Probably due to the influence of his shamanic mother, Rohan’s prediction for Ryder was spot-on.

  Ray’s three-day crash course in mana training was intense enough to send shivers down even the Demon King’s spine.

  “So, Brother. What are we going to do in this forest?” Izzy asked as Ray, Mike, Rohan, Ryder and she exited the SUV. Exiting the Dungeon in front of them were three familiar faces.

  “You guys made it!” Deus called out excitedly, as he slithered up his master’s arm.

  Yuna and Ryo were also behind him, rubbing their furry cheeks against Mike’s legs, who hugged them in excitement, happy to see his Spirits after so long.

  “Thanks for the assist, Deus,” Ray said, lightly patting his Spirit's head.

  On the day they had arrived in Wolfsbane, Ray had tasked Deus with

  finding a Dungeon that Izzy and the rest could explore at their low level.

  The Sanskriti Archipego was a mostly untapped collection of Dungeons, especially Loop Dungeons, so it wasn’t that difficult finding.

  Like Dungeons, Loop Dungeons also cause Dungeon Rampage一spilling its monsters outside一if the Dungeon is left unattended and the mana levels cross a certain point.

  However, unlike normal Dungeons, the monsters in Loop Dungeons didn’t give out any useful materials when defeated, except for the Boss Monsters.

  Since Guilds and the Hero League were, at the end of the day, a business, they didn’t like dispatching their precious Heroes to Loop Dungeons. Especially since Loop Dungeons never close, spanning useless monsters endlessly, with the only source of profit coming from killing the Boss Monster—the strongest monster in the Dungeon.

  Even mercenaries tend to avoid them, only raiding Loop Dungeons if the nearby isnds put in a request with the Pack.

  Therefore, Loop Dungeons were sort of a public property for all Heroes and mercenaries, and Ray wouldn’t have to worry about unknowingly trespassing into a mercenary group’s rented Dungeon.

  “I did well, didn’t I?” Deus proudly puffed up his scaly chest after Ray’s compliment.

  Turning to the four participants, Deus announced excitedly. “After an extensive three-day search, I did exclusively for you guys, I proudly welcome you to ‘Medea’s Garden of Poisonous Pnts’!”

  Medea’s Garden of Poisonous Pnts      Rank: D

  A ‘Loop Dungeon’ full of the world’s most toxic pnts, grown by Medea, the enchantress of Colchis, herself.

  Many of her special pets are inhabitants of this Garden.

  “D-Rank? Are you nuts?” Rohan yelled at the unrealistic expectations of their abilities. “We are barely E-Rank Awakened! No matter how Spartan that training of Ray's was, there’s no way we can ever raid a D-Rank Dungeon.”

  “Rex, kid! I thoroughly looked around the Dungeon earlier, and most of the monsters are at a level you can handle. The reason this Dungeon is D Rank is because of the toxic atmosphere inside, and we've got a way to deal with that.” Deus quickly hushed the protests.

  “By the way, I see some new faces here. Anything fun happen while I was away?” Deus asked, looking at Ryder, who stood with the group.

  “Hey, Deus! Long time,” Ryder waved back.

  “Run away from home, kid?” Deus asked, even though he was already aware of the circumstances.

  “Kinda…” Ryder scratched his head, slightly embarassed.

  “You don’t seem all that surprised by this,” Ray questioned his Spirit’s suspicious attitude.

  “Yeah, I knew. I heard Izzy and the other two pnning it together in their room the day before we left.” Deus replied, not sure why he was being questioned.

  “You…do realize that kid there is Rufus’ grandson, right? He can turn us into fertilizer with a snap of his fingers if he is angry enough. And I think kidnapping his precious grandson would do that to him. I tried so many times to make him go back home these past few days.” Ray sighed remembering his wasted efforts.

  “I knew it! That wasn’t normal training you made us do.” Ryder pointed at him accusingly.

  “You are in no position to bme me for anything. I would rather not perish at the hands of your overprotective grandfather.”

  “Oh please, do you think my grandfather has so much free time that he will personally come looking for me?” Ryder rolled his eyes at Ray’s unfounded concerns.

  “Excuse me? Are you trying to make me pity your situation, Mister-Nobody-Cares-For-Me?” Ray side-eyed him, unsure of Ryder’s motives.

  “No. I am just stating facts. I am pretty sure all my grandfather can afford is to send one of his subordinates to come look for me. The representative would not be as protective, so I can talk them out of destroying you on the spot…hopefully.”

  “Hopefully? That’s reassuring. Be gd that you are Izzy and Mike’s friend, which is the only reason I am not stuffing you in a box and posting you back home.”

  ‘Aren’t you being a bit cruel? That boy only wants to learn from you, the person who saved his life. He doesn’t hold any bad intentions.’ Deus whispered in Ray’s mind.

  ‘I know. It’s just that I don’t want to face Rufus’ wrath so soon after gaining his favor.’

  ‘Aren’t you being a bit too frightful of him? I mean, you did save his grandson, after all.’

  ‘If only you knew what that old foggy did after his grandson died in the novel…’

  Breaking off the telepathic link, Ray turned his attention to his four students.

  “Now, you heard Deus. As long as you don’t get poisoned from the air, the Dungeon is pretty easy for you guys. So, on that note, here…”

  Ray handed each of them four vials of a golden honey-like liquid.

  “This is a potion based off of Deus’ Healing Venom. It should act as an antidote for all poisons below B-Rank, so make sure you drink that while you are in the Dungeon. Each vial should keep you safe for around 24 hours, so come find me ter once you are done with them.”

  After handing out the antidotes, Ray tapped his ring twice. With a smile, he took out four vials filled with a poisonous-green liquid.

  “Students, let's do some drugs!”

  “I think we should call the police!” Rohan whispered to Ryder.

  “That’s a 200,000 R fine and 10 years imprisonment for you.” Izzy ruthlessly shot a finger gun at him.

  But unlike the other three, Mike had full confidence in his savior. “I-I trust you, Mr. Ray. I will d-do drugs with you.”

  “That’s... not reassuring, but thanks,” Ray replied, motioning the vials towards them.

  Ryder looked at the green potions suspiciously. “Aren’t you supposed to be like a 21 before doing drugs? We are still 18…”

  “Eh? I had my first joint at 19. Big difference. Now don’t be a pussy.” Ray quickly forced the vials into their hands.

  “Anyway, people might have given it a fantastical name, but at the end of the day, all Potions are just drugs Heroes use to dope themselves.” After a bit of thought, Ray added, “Though, these Potions will definitely give you a drug's high.”

  “What does it do?” Ryder asked, eyeing the liquid.

  “I made it based on marijuana. When you smoke weed, your sensitivity goes off the charts. You can feel every little thing that’s in contact with your body一the clothes on your back, the air flowing between your fingers, even the mucus in your throat一everything. You notice things, small habits you would usually push to the back of your mind because you were so accustomed to them. Time feels so slow and so fast at the same moment. That’s what this Potion will do to you.”

  “Drugs really do that?” Izzy asked her brother cautiously as she stared at the small vial in her palm.

  “On your next birthday I will personally roll a joint for you. Let's do some sibling bonding!” Ray promised as he began describing the rest of the effects.

  “It's a Potion that will increase your reflex time. Basically, your brain will process information 10 times faster than normal, giving you more time to react to attacks and also understand what are the problems with your techniques.”

  “I have never heard of such a Potion, and I know quite a bit about them. Eugh!” Taking a sniff at the liquid inside, a gagging reflex kicked inside Ryder's throat.

  “Yeah. I don’t think I heard about it at the Academy either. And we have a course on them so that students stay wary of any forbidden Potions.” Rohan agreed with Ryder.

  “The reason you don't know about them is because it's my personal blend. I can guarantee you of its effectiveness.” Ray reassured them.

  “Still seems like a Forbidden Potion.” Ryder remained skeptical.

  “I will be honest, it probably falls under that category.” Since Ray was essentially acting as their instructor, he didn’t want to lie to them about something like this. “But that is why I am here. It’s not addicting in any harmful sense, I can assure you. And since I am the one who created the Potion, I can tell you what is the most efficient dosage and requirements depending on your body and abilities.”

  “What are the side-effects?”

  “Nothing much, except vertigo and a bit of nausea, akin to seasickness. Oh, and you need to take it with intervals of a minimum of 48 hours. But, don’t worry, you guys will be under my constant supervision..”

  With the basic introductions done, Deus assigned their quest.

  “Now, here is today’s task for you guys. Taking that Potion, you guys are going to kill ten monsters each in this D-Rank Dungeon.”

  “Isn’t that dangerous?” Having only ever participated in supervised duels, Rohan was completely inexperienced with life-threatening battles.

  “Don’t worry. I will be watching you from nearby if anything dangerous happens." Ray reassured him, "However, that doesn’t mean you can act recklessly. You never know what accidents happen in real life, so if something is too much for you, be smart and run away. There’s nothing cowardly with that.”

  “Alright!” The four yelled, acknowledging his words.

  Uncorking the vials, the four quickly downed the contents.

  Headquarters of the Hero League

  Among the dazzling chandeliers of the magnificent waiting room of the Hero League, a beautiful and elegant woman sat on the silver sofa.

  Her hair was silky and golden like that of molten gold, while her soft green eyes reminded people of a newly-born leaf, covered in morning dew.

  Peeking through the door were a few of the staff members.

  “Hey, isn’t that her?”

  “Misa Amore, right? I saw her in a magazine.”

  “She’s so pretty. Her proportions are just perfect.”

  “But what is she doing here?”

  “Didn’t she…”

  “Yeah, she did…”

  Of course, no matter how softly they whispered behind the door, to the ears of an S+ Rank Hero, their conversation was as loud as if said on a microphone.

  However, none of the matters in the talk bothered her. Being a High-Ranking Hero, Misa was numb to any sort of public gossip.

  However, despite her fearlessness, currently, her knees were silently shaking due to her nerves.

  When Misa was a young 30 years old, she announced her decision to quit the Hero League and join the Academy to teach the younger generation. Of course, with her abilities, the League desperately tried to convince her to stay.

  Irritated at their antics, they boldly decred in a waiting room full of guests, that she would never come to the League again.

  And currently, she was sitting in that very waiting room, where she had proudly made the cim, with a letter in her hand from the most renowned Human in History, Rufus Briar, and the one whose direct order she had boldly rejected.

  Suddenly the gossip of the servants behind the door ceased, and the oaken wood door suddenly smmed open.

  At the entrance, a man dressed elegantly in a butler’s uniform looked in her direction.

  ‘Wow, I almost didn’t hear his footsteps as he walked down the corridor. His Agility should be in the SS Ranks. Goes to show how skilled you have to be to the P.A. of THE Rufus Briar.’

  “Miss Amore, sorry for the dey. Mister Briar would see you now.” The butler announced.

  Slowly walking down the long hallway, Misa stood in front of the nostalgic yet unfamiliar room.

  ‘He changed the doors from acorn brown to ivory white.’ Misa noticed the change in Rufus’ office.

  With two light knocks, she stepped in, as was customary for those entering the League President’s office.

  “Hello, Misa. Long time no see.”

  “Hello, Master Rufus.” Misa greeted her old teacher with a long bow. “May I know why you called for me?”

  “I hate to get straight to business, especially since we are meeting after such a long time, but neither my position nor the time would bless me with such fortune. I would like to ask you for a huge favor. Do it, and I will help you with anything in the future.”

  “Alright. What do you want, Master?”

  “Someone very dear was taken for me. I would like to find him myself, unfortunately I can’t leave my seat especially due to everything happening suddenly. Please find my grandson.”