"Astrothians—fascinating creatures, really!" Arthur declared with his usual booming enthusiasm, his deep voice cutting through the ambient sounds of the dense forest as they strolled beneath the thick canopy of interwoven branches. Sunlight trickled through the shifting leaves, dappling the ground in golden patches, but even that natural beauty was not enough to drown out Arthur's overwhelming presence.
"They're beasts originated from the seven Divine Beast that have undergone mutations through mana exposure. The effects vary—some grow stronger, some faster, and some become aggressive beyond reason. Others, however..." He paused dramatically, flashing Mikoto a grin that was far too excited for comfort, "experience an increase in intellect, which makes them all the more troublesome!"
Mikoto, trailing behind the towering man, arched an eyebrow. "Right." His tone was flat, unimpressed.
"But do not let that discourage you, dear boy!" Arthur clapped a massive hand against his back with the force of a war hammer, sending a small shockwave through Mikoto's entire frame.
"It wasn't," Mikoto deadpanned, regaining his balance before dusting himself off. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly. This was already exhausting.
It had taken two weeks for his injuries to fully heal after his last defeat, and he wasn't about to let that happen again. His solution? More training. Which was why they were now in the middle of this gods-forsaken forest, far from the bustling streets of the capital, tracking dangerous creatures for sport.
Hunting.
Glorious.
"I like your spirit, Mikoto!" Arthur practically bellowed, his voice so loud that it sent a flock of birds exploding from the treetops in a panicked flurry. Mikoto sighed, long and suffering.
"But!" Arthur dramatically raised a finger, his hair practically glistening in the afternoon sunlight, "Sometimes, we need more than just spirit to succeed! On with the lesson!"
Mikoto wordlessly gestured for him to continue, internally bracing himself.
"Astrothians are categorized into different danger classes to determine their threat levels! These classes range from D to C, B, A, and finally, S!" Arthur flourished his hands as if he were delivering a grand speech to an audience of thousands, rather than to just one increasingly exasperated teenager. "And of course, Class S creatures are the most fearsome, most formidable, most ferocious—"
"Yeah, I get it," Mikoto cut in. "Most dangerous."
"Indeed!" Arthur wagged a knowing finger before his expression turned conspiratorial. "Ah, but there is an even rarer classification. A mythical class, known only in whispers and the most ancient of texts..."
Mikoto stared at him, unimpressed. "Let me guess—Class Z?"
Arthur beamed, positively gleeful. "Spot on, dear boy!"
Mikoto pinched the bridge of his nose. "And that means...?"
Arthur placed a hand to his chest, exuding pure theatrical energy. "Creatures in this class are said to be kingdom-level threats—monsters so powerful they could reduce entire civilizations to rubble. Dragons, leviathans, titans of unfathomable strength!" He waggled his eyebrows, as if trying to build suspense.
Mikoto exhaled through his nose. "But they don't exist anymore, right?"
Arthur's enthusiasm dimmed. "...Yes, well, technically, they are extinct." He cleared his throat. "Which is why Class Z is not officially recognized!"
Mikoto hummed in vague interest. "So, my job is just to kill some Astrothians?" It sounded straightforward enough. Test of skill, test of nerve. No different from before.
"Precisely, dear boy!" Arthur's enthusiasm resurged, nearly knocking Mikoto over with its sheer force.
Mikoto sighed but nodded. Simple enough. He had killed before. This wouldn't be—
His thoughts were cut off by a sudden rumbling.
The ground trembled.
It was faint at first—a subtle vibration beneath his boots—but then came the sound. A deep, thunderous, rhythmic pounding, like the march of some great, unseen force.
Mikoto instantly tensed, his instincts screaming danger. His eyes flicked toward the source. In the distance, towering trees began to shake. Leaves shuddered, and branches snapped violently as something mowed through them with brute force.
Arthur, however, was entirely unbothered.
"Aha! I recognize those footsteps anywhere!" Arthur proclaimed proudly, his expression alight with excitement as if this were the best possible development.
Mikoto did a double-take. "Wait—what? You can tell what it is just from the footsteps?!"
"Of course!" Arthur laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "That, dear boy, is the mighty Gorguthrax!"
Mikoto blinked. "A what now?"
Before Arthur could answer, the creature finally emerged.
A massive, hulking form burst forth from the foliage, knocking aside entire trees like they were mere twigs. Leaves and debris exploded into the air, scattering in all directions as the beast stomped into view.
The Gorguthrax was an imposing figure, towering over any human and standing at least 20 feet tall. Its massive frame was covered in patches of matted, coarse hair, which ranged in color from dark brown to ocher.
The most notable feature of it was its singular eye, located in the middle of its wide forehead. The eye was an astonishing size, as large as a few human heads, and its glinting iris was a deep amber with a hint of brown. The eye was glaring, unwavering, and appeared to almost pulse as it scanned its surroundings.
The monster's face was rugged and weather-beaten, with deep crevices and furrows etched into its flesh, giving it a grizzled, wrinkled appearance. Its nostrils were flared, and its broad jaws were capable of scattering boulders and tearing trees from the ground with immense power.
It wore a crude loincloth made of animal hide, with tangled cords of rope wrapped around its massive arms. Its long legs end in thick, gnarled, and muscular feet, with toenails as sharp as razor blades.
"Well, dear boy, good luck!" Arthur offered, as he merely turned and walked away.
"Oi!" But it seems this creature was more focused on what it had identified as a 'suitable mate', as it charged at him with a roar.
Its movements were slow and plodding, but with each step, the ground trembled beneath its weight. Its roar was deafening, rumbling like thunder across the landscape; it seemed to be able to awaken the terror in the hearts of even the bravest warriors. It reached him in no time as it raised both of its large arms before bringing them down.
As they collided with the ground, a force shook out throughout the ground and the forest as a whole as the ground broke and cracked, but his target was not there.
Poised atop a tree branch he teleported to, Mikoto clicked his tongue.
("That damn old man! You could've told me what crawled around in this damn forest! I nearly had a heart attack seeing this thing!")
"WRAAAAAAAAAAA!" Its shrill roar rang out throughout the forest once more as it noticed him. Its large form lunged at him as everything to the ground and trees rocked violently. It outstretched an arm, looking to grab him with its large hand and crooked nails.
("Haha...oh no, no, no, no.") Mikoto was not having this. He did not care if this was a living thing or not; he was not taking any damn chances. Though it looked so damn ugly, it also helped. So as its large form neared, he raised his right arm and pointed his palm at this hideous beast.
His palm crackled with mana as an ominous red glow illuminated it. A sudden hush fell over the area as his magic charged, growing stronger and more powerful with each passing split second. The air seemed to thicken and shake around him, small eddies of wind kicking up leaves and dirt from the forest floor. Then it erupted from his palm like a shot from a canon, a beam of pure mana. It was unleashed with the immense power of his magic in a single beam that shot forward toward the Gorguthrax. The beam struck the giant monster with a thunderous crash, shaking the very earth beneath their feet.
The impact was catastrophic. It let out a deafening roar as its form was entirely engulfed in the wave of mana, its fur smoldering as the magic burned through its flesh. But the destruction was not over yet. The magic beam had ripped a massive hole through the forest, leveling trees and rocks and sending them hurtling through the air like confetti. He was almost thrown back by the force of the explosion, but he managed to keep his grip on his magic and direct it with skill and precision.
"Haha...." The destruction he was wreaking made him feel something. He increased the output as it turned into a searing beam of energy that blasted through the air like a comet, consuming everything in its path.
The Gorguthrax was gone as Mikoto lowered the output until the beam of mana died down slowly. It was completely eviscerated; he was responsible. He looked up at all of the destruction before him. The dust finally cleared, the forest was in chaos, trees were felled, and rocks cracked. In front of him was now a clearing spanning as far as the eye could see.
He knew he was good at magic, but this was really something else. He caused this much destruction by just shooting out his own mana; it was not even a spell. This was the kind of destruction only some military weapons back home could cause, but he knew that this feeble destruction was only a taste of what he could do. He was capable of more.
"What the hell am I thinking?" He could not help but question himself, since when was seeing how destructive he could be important?
But at least he now knew he would not have much trouble in battle; it was strange. But killing that thing felt good.
____________________
[Location: Achenbach Manor]
The ornate halls of Achenbach Manor radiated an air of nobility and refinement as ever.
And yet, none of this luxury mattered as Fiona stood before Mikoto, her arms crossed, her sharp eyes narrowed with concern and curiosity.
She had felt it.
That tremor.
That earth-shattering disturbance.
A phenomenon so violent that even from within the capital, she had sensed its presence.
A noblewoman of her stature was rarely surprised, but at this moment, she found herself scrutinizing the young man before her, demanding answers.
"So you were the cause of that enormous tremor?" Fiona's voice was firm, yet there was a subtle undercurrent of disbelief laced within it.
Mikoto blinked, tilting his head slightly.
"Wait, you felt the tremor all the way in the capital?" His tone carried genuine shock, his mind scrambling to process what this meant.
A heavy realization settled over him like a thick fog.
("Fuck, did I really go that overboard?!")
Fiona's gaze sharpened further as she took a step closer, her expression unreadable.
"So it was you..." she murmured, deep in thought, as if piecing together something beyond what he had admitted.
She was aware that her father had taken Mikoto outside the capital to hunt Astrothians. That much she had been informed of.
But what kind of opponent would force Mikoto, of all people, to unleash a spell so destructive that a massive section of the forest was now gone?
"...Word is that a large section of the forest is effectively gone," she added, her voice now laced with quiet intrigue.
Mikoto rubbed the back of his neck.
"It was a, uhm..." he started, momentarily hesitating as he tried to recall the name. "The name of it was a Gorgu... something."
Fiona froze.
A chilling stillness overtook her usually composed demeanor.
Her eyes became ice-cold.
"A Gorguthrax?" she asked, her tone dangerously calm.
Mikoto gave a lazy nod. "Yeah, that's the one. Big, mean, and ugly." He mused, recalling its grotesque, cyclopean visage, the way its massive frame crashed through the forest like an unstoppable force.
A sudden snap broke the momentary silence as Fiona clenched her fists.
"That stupid fool!" she hissed under her breath.
Then, without warning, she lunged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.
Her hands, previously balled into fists of frustration, suddenly latched onto his shoulders.
Before Mikoto could react, Fiona began frantically scanning him for any sign of injury, her hands gripping his arms, tilting his head slightly, even pressing her fingers to his wrist to feel his pulse.
"Are you alright?! Feeling fine?! Not injured?!" she interrogated, her voice uncharacteristically high-pitched with concern.
Mikoto, caught completely off guard, stiffened at the sudden invasion of personal space.
He instinctively pulled back, though Fiona didn't release him right away.
"I'm fine, really. Why would I be injured?" His brow furrowed slightly as he tried to understand why she was so damn panicked.
Fiona shot him an incredulous look, as if he had just casually shrugged off the apocalypse itself.
"A Gorguthrax is a Class A threat for a very good reason," she stated, exasperation heavy in her voice.
Before he could offer another nonchalant response, she cut him off.
"This is due to the fact that its singular eye—if gazed upon directly—casts a hex upon its prey."
Mikoto's expression didn't change, but his interest was piqued.
"A hex?" he mused. "So, a curse, huh? That doesn't sound fun."
Fiona looked like she was about to strangle him.
"You damn fool—why are you acting so calm?!" she snapped. "Its gaze holds a hex of Death. It turns the target's own mana against them. Your very essence begins to deteriorate—starting from your body to your very soul."
Mikoto blinked.
"...The hell was something like that doing prancing around a forest?"
Fiona exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples as if trying to process how this absolute idiot was still alive.
But Mikoto, seemingly unfazed, simply shrugged.
"Relax. I'm fine. I wasn't hexed or anything." He stuffed his hands into his pockets, his demeanor effortlessly casual. "I think I would've noticed if I were."
Fiona studied him, searching his expression for any trace of false bravado.
Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to argue further, but after a moment, she simply exhaled.
Her arms crossed once more, but her gaze softened, just slightly.
"...You may be a spawn of Octavia," she muttered, her voice quieter now. "But even so..."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"You're not invincible, Mikoto. You're still human. Remember that."
For a split second, Mikoto saw something in her gaze.
A flicker of genuine concern beneath her usual sharp-witted exterior.
But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished.
Fiona turned, her dress swaying as she pivoted on her heel.
"But for now, excuse me—I have some choice words for my dear father."
Mikoto merely watched her storm off, muttering a quiet prayer for Arthur's soul.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the extravagant halls of Achenbach Manor vanished.
Teleportation.
The rich scent of aged wood and expensive perfumes was instantly replaced by the crisp, untamed air of the wild.
The dense forest surrounded him once more, its towering trees stretching high above as if trying to claw at the heavens.
A large clearing lay ahead—the same place where he had obliterated the Gorguthrax.
He rolled his shoulders, his fingers lightly flexing.
Arthur may have been an idiot, but his methods were effective.
Now, with a real opponent, Mikoto had gained an invaluable realization.
His hypothesis had been confirmed.
Mana, when condensed into a pure beam, was absurdly destructive.
If he applied a specific force behind it, the results were catastrophic.
Until now, most of his theories had existed solely within his mind.
But now?
With the battlefield as his canvas and destruction as his paint?
He was free to experiment.
Mikoto leisurely walked through the forest as if taking a peaceful stroll.
Training was needed.
He had surmised that a pure beam of mana would be destructive were he to implement a force behind it, but that was all in theory until he killed that Gorguthrax. He saw firsthand what a simple beam of pure mana could do when he implemented the aspects of destruction. Officially, what he used would not even be classified as a spell. But if it did, it would most likely be Tier 3 based on pure destruction.
Tier 1: Basic Spells: These spells are simple and easy to cast, usually used by beginner spellcasters. Examples include illusion spells, minor healing spells, and basic elemental spells.
Tier 2: Advanced Spells: These spells are more complex and require a higher level of skill and experience to cast. Examples include powerful elemental spells, advanced healing spells, and defensive spells.
Tier 3: Master Spells: These spells are extremely powerful and can only be cast by those who have dedicated their lives to studying and mastering magic. Examples include divine spells, small time-manipulation spells, and major elemental or destructive spells.
Tier 4: Forbidden Spells: These spells are considered too dangerous to be used by any spellcaster and are often deemed illegal or outlawed. Examples include spells that manipulate minor aspects of life and death, mind-control spells, and spells that summon or control dark creatures such as demons.
Tier 5: Divine Spells: These spells are only accessible to those chosen by the gods and are extremely powerful. The Familial Arts
Tier 6: Primordial Spells: These spells are believed to be the oldest and most powerful spells in existence, capable of causing widespread destruction or creating new worlds. Examples include spells that summon the primordial forces of nature, spells that control cosmic energy, and spells that transcend time and space. This is a tier only the God's reside in.
Of course, he could probably do tier 4 spells easily enough, barring something like summoning dark creatures, which require lengthy rituals and whatnot. Though if he had a reference to work off of, maybe he could summon a demon. Something to think about
Mikoto's footsteps came to a halt as he heard growling.
And just as that thought crossed his mind—
A low growl reverberated from the shadows of the trees.
A pair of glowing blue runes flickered in the darkness.
Then another.
And another.
Mikoto exhaled.
A pack of six large, black-furred creatures emerged from the treeline, their bodies pulsating with an eerie blue glow.
He cracked his knuckles.
"Sorry about this, dogs," he murmured.
"But I need the training."
And with that, the wolves attacked.
____________________
[Location: Achenbach Manor – Dining Hall]
The grand dining hall of Achenbach Manor was bathed in a warm glow from the massive crystal chandelier overhead, its countless facets refracting light. The scent of freshly brewed tea and fine cuisine lingered in the air, yet neither of its occupants seemed particularly interested in their meals.
Seated at the end of the long, polished oak dining table was Arthur, who's presence was usually a beacon of mirth and unshakable confidence. Tonight, however, his usual jovial expression had faded, replaced by something rare—concern. His eyes were clouded as he drummed his fingers idly against the armrest of his high-backed chair. Opposite him sat his daughter, she had been in the middle of quietly sipping her tea when her father's words made her pause.
Arthur leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his fingers interlacing as he fixed his daughter with an unusually serious gaze.
"Little Fiona, are you sure it's wise not to tell young Mikoto?" His voice lacked its usual teasing lilt, the weight of his concern pressing down on every syllable.
Fiona merely blinked at him, lowering her teacup with a muted clink. The swirling steam momentarily obscured her face before dissipating into the air. She looked at him with a neutral expression, yet the sharp glint in her eyes betrayed an underlying wariness.
"Tell him of what?" She asked, her tone betraying neither curiosity nor irritation. It was a simple question, straightforward.
Arthur exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples before looking at his daughter with a tired expression.
"You know of what I speak, Fiona." His voice remained steady, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "Spawns of the Goddess Octavia are rare, so rare that there have only ever been five throughout history. Seven if you count young Mikoto and the other spawn of this era."
Fiona's fingers tensed slightly around the delicate porcelain of her cup. The fine craftsmanship of the teacup was exquisite—an heirloom of the Achenbach family—yet for the first time, she felt an irrational urge to shatter it.
"Is there a purpose for this history lesson?" Her words were crisp, carefully measured, and yet they carried an undercurrent of irritation.
Arthur merely sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"We both know what becomes of spawns when they come of age." His voice darkened, his usually carefree demeanor peeling away like the surface of cracked marble. "We have seen it firsthand with the other spawn."
At this, Fiona finally stilled, her breath catching ever so slightly. The atmosphere in the room shifted. Her father's words stirred old recollections of history.
Arthur's expression remained unreadable, but there was no mistaking the grim finality in his tone as he continued.
"Mikoto is fifteen, correct? Then he has but a year."
Silence.
The only sound that remained was the faint crackling of the fireplace, the wood popping intermittently as flames hungrily consumed the logs within. The glow of the fire flickered across Fiona's features, casting long shadows that mirrored the thoughts racing through her mind.
A year.
A single year before—
She exhaled sharply, her grip on the teacup loosening.
Her father was right.
Even without him saying it aloud, she knew what this conversation entailed. She had always known.
Mikoto was not ready.
No one ever was.
And yet—
Fiona closed her eyes briefly, willing herself to breathe before reopening them. Her gaze held something far heavier.
Her fingers tapped against the edge of the teacup as she finally spoke, her voice carrying a quiet resignation.
"Then let's hope he is strong enough, for all our sakes, should it come to it."
She did not look at her father as she said it.
Arthur studied his daughter for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow, nod, he murmured his final words for the night.
"Then I hope he is."
Neither of them spoke again.