Chapter 7: 211 Kills
After a considerable absence, he descended into his basement. Grateful that his sister was not present, he began changing attire when he sensed the token emitting a resonating sound in the air. It was the communication token bestowed upon him by the leader a few days earlier. Curiously, he picked it up.
"Do you wish to steal an 8th rank mystic art? In return, we shall compensate you with an 8th rank core. Are you interested in the job?" the voice on the other end of the line inquired.
"Add the corpse of the monster along with the core, and I will undertake the task," Horiz promptly replied.
"Deal."
The call abruptly ended, serving as a succinct business transaction. Horiz contemplated to himself that now there was no longer a need for him to purchase a core and corpse separately to test the potential of his mystic art. Unlike his previous venture where he dressed modestly, this time he had no intention of appearing inconspicuous.
After the call concluded, a flood of information rushed into Horiz's mind. He could recall the mystic art he needed to steal, along with the precise details of how and where it was located. Astonishingly, his employers had even provided him with a plan, and they went so far as to offer assistance if he required it. Horiz marveled at the extraordinary nature of these employers, wondering where such remarkable individuals could be found. He meticulously reviewed every fragment of information, ensuring that no detail escaped his attention.
The information clearly indicated that the mystic art would be guarded by six rank guards, all of them sixth-rank mages, despite the mystic art being of eighth rank. His target was a small martial family residing in the capital, relatively formidable in terms of strength, yet in the grand scheme of the capital, they were akin to inconspicuous street cats. Horiz realized that the assessment of risk for this mission was not commensurate with his current level, but the allure of the reward compelled him to proceed. He understood that risks were proportional to rewards. While the overall information appeared legitimate, he remained vigilant, considering the nature of the job being assigned by a terror organization. He possessed no knowledge of his employer, nor did he have any interest in learning more about them, as long as they upheld their end of the deal by compensating him accordingly.
His lack of fear stemmed from the realization that the eighth-rank mystic art would possess considerable value on the black market. Horiz intended to make a copy of it and sell it, thus doubling his profits from the endeavor. He couldn't shake the feeling that this mission might be a trap, but in reality, the entire world was a labyrinth of deceit and cunning individuals.
Though prepared for the worst, Horiz was resolved not to succumb to defeat. He would find a way to overcome any obstacles that lay before him.
Outside the Rose Garden, a hunting sanctuary constructed by Magic High for its students, Horiz met Han and Alvin. Real-life experiences within hunting sanctuaries had a profound impact on students, as practical exams were conducted in these environments. Casualties were a regular occurrence, and Magic High was accepting of these sacrifices in exchange for nurturing brilliant mages.
Rose Garden itself was an ordinary hunting ground, lacking any notable features apart from its name, derived from the abundance of roses that covered the area. As Han and Alvin caught sight of Horiz, dressed more extravagantly than usual, they exchanged glances. Something felt different about him this time. It wasn't merely his attire that had changed; even his body language spoke of a distinct aura. However, they were well aware of Horiz's prodigious abilities and didn't dare question him. They considered themselves blessed to have Horiz on their team, as his presence alone would secure them the top position without exerting much effort.
Summoning his courage, Han asked, "Why are you dressed so fancy?"
Horiz explained that he wanted to reveal his true strength and establish a distinctive style and captivating persona. In today's world, even the smallest details mattered, and being a powerful mage wasn't enough. He aimed to gain fame and build a reputation.
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Han and Alvin exchanged surprised glances. They had witnessed Horiz's incredible combat skills and knew that chaos awaited them at Magic High after summer vacation. The upcoming summer competition would be their chance to shine, with the finals taking place after the break. They understood the significance of teaming up with Horiz and the fame it would bring.
Han sensed there was more to Horiz's change than just his attitude, but he didn't have the courage to pry further into his newfound strength.
The monstrous creature they were about to face was a Rose Bird, known for its rose-colored plumage. These birds mutated after consuming large amounts of roses, driven by anger from their failed natural mutation and persecution by other predators.
As they encountered a group of Rose Birds, Horiz wasted no time in drawing his crossbow. Han and Alvin watched as brown particles coalesced around Horiz, forming a crossbow within seconds. The sun illuminated the weapon with a shimmering glow. Without hesitation, Horiz swiftly eliminated the group of Rose Birds, dispatching eleven of them in a matter of seconds. Although he missed a few shots and scared away a couple of birds, his skill was undeniable.
The Rose Birds were rank three beasts, the minimum requirement to advance in the summer competition. Horiz had met the bare minimum to remain in the competition, but he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to practice and improve his abilities.
Han and Alvin stood in awe, witnessing Horiz's unbelievable strength. They knew that even their Magic High professors couldn't match his prowess. Horiz instructed them to gather the bird corpses, assigning them the task of carriers and support. Delving deeper into the hunting grounds, Horiz sought more Rose Birds to slay. This was his target practice. If he intended to use this weapon in life-or-death battles, he needed to improve his aim. A single missed shot could cost him his life.
Status
Horiz
Mage: Rank 2
Artifacts: Divine Metal Door, Exclusive Wooden Door, Heavy Metal Sword
Beast Artifacts: Purple Armor (Rank 5), Hedge Crossbow (Rank 5)
Mystic Art: Infinitely Reversible Worldly Mana (Rank 1)
Mana: 2000
Horiz was taken aback as he inspected the hedge crossbow. It had reached rank 5, surpassing the rank of the hedge hogs. He realized that by accumulating cores and refining a lower-ranked weapon, he could upgrade it to a higher rank. However, the process was challenging and required refining a beast artifact with numerous cores. Horiz contemplated acquiring a teleportation or speed-type artifact, as it would be a lifesaver in future endeavors. The better the beast's primary ability, the more exceptional the resulting beast artifact would be. Though both the purple armor and hedge crossbow were at the same level, the purple armor could withstand attacks from rank 6 opponents, while the crossbow lacked the necessary sharpness and power to pierce through the hide of every 5th rank creature, such as the Cobra King.
"Horiz, we should keep going or there won't be any rose birds left in the garden," Han reminded him. Horiz was lost in thought, considering his next steps. Without hesitation, he shot down a second rose bird that caught his eye. He didn't want to endanger the species by hunting them too rapidly. He had become too engrossed in his own contemplation.
Turning back, he saw the lifeless bodies of the rose birds scattered across the garden. He looked at Han and Alvin, questioning why they hadn't stored the corpses in their rings. "Our rings are already filled with rose bird corpses. You've killed 211, including the fallen ones," Alvin replied.
"Damn!" Horiz realized the trouble he could be in if Magic High discovered his actions. He considered seeking help from his father. Without wasting a moment, they swiftly left the rose garden, ensuring no one witnessed the culprit behind the rose bird massacre.
They had collected more than enough corpses to advance to the next round of the summer competition. Han and Alvin went to present their pile of corpses to their professor, while Horiz dashed off in a different direction. The seniors couldn't stop him from running away. The more Han and Alvin observed Horiz, the more they understood the vast difference in power between them. Horiz was a tiger, while they were mere ants, trying their best to be useful to him but ultimately failing.
They only needed 10 rose bird corpses to proceed to the next round, yet they had 211 in their possession. They had planned to sell 181 of the corpses through Han's father and split the profits among the three of them. Horiz was offered the largest share, but he declined. Rank 3 corpses held little value in his eyes. His time was more precious than that. Horiz walked away, showing no interest in the corpses.