"Our target is a group of white apes. Apparently they have been attacking merchants who operate close to the beast zone" David said.
"How big a group are we talking?" asked Adam.
"At least five apes" David replied.
Zane, just like the rest if the team raised an eyebrow in surprise. More than five grade one beasts were too much for their group of only three hunters.
"I know what you are thinking, so I called in some help from someone who knows more about these apes"
"Who is he?" Clara asked.
"I don't think you know him, but we will meet him soon enough, he is waiting for us at the gate." David answered.
"So what, are we taking on more baggage now?" Adam said in annoyance "No offense Chris"
"I didn't even know I was baggage" Chris mumbled as he tried his best to look hurt.
"No Adam he isn't baggage. He is actually a rank five mage. So he is stronger than you and your sister" David said.
The group was then even more surprised.
"Where will we get the money to pay him David?" Clara asked. A rank five mage obviously wouldn't work for free.
"Don't worry about it. This mission is going to bring a lot of gold you won't even notice that some of it paid someone else." David said.
"Okay that's all, let's not keep our guest waiting" David said as he checked his armor before walking out the door. With everyone else following close behind.
"Today is my lucky day, I can feel it!" Chris said to Zane.
"What luck is supposed to happen to you today?" Zane asked.
He knew whatever nonsense Chris will spout is going to be fun so he was really interested in his apparent luck.
"Today us the day I kill a mana beast." Chris said proudly.
"Really?" Zane furrowed his brows.
"Yes really, I have been a hunter for too long. I need to kill something" Chris explained.
"You have been a hunter for less than five days Chris. Actually you aren't even a hunter...."
"Yeah yeah, I know what you gonna say, but trust me. I can feel it" Chris cut Zane's sentence.
Zane smiled "Sure if you say so, i guess you will kill a beast today"
"Yes! In fact give me my weapon" Chris stretched his open palm towards Zane.
Zane sighed as he took out his old bow from his ring.
Chris snatched the bow off Zane's hand and started pretending to shoot something in front of them, even when there wasn't an arrow in the bow.
Zane suppressed a laugh at that sight. He had to admit that Chris was really starting to grow on him.
That thought made his remember that Chris wasn't even there for friendship or anything. He just wanted to become a mage through Zane.
At first, Zane was fine with that. It was him who came up with the idea in the first place after all. However now that he thinks about it, what will happen after they become mages?.
Will their friendship continue, will they part ways, or will Chris immediately try to kill him. Zane hadn't forgotten that he kind of tortured Chris back then.
He also didn't forget that Chris left him for dead back then. This man was actually the reason Zane lost his father's bow. He was also the reason Zane had to live alone in the forest for three years.
However, he was also the reason why Zane accidentally started Body Cultivation. He was also the reason why Zane had a job which will give him money.
Without Chris, Zane would have never met David and the others. Zane didn't know where he would be without Chris.
That was when Zane came to a conclusion.
'If he opts to stay friends after he becomes a mage, then good. If he opts to kill me, i will kill him. If he opts to go our separate ways, i will still kill him' Zane thought.
The reason Zane would still kill him after he chooses to go their separate ways was that Chris knew too much about Zane.
Granted he knew nothing of Body Cultivation but he did know about his inventory. He couldn't let Chris go with that information. It was either Chris was with him or he was dead.
That was when Zane thought of something else. The hunters also knew that Zane could see mana, they didn't ask what type of mana Zane sees but since he is mortal it's either healing mana or pure mana.
When Zane told the group he could see mana he didn't clarify which type he could see. 'Hopefully they think I see healing mana. If they knew I could see and use pure mana, that would be a problem.' Zane thought.
He didn't want to kill the hunters. Mostly because he knew he could never kill them, even if he became a mage, they have been mages for decades after all.
Zane shook these thoughts out of his head. So far he only had three mana cores absorbed, there was still seven to go and he didn't know how long it would take to get those.
'I will cross that bridge when i get there' he thought.
A few minutes later and the group had arrived by the gate. David went to one of the guards to talk to him, the others couldn't hear what they talked about but Zane could.
David had just asked if someone called John had arrived yet.
BANG!
Just at that moment, someone landed in front of the group. He had jumped from the top if the wall.
When David saw the man, he came back with a smile "John, how have you been?" he shook the man's hand.
"All good, can't complain. It would have been better if I wasn't disturbed to help you guys fight monkeys though" The man laughed. His voice was very deep like something was stuck in his throat.
"Hey don't act like you aren't happy. You get to join the the second strongest hunter group after all" David chuckled.
"Anyway meet the team." David started pointing at everyone as he introduced them.
"This is Adam, the blade of our team. Next to him is his sister Clara, the destruction." David said and the twins shook John's hand.
"The one covering his eyes is Zane, the healer and next to him is---"
"I am Chris, you can call me the Marksman" Chris interrupted as he pointed at the bow on his shoulder.
Zane lifted his brow in confusion 'Don't they recognize him?' he thought, looking at John.
"Chris is our group's own pain in the ass" David said.
"Don't listen to him John, he is just jealous because he never killed a beast when he was still a mortal." Chris defended.
"Ohh and you have?" Adam said with arms crossed.
Zane knew that those two would argue over that for the next few hours so he went to introduce himself properly.
"Hello i am Zane, and just as David said i am the healer" Zane shook John's hand.
"How you doing Zane, it's not everyday i meet a mortal who can use healing mana" John smiled.
Zane chuckled "I know, it's also not everyday i meet the famous Juggernaut"