of liquor standing nearby. I greeted him, "Hello, sir." He looked at me and said, "Don¡¯t try to rob me. I have no money. Find someone else to steal from." I was stunned. This man wasn¡¯t joking¡ªhe truly thought I intended to rob him! I couldn¡¯t hold back my laughter, which only made him embarrassed, realizing that he had mistaken me for a thief. He sighed, "Sit down. I¡¯ll get you some food. It''s important to have money, you know." I replied, "Don¡¯t worry about it." He served me some rice and soup. I took a sip of the soup¡ªdamn! What was it made of?! Molten lava?! Why was it this hot?! He gave me a condescending look. "Kids these days can¡¯t handle a little heat." I replied, "If you wanted to kill me, you didn¡¯t need to serve this deadly soup. I would¡¯ve gladly hanged myself instead." He glanced at me sideways. "Well, you have to finish your food." I stood up and asked for the bill. I was shocked by the price¡ªten bronze coins. "This is cheap food," I thought, but I wasn¡¯t cruel enough to say it out loud. I paid the bill and thanked him. Then, I started feeling annoyed¡ªwhere was I? I definitely wouldn¡¯t return the same way. There was no shortcut. I stood there, thinking. After a while, I felt someone¡¯s presence. Suddenly, that person poked me with their finger. Who was this annoying person? I turned around to find a well-dressed young man with red hair and hazel eyes. He kept poking me with his finger. I was about to hit him, but I held back¡ªcausing trouble on my first day in the royal capital wasn¡¯t a good idea. Finally, he stopped poking me and said enthusiastically, "Are you heading to the academy? First, your clothes are too elegant for this alley. Second, if you were just a thug, you wouldn¡¯t dress like that and walk confidently with such expensive swords¡ªyou¡¯d be afraid of being robbed. Third, you¡¯ve been looking around for a while. You don¡¯t seem familiar with the area. Fourth, you look older than me, so maybe you spent some time gathering funds for the exam and decided to come to the capital now." As I thought about his deductions, I remembered the shopkeeper who immediately assumed I had come to rob him. I pondered it for a bit and realized he was probably hiding something. It wasn¡¯t normal for a shopkeeper to immediately say, "Don¡¯t rob me, I have no money," to a customer upon arrival. The reason remained unknown¡ªwas he hiding secret wealth? A valuable enchanted weapon or artifact that the rich would desire? And he suspected me because of my appearance? I stopped overthinking and looked at the young man before me. I replied, "Well, you¡¯re not wrong. I¡¯m heading to the academy." I then asked, "Are you going there too?" "Yes," he answered. I said, "I¡¯m Ilarion Edward. Nice to meet you." He responded, "I¡¯m Thaid Lerg. Likewise." We shook hands.
Unique Swords As we walked toward the academy, we chatted and exchanged a few questions. Thaid was a strange guy¡ªhe spoke to me as if we were old friends or close companions. I didn¡¯t really mind, especially with how much the capital had changed compared to my memories. Having someone to guide me was something I wouldn¡¯t refuse. He asked about the swords I carried and how I got them. Since he had helped me reach the academy, I couldn¡¯t just ignore his question. So, I told him they were a gift from my uncle. Curious, I asked why he was so interested in them. His tone shifted as he replied, ¡°Maybe you haven¡¯t noticed, but these swords are extremely special. It¡¯s rare to find anything of this quality. There¡¯s magical energy seeping from them¡ªfaint, like the smoke of a candle, but dense nonetheless.¡± I glanced at my swords and said, ¡°Well, that explains two things: first, why my uncle was so happy and insisted on taking care of them; and second, why the capital¡¯s guard looked so serious during my investigation.¡± Despite his playful and somewhat annoying personality, Thaid was sharp-eyed. I told him, ¡°I know. After all, they are my swords.¡± He kept asking me more questions, which felt odd¡ªwhy was someone I barely knew this curious? Maybe it was just his personality. After 30 minutes, the academy came into view. It wasn¡¯t called the Royal Academy for nothing. The place was vast and magnificent. A slight smile appeared on my face as I observed the many students gathered in groups¡ªsome in pairs or trios, while others walked alone. A few greeted Thaid, which made me wonder¡ªwas he well-known among the students? There were many guards stationed along the outer walls of the academy, standing tall with silver swords and golden armor bearing the empire¡¯s insignia. Their armor, a blend of red with intricate yellow engravings, added to their imposing presence. Just by being there, they ensured that no one would feel unsafe or expect any unexpected incidents within the academy. As we reached the entrance gate, students presented their identification badges or noble crests to enter. Those without an ID could still enter using a noble crest. Thaid had an entry badge. Once inside, I saw hundreds of students arriving to participate. Thaid kept talking about various things, but I couldn¡¯t focus. My attention was drawn to the academy¡¯s awe-inspiring architecture. The path leading to it was lined with sandstone bricks, adding a touch of elegance and distinction. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The building itself was enormous¡ªmore like a palace than a place for combat and magic training. Statues of legendary warriors stood proudly around the area. We arrived ten minutes before the official test time, so I headed to register. Upon entering the grand and luxurious building, a receptionist greeted me and asked, ¡°Are you here to register?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I replied. He asked for some minor details¡ªnothing worth mentioning¡ªthen said, ¡°Two gold coins, please.¡± I handed him the coins, feeling a slight pang of regret at losing that much money. I waited inside the academy for ten minutes before we were instructed to gather for the headmaster¡¯s speech. As we assembled, the headmaster stood on a stage-like platform and spoke: ¡°I welcome you, my dear students¡ªwhether you are commoners or nobles. You are the wellspring of talent. I hope this year¡¯s level is exceptionally high. I am Prince Julian Al Valeria, the twenty-eighth prince, and I welcome you all.¡± His voice was refined and powerful, befitting a member of the royal family. After he left, guards carrying swords at their waists arrived and showed us different areas of the academy. The academy had five floors, numerous student rooms, and even free food shops. There were separate dormitories for men and women. Each room housed four students, with two bunk beds spaced apart. The room¡¯s layout was somewhat odd, but it would do. Thaid and I were assigned to the same room, with two spots remaining. Later, I headed to the academy¡¯s main hall, which was enormous. It could accommodate between 250 to 500 students, who would be randomly assigned different levels of difficulty for the entrance exam. A high-ranking professor stepped forward and said, ¡°You must head to the black-doored room and find your names on the notice board.¡± I followed Thaid as he continued talking about various things¡ªsome funny, others bizarre. Despite his short stature, his voice was loud and slightly annoying. But at heart, he was kind, still guiding me through the academy. We arrived at the exam rooms on the first floor. I found the notice board, and after a few moments, I spotted both my name and Thaid¡¯s. He grinned at me with an overly wide smile. Well, entering with someone who knew a few things was better than going in with complete strangers. Inside, there were many beds. A professor¡ªthin, with dark circles under her eyes, dressed in black robes with a red hat, and holding a book¡ªstood before us. She introduced herself as Olivia. Her voice was an odd mix of gentleness and eeriness, something indescribable in words. She instructed us to lie down on the beds. I saw several students doing so and followed suit, choosing the bed near Thaid¡¯s. Professor Olivia began chanting a complex spell¡ªone for creating a special realm and also for illusion magic. I saw wisps of smoke randomly swirling around some of the beds, including mine and Thaid¡¯s.
Questions:
  1. What are the names of Ilarion''s swords?
  2. What is the name of the professor who administered the exam?
The Ancient Illusion The Ancient Illusion After a few minutes, I found myself standing before a massive castle, not too far away¡ªperhaps a thirty-minute walk. A few randomly selected classmates were with me. The area surrounding us was an open plain with patches of grass. To the north, just a few dozen meters away, a forest of icy trees stood, as if the weather had been split into two distinct regions. On the castle¡¯s side, the landscape was full of life¡ªvalleys, rivers, lush green trees, and many fruit-bearing trees near the castle. But to the north, snow fell steadily, trees were either half-burnt or completely frozen and lifeless. I heard the sounds of hooves and footsteps approaching. A young man, around fifteen or sixteen years old, appeared, dressed in finely crafted attire. His armor was pure white, adorned with golden-yellow engravings. A sword in a red scabbard hung from his waist. He greeted us, saying: "I am Prince Fabian. What are you doing here? This place is dangerous! I was patrolling the area, and it¡¯s fortunate that I found you¡ªotherwise, you would have become food for the monsters of the northern forest. Come, let¡¯s return to the castle." The students whispered among themselves and quickly agreed to trust Fabian. After some time, we arrived at the castle, where a young girl, no older than six or eight, welcomed us. Her name was Mary, Prince Fabian¡¯s younger sister. He lifted her into his arms as we followed him inside. The castle was filled with paintings depicting former kings and princes, along with stunningly colorful vases. A grand, wide gate stood before us, which two knights opened. The floor was made of polished black onyx, while the walls were constructed from obsidian stone, giving them an elegant and majestic appearance. Massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling, adding to the castle¡¯s noble ambiance. Guards stood on either side of the hall, divided into two types: those wielding swords and shields, and those carrying axes. At the end of the hall sat the king and queen, with Prince Fabian and little Mary standing before them. The prince spoke first, "Greetings, Your Majesty." The king replied, "There¡¯s no need for such formality. You are my son." A conversation followed, though it wasn¡¯t of much importance. The real reason we were here was that everything¡ªthe land, the world, the king, and everyone except the students¡ªwas an illusion. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Suddenly, a voice echoed in all the students'' minds. It was unmistakably our professor¡¯s voice from the academy. She said: "Protect the royal family from the monsters." Ilarion smirked and said, "The mission is simple and clear." After some time, I realized I could move freely. Most of the soldiers were stationed near the royal hall, allowing us to explore as long as we didn''t act suspiciously. Several minor events took place, but the most noteworthy discovery was that every knight and royal family member had not surpassed the rank of Mana Observer. That was strange. A few other unrelated things happened, but they were irrelevant to our mission. Prince Fabian led us to some rooms where we could rest. It was fortunate that he was cooperative and easy to talk to. I asked him about the region and the number of monsters nearby. He told me, "The frozen forest you were near is home to dangerous beasts. There are two orcs¡ªone of flame, the other of ice. They have always been a problem for us. We¡¯ve tried to fight them, but it wasn¡¯t as easy as we thought." He added, "They usually attack at night, after midnight. Every night, they emerge from the forest. We¡¯ve injured them multiple times, but not without cost¡ªwe¡¯ve lost many brave soldiers." Thaid spoke confidently, "Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll take them down for the mission." I glanced at Prince Fabian, noticing his unease. We shouldn¡¯t have mentioned the mission¡ªit might make him suspicious. Thaid¡¯s ever-present grin only made things worse. After thinking for a moment, I decided to reassure the prince another way. I said, "Yes, Your Highness. We¡¯re adventurers who came to help you eliminate this threat." He remained skeptical, so I pulled out my first-rank adventurer badge as a Mana Observer. Upon seeing it, he seemed more convinced. His surprised expression confirmed something: no one in this world had surpassed the rank of Mana Observer. The reason was obvious¡ªthis world was an illusion, a perfect scenario for the students. Still, I was certain the instructors had provided a way for us to prove our identities. If trouble arose, we would have had to deal with the guards. Fortunately, I managed to ease the prince¡¯s doubts. Thaid then asked a good question: "When is the next attack expected?" The prince replied, "It will be tonight, in about three hours." I thanked him, then entered a large room with a group of students. The room was spacious, accommodating many people, making it perfect for strategizing and dividing tasks. I gathered everyone and said, "Alright. Thaid and I will handle the battle. The rest of you stay here and protect the royal family in case of an attack." A deep, confident voice spoke up: "Did you forget about me? Just put me in the vanguard, and I¡¯ll crush their bones." I turned toward the speaker. A young man stood there, his hood covering his head and hair, wearing a long cloak draped from his shoulders to his lower back. His muscular build was evident, his hands were covered in scars, wrapped in bandages, and adorned with metal rings. A belt around his waist carried daggers, a water flask, and some stored food. But his eyes¡ªthey were the eyes of someone who had lived a harsh, battle-filled life. With unwavering confidence, he said, "You can call me Stone." Ilarion and Thaid introduced themselves, and we began organizing our roles. Stone would take the frontline, focusing on dealing damage and protecting the others. Ilarion would also be on the offensive, killing enemies and assisting Thaid in finding the best opportunity to strike. Thaid would be our assassin, moving through the shadows. Ilarion unsheathed his twin swords, Thaid revealed his daggers, and Stone... held a metal rod. Thaid smirked and teased, "How do you plan to fight with a metal stick?" Stone activated his earth magic, and his weapon¡¯s true form emerged¡ªa hybrid between a massive warhammer and a deadly battle axe, forged from black stone radiating power and durability. With pride, he declared, "This is my special weapon¡ªthe Ruin Hammer." Ilarion nodded. "Alright. Welcome to the team." Stone smirked, while Thaid just observed. Time passed, and everyone prepared to move out. Prince Fabian arrived and asked, "Are you all ready?" Thaid and the others smiled, replying in unison, "Of course." The prince said, "First, I will provide you with horses, just like our knights. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t bring too many soldiers¡ªthe rest must stay behind to defend the castle. I will take five swordsmen and three archers. The strategy will be simple¡­" --- Questions: 1. What are the names of the prince and princess? 2. What is the name of Stone¡¯s hammer? The Flame Orc The Flame Orc Ilarion looked at Stone and asked, "What are your abilities?" Stone replied, "You''ll find out when the battle begins." Ilarion wanted to punch this fool for such an idiotic response, but he chose to remain silent. He knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to change his way of thinking. Ilarion spoke, "First, we need to assess the orc¡¯s strength. Numbers alone won¡¯t guarantee our victory, and we might even lose. We need to lure the orc out of the cave to gain an advantage in open ground. The prince and the archers will be positioned on the rocks, while we engage the orc directly. The knights will handle any beasts attracted by the noise." Ilarion pondered, How do I lure the orc out? Should someone act as bait, or is there another way? Raising his voice, he said, "I''ll be the bait! I''ll draw the orc out!" The prince turned to him, shocked. "Are you insane? You could die!" Ilarion glanced at the prince and the knights, noticing their stunned expressions. Suddenly, Stone spoke. "Leave it to me." Ilarion frowned. "You''re wielding a heavy weapon. You''re not as fast as I am." Stone smirked. "Who said I would be the bait?" He gripped his hammer, dashed toward the cave, leaped above it, and struck it hard. Ilarion saw clearly as Stone¡¯s hammer absorbed some of the rock, causing the cave to tremble. Suddenly, a terrifying roar echoed. Stone immediately retreated, positioning himself in front of Ilarion and Thaid, standing firm. The orc emerged, furious at being disturbed during its slumber. The first ones to catch its gaze were Ilarion, Thaid, and Stone, and it charged at them. Ilarion steadied himself, gripping his twin swords, while Thaid maneuvered to a blind spot, as was the nature of assassins. The flaming orc lunged at Stone, who raised his hammer, waiting for the attack. The orc lifted its hand to strike, but Stone smirked, absorbing more earth into his hammer before delivering a counterattack. The orc¡¯s instincts screamed danger¡ªit dodged at the last moment. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Stone was caught off guard. He hadn¡¯t expected the orc to evade so skillfully. Determined to create an opening for Thaid and Ilarion, Stone hurled his hammer at the orc, forcing it into a power struggle. Given the hammer¡¯s ability to absorb rock, Stone could resist for a while¡ªbut not indefinitely. Meanwhile, the archers would rain arrows upon it, and everyone would strike while it was locked in battle. The orc, with a sinister grin, suddenly closed the distance. Stone braced for a punch, given the orc¡¯s stance¡ªbut instead, a devastating kick sent him flying! Arrows immediately whistled through the air toward the orc¡¯s eyes. Sensing danger, it dodged, unaware of the well-positioned archers atop the icy rocks. The orc sprinted toward the archer¡¯s location, but Ilarion intercepted it, slashing at its arm to provoke it further. He knew killing the orc outright would be difficult due to its tough hide, so he avoided a lethal strike that might get his sword stuck in its neck¡ªa fatal mistake. Ilarion activated Dawn¡¯s Flame. The orc suffered only a minor wound, but in response, it unleashed a massive burst of fire, melting the ice into water that evaporated almost instantly. Ilarion needed to stall until Stone returned. Dual-sword wielders required immense strength¡ªif they failed to block an attack properly, their swords could break or be knocked from their hands. He stepped back, sheathing his swords. Then, he signaled the archers before grabbing a set of small daggers he had purchased for five silver coins. These daggers had the unique ability to return to him after being thrown. Smiling, he coated them with venom he had harvested from a wretched spider, saving some of it for later. At his second signal, the archers unleashed a volley of arrows aimed at the orc¡¯s blind spots. Though the orc evaded many, it hadn¡¯t anticipated the dagger Ilarion hurled at its chest. Rather than avoiding it entirely, the orc took the hit in its shoulder, assuming it would be insignificant¡ªbut within moments, its body tensed, and it grew sluggish. Realizing something was wrong, it quickly discarded the dagger, but the venom had already entered its bloodstream. Ilarion grinned, moving swiftly to stab the orc¡¯s shoulder. The beast struggled to grab his arm, but he had already bought enough time¡ªStone had returned. Stone roared, "Attack!" Raising his hammer, he swung it toward the orc¡¯s neck. Just as the creature was about to collapse, it mustered its remaining strength and launched a fiery punch at Stone. Stone¡¯s expression darkened¡ªthis was it. He and Ilarion hadn¡¯t expected the orc to endure this much. This attack would surely kill him. But suddenly, Ilarion grasped the orc¡¯s arm. This was their last chance. Activating his innate ability, he transformed the orc¡¯s blazing body into one of ice! The orc was horrified¡ªits body slowed, its limbs stiffened, and an unfamiliar sensation crept through it. At that moment, the archers unleashed everything they had. They knew this was their one shot. At any other time, the orc could have deflected the arrows effortlessly. The projectiles struck from every direction, piercing the orc¡¯s body repeatedly. Its eyes were destroyed, and its movements became sluggish due to the frost¡ªthe perfect counter to the orc¡¯s magic. Seizing the opportunity, Thaid dashed toward the orc¡¯s throat, plunging both his daggers in rapid succession. He tore through its neck mercilessly, desperate to finish the job before it regained its balance. His face bore a grin, yet his body was tense¡ªhe knew that if he failed to execute this attack flawlessly, he could die. Though this was merely an illusion, everything felt real. No one knew what would happen to someone who experienced death within the illusion. As Ilarion¡¯s ability faded, the orc reignited, though blind. It could no longer see, but its instincts remained sharp. Stone, despite his pain, prepared another strike. There was no choice but to keep fighting¡ªhis brief moment of rest had ended with the orc¡¯s devastating kick. The orc, though weary, refused to surrender. Despite everything, it had fought bravely¡ªyet it was being defeated by warriors weaker than itself. In a fair fight, it would have slaughtered them all. Its final resolve wavered, but it refused to die without a struggle. It attempted one last desperate attack, but the venom had already spread too far. Its fiery glow dimmed¡­ then vanished entirely. The orc collapsed, lifeless. Like any apex predator, it had become prey. It had been hunted. Ilarion stood, panting, his body aching all over. He needed rest. Things could have been much worse¡ªif the orc hadn¡¯t lost its vision, Thaid would have suffered severe injuries, and Stone would have been killed. Thaid grinned. "We did it!" But Ilarion didn¡¯t hear him. The deafening explosions and excessive use of his innate ability had taken their toll. He had lost his hearing¡ªat least partially. --- Author¡¯s Q uestions: 1. Where did Ilarion stab the orc with the dagger? 2. Why did Ilarion lose his hearing? A Long Day A Long Day After slaying the orc, I felt a slight sense of relief. The battle had been more insane than I expected. This wasn¡¯t just any bloodthirsty beast¡ªit was intelligent and had excellent control over its magic, unlike most other bloodthirsty creatures. It truly fought like a fierce warrior. We managed to defeat it because of our teamwork and support for each other. Without that, victory would have been much harder¡ªnot impossible, but certainly more costly. I surveyed the battlefield; none of the archers had died, and the prince was unharmed. The knights had successfully taken down the creatures drawn to the noise of our battle. The snow bears and other creatures lacked awareness or intelligence. They attacked purely on instinct. You could dodge and wound them, but they would keep coming. It was best to take them down in one strike. Thaid was unscathed, having skillfully exploited the openings we created for him. Stone, on the other hand, had sustained some injuries¡ªnot life-threatening, but bad enough to require treatment. As for me, I was in pain, my head pounding like hell, and I had lost hearing in my right ear due to excessive use of my innate ability. Thaid touched my shoulder with a wide, happy grin. ¡°We did it!¡± I smiled back. ¡°Yeah, we did.¡± Then I lightly smacked his back, cutting short the dramatic moment. ¡°We need to move. The weather¡¯s getting colder.¡± The prince¡¯s voice rang out as the noise of battle settled. ¡°You all did well,¡± he said with a look of pride. ¡°We defeated the Flame Orc without casualties. A great victory. We should return and inform the king.¡± I replied, ¡°We can¡¯t go back.¡± His face showed clear surprise. The reasons were simple. The forest was still full of monsters. The Flame Orc might not have been the strongest or the weakest among them. We couldn¡¯t take the risk. Also, the weather would only get worse. Trying to return in such conditions was suicide. I proposed a practical idea. ¡°There are a few things we need¡ªsome dry wood and the orc¡¯s meat.¡± The knights¡¯ faces were filled with disbelief, but then their expressions shifted. ¡°We¡¯re not¡­ eating it, are we?¡± one of them asked hesitantly. Stolen story; please report. I answered, ¡°It¡¯s not a choice. We don¡¯t have enough food for everyone. This is for our survival, so you all need to accept it.¡± I drew my sword and approached the orc¡¯s corpse. What remained was nothing more than a cold, pitiful body. Stepping onto its chest, I plunged my blade into the lower section of its heart¡ªthe organ responsible for producing mana. It could be considered a second heart, one that pumped magical energy. Destroying it was crucial to prevent other monsters from consuming it and growing stronger. I also plucked out its eyes and crushed them. Monster eyes contained high concentrations of mana. It was an instinctive action¡ªsomething I had done for years, making it simple and natural for me. But for those who weren¡¯t adventurers, it must have been a terrifying sight. There was a sense of regret, though. Both the orc¡¯s heart and its eyes held immense value. It was a shame they were nothing more than illusions. Removing an enemy¡¯s eyes was the last thing I needed to do. I stretched my muscles and prepared an attack with the Dark Lord¡¯s Sword. This blade had an incredible ability to absorb mana from its wielder or enemies, and the dark energy flowing through it could be unleashed in a devastating strike capable of piercing through anything. The reason I hadn¡¯t used it before was simple¡ªit consumed a massive amount of energy and took time to draw mana. In that time, the orc would have simply cut me down. He wasn¡¯t some cheap novel villain waiting for me to charge my attack. Well, once I became stronger, I¡¯d be able to use the sword more effectively. With two swift swings, I severed the orc¡¯s arm at the joint. The prince raised his voice. ¡°Drag it inside. We¡¯ll feast on orc meat tonight.¡± We retreated into the cave for shelter. It was vast, dark, and filled with skeletal remains. Its walls were lined with various plants, and there were rocks and sand lightly mixed with moisture. Overall, it was warmer and more reassuring than the outside. Forty minutes later, everything was set. The orc¡¯s arm had been dragged inside, and dry wood had been gathered for a fire. The soldiers, horses, Prince Fabian, Thaid, and Stone were all inside. Stone had regained consciousness after passing out for a few minutes following the battle. He seemed ashamed of losing consciousness. Thaid sat beside me, attempting to lighten the mood with jokes. On my left, Stone sat in silence, while in front of me sat the prince. The soldiers were gathered in separate groups at the prince¡¯s request. The prince spoke first. ¡°Well done, everyone. The Flame Orc had been attacking the fortress repeatedly. My father will be proud of this victory.¡± Then he turned to me. ¡°Based on your experience, Ilarion, what rank do you think that orc was?¡± As he spoke, I glanced at the yellow piece of meat roasting before me. The aroma was surprisingly appetizing. I looked at Thaid and Stone, then sighed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll answer.¡± I took a bite of the meat before continuing. ¡°It¡¯s simple. This is the power ranking system. I mentioned before that I¡¯m an adventurer, so I¡¯ll explain it in a straightforward way. There are five ranks for humans and six ranks for monsters. Each rank has five levels, with 5 being the weakest and 1 and 2 being significant power jumps. The same applies to both humans and monsters.¡± Human Ranks (Weakest to Strongest): 5 ¨C Mana Observer 4 ¨C Absolute Sense 3 ¨C Authority Master 2 ¨C Core Master 1 ¨C Mana Lord (Strongest) Monster Ranks (Weakest to Strongest): 6 ¨C Lost Beast 5 ¨C Bloodthirsty Beast 4 ¨C Corruptor 3 ¨C Harbinger of Destruction 2 ¨C Calamity 1 ¨C Disaster Lord ¡°This is the power hierarchy. The orc we fought was a Bloodthirsty Beast, rank 2, if I had to guess. That explains why the power gap was so significant.¡± Ilarion smirked bitterly. ¡°The Vile Spider was a Corruptor, rank 5... Alright, we move at dawn. Eat and get some rest. We have a long day ahead.¡± I turned to Stone. ¡°I know you¡¯re not feeling great, but I need you for something.¡± He glanced at me. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°I want you to seal the cave entrance.¡± Stone stood and muttered in a weak voice, ¡°Watch this.¡± He grabbed the staff strapped to his back and struck the ground firmly. Holding it in one hand, he raised his other hand from the ground upward. The cave trembled as the earth at the entrance began rising. It was an impressive sight, but it took time. I told him to leave a small opening for air. He snapped, ¡°I know that! It¡¯s obvious, don¡¯t order me around!¡± I smirked silently, thinking to myself, Does he have childhood trauma or something? Maybe... Wings of Death Wings of Death Upon hearing about the elimination of our comrades, Ilarion spoke in a hushed voice: "Did you hear that sound too?" Both nodded in agreement, prompting him to continue: "Alright, we need to pick up the pace. Ston, I agree¡ªwe should deal with the Ice Orc and return to the castle. We have no idea what might happen next." Ilarion turned to him. "Fine, I''ll go speak with the prince. Get everything ready while I do." Prince Fabian stood by a small stream, filling his water flask when I approached him. "Greetings, Ilarion. I saw you talking to your companions." "Yes," Ilarion replied. "We need to hurry. This has already taken too long, and our food supplies are running low. We can¡¯t keep surviving on monster meat. We have to move, defeat the Ice Orc, and return." Fabian hesitated briefly before responding, "What about the rest of the soldiers? They won''t be able to keep up with us." "They won¡¯t be coming with us," Ilarion stated. The prince¡¯s expression darkened with concern. "It will be dangerous for them to return alone." A small smile formed on Ilarion¡¯s lips. "You have a point. Give them the remaining horses. The knights and archers should ride back together¡ªit¡¯ll be safer that way." After a moment¡¯s thought, Fabian nodded. "Alright. I¡¯ll speak to them. Go back to your friends and prepare."
Thaid and Ston had finished packing. A bit of food and water remained, but something caught my attention in Thaid¡¯s hands¡ªa small green flask with intricate wooden engravings. Curious, Ilarion asked, "Thaid, why do you have such a small flask? That thing will run out in just a few sips!" Thaid chuckled. "My friend, this is no ordinary flask. It can store up to twenty liters of water." Ilarion¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Thaid smirked mischievously at his reaction. "Ahem... well, that¡¯s certainly useful," Ilarion muttered, trying to regain his composure. "I usually just carry several medium-sized metal canisters. They¡¯re made of aluminum, to keep the water warm and solve the problem of running out too soon." Thaid scoffed playfully. "Oh, really? Well, there¡¯s also a small, handy box that does the same thing¡ªfor food." Ilarion¡¯s expression soured. "Why am I only learning about these things now? Have I been living in a cave?!" Before Thaid could respond, Fabian¡¯s voice interrupted them. "Alright, let¡¯s move out."
There were only two horses left. I took the reins of one while Ston climbed on behind me. Fabian rode the other, with Thaid seated behind him. Having Thaid ride with the prince made me uneasy. Who knew what nonsense he¡¯d fill the young royal¡¯s head with? I signaled for Fabian to take the lead since he was familiar with the route to our destination. Ston, sitting behind me, was clearly unhappy about not being in control of the horse, his expression sullen. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As we rode, the landscape shifted¡ªfrom frost-covered trees to charred ones. A frozen river snaked alongside the path, a thin layer of snow covering the ground. The silence was unsettling. I gestured to Fabian to ride alongside me. "This quiet doesn¡¯t sit well with me." "There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of," Thaid declared confidently. "Shut up!" Ston snapped. "You¡¯ll attract monsters with that loud mouth of yours!" Ilarion sighed internally. "Ston, you¡¯re yelling too." "My voice isn¡¯t that loud! And stop overreacting!" Before he could finish his rant, a low buzzing sound reached our ears. Turning back, I spotted them¡ªan entire swarm of grotesque creatures. Their bodies were long and thin, covered in polished black armor inscribed with glowing crimson runes. Those weren¡¯t just protective plating; they were a source of their magic. Description of the creatures: Fabian¡¯s voice rang out, sharp with urgency. "Ilarion, everyone¡ªthese creatures are called ''Wings of Death.'' Their venom paralyzes and melts flesh and bone. We must avoid them at all costs!" Ilarion barked orders. "Thaid, Ston¡ªhold them off or slow them down however you can!" Ston turned, summoning jagged spheres of stone. Thaid balanced himself on his horse, conjuring a bow of fire, its arrows ablaze with magical energy. Both launched their attacks simultaneously. Ston¡¯s projectiles smashed through the exoskeletons, creating sickening cracks. Thaid¡¯s arrows, upon impact, detonated in fiery bursts, sending shattered remains flying. But we had no time to celebrate. The creatures retaliated viciously, spewing acid from their tails. I watched in horror as a branch melted into sizzling embers. "Prince!" I called out. "What are their weaknesses?!" Weaknesses of the Wings of Death: Ilarion grinned. "If that¡¯s the case, we can wipe them out completely!" But things weren¡¯t going well. Ston had one of the creatures latched onto his arm. Had he not reinforced it with stone, it would have been torn clean off. He struggled, barely able to keep his balance. "I need help here!" he shouted. Thaid was also in trouble. The swarm was adapting to his fire arrows, and their numbers were increasing instead of dwindling. I turned forward¡ªand my heart sank. Another wave of Wings of Death was blocking our path. Hopelessness crept in. How were we supposed to deal with this? Then, a pulse of magic erupted from my right. Fabian stood tall, palm extended. The air around him crackled with raw energy, turning razor-sharp with intensity. Slowly, he clenched his fingers. Pillars of radiant light burst forth, tearing through the creatures with merciless precision. They shrieked as they disintegrated into ash and shards of chitin. Thaid whooped in excitement. "Fabian! Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were this powerful?!" Even Ston, panting from exertion, grumbled, "I almost feel sorry for those things. They got incinerated, then exploded." Still in shock, we turned to the prince. Ston smirked. "I never would¡¯ve guessed you had that kind of power." Fabian grinned. "What did you expect? I¡¯m a prince, trained since childhood. My mana reserves are no joke." "Not to mention," he added, drawing his sword, "thanks to ''Moonblade,'' my primary ability halves my mana consumption. And every enemy I kill restores a portion of it." Ston¡¯s jaw dropped. "That¡¯s cheating!" Fabian chuckled. "It was made specifically for me, after all." Ilarion dismounted and turned to Thaid. "Give me your storage flask." Thaid handed it over, confused. "Why?" Ilarion knelt beside one of the fallen creatures. "I¡¯m collecting their venom¡ªit might be useful later." Thaid smirked. "No point. This venom is too strong. Your flask will dissolve within hours." Ilarion sighed. "Then I hope we¡¯ll need it soon." Thaid rummaged through his bag and grinned slyly. "Don¡¯t worry¡ªI have an alternative." He produced several vials, each containing deadly-looking substances. Pointing to one, he smirked. "This one only affects monsters. It makes them drunk, slows their movements, and best of all¡­ makes them unable to distinguish friend from foe." Battle on the Frozen Land Battle on the Frozen Land After half an hour of travel, we continued toward the Ice Orc¡¯s stronghold. The sky was filled with gray clouds of various shapes and sizes, and the sun barely peeked from behind them. The air was bitterly cold, and all that could be seen was endless snow, massive trees, and a long, winding path. Scattered throughout the terrain were the lifeless bodies of animals and monsters¡ªscorpions, wolves, and other creatures, their blood staining the snow. Ston spoke up, "The orc camp should be close now." After another twenty minutes, we reached a slope. Below, a small village came into view¡ªten igloo-like huts scattered across the icy plain. Ghouls roamed the area, their grotesque figures pacing around the settlement. Ston pointed at a large hut. "Look at that big one." Prince Fabian smirked. "That must be Thaid¡¯s orc. I¡¯ll roast him alive." Thaid laughed. "Well, fire has an advantage over ice." Ston cracked his knuckles. "I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the orc or the ghouls¡ªI¡¯m taking one of them down." Fabian nodded. "Alright. Ston and I will handle the ghouls. But what about that ice wall? It¡¯s covered in spikes, and breaking through won¡¯t be easy." Ilarion grinned. "Simple. We¡¯ll break through and burn the village to the ground." Thaid¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. "I like the sound of that!" I chuckled lightly. "Enough talk. Time for action. Ston, Thaid¡ªI¡¯m counting on you!" --- The Plan 1. Ston: Create three massive boulders. 2. Thaid: Set them on fire. 3. Fabian & Ston: Use the chaos to eliminate as many ghouls as possible. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! 4. Ilarion & Thaid: Head straight for the Ice Orc. Ston cracked his knuckles. "Three massive rocks? That¡¯s easy!" Moments later, three giant, jagged boulders¡ªeach three meters wide¡ªlay before us. "Sharp edges, heavy mass¡ªthese will do the trick." He then turned to Thaid. "Now, we just need fire." I smirked. "Leave that to me." I pulled out a small vial¡ªits inner layer forged from steel, its exterior crafted from dark wood, engraved with silver runes. Inside was a dark green liquid with a sharp, acrid scent. Ston stepped back warily. "What is that?!" "Insect venom," I said simply, pouring the substance over the rocks. "I mixed it with Thaid¡¯s poison earlier. I didn¡¯t expect to use it so soon." Thaid ignited the boulders, and Ston, wielding his colossal Hammer of Ruin, sent them rolling down the slope. "Three... Two... One... Attack!" The burning projectiles thundered forward, crashing through the ice wall. A deafening roar filled the air as the flaming boulders plowed into the village, demolishing huts and crushing everything in their path¡ªghouls, wooden structures, and even ice barriers. The battle had begun. --- Storming the Village As ghouls scattered in chaos, Ston seized the opportunity, cutting down the confused creatures with brutal efficiency. Meanwhile, Thaid and I sprinted toward the orc¡¯s hut. The large wooden structure stood ominously, surrounded by a deep pit with no visible bottom. Above it, peculiar ice formations hinted at the orc¡¯s mastery over frost magic. Thaid clutched a small dagger-shaped medallion, pressing his thumb against it. In an instant, his signature daggers materialized in his grip. "Let¡¯s finish this quickly," I said. Before we could advance, the Ice Orc and his mate emerged. The male wielded a colossal ice club. I clenched my jaw. "This is going to be more troublesome than I¡¯d hoped¡­ but so be it." I glanced back¡ªFabian and Ston were still occupied with the ghouls. No turning back. --- The Duel Begins The Ice Orc swung his massive club, but I countered with Dawnflame, slicing through the weapon. My blade nearly reached his throat, but at the last moment, he froze his club, sealing the gap and ensnaring my sword in ice. Thaid reacted swiftly, scaling the orc¡¯s massive frame with acrobatic precision, driving his dagger into the monster¡¯s eye. The orc bellowed in agony, thick red blood oozing down his face. Thaid leaped away just in time. But the orc stomped, freezing the ground beneath us. Thaid lost his footing, sliding dangerously toward the pit. He barely managed to stab his daggers into the ice, stopping his fall at the last second. Meanwhile, the Ice Orc encased his injured eye in frost, halting the spread of poison. He raised his club defensively, guarding his body. I took advantage of the distraction, plunging Dark Sovereign into his gut. He reeled back, but before I could press the attack, the female orc lunged at me, aiming to crush my skull. I smirked, dodging swiftly, using the slick ice to slide away. Like Thaid, I embedded my daggers into the ground for stability. The male orc turned to strike me down, but I coated my dagger in a mysterious green liquid¡ªthe insect venom. The moment he swung his club again, it disintegrated. He froze, stunned. What he didn¡¯t realize was that Dawnflame, being a sun-forged blade, had an inherent counter to ice magic. The forced freezing had only delayed its retaliation. Once freed, the sword¡¯s fire surged back, burning away anything in its grasp¡ªincluding the orc¡¯s weapon. Seizing the moment, I hurled Dark Sovereign at the female orc. The blade struck her leg, piercing deep into her flesh. The male orc¡¯s eyes widened in panic. He had fallen into my trap. A sudden sound from below¡ªthe scraping of daggers against ice. Thaid was climbing back up. Fast. The Ice Orc tried to finish me off before Thaid could rejoin the fight, but it was already too late. I dodged his desperate strike and plunged my venom-coated dagger deep into his abdomen once more. This time, his ice magic couldn¡¯t mend the wound. Because Dark Sovereign had a hidden property¡ªwounds inflicted by it resisted healing. The battle was nearing its end. Blood and Ice Blood and Ice Stone¡¯s Perspective In the heart of the goblin village, Stone slaughtered them mercilessly¡ªyoung and old alike. He stormed into numerous houses, finding their inhabitants in a state of panic and poisoning. The young ones tried to flee, but he gave them no chance, cutting them down with cold precision. This was reality¡ªan unforgiving one. There was no peace to be made with an enemy that would never stop killing. The sounds of collapsing houses echoed through the village, mingling with the cries of children. But amid the chaos, a different kind of goblin emerged. This one was massive, its skin nearly white, and as it approached with the cries of children behind it, Stone smiled. This goblin was strong and proud¡ªundoubtedly the second most powerful after the goblin leader. It carried no weapon, but anyone who mistook it for defenseless would be gravely wrong. Its hands were its true weapons. The beast charged with wild fury, its back touching the toxic flames, yet it neither weakened nor fell. Instead, its eyes shone with a frenzied gleam. It roared madly and lunged at Stone. Without hesitation, Stone manipulated the earth, sending razor-sharp stone shards flying toward the orc. It was a clever tactic, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t be enough against a Flame Orc. Their bodies were unnaturally tough, and their resilience was monstrous. Blood spurted from the orc, yet it didn¡¯t slow down. Prince Fabian stood beside Stone. Seeing him, Stone smirked and asked, "Fabian, do you have a finishing move?" Then, without waiting for an answer, he added in a serious tone, "Don''t bother answering¡ªjust use it, no matter how impossible it seems. We have to kill him at all costs." Hearing Stone¡¯s firm voice, Fabian knew the situation was dire. He raised his sword, channeling his mana into it, forming a blindingly sharp blade of pure light. Light magic had many uses, and this was one of them. Normally, releasing this much power would be unfeasible, but his sword¡¯s unique ability made it possible. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. As the orc lunged, Fabian swung the glowing blade, severing its arm in one precise strike. The orc howled in pain¡ªa cry so raw, it almost sounded sorrowful¡ªbut it didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, it lunged at the prince, panting heavily, its jaws wide open, aiming to tear Fabian apart. The attack was too sudden¡ªthere was no time to dodge. "Nice work. Leave the rest to me," Stone said. He leaped into the air, gripping his warhammer¡ªa weapon that was both hammer and axe in one. The secret behind Stone¡¯s ability to manipulate earth without exhausting his mana quickly lay in his method¡ªhe didn¡¯t create matter from nothing; he simply controlled what was already there. His warhammer helped him channel that ability, allowing him to reshape stone and earth at will, giving him a distinct advantage over less skilled magic users. Tensing his muscles, he swung his hammer down with all his might. The heavy weapon crashed into the orc¡¯s chest, shattering its bones and crushing its internal organs. Fabian stood a short distance away, ready to deliver another blow if needed. The orc lay bleeding, its breaths growing weaker. But suddenly, Stone looked at his hands¡ªand froze. They were covered in ice. Shock flooded his mind. "When¡­? How¡­?" He had never expected to be frozen at the very moment the orc lost consciousness. A chilling sensation spread through his limbs. He turned to Fabian and said, "Help me get rid of this ice." Fabian immediately began melting the frost, warmth returning to Stone¡¯s fingers. Not wasting any time, Stone gripped his hammer once more. He reshaped its head into jagged edges and swung it down, smashing the orc¡¯s skull completely. The strike was brutal, but it was necessary. "You did well, Stone," Fabian said. "Let¡¯s go meet up with Ilarion and Thaid." --- Thaid¡¯s Perspective Thaid climbed rapidly, his movements fluid and effortless, as if he had been an expert climber for years. He navigated through the ice and jagged rocks with precision, and finally¡­ he returned. A smirk crossed his lips as he locked eyes with the female orc. Raising his voice, he taunted, "Did you really think you could get rid of me just by freezing the ground? That¡¯s unfortunate. You¡¯ll have to try harder than that!" The battlefield was shrouded in fog, setting the stage for an intense duel between Thaid and the orc woman. Meanwhile, Ilarion scanned the area for his missing sword, Flame of Dawn, which had been knocked away during the battle with the male orc. The terrain was treacherous¡ªfive narrow pits dotted the landscape, their depths obscured by an eerie mist. Some of them radiated an intense cold. The heavy fog made it nearly impossible to see what lay below. A deep unease settled in Ilarion¡¯s chest. If Flame of Dawn had fallen into one of those pits, retrieving it would be nearly impossible. Yes, he had managed to eliminate the male orc, but the female still posed a deadly threat. But just as that sinking feeling threatened to take hold, hope sparked once more. There it was¡ªgleaming in the fading light. Flame of Dawn! But then¡ª It slipped. Ilarion¡¯s eyes widened in horror as the swor d tumbled toward one of the pits. "No¡­ no¡­ NOOOOOOOO!" he screamed. End of the Battle End of the Battle Ilarion¡¯s Perspective The water surged like ocean waves. Ilarion surrendered himself to the current and pursued the flames of dawn. Cursing under his breath from the tension, he hurled himself toward the pit. Just before falling, he grasped his sword and drove it into the wall, clinging to it. It was easier than expected since the ground was neither frozen nor slippery. There was no need to hurry¡ªmost of the ice had melted into water and plummeted into the pit below. Thaid¡¯s Perspective Ilarion was taking too long to return. Naturally, the thick mist and freezing air made it nearly impossible to see. Thaid pondered slowly, almost lazily: "Did he fall and die? That would be unfortunate." Thaid felt a growing sense of pessimism. The snow had melted for a while¡ªneither a short nor a long time. He stood in place, beside an orc lying on the ground. The creature wasn¡¯t resting, of course¡ªblood streamed from its neck, pooling downward, and a black sword lay atop its chest. The body was still and lifeless, eyes frozen in weakness. A movement below caught Thaid¡¯s attention, along with a faint gleam beside it. That had to be Ilarion. Smiling, Thaid waved his hand and called out: "You really made good use of that sword, Ilarion!" The descent into the pit had been terrifying for Ilarion, though Thaid had no idea¡ªhe hadn¡¯t ventured nearly as deep. When Ilarion finally emerged, his expression was weary, his eyes exhausted. He approached Thaid, who understood his state and handed back his sword before helping him to his feet. Together, they made their way toward the orc¡¯s home. Inside, the atmosphere was much more forgiving than the frigid outdoors. The ground was primitive, yet significantly more comfortable. Several rooms, constructed in a crude manner, lined the space. Ilarion was left to rest in a cozy corner while Thaid handed him a sip of water from a green flask. Thaid then began wandering through the house, discovering three rooms. One door, made of clean wood, stood before him. Upon opening it, he found what was undoubtedly the orc and his mate¡¯s quarters. The second room was completely empty, which struck him as odd. So was the third. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Curious, he inspected one of the rooms and found the floor coated in dirt, as if abandoned for ages. However, a hidden corner caught his eye. Smirking, he muttered: "A secret room? Hmm..." Drawing his twin daggers from a medallion, Thaid gathered his strength and smashed through the wall. Behind it, he discovered an enormous stockpile of venison and other preserved creatures¡ªthe orcs¡¯ winter provisions. Smiling, he retrieved a small box from his pocket, tossed it to the ground, and watched as it expanded in size. Then, he swiftly packed the meat inside. Returning to the previous room, Thaid searched further. No clean corners stood out, but the floor felt soft and oddly warm. He struck it hard¡ªno effect. Frustrated, he delivered multiple blows, but the ground refused to break. Growing impatient, he unleashed his flames, focusing his power repeatedly until the surface finally gave way. What he found was shocking. Ten small ghouls of varying ages. They were, without a doubt, the orcs¡¯ children. As they began to cry, Thaid wasted no time¡ªhe slew them all in a single strike. Frowning, he thought to himself: "Is that really all this room was hiding?" He knew it was meant to keep them safe during a battle. But was there truly nothing else of value here? He examined the area further and realized that the real entrance must have been elsewhere¡ªhe had merely destroyed the structure at random. The room was spacious, yet completely devoid of supplies. Perhaps the orc couple had no time to stash food, given the sudden attack. Leaving the chamber behind, Thaid climbed back to the main floor. With his business here concluded, he decided to check on Stone and Fabian. As he walked through the ruined village, charred corpses littered the area. Searching for Stone, he spotted the silhouette of a massive bloodstained warhammer¡ªand the man wielding it was resting. Stone was casually wiping blood off his clothes when a familiar voice greeted him: "Hey, Stone." Thaid¡¯s gaze swept over the corpse of a young frost orc and the dozens of slain ghouls. He remarked, "You did well. But where¡¯s the prince?" Stone replied, "He wanted to explore the village and look for you two." Thaid smirked. "Alright. Head back to the orc¡¯s home. We¡¯ll rest there for a while." He then resumed his walk through the devastated village. The transformation was undeniable. Fires consumed the huts, while scattered bodies and spilled entrails painted a gruesome scene. He soon found the prince, gazing solemnly at the slain ghouls. "What are you doing here?" Thaid asked. Fabian¡¯s expression was troubled. After a brief pause, he asked, "Do you think we¡¯re doing the right thing?" Thaid frowned. "What do you mean?" Fabian hesitated before clarifying, "I mean¡­ Do you really think we should be killing both the young and the old? Doesn¡¯t that make us just like them?" Thaid chuckled and replied, "You can¡¯t expect a scorpion¡¯s offspring not to sting. The Wings of Death¡­ those creatures, that entire species¡ªthey¡¯ll always be a threat to us. It¡¯s better to strike first before they get the chance. Think of it like dealing with pests. Don''t dwell on it too much." Then, he added, "Once I¡¯m sure you¡¯re safe, I¡¯ll head back to the orc¡¯s house to meet with Stone and Ilarion. When you¡¯re done contemplating, you know where to find us." With that, Thaid strode through the snow and rocky terrain, returning to the orc chief¡¯s home. Upon entering, he found Ilarion awake. "Is everyone alright?" Ilarion asked. Thaid nodded. "Yeah." Ilarion sighed in relief and smiled. "That¡¯s good¡­ We¡¯ll head to the castle soon." The Kingdom The Kingdom After gathering together, we lit a fire using the wood inside the orc¡¯s house. Stone arranged a small circle of rocks, Fabian placed the wood inside, and Thaid set the dry logs ablaze. While they prepared the fire, I was busy skinning a deer. Despite the poor storage conditions, the cold weather had prevented the meat from rotting. The chilling winds howled through the abandoned village, making it feel like a ghost town. The entire battle had lasted thirty-five minutes. We had eliminated all the ghouls¡ªregardless of their age or gender¡ªand wiped out the orcs as well. Our first objective was complete. However, the remaining two objectives were still unknown. Would the academy reveal them to us, or would we have to uncover them on our own? Stone¡¯s voice snapped me out of my thoughts: "Hurry up, I¡¯m starving." Fighting so many ghouls and those damned orcs had been exhausting. Fabian nodded, and I placed skewers of venison over the fire. Silence settled over us. Ilarion called out to Fabian, "Where are we now?" Fabian replied, "In the northern forest." I clarified, "I mean more specifically, where in the kingdom?" Fabian looked surprised before answering, "I¡¯m not sure how you don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ll explain. We¡¯re in the central nation¡ªEvalonia." *"Our country lies in the heart of the kingdom, bordered to the north by Evalor, with its capital, Valeria, and to the south by Novar, whose capital is Orvin. Evalonia is known for its fertile lands, supplying Evalor with food, while Evalor provides us with water, thanks to its two great rivers that flow through its capital. Novar, on the other hand, is a desert land with scarce water but rich in rare minerals and valuable resources. This creates a mutually beneficial relationship between the three nations."* Everyone was impressed by the level of detail and clarity in his explanation. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Thaid asked, "Since you''re a prince, does that mean you''ll be the king of Evalonia? And how many kings came before you?" Fabian chuckled and answered, "Not many¡ªonly four. Evalonia wasn¡¯t originally a monarchy, but it was established a few generations ago. Despite the country¡¯s history spanning over 3,000 years, I will be its fifth king." Thaid clapped his hands. "One more question¡ªwhat are the ranks from highest to lowest?" The Hierarchy: 1. The Emperor 2. The Kings 3. The Princes 4. The Three Clan Leaders 5. The Guild Masters 6. The Second-Rank Noble Families 7. The Subordinate Noble Families Thaid interrupted, "Alright, alright! That¡¯s too many!" Ilarion spoke up, "Enough talking¡ªit¡¯s time to eat." The aroma of roasting venison filled the air, making it impossible to resist hunger. Stomachs growled, and I chuckled, "Alright, alright." Ilarion handed out portions of meat to everyone. The cold would have been unbearable if not for the jacket I was wearing¡ªa special one: Hunter¡¯s Jacket A magical jacket that adapts to the weather. It provides warmth in the cold and keeps the body cool in the heat. Made from enchanted threads, making it ideal for journeys and adventures in extreme environments. As we finished our meal, Ilarion pulled out a metal container, poured some water inside, and heated it effortlessly with his innate ability. Everyone stared at him in amazement. Fabian commented, "Your innate ability is incredible." I smirked, "It is, but its side effects are terrifying." Fabian raised an eyebrow. "Like what happened during the flame orc fight?" I nodded. "That was nothing. Once, I overused my ability and completely lost my vision for a month. All I could see was absolute darkness." Everyone was stunned. Thaid nearly spit out his food, while Stone choked and started coughing. Fabian¡¯s expression was unintentionally amusing. Stone muttered, "Yeah, no thanks. I¡¯d rather not go blind for a whole month." For a moment, silence settled. Then, a fragrant aroma spread through the air. Fayian asked, "That smells like tea¡­ Ilarion, why do you carry dried tea leaves with you?" Ilarion scratched his head. "Because my guild missions often require observing monsters, analyzing their behavior, strengths, and weaknesses. That takes time, and sometimes, all I can do is make a cup of warm tea." Thaid scoffed as he pulled out his storage cube, retrieving four wooden cups and some sugar. "Still, that¡¯s a bit excessive." Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Fabian asked, "Why do you carry wooden cups and sugar? Are you a mother or an old man?" Thaid frowned and tried to put them back, but we stopped him. Soon, we were all drinking tea inside the ghoul chief¡¯s hut. The space was simple, but the animal hides covering the floor made it warm and comfortable. Then, Fabian suddenly spoke in a serious tone, "I need to warn you all." Stone asked, "Warn us? About what?" Fabian replied, "You need to be extra careful when touching corpses or anything unusual." Thaid frowned. "Why? Stop speaking in riddles." Fabian¡¯s voice was grave. "Because of the Wraith and the Parasite." Stone, puzzled, asked, "The Wraith? What¡¯s that?" Ilarion explained, "A creature that feeds on the mana of its victims. It moves incredibly fast, making it nearly undetectable. However, it cannot enter the bodies of those with strong auras or large mana reserves, as they can easily sense and destroy it." At that moment, everyone rose to their feet, preparing to return to the castle. But as we stepped outside, something felt¡­ wrong. Everyone¡¯s faces were filled with shock. I asked, "What¡¯s wrong?" Then I looked¡ªand my breath caught in my throat. The ghoul corpses were gone. The white orc, the orc chief, and his wife¡ªall of them¡ªvanished without a trace. Only the bloodstains remained. Then, a voice echoed inside our minds: Primary Objective: Protect the Royal Family. Secondary Object ives: ? Eliminate the Orcs. ? Eliminate the Lich. ? Unknown. Time Remaining to Complete the Trial: 5 Hours. The words resonated deeply within us. The Road to the Castle The Road to the Castle Ilarion shouted, "The horses! I hope nothing happened to them!" Since we had left them outside the village, anxiety crept over me. The mere thought that they might have vanished as well sent chills down my spine. Ston tried to reassure me, "Calm down. Nothing will happen, even if they did disappear." I replied seriously, "And how exactly do you expect us to get back to the castle quickly without horses?" Silence settled over us. After two minutes, we exited the village through the hole in the wall created by the three boulders. As we climbed the slope, my heartbeat quickened. If they were gone, our failure in the trial was inevitable. The end of the incline was just ahead. I was the first to reach the top, and I cursed under my breath¡ªno sign of the horses. I helped the others climb up. Ston muttered curses under his breath, while Fabian and Thaid remained unfazed. Ilarion asked, "Any ideas?" Thaid suggested, "We should try calling for them." Fabian started whistling, repeating it again and again for nearly three minutes. Just as I was losing hope, the distant sound of hooves striking the ground reached us. A minute later, the two horses approached, their expressions full of irritation. One of them let out a sharp neigh. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. I patted its side and offered it some fruit I had taken from the orc¡¯s hut, anticipating this reaction. A look of satisfaction crossed the horse¡¯s face. "Alright, let¡¯s head back." Ston and I shared one horse, while Fabian and Thaid rode the other. I asked, "How long will it take to return to the castle?" Fabian replied, "At worst, four hours. At best, two and a half." We set off. The landscape had changed¡ªmost of the corpses along the road had vanished, even the deadly winged insects were nowhere to be seen. The air shifted from a biting cold to a milder chill, and finally, near the cave of the Flame Orc, it became warm. As we emerged from the forest, a vast expanse stretched before us¡ªrolling plains, fruit-bearing trees of various kinds, branching rivers, and finally, the castle standing tall in the distance. Upon our arrival, guards immediately raised their weapons. "Halt! Our apologies, Prince Fabian." Fabian waved them off, "It¡¯s fine." As we entered the castle, I could feel countless eyes on us. I wasn¡¯t the only one¡ªboth Thaid and Ston seemed to sense it too. Along the way, many soldiers congratulated Fabian and us for eliminating the orc threat. Fabian began to speak, "We need to¡ª" Thaid interrupted, "Yes, the castle will be attacked by the Lich in less than 15 minutes." I closed my eyes, and something strange happened¡­ I could see the remaining time for the trial. Time left: 2 hours and 15 minutes. The journey had taken 2 hours and 45 minutes. Fabian had to inform his father and get him to prepare, which he did. We entered the grand royal chamber, where an air of authority filled the room. Two rows of soldiers stood tall and firm, while the king sat between them. The king spoke, "I¡¯ve heard about what you and the adventurers have done. I am proud of you¡ªyou have grown more mature and responsible." Fabian hesitated, "Thank you, Your Majes¡ª" (the king gave him a look) "I mean¡­ Father." The king nodded approvingly, "Much better. Also, they are not just adventurers¡ªthey are your friends." Ilarion and the others looked astonished but kept their expressions composed. The king continued, "No matter, I will reward them later." Fabian took a deep breath, "Father, the castle is going to be attacked by a Lich." A heavy silence filled the hall. The king¡¯s expression turned serious, "Are you certain?" Fabian nodded, "Yes, Father." "When will the attack occur?" "In approximately 15 minutes." The king turned to the army commander, "Prepare for battle." Fabian added, "You may leave now." "Thank you, Father." As we exited, Ilarion asked, "So, what will you all do?" Ston grinned, "I¡¯m joining the army to fight the Lich. This is going to be fun!" Thaid smirked, "I¡¯ll go inform the rest of our companions." Ilarion nodded, "Alright, we¡¯ll stay with the prince for now." Thaid, Ston, and Ilarion bumped their fists together. Fabian turned to me, "You too." I smirked and joined in. And with that, the group split¡ªSton heading to the front lines with the army, Thaid rushing to the quarters to warn our comrades, while Fabian and I remained to guard the castle against any unexpected threats. Trial Update¡­ Second attack begins in: 1 minute. Ston Ston After leaving my team, I made my way to the castle¡¯s main entrance. I began to see many soldiers wielding their weapons¡ªswords, spears, bows and arrows¡ªand finally, massive, muscular warriors carrying enormous battle axes. A heavy and sharp aura radiated from them. As I approached, I noticed several eyes glaring at me with disdain, but I didn¡¯t care. My attention was drawn to a man clad in silver armor, his helmet featuring a narrow visor. A crimson cape draped over his back, and he carried a massive black axe. His deep, commanding voice rang out: "Boy, what are you doing here?" His voice carried authority, but I met his gaze without a hint of hesitation or fear. I replied, "What do you think? I came to fight." A mocking laugh escaped his lips. "You? With that body?" My tone sharpened with irritation. "My body is big, but is your brain just as big?" I heard whispers around us. "Boy, you¡¯re messing with the wrong person." Then, a deep, resonant voice interrupted, "Julius, that¡¯s enough." Silence fell over the area. Julius immediately straightened, his arrogance dissipating into submission and respect. "Understood, my king." I turned my gaze toward the king¡ªa man in his forties with golden blonde hair and a well-groomed beard that gave him a regal presence. His deep blue eyes carried wisdom, and every word he spoke held weight. "Julius, leave this boy alone. He has proven himself. He and his companions have done what even we struggled to achieve." Julius, now completely obedient, responded, "Understood, my king." Then, Julius looked at me. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. "Boy, what is your name?" I replied confidently, "You can call me Ston." "A fine name, boy." Minutes later, the army had assembled outside the castle. The frontline consisted of the axe-wielders¡ªtowering figures of raw strength. Behind them stood the swordsmen, clad in dark armor with their weapons sheathed at their waists. Further back were the spearmen, each holding metallic spears with blood-red, triangular tips. Julius¡¯s deep voice echoed, "Boy, you¡¯ll take position with us in the front row." I snapped back, irritated, "I told you, my name is Ston, not ''boy''!" Julius smirked. "Where is your weapon? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to fight with that metal rod?" Grinning, I placed the rod¡¯s tip on the ground. The earth trembled slightly as I began absorbing the surrounding stone. Slowly, my weapon took form¡ªa colossal hammer on one end, and on the other, a massive battle axe. I lifted it effortlessly and declared, "This is my weapon¡ªRuin Hammer." Julius, astonished, muttered, "That¡¯s one fine weapon." Without hesitation, I shot back, "Don¡¯t even dream about having it." The king¡¯s commanding voice resonated from the castle walls, "Prepare for battle!" From his vantage point, he surveyed the battlefield. At his side stood archers, their bows ready. Before him stretched a vast green plain¡ªsoon to be painted red with blood. Then, a shadow emerged from the edge of the forest, 200 meters away. It was him¡ªthe Lich. Standing nearly two meters tall, his decayed body was a grotesque mix of rotting flesh and exposed bone. He held a staff topped with a violet orb, and his face was a horrifying sight¡ªhalf skull, half decomposed flesh. His eye sockets were hollow, save for glowing green pupils surrounded by endless darkness. Raising his staff, he struck the ground, summoning over 150 monstrous creatures¡ªwhile the castle¡¯s army numbered only 70 fighters: 50 soldiers wielding various weapons. 20 archers. The king, with a few reserve troops inside the castle. The soldiers¡¯ expressions hardened¡ªthere was no room for fear or jokes. The battle began. The monsters surged forward in a frenzy, their only goal being to slaughter the humans before them. I tensed my muscles as the air around me grew noticeably hotter. Glancing to my left, I noticed the axe-wielders'' weapons glowing red-hot, infused with fire magic. Blades clashed against monstrous flesh, sending blood spraying through the air. The battlefield became a storm of steel, screams, and torn flesh. The creatures fought with savage abandon¡ªFlame Wolves, Ice Scorpions, Frost Bears, Ghouls, and giant insects. Near the Lich stood four orcs: Three ice-element orcs. One fire-element orc, in pitiful condition¡ªblind, missing an arm, barely standing. Even the ice orcs seemed worn down. Swinging my weapon, I cleaved through three ghouls, their green blood splattering across my body. An Ice Scorpion lunged at me, but on the open grass, it had nowhere to hide. I transformed my weapon into a hammer and brought it down in a crushing blow. The sound of shattering exoskeleton and cracking bones echoed through the battlefield. Swordsmen and spearmen took turns pushing back the creatures, trying to conserve their stamina. But we, on the frontlines, had no such luxury. Then, a pack of Flame Wolves circled around, disrupting the formation. The intensity of the battle escalated rapidly. A voice rang out from atop the castle wall: "Break formation! Kill them all!" Grinning, I muttered, "Finally! I¡¯m free!" I lunged forward, kicking a ghoul aside and swinging my axe, cleaving through a cluster of monsters. Blood drenched the earth. The only sounds were the crunching of bones and the enraged shouts of warriors. Suddenly, a thunderous noise caught my attention. I turned¡ªthe Ice Orcs were charging toward the castle! "Damn it! That ugly Lich is smart¡ªhe¡¯s been using his pawns to exhaust our troops, and now he¡¯s sending in his real power!" The first to reach me was an Ice Orc wielding a club the size of a tree. I barely dodged his strike, countering with a powerful hammer blow. The sickening crack of breaking bones echoed, but the orc retaliated with a vicious swing. I barely managed to block, the impact forcing me back several steps. My hands trembled from the sheer force. "You damn oversized gorilla¡ªI¡¯ll show you hell!" Roaring, I charged at him with everything I had. Our weapons clashed, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. "No good¡ªthis brute doesn¡¯t even feel pain! I need to finish this in one blow!" His icy club came crashing down¡ªI wasn¡¯t in a position to dodge. "Shit!" I braced myself for impact. But¡ª A loud CLANG rang out beside me! Julius had blocked the Ice Orc¡¯s weapon with his axe, his presence radiating an overwhelming aura. His weapon glowed with a fiery golden-red hue, and as it clashed with the Ice Orc¡¯s club, the sheer force of their battle created a powerful shockwave. Julius shouted, "Finish him, boy!" Letting out a primal roar, I poured every ounce of strength into my next attack. At that moment, my weapon tore the Ice Orc¡¯s body in two. My legs trembled from exhaustion, but before I could collapse, Julius caught me. "Well done, boy." Gritting my teeth, I growled, "My name is Ston!" The Lich The Lich Julius handed me a small orb, about the size of an egg. It was white. I looked at him in confusion. ¡°What is this?¡± Julius simply replied, ¡°Squeeze it, Stone. Don¡¯t be afraid of breaking it.¡± ¡°Just do it,¡± he insisted. I pressed it tightly in my palm. After a few seconds, I opened my hand and noticed the stone had changed color. Was that a bad sign? Julius chuckled. ¡°Feel anything?¡± I closed my eyes. A wave of shock hit me. A massive amount of my magic returned, and the exhaustion weighing down my body disappeared as if it had never existed. I looked at him in disbelief. ¡°How can such a small stone have this much effect?¡± Julius responded, ¡°That stone is rare. Highly valuable. You¡¯d never dream of using one in your lifetime.¡± Stone frowned. ¡°Then why are you giving it to me?¡± Julius smirked. ¡°First, we can¡¯t afford to lose you. You¡¯ve proven your strength. Second, this is an order from the king. He instructed me to give it to you and to escort you into the castle along with some soldiers.¡± Something felt strange. My eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for the Lich and the Flame Orc. Julius spoke again. ¡°That¡¯s right, kid. The Lich and the Flame Orc have infiltrated the castle. We¡¯re counting on you to stop them.¡± Stone watched the soldiers fight with terrifying precision¡ªno unnecessary movements, no wasted strength. Even though their power had been restrained, they were still war machines, spilling the blood of monsters with minimal effort. A one-sided battle, despite the Lich''s forces outnumbering them two to one. When I reached the castle entrance, I saw a group of soldiers wielding swords, clad in imposing black armor stained with blood. They carried strange-looking spears, nearly two meters long. The spearheads were elongated, almost like a blend between a slender sword and a spear, perfect for both stabbing and slashing. Julius commanded, ¡°You lot, escort Stone to the Lich and eliminate him.¡± Stone muttered, ¡°My name¡­ You finally said it right.¡± Julius grinned and slapped my back. ¡°Now go, kid. Smash that pile of rotting bones.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. We marched through the castle corridors, searching for the Lich and his minions. After ten minutes, we found him at the entrance to the main hall. Sensing us, the Lich turned to face us. Up close, the creature was even more horrifying. Rotten blue flesh clung to its skeletal frame, its hollow black eyes burning with a sinister green glow. It had no lips, exposing yellowed teeth, and its ribcage jutted out grotesquely. There was only one word to describe it¡ªhideous. He struck his staff against the ground, summoning an army of abominations. He hadn¡¯t done this in the first battle. At the same time, the Flame Orc stood in terrible condition. His body was rotting, covered in deep scars from our previous fight. He had no eyes, a gaping hole in his chest, and one of his arms was severed at the joint. I¡¯d have to thank Ilarion later for what he did to him. I pulled out my hammer. But this time, instead of drawing stone from the ground, I forged it from the metal inside my weapon. My hammer formed into a dark, ominous black metal, exuding an eerie coldness. My weapon had transformed¡ªstill a hammer on one side, but now an enormous battle-axe on the other. I charged straight at the Flame Orc, swinging a diagonal strike at his arm. He dodged and counterattacked. Damn it! Even in death, his body still retained its instincts. I raised a wall of stone to shield myself. His fist crashed into it, sending shockwaves through my body. I staggered back a few steps. If not for the wall, my bones would have shattered. I lunged at him again, recklessly. Meanwhile, the soldiers fought off the Lich¡¯s summoned creatures. Some of them were bizarre¡ªtiny insects with lethal venom, massive black reptilian beasts that looked like a mix between a hyena and a bat, their dark forms moving at terrifying speed. Others were monstrous hybrids of wolves with scorpion tails. One knight severed a wolf¡¯s tail, only for a sickly yellow liquid to splash onto him, making him scream in agonizing pain. The spearmen held off the bat-like creatures. Every attack from these nightmarish beasts was swift and unpredictable. We could barely afford to blink. Stone fought relentlessly. Though the battle had lasted less than ten minutes, he was already exhausted. Sweat trickled down his face, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Yet, a wide grin stretched across his lips. The Flame Orc launched a kick at him. Stone barely dodged before swinging his hammer with full force. The weapon smashed into the orc¡¯s side, the sickening sound of breaking ribs echoing through the hall. Damn it! That bastard felt nothing. I had to end this¡ªnow. I formed several rock spheres and hurled them at the Lich. He dodged them, and the Flame Orc pressed his attack. I kept moving, shifting my attacks toward the Lich whenever I could. My muscles burned, my body screamed in pain. My breath grew heavier, my stamina draining fast. I had to finish this in the next few moves. A reckless plan formed in my mind¡ªa risky one. The Lich was now behind the orc. I erected several stone walls to slow the beast down, then gathered every ounce of power left in my body for one final strike. I took a deep breath. My muscles tensed. I poured everything I had into this attack, my will to kill burning within me. Three¡­ Two¡­ One¡­ The walls shattered. I hurled my hammer with all my might, aiming straight for the Lich¡¯s head. The air cracked with a deafening sound as the weapon shot forward like a bolt of lightning. I cursed when the damn monster dodged¡ªonly for the Flame Orc to grab me. His grip tightened, bones creaking under the immense pressure. An explosion rang out as my hammer slammed into the castle wall, dust and debris filling the air. The orc kept crushing me. I heard my ribs crack. The pain was excruciating. Bone after bone. But I refused to lose. I refused to die here. Through the clearing dust, I saw what I wanted. My hammer had pierced straight through the Lich¡¯s chest, pinning him to the wall like a grotesque decoration. Dark, blackened blood oozed from the wound. At that moment, the orc¡¯s grip tightened even more. ¡°You¡¯ll kill me before I kill you!¡± I screamed like a madman. ¡°Over my dead body¡ªyou won¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to destroy you!¡± I spat blood, laughing like a lunatic. ¡°DIE, YOU FILTHY TRASH! DIE!¡± The green flames in the Lich¡¯s eyes flickered... then faded into nothingness. The Flame Orc¡¯s grip loosened. And then¡ªhe stopped moving. I collapsed to the ground. My vision blurred, my breath ragged. "Even though it was just a minute¡­ it felt like an eternity." That bastard had broken my ribs. My arms and legs were numb¡ªI couldn¡¯t feel them. They were probably broken too. Pain surged through my body, cold and merciless. "Sorry, guys¡­ I won¡¯t be able to finish the trial with you until the end." Thayd Thayd Thayd smiled as he walked slowly toward his comrades. He approached the room and opened the door, but it was completely dark. He lit a small flame, and as he ventured inside, he spotted one of his friends¡ªLoui. Loui was a handsome young man with black hair and green eyes. Thayd waved at him and said, "It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you." Loui replied in an unusually slow voice, "You haven¡¯t seen me? Ah, yes¡­ I haven¡¯t seen you in a while either." Noticing the strange expression on Loui¡¯s face, Thayd felt something was off. His instincts told him that something was wrong. Deciding to test his hunch, he spoke slowly and asked, "Where is everyone?" Loui smiled gently and said, "They¡¯re all asleep in the room. Can¡¯t you see them? Come, I¡¯ll show you a beautiful chest we found here." Thayd scoffed and said sarcastically, "How am I supposed to see them when the room is this dark? And why are all the torches out? What, are you guys bats now? If I didn¡¯t try to sense them, I wouldn¡¯t have even known they were here¡­ and I don¡¯t intend to tire myself out during rest time." Thayd felt uneasy about Loui¡¯s calm demeanor. Loui was usually a man of few words, but now he was speaking hesitantly and sluggishly as if he weren¡¯t fully in control of himself. Then, Loui abruptly changed the subject and said, "By the way, do you remember when we were kids and you saved me from the wild dogs that were chasing me?" Loui smiled warmly. "Oh, yes, of course. You helped me a lot when I was little. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble." He laughed naturally, but Thayd wasn¡¯t convinced. Deep down, he knew that such an event had never happened. To be sure, he continued, "And do you remember when I paid off your family¡¯s debts and saved you? You even thanked me. Your father himself came to express his gratitude. He was poor and miserable, unable to do anything but beg me to find a way to settle the debt." Loui¡¯s expression showed surprise as he said, Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "Yes¡­ that¡¯s right. But what are you trying to say?" Thayd smirked, grasped a dagger-shaped medallion, and leaned close to Loui¡¯s ear. In a hushed voice, he whispered, "But your father has been dead since you were two years old¡­ How did you meet him?" In an instant, Thayd severed Loui¡¯s head. Blood splattered onto the floor. He touched the severed head¡ªit was cold, as if it had been dead for a long time. Suddenly, a chilling sound echoed¡ªa chest breaking violently. Thayd instantly activated his mana detection and saw a sinister shadow approaching. He immediately ignited flames and attempted to exit, only to find the door surrounded by grotesque, hanging flesh-like tendrils. They looked either burning hot or poisonous, so he cautiously stepped back. Then, heavy footsteps resounded. He ignited the flames on his daggers and considered breaking through the thick walls, but he dismissed the idea¡ªthere was no time. Especially since his comrades were all around him. He spotted eight people¡ªhis classmates. He realized he was surrounded. This was the end. He raised his dagger and targeted the earth-element user, stabbing him in the neck and igniting his body in a terrifying blaze. He would have finished him off completely, but then he noticed something eerie¡­ Their eyes¡ªall of them¡ªwere fixated in the same direction. Their mouths opened in unison. And then they spoke in a single, bone-chilling voice! Suddenly, two of them started fusing together, and jagged, bizarre spikes sprouted from their stomachs. It was as if the creature was testing Thayd¡¯s abilities. He sprinted, flipping midair to evade the sharp edges aiming for his legs. He tried to make as much noise as possible, but when he increased his flames to illuminate the room, he made a grim realization¡ªthe grotesque flesh tendrils had spread throughout the chamber. That meant¡­ sound might not escape. He was in a dire situation. He couldn¡¯t risk attacking without knowing the nature of the monster controlling his comrades. And he didn¡¯t want to think about the possibility that they could wield a dangerous element like lightning. Lightning was fast and had devastating power, much like fire, but with an additional nuisance¡ªit was unpredictable, making it a terrifying weapon for those unprepared. He sighed internally and muttered, "Good thing I killed Loui¡­ He had the lightning element." But suddenly, he heard the sickening sound of flesh twisting and merging. The unsettling noise intensified. He increased his flames to get a full view of the room, and then he confirmed something horrifying¡­ The creature was fusing again¡ªbut this time, all of them merged at an alarming speed! Thayd didn¡¯t even get a chance to attack. As they combined into an even more grotesque abomination, their clothes tore apart, revealing a hideous mass of forcefully fused flesh. The most horrifying part? The monster had three heads with pitch-black eyes and burning red pupils. Its skin was red, like raw, bloodied meat. Five additional faces were scattered across its body. It stood over two meters tall, its grotesque, muscular frame pulsing unnaturally. But this state didn¡¯t last long. Two parts separated from the main body. Thayd realized there were limits to how much it could merge. He bolted forward, plunging his dagger into its flesh, slicing it open. A terrifying shriek sent shivers down his spine, but he pressed on. He targeted the three ghastly heads and severed them¡ªbut they didn¡¯t fall! The moment he cut them off, lumps of flesh extended outward, regenerating the heads almost instantly. This was beyond frustrating. This fight was going to be insanely difficult. The monster didn¡¯t move. It didn¡¯t tire. It showed no weaknesses. At that moment, Thayd knew¡ªhe had made a mistake. He had assumed its weakness was in the head. He was wrong. His last remaining theory was that the creature controlling his classmates was just a pawn. Could this be the parasite that Ilarion and Fabian had warned about? But before he could act, the monster fully recovered. Its glowing red eyes flared in the darkness, and then¡ª A powerful bolt of lightning struck Thayd, partially knocking him unconscious! A brutal punch landed in his stomach, but it didn¡¯t kill him. The monster was testing its strength on him. Thayd snapped back to his senses and staggered toward the wall. Channeling mana into his hands, he struck with all his might, breaking through. He thought to himself, "I need to escape and get help¡­ This isn¡¯t just one person¡ªit¡¯s several!" As he neared the exit, the flesh tendrils on the walls suddenly transformed into jagged spikes and lunged at him! He tried to dodge, but the pain was unbearable. One of the spikes pierced through his left eye, making him scream in agony! Thayd cursed, lost his balance, and fell forward¡ªstraight onto the grotesque , bladed tendrils, brutally scarring his face. Tears welled in his eyes, but his focus remained sharp¡­ Thaed (Part 2) Thaed (Part 2) Thaed focused on survival and escaping as fast as possible. He had lost his usual spatial awareness and could no longer see with one eye. Of course, if he hadn¡¯t been reinforcing his body with mana, things would have been far worse. He ran, enhancing his legs, ignoring all the standard body-protection techniques he had learned. This was pure survival instinct. He hid behind the castle''s side wall, took a moment to rest, then pulled out his special green flask and took a sip of water. But suddenly, he started coughing violently. "Poisoned?" Thaed realized with dread. Before he could react, the wall behind him shattered, and a grotesque hand reached out, grabbing his left leg and twisting it instantly. Thaed cursed internally as he sprinted away, barely dodging the chaotic bursts of electricity the monster was unleashing. It couldn''t hit him, but one question burned in his mind: "How did it find me? I''m sure it can''t hear¡­ There¡¯s no way it should be able to detect me this easily!" He ran aimlessly until he found himself in a bathroom. It seemed like a good place to escape¡ªhe could break the glass and jump out of the castle or crawl through the ventilation shafts. He began assessing his surroundings, but when he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror, he didn''t focus on his disfigured face. Instead, his eyes locked onto the sharp flesh-like tendrils still embedded in his skin. His mind raced back to the room where he fought the monster, the grotesque flesh covering the walls. Suddenly, it clicked¡ªthe creature was sensing him through the tissue still lodged inside his face! It wasn¡¯t capable of precise attacks like that terrifying lightning strike, but¡ª "In other words, the monster is part of the flesh wires¡­ And unless I destroy every last disgusting piece of it, it won¡¯t die." Without hesitation, he bit down on a piece of cloth to stifle his scream and started cutting the flesh out of his face¡ªeven from inside his ruined eye. He had no choice but to rip the eyeball out completely. He removed every trace of foreign flesh, then tightly wrapped his left eye with emergency medical supplies. Tossing the eye and disgusting remains into the bathroom, he bolted, desperate to find Stone or Ilarion. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "I can''t kill that thing completely while I''m in this state." Pain twisted through his body. His face and chest burned like hellfire. He staggered into a ruined hall, hoping to find someone, but instead, he found Stone lying on the ground. His body was in a horrific state¡ªboth arms were utterly shattered, his face and upper torso drenched in blood, and his legs¡­ They were broken in a way no one should ever experience, not even an enemy. Beside him lay the charred corpse of a previously slain flame orc. Thaed looked at Stone, and for once, his expression went completely blank¡ªsomething rare for him. He approached, muttering: "Did you really die this easily?" He knelt next to the corpse, staring into Stone''s lifeless, skyward eyes¡ªstill filled with ambition and pride. With an exhausted sigh, he murmured: "I can¡¯t do anything¡­ He¡¯s really dead." His expression darkened. The pain was unbearable, yet he couldn''t bring himself to cry. Suddenly, his nose started bleeding, and his chest screamed in agony as if begging for relief. The urge to give up clawed at him, but looking at Stone''s broken body reignited his resolve. "What did Stone do?" His gaze shifted to something he hadn''t noticed at first¡ªhis vision had been too poor to catch it. But now he saw it. A lich¡¯s corpse lay nearby, with a massive hammer embedded in its body. Despite the scorching pain consuming him, a faint smirk crossed Thaed¡¯s lips. "You did your part¡­ Now it''s my turn." One last time, he decided¡ªhe would return to the monster¡¯s room and burn everything to the ground. He would use his special oil to create an even stronger fire. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t bother, as an enemy wouldn¡¯t simply stand there and let him douse them in oil. But setting an entire room ablaze? That was easy. Moving slowly, he retraced his steps. As he walked, a massive shadow emerged¡ªa grotesque fusion of melted faces and sightless eyes. Its monstrous body pulsed as if still shifting. Thaed froze, pressing his back against the wall. The abomination hadn¡¯t detected him yet. It moved away, searching for its prey. But then¡­ it headed toward the bathroom. The place where he had discarded the foreign flesh. "Shit¡­" If the creature checked the bathroom, it would inevitably return to the room, making his plan nearly impossible. Thaed¡¯s body was nearly spent from the poison. Even with his enhanced legs, he was barely holding on. A bitter, pained smile formed on his lips. He walked toward the room. He opened the oil flask and poured it over his body, smirking in grim amusement. "This is the end." With a sudden leap, he flung himself into the monster¡¯s lair, setting himself ablaze. The fire jewel inside him shattered, unleashing a surge of raw mana. The flames roared violently, consuming everything in their path, incinerating every last strand of the revolting flesh that had infested the chamber. Before losing consciousness, Thaed heard the monstrous, guttural roar of the three-headed beast. He smirked and whispered: "Burn in hell, you ugly bastard." The creature¡¯s body convulsed and crumbled apart. Yet, despite Thaed¡¯s relentless efforts and flawless execution¡­ the monster didn¡¯t die completely. But the fusion was utterly destroyed. Only two pieces remained out of the original seven. The rest had been completely annihilated. All that was left was chaos. Endless chaos. Silent flames, yet absolute disorder. ¡ª Uninvited Guest Ilarion After we parted ways, Thaid and Ston were the closest to me. I was thinking... It had been half an hour since Thaid left to meet his academy comrades, while Ston had been gone for fifty minutes. Those words echoed in my mind, spoken by our instructor, Olivia: "The objective has been completed." "The Lich has been eliminated." I smiled. Good job, Ston. Then another message came: "A comrade has been eliminated." Who was eliminated? Was it Ston? One of our comrades? I placed my hand under my chin, deep in thought. Even Thaid was late... I called out to Fabian. Fabian thought for a few seconds, then pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, drawing the path for me. Before I could finish my sentence, Olivia¡¯s voice rang out again, as usual: "Final mission: Eliminate the ghost." Damn it! Where could a ghost be hiding? Unlike an Orc or a Lich, which would reveal themselves, a ghost would do the opposite... It would stay hidden. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. His quick, unwavering response caught me off guard. Fabian''s face darkened. Fabian''s expression grew more serious. So, the ghost had three easy targets to possess: The elderly. People with low mana or damaged mana circuits. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I started thinking¡­ I didn¡¯t want to lie to him. If I did, everything I had done to earn his trust would be for nothing. I extended my hand. Fabian grasped it like a handshake and began channeling mana into my body. His light magic was warm, but I felt a slight pain spreading through me. His mana coursed through my body¡ªnot as an attack, but as a means of scanning for abnormalities. A minute later, Fabian opened his eyes. Children. Fabian shuddered. We split up, heading in different directions. I ran while checking the map. As I reached the entrance to the hall, raging flames erupted from one of the rooms, wildly spreading in all directions, consuming everything in their path. I took cover behind one of the pillars¡ªthe heat was intense. A familiar voice echoed in my mind: "A comrade has been eliminated." "A comrade has been eliminated." "A comrade has been eliminated." "A comrade has been eliminated." "A comrade has been eliminated." "A comrade has been eliminated." "A comrade has been eliminated." Once the flames died down, everything was charred. The chairs and tables had burned to ashes, and the walls were pitch black. Something was stuck to the wall. As I focused, I realized it was the Lich, in terrible condition. A massive axe was embedded in its chest, making it look like a grotesque decoration. Then, I heard footsteps¡­ Thud¡­ Thud¡­ Something was walking through the remains of the fire. The smoke obscured my vision, but a massive figure started to emerge from the haze. As it came into view, it looked like a burned mass of muscle. Half of its body was in a horrific state, while the other half was strangely intact. Its right side was horribly disfigured¡ªone side of its face completely burned, distorting its features. Half of its nose was missing, exposing the bones around its eye socket. Its ear was gruesomely severed, blood still dripping. Its mouth revealed a row of jagged teeth, as the lips on its right side had been completely burned away, while the left side remained intact, creating a disturbingly asymmetrical expression. Its neck was fine on both sides, but its arm was a mess¡ªbarely functional, nothing but thin skin stretched over bone. Its chest was a nightmare, blackened and scorched, with fumes rising from the charred flesh. There was even a gaping hole exposing its oversized heart, twice the size of a normal one, with shattered ribs framing the gruesome sight. Its eyes were of two different colors¡ªone sky blue, the other a deep grassy green¡ªbut both were lifeless and void of emotion. Its lower body, while in bad shape, had nothing particularly remarkable. I let out a mocking chuckle. Thaid had burned this hideous creature, while Ston had finished off the Lich. Ilarion¡¯s tone turned colder, sharper. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. When he reopened them, his gaze was devoid of emotion as he stared at the parasite before him. "Playtime is over... It¡¯s time to get serious." The Predator The Predator Ilarion¡¯s cold voice cut through the silence: "You hurt my first friend and ally in the academy. So don¡¯t expect a quick death." The parasite lunged at me, its massive hand striking downward. I dodged, ducking low, and in return, clenched my fist and drove a punch straight into its nose. I felt the bones shatter beneath my knuckles as a dark red liquid poured out. I stepped back just as its fist crashed where I had been standing, cracking the floor. Without hesitation, I surged forward, slashing its flesh with Dawnflame, my sword now infused with mana. A pure white glow enveloped the blade, and soon, that radiant energy spread through my body. My muscles tightened, my movements grew lighter, and my speed increased. With each slash, the parasite¡¯s body became more grotesque, covered in deep wounds, blood pouring from its flesh. And with every strike, I grew faster, stronger. The beast tried desperately to hit me, but it was too slow, its attacks predictable. Its clumsy swings made it easy to evade. I sidestepped its disfigured hand and delivered an uppercut to its jaw, shattering it. Blood and broken teeth sprayed from its mouth. Then¡ªlightning! This lump of flesh could use magic? It lashed out wildly, its attacks erratic and unpredictable, making them harder to avoid. Stray arcs of electricity crackled around it, trying to strike me. "Slow and dull." My words only seemed to enrage it further. The creature lunged again, its blows gaining speed and force. That damned muscle-bound freak started coating itself in lightning magic. The strikes became faster. My back hit the castle wall. I dodged just in time¡ªits fist crashed into the stone, leaving a massive crater, shaking the ground beneath us. This strength wasn¡¯t a joke. I sidestepped, countering with a slash toward its neck. But before my sword could land, Dawnflame was repelled. A barrier¡ªthis bastard had formed a lightning shield around its throat. "Not bad¡­ not bad at all." Alright. Time to pick up the pace. I took a deep breath and charged. Before, I had only aimed for non-lethal areas to make its death as painful as possible. But I couldn''t let it evolve any further. The moment it moved toward me, I used my innate ability. The solid ground beneath its feet instantly turned to liquid, making it lose balance. I slipped behind it and sliced off its ears. I wasn¡¯t stupid enough to aim for the head or neck¡ªit clearly had a barrier there. But without its ears, it was practically deaf, making it slower, its movements uncoordinated. It slammed its fists into the ground, unleashing an ice spell that froze the entire floor, creeping toward me. I leaped onto a nearby wall, grabbing hold of one of the torches. This bastard kept surprising me! Lightning and now ice? If I let this continue, will it start using a third element? Just how powerful was it before it mutated? Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I landed, and the moment my feet touched the ice, it melted away. My ability wasn¡¯t something to be taken lightly. This time, the creature was different. It wasn¡¯t recklessly charging like before. It was adapting too quickly¡­ I had to be serious from now on. It formed swords of ice, then coated them in a layer of crackling lightning. A shiver ran down my spine. A composite attack? Just minutes ago, it didn¡¯t even know how to use magic, and now it was combining elements? What kind of logic was this?! I lunged forward. I had to aim for its heart¡ªits head was too well-protected. The ice swords shot toward me at breakneck speed, barely giving me time to deflect them. One after another. If not for Dawnflame¡¯s enhancements, I would¡¯ve been in real trouble. I tensed my muscles and delivered a powerful thrust toward its chest, hoping to end this once and for all. But instead of attacking me, the beast placed its massive, tree-trunk-sized hand over its heart. Breaking through that would be impossible¡ªor so it thought. Instead of aiming for its chest, I adjusted my angle mid-swing. The sword¡¯s tip pierced through its right eye, tore through its nose, and burrowed deep into its left eye socket. I jumped back immediately, anticipating a counterattack or some last-ditch trick. This bastard was evolving too fast! Its mismatched blue and green eyes turned a bloodshot red, both of them now gouged out, leaving it completely blind. The parasite let out an ear-splitting scream, flailing wildly. Even without sight, its attacks carried devastating amounts of mana. I stood still, watching. The beast was in shambles. "Alright, time to finish this and get back to Fabian." I moved swiftly, gathering scattered debris in one place. The burned mass of muscle charged toward me. Just as I planned, I grabbed two Deathwing Beetles¡ªcreatures we had fought earlier. I had kicked them aside a moment ago, and now, I hurled them at the parasite. The second they made contact with its lightning barrier, they exploded in a powerful blast. I dashed forward, exploiting the opening. Only a single meter separated us now. The beast¡¯s massive, muscular hand emerged from the dust, hurtling toward my face with terrifying speed and strength. No problem. This was all part of the plan. I wrapped a black rope around its arm and yanked it toward its own throat, tightening the loop. I whispered a few words in its ear before stepping back a few meters. As soon as I let go, releasing my ability, the rope reverted to its original form. A two-meter-long black spear emerged, its tip shaped like a half-meter-long sword. I had wrapped the sharp edge around its neck like a ring¡ªany movement would cause it to slice deeper. Its other hand was too weak to help. Just exposed bones and sinew, barely able to keep it standing. If it wanted to free itself, it had no choice but to pull its arm away from its neck. It struggled violently, screeching, its sanity long gone. But with every attempt to free itself, the blade dug deeper. Blood began to spill. It kept pulling and screaming, still convinced there was a way out. I simply watched, smirking in amusement. A crimson pool formed beneath it. The blade struck its spine. It went berserk upon realizing what was stopping it from escaping. It kept pushing, kept pulling. And then¡ª A sickening crack. Muscle and tissue tore apart. Blood gushed freely. I almost pitied it. A deep gash stretched across its neck. The sound of the blade grinding against its spine echoed in the silence. Checkmate. In one last act of desperation, it wrenched its arm back with all its strength. And for a moment¡ª Something hit the ground. Its head. Blood erupted like a fountain. Its grotesque, burned body collapsed, and I remained still, watching. I could see The Dark Lord¡¯s Blade lodged in its chest. Just in case, I drove it deeper to ensure the parasite was truly dead. I didn¡¯t leave immediately. I retrieved the sword cautiously. There was always a chance it had some final trick¡ªan explosion, a curse, something. But after a minute, the blood stopped flowing. Its massive, muscular form had withered, leaving behind a frail, mummified husk. Then, a sinister feeling washed over me. The Dark Lord¡¯s Blade was pulsing with an ominous, ethereal darkness. Shock flickered through my mind. Had it absorbed the parasite¡¯s mana? Its body was a shriveled husk. I hesitated before gripping the sword. A thick, eerie aura surrounded it. This bastard¡­ it devoured every last drop of mana from that thing. The moment my fingers touched the hilt, a shiver crawled up my spine. An unfamiliar sensation¡­ It was cold. Like I was naked in the middle of a blizzard. For a full minute, my body trembled uncontrollably. Then, the feeling gradually faded. Sweat dripped down my face. I wiped it off quickly and sheathed the sword. The aura vanished. But I could still feel it inside me. This¡­ must be the ability Uncle Albert spoke of¡ªthe sword¡¯s power to consume mana, whether from its wielder or its victims. Light and Darkness Ilarion After I finished off the parasite, I decided to return to Fabian. That mass of muscles took longer than expected to eliminate. As I turned, I found a group of monsters in a rather unfortunate state. A smirk formed in my mind. They''re just a mountain of mana waiting to be absorbed. I approached one of the creatures¡ªa massive bat, roughly the size of a ship¡¯s sail. I kicked it on the back, causing its short legs to stick out. I laughed. It has such a dumb, funny grin. I drove the Hand of Darkness sword into its heart, and the blade immediately began absorbing its mana. The aura surrounding it wavered for half a minute before settling. The bat-like creature¡¯s corpse dried up, shriveled as if it had been pickled. I continued this process for ten minutes, draining one monster after another. The aura around the Lord of Shadows sword swelled, exuding an ominous and dangerous presence. A shiver ran down my spine. What would happen if I struck a creature directly with this? I need to get back to Fabian. --- 25 minutes earlier¡­ I had parted ways with Ilarion. He was a strange person¡ªimpossible to read. It felt like, Just when you think you¡¯ve grasped his essence, it slips through your fingers like smoke. And yet, he was easy to talk to. Not arrogant or overbearing. The same could be said for Thaid and Stone. Despite their differences, they seemed like potential friends. As I walked through the castle corridors, many soldiers greeted me. I returned their gestures, thanking them for their hard work. After fifteen minutes, I arrived at a room guarded by two soldiers. They stood at attention. "Who goes there?" Upon recognizing me, they quickly corrected themselves. "Our apologies, Prince Fabian!" "It''s fine," I reassured them, "but ensure that no one enters this room." I took a couple of steps, then added, "Well, let¡¯s make an exception for a young man with black hair and black eyes. His name is Ilarion. If he comes, allow him inside." Taking a deep breath, I tried to suppress the anxiety gnawing at me. Just thinking about the possibility filled me with rage. This is my fault¡­ If I really do find the specter inside Miri¡¯s body¡­ This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I knocked on the door. A gentle voice responded from within. "It¡¯s me, Miri! Fabian!" Seconds later, the door creaked open. There she was¡ªmy little sister, six years old, with long, glossy black hair and large, emerald-green eyes. I hugged her gently, hearing her soft giggle. She was clutching a teddy bear as big as she was, struggling to carry it. I chuckled. "You still can¡¯t carry that bear?" Miri puffed out her cheeks in frustration. "Brother, stop it!" I laughed. "Alright, alright. But nothing is cuter than my little sister." Her pout quickly turned into a bright, silly smile. "Miri, do you trust your big brother?" She giggled. "Hehe, of course!" "Then close your eyes. I have a surprise for you." She bounced in excitement before stopping in front of me, stretching out both hands. I took a deep breath. Please¡­ please, let this work. Mana gathered in my palm. Anxiety, pain, and turmoil churned inside me as I placed my hand over her heart¡ªthe spot where the specter was feeding on the mana her body produced. The moment I touched her, Miri coughed up blood. Her eyes widened in shock before twisting into pain, sorrow, and betrayal. Seeing her expression made my heart clench. I bit my lip so hard I tasted iron. "Damn it!" A white mass began emerging from her body. She collapsed unconscious. The specter¡­ was a wretched, ghostly mass, floating at 1.8 meters tall, with no legs. It had a single, crimson-red eye with no whites¡ªonly endless darkness. Its mouth stretched horizontally, lined with dagger-like teeth. I quickly scooped Miri into my arms. The door opened by sliding, but I had no time¡ªI kicked it down. Rushing out, I handed her frail, pale body to the guards. "Damn it! She¡¯s lost too much blood!" "Take her to the royal physician immediately!" I ordered. Without hesitation, they sprinted away. I unsheathed Moon Blade, mana surging violently from my body. "I swear I¡¯ll grant you a merciful death!" My heart burned with fury, with only one thought repeating in my mind: Make this bastard suffer as much as possible! I lunged at the specter, slashing with immense speed, but it didn¡¯t react¡ªit simply stared at me with disdain. Damn it! My blade passed through its form with no resistance, and a chill ran down my spine. It raised its clawed hand, its arm shifting into a hammer-like shape. I barely managed to place my sword between the attack and myself. The impact was brutal, shattering the wall behind me. This is impossible¡­ It can¡¯t be invincible! The specter launched a relentless assault. I barely deflected its strikes, but wounds and scratches began accumulating on my body. I reinforced myself with mana, counterattacking through the barrage of blows. This time, the specter blocked me. Hah¡­ So, mana-based attacks do affect it! I poured more mana into Moon Blade. "My turn to attack¡­ using my family''s ancient style, honed over centuries!" {Light Dragon Style} I moved rapidly across the training hall, launching strikes from unpredictable angles. Each attack was swift and difficult to evade. But this wretch¡­ it moved strangely, avoiding the deadliest blows. The ones that landed were superficial. Something felt off. I retreated a few meters, exhaustion weighing on me. It felt like I had been fighting for hours. The ground around the specter started freezing. Tch¡­ Ice element. Bad. This will only restrict my movement. I admitted it¡ªfighting it alone was madness. I had to find Ilarion. Footsteps¡­ Step¡­ step¡­ I turned. Ilarion! Much better¡ªno need to search for him. He found me instead. Ilarion smirked. "Pff! You must¡¯ve had a rough time." Fabian: "I could say the same for you." Ilarion: "What do you mean?" Fabian: "That blood on you¡­ parasite and monster blood, huh?" Fabian: "You beast¡­ you monster!" Ilarion: "Why, thank you for the compliment." But then¡­ his expression shifted, turning cold and sharp. A chill ran down my spine. I had never seen Ilarion with such an icy, serious look before. Fabian: "Ilarion, cover me¡ª" Ilarion: "I know!" He unsheathed Dawnflame, a sword surrounded by a warm yet searing white aura, punishing those who stood against its wielder. The specter¡¯s form flickered. It seemed¡­ uneasy. Ilarion: "Alright, let me handle this. Heal your wounds." I pulled out a white healing stone. Meanwhile, Ilarion stepped forward, his muscles tensing, mana enveloping his body as he poured immense energy into his sword. In an instant¡­ he vanished. Reappearing before the specter, he swung¡ªbarely missing¡ª Or so it seemed. He had severed its arm. The specter teleported away, black, glossy blood pouring from its wound. Its maw twitched, its teeth shifting grotesquely. Ilarion grinned. "Oh? You teleported? Did you just teleport?" Ilarion: "Not bad¡­ not bad at all." The specter regenerated its arm, but it was clearly struggling. So it has limits¡­ Ilarion''s smirk widened. Heh¡­ Now we know how to kill it. "Fabian," he whispered, "force it to teleport. Then, hit it with your strongest strike. Leave the rest to me." friend Fabian looked at Ilarion in shock. It was as if he was walking straight into death. But then he remembered¡­ Every decision Ilarion had made so far had been right. He had never been wrong. "Alright!" Fabian gathered as much mana as he could and channeled it into his sword. Then, with all his might, he charged toward the specter while Ilarion tensed his muscles to the limit. But this time¡­ He didn¡¯t reach for Flame of Dawn! Instead, he placed his hand on Master of Darkness. The moment his fingers touched the sword, an indescribable surge of mana flooded his body¡ªa force so overwhelming that it nearly crushed him. "Just a few seconds¡­" At last, Fabian struck! A blow infused with immense mana, forcing the specter to shift positions. In a fraction of a second, the foggy space brightened. The ground beneath Ilarion cracked as he lunged forward into the mist¡­ "This is my chance!" Time slowed around him. He had one attempt¡ªif he failed, their chances of victory would drop to 30%! A warm sensation brushed the side of his face, while cold sweat dripped down his forehead. His muscles ached unbearably after fighting the parasite¡­ It had been a very long day. Yet, he hadn¡¯t drawn Master of Darkness just yet. He was waiting for the perfect moment. And then, finally¡­ The specter¡¯s body wavered before him! "Now!" The specter¡¯s hand lunged toward him¡­ but he didn¡¯t dodge! Every fraction of a second counted. The hand pierced through his chest, and blood spewed from his mouth¡­ but he grinned madly. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Ilarion whispered, "Not bad¡­ not bad at all¡­" Then, with his other hand, he grabbed the specter¡¯s arm¡ªholding it in place! The creature struggled to pull free, but¡­ "Over my dead body!" At last, Ilarion drew Master of Darkness! And in an instant¡­ A terrifying darkness burst forth, sending out a chilling aura. Every fiber of his being felt as if it were being crushed beneath the weight of the sword. "Heavy¡­!" It was like carrying ten men on his shoulders at once! In that fleeting moment, words escaped his lips like ice: "Darkness¡­ without end!" With indescribable force, the sword slashed through the specter¡ªfrom its right shoulder down to the center of its chest. The creature¡¯s grotesque face twisted in agony. And then¡­ He severed its heart! The blade emerged from its left waist, slicing the specter in half. Its lower body fell apart, but its arm remained embedded in Ilarion¡¯s chest. "It¡¯s over!" But there was no time to celebrate. The pain in his body was unbearable. Blood dripped from his nose and ears, and he barely stopped himself from vomiting. "Damn it!" He ripped the specter¡¯s arm out of his body and rushed toward Fabian. He saw the worry in his friend¡¯s eyes but ignored it, grabbing him and hoisting him onto his shoulder. The difference in their size and build was ridiculous, but there was no time to hesitate! Ilarion sprinted as fast as he could, heading out of the chamber! Fabian, trembling, shouted, "Ilarion, what are you doing?! You¡¯re in no condition to run!" Ilarion didn¡¯t answer¡­ All he felt was exhaustion¡­ and an unbearable chill¡­ "Damn it¡­ it won¡¯t end here!" Just seconds later, the ground shook violently! An immense wave of ice mana erupted from the chamber behind them¡­ "That bastard¡­ he detonated his element!" Fabian¡¯s shaken voice cut through Ilarion¡¯s thoughts, sending a shiver down his spine. The mana explosion was too close! There was no time¡­ He slammed his shoulder against a door, forcing it open, and rushed inside. Then, with all his strength, he shut it behind him and leaned against it. That wasn¡¯t enough¡­ "Fabian¡­!" He pulled Fabian into a tight embrace! Fabian felt something strange¡ªsomething he had never felt before. "Ilarion was a strange person I met not long ago¡­ but he was different from anyone else." He didn¡¯t treat him with excessive kindness, nor with jealousy or hatred¡­ He was just¡­ normal. Natural. There was nothing about him that could be irritating. For the first time in his life¡­ Fabian understood what it meant to have a friend. Ilarion¡­ wasn¡¯t like the others. Despite his critical injuries, he kept protecting him! Fabian was in shock when Ilarion carried him to safety. "What kind of madman would do this?!" Only¡­ someone you could truly call a friend. Drops of blood fell onto his face. Fabian looked up in fear¡­ Ilarion¡¯s face was deathly pale! Panic surged in his chest. This feeling¡­ it reminded him of when he lost his sister, Miri! He placed his hand over Ilarion¡¯s body, channeling mana to heal him. He was afraid¡­ afraid of losing his first friend! His hand hovered over Ilarion¡¯s chest, where a deep wound gaped open¡­ But Ilarion¡­ gently grasped his hand¡ªweakly, yet firmly. Ilarion, his voice soft and faint: "Fabian¡­" Fabian, his body trembling: "Ilarion! Don¡¯t talk! You¡¯re in no condition to speak!" Ilarion: "I don¡¯t have much time¡­" A deep sorrow clawed at Fabian¡¯s heart. It felt like something was eating him from the inside. With a hesitant voice, he replied, "Yes¡­?" Ilarion smiled. "What¡¯s with that look? It¡¯s not like you¡¯ll never see me again!" Then, he murmured softly¡­ "Fabian¡­ don¡¯t forget who you are." "You are a king." "Stand against injustice like an unbreakable wall¡­ and help the weak with all you have!" Ilarion¡¯s body began dissolving into yellow mist¡­ A voice echoed in his mind: "Trial complete. The trial will end in 30 seconds." Something warm fell onto Fabian¡¯s face¡­ "I¡¯m not crying¡­ I¡¯m fine¡­" "Ilarion¡­ you are my friend!" Ilarion, smirking, flicked Fabian¡¯s forehead. "Don¡¯t worry¡­ I¡¯m just returning to the team. I¡¯ll be healed as well." Fabian: "Will we meet again?" Ilarion: "Who knows?" Then, he grinned and added: "Alrig ht, but I won¡¯t let you leave empty-handed!" "When you visit Evalonia again, go to any security center or guild and tell them: {########}¡­ They¡¯ll help you with everything they have."