Hunting Grounds

The first rays of sunlight peeked through the curtains of Avalon's dormitory rooms, casting a warm glow inside. The city was already alive with movement—the sound of distant chatter, the clanking of armor, and the rhythmic footsteps of Awakened preparing for their missions.

Inside one of the dorm rooms, Fenix stirred, groaning slightly as he turned away from the sunlight hitting his face. He was wrapped in the warmth of his blanket, and his mind still hovered between sleep and wakefulness.

A muffled knock sounded at his door.

"Oi, sleepyhead. If you don't hurry up, we're eating your breakfast," Elias's voice called out from the other side.

Fenix groaned, rubbing his face. 'Why am I always the last one up?' He had no answer for himself.

With some effort, he sat up and stretched, his muscles still sore from the previous day's training. He got dressed quickly in the standard academy-issued combat attire—sturdy, flexible, and practical for field missions—before heading downstairs to the main hall, where the others were already gathered.

The breakfast hall was filled with Awakened of all levels, some preparing for their daily hunts, others finishing up reports from their completed missions.

At a table near the center, Sylis, Elias, Irel, and Rika were already eating. Fenix approached and plopped into the empty seat beside Sylis, sighing.

"You really aren't a morning person, huh?" she said, sipping from a cup of herbal tea.

Fenix yawned, grabbing a plate and serving himself some food. "You already knew that," he muttered.

Elias smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I was about to take your portion. Thought you'd overslept so bad you missed breakfast entirely."

Fenix rolled his eyes but didn't bother responding—he was too focused on stuffing his face with food.

Irel, the most disciplined of the group, cleared his throat, signaling it was time to discuss their strategy.

"Alright, now that everyone's here, let's go over our plan for today," he said, placing a map of their assigned hunting area on the table.

The map didn't have a specific zone marked for their team—just a general area designated for Tier I monsters. The academy regulated these hunting grounds to make sure each group faced creatures appropriate for their level.

"Since it's our first day, we should start by getting familiar with the terrain and working on our coordination," Irel continued. "No need to rush into danger."

Sylis nodded. "We should also establish our formation before we start fighting. We don't know what kind of creatures we'll face, so we should be prepared."

Irel laid out the structure:

Irel (Tank) – Frontline Combatant 

He would lead the charge, engaging the monsters directly and absorbing most of the damage.

His Steel Body Aspect made him nearly impenetrable.

Elias & Sylis (Damage Dealers) – Core Offense 

Positioned behind Irel, Elias would handle close-quarters combat, while Sylis used her water-based techniques for mid-range support.

Rika (Support/Healer) – Backline Protection 

She would stay at the furthest point to keep herself safe while focusing on healing and assisting from the rear.

Fenix (Flexible Fighter) – Adaptable Role 

Since Fenix lacked specialized combat experience, he was assigned a floating position.

He'd stay near Rika, covering the backline and assisting wherever needed.

Elias crossed his arms. "Sounds solid, but we should also set a goal. How many kills are we aiming for?"

Sylis tapped her fingers on the table. "We should start slow—around twenty monsters today. That way, we don't overextend ourselves on the first run."

Elias sighed dramatically. "Only twenty? That's barely a warm-up."

Rika rolled her eyes. "Maybe, but we're here to train, not to set kill records. If we rush things, we'll just make mistakes."

Fenix listened quietly, nodding along. He wasn't particularly worried about the numbers—what mattered to him was improving.

Sylis looked toward him. "You good with this?"

Fenix finished his bite of food and wiped his mouth. "Yeah. I'll follow the plan."

After wrapping up their meal, they gathered their weapons and supplies before heading toward the gate leading out of Avalon.

The city streets were bustling with activity—Awakened patrolling, merchants selling enchanted gear, and others preparing for expeditions deeper into the SoulRealm.

As the group passed through the main gates, the towering walls of Avalon loomed behind them. Ahead lay dense forests, rolling hills, and unknown dangers.

This was the real start of their mission.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Elias said with a grin.

Fenix glanced at his sword, Ashfang, gripping it tightly.

Today wasn't just about hunting monsters.

It was about getting stronger.

The forest outside Avalon's stronghold was vast, filled with thick vegetation, ancient trees, and a light mist hanging in the air. Despite the beauty of the scenery, an air of tension surrounded the group as they advanced deeper into the designated hunting zone.

Fenix kept a steady grip on Ashfang, his sword resting at his side as he moved alongside his teammates. The weapon felt heavier in his grasp than usual, maybe because this was his first true combat mission since arriving at the academy.

The only sound accompanying them was the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant cries of creatures lurking in the wild.

Sylis was the first to break the silence.

"Keep your guard up. We don't know what kind of creatures we'll run into first."

Irel, taking the lead, nodded. "Stay in formation. We'll handle this like we discussed."

The group followed a well-worn path that seemed frequently used by other Awakened, a sign that this was an active training ground for new recruits. However, that didn't make it safe.

Not long into their journey, Elias signaled for them to stop. His eyes were fixed on something moving in the undergrowth.

"There," he whispered, pointing to the right.

The group turned their attention toward the dense brush, where three creatures emerged.

They were wolf-like beasts, but their black, shadowy fur and glowing red eyes made them look anything but normal.

Shadowfang Wolves – Tier I Beasts

"These should be easy," Elias said confidently, cracking his knuckles.

"Let's not get cocky," Irel warned. "We handle them carefully. Stick to formation."

Irel stepped forward, activating his Steel Body Aspect. His skin took on a metallic sheen as he braced for the creatures' attack.

Elias & Sylis took position behind him, preparing their weapons.

Rika stood ready in the back, keeping her hands glowing with faint healing energy in case someone got hurt.

Fenix positioned himself slightly to the side, preparing to react as needed.

The wolves didn't wait—they lunged forward, their sharp claws flashing in the dim light.

Irel took the brunt of the first attack, his reinforced skin absorbing the impact with a loud clang. The beast barely scratched him before being forced back.

Sylis and Elias moved in unison, attacking the other two wolves. Sylis conjured water blades from the moisture in the air, slashing at her target with precision, while Elias used his enhanced swordsmanship to parry and counterattack with ease.

Fenix exhaled and gripped Ashfang tightly.

'Here goes nothing.'

A fourth wolf emerged from the trees, its red eyes locked onto Fenix.

Unlike the others, this one seemed cautious, circling him rather than charging headfirst.

Fenix tightened his stance, remembering Garrick's teachings about footwork. He kept his center of gravity balanced, waiting for the right moment.

The wolf suddenly pounced, aiming straight for his throat.

Fenix sidestepped, barely avoiding the fangs, and swung Ashfang downward in a clean arc.

The blade ignited for a brief second, its dull metal edge flashing a faint orange hue—not full flames, but a flicker of its dormant power.

His attack cut deep into the wolf's side. It let out a pained snarl before collapsing onto the ground, unmoving.

Fenix stared at his sword in disbelief. 'Did it just… react?'

His thoughts were interrupted as a notification flashed in his vision.

[You have slain a Tier I Shadowfang Wolf.]

[Soul Shards gained: +2]

[SoulCore Progress: 2/300]

The battle was over quickly. The team had defeated all four wolves, barely breaking a sweat.

"Not bad," Elias remarked, wiping some blood off his blade. "Looks like we work well together."

Irel nodded, satisfied. "Let's move forward. That was just a warm-up."

Fenix, still gripping Ashfang, glanced at the corpse of the wolf he had slain. Something inside him felt different, but he couldn't quite explain it.

This was only the beginning.

And he was ready for more.

With their first battle behind them, the group felt more in sync. Even though they had just met, their teamwork was natural—Irel leading as the unshakable tank, Elias and Sylis executing precise attacks, Rika supporting from the back, and Fenix learning how to fit into the formation.

Moving deeper into the forest, they continued encountering Tier I beasts, each battle increasing their confidence.

A pack of Shadowfang Wolves (similar to their first fight)

A group of Bladeback Lizards, small but incredibly fast creatures with razor-sharp dorsal spikes.

A lone Ashborn Stalker, a feline beast with smoldering embers along its fur, which Fenix personally took down.

By the end of the first two hours, they had defeated approximately 20 creatures as a team, with Fenix personally slaying five.

Every time a creature fell to his blade, a faint pulse resonated in his chest—his SoulCore absorbing Shards of energy left behind by the fallen beasts.

You have slain a Tier I Beast.

Soul Shards gained: +2

[SoulCore Progress: 10/300]

After slaying his fifth beast, he finally took a moment to check his stats.

 [SoulCore Progress: 10/300]

Current SoulCore: Rank 1

Next Upgrade: 290 Soul Shards Required

'This is going to take a while…' Fenix thought.

He wasn't sure how much stronger he'd get with each rank, but one thing was certain—his journey had only just begun.

After one of their battles, Fenix knelt beside a defeated Bladeback Lizard, inspecting Ashfang.

The sword had cut through the monster's tough scales easier than he expected. There was something unusual about the blade, something he felt but couldn't explain.

Sylis noticed him staring at his weapon.

"You've been looking at that sword a lot," she remarked, stepping closer. "Something wrong with it?"

Fenix shook his head. "No… it's just—when I fight, it feels different. Almost like the sword is reacting to me."

Elias, who had overheard, smirked. "Maybe it's got a hidden ability or something. Some weapons do."

Rika chimed in. "I mean, it wouldn't be strange. Some Awakened find weapons that resonate with their power."

Fenix frowned. Ashfang was classified as an Uncommon weapon, nothing special. But during battle, he felt it pulsing, like it was holding back something.

'I need to test it more,' he thought.

Sylis glanced at him before turning away. "Just don't get too distracted and lose focus. That thing won't save you if your skills aren't good enough."

Fenix chuckled. "Yeah… I know."

The conversation ended there, but the curiosity in Fenix's mind only grew stronger.

By the time the sun began setting, the team had done well.

Total Creatures Slain: ~20

Soul Shards Collected by Fenix: 10

The group gathered their supplies and started heading back toward Avalon's stronghold, satisfied with their first day.

Elias stretched, yawning. "Not bad for a bunch of newbies."

Irel nodded. "We'll do even better tomorrow."

Sylis, who had been quiet most of the way, finally spoke. "This was just practice. The real test is ahead."

Fenix agreed. He had gotten a taste of combat, but he knew he was still far from where he wanted to be.

As they crossed the gates of Avalon, he looked down at Ashfang once more.

Something told him this sword had secrets to uncover.

And he was going to find them out—one way or another.