- Back in Day 3; after Doran left Nara's carriage in a hurry, he forgot his wooden dagger -
Leonara, or rather Princess Nara, stared at the wooden dagger in her hand, its blade sharper than steel.
The man who called himself Doran had left it behind after saving her and her knights from the wolves.
She couldn't shake the thought of him. How could a simple wooden weapon hold such power?
"Enchantments like this shouldn't be possible," she whispered, running her fingers along the edge. It hummed under her touch, the mana still lingering within its frame.
As she tucked the dagger away, her thoughts shifted. She wasn't just a wandering mage anymore; she was on her way to meet her uncle, Duke Orwin.
His aid was necessary now, with the two summoned heroes already at the academy. She needed resources, knowledge, anything to prepare for the growing threat.
The Demon Overlord's shadow loomed over their world, and these heroes were supposed to be their salvation.
As Nara rode alongside the knights, her thoughts drifted back to the academy. Two summoned heroes were already making their mark, but something tugged at her.
What of the others? Were they strong enough to face the inevitable battles ahead? She shook the thoughts away as the towering walls of Duke Orwin's estate came into view.
Upon arrival, Orwin greeted her with a knowing smile. "Leonara," he said, using her cover name, "it's been far too long. I trust your journey was smooth."
"It was," Nara replied, bowing slightly. "But there's something we must discuss. There are summoned heroes already at the academy, and I fear they might need more assistance. I need access to your libraries, perhaps even some resources to aid them."
Orwin's brow furrowed. "Summoned heroes, you say?" he muttered.
Orwin Continues "This might be more urgent than I thought. I was just about to tell you—there's been some strange occurrences in the region. A mage, calling himself Gandolf, arrived recently. He's an Arch Mage, and his presence… well, it's stirred quite a bit of attention."
Before Orwin could continue, a guard rushed in, breathless. "Your Grace, Lady Elsa has arrived at the border. She insists on seeing you immediately."
Nara exchanged a glance with Orwin, sensing the urgency.
Elsa, the village chief's granddaughter and the daughter of O'est, was someone they could not ignore. If she was here, something serious must have happened.
Within moments, they were on their way to meet Elsa at the border. As they approached, Nara could see the young woman pacing back and forth, her face pale with panic.
"Lady Elsa!" Orwin called out, his voice commanding yet calm. "What has happened?"
Elsa rushed forward, nearly stumbling as she reached them. "It's Rain! The summoned hero with blonde hair and blue eyes! He's gone missing after a goblin horde attacked our village. We searched everywhere, but there's no trace of him. He just vanished!"
Nara's heart skipped a beat. Rain was one of the summoned heroes, a crucial part of their defense against the Demon Overlord. Losing him now would be disastrous.
"Are you certain?" Orwin asked, his expression darkening. "Could he have entered the Elven lands?"
Elsa shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "No, he never crossed the border. The magical formations would have detected him. But... there were slavers nearby. We suspect they might have taken him. If that's the case…"
Orwin's jaw clenched. "Slavers… They could be working with demons, or worse. If they've taken him, we might be dealing with something far more dangerous than we thought."
Nara felt a cold chill run down her spine. If Rain had been captured by slavers, there was a chance they intended to sell him to the demons.
A summoned hero in their hands could spell disaster for their entire plan to stop the Demon Overlord.
"We have to find him," Nara said, her voice firm. "We can't afford to lose a summoned hero. Not now, not when the fate of this world hangs in the balance."
Orwin nodded, his expression resolute. "I'll mobilize my troops immediately. We'll comb the forests and search every suspicious group in the region. If Rain has been taken, we'll bring him back."
For the next fifteen days, Orwin's forces scoured the surrounding lands.
- Day 18 pass -
They annihilated any group suspected of foul play, but after a month of relentless searching, there was no sign of Rain.
- Day 33 pass -
What they did find, however, were slavers who had kidnapped several elves. The grim discovery led them to one conclusion: Rain had likely been taken to a hidden base, perhaps even sold to demons.
Back in Elshire, the atmosphere was tense. Nara paced in Orwin's study, her mind racing.
They had failed to find Rain, and now the threat of his capture loomed over them. But there was still one person who might be able to help—Gandolf, the Arch Mage.
"I think it's time you met him," Orwin said, breaking the silence. "I didn't trust him at first, but he's proven himself. He might be able to assist us in this matter."
Nara stopped pacing, her curiosity piqued. "Gandolf… You said he was an Arch Mage?"
"Yes," Orwin replied, standing up from his desk. "He's powerful, and I believe he might have knowledge that could aid us in finding Rain. Follow me. I'll introduce you to him."
As they made their way through the estate, Nara couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. Gandolf—who was he really? And could he truly help them?
Just as they reached the door to Gandolf's quarters, Orwin paused, his hand on the handle. "One thing you should know," he said, glancing at her. "Gandolf is… unlike anyone you've met before."
Nara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Orwin opened the door slowly, revealing the shadowy figure of Gandolf standing by the window, his back turned to them.
The air in the room felt heavy with magic, almost oppressive.
"Gandolf," Orwin called out, his voice steady. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
The figure turned slowly, and Nara's breath caught in her throat as their eyes met.
--- Back in Day 25 ---
Rain stood at the base of the South Rocky Mountain, staring up at its jagged, inhospitable peak.
His hands shook slightly, the tension building in his chest as he prepared for what was to come.
The mountain's peak, almost unnaturally sharp, loomed above like a spear thrust into the sky. No foothold existed on this barren landscape.
Even monsters and demi-humans avoided this place due to its lack of resources, leaving it untouched by life.
No trees could root themselves into the rocky surface, and not even the hardiest creatures made their nests here.
He closed his eyes and looked at his status window.
[Martial Power: 1200, Foundation Building Stage 10]
"Am I really ready for this?" Rain muttered to himself. His heart pounded in his chest, anxiety swirling through his mind. "Once I start, there's no going back."
He knew this was the moment. His power had reached the point where he could break through to the Golden Core stage.
It was now or never. Gathering his resolve, he made his way up the treacherous mountain, his legs burning with effort as he scaled the cliff-like surface.
The jagged rocks scraped against his hands, and his mana and qi reserves were nearly drained just getting to the summit.
With a quick slash of his hand, Rain cut away a section of the peak to make a small, flat space where he could sit. He dropped down, exhausted.
Half of his energy was spent just climbing this cursed mountain. "I'll rest for an hour, then begin," he whispered to himself. His breathing was heavy, but the nerves were still there.
He leaned back against the rough surface, closing his eyes for just a moment.
An hour passed. His energy was fully restored, and he felt ready. This was it. Taking a deep breath, Rain stood up and looked around.
The peak was isolated—no one would see him here.
The mountain was too high, too rocky, and too far away from civilization for anyone to disturb him.
"First things first," he sighed, glancing down at his robes. They were too expensive to let them be destroyed.
Without hesitation, Rain stripped off his clothes, folding them neatly beside him and putting it inside the inventory.
His body was now bare, exposed to the harsh mountain winds.
He felt the cold bite into his skin, but it didn't matter.
He sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes and beginning to focus.
For thirty minutes, he delved deep into his consciousness, comprehending the Law of the Universe.
His breathing slowed, his mind attuning to the cosmic forces around him. He could feel the shift in the air as the sky above began to change.
The clouds started to gather, thickening at an alarming pace. Dark, ominous storm clouds swirled overhead, spiraling like a whirlpool of impending doom.
The temperature dropped rapidly. The wind howled. Then came the first rumble of thunder, a low growl that sent shivers down Rain's spine.
BOOM! The first strike of lightning hit the peak. Rain gritted his teeth, his body shuddering from the impact as the energy surged through him.
Another thunderclap followed, this one even stronger. CRACK! The second bolt slammed down. Then a third, and a fourth.
Rain's body trembled under the continuous bombardment of lightning.
His muscles tensed, veins pulsing with raw power as the tribulation continued.
Each strike of lightning felt like his body was being torn apart and rebuilt again, pushing him to the brink of collapse. But he held on, forcing himself to endure.
Finally, the eleventh and final bolt descended from the heavens.
It was massive, the energy within it so intense that the light could be seen from over a thousand kilometers away.
Rain screamed as the lightning coursed through his body, but in that moment, he felt it—the breakthrough.
The Golden Core formed inside him, swirling with a power far beyond what he had ever known. He had done it. Rain had ascended to the Golden Core realm.
*Ding! [ ● Martial power: 2400 Golden core realm, 1st stage ]
Panting heavily, Rain forced himself to stand. He quickly grabbed his clothes and dressed himself, glancing nervously toward the horizon.
The commotion caused by the thunder tribulation would surely attract attention.
Already, he could sense powerful mages—Grand Mages and Arch Mages—rushing toward the mountain to investigate the disturbance.
"I need to leave," Rain muttered to himself, his body still buzzing with energy from the breakthrough.
Without wasting another second, he used his newly enhanced abilities to make his escape, vanishing from the mountain before anyone could find him.