It was late afternoon when Clive entered the gathering hall to find a new contract to work on. Since he wasn’t an official adventurer he had to pick up on quests that were abandoned or non completed. There was one quest on the abandoned board that says

  “Slay the blue horn owl. reward : Fifteen hundred coins”

  As Clive reached for the quest sheet on the board, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a petite female rogue adventurer standing there.

  "Um, is it possible for us to take this quest together?" she asked nervously.

  Clive smiled. "Sure. But just so you know, I’m not a typical adventurer. I’m a mercenary—I take quests to earn a bit of coin, that’s all."

  The rogue nodded, undeterred. "That’s fine. I’d still like to join you."

  With their names signed on the quest sheet and their gear gathered, the rogue introduced herself. "I’m Ruby Howzer."

  "Clive Garrison," he replied, and the two began their journey.

  As they walked, they shared stories, getting to know one another. Ruby broke the silence with a question. "Clive, how come you don’t carry any weapons?"

  Clive held up his hands, revealing rings on each finger. "I don’t need them. I’m a pyromancer, and I’ve mastered combining fire magic with close combat."

  This surprised Ruby. "You fight up close? That’s unusual for a spellcaster."

  Clive explained further. "My lighter armor helps me move faster, and the enchantments on my gear reduce mana costs and speed up spellcasting."

  Ruby studied his simple cloak, shirt, pants, and shoes skeptically. "Doesn’t look enchanted to me," she said.

  "It doesn’t need to," Clive replied with a chuckle.

  As they neared the location of the owl they were sent to hunt, Clive asked about Ruby’s adventurer rank.

  "I’m at Rank 82," she said. "I’m working toward Rank 100, but it’s tough. Most high-rank adventurers stick to their cliques, and I haven’t had much luck making lasting connections. Either they quit adventuring or…" Her voice trailed off.

  Clive offered a somber nod. "I’m sorry for your losses."

  When they arrived at the target location, they spotted the owl—a massive beast with horns protruding from the sides of its head.

  "Let’s stick to a plan," Ruby suggested. "I’ll engage up close, and you hit it from range."

  "Got it," Clive said, letting her take the lead.

  Ruby charged in with her dual daggers, expertly weaving through the owl’s attacks and landing blows with precision. Clive, staying back, extended his arm and chanted, "Revolving Fire Bolts!" A series of six fiery projectiles appeared around his wrist and launched in quick succession, each hitting the owl with perfect accuracy.

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  Clive watched Ruby movements in awe. Her agility and skill reminded him of what true adventurer training looked like. "She’s incredible," he thought.

  But as the fight dragged on, Clive noticed Ruby faltering. Her movements slowed, and her mana reserves were visibly depleting.

  "Switch out with me!" Clive called. "You need to recover."

  "I can handle it!" she insisted, but her resolve was cut short when one of the owl’s massive wings struck her in the chest, sending her crashing to the ground.

  Clive immediately stepped in. Summoning a flaming spear in one hand, he hurled it with precision at the owl. "Soul Burner Spear!" The projectile pierced the owl’s chest, igniting it from the inside out. Within moments, the beast was reduced to ash.

  Ruby, still catching her breath, stared in disbelief. "Did you just kill that thing with one spell?"

  Clive scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed. "Yeah. I could’ve handled it from the start, but I wanted to give your plan a chance."

  Still stunned, Ruby asked, "You’re a pyromancer, right? I didn’t know pyromancy could be that powerful."

  Clive explained, "That spell is my own creation—‘Soul Burner Spear.’ It’s fast, doesn’t need an incantation, and is one of my most reliable techniques."

  As they headed back to the gathering hall,Ruby suggested something. "You should consider joining the Adventurer Share Program."

  Clive tilted his head. "The what?"

  Ruby explained, "If an adventurer ranked 70 or higher becomes a party leader, lower-ranked adventurers in their group can earn experience from their quests—five percent of what the leader earns. But you still have to contribute, and if you slack off, your badge gets revoked. The system tracks everything with magic now, so it’s foolproof."

  Clive’s interest was piqued. "How do I sign up?"

  "You’ll need to prove yourself," Ruby said. "The guild will test you by having you face a summoned creature. The harder the summon, the better your chances of being accepted."

  Clive nodded, determined.

  After signing the necessary contracts, Ruby surprised Clive with a suggestion. "Let me be your party leader. I meet the requirements, and this way, we can help each other grow."

  Clive agreed, and as a gesture of gratitude, he handed her a set of rogue armor. "This belonged to a legendary rogue I worked with once. I want you to have it."

  Ruby hesitated but eventually accepted.

  When Clive’s turn to prove himself came, he was called into the arena. There were thirteen high end adventurers who asked him to choose a challenge.

  "Give me your strongest summon," Clive declared confidently.

  The crowd murmured, doubting his ability. The summon—a Tier Zero Gothic Knight known as Barthel the Executioner—emerged, radiating power.

  Ruby shouted from the sidelines, "Be careful, Clive! That’s not just any Gothic Knight—it’s a boss from the Moss Ruins!"

  As the knight advanced, Clive moved in a blur, appearing in front of the beast before anyone could react. He delivered a fiery right hook and shouted, "Incinerate Strike!" A massive flaming fist materialized, obliterating the knight in a single blow.

  The arena fell silent.

  The high end adventurers inspected Clive for signs of cheating, but found nothing—no enchanted gear, no excessive mana reserves.

  Frustrated by their scrutiny, Clive turned to leave, but a lightning spear struck the ground before him.

  A high-ranking adventurer stepped forward, removing her hood.

  It was Eugene Sparks, renowned for her speed and lightning-based magic.

  "You’re impressive," she said. "When you hit Rank 25, come find me at the Silver Wyvern Guild."

  Clive smiled. His journey was just beginning.