Beside him, Pyra curiously examined the skill scroll. Her tiny paw reached out and gently tapped it, causing a spark to ignite. The scroll burst into flames and was consumed within seconds, not even leaving a trace of ash.
Though Bastion's eyes were closed, he felt a faint, dark glow emanating in his mind. This was the distinctive shine of an Iron-level skill. A pang of disappointment began to settle, but then—his heartbeat suddenly thudded, strong and deep. The dark glow started to fade, replaced by a brilliant, radiant white light.
This… Bastion's eyes shot open in shock.
A diamond-level skill!
This blinding, magnificent glow could only mean a diamond-level skill. Was this really a one-in-a-million chance hit?
No, something was off. He distinctly remembered seeing an Iron-level glow at first. The transformation only happened after his heart skipped that beat. Could it be his innate talent, Heart of Divinity, that had somehow influenced the outcome?
Buzzing with excitement, Bastion quickly opened his character panel, eyes fixed on the skill section. Sure enough, a brand new skill had appeared:
[Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Shadow Technique Twin Strike]
[Shadow Technique Twin Strike (Lv1): Diamond-Level Skill. Consumes a large amount of mental energy to duplicate and release any skill from a designated summoned beast, replicating 60% of its effect.]
A diamond-level skill! Bastion could barely contain his elation. As every Beast Summoner knew, direct-damage skills for their class were rare. Most of their skills were supportive, meant to enhance the capabilities of their summoned beasts. This limitation often hindered a Beast Summoner's effectiveness in early battles, as they were heavily reliant on the strength of their summons.
But with Shadow Technique Twin Strike, everything changed. This skill allowed him to replicate any of Pyra's abilities. Whether it was Flame Storm or Blazing Tail, both were immensely powerful options. And as he summoned more creatures in the future, this skill would only become more versatile and deadly.
This wasn't just a high-tier skill—it was a game-changer.
Eager to try it out, Bastion focused his mind and activated the skill. A shadowy figure appeared behind him, a perfect mimicry of Pyra down to the last detail, mirroring her stance and expression. Flames ignited along the shadow's tail as it performed a copy of Blazing Tail.
Whack!
The shadowy tail struck his desk, setting it ablaze in an instant. The fire rapidly spread, reducing the desk to ashes within moments.
From downstairs, the orphanage director's furious voice echoed, "Bastion! What are you doing up there?!"
Bastion quickly doused the lights, ducked under the covers, and pretended to be asleep, heart still racing with excitement. With thoughts of his next adventure to the Bamboo Sea Mountains swirling in his mind, he drifted off to sleep, hugging Pyra close.
…
The next morning, Bastion eagerly caught a bus to the outskirts of the city. He'd thought that the edge of town would be less crowded, but to his surprise, the area was bustling with people. Adventurers of all kinds moved through the streets, some still covered in monster blood, others carrying hefty gear. It was a world apart from the student life he was used to.
Shops lined the street, most selling potions, equipment, and even some less orthodox services. Bastion's eyes caught sight of a few signs:
"Spring Breeze Massage – Refresh your spirit and boost mental recovery! Don't miss out on our special buff!"
"Sister Massage – Real sisters offering quality massage!"
"Max-Level Tui Na – Bikini-clad masseuses to speed up HP recovery! Essential for adventurers!"
Bastion shook his head, resisting the urge to linger. Finally, he arrived at the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild.
The Adventurer's Guild was a government-run organization open to anyone with a job class, combatant or not. Here, members could take on missions or post requests of their own. Since he was already heading to the Bamboo Sea Mountains, it made sense to register and pick up some tasks along the way.
Stepping into the bustling guild hall, he saw adventurers of all sorts milling around.
"Looking for one more for the Wolf Hunt in the Bamboo Sea Mountains—need a DPS!"
"The Boulder Mercenary Group is recruiting! Must be Level 10+!"
"Need a healer for a herb-gathering mission! Anyone available?"
The air buzzed with excitement as adventurers shouted to find teammates. Before long, it was Bastion's turn at the counter.
"Hi, I'd like to register as a member and check if there are any missions in the Bamboo Sea Mountains suitable for levels 8-10, preferably with decent rewards."
"Certainly, please show me your ID," the clerk said, momentarily surprised by Bastion's youthful appearance and Pyra's adorable presence. Still, she handled his registration quickly and handed him his membership card and badge.
[Bastion, Level 1 Adventurer Guild Member, Current Points: 0]
"Your registration is complete. I've found two missions in the Bamboo Sea Mountains that fit your criteria. Please take a look."
---
[Mission: Hunt the Demon Wolves]
Description: The demon wolves in the Bamboo Sea Mountains have become a menace, disturbing the local ecosystem. The Adventurer's Guild is recruiting hunters to reduce their numbers.
Reward: 100 coins and 1 point per wolf killed, verified by turning in the wolf's fangs.
---
[Mission: Gather Slime Gel]
Description: Large quantities of slime gel are required by alchemists for potion-making. Adventurers are needed to collect this resource.
Reward: 100 coins and 1 point for every three units of slime gel.
---
Bastion frowned slightly. Neither mission offered particularly high rewards. The slime gel mission seemed especially inefficient—three units of gel for only 100 coins?
As he scrolled through the available missions, his eyes landed on a grayed-out one that piqued his curiosity.
---
[Mission: Hunt the Demon Wolf King]
Description: The rising aggression of the demon wolves suggests the presence of a Demon Wolf King. To restore balance, the guild is offering a bounty for its defeat.
Reward: 50,000 coins and 500 points for the Wolf King's fang as proof of kill.
---
"Can I take on this mission?" he asked, pointing to the Wolf King bounty.
The clerk shook her head apologetically. "I'm afraid not. The Demon Wolf King mission is restricted to Level 2 guild members due to its high difficulty. You're currently at Level 1, so you're unable to accept it."
"That's to prevent adventurers from taking on challenges beyond their capabilities, which could lead to unnecessary casualties. Once you earn 100 points, you'll automatically advance to Level 2 and can accept higher-level missions."
Bastion nodded, understanding the guild's reasoning. "Alright, then I'll take the demon wolf mission for now."
If he happened to encounter the Demon Wolf King while in the mountains, he could just kill it first and complete the mission retroactively once he reached Level 2.
After processing his request, the clerk handed him his mission details and offered some advice. "If this is your first time in the Bamboo Sea Mountains, I'd recommend finding a group. The wilderness can be unpredictable, and even well-documented areas still hold dangers. Plus, the wolf hunt is a recurring mission, so there should be other adventurers interested in teaming up."
Before Bastion could respond, a loud, hearty voice from the counter next to him chimed in.
"Hey, did I hear someone's heading to the Bamboo Sea to hunt demon wolves? Why don't you join us?"