Chapter 6: Solo Adventure

Soma:

Ugh...

Makarov:

Oh, you're finally awake...

Soma:

Master...

Makarov:

You were really injured out there...

Soma:

A little water will heal me... Do you have any water?

Hearing this, Makarov, as if he was prepared, pulled out some water and splashed it directly on me.

Soma:

Hey, you could've just handed it to me, hmph!

Using the water on me, I cast my healing spell, and my body absorbs the water. I feel better, almost rejuvenated!

Soma:

Ah, I'm feeling much better now.

Makarov:

Alright, now tell me, what were you thinking provoking my grandson so recklessly, Soma...

Soma:

Um... well... I wanted to fight someone strong?

Makarov:

You fool! Of all people, you picked Laxus? Stay away from him, got it! He's not in a good place right now...

Soma:

Stay away from him? Haha, don't expect me to stay away from Laxus after what happened today, Master... I'll definitely win next time!

Makarov:

Tch, you fool. Do you even know how worried your friends were? You've been out for two days...

Soma:

Alright, alright, haha.

We headed towards the guild. As soon as I entered, everyone turned their faces towards me... I guess they missed me a lot, haha...

Gray:

You idiot, what took you so long to come back?

Erza:

It's good to see you back...

Cana:

Oh, so you're alive? I thought you were dead....

Haha, just kidding, buddy, it's good to have you back.

Yeah, this place really feels like home...

Soma:

Ah, you were worried about me? Hmph, you know how strong I am. This was nothing. Next time, I'll defeat Laxus!

But I need to get stronger... My skills are good, my mana is plenty, but my lack of experience and poor mana control could cause major problems in the future...

Alright, I'm pumped...

Master, I know I just woke up, but I want to go on this mission!

Makarov:

You love pushing yourself, huh? Alright, I'll allow it. I know you can handle this.

Mission:

Find and retrieve an ancient talisman lost deep in a dangerous mountain.

Reward: 200,000 Jewels.

The reward is excellent... but it will definitely be challenging.

After preparing for the mission, I set out. This time, I chose to walk since there was no rush. It was a research and retrieval mission, so I could take my time. I estimated it would take about a week...

The mission was set on a mountain peak far from Magnolia, in an isolated area. The path to the mountain went through dangerous forests and steep slopes. Soma enjoyed being in nature, but this journey was different. The mountain felt almost alive; the howling wind, the rustling trees, and the mysterious animal sounds kept Soma on edge at all times.

The first obstacle he encountered was a massive river. The fast currents made crossing nearly impossible. Soma used his water magic to locate the rocks beneath the water and then used his ice magic to create a sturdy bridge across the river. He crossed slowly but surely. He was just at the beginning of his journey and had no idea what awaited him on the other side of the river.

After resting, he continued on his way. Dealing with the small creatures that appeared along the way wasn't too difficult.

Finally, the mountain was in sight...

Soma reached the base of the mountain. Here, the air began to cool, and the ground was covered in snow. But there was a hidden danger beneath the snow: massive ice wolves. These creatures hid under the snow, ambushing their prey. When Soma sensed the wolves approaching, he moved quickly. He used his ice magic to create a protective barrier around him and deflected the wolves' attacks. Then, he formed ice spikes to incapacitate the wolves. The path was clear, but he knew the challenges were just beginning.

He reached the ancient caves inside the mountain. The entrance to the caves was guarded by massive stone doors. Soma tried to use his magic to open the doors, but they were designed to only open with an ancient code. This made Soma think. After exploring around the caves and noticing strange symbols and signs, he encountered some creatures, but they weren't too challenging, and eventually, he found the code. When the doors opened, he had no idea what was inside, but he wasn't going to give up.

The inside of the caves was dark, so Soma created an orb of light using his magic. As he ventured deeper into the cave, the path narrowed and became more complicated. He had to be careful with every step to avoid getting lost. He got stuck in narrow passages and almost slipped on the icy ground, but each time, he used his magic to protect himself. Through this journey, Soma truly understood what it meant to be alone. He had to rely solely on his own abilities.

As he delved deeper into the cave, Soma encountered ancient traps. These traps were activated by stepping on stone plates, triggering spikes and snares. Soma navigated these traps using his speed and wits, maneuvering between the stones. As he continued, he encountered rooms filled with puzzles. These puzzles were complex codes that had to be solved to open the path to the heart of the cave. Soma was patient and careful in solving the puzzles; a wrong move could put him in danger.

When he finally reached the heart of the cave, a huge surprise awaited him. A colossal golem guardian was protecting the ancient talisman. This golem, made of stone and ice, would be Soma's most challenging opponent yet.

Soma hesitated as he faced the enormous stone structure. He sensed that this was one of the biggest challenges of his mission: a golem guarding an ancient temple.

As soon as the golem noticed Soma, it moved into action. Slowly, but with crushing force, it swung a massive fist towards the ground. Soma quickly dodged, but the impact of the fist violently shook the area, uprooting nearby trees and creating a large crater in the earth.

Soma knew that engaging the golem directly would be dangerous. He had to use his power at the right time. His Dragon Slayer magic could harm the golem, but the creature was not only physically powerful but also highly resilient. Soma began circling the golem, searching for a weak point.

Suddenly, the golem crouched down and started digging into the ground with its massive hands. Soma tried to understand what it was doing when the golem ripped a huge chunk of earth and hurled it at him. This time it was harder to dodge, but Soma quickly formed an ice shield to block the attack. Though the earth chunk shattered the shield, Soma's swift retreat saved him from being crushed, only knocking him back a few meters.

Soma was still looking for the golem's weak spots. Though the golem's massive body moved slowly, every move it made caused great destruction. But as Soma advanced towards the golem's back, he noticed a slowdown in its movements. The golem seemed to follow a specific pattern with each move. Soma thought that the golem might be controlled by a magical mechanism. Its weak point could be where this mechanism was located.

As the golem prepared to attack again, Soma quickly summoned a large wave of water and sent it crashing towards the golem's legs. When the water hit the golem's heavy stone body, he immediately summoned ice, encasing the golem's legs in a thick layer of ice. This slowed the golem's movements, buying Soma some time.

Soma swiftly moved to the golem's back. He noticed a stone in the center of its back that glowed differently from the others. Soma thought that this might be the golem's control center. However, just at that moment, the golem broke free from the ice and turned towards Soma. As its massive stone arm came crashing down on him, Soma quickly slid under the arm, narrowly escaping. This gave him a brief window of opportunity.

Soma gathered all his strength and formed the Water Dragon's Claw. A concentrated stream of water shaped like a claw shot towards the golem's control stone. The golem tried to defend itself, but the claw was too fast. Soma's water claw struck the weak spot on the golem's back, and with a loud explosion, the stone was dislodged.

The golem paused for a moment, then its body began to crack. The massive stone structure slowly collapsed, and its pieces scattered across the ground. Finally, the golem toppled over and crashed to the ground with a tremendous noise. Soma took a deep breath, savoring the victory. This challenging battle had tested his magical abilities and strategic thinking, but Soma had won the fight without a scratch.

Soma:

Phew... it's been a while since I won a big fight without getting hurt, haha.

After securing the talisman, Soma began his journey back. This time, the way out of the cave was easier since he had cleared all the traps and obstacles. Tired but filled with triumph, he returned to the guild. In this week-long, challenging adventure, Soma had tested himself both physically and mentally. But most importantly, he had completed this mission alone, without getting injured.

After handing the talisman to the Master, I went to rest...