Chapter 11: Holy crap! Its a grenade.

The morning sun filtered through the tall trees surrounding the estate's training grounds as Lucian stood ready, gripping his sword and shield with tense anticipation. Across from him, Garret, a seasoned warrior and Lucian's personal trainer, eyed him critically. Today was not just any training session; it was preparation for the upcoming goblin culling.

Garret was a man of few words, but his instructions were always precise and effective. "Goblins may be small, but they're crafty," he began, his voice gravelly from years of battle. "They'll swarm you if you're not careful. Never underestimate them."

Lucian nodded, his eyes fixed on Garret as the older man continued. "We'll focus on three things today: fighting them alone, handling groups, and what to do when things go wrong."

Garret motioned toward the armory, where a rack of real weapons and armor gleamed in the sunlight. "Today, we train with the real thing. No more practice swords. Go on, suit up."

Lucian strode over to the armory, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He selected a sturdy short sword, a round shield, and a set of leather armor that fit snugly over his tunic. The weight of the equipment felt reassuring yet slightly foreign as he adjusted the straps.

As Lucian returned, Garret handed him two daggers in simple sheaths. "Keep these on your waist," Garret instructed. "Daggers are your backup. If you lose your sword or if you're up close and personal with a goblin, these will save your life. Here's how you use them."

Garret demonstrated a few quick moves with the daggers, showing Lucian how to strike vital areas like the neck, stomach, and armpits—places where goblin armor was weakest. Lucian mimicked the movements, his strikes gradually gaining confidence under Garret's watchful eye.

"Good. Remember, goblins are fast and they attack in numbers. If you're surrounded, use your shield to create space. Push them back, keep moving, and never let them box you in."

The next few hours were grueling. Garret set up various scenarios, forcing Lucian to adapt to different situations—fighting a lone goblin, defending against a small group, and dealing with a surprise attack from behind. Lucian's muscles burned, but he pressed on, driven by the knowledge that soon, this would be more than just training.

After a long day of training, Lucian returned to his chambers, his body sore but his mind sharp. As was his habit, he settled into a meditative position, focusing on calming his thoughts and gathering his mana. The steady rhythm of his breathing helped him center himself, and after a while, he felt the familiar flow of energy coursing through him.

Tonight, however, he had something special in mind. He retrieved the E-grade mana stones he had purchased earlier from his desk, holding one in his hand. The E-grade stones were more powerful and thus more volatile, and he intended to push their limits to see what they were capable of.

He began the process of enchanting, channeling his mana into the stone, imbuing it with energy and the emotions he wanted to amplify. But this time, he decided to see what would happen if he overcharged the stone, pouring in more mana than usual.

At first, the stone absorbed the energy like it always did, glowing with a soft light. But as he continued, the light grew brighter, and the stone began to vibrate slightly in his hand. Lucian furrowed his brow, feeling the mana within the stone reach a critical point.

Then, without warning, the stone exploded with a loud crack, sending shards flying across the room. Lucian shielded his face with his arm, his heart pounding as the remnants of the stone clattered to the floor.

For a moment, he just stared at the debris, shocked by what had happened. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face. The stone hadn't just shattered; it had exploded with the force of a small grenade. This was more than he had anticipated, and the implications were exhilarating.

He gathered the remaining E-grade stones, considering the possibilities. If he could replicate this effect, he could create weapons—explosive stones that could be used in battle. The goblin culling was coming up, and these new "grenades" could give him a significant advantage.

His mind raced with plans as he carefully enchanted the remaining F-grade mana stones with lusty emotions, storing them away for later. These stones, while less powerful, still held value and could be sold for a good price.

The following morning, Lucian returned to Marcellus's shop, the five F-grade stones tucked away in his pouch. The merchant was there, as always, inspecting his wares when Lucian entered.

"Back so soon, Lucian?" Marcellus greeted him with a knowing smile.

Lucian nodded, pulling out the enchanted stones and placing them on the counter. "I have five more for you. Same enchantment."

Marcellus's eyes lit up as he examined the stones. "Excellent work, my boy. These will sell quickly, I'm sure."

Lucian accepted the payment, counting the coins before tucking them away. "I'll have more soon," he promised.

With his business concluded, he headed back to the Adventurer's Guild. This time, his goal was to procure more E-grade mana stones. After his explosive discovery the previous night, he was eager to create more of these impromptu grenades.

The clerk at the guild recognized him and handed over the stones without comment, exchanging them for the appropriate amount of coin. Lucian returned home, where he spent the next two days in intensive training with Garret, preparing for the upcoming goblin culling.

Garret pushed him hard, drilling him on goblin tactics, group combat, and how to use his daggers effectively. Lucian's body ached, but each session made him more confident, more prepared for the battle ahead.

As the day of the culling approached, Lucian felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. He had trained hard, prepared himself as best he could, and now, with his enchanted stones and newly discovered explosives, he was ready to face whatever awaited him in the goblin-infested forests.

On the night before the culling, Lucian stood at his window, gazing out at the moonlit landscape. Tomorrow, he would put everything he had learned and created to the test. The stakes were high, but Lucian knew one thing for certain: he was ready.