A few days later, Heath and Owen headed to the Normandy Guildhall to pick up a new quest. Upon their arrival at the guild, Owen browsed through the tier-1 quests and found a hunting quest that he believed offered the best opportunity for profit. It was a Salamander hunting quest in the mountains, which required them to collect 15 sets of Salamander eyes.
Unlike last time, Heath decided to embark on a separate quest focused on hunting wolves. After he made his decision, they set out in different directions: Owen headed to the Pavae Mountain Range, while Heath returned to the forest. An hour later, Owen arrived at the mountain range and began searching for salamanders. To do this, he befriended a bird in the same way he had previously done with the boars and sent it out to start searching.
After the vibrant bird soared into the azure sky and vanished from Owen's view, he found a sturdy rock nearby and settled onto it, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin. With a sense of purpose, he opened his system, a complex interface that glowed softly in the daylight. He had been meticulously gathering energy from the meals he enjoyed over the past month—7,500 Energy in total. With this substantial accumulation of energy, he could finally take significant steps to enhance his statistics. He carefully reviewed his characteristics, envisioning the improvements he could make, each choice potentially transforming his abilities and strengthening his resolve for the challenges that lay ahead.
After taking some time to reflect on his abilities and the overall balance of his skills, Owen decided to make several key adjustments to enhance his performance. He increased his Strength from 1.1 to 2, allowing him to deal more damage in physical confrontations and lift heavier objects with ease. His Dexterity saw a significant boost from 1.1 to 3, which not only improves his accuracy in ranged attacks but also enhances his agility in dodging incoming threats and improves his reaction time.
Additionally, he raised his Stamina from 1.051 to a solid 3, granting him the endurance needed to persist longer in battles and reduce fatigue during prolonged activities. He also adjusted his Intelligence, increasing it from 1 to 1.5; this enhancement allows for better strategic thinking and problem-solving in challenging situations.
Perhaps the most dramatic change was in his Mana pool, which he elevated from a modest 159 to a substantial 1,500. This increase provides him with the ability to cast more powerful spells and sustain magical activities for extended periods without running out of energy. Lastly, he increased his Luck, improving it from 1.2 to 2.11, which not only affects the chances of critical successes in various endeavors but also improves his overall fortune in both battles and daily life.
These adjustments were made with careful consideration, aiming to create a more well-rounded and formidable character ready to face any challenges ahead.
After implementing these changes, Owen was struck by their immediate impact on his body and abilities. His muscles had not only grown larger but felt denser and more powerful, as if they were coiled springs ready to unleash energy. When he picked up a rock and hurled it with all his strength, he noticed a surprising phenomenon: it moved slightly slower through the air, which initially confused him. However, it soon became clear that he was experiencing a heightened sense of agility; his Dexterity had tripled in comparison to an ordinary human, enhancing his overall reaction time and coordination.
While the effects of some transformations weren't immediately apparent, Owen could sense a profound shift within him. The most exhilarating change was his newfound affinity for magic: he now possessed the ability to cast spells of any variety at an astonishingly continuous rate. It felt as if the very essence of magic flowed through him without bounds. For instance, whenever he expended 5 mana to conjure and launch an ice spike, his mana reserve was instantly replenished, as if the universe was eager to supply his every desire. This limitless potential filled him with a thrilling sense of power and possibility, beckoning him to explore the depths of his capabilities.
Feeling the profound shifts in his environment, Owen set out to enhance his mana proficiency. Focusing his willpower, he began to tap into the latent energy all around him—each breath became a means to draw in the ambient mana that suffused the air like a delicate fog. As he concentrated, he could almost visualize the strands of mana weaving through the world, waiting for someone to harness their potential.
With determination, Owen gathered the ethereal energy, feeling it coalesce around him and form a shimmering pool. Once he amassed a sufficient amount, he turned his attention to refinement. He meticulously processed the raw mana, purifying and structuring it to ensure that it would blend harmoniously into his existing reservoir. Each refinement was a test of his focus and control, transforming chaotic energy into a potent source that would augment his abilities. Slowly but surely, this invigorating essence flowed into his mana pool, deepening his connection to the mystical forces at play in the universe.
After 2 hours of training Owen ended his trance for the bird he sent earlier had now returned with information though before understanding the information the system informed him, "Mana has increased from 1500 to 2100." It also informed him, "Fire affinity has increased from 1 to 3," "Increasing fire based Mana attacks by 300%." After that his affinity was now: Fire Level 3, Water Level 5, Earth Level 1, Wind Level 1.
Now after all the information was finished Owen then received the report from the bird that there were 2,847 Salamanders in a 10 kilometer area. Hearing this from the bird Owen thanked it and asked it if it could take him to the closest group to which the bird agreed. 5 minutes later Owen arrived in a clearing out of sight of the 60 or so Salamanders.
Seeing them Owen then quickly summoned Ice Spikes though this time he pointed them at their throats making sure to avoid their eyes, heart, and mana stone as they were the most valuable ingredients. After the spikes impaled all the salamanders Owen exited his hiding place into the clearing and put all the salamanders into his Storage bag.
After that Owen repeated this process 431 times though his last round was a little different because on his hunt there was a different Salamander in the crowd.
It was a large white salamander, larger than the usual ones, and it almost seemed to beckon to Owen. Trusting his instincts, he decided to use his beast-taming skills to tame it. The salamander didn't resist; when a tamer has sufficient mana, they can tame any beast. Once Owen sent the mana toward the salamander, it happily approached him.
After it finished its approach, it gracefully climbed onto Owen's back, its presence surprisingly light despite weighing around 170 pounds. Owen felt a curious mixture of weight and warmth as he shifted beneath its form. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you have a form that would be more convenient for this?" It shook its head, a silent indication that this was how it preferred to connect. Then, in a mesmerizing flicker, it began to dissolve into the air around Owen.
As it faded, Owen noticed a striking black tattoo materialize on his left arm, its intricate lines starting at his fingers and winding their way up to the midpoint of his forearm. The tattoo pulsed with a latent energy that captivated him. When he instinctively channeled mana into it, the once-static black lines began to shimmer and shift, turning into a flowing gold. To his amazement, the image of the salamander he had named Shiro emerged in vibrant detail, each scale glimmering as if alive.
With newfound understanding, Owen concentrated on Shiro, and as if responding to his thoughts, the salamander dissolved back into the tattoo, causing the radiant gold to fade away. The lines returned to their original ebony color, resting quietly on his skin, a reminder of the bond they shared and the magic that connected them.
After that shock, Owen decided to forget about the remaining Salamander listed in his status. A new section appeared titled "Bound Beast: Shiro."
When Owen clicked on Shiro's name, the following information was displayed:
Name: Shiro
Age: 108
Level: 46
Mana: 2084
Class: King of Salamanders
Tier: 4
Path: The Brain
Skills: Advanced Fire Magic Level 6, Intermediate Iron Skin Level 9, …
Seeing this, Owen thought to himself, "Damn."
After that shock, Owen's status was as follows:
Name: Owen Alpine
Age: 16
Level: 71
Mana: 2100
Class: Elemental Mage, Beast Tamer
Tier: 2
Path: The Brain
Skills: Advanced Reading Level 3, Fire Magic Level 2, Advanced Water Magic Level 9, Wind Magic Level 1, Earth Magic Level 1, Advanced Taming Level 4, and Advanced Interspecies Communication Level 2.
Afterward, Owen finally made his way back to the guild, eager to collect the substantial profits that awaited him. Upon his arrival and the completion of all the necessary processes, Asa provided him with the following details:
"A total of 4,792 Salamander Eyes at 822 Thal, 2,484 Salamander Hearts at 1,304 Thal, 39,744 Salamander Claws at 121 Thal, 2,219 Basic Mana Crystals at 2,051 Thal, and 100 Advanced Mana Crystals at 5,028 Thal. The remaining 100 Basic Mana Crystals and 65 Advanced Mana Crystals were reserved according to your instructions. This brings your total to 1,618 Ran and 9,095 Thal after the 5% processing fee.
"This, like your previous quest, has resulted in a monstrous outcome," said Asa. Hearing this, they went to the same room as last time. As they climbed the stairs, Owen joked, "The guild master must be extremely happy with me." She replied, "While the guild master appreciates your business, he is not pleased with the logistical nightmare you've created. If he sold all the merchandise in Caledon, the prices would collapse. So, he has to distribute it through many cities in Normandy."
After the remake, they gathered in the room upstairs, a familiar space that had seen countless collaborations before. The atmosphere felt both relaxed and charged with anticipation as they settled in. True to form, Owen received his payment promptly—just like always, it felt routine yet reassuring. Before making his exit, he turned to Asa, who had been instrumental throughout the process, and expressed his gratitude with a heartfelt "thank you." It was a small gesture, but it lingered in the air, a testament to their teamwork and shared efforts.
Upon returning to the sprawling grounds of the Anthreus Estate, Owen was greeted by the familiar scent of the blooming garden that surrounded the grand mansion. In the warm glow of the evening, he found Heath in the study, poring over some documents from their recent endeavors. They settled into comfortable chairs, the aroma of freshly brewed tea wafting through the air as they recapped the whirlwind of events from the past few days. Their conversation flowed easily, tinged with laughter and shared reflections on their challenges and triumphs.
After their engaging discussion, they moved to the dining room, where a sumptuous dinner awaited them, the table elegantly set with fine china and flickering candles casting soft shadows. As they dined, they exchanged stories, savoring both the meal and their companionship. With the day winding down, they eventually retreated to their respective rooms, the gentle sounds of the estate settling into the night lulling them into a sense of peace.