Zero awakens in a hazy medical room, struggling to regain focus. The room is dimly lit, and the faint scent of disinfectant hangs in the air. He blinks a few times, gradually clearing his vision, and climbs out of bed. As his feet touch the cold floor, he shivers slightly, the sensation jolting him fully awake.

Standing up, he is greeted by Hera, who wears a warm smile that instantly puts him at ease.

"Hey there, sleepyhead! Now that you're up, let's go collect your payment, alright?" she says, extending a helping hand.

Zero's gaze meets her outstretched hand, and he hesitates for a moment before accepting it, grateful for the support. Together, they make their way to the counter, Hera's presence offering a sense of comfort.

"Sure, let me change first," Zero responds, scratching the back of his head as he realizes he is still clad in the plain, hospital-issued medical robe.

"Alright, I'll wait for you at the counter!" Hera exclaims before leaving the room.

Zero swiftly changes into fresh clothes, a simple tunic and pants suitable for his adventures. He pauses for a moment to glance at himself in the mirror, adjusting his collar and ensuring he looks presentable before making his way to meet Hera.

At the counter, Hera greets him with a gentle smile, and he can't help but feel a faint flutter of warmth in his chest at her kind demeanor.

She proceeds to explain the details of their mission rewards, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she goes over the numbers.

"The mission itself will earn you around 20,000 in cash. If you also turn in the cleaver, the reward increases to 24,000. Oh, and I analyzed the necklace you found. It contains the essence of a hobgoblin, so wearing it will provide a small power boost!" Hera informs him, handing over the necklace.

Zero takes the necklace in his hands, examining it closely. The pendant's intricate design catches the light, and he can almost feel a faint hum of energy emanating from it.

"Wow, 24,000 gold and a strength boost? That's impressive! How significant is the power increase?" Zero asks, his eyes shining with curiosity and excitement.

Hera's face lights up as she explains, "According to my analysis, it's approximately a 5 percent boost."

Zero's eyebrows raise in surprise. "That's actually quite substantial for my first item! I'm impressed," he exclaims, holding the necklace with a sense of wonder.

Hera's smile widens, clearly pleased with Zero's reaction. "I'm glad you think so. Now, I suggest you head home. By the way, there's an elemental skill shop just two blocks away. You might find some useful skills there!"

Zero nods appreciatively. "Alright, thanks for the advice, Hera! See you later!" he bids farewell, feeling a growing sense of camaraderie with Hera.

As he walks down the street, Zero senses a familiar presence trailing behind him. He turns around but sees no one until he hears his name being called.

"ZERO, DUDE! What's up?" a voice calls out.

Zero recognizes the voice and smiles. "Oh, hey, Dan! How have you been?"

Ben grins back at him. "I've been good, actually. I reached the 300th rank in New Dawn today!"

"That's awesome, man! Congrats!" Zero congratulates him sincerely, genuinely happy for his friend's achievements.

"Thanks! So, where are you heading?" Ben inquires.

"I'm just going to buy some skill tomes," Zero replies.

"Cool, mind if I come with you?" Ben asks eagerly, his adventurous spirit evident in his eyes.

"Sure, let's go together," Zero agrees, happy to have some company.

They walk down the street together, engaging in friendly banter and catching up on each other's recent endeavors. After a while, Ben playfully shifts the topic of conversation.

"So, do you like that Hera chick?" Ben asks with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Zero blushes, caught off guard by the question. "What? No, I barely know her. We're just guildmates."

"Well, she's the only guildmate you talk to, and she's always waiting for you. Seems like there's something there, right?" Ben teases, nudging Zero with his elbow.

Zero stammers, feeling flustered by Ben's teasing. "Come on, Ben, let's just hurry up and get to the store!"

Ben chuckles, finding amusement in his friend's reaction. They arrive at the skill shop, and Zero immediately spots the lightning tome on display. He picks it up, the intricate engravings on the cover catching his eye.

"Hey, Ben, I found this lightning tome. Do you think I should get it?" Zero asks, holding up the book.

Ben examines it closely, his gaze lingering on the price tag. "Well, that one's quite expensive. Can you afford it yet?"

Zero raises an eyebrow, a playful grin forming on his lips. "Why did you say 'yet'? When have I ever tried to buy something like this before?"

Ben chuckles, realizing his choice of words was misleading. "Oops, sorry. I meant, can you afford it now because you've been making more money lately."

"Ah, I see. Well, let's ask the clerk for the price," Zero suggests, intrigued by the tome's potential but also aware that it might be beyond his current budget.

"Excuse me, how much does this tome cost?" Zero asks the clerk politely.

The clerk, a middle-aged man with a knowing smile, replies with a straight face, "It's priced at 600,000 gold."

"What?! Why is it so expensive?" Zero exclaims, surprised by the exorbitant cost.

The clerk leans on the counter, his voice low and secretive. "This tome grants you the ability to create, absorb, and manipulate lightning. It's a powerful skill, crafted from the essence of a lightning dragon, which contributes to its value."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Zero's eyes widen in awe, the idea of harnessing the power of lightning sparking his imagination. "I understand. Well, I'll have to save up for it then. Ben, are you getting anything?"

Ben shakes his head, his playful expression returning. "Nah, I think I'll head home for now, Zero."

"Alright then, see you later, Ben!" Zero bids farewell to his friend.

They part ways, and Zero returns home, falling asleep in his bed with thoughts of the lightning tome still lingering in his mind.

(Morning)

Zero wakes up, grabs his gear, and heads straight to the guild house. However, instead of Hera greeting him, a new face stands before him.

"Hey, where have you been?" Zero asks, slightly taken aback by the unfamiliar presence.

The young woman before him smiles warmly, introducing herself. "I'm Liz. Hera isn't here today, so I'll be assisting you in her place."

"Um, okay. I came to check out the available missions," Zero says, curiosity piqued by the new guild member.

Liz nods understandingly. "Well, there aren't any missions at the moment. However, you can hunt monsters and bring back their bodies to turn them in. There are multiple locations where monsters reside, so you have the freedom to explore."

"Alright," Zero acknowledges, already thinking about potential areas to explore.

Liz continues, "By the way, I heard that Miss Mary got expelled from New Dawn Academy. She caused quite a ruckus, almost killing three teachers before escaping."

Zero's eyes widen in surprise. "Really? That's quite the reputation she's building for herself."

Liz nods, her expression grave. "Indeed. It's best to steer clear of her if you ever come across her."

Zero files the information away in his mind, wondering what could have led Mary to such extreme actions.

Liz then surprises him further by handing over a small device. "Just this body scanner bracelet. It displays your base battle power on the central white part."

Zero takes the device, examining it with interest. "Thanks, this could come in handy."

With that, he prepares to head out on his next adventure, his mind still occupied by the name Mary and the lightning tome he hopes to acquire someday.

As he delves deeper into the forest, searching for potential monsters to challenge, he arrives at a location marked by blue signs, resembling a pathway leading into a tunnel.

Zero thinks, "Well, I was looking for something to do. Let's see where this leads."

Intrigued, he ventures through the tunnel, eventually reaching an open area where a large, black and gold blade is lodged in the ground.

"Hm, it seems abandoned. I don't see an owner," Zero remarks, his curiosity piqued once again by the mysterious blade.

With caution, he approaches the weapon, noticing the intricate carvings that adorn its surface. His hand hovers above the hilt for a moment, contemplating whether to touch it or not.

But the allure proves too strong, and Zero reaches for the handle, his fingertips grazing the cold metal. As he grips the hilt, a surge of energy courses through him, and he feels a connection with the blade, as if it recognizes him.

Marveled by its weight and craftsmanship, Zero decides, "This sword is impressive, and it looks formidable. I think I'll keep it."

As Zero begins his journey back, he encounters a fellow hunter in the forest.

"Hey there, mind lending me a hand?" the hunter asks, looking a little worn from their previous battles.

Zero assesses the situation quickly, noting the urgency in the hunter's voice. "What do you need help with?"

The hunter introduces herself as Emerald and explains her mission to collect a large egg from a dangerous creature deep within the forest. She offers to buy Zero a tome in return for his assistance.

Zero considers the offer, weighing the potential reward against the risk. He finally decides, "If you're willing to buy me the lightning tome, I'll join you."

Emerald's eyes light up with determination. "Deal! Let's get started. Follow me."

Zero follows Emerald deeper into the forest, their footsteps silent among the towering trees. Along the way, they encounter newborn wyverns, their cries piercing the air. With swift and coordinated attacks, they dispatch the creatures, proving to be an effective team.

As they venture further, the tension in the air grows palpable, signaling their approach to the creature's nest. Zero senses the danger, and a rush of adrenaline fuels his resolve.

Upon reaching the nest, Zero urges Emerald to retrieve the egg while he keeps watch. She quickly procures the egg, and they make a hasty retreat, knowing that they must leave before the enraged mother dragon returns.

They dash through the forest, the sound of their hurried footsteps echoing in the quiet woods. Eventually, they reach a nearby town, seeking refuge in an alleyway to catch their breath.

Zero catches his breath and remarks, "Well, that went pretty well!"

Emerald chimes in, slightly out of breath, "Pretty well? We almost got caught!"

Zero chuckles, finding amusement in their close call. "Don't worry, they didn't see us. We'll be fine. By the way, I'll see you later at the guild house. Take care!"

Emerald grumbles playfully, "But you owe me a date!"

Zero leaves her with a smile and a hastily scribbled note.

Note: We can have a date later, but not today. Sorry, Emy.

Emerald's frustration turns into a softened expression as she reads the note, her lips curling into a smile.

Meanwhile, Zero arrives at the guild house, expecting to see Hera. To his surprise, a different face greets him.

"Hey, where have you been?" Zero asks, momentarily thrown off by the new presence.

Liz introduces herself, and Zero's curiosity about the guild's new member grows.

Zero explains his recent adventure and how it led to Emerald's request for a date.

Hera, who overhears the conversation, fumes with anger, her feelings for Zero becoming evident. "You can leave now, Zero. You'll receive your share. The total reward for the mission is 1.2 million gold, so you'll get half."

Zero's eyes widen in disbelief. "Wow, that's incredible!"

Emerald, who has caught up with them, interrupts with a mischievous smile. "Yeah, that's why I took on the mission. Plus, you still owe me a date, big man!"

Emerald turns to Hera, her playful demeanor changing. "By the way, Hera, I can tell you have feelings for him. I won't steal him from you, but you can't keep lying to him."

Emerald's words hang in the air as Hera contemplates her next move, her emotions caught in a whirlwind.

Zero rushes to the nearby tome shop, eager to make his purchase.

"Hello, clerk. I've come to buy the Lightning Tome now!" Zero announces to the shopkeeper, his excitement barely contained.

The clerk looks at him and asks, "Do you actually have the 600,000 gold?"

Zero confidently responds, "Yes, here you go. Now, may I have the tome, please?"

The clerk hands him the tome, and with a generous smile, adds, "Since you seem like a nice kid, I'll also give you this technique book. It teaches you how to enhance your body, boosting your speed, strength, and durability equally!"

Zero's eyes light up with gratitude. "Wow, thank you!"

Leaving the store, Zero dashes to an empty part of the forest, eager to absorb the power of the Lightning Tome.

Zero fuses the tome's knowledge into himself, feeling crackling sparks of lightning course through his body. He stands up, forming a baseball-sized lightning ball that explodes in his face.

Zero chuckles and mutters, "I'll need more practice with this."

For the next few hours, Zero hones his skills, practicing the summoning and manipulation of lightning orbs. With effort, he manages to create orbs of varying sizes, marveling at the potential of his newfound abilities.

Zero reflects, "Now, let's see how much damage this can do. But I'll need to find a suitable opponent."

He ventures deeper into the forest, searching for monsters to test his newfound skills. Eventually, he encounters an ogre, its massive form intimidating and imposing.

The ogre spots him and launches a powerful kick, sending Zero flying through the air. Unfazed, Zero quickly rises to his feet, revealing that he sustained no damage from the impact.

Zero roars, unleashing a blast of wind that clears away the fallen trees, showcasing his resilience.

The ogre, surprised by Zero's durability, charges at him once again. This time, Zero channels lightning throughout his body, forming a protective armor-like coating.

Zero engages the ogre in a fierce battle, exchanging blows that reverberate through the forest. However, as time passes, Zero finds himself struggling to keep up with the ogre's speed and power.

Zero grits his teeth, realizing, "I can't sustain this much longer. I need to find another way."

As his lightning armor dissipates, Zero is slammed into a hill rendering him unconscious, creating a massive crater. The ogre looms over him, preparing for a finishing blow.

Just as the ogre is about to strike, two steel wolves rush in, attacking the ogre and diverting its attention.

A mysterious figure approaches Zero, their voice filled with assurance.

"Well, it looks like someone needs a helping hand. Don't worry; I've got you covered."