Bandit Hunt Quest

The crisp morning air outside the estate filled my lungs as I stood on the main road, gazing at the open horizon. It had been some time since I left the confines of my family's estate. With only a year left before my enrollment in the Universal Academy, I decided it was time for more monster hunting. After all, nothing honed skills quite like the thrill of combat.

Besides, the change of scenery was a welcome distraction. The monotony of training, while productive, was beginning to wear on me. The outside world, with its untamed wilderness and unpredictable dangers, felt like the perfect antidote.

Despite my progress, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of dissatisfaction. My body had reached Rank 3, a significant milestone for someone my age, but my magic was lagging behind, sitting squarely at mid Rank 2. In this world, strength wasn't just measured by physical prowess—it was a delicate balance of body and mana.

The Path of Advancement was long one.

Advancing in this world was a meticulous process, rooted in the evolution of one's mana core. Every living being possessed existential records—a metaphysical imprint of their very existence. When a monster was slain, a fragment of its record would be absorbed by the victor's mana core, empowering it.

Once enough power was accumulated, the mana core would evolve, breaking through to the next stage, or Rank. With each breakthrough came significant changes. The user's physical strength, magical abilities, and overall vitality would surge as they underwent both physical and metaphysical evolution.

For most, this process was slow and arduous. It could take years—decades even—to gather enough power to break through the ranks. However, my situation was anything but ordinary.

Thanks to my unique constitution, I had slain monsters far beyond my level, allowing me to skyrocket to Rank 2 at an unprecedented pace. My mana cores—yes, cores, plural—were a testament to that.

Currently, I had 12 mana cores at mid Rank 2 and over 100 at peak Rank 1. To put this into perspective, this meant I had the mana reserves and output of a hundred peak Rank 1 mages and the raw power of 12 mid Rank 2 mages.

This made me a force to be reckoned with, even against Rank 3 opponents. While a regular mage would struggle to even dent a Rank 3 monster's defenses, I could not only hold my ground but deal significant damage.

Still, jumping power levels in this world was almost unheard of. Unless one was blessed by the world itself—an extremely rare phenomenon—fighting someone even a single rank higher was considered suicidal. For me, however, it was just another day.

My first stop was the Adventurer Association. The bustling building was alive with activity, filled with adventurers of all shapes and sizes. I weaved through the crowd, making my way to the quest board.

Rows upon rows of parchment lined on the holo board, each detailing a task in need of completion. Monster extermination, material gathering, escort missions—there was no shortage of work for an aspiring adventurer.

After a few minutes of scanning, one particular quest caught my eye.

Quest Title: Eliminate the Southern Bandits

Location: Town of Deraka

Objective: Exterminate the bandits terrorizing trade routes near Deraka.

Reward: 200,000 Credits per bandit + Bounty on Bandit Leader (1,000,000 Credits)

Deraka was a large trade town with a population of 19 Million it was situated to the south, known for its bustling markets and rich cultural heritage. The trade routes leading to it were vital for the region's economy, which made the presence of bandits a serious issue.

The quest seemed perfect for me. The difficulty was well within my capabilities, and it provided a decent reward atleast for the Rank 3. But more importantly, it wasn't just about fighting monsters. Dealing with human opponents required a different set of skills—tactics, restraint, and precision. This would be an excellent opportunity to further hone my abilities.

I took the quest slip to the counter, where a stern-looking clerk confirmed my registration and gave me the pass. With the formalities out of the way, I stepped outside, ready to begin my journey.

My ride awaited me—a sleek black matte designed mana-powered vehicle with minimalistic design known as the Shadowstrider. This model of car were renowned for their speed and endurance, capable of covering vast distances in a fraction of the time it would take a normal car.

The Shadowstrider sprang to life as I approached, its dark panels shimmering faintly with magical energy as it recognized me through facial scans, I entered the car feeling its extremely comfortable seats beneath me, and set off toward Deraka.

The road south was a mixture of concrete Asphalt paths and Gravinite Stone roads a special stone that could use ambient mana to increase speed while keeping the Vehicles stable, winding through dense forests and rolling hills using sky path architecture. The scenery was breathtaking, with the golden rays of the sun filtering through the canopy above, casting intricate patterns on the ground.

Despite the beauty, I remained vigilant. Bandits weren't the only danger in these parts. Monsters roamed freely, and while most avoided well-traveled roads, there was always the risk of an encounter. My senses were sharp, scanning for any sign of movement or hostility.

As I rode in the car, I took out the quest slip to review the details again. The bandits, known as the Iron Fang Syndicate, were notorious in the region. They weren't just a ragtag group of thieves—they were organized, well-armed, and ruthless.

Their leader, a man named Garrek the Butcher, was a Rank 3 warrior with a brutal reputation. According to the quest notes, he was a former mercenary who turned to banditry after being dishonorably discharged.

The Iron Fang Syndicate's tactics were equally brutal. They would ambush trade caravans, slaughter the guards, and take the goods for themselves. Any survivors were either ransomed or sold into slavery.

This wasn't going to be an easy mission, but that's exactly what made it worth my time.

Upon reaching Deraka, my first task would be to gather information. Knowing the enemy's numbers, location, and tactics would be crucial for planning my attack. While I could likely overpower them with brute force, I preferred a more strategic approach.

After all, brute force was effective, but strategy was efficient.

This Quest wasn't just about completing a quest it was also a chance to take human life and getting used to it will my morality win or will my sanity persevere. My training with Uncle Kael had taught me a lot, but training and real combat were two very different things.

With my body at Rank 3 and my magic at mid Rank 2, I had the strength to face most threats. But this wasn't just about raw power—it was about refining my skills, understanding my limits, and learning to adapt.

As the car soed down the road, I felt a surge of excitement. It would be my first time battling Human Combatments.

This was what I lived for—the thrill of adventure, the promise of growth.

The town of Deraka awaited, and with it, the Iron Fang Syndicate.

To be continued...