Zekros was looking down the wide cliff.
"So this is where you were transported, huh?"
His face was smiling, but I couldn't bring myself to. This place was where Alice.... And the place where that monster first appeared.
We were tracking down the Tri-paphobian Zenith. This was en route to clearing my first scenario and getting my title.
"Yeah. I don't know if we will find the Zenith here. It's more than a week since I was last here."
I was second-guessing myself at every step.
"Kid, calm down. I get that this place seems scary, but you need to get a hold of yourself; we can't have you freezing up when you get to the fight."
"I mean, how can I even be sure that the Zenith is still alive? If it's dead, does that mean I can't go past the first scenario?"
"Check the scenario screen. If the Tripaphobian died, it'll automatically update to a general scenario, where it says kill any F-grade monster."
I opened the screen.
Main Scenario #1: A New World
Difficulty:
[F grade]
Win criteria:
[Defeat the Tripaphobian Zenith]
Rewards:
• 1 D grade skill (Dash)
• 500 Geld
Time limit:
[None]
Failure condition:
1. Your physical body's death
2. Leaving the scenario area {Runesca}
[2 deities are watching this scenario.]
It still said "the" Tripaphobian Zenith. So I guess it wasn't dead. Anyway, Zekros was on his fourth scenario. I guess this all seemed a bit arbitrary to him.
Antares and Arafat wanted to come as well. But they decided to go their separate ways to complete their second and third scenario, respectively.
I had to do this. I braced myself, and we started to move. It was going to take a while before we found the Zenith.
___
It had been an hour, and we were no closer than ever to finding it. The rocks and canyons around the hill stretched out for miles. We went and searched around the cross streets, under the bridge, and even around my old school.
Both of us were getting tired now. It was time to rest, I guess.
"We should set up camp here for some time." Zekros pointed to a building that had minimal holes.
"Do you think we can find him today?"
"Well, if we can't, we can use the scenario shop to buy a tracker."
"What's a tracker, and why didn't we get it earlier?"
"A low-grade tracker costs 1000 Geld, and it can find F grade Zenith. We didn't buy it 'cause it costs 1000 Geld."
"Hmmn, alright then."
We sat around a makeshift fire that Zekros conjured for a while. We spoke of different things. I told him about my life and the world that Earth was. He was thoroughly fascinated.
And he too, shared stories of his first few scenarios. His first scenario was to hunt and kill a F-grade Orc Zenith. Second one was to clear a D grade dungeon. Third to solo kill a D grade creature. His fourth scenario it seemed, was to solo finish a C grade dungeon.
That wasn't my main concern, though. It was the fact that the spiky-haired man opposite me was slowly but steadily readying his body for combat. I could feel a presence.
I abruptly pulled my sword out. It was a short sword made of older iron. Not the best blade, but it was good enough for this scenario.
A high-pitched screech echoed into our ears as a monster crawled into eyesight. It had three arms, one protruding out of its back, and the others misshapen, as if a creature was mimicking humans. Holes filled its face, as a misshapen mouth was emitting those screeches.
It rushed towards me as Zekros looked on.
I gripped my blade, parallel to my body. I held my position as I strengthened my grip on the floor. I infused mana into the rusted iron, and it strengthened into a much stronger and sharper blade.
The Zenith jumped high. It was almost on top of me as I curved my sword in an arc. Attempting to cut it in half. The sword was too short, but the tip grazed past its neck, disrupting its trajectory, such that it fell away from me.
The battle was far from over. I maintained a steady flow of infusion as I went on the offensive. My blade attempted to cut down the wounded creature as it used its three hands to attempt to tear at me.
I moved back. I wish I had skills to augment me, but all I had was myself. I needed to do this. I pirouetted away from its attack, and my blade waved around in a crescent moon, cutting at the creature's right arm.
The arm flew right off. Hell yeah. I decided to use inertia and rushed to the falling creature, as my next attack was into its face.
It balanced itself using its back hand and used its left hand to propel itself to the side. My sword was thrust into the broken down cement flooring.
I quickly pulled at it, but it was too heavy and too deep in. The creature was rushing at me. I quickly moved away as it jumped on my sword. It grabbed my sword and wielded it to try and cut me down.
I dodged as much as I could. But I didn't train my speed or reflexes as much as I should have, outside of wielding a sword.
It kicked into my abdomen as I got thrown across the room. Zekros was charging up and ready to fire if it went too far. I couldn't let him interfere.
Why the hell did I try to kill it? I should've trained more. I needed to try a spell, it was the only thing I could do.
I can't even shape mana. How am I supposed to cast a spell? I concentrated. I was shaping mana, I could feel it flowing from my fingertips into a ball. A ball of clear light. And a ball of darkness. Entropy personified was flowing from my fingertips, and I shaped it into a perfect sphere.
I now needed to grant it form. Fire. That was the first thing that came to my mind.
A ball of fire erupted at my fingertips and went flying at the Zenith. The ball grew in velocity as it hit the creature and slowly encroached it in flames. My sword fell to the ground, alongside the burning monster. I could see Zekros from the corner of my eye. He looked proud.
A screen lit up in front of me,
[Main Scenario #1 has been completed; rewards will be dispersed momentarily.]
[You have received 500 Geld]
[You have received the D-grade skill, 'Dash']
[You're first title is blooming, _____ of _____]
[You're first title has been computed, "Swordsman of Flashfire".]
Another screen immediately flashed in front of me, showing me that the title granted me the skill, "Flame Coating". Allowing me to coat any weapon held with flames.
[Main Scenario #2 is being computed.]
Zekros approached me as he saw me close all the screens. There was a big red X in the corner to do just that.
"Well, you've done it. Finally finished your first scenario. And you not only moulded mana but cast a spell, too. I'm immeasurably proud of you, my student."
"You can't call me student much longer, sir. I'll surpass you soon." I said with a grin.
We had to head back.
____
We were standing in front of the Commander. It was the first time I met her, but she spoke with a strong sense of familiarity.
"Altair, congrats on your completion of Scenario #1. I'm sure you know that completing Scenario #1 is the base standard for becoming an explorer apprentice. Zekros has put in his recommendations for you, and I believe you can take on this capable role. Would you be willing to do so?"
I was shook, she started with the meat of the matter, no pleasantries, no nothing.
"Yes, madam, I'd be honoured to take on that role." I kept it brief. I didn't wanna embarrass myself by stuttering or something.
"Alright then, you're being assigned to Xernean as his apprentice." I noticed Zekros's eyes twitch when she mentioned Xernean.
"To evolve and become a full-time explorer, it isn't necessary to progress beyond your second scenario. But it is recommended that you do so. The conditions for becoming an explorer are simple. You've got to earn the recommendation of your assigned explorer and also clear a dungeon, either solo or as a part of a task force."
I stood there nodding like an idiot.
"Alright then, if we are done." She pointed to the door.
"Wait, Elena. I have to talk to you regarding Antares and Arafat."
I walked out as I heard Zekros say those words. I had a feeling my life would get a lot harder.
____
"Xernean, you've been assigned a new apprentice." Cackled Alexis. Barely hiding his smile.
"Who's it?" Xernean asked, polishing his mana stone.
"It's the new kid, Altair. It seems he finished dealing with a Tripaphobian."
"That's interesting, the kid with the mark of famine, huh. I hope he doesn't die like the last one."