Vergil stepped through the village gates just as the sky began to shift from twilight to early morning. The air was crisp, and faint golden light bled over the rooftops, brushing the cobbled paths of the quiet settlement with a sleepy warmth.
His boots thudded against the ground as he made his way toward the Adventurer's Guild, a modest but well-kept stone building near the village square. The flickering lanterns outside were still lit, casting a warm glow against the wooden sign swinging above the entrance.
As he pushed open the door, the familiar scent of parchment, iron, and faint traces of old ale greeted him. Inside, a few adventurers lounged near the bulletin board, muttering about upcoming missions. At the reception counter stood Elina, the young guild attendant with chestnut hair tied neatly behind her back and sharp eyes that rarely missed a thing.
Vergil approached the counter, offering a rare, subdued smile.
"Morning, Elina."
She blinked in surprise, looking up from the reports she had been reviewing. Her face softened into a warm expression when she saw him.
"Oh, Vergil! You're back early. How did it go?"
Without a word, Vergil reached into his satchel and pulled out a small pouch, placing it on the counter with a soft clink. He loosened the drawstring and tipped the contents gently forward—ten E-rank Astralyth Crystals spilled out, their pale glow shimmering faintly under the morning light.
Elina's eyes widened. "Wait… ten? You gathered all of these already?"
Vergil gave a slow nod, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"The Grave Scavengers were easy once I learned their rhythm. Groups gave some trouble at first, but after that..." He trailed off with a shrug.
Elina blinked, impressed. "That's... honestly incredible. Most new F-rank adventurers take several days to finish the advancement quest—some even need help. You did it solo in one night?"
Vergil gave a quiet hum of confirmation.
"It was necessary."
Elina smiled, genuinely pleased.
"Well, congratulations! You've passed your advancement quest with flying colors. May I see your adventurer card?"
He handed it over silently, and Elina took it, slotting it into the guild's crystal reader. The device pulsed with a soft hum as she processed the upgrade. After a few moments, she retrieved a new card from beneath the counter, its trim now lined with silver, and the text clearly marked:
Akira
E-Rank Adventurer
She handed it back to him with a proud nod along with 10 silver
"There you go. Officially an E-rank adventurer. You'll get access to better quests now—and better pay. I'll also note that you completed the advancement solo, which will reflect positively on your record."
Vergil glanced down at the new card briefly before slipping it into his coat.
"Thanks."
Elina tilted her head slightly, observing him for a second.
"Don't forget to rest. You might not feel it now, but pushing too hard can catch up fast."
Vergil gave a half-smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
As he turned to leave, the chatter of the guild faded into the background. His next step was clear—take on harder missions, grow stronger, and prepare for the true challenges that awaited beyond the village.
Vergil stepped through the village gates just as the sky began to shift from twilight to early morning. The air was crisp, and faint golden light bled over the rooftops, brushing the cobbled paths of the quiet settlement with a sleepy warmth.
His boots thudded steadily as he made his way toward the Adventurer's Guild, a modest stone building near the square. After turning in his crystals and getting his rank-up confirmed, he left with ten silver in hand and a new adventurer card marked E-Rank. The promotion meant access to better missions, but Vergil had only one thing on his mind now—Eleanor.
He turned off the main path and walked through the quieter part of the village, stopping before a familiar cottage. The home of Elvira, the retired mana instructor.
The door opened before he could knock.
Eleanor stood there, her expression unreadable. Her long white hair was tied loosely behind her, and her violet eyes met his without emotion.
"You're late."
No warmth. No smile. Just observation.
Vergil gave a slight nod. "You've changed."
She stepped aside without answering. He walked in.
The interior of the house remained orderly and filled with magical artifacts—herbs hung drying above the fireplace, runed parchment lay scattered across the tables, and floating glyphs shimmered softly in the air. Magic pulsed faintly beneath the surface of everything, calm and cold.
At the far end, Elvira sat reading a tome. She glanced up briefly.
"Back from your hunt? Still breathing?"
Vergil nodded. "Cut me some slack, I just made it to E rank."
Elvira grunted. "Took you long enough."
But his focus was on Eleanor.
She had returned to her worktable, where a half-formed glyph hovered in the air. As her fingers moved, tendrils of green magic extended outward like roots seeking soil—[Entangling Snare], stabilized and refined.
"It lasts twenty-one seconds now," she said, without looking at him. "Triggers on movement. If they resist, it applies a slow debuff."
Vergil watched her in silence.
"And?" he asked after a moment.
She paused, then raised her hand. A faint white glow formed in her palm—pure, stable, and calm.
"[Minor Restoration]. Tier-one healing magic. Just enough to close shallow wounds and mend small fractures."
Vergil blinked. Healing spells weren't common for nature mages—not unless they studied extensively.
"You learned that in a day?"
She finally turned, her face impassive. "If you bleed out in the field, I don't want it to be because you were too stupid to dodge."
Her words cut sharp and clean.
Vergil chuckled softly. "Cold as ever."
Eleanor met his gaze, unflinching. "You're the sword. I'm the control and support. That's our formation. I don't need warmth—I need efficiency."
There was no hesitation in her tone. No desire to impress. Just calculation and intent.
From her seat, Elvira gave a slow nod of approval. "She's growing sharper. But that also means she's harder to reach. Keep that in mind."
Vergil glanced between the two before speaking again.
"We're heading out tomorrow. I'll take a subjugation quest—something small but real. Time to test your control in the field."
Eleanor's only response was a nod.
"I'll be ready. Don't slow me down."
"I should be saying that to you," Vergil replied with a smirk.
Eleanor didn't dignify the comment with a response. Her attention had already shifted back to the glyph suspended in the air, its curves precise, its lines pulsing with quiet intent.
Vergil turned to Elvira, who had closed her tome and now regarded him with her usual, weathered calm.
"Elvira," he said. "Can you teach me fire and ice magic? Tier-one."
The old instructor raised an eyebrow. "So you're done swinging your sword around for a day, and now you want to dance with the elements?"
"I want more options. In combat, flexibility matters."
Elvira let out a quiet breath and stood slowly, brushing off her robe as she walked toward the shelf near the hearth. She pulled two faded scrolls from the top rack and returned, laying them flat on the table between them.
"Fire and ice," she said, tapping the parchment. "You're asking to study opposing polarities—two elemental archetypes that resist each other even within the soul, I know you have an affinity for both, but it will be difficult at this moment for you."
Vergil didn't respond. He was already reading, his eyes tracing the arcanic diagrams and notations scrawled along the edges.
"The first spell," Elvira continued, "is [Ember Spark]. A foundational fire technique—manifested by igniting volatile mana through rapid agitation and compression. It's not meant for damage. It's a trigger, a catalyst. Think of it as lighting a fuse or stunning a target."
Vergil gave a slow nod. His fingers brushed the glyph etched on the page—a spiral coiled tight in the center, surrounded by jagged heat lines.
Elvira turned the second scroll. "And this one's [Frost Touch]. It teaches mana to mimic the stillness of freezing water—slowing kinetic motion and numbing heat. You'll channel mana through the outer shell of your weapon—or skin—and cool the surrounding energy."
Vergil frowned slightly. "How do I manage both without them interfering?"
"Through polarity control," Elvira said. "You need to understand the elemental dialect of your mana. Fire requires intent, aggression, and movement. Ice demands composure, patience, and stillness. You can't force both at once—your mana will reject it. You must shift, not combine. That's the essence of dual polarity control."
Vergil closed his eyes briefly, running calculations in his mind—mana flow patterns, rhythm adjustments, breath alignment.
"I'll train tonight," he said. "Reinforce my circle's channels and shift my mental state between polarities. I'll return in the morning for evaluation."
Elvira gave a quiet snort. "Most mages take weeks to switch between elemental flows without backlash. You think you'll get it in a single night?"
"I don't need mastery. Just function."
For the first time in hours, a slight grin tugged at the edge of Elvira's lips. "You're stubborn. I like that,But if you fail I wont hesitate to slap you across the head"
---
That night, Vergil sat cross-legged beneath the open sky, the field behind Elvira's cottage bathed in moonlight. The stars hung motionless above him, and the world seemed to exhale in quiet stillness.
"Authority of Predation."
Black mouths tore open in the air around him—silent, jagged voids. The Astralyth Crystals dissolved into raw energy as they were consumed, their pale glow snuffed out and replaced by a dark, surging pressure that rushed into his body.
Pain followed.
Not the searing pain of injury, but a deeper, gnawing kind—the tearing of something internal. His mana organ screamed under the pressure as the energy coursed violently through his system, flooding his circle with unstable power.
'System… allocate all points to Constitution.'
[6 points have been allocated to Constitution.]
The pain dulled, but didn't vanish. The energy still surged like a wild current, bucking against his control. He gritted his teeth, forcing his breath into a steady rhythm, and began to refine—pulling the Astralyth energy into his mana circle and filtering it, forcing chaos into order.
It was slow. Brutal. Every bit of progress was earned through sheer will.
Hours passed before the turbulence began to ease, and the energy settled into clean, flowing mana.
[User's Circle has reached 20% proficiency. 80% remaining until breakthrough to Second Circle.]
[User has gained 5 points in Magic Power.]
Vergil exhaled, eyes still shut, shoulders tense.
"Even with a perfect refinement rate… only 20%," he muttered, voice dry. "No wonder magicians are rare. And expensive."
He thought of Eleanor—how she'd need crystals of her own if she kept pushing herself at this pace.
"I'll need more. A lot more."
But that was a problem for later.
Now came the real test.
"Elvira will slap me if I mess this up."
He drew in a slow breath, pushing his thoughts aside, and began guiding his mana through the foundational pathways Elvira had taught him. It didn't come easily. His control, still raw from the refinement, faltered.
He summoned fire first—agitating the mana, compressing it at a single point. It sparked once—then fizzled, unstable. A sudden jolt of backlash shocked his nerves, making his fingers twitch.
Again.
He gathered it, tighter this time. It ignited, a faint flame dancing across his palm—then burst violently, uncontrolled, singeing the edge of his sleeve.
Vergil hissed but didn't stop.
Over and over, he called the fire, fought it, shaped it. It responded like a wild animal—furious, proud, unwilling to be tamed.
Then came the cold.
Switching polarity was harder than he expected. His body still hummed with residual heat, and his mana resisted the shift.
Focusing, he quieted himself. Slowed his pulse. Imagined ice—not just cold, but slowness, stillness, the absence of motion. It hurt to hold back the fire within, to suppress the part of him that wanted movement.
Eventually, the mana curled inwards, coiling like mist. A soft shimmer of frost bloomed along his fingers. It faded too quickly—but it was a start.
He repeated the process. Again and again.
Fire. Ice. Fire. Ice.
Each transition scraped at his nerves and dulled his focus. Each spell left behind trembling fingers or a spike of headache. But slowly, the shifts became cleaner. More fluid. Less volatile.
By the time the horizon turned from black to pale blue, sweat clung to his brow, and frost clung to his fingertips.
But the mana obeyed.
Vergil stood, unsteady, but firm. Breath steady. Muscles sore.
[User has gained the active skills ember spark (F) and Frost touch (F)]
"Finally" He said standing up and stretching
"The pain was worth it" he said smiling
'Lets check my status window'
---
Status Window
Name: Vergil
Level: 7
Title: Commoner
Lifespan: 65 years
Spouses: None
Race: Human
Class: All-Master
---
Stats
Strength: 16 → 24
Constitution: 15 → 32
Dexterity: 16 → 22
Intuition- 7 → 9
Magic Power: 10 → 20
Mana Capacity: 12 – 18
0 allotable stat points
---
Equipment
Basic Clothing: +2 Defense
Sword- +10 attack
Shield- +4 defense
Passive skills
Keen Focus (F)
Basic Sword-Bow Mastery (F+)
Basic Camouflage (F)
Resilient Body (E)
Wild Instincts (F)
Weak Toxin Resistance (E-)
Pack Commander (F+)
Survival Instincts (F)
Blood Scent (F)
Mana Organ (F) [Growth Type]
Mana Affinity (F+) [Growth Type]
Evasive Spirit (E-)
Crude Weapon Proficiency (F)
Keen smell (E)
Tainted Blood (E-)
Beast Tamer (E-)
Shadow Footwork (F+)
Keen Reflexes (F)
Steadfast Stance (F)
Alertness (F)
Tough Body (F+)
Battle Instincts (F+)
Carrion Sense (F+)
Burial Adaptation (F)
Pack Mentality (F+)
Corpse Parasite (E-)
Nocturnal stalker (E)
---
Active Skills
Authority of Predation (???)
Evasive spirit (E-)
Rapid Precision (F+)
Pack Tactics (F)
Feral Charge (F)
Adrenaline Surge (E-)
Voracious Fang (E)
Ember Spark (F)
Frost Touch (F)
Command Beast (E-)
Venomous Edge (F+)
Quick Draw (F)
Swift Counter (F+)
Pounce (F)
Crippling Claws (E-)
Howl of Coordination (F+)
Power Strike (F+)
Quick Guard (F)
Slash (F)
Thrust (F)
Parry (F)
Savage Claw (F+)
Dagger Rush (E-)
Frenzied Hunger (E)
Burial Ambush (E-)
Wailing Howl (F+)
Death's Taint (E-)
Ravenous Bite (E-)
"My stats have gone up tremendously and the amount of skills I've gained has increases by a substantial amount, time for some combination" Vergil said
'Combination'
The blue panel appeared
Combine Ravenous Bite and Voracious fang
Combining skills.... combination successful
New Combined Skill:
Predator's Fang (E+)
A deadly bite that combines brutal physical tearing with toxic venom, making it both traumatic and debilitating.
Causes deep tissue damage, bleeding, and injects a venom that may lead to muscle weakness, minor paralysis, or painful swelling.
Against weakened or smaller targets, the bite can be lethal over time if untreated.
Grants a small chance to weaken the target's defense or mobility for a short duration.
"Next combine blood scent and keen smell"
Combining skills.... combination successful
New Combined Skill:
Predatory Scent (E+)
Greatly enhances the user's sense of smell, allowing them to track wounded or hidden prey over long distances.
Can detect the scent of blood, fear, sweat, or decaying flesh with high precision.
Slightly improves reaction time when a bloodied target is nearby, sharpening hunting instincts.
Useful in both combat and tracking, especially for beast-type monsters, hunters, or assassins who rely on scent to hunt.
"Next combine Evasive spirit and shadow Footwork
Combining skills....combination successful
New Combined Skill:
Shadow Dash (E-)
A sudden burst of speed infused with stealthy movement, allowing the user to dash while reducing sound and visibility.
Enemies have a harder time tracking the dash, especially in low-light or shadowed areas.
Has a short cooldown but can be chained with other movement or stealth skills.
Particularly effective for rogues, assassins, or agile monsters that strike and retreat quickly.
'Its still E-, it must mean the compatibility wasn't that high, but its still a good skill'
"Combine survival instincts Wild instincts Battle Instincts and alertness
Combining skills...combination successful
New Combined Skill:
Primal Awareness (E+)
A refined and highly reactive instinct-based skill that heightens danger perception, environmental awareness, and combat readiness.
Grants:
Enhanced detection of ambushes, traps, and hostile intent.
A passive boost to reaction time in life-threatening scenarios.
Instinctive awareness of surroundings, even without directly looking.
Slight bonus to evasion and positioning in combat.
Blends the animalistic survival sense of the wild with the battle-hardened edge of a fighter, making it ideal for hunters, scouts, or beast-type monsters.
'Damn it became an E+ skill'
"Finally combine Pack Commander and pack instincts and pack Mentality
Combining skills.... combination successful
Skill Name: Pack Synergy (E-)
Grants the user the ability to lead and synchronize with allied creatures or party members, especially in close-range combat.
Nearby allies gain:
A small boost to coordination and awareness, reacting instinctively to each other's movements.
Slight increase to attack accuracy and defense when flanking or surrounding a target.
The user becomes a natural tactical center, instinctively guiding weaker members and enhancing group survival.
"This will do for now," Vergil muttered, stretching his arms. "Combining Tough Body and Resilient Body wouldn't give much of a boost yet. I'll wait until I've gained more."
He glanced toward the cottage. "Time to check Eleanors progress."
He stepped inside. The scent of herbs and warm bread lingered in the air. Elvira and Eleanor sat at the table, quietly eating breakfast. Morning light filtered through the window.
Eleanor looked up, her gaze cool and unreadable. "You're back."
Elvira gave a small nod. "Early, too. I assume you've made progress?"
Vergil smirked. "Two new spells. Thought you might want to see."
Eleanor took another bite of bread, not looking at him. "As long as they're not useless."
Elvira sighed but stood up. "Let's take it outside, then. I'm not cleaning up after any mana burns."
Vergil turned without a word, stepping into the soft morning light. Eleanor followed behind, silent, arms crossed.
"Go on," Elvira said once they were clear of the cottage. "Let's see what you've been working on."
Vergil nodded, lifting his hand as mana began to gather.
Vergil raised his hand, letting the energy flow through his veins as he focused.
"First one's Ember Spark," he said.
A sharp flicker of orange light danced at his fingertips before bursting into a small but concentrated spark of flame. It hissed as it arced forward, striking a nearby rock and leaving a faint scorch mark.
"Not bad," Elvira said with a hint of approval. "Good control. It's efficient, not flashy."
Eleanor tilted her head slightly, unimpressed. "It's just a spark."
Vergil ignored the comment, already gathering mana again.
"And this one—Frost Touch."
The air around his palm dropped in temperature instantly. A thin layer of frost shimmered along his fingers, spreading out as he reached toward a nearby branch. The moment his hand brushed against it, ice bloomed across the wood, crisp and quiet.
Elvira's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "A subtle one. Could be useful in the right situations. Control over temperature at that level's no joke."
Eleanor stepped closer, examining the frozen branch without touching it. "Better. At least it's not just another fire trick."
Vergil smirked. "You're hard to please."
Eleanor's tone was flat. "Earn it."
Elvira stepped back toward the cottage. "If you're going to keep developing spells like this, I'll need to teach you how to manage your core better. You're going to burn through it faster than you realize."
Vergil nodded. "I'm ready."
Eleanor said nothing, but her eyes lingered on his frost-covered hand a moment longer before turning away.
Elvira motioned for him to follow. "Come inside. I'll prepare something simple to help with core stabilization. You'll need it if you plan to keep stacking spells."
Vergil followed her in, casting a brief glance toward Eleanor. She had already taken a seat by the window, her arms crossed, eyes distant. The cold light filtering through the glass reflected in her silver gaze, distant and unreadable.
"You don't like being impressed, huh?" Vergil asked casually.
She didn't look at him. "I don't like wasted potential."
Vergil paused for a moment, then let out a short breath, somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. "Noted."
Elvira was already gathering herbs from a nearby shelf, her movements practiced. "The Ember Spark is a good starting point. Focus on refining its shape next—control before power. As for Frost Touch… that one's more dangerous than it seems. Keep using it without training, and you'll end up freezing your own nerves."
"I'll be careful," Vergil replied, watching as she began grinding the herbs into a fine powder.
"You always say that," Eleanor muttered.
This time, Vergil didn't respond. Instead, he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, frost still trailing faintly from his fingers. His thoughts were already drifting toward the next step—what came after these spells, and what he'd need to face in the days ahead.
Elvira poured the powdered herbs into a small pot of water and set it over the flame. "Drink this. It'll ease the strain on your channels. After that, we'll test the spells properly."
Vergil took the cup and sipped. Bitter. Sharp. But it warmed his chest instantly.
[Your mana channels are strengthening]
"Got it." he said.
Elvira nodded. "In a bit. I want to see how well your body holds under pressure."
Eleanor stood, her voice cutting through the quiet like frost. "Don't expect me to be impressed just because you managed to light a spark and freeze the air. Half-baked tricks only get you killed."
Vergil glanced at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Cold as ever."
"I speak the truth. If you can't handle it, don't ask for opinions."
Elvira sighed. "That's enough, Eleanor."
"I'm just being honest," she replied, turning away. "He'll need thicker skin than this if he's aiming to climb."
Vergil said nothing. He finished the drink, placed the cup down, and stepped toward the door.
"Alright," he said, his tone calm, but something in his eyes burned faintly. "Let's see how much this half-baked trick can do."
The wind outside had picked up, carrying with it the chill of the coming morning. As they stepped into the open, Vergil raised his hand. Ember Spark crackled to life in his palm—small, searing, alive. He shifted, and Frost Touch laced his fingertips, a cold mist coiling around his knuckles.
He stood there, both flame and frost in hand, and looked toward Elvira.
"I'm ready."
Elvira stepped forward, eyes sharp, yet calm. "Good. Show me control first. Hold both spells. Keep them stable."
Vergil nodded. Ember Spark danced in his right hand—tiny arcs of fire flickering with raw heat. Frost Touch lingered on his left—thin trails of cold mist spiraling gently from his fingers. Opposing forces. One wrong breath, and they'd clash.
The air around him shimmered with subtle tension.
Eleanor leaned against the fence, arms crossed. "Let's see if he lasts more than ten seconds."
Vergil exhaled slowly, grounding himself. The frost hissed, but held. The spark flared, then calmed.
Five seconds.
Seven.
Ten.
Fifteen.
A drop of sweat rolled down his temple.
Elvira gave a small nod. "Good. Now—release them."
He lifted his right hand, flinging Ember Spark forward. It shot out, striking the tree stump and scorching its surface with a flash of heat. Instantly, he followed with Frost Touch, sweeping his left hand across the same area—frost crept over the burnt wood, ice hissing over the charred mark.
Steam rose into the cold air.
Vergil let out a breath, shaking out his hands.
Elvira raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. That'll be all for today."
Vergil gave a slow nod, catching his breath. "Alright."
Eleanor scoffed as she turned away. "Guess you didn't collapse after all."
Vergil didn't answer. He just watched the steam fade into the sky, then followed them both back toward the cottage, the weight of training still clinging to his limbs.
"We're leaving Eleanor, but before we go i need to get you a weapon, for defense"
"Got it Vergil" She said