The morning sun filtered through the thick canopy of the ancient trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The towering trees of the Ancient Forest loomed overhead, their gnarled trunks covered in moss, their roots snaking through the underbrush. The leaves were such a deep green they appeared almost black in the dim light. The air was cool and damp, thick with the earthy scent of moss and soil. In the distance, birds chirped sporadically, their calls echoing faintly through the trees.

A narrow, winding trail snaked through the dense forest, leading up the side of a steep mountain. It was a rugged, grueling hike that tested the endurance of the group making their way up the trail. Katsuo, Serena, Venom, Silas, and Zin had been walking for hours, their footsteps crunching on the gravelly path. The strain of the ascent was beginning to show on them, sweat dripping down their faces as they continued to climb.

Katsuo wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing up at the steep path that stretched endlessly before them. He sighed, already regretting the journey. "Is hiking the mountain really necessary for our training?" he asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

Zin, leading the group, turned his head slightly and grinned. "Of course! This was actually Taka’s idea. He thought it would be a good way to build your stamina."

Katsuo muttered under his breath, "Damn you, Taka... Why do you hate me so much?"

Serena chuckled softly beside him. "I never asked, but where are we heading exactly?"

Silas, who was bringing up the rear, piped in with a smirk. "It’s a mini branch of the Aegis Guild hidden deep in the Ancient Forest. We use it as a training ground for rookies from all over the world. Trust me, you’ll love it."

Venom, walking just ahead of Silas, added with a slight smile, "Don’t let him scare you. It’s the perfect place to sharpen your skills, though we do have some other business to attend to."

The path soon became more difficult, with jagged rocks and roots jutting out from the ground, making every step a challenge. Katsuo tripped over a particularly large root and stumbled forward, just barely catching himself before he face-planted into the dirt. He glanced back at the offending root with a scowl.

"Yeah, I’m really feeling the love for this place already," he grumbled.

As they continued their trek, Serena suddenly veered too close to a low-hanging branch and accidentally knocked over a beehive. A low hum quickly turned into a high-pitched, angry buzzing as a swarm of bees emerged from the hive.

"Run!" Zin shouted, and without a second thought, the group took off down the trail, swatting at the angry bees as they sprinted away.

Silas, surprisingly unfazed, turned to Katsuo with a grin. "You know, I think they’re just welcoming us to the forest."

Katsuo shot him a deadpan look, breathless from running. "I could do without the welcoming party, thanks."

Later, after escaping the bees, the group slowed their pace. Katsuo, however, strayed slightly off the main path, distracted by something in the distance. When he wandered too far into a shadowy cave, he found himself face-to-face with a bear—a bear larger than any he had ever seen.

His eyes went wide. "Uh... Guys?"

The bear roared, and Katsuo bolted from the cave, running full speed back to the trail. The others looked on in amusement as he emerged, breathless and wide-eyed.

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"You have a real talent for finding trouble, don’t you?" Serena teased, crossing her arms.

"I’m beginning to think this forest hates me," Katsuo muttered, though there was a sheepish grin on his face.

Finally, after hours of hiking, they reached the entrance to a large cave. The interior of the cave was glowing with an otherworldly light. The walls were covered in glintstones, their surfaces sparkling with a dazzling array of colors that lit up the entire cavern. The light was almost blinding in its brilliance, casting the cave in a surreal, ethereal glow.

"Wow... it’s so shiny in here," Serena said, her voice filled with awe. "What are these stones?"

"These are glintstones," Venom explained as she ran her hand along the shimmering wall. "They’re precious materials known for their brightness. We use them for adventuring gear and light sources. They’re incredibly versatile."

Zin looked around the cave, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yeah, this is a shortcut to the guild’s training grounds, but there’s more glintstone here than I remember. Something’s changed."

As they continued through the cave, the light from the glintstones reflected off the walls and floor, casting shimmering patterns that danced around them as they walked. Katsuo’s attention was drawn to a crab-like creature scuttling across the ground. Its shell was covered in small glintstones that shimmered in the light.

"Whoa, what is that?" Katsuo exclaimed, pointing at the creature.

Everyone stopped to look. Silas crouched down, studying the crab with curiosity. "Looks like the creatures here are starting to adapt to their environment, fusing with the glintstones. Huh… that’s new."

"Is it dangerous?" Serena asked, taking a step back.

Zin shook his head, grinning. "Nah, it’s harmless. Unless you’re allergic to shiny things."

They all shared a laugh and continued on their way, eventually emerging from the cave onto a wide plateau. Before them stood a large, sturdy wooden cabin, nestled among the trees. Surrounding it was a vast training field, bustling with activity. Vanguards of various ranks trained there, sparring under the watchful eyes of their instructors. The view from the plateau was breathtaking, with the ancient forest stretching out below them and the distant mountains rising against the horizon.

"Welcome, rookies, to the mini branch of the Aegis Guild," Zin said with pride, gesturing toward the bustling field.

Katsuo’s eyes widened in wonder. "It’s amazing how this was built on top of a mountain."

Serena nodded in agreement. "This place seems really popular. Look at how many people are here."

Venom smiled slightly. "That’s because most rookie vanguards are sent here to train and hone their skills. Everyone who’s serious about becoming a vanguard comes here at least once."

Silas leaned against a nearby tree with a smirk. "Venom had to spend extra time here because she was so weak when she started."

Venom shot him a playful glare. "Don’t make me remind you who won our last sparring match."

Silas laughed and held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. You win that round."

The group made their way toward the entrance of the cabin, where they were greeted by an older man with short white hair and a thick gray mustache. Despite his age, he was muscular, and his presence radiated authority.

"Zin, I was wondering when you’d show up," the man said, his voice deep and booming. "And you’ve brought Venom and Silas with you too. Who are the two newcomers?"

Katsuo and Serena introduced themselves, bowing respectfully.

The man nodded. "I’m Zeke, the manager of this branch of the Aegis Guild. And yes, before you ask, my age is confidential."

Venom chuckled. "He’s 56 years old, and he’s in better shape than half the young vanguards here."

Zeke sighed, shaking his head. "Venom, I trained you to fight, not to embarrass me in front of new recruits."

Zin laughed and clapped Zeke on the back. "It’s good to see you, old man. But we’re here for more than just training."

Zeke’s expression grew serious, and he nodded. "Right. If you’ll excuse us, Zin and I have some things to discuss."

As Zeke and Zin headed toward a room in the back, leaving Katsuo and Serena standing in the entrance, Silas and Venom started making their way upstairs. Venom turned to Katsuo and Serena before leaving. "Feel free to use the training grounds. It’s a good chance to make connections with the other vanguards here."

Katsuo glanced at Serena, a competitive gleam in his eyes. "How about we split up and meet at the training grounds later? I’ve been itching for a proper match. Let’s see who’s stronger by the end of the week."

Serena smirked, crossing her arms. "You’re just asking to be embarrassed, but sure. If that’s what you want, it’s a deal."

With that, they parted ways, Katsuo heading east toward the training grounds and Serena heading west. Both of them were eager for what the coming days would bring.