Chapter 29:Reporting the Unseen Threat

The Task Hall was alive with the constant bustle of students, some fresh-faced and eager, others worn out from their missions. A steady flow of students weaved in and out, filling the air with the sounds of hurried footsteps and low conversations. Axton, Elias, and Seraphina made their way through the crowded hall, and immediately, all eyes were on them. The moment they entered, the room seemed to hold its breath.

The whispers started almost immediately.

"Wait, is that Seraphina? What's she doing with them?" One voice was laced with disbelief. "First-years? Did she choose them as her teammates?"

Axton tried to keep his head down, but it was hard not to hear the murmurs that followed them. Seraphina, as always, moved with an air of confidence, her stride unshaken by the attention. Elias was a little less composed, glancing nervously around, but his usual optimism kept him from showing too much concern.

As they approached the Overseer's desk, the buzz in the hall seemed to settle just a little, though Axton could still feel the eyes that lingered on them.

Axton frowned slightly. "Where's the woman who was here before?"

The man's gaze flicked toward him. "She's not here anymore." His tone was curt. "I am Overseer Halric. I'll be handling this post for now. State your business," he said, his voice firm and commanding, yet carrying a certain level of scrutiny.

Seraphina stepped forward without hesitation, her voice steady and clear. "We were assigned to collect Moonlight Herbs from the eastern forest. We encountered some resistance but completed the task successfully. The deadline was tight, and we barely made it back on time."

Axton's heart raced. The reminder of the ticking clock made him uneasy. They had been pushing the deadline—too close for comfort—but they had managed to survive the encounter with the Dark Fiend, and now they just needed to submit the herb.

The Overseer's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened to Seraphina. His gaze flicked over to Axton and Elias, as if taking them in more carefully now. "Resistance?" he repeated, his tone flat. "What kind of resistance? Did you face any serious threats? And how exactly did you make it back on time? You should have returned sooner."

Seraphina hesitated for just a moment, then replied, "We encountered a Dark Fiend."

The room seemed to hold its breath. A Dark Fiend? So many eyes shifted toward them, a mixture of disbelief, fear, and curiosity.

Halric's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened slightly. He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "A Dark Fiend?" he repeated, his tone now tinged with suspicion. "How did you handle it? First-years, no significant mastery over your elements, and you claim to have survived an encounter with a Dark Fiend?"

Axton felt the weight of Halric's stare on him now. His heart raced, and he glanced quickly at Seraphina. She remained calm, her composure unshaken as she responded.

"We fought it off. We managed to survive and complete the mission. We got the herb just in time."

There was a slight pause as Halric processed her words. The whispers around the room seemed to grow louder as students exchanged skeptical looks, clearly unsure about the credibility of the story. Halric's voice was low but sharp when he spoke again.

"I find that hard to believe. A Dark Fiend is no small matter. You're telling me that three first-years, without proper combat experience, fought off a creature known to be one of the most dangerous beings in this world?"

Seraphina didn't falter. "We fought it. It wasn't easy, but we did it. We didn't have much time left. But we completed the task."

Halric's gaze flicked over them once more, his expression unreadable. He seemed to weigh their words carefully before speaking again, his voice even more stern.

"I will send a team to investigate the area. We can't take any chances with something like a Dark Fiend roaming nearby. But know this—next time, if you're in a situation like that, your lives won't be as easy to save. Be prepared."

He leaned back in his chair, his tone shifting to something more dismissive. "For now, you're dismissed. Continue with your tasks. I'll have someone follow up on this matter. And be mindful of the time next time. It's a critical factor in every mission."

Seraphina nodded, her expression unwavering. "Understood." Without another word, she turned and began to walk away. Elias and Axton followed quickly, but both of them couldn't help but feel the weight of the Overseer's lingering gaze on them.

As they left the Task Hall, the buzz of whispers seemed to follow them out. The students continued to speculate about what had really happened. Axton could feel their eyes on him, and he couldn't quite shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

Elias broke the silence, his voice light, though there was an undercurrent of concern in it. "That was a bit intense, huh? Do you think he believed us?"

Axton shook his head slowly, his mind still on the Dark Fiend and Halric's reaction. "I don't know. He seemed… skeptical. But he didn't press too hard."

Seraphina, walking ahead of them, turned slightly, her voice calm but carrying a hint of warning. "The Dark Fiend is no small matter. It wasn't just a creature—it was a sign of something bigger. We need to be careful. This academy has its secrets, and not all of them are meant to be uncovered so easily."

Axton felt his chest tighten. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air. Whatever had happened out there in the forest, whatever they had faced—it was more than just an encounter with a dangerous creature. It was a warning, something bigger was at play, and the academy was hiding something. Axton couldn't shake the feeling that the world he was stepping into was far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

[System Alert: Unknown Entity Observing. Proceed with Caution.]

Axton's heart skipped a beat as the message flashed in his mind. He glanced at Elias and Seraphina, but neither of them seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. The system's warning echoed in his head: someone was watching him.

He didn't say anything—didn't want to worry them yet. But the feeling of being watched was growing stronger by the second. His hand instinctively went to the pouch at his side where the Moonlight Herb was stored, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something more sinister was looming just beyond his reach.

"Let's go," Seraphina said, her voice calm but with a hint of urgency. "We'll need to be sharp from now on."

Axton nodded, though the unease in his gut didn't dissipate. Whatever was coming, they were far from ready for it.

Axton lay in his dorm, staring at the ceiling. The weight of Seraphina's words still sat heavy in his mind.

Then, suddenly— A system Alert flashed in his eyes.

System Alert: Danger Level Recorded.]

[Beast Identified—Dark Fiend.]

[Analysis Complete.]

[Reward Granted: Essence of Resilience (Rare).]

Axton's breath caught.

A reward?

A new screen materialized.

[Item: Essence of Resilience (Rare)]

Effect: Permanently increases durability, reduces fatigue, and enhances mental resistance against fear-inducing entities.

Axton's fingers curled into his sheets.

Before he could dig deeper into what this meant, another flash of light burst through his vision, blurring the status screen for a brief moment. A message appeared—unsettling and cryptic, like a whisper on the edge of his consciousness

[Bloodline Unlocked!]

Hidden Potential Stirred.

New Pathway Opened.

Bloodline (New!) - ???

Axton's heart raced. The screen blinked out of existence, replaced by a swirling sensation deep inside his chest. It was like something ancient had stirred within him, a power that had been dormant for so long—until now. He was aware of it now, its presence, like a hidden truth he was only just beginning to understand. But there was no time to process it fully. The system had marked it, but what it meant—he didn't know.

System….status

Axton stared at his status screen, considering his options. The choice was clear: he needed to keep building his powers, but he still had doubts about his readiness. There were still so many unknowns.

[Status]

• Name: Axton Backwoods

• Level: 1

• Rank: Novice (1)

• Points Available: 250

Attributes:

• Strength: 18

• Agility: 18

• Endurance: 17

• Perception: 16

• Dexterity: 17

• Vitality: 16

• Wisdom: Locked

• Intelligence: 18

• Charm: Locked

• Mana: Locked

• Control: 3

Abilities:

• Lightning Affinity – Level 1 (8%) 

 • Lightning Spark Level 1(5%)

Bloodline (New!)

• ??? (Locked – Requires Further Awakening)

Axton's was still shocked about the bloodline.

Axton's eyes flickered over to the System Shop options, where a new list of possible upgrades awaited him.

[System Shop]

• Points Available: 250

Attributes:

• Wisdom – 150 Points (Unlockable at Level 2)

• Charm – 200 Points (Unlockable at Level 3)

• Mana – 300 Points (Unlockable at Level 5)

• Control – 50 Points (Unlockable at Level 4)

Skills:

• Lightning Dash – 200 Points (Requires Lightning Affinity 10%)

• Basic Weapon Mastery – 150 Points (Allows better control of weapons)

• Silent Step – 100 Points (Improves stealth and footwork)

• Enhanced Reflexes – 250 Points (Boosts reaction speed)

Weapons & Gear:

• Iron Dagger – 50 Points

• Reinforced Leather Gloves – 70 Points

• Steel Short Sword – 120 Points

• Beginner's Magic Cloak – 200 Points (Provides slight resistance to elemental attacks)

Potions & Consumables:

• Health Potion – 30 Points (Restores 20% health)

• Mana Potion – 50 Points (Restores 25% mana)

• Stamina Boost – 40 Points (Increases stamina by 30% for 1 hour)

• Temporary Buff: Agility – 80 Points (Increases agility by 15% for 1 hour)

Miscellaneous:

• ??? – 500 Points (Unknown Item)

• Beast Egg (Sealed) – 2000 Points (Requires special conditions to hatch)

• Ancient Token – 5000 Points (Unleashes hidden potential in users)

Lucky Spin:

• Cost: 50 Points per Spin

• Rewards: Small Attribute Boosts, Basic Potions, Random Skill Fragments, Temporary Buffs, Rare Items (Chance)

Axton reviewed his points and decided to spend 100 points on Silent Step and another 50 points on Lucky Spin. His current total would leave him with 50 points.

Updated Stats:

• Control: 4

• Silent Step: (Skill Acquired)

• Lightning Spark: (Unlocked, 3 uses today)

• Lightning Dash: (Unlocked, Requires Lightning Affinity 10%)

• Lightning Affinity: 5% (Level 1)

Skills:

• Lightning Spark – Level 1 (5%)

• Active Skill

• 3 Uses Today

• Basic lightning ability to shock and incapacitate foes with a quick burst of electricity

• Lightning Dash – Level 1 (5%)

• Active Skill

• 1 Use Today

• A quick burst of movement fueled by lightning, increasing Axton's speed and evasion for a short time

Axton leaned back, feeling the weight of his new skills. But despite the progress, he still had doubts about his true strength.