> You get 200.000 Monster Diamond!
> You get Emerald Gemstone (3x)!
> You get Fragment Soul of Necromancer (x1)!
Ah, yet another Emerald Jewel.
With a total of five emerald gemstones now in my possession, I can harness its power to conjure a new enchantment.
>You activated Soul of Wind!
Is the Soul of Wind now active?
Strangely, there is no indication of any new magical spell, as is typically the case.
As I ponder this, another notification from the System interrupts my thoughts.
>Magician Rank: Arcanist!
>You earned New Summoning Spell!
>Active Skill:
Lightning Bolt
Gaia Endowment
Divine Thunder
Fire Storm
Lightning Spark
Blade of Fire
Quicksand
Ice Javelin
Frost Bite
>Passive Skill:
Magic Barrier
Mana Regeneration
Health Regeneration
Zephyr
Ah, a fresh tier for magicians?
I have ascended to the prestigious status of Arcanist!
Furthermore, I have acquired a novel incantation for summoning.
>Zephyr*
*Summon Zephyr, the Warrior of Wind (Maximum summoning: 3)
Curiosity consumed me as I cast my new summoning spell, Zephyr.
The large Magical Circle erupted with a brilliant emerald light, creating a gateway for tall, imposing warrior figures to appear.
They knelt before me, glowing with the same green light that eventually rendered them invisible to the naked eye.
Only those with heightened magical senses could see them.
I observed their slender yet muscular forms, already sensing their agility and envisioning how I could use them in stealth attacks.
With my current magical power, I could only summon three warriors, far less than the Legendary Sorcerer's ability to summon an army of Ice Golems.
But it was a good start for me to have a guardian spirit.
As I dismissed Zephyr, I made my way towards Avyanna who lay on the ground, her breathing and heartbeat slowly stabilizing thanks to her self-recovery spell as a Tanker.
But it wasn't fast enough for my liking.
Without hesitation, I reached into my System Inventory and pulled out a strong health potion, helping her to drink it.
"Alstair?" Avyanna's surprise was evident in her voice as she looked at me.
She couldn't believe how quickly the potion had helped her recover. "The Necromancer!" she exclaimed, panic rising in her tone.
"Alstair, we-"
"Calm down," I interrupted, holding her steady as she stood up. "The Necromancer has been defeated." I quickly explained how the dead orc had lost its Necromancy chain, leaving only the task of returning home.
As I spoke, the Magical Gate disappeared, leaving us stranded in the dungeon.
Panic began to rise in me as I wondered how we would find our way back.
But then I remembered - Knights carried a special item for emergency situations, a white crystal that could teleport them back home.
I didn't have it, but Avyanna should.
"Alstair, let's use this," Avyanna said, producing the white crystal.
My hunch was right.
As I approached her, a sudden Magical Gate appeared behind me, causing Avyanna to gasp and drop the crystal.
She was surprised by the arrival of more Knights, led by none other than Avyanna's father, Aldwin, a well-known elite of the Knight Association.
Behind him were A-rank and S-rank Knights.
Among the S-Rank Knights, I can spot William and Stella among the crowd.
As Aldwin and his troops make their way through the gate, I notice them trying to close the distance between us.
Every now and then, I catch them smiling at me, as if silently congratulating me.
But deep down, I can sense their watchful eyes, as if I am some kind of monster they fear.
Before Aldwin can reach me, Avyanna steps in, blocking his path.
Her voice is sharp as she asks, "What do you intend to do?"
Aldwin shrugs, seemingly unfazed by his daughter's stern gaze. "To escort you back home, Avyanna. What else?"
But Avyanna reveals her white diamond item, stating, "I have my own means. No need for all these knights."
Aldwin responds in a flat tone, "It is our protocol to rescue knights who have completed their mission in the Monster world but were unable to return due to the closed Magical Gate." Avyanna rejects her father's reasoning, saying, "Coming here with so many knights for a B-rank mission is excessive and embarrassing, dad."
But Aldwin stands firm, stating, "What could be more embarrassing than abandoning our family and creating a new guild, causing such a commotion in the public eye? Your streaming has drawn the world's attention. You are the root of this problem."
Avyanna protests, "What are you saying? You always blame me for everything!"
"My time with you is over. Go home. Now," Aldwin quickly intervenes, pulling his daughter away and pushing her towards the knights behind him, ignoring her continued protests.
He then turns to me, standing right in front of me.
"Alstair, the F-rank knight known as The Thunder Magician. Congratulations on completing this mission. I know it was only a B-rank mission, but it was complex and difficult. I have never seen a single knight dominate and defeat so many orcs, including an unsuspecting necromancer." Aldwin smiles as he shakes my hand, saying, "I know our first encounter brought some unpleasant news, but I can now say that I no longer believe in those accusations. Please forgive my initial doubts."
His words hold a lot of weight, coming from a member of the Knight Association Elite, and I can sense the sincerity behind them.
"It's no problem," I reply.
Aldwin leaned towards me, his eyes glinting with a knowing look. "There's something bigger than your F-rank, Knight," he said, his voice low.
I could sense the weight of his words, but he didn't want to discuss it here.
Not in this place.
I shrugged nonchalantly, trying to brush off the topic.
"I think our guild has a mission coming up," I said, feigning ignorance. "Maybe we can talk about it later."
But really, I didn't want to waste my time getting involved in political matters with Aldwin.
All I cared about was reaching S-rank as quickly as possible.
There were so many dungeons I had yet to explore, and becoming an S-rank Knight was a requirement for entering the Abandoned Tower.
Aldwin's expression turned serious, and his words took on a commanding tone.
"The guild mission can wait," he stated firmly. "As a Knight, you are obligated to fulfill any meeting requirements set by the Knight's Association. And this meeting is crucial, as it relates to your role as a Knight. Do you understand?"
I cursed inwardly.
It seemed like I had no choice but to meet with him.
I could feel my plans for the day slipping away.
***