Hi everyone! Long time no see lol. Sorry for the late chapter, i was hibernating after the exam. That's why the chapter is being released today, not yesterday.

Like usual, i'll be appreciating every comments, suggestion, or critics.  Be sure to leave a comment, because your views and comments are keeping me inspired. Happy reading!

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“Well, that was quite dangerous. To think that a third rank beast would show up in a place like this.. This area should only be occupied by first and second rank beast.

Ryan wiped the the sweats in his forehead. He was lucky to be able to survive and kill a third rank beast.

In this world, Mana beasts are graded by their power and their mana core’s capacity. Harmless creature with mana core are ranked first. Wolves, apes, and other semi dangerous beasts are ranked second. Then, ferocious animal such as tigers and lions are ranked third.

Fourth ranked and above are consisted of mythical beasts, mutated beasts, or even legendary beasts such as dragons.

New bearers usually hunt a third rank beasts, and they usually do it with their companions. That’s why it’s not an exaggeration to say that Ryan was very lucky to be able to survive from it.

Ryan quickly dismantled the core in the tigers head, putting it in his bag.

“This core is quite valuable, but I can’t sell it in the village. They’ll make an uproar if they knew that I was hunting in the forest and encountered a third rank beast.”

Ryan walked away from the corpse. He went back to the safe area, and head straight to his favorite place, the lake.

He went to his usual spot and laid there. His head was resting against his arms. Then he start to ponder

“That battle was very dangerous. The difference between second and third rank beasts is too much. I can handle second rank beast easily, but it’s still too early for me to fight third rank beast.”

It has been 3 months since Ryan got his gloves. His father wasn’t a fist user so his training was still revolving around body building and tactics. Because of that, he hunted first and second ranked beast to improve his proficiency in using his fists.

Ryan was improving greatly when he first fought them, but after a few months he reached his bottleneck. He can no longer improve if he fights another second rank, but he can’t just easily challenge a third rank one.

The reason being that all third rank have a much stronger protective layer of mana than second rank. Ryan’s gloves can only damage them if he exerts all his strength. He may has a chance if it’s one on one battle, but he’ll be screwed if they called their companions.

“Should I find a teacher? Or should I just take the trial? But Dad won’t let me until I turn 14.. Ahh what should I do..?” Thought Ryan to himself.

Suddenly his vision grew dark. He felt that two hands are covering his eyes. The hand was smooth yet hard in some parts.

“Guess who I am!” said the person in a cheerful tone.

“Well, you  must be a witch. Um at a second thought, I think you are an ape judging from the hardness of your hand”

Then the hand suddenly pinched both of  Ryan’s cheek in a most brutal way one can imagine.

“Ow ow Rara forgive me. Geez, it was just a joke.” Said Ryan apologetically.

“Well I’m sorry if sword training made my hand hard. Anyway, an ape doesn’t have any mercy you know”

Rara continued to pinch Ryan’s cheek until his cheek becomes dark red.

…

“Ouch.. It still stings. What are you doing here? You should be practicing now, right?”

“Well, i have an important thing to tell you”

Rara grinned, her shoulder-long hair was fluttering.

“What is it? Don’t cliff-hang me” Ryan frowned.

“I have reached the second stage of intermediate rank in swordsmanship now!” Said Rara, proudly.

Ryan was startled. Rara was very talented in swords, but to think that she could reach that before turning twelve. She sure is a genius.

Proficiency with weapons are graded with basic, intermediate, advanced, expert, and master rank. Each rank has five stages. A normal bearers usually start at intermediate, but Rara was not a bearer and she already surpassed them.

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Ryan itself just recently entered the intermediate rank of his proficiency in fist. To broke through into the intermediate rank  before becoming a bearer was already considered great, but Rara was far more amazing than that.

“Wow.. You sure are amazing, Rara”

“Hehehe, but I’m still very far from what I wanted to be. I wanted to be the greatest swordsman ever! I want to protect everyone, not otherwise.” Said Rara.

Rara gazed at the skies, she still clearly remembered that day. The day when she nearly lose her life.

…

Three years ago, in the village. The sky was dark and it started to rain. The kids are running towards their house, Rara and Ryan too was heading back to their home. But on their way home, an unexpected thing happened.

Suddenly a shadow appeared from the trees. It was walking with its four leg, and was twice bigger than Ryan. A faint silver could be seen from its paw. It was a silver clawed lion!

“Groaarr!!!”

Rara and Ryan was startled, they didn’t dare to move even an inch. The lion could eat them alive in just a few seconds.

Ryan knew how ferocious the lion could be. He already read the book about fourth ranked beasts, and silver clawed lion are considered the top tier of fourth rank beasts.

“Rara, run!”

Ryan picked a few stones and threw them to the lion. Then he ran to the opposite way of their home. He knew that lion is very prideful, once it sets its target, it will hunt them till they died.

He knew that both of them couldn’t survive, that’s why he decided to be the bait. At least he could save Rara that way.

Unexpectedly, the lion didn’t chase after Ryan. It gazed at Rara who are still standing there, not moving.

“Ryan.. I.. I can’t move” said Rara, trembling with fear.

The lion suddenly charged at her. She closed her eyes. She knew that she couldn’t survive and she regret the fact that she could no longer be with Ryan.

She felt her body being pushed backward, but she didn’t feel any pain. She thought that she was already dead.

“Drip”

Suddenly a drop of hot liquid touched his face. She opened her eyes and saw that Ryan was on top of her. He was smiling but his face was pale, then another drop of hot liquid touched Rara, it was blood.

Ryan pushed Rara to avoid the tiger’s charge. Unfortunately the tiger was too fast, and its claw reached Ryan’s back. Wounding him deeply.

Ryan lost his consciousness, he fell down to Rara’s body. Rara could then see the tiger roaring behind him.

Suddenly, an arrow appeared on its head. The tiger was startled for a moment, but another arrow pierced its brain, killing it instantly.

It was Noir and Sieg. They noticed what had happened from the tiger’s roar. But they couldn’t make it  before the tiger’s first charge.

They ran toward Ryan and Rara. They quickly treated Ryan’s wound. Fortunately the wound was not deep enough to reach Ryan’s internal organ

Seeing that Ryan could still be saved, Rara was relieved and she started to cry.

Since that day, she swore to herself that she will become stronger and won’t let other people protect her. She didn’t want other people died because of her, especially Ryan.

…

“What are you looking at? Why are you smiling?”

“Nothing, hehehe” Rara smiled at him, her smile was as radiant as sun.

“Humph.. What a weirdo” said Ryan, trying to hide his blushing face.

“Ryan, promise me that you’ll always be with me until we both got stronger, then we could venture the world together. Just the two of us!”

Ryan smiled at her. It was their dream to begin with. There are no reason to refuse.

“Sure, but you’ll have to improve your cooking first haha”

“Hehe, It’s a promise!”

Rara smiled. Her brown eyes were sparkling,

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