Red Band believed himself be one of the strongest lightning users he knew. Compared to many of the others, his ability was on a whole other level, abd because of this, he was quite well-respected abd regarded in the grand social ladder. Though despite this, he wasn't someone who liked to flaunt his resources like other would.
Being an adventurer, especially being one that who possessed a high rank in an adventurers' guild, it meant that he earned a lot of money from his career, and in turn, he was able to live a better life than most.
Still, there were things that he lacked, things that he needed, which was why he and Jason currently had an on-going partnership deal.
"Who are you?!" He shouted, getting back up to his feet. "You are too close to a village nearby! I'd advise that you leave, else, i'll have to make you!" He activated his ability, the strange red lightning sparking around his fists. Fights between adventurers were quite common. If an adveturer was killed by another in combat, then their family wouldn't even bother trying to bring the killer to justice. They would simply just go about their lives as usual, with thr belief that the adventurer was just weak, which attributed to his demise.
This was the way of life of adventurers, and the same was as such for Red Band. He lived every day of his life with the belief that if he were to be killed while out on the hunt, then it just meant that he wasn't someone special to begin with.
"Now, i'll ask you once again. Who are you?" His patience was running thin. If this was an unhinged adventurer, then there was the chance that he might have to seriously fight this person. He didn't know all those who were adventurers that frequented this planet, but he knew a few, and this person looked nothing like any of them.
Kumon, hearing the man shouting, turned his head to look at him.
"An adventurer? Well, i guess i shouldn't be surprised since this is a planet filled with beasts," he started off. "Sorry for the inconvenience, but i needed to teach my classmate a lesson," he gestured to the werewolf standing a couple meters away, with trembling legs that threatened to give way at any given moment.
"He had suddenly gone rogue and started behaving more so like a beast, so i had to shock some sense into him. I apologise if i am stepping into your territory," although strong, Kumon knew that adventurers weren't to be trifled with. Most of them were far stronger than any second year student you would meet at any academy, abd not just that, but they had powers that those of the first year didn't.
That power being, a spitit ability, something that is only thought to the students of the second year.
From what he heard, it seemed like this person wasn't an enemy. Looking at the creature to the right, his eyes grew wide in shock as he gazed upon it.
"This thing... is your classmate?" Red Babd asked, shocked. "Are you serious?" Red Band knew of multiple abilities during his time as an adventurer, however, he had never come afross something like this.
"It's a transformation ability. Mystery class," Kumon stated, trying to clear the confusion. "He hasn't learnt to control his ability al that well yet, and he lost himself. If i didn't do what needed to be done, then my other classes would have been harmed as well."
'A transformation ability...?' Red Band was intrigued. The next moment, the werewolf began to change form. The fur covering his body reverted back into his skin. His physique decreased, and his human features reappeared once more. His body collapsed against the ground, huffing and panting.
"Seems like you're not lying. He really is just a kid," Red Band said. Looking at Kumon as well, he was starting to realize something. 'These two, they kinda look the same age as that girl. Could they be her classmates? If that's the case, then i guess i can just hand her over to them so that they can help her. That way, i can clear my conscience since i helped her but didn't do too much in the process,' he thought.
"Hey, i want to ask you something. Not looking too long ago, i stumbled across this girl with blazing red hair. She had a fire ability and she told me her name was Kayla Ven. Do you know her?" He asked.
Hearing the name mentioned, it caused a nerve to be struck.
'That bitch...,' Kumon thought, gritting his teeth.
"As a matter of fact, i do know her. She is one of my classmates. She hadn't been attending classes back at the academy for a while, and everyone was getting worried. You see, her parents are very influential, and they would go against the academy if anything were to happen to her.
"And because of this, the academy had decided to sent the rest of us to this planet during our next part of our training to search for her and bring her back once everything is over and done with. I'm glad to hear that she's safe," Kumon said.
Although the academy was really worried about ger whereabouts, they had bigger matters to deal with and couldn't put their attention into searching for her since her parents didn't even know that she was missing in the first place. And also, he was telling the truth when he said that this was the next stage of their training, but it wasn't with the purpose of searching for her.
Kumon had other thoughts in mind with regards to searching for her.
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While all of this was going on, a mysterious man had jumped right in between Zain and Shawn. Right as Zain was about to attack the latter, a cloud of dusk had formed, and a strong force whacked his body away. Once the dusk had settled, they all could see what had just arrived.
"What... is that?" Shawn's body began to tremble. He could feel an immese amount of pressure coming from this person, and the fact that he had just knocked Zain away with one blow was even more terrifying.
Just when he realized that there were two monsters they had to deal with, another one had appeared.
"You all... will pay!" The man yelled. However, from looking at him, they couldn't quite tell whether he was really just a man or not. For one, his body, it looked to have been mixed with some type of beasts, giving him an appearance with two greenish, slimy appendages, and tentacles for hands. The only parts of his body that looked human, were his abdomen, torso, and head.
The strange man raised up one of his tentacles and swung it forward. Upon doing so, it seemed to extend at the same time, quickly covering the distance, heading straight for Shawn. He was quick to react, snapping out of his daze and teleporting away. Now, the only one that was left there was Paul.
The mutant man turned his head, seeing that there was now only one person left.
"I guess you will have to do for now," he said with a grin. He swung his tentacle, but Paul managed to dodge the attack, moving out of the way. His mana had managed to heal his injuries, bringing his physical condition back to peak state.
"Settle? Nah. You'll have to just aim right," Paul said, acrivating his ability. Although his ability was simply meant to help him track his opponents, hr had been wondering for a while if that was all he could do. 'What if, i can also track his vital spots?'
This was a theory he had since his tracker class ability, which basically allowed him to track things, was something that could be improved upon over time. Even as a tracker class ability, it wasn't something that a lot of people had.
Paul twisted his body, dodging the tentacle. The other way came forward, abd at that moment, he rolled his body on the ground until he was now right in front of the mutant, shooting up with a kick aimed at the jaw.
"I wonder if you come with a beast crystal as well!" He yelled, punching the man on the face, blood spewing out in the process.
"Arrogant punk!" The mutant brought both of its tentacles back, however, Paul was able to dodge once more. "This will be the last time you dodge my attack!" Shooting its tentacles into the Earth, Paul quickly jumped in the air, however, he was too late, as the tentacles had grabbed a hold of his feet, quickly wrapping all over his body.
"Now, show me how you will manage now," opening its mouth with, an attack was building up. Paul was frantically struggling through the powerful suctions of the tentacles. Befire the attack could be launched, a bunch of slashes had appeared in the air, cutting off both of the tentacles as they dropped to the ground, releasing Paul in the process.
"This thing better be worth the mana," Zain said, sending more attacks through the air.
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See you all in the next chapter.