Chapter 3:
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From the towering summit of the jagged cliff, Magnus and I stood in awe, taking in the breathtaking view of the serene and picturesque village cradled within the verdant valley below. After a long and arduous journey, we arrived at this charming and tranquil hamlet.
As Magnus sat on my shoulder, I propelled myself into the open air and began the thrilling descent. The wind whipped past us as we plummeted, the ground below growing closer with every passing second. As we approached the ground, I expertly maneuvered and landed smoothly on the narrow path that wound its way toward the distant village.
As we approached the gates of the secluded village, we were greeted by the peaceful surroundings and the warm hospitality of the locals. Magnus and I navigated through the streets and eventually came across the Guild nestled in the heart of the village.
As I walked into the Guild, I made my way over to the Guest Board in the village to check out the available missions. To my disappointment, there weren't any missions that required any fighting, so I made my way to the Receptionist's desk to inquire about other available tasks.
"Excuse me, miss," I inquired of the receptionist. "Do you happen to have any quests that involve fighting?" She politely explained that the village encountered monsters rarely and therefore did not offer any quests involving combat.
I took a moment to express my gratitude to the receptionist before stepping outside. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment as there were no available guests to interact with. However, instead of dwelling on it, I made a conscious decision not to let my time go to waste. I made my way to the outskirts of the village, where I planned to practice my magical abilities.
I found a serene spot by the river that wound its way through the valley. It was the perfect place to practice my fire magic skills. I could now manipulate and sustain a fireball for a considerable duration, but I had to be cautious not to let it linger too long, as it could potentially lead to an explosive outcome.
I spent the whole day practicing the creation and dissipation of the fireball, going through the process repeatedly. By the end of the day, I noticed a significant improvement in my ability to control the magic. While I hadn't reached my ultimate goal, I was satisfied with the progress I had made.
After my training session, I observed my familiar, Magnus, using its Black Lightning to attempt to break a fairly large rock. It was intriguing to see Magnus, a Dire Wolf not typically associated with Black Lightning, displaying such a talent for it. I decided to allow Magnus to continue and observe its efforts.
My eyebrows shot up in surprise as Magnus unleashed the power of his Black Lightning, effortlessly obliterating the rock before us. At that moment, I couldn't help but feel reassured by my choice of familiar.
Magnus let out a contented sigh and then settled down on his paws. When he noticed me watching him, he playfully covered his eyes with his paws. I couldn't help but smile at his antics and gently lifted him, holding him in the air. "That's my boy," I said, "you're going to grow up to be the strongest Direwolf the world has ever seen."
As the day drew to a close, I found a suitable spot in the training area and set up camp. I gathered wood for a fire, pitched my tent, and prepared a simple but satisfying dinner for both myself and my familiar. As we savored our meal, we enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of the training area. Afterward, my familiar and I nestled down beside each other in the tent, finding comfort as we drifted off to sleep.
It was just 4 am when I felt a rough sensation on my face. It was Magnus, waking me up in his unique way. With gentle licks and a playful nudge, he coaxed me out of my dreams and into the start of a new day.
"Okay okay... I am up." I mumbled in a groggy voice.
I woke up and decided to freshen up by washing myself in its clear, cold water. After that, I carefully relit the smoldering embers of last night's fire and set a pot of water to boil for a comforting cup of warm tea.
I offered Magnus a bowl of milk, and I observed as he eagerly lapped up every last drop, savoring the creamy goodness until the bowl was spotless.
"Let's go and check the guild… See if we can get any Guest that might be worthwhile." I rose from the campsite, retrieving the spear I had claimed from the Naga Queen. I meticulously tidied up the camp, ensuring no trace of my presence remained, and then proceeded to depart from the area.
"All these guests include collecting medicinal herbs and plants… Seems like we won't be getting anything here; let's leave this village, Magnus." I said to my familiar who barked in agreement.
As we departed from the guild, the earth beneath our feet began to shimmer with an ethereal light. The radiant glow extended outwards, enveloping the entire village in its luminous embrace.
I gazed around in utter disbelief as the once serene sky transformed into a deep, foreboding shade of red. The houses that I had just seen moments before now appeared weathered, dilapidated, and worn down as if they had aged centuries in the blink of an eye.
As I stood outside the rugged guild building, I felt an inexplicable urge to leap, and without hesitation, I launched myself into the air. Just as I did, a massive axe flew by, narrowly missing my head and striking the sturdy walls of the building, splitting it apart with a thunderous crash.
As I stood there, my breath caught in my throat. In front of me loomed a colossal Minotaur, its form exuding an aura of ancient power and mystery. Above the creature, there hovered a skeletal figure, its bony hand clutching a radiant globe that emanated a light matching the hues of the sky.
I leaned down and murmured to Magnus, my loyal Familiar, "Magnus... Stay next to me." In response, Magnus barked in agreement and sought shelter in my shadow… I looked at Magnus getting into my shadow and raised a brow but decided to keep the questions for later.
Suddenly, my heart raced as I took a deep breath and carefully scanned my surroundings. To my horror, I noticed that the lively crowd that had filled the space only moments before had inexplicably vanished, leaving behind nothing but eerie skeletons in their places.
"Who are you and what did you do to this place?" The eerie silence that followed was chilling. Suddenly, the bony figure pointed a finger at me, and before I could react, the Minotaur charged at me, filling me with frustration as I braced myself for the impending confrontation.
The echoing clash of the Minotaur's massive axe meeting my spear reverberated through the area. As I faced off against this A-Rank monster for the first time, I tightened my grip on my spear and forcefully pushed the menacing axe away. With a surge of adrenaline, I began to circle the Minotaur, my heart pounding as I fervently hoped that the other skeletal entity wouldn't interrupt our life-and-death battle.
I halted my circling and summoned all my courage as I made a daring dash toward the unguarded rear of the Minotaur. With determination in my heart, I attempted to spear its back, but my plan failed as the Minotaur swiftly pivoted, wielding its massive axe to shield its vulnerable back. As I pressed on, the Minotaur unleashed a deafening roar, its forceful shockwaves knocking me off balance and thwarting my advance.
"Wha-" Before I could finish my word, I caught sight of the Minotaur's massive axe hurtling towards me. Reacting quickly, I planted my foot firmly on the ground propelled myself forward, and dodged the axe, I didn't stop there and charged, determined to engage the Minotaur in combat before it could retrieve its weapon.
As I faced the unguarded Minotaur, I defiantly proclaimed, "I am stronger than you, Beast." With unwavering determination, I launched my attack on the creature. Even without its weapon, the Minotaur remained a formidable and fearsome opponent, demanding the full extent of my strength and skill to overcome.
I assessed the state of my spear and noted that it was already showing signs of wear and tear. Without hesitation, I conjured a small fireball and aimed it directly at the Minotaur's eye, causing it to stagger and lose its balance.
With a triumphant grin on my face, I propelled myself into the air, summoning every ounce of strength within me, and hurled the spear directly at the Minotaur.
The razor-sharp spear soared through the air with a satisfying whoosh before striking the hulking form of the Minotaur. The force of the impact, combined with the blade's already battle-worn state, caused the weapon to shatter upon contact. However, the Minotaur collapsed to the ground just before the spear fractured, bringing an end to the epic struggle.
With a triumphant grin, I stood over the fallen Minotaur, its massive form sprawled on the ground before me. However, my triumph was short-lived as I turned to meet the hollow sockets of the skeletal being. Its bony frame seemed to emanate an aura of dread, and I braced myself for a fight that I knew was beyond daunting, one that I feared I would not emerge victorious from.
Without a weapon in hand, I summoned all my courage and sprinted towards the skeletal figure looming in the sky. With a fierce roar, I launched myself into the air, pouring every ounce of strength into a powerful punch aimed right at its chest. However, just as my fist was about to connect, the skeleton mysteriously vanished into thin air.
As the Skeleton vanished, the crimson hue of the sky transformed into a vibrant shade of blue. The once shattered village was replaced by a thriving, verdant forest that stretched out in every direction. The only remaining sign of the recent encounter was the lifeless body of the Minotaur sprawled out before me.
I gulped hard and looked around frantically, trying to make sense of what had just happened. How did I end up in the middle of a dense forest? As I scanned my surroundings, I could recognize the familiar valley where the village was supposed to be. Was it all just a trick of the mind, did the village never actually exist in this place? The sense of disorientation and confusion weighed heavily on my mind as I struggled to comprehend the situation.
I gazed to my side and spotted the lifeless Minotaur, with my broken spear protruding from its chest. At that moment, the gravity of the situation hit me - everything I had experienced was undeniably real. Or at least, it should have been...
After letting out a deep, heavy sigh, I lowered myself onto the ground and started to carefully mull over recent events. The conclusion that emerged as the most plausible and rational was that the Skeleton I encountered held the status of a demon lord. Only a being of their status could control illusions of this level.
As I looked back at the motionless Minotaur, a surge of exhilaration rippled through me, causing an eager grin to slowly spread across my face. Despite the intense encounter, I couldn't shake the thrill of battle coursing through my veins.
"Damn that Demon Lord! The next time I meet that bastard, I swear I'll land a punch so hard that he won't even recall his name."
I swore as the adrenaline of the battle still ran strong through my veins.