Ezra returned to the Shadow Panthers' base, his mind still preoccupied with the weight of his report to the Guild. As he stepped inside, the sight of Korr and Storm moving about brought a small sense of normalcy—if only briefly.
Korr was munching on a chicken leg as he turned to greet Ezra. "Morning, Boss. Where'd you sneak off to so early?"
"I was at the Guild," Ezra replied, shrugging off his bag. "Had to file a report about the coming demon invasion."
The words hung in the air for a moment before Storm reacted. The goblin, who had been carefully assembling a bomb at the table, startled so hard he dropped the device, which thankfully hadn't been armed yet.
"What the hell do you mean demon invasion?" Storm blurted out, his wide eyes darting between Ezra and Korr.
Ezra clicked his tongue in annoyance, realizing he'd forgotten to give Storm the full picture. "Damn, I didn't mention that, did I? Our last mission was escorting a demon who'd defected from the Wanderers. She came to warn Tavelon about a large-scale demon invasion on the horizon."
Storm's face turned pale, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with unease. "So... you're telling me I picked the absolute worst time to join up with you guys? I mean, don't get me wrong, I like a good fight, but demons? That's... a whole other level."
Korr laughed, his usual carefree attitude unshaken. "Hey, don't sweat it, Storm. You're rolling with us now. If the demons come knocking, they'll regret it. Ain't that right, Boss?"
Ezra smirked faintly, his tone calm but resolute. "We don't know when they're coming, but they are coming. That's why I gave the Guild a heads-up, so the city can prepare. As for us, we'll do what we've always done—handle whatever comes our way."
Storm let out a long sigh, shaking his head as he picked up his dropped bomb. "Fine. Guess I'm in it now. Just, uh... maybe let me know about stuff like that a little sooner next time, yeah?"
"Noted," Ezra said with a slight grin, moving to his usual seat. "Now, finish up whatever you're making, and both of you gear up. We've got training to do. If demons are on their way, I want us ready."
Korr pumped a fist in the air enthusiastically. "You got it, Boss!"
Storm, despite his earlier panic, muttered something about "crazy humans" as he returned to tinkering with his bomb. The room settled into a focused energy, the weight of Ezra's words pushing them all toward preparation.
Ezra stepped outside into the crisp morning air, the faint hum of the city beyond the walls a distant reminder of the world's chaos. He seated himself on the training ground, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees. Today wasn't about sparring or honing techniques; it was about his connection to his Aether.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, allowing his senses to extend beyond his physical body. The ambient Aether in the air felt like a river flowing around him, and he carefully began to draw it toward himself. He visualized it spiraling inward, guiding it to merge with his own Aether. The process was delicate—too much too quickly could rupture his veins, an act tantamount to suicide.
As he absorbed the natural Aether, his body responded with a dull ache that quickly turned into sharp, pulsing pain. His Aether veins strained under the pressure, and for a moment, he considered stopping. But he clenched his teeth, remembering the strange eye ability he'd unlocked during his last mission. He needed to control it, and that required growth.
Ezra pushed forward, forcing the energy to circulate through his body. The pain sharpened, coursing through him like a white-hot current, but he focused harder, willing his veins to adapt. They stretched, resisting, then yielding, the flow of Aether growing smoother with each pass. Sweat beaded on his brow as he continued the grueling process, his breaths coming in short bursts.
Then, a sudden surge—a critical mass. The Aether within him erupted outward, creating a wave of energy that rippled across the training ground. The shockwave stirred dust and loose debris, scattering small stones and startling nearby birds into flight. Ezra sat in the epicenter, his body glowing faintly as the energy settled.
He exhaled a deep, shuddering breath, the pain giving way to a strange, exhilarating clarity. His Aether veins had expanded, their capacity significantly increased. He could feel it—the flow of power coursing through him, stronger, more refined. He had ascended to the level of an Expert Aura User.
Opening his eyes, he glanced down at his hands, flexing them experimentally. A faint shimmer of shadow-tinged Aether coated his skin, responding to his will with newfound precision. He smirked to himself, satisfied with the progress.
Footsteps approached, breaking his moment of reflection. Korr stood nearby, a half-eaten apple in hand, his usual grin plastered on his face. "Damn, Boss. You really know how to make an entrance. I felt that all the way inside."
Ezra chuckled, stretching his legs as he rose. "Just leveling up. Nothing too dramatic."
Storm followed shortly after, his rifle slung over his shoulder and a curious look on his face. "What was that?"
Ezra stood, brushing dust off his armor. "Neither. Just making sure I'm ready for whatever comes next."
Korr whistled, clearly impressed. "If this is you getting ready, I'd hate to be the poor demon who picks a fight with you when you're actually ready."
Ezra smirked, his eyes glowing faintly as he activated a fragment of his power. The pupils of his eyes momentarily shifted, resembling sharp, glowing slits. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that," he said, his voice steady. "But if it does, I'll make sure they regret it."
Storm muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Yep. Definitely picked the craziest merc group on the continent."
Ezra laughed softly, turning back toward the base. "C'mon. Let's get back to work. Training doesn't stop just because I had a breakthrough." The trio returned to the base, a shared understanding settling over them. With demons looming on the horizon, there was no time to waste.