Volume 1 chapter 13 - New adventure

Belial's eyes widened, his breath hitching as he took a step forward. "The Temple of the Hidden Star… There's no way." His voice was barely above a whisper, yet the weight of his words was heavy.

Azire glanced at him, brows furrowed. "You know this place?"

Belial swallowed hard before nodding. "Yeah… Alongside training, my father made Maya and me study the history of our world."

Maya crossed her arms, a grim look settling on her face. "Then you already know. That temple is dangerous. It's in a land no nation dares claim—overrun with runaway zombies, demons, vampires—you name it."

Belial exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. "I don't know if we're ready for this. We might need to train more, prepare better. Walking in blind would be suicide."

The weight of his words settled over the group. Silence.

Azire clenched his fists but nodded. "You're right. We need to be stronger."

After the funeral's abrupt end, the group returned to the hotel, gathering in a newly designated war room. Maps and charts covered the walls, a large whiteboard filled with notes and potential strategies. At the center of the room, Azire stood behind a desk, scanning the faces of his companions.

Suna sat at the front, her expression unreadable. But Azire knew. Uno had meant more to her than anyone else in the world.

Taking a deep breath, he began.

"First, we all need to train." His voice was steady, commanding. "Belial's right—the island is a war zone. And on top of that, we might end up facing the organization that took Uno. We have no idea how strong they are, but we do know one thing—Uno was powerful, and even he fell to them. That means… right now, we don't even compare."

No one argued. The bitter truth hung in the air.

Azire continued. "Maya and Belial—you two train together. Focus on enhancing your gear. Hollie, you'll train with the Guild Master in town."

Hollie gave a firm nod.

Azire turned to Suna, his voice softening. "And you… You'll train with me."

As the others left to begin their training, Azire and Suna lingered behind. The room, once filled with voices and strategy, now felt empty.

Azire hesitated before speaking. "I'm here for you, Suna. I'll do everything I can to avenge Uno."

Suna's breath hitched, her fingers curling into fists. She turned to him, eyes glistening, but her voice remained steady. "Thank you, Azire. I know how much he meant to you, too. You're so… strong right now." She let out a weak chuckle, shaking her head. "I'm kinda jealous."

Azire laughed softly, but in his mind, he wasn't strong. He was just as shattered as Suna—he just didn't know how to show it.

For now, all he could do was move forward.

As the others split off to train, Hollie wandered through the bustling streets of town, her sharp eyes scanning every building she passed. After what felt like hours, she finally stopped in front of a massive structure with a giant sword emblem embedded above its entrance.

She let out a breath, placing her hands on her hips. This has to be it. A smirk tugged at her lips. Finally, no more walking around like a lost idiot.

Pushing open the heavy doors, she stepped inside. The scent of steel and sweat filled the air, the distant clash of blades echoing through the grand hall. Approaching the front desk, she leaned forward, tapping her fingers against the counter.

"Hey," she said. "Where can I find the Guild Master?"

The receptionist—a short, scrawny man with messy brown hair—nearly jumped out of his chair. His wide eyes darted to her before he shot up, waving his arms frantically.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'WHERE'S THE GUILD MASTER?!'" he practically shrieked. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO YOU'RE ASKING FOR?! JUST WHO ARE YOU?!"

Hollie sighed, already regretting this. "Relax," she said, rubbing her temples. "I just need to talk to him."

The receptionist gave her a suspicious look before exhaling sharply. "Fine," he muttered. "But you don't just 'meet' the Guild Master. If you really want to see him, you'll have to pass a test first."

He motioned for her to follow and led her through a series of hallways before stopping in front of a large, enclosed sparring room. Inside, a bald man stood motionless, arms crossed. His presence was unassuming, almost boring.

The receptionist turned back to her. "This is a clone of the Guild Master," he explained. "It only has ten percent of his actual power, but if you can defeat it, then maybe—maybe—he'll see you."

Hollie rolled her shoulders, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "That's all? Finally, something straightforward."

She stepped into the ring, drawing her sword with a swift motion. "Verdant Fang!" she called, and in an instant, a gleaming emerald-green saber materialized in her grip, its blade humming with energy.

Without hesitation, she lunged forward, slashing at the clone. Her blade cut through the air, but the bald man sidestepped effortlessly, his movements eerily fluid.

Hollie clicked her tongue. Fast.

She spun, bringing her sword down in a diagonal arc, but again, he dodged with ease. Strike after strike, she pressed the attack, her blade flashing like green lightning—yet not a single hit landed.

The clone wasn't just avoiding her attacks. He was toying with her.

A growl escaped her lips. "Alright then, try dodging this—VINEBIND!"

At her command, thick emerald vines erupted from the ground, snaking toward the clone with terrifying speed. They coiled and lashed out, aiming to ensnare him completely.

For the first time, the clone moved with urgency, slashing through the vines as they closed in. Hollie's smirk returned. He was reacting now.

She raised her sword, the green aura intensifying. "And now—THORNBITE!"

The vines exploded outward, shifting into razor-sharp thorns that whipped through the air like a storm of blades. The clone twisted and dodged, but the sheer number of thorns forced him on the defensive.

Just as Hollie was about to press the advantage—

BOOM!

A powerful wave of force erupted through the room, and in an instant, the vines shattered into dust.

Hollie barely had time to react before a deep, commanding voice filled the space.

"I've seen enough."

Her breath hitched. She turned her gaze toward the entrance, where a tall, imposing man now stood. His presence alone seemed to make the very air heavier. His gaze locked onto her, sharp and unreadable.

"The name," he said. "What is it?"

For the first time in a long while, Hollie felt her heart race—not from battle, but from the sheer presence of the man before her.

She swallowed, gripping her sword tighter.

"Hollie," she answered.

A small smirk tugged at the Guild Master's lips.

"Good," he said. "Let's begin."