Part One
"Dad, I got first place again!"
He groaned and turned away from me, continuing his work. "Being first isn't something to celebrate. We expect you to be there and stay there."
He continued his work while I walked back to my room. "Why doesn't he care?" I thought.
It's been 2 months since I entered the Adventurer's Guild. Agatha and I have gone on about 5 missions at this point. From clearing and mapping out an undiscovered dungeon to helping civilians recover after a disaster. Since Agatha is Grade II and I am Grade IV, we have been completing Grade III missions and some lower Grade missions if we have the chance. After every mission I would send half of my earnings back home to grandma.
"Today you'll be the main attacker for this mission. I will simply be there for support in case anything goes wrong.
"Aw man, are you serious? There's no way I'm completing a Grade III by myself right?"
"There is a way and you'll see it today. We will be taking on Magnus Cave. Prepare yourself." She said with a stern look.
As we walked up to the mission board, I reached out my hand to grab the paper but I was met with another hand.
"Excuse ya! I was trying to grab the Magnus Cave mission, can ya move out the way?"
I turned to see a short, blonde, bratty girl also reaching for the mission. She was carrying a huge doll on her back.
"Who the hell does this brat think she is?" I thought about saying but decided to contain.
"Uh, hello? Obviously I was gonna grab the mission."
We started to push against each other as we both held onto the mission paper.
"Alright, Luther, you will take on another mission by yourself some other day. Why don't we all take on this mission together? What do you think?"
"Well I guess that works out,"
"I'm fine with that as long as she is."
"Fine, I guess we could do that." She said while turning her head away from us.
"So… what's your name?"
"Grande Holloway, but I'm sure ya heard of me before."
"Who does she think she is?" I thought angrily.
"Nope, not at all. Anyways, can we get this started?"
"Ya definitely heard of me, the young and beautiful ghost soulforge adventurer."
"No again I haven't. Let's go to Magnus Cave!" I turned to look at her face only to see her completely deflated.
We marched towards the cave while getting to know each other. She was only 14 and a Grade III and was also on stage 7 of her soulforge. Her ability allowed her to summon ghosts and to use them in various ways. I sorta lost interest while she was talking so I don't know all too much about it.
"Here we are, ready yourselves and don't be a liability."
We walked into the cave. The cave was full of magma and tiny, active, volcanic craters.
"Be on guard. Do not fall into one of these openings, it'll be the end of you."
I nodded and we continued on. As we walked, we all began to sense a group of creatures moving toward us.
"Get ready to fight here," Agatha said as I created two daggers in my hands out of molten rock.
A group of Flame Spirits floated towards us.
"Where is the Soulforge located in them?" I asked as I examined each of their wispy bodies.
"In the rock formation in their chest." Grande said while pausing to look at me.
"Did ya really not look at the Adventurer's Notebook?"
"The Adventurer's Notebook? Never heard of it."
"Of course I did."
Agatha began forming little orbs of water in front of her. She launched them. They pierced the Soulforge of the flame spirits and they were extinguished.
"Aw, you couldn't have let us have some fun?" I said while upset.
"This isn't about fun. It's about completing the mission efficiently with no casualties." Agatha said as sternly as ever.
We advanced further into the cave. The temperature began rising as we progressed further and we began using Agatha's water to surround us.
"There aren't too many creatures in here ya know?" Grande said.
Agatha called Snowe to toss Grande away.
"Hey I almost landed in one of the craters," she began to say before a pillar of lava erupted from where she was standing.
Before Grande and I could respond, Agatha grabbed the both of us and placed us in a huge orb of water.
"We need to figure out where he's attacking from."
We each closed our eyes and attempted to locate the Soulforge of this creature.
"Bingo," I said as I jumped out and created a gigantic hammer. I smashed through a wall to find a slim bug.
"So this is our enemy," I thought as I swung away at the bug.
"Yuto doesn't like getting hurt." The creature said as it jumped away.
"He can speak?" I thought in total disbelief.
"Hey idiot, do ya not know any basic fighting formations when in a team of 3?" Grande asked in a condescending tone.
"Fighting formations?" I questioned in my head.
The bug jumped away as Agatha sent Snowe to chase it.
Snowe created ice spikes which the bug managed to dodge while escaping away.
"Go get 'em, Boo!" Grande called out as one of her ghosts went to attack. The ghost grabbed a hold of the bug and phased into the ground, pinning down the bug.
As we approached the bug escaped the ghost's grasp and continued jumping away until Agatha created a bird cage around all of us with her water manipulation. Snowe froze the cage, eliminating all gaps and openings.
"Finally we can take him down without worrying about him running away." I said as I created a spear and got ready to fight.
Leaping forward, Snowe began attacking the bug by shooting out ice shards. Instead of dodging, the bug destroyed them by letting out a screech.
"So that's his soulforge ability, sound. It must also have an affinity for fire," Agatha said as she jumped in to fight alongside Snowe.
Grande sent out her ghost to slam the bug into the wall.
"Y-Y-Yuto really doesn't like to get hit."
I threw my spear, piercing the body of the bug and wedging him to the wall.
"That thing was so annoying to kill," I thought as I walked up to his body.
"Ya really have to learn how to work in a team or else ya won't make it as an adventurer," Grande told me as we began walking deeper into the cave.
"Well, this is my first time taking on a mission with more than one person."
"Ya didn't learn about this in school?" She asked, confused.
"School? I haven't thought of school since my old life."
"Ya gotta attend the School of Soulforge Arts. It's the best in the country."
"I've never heard of it until now. The School of Soulforge Arts?"
"Yea I'll look into it."
"Alright, are you two done flirting or can we still not advance into the final chamber." Agatha said in an annoyed tone.
I didn't even realize we stopped walking when me and Grande were talking. We both blushed and entered the final chamber.
As we entered the chamber there stood what appeared to be an empty suit of armor.
"Listen up, this one is strong. Listen to my directions and no one else speaks." Agatha said this with a stone cold face.
Both Grande and I nodded our heads as we walked towards the suit of armor.
Part two
The armor stood up and unsheathed its sword launched towards us. The sword went from about 50 feet away to suddenly in my face.
"You've got to react faster," Agatha said as she blocked the sword, clashing with the armor. Snowe made an ice sword for Agatha which she used to save me.
They went back and forth exchanging blows. As Agatha finally landed an attack piercing the armor the armor began to morph.
"The transforming fox, Altarie!" Agatha said as the armor revealed its true form. It was a fox about seven feet tall with six tails behind it. It was white with red face markings.
She extended one of her tails towards each of us and calmly said, "Rise."
The ground began cracking and we each dodged out the way. Just after we moved out of the way, eruptions of fire burst out of the ground.
"This thing is crazy strong."
I created a trident and took aim at Altarie. I started to charge up a rock drill.
Snowe shot ice spikes at Altarie but she managed to dodge each of them.
"I'm going in for close combat."
Agatha began fighting the fox hand-to-hand battling its six tails as she used her water manipulation to create 4 additional fists.
She traded punches with the fox and used Snowe to freeze her in place. With the fox frozen in place, Agatha was able to land a clean hit, knocking Altarie away. As Altarie was being knocked away she sent a fire pillar towards Grande. She was too slow to react and Agatha had to move her out of the way and take the blow herself. She was able to surround herself in her water to mitigate the damage but she received severe burns.
Then, Grande summoned a ghost behind the fox which punched it forward.
I fired my rock drill.
"Bang!" I exclaimed as the rock drill pierced the fox.
I looked over to Agatha but she was knocked out.
"Agatha!" I screamed.
While we were distracted the fox went to attack Grande. It called upon the magma surrounding us and focused it on Grande causing eruptions to shoot towards her.
I created a box around her, blocking most of the attacks but one got through. She managed to use her ghost to escape the attack.
"How are we gonna beat this thing with Agatha knocked out?" I asked Grande.
"Absolutely no clue. Ya got anything?"
"Nothing but we gotta at least stall until Agatha gets back up."
The fox began charging up a huge attack. Fire began smoldering in front of it while gaining size.
I began charging up my rock drill at the tip of my trident.
"Listen, I'm gonna release this to counter the huge attack Altarie is building up to. You need to protect me until it's ready."
"Got ya!" Grande said as she summoned a ghost to possess the doll on her back. The doll jumped off her back and began to stand.
The doll was six feet tall and made out of a light yet durable material.
"At your service milady, what would you like me to do?" The doll asked as it kneeled before Grande.
"Buy us some time as Luther charges up an attack."
"Understood." Said the doll as it stood up and put its hands together. A gust of wind rushed towards the fox.
The fox fought off the doll's attacks with its tails while continuing to charge up an attack.
"My attack is almost ready," I said while still concentrating.
"Will it be enough?"
"I have no idea."
I was being honest. I had no clue whether this attack would overpower that of the fox and keep us alive. All I knew was that if I didn't continue we would be dead. I at least had to try.
The fox launched its attack. The small fire has now turned into a smoldering ball of destruction engulfing everything it crossed. Everything was absorbed into the ball.
My rock drill was refined. The most powerful one I had ever created. The tip was as sharp as any weapon ever created. I launched it.
It was like a penny dropped into the ocean. My rock drill was shooting towards the vast ocean of fiery destruction which lay in front of it.
It entered the fox's attack and for a moment everything was quiet as the attack continued towards us.
"Did it… not work?" I thought as we were faced with death.
The rock drill sliced through the fox's attack splitting it in half. What I didn't account for was where those halves would land.
One half split to the left towards Agatha's incapacitated self and the other towards a rock formation on the right.
"Grande!" I shouted.
"Already on it." She said as one of her ghosts picked up Agatha and brought her to us. I created a box to protect us and the explosions went off. Snowe reinforced this box with his ice.
Boom!
I deconstructed the wall to find the chamber destroyed. There stood the fox as if it hadn't been hurt at all.
"Oh man how are we gonna do this?"
The doll then went in along with Snowe and began fighting the fox.
"Let's just go in. We can overwhelm 'em." Grande said as we both rushed in.
With the four of us we started to put the fox on the defensive.
"Stone spike!" I called out as I made a row of spikes rise up.
The fox managed to dodge them but moved right into the attack of the doll.
"Wind blade!" The doll exclaimed.
The fox managed to dodge just barely.
The fox was bound to slip up eventually. What it didn't expect was for me to get behind it and have a battle ax created in my hand.
"Take that!" I shouted as I swung the ax into the fox. We finally connected an attack. The attack sent the fox into the chamber wall.
"Yes, finally we hit it! Ya did a great job!"
"The fight's not over," We heard as we turned to see Agatha slowly standing up.
We each turned to examine each other's wounds. Agatha suffered severe burns and had cuts all across her body. I had cuts on my body along with blood streaming from my face. Grande had cuts along with slight burns on her left arm.
The fox got up and appeared to have taken some damage with a wound on its left hind leg and torso.
I created gauntlets for myself and katars for Agatha. I put my fists together as I fired a rock drill. Snowe sent ice spikes toward Altarie. The fox blocked each attack and reached with its tails towards me. I dodged two tails but the rest grabbed me. Grande tried to call her doll to cut the tails but Altarie maneuvered around the attacks.
In an instant I was transported to a red dimension. The only thing I saw in this sea of red clouds was the white fox.
"I brought you here to prove your worth. I believe you are someone that could become very powerful. I need someone very powerful." The fox communicated to me telepathically.
"To prove my worth?" I asked.
Before I could ask anymore questions the fox sent its tails after me. Using my gauntlets I fought off each tail. The rapid speed at which they came at me caused me to slowly start losing ground.
I created a wall in front of me out of the red clouds and jumped off of it to create some space between us. While I was in the air the fox shouted, "Rise!" and fire erupted from the ground.
Magma erupted from the ground and began to rush towards me. I dropped my gauntlets and created a scythe.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
I cut the attacks and regained my footing.
The fox sent its tails after me and I charged in. I parried each of the attacks.
"How do I break through to it?" I thought as I fought off attacks. As I was thinking, one of the tails got past my defense and managed to land a blow. It hit my left leg.
I sent spikes towards the fox which it was slow to dodge.
"Its hind leg is seriously damaged. It can't move as fast."
"Maybe…"
I fired off a drill towards the fox and it jumped into the air. I then created a warhammer in my hand and created spikes while the fox was in the air.
It barely managed to maneuver itself in the air, away from the spikes. What it couldn't get away from was my warhammer.
"Kahhh!" The fox screamed as it was hurled into the ground by my attack.
As I landed I began to move towards the fox. With my first step, I fell to the ground. The attack from earlier seriously damaged my left leg. I crawled over to see the fox attempting to stand back up to fight. Its legs were out and it fell to the ground.
"It appears you have what it takes. Listen closely, deeper in the cave I have a child. Take him. Care for him. Form a soul contract with him. He is still young however I believe you are the only one I can entrust him to. Thank you for this battle, I can finally rest now."
And with that Altarie, the fox, collapsed and was now dead. I was transported back to the cave with Agatha and Grande rushing towards me.
I raised my fist up in the air.
"I did it!" I shouted as Grande tackled me.
"What happened to ya?"
"Where did you disappear to?"
I explained everything that happened and we moved into the final part of the cave there lived a small fox no older than three months old.
I crouched down to it and began petting it. It made sounds as it enjoyed my hand.
"Hi, who are you?" The fox asked telepathically.
"I'm… a friend of your mother. She's gone now but she wants me to take care of you now."
"Take care of me?" He said while turning his head.
"Exactly."
I extended my fist out to the fox.
"Let's form a soul contract."
He extended his fist out to me.
"Let's do it!"
With the touch of our fists we formed a soul contract. With our soul contract, because of my connection to his mother we were able to form a 100% contract. The fox would grow and evolve through absorbing some of my soulforge energy while I gained access to its soulforge energy. We were now sharing soulforge energy as opposed to the standard 50-50 split or the more rare 75-25.
"I'll name you Altaro." I said as I pet him.
"Well, it's time to leave here." Agatha said as Snowe picked her up.
"I can't walk. Can someone carry me?"
Grande used 2 of her ghosts to carry me by the head and feet as we exited the cave while Altaro sat on my stomach.
"We officially have cleared Magnus Cave!" I said as we left.
The first place we went after the mission was straight to the Medical Center. There our wounds were treated and we stayed the night. The medic took their turns using healing soulforge abilities on us. They told me I had fractured my foot and it would take weeks to a month to heal.
The next day Grande came to visit me.
"How are ya?" She asked softly.
"I mean I could be better. They said my foot is fractured and it could take weeks or even a month to heal.
"At least ya injuries aren't that bad," she said as she paused to examine my injuries.
I cleared my throat and looked at her but she avoided my eye contact. She knew what I was going to ask.
"How's Agatha?" I said while studying her facial expressions.
"She's…not awake. She has intense burns across her body and a broken left arm. The adrenaline has worn off."
"I need to go see her." I said as I struggled to get up.
I couldn't move. Grande summoned her ghost to pin me down.
"Please, ya gotta rest." She said as she started to get teary eyed.
"I'll be alright, calm down. I'm gonna go back to bed."
Grande walked out the room.
"What a crazy series of events." I thought as I laid in my bed.
I closed my eyes and held Altaro in my arms.