Lightning flashed, its light spreading throughout the city's sky covered in dark clouds. At this moment, inside a majestic building in the central region of Dark Storm City, an imposing man was sitting down on a dark red wooden chair, emanating an aura of authority. His hair was a deep red, and his dark eyes with slight wrinkles were filled with wisdom.
"Guild Master, there is still no news of the Wind Blade Team." Cain, a guild assistant in a dark green uniform adorned with a Sword and Moon badge on his left shoulder, was reporting.
"Understood. You can go now. Report to me if any news arrives. Narun is a capable captain. I am sure he will be back soon."
Hearing the Guild Master's words, the assistant bowed and retreated from the room adorned with demonic beast skulls.
After the assistant closed the door, a long sigh filled with worry echoed throughout the spacious room.
Narun, you fool, where have you gone? The City Lord has been nagging me nonstop these days. I chose you especially for this mission since you are known as the fastest Chaos seeker at the Notorious rank. Now look at this—two weeks have gone by, and only reports of more losses from the hunting teams have come back.
The Guild Master pushed back his chair, stood up, and walked toward the massive window in the room. His firm steps created a powerful thud with every movement.
Another lightning flashed, its light reflecting in the Chaos seeker's dark eyes filled with a worried look.
These few days, I've had an ominous feeling. I feel the city is about to face a great threat. What could it be? Is it another demonic beast attack from the Golden Fur Forest, or something worse…?
Knock. Knock.
A knocking sound coming from the door interrupted the Guild Master's thoughts.
"You may enter," said the man in a deep voice while still facing the city outside the window.
Cain, the assistant, entered the room and bowed slightly toward the tall figure and said:
"Guild Master, the City Lord has arrived once more. He wishes to see you. Should I say you are training?"
"No, Lior, that old fellow, has been rejected by me twice already. He must be fuming. We can't offend him any further. Invite him in."
"Yes, Guild Master." Cain turned around and left.
Not long after, hurried, stable footsteps sounded in the corridor, then a booming voice arrived before the figure even entered the door.
"Arthen, you shrewd fellow! How long are you going to keep ignoring me?"
Sigh. Here we go again, said the Guild Master in a hushed tone.
"What do you mean, Lord Lior? It's just that I had reached a critical point in my rank these past few days, so I couldn't see you. Now that my rank is stable, of course I have to host your Lordship and make it up to you." Arthen turned around and faced the furious, burly figure dressed in elegant brown robes with dark short hair and a long mustache, radiating a stable noble aura.
"Stop with the excuses, Arthen. You know why I am here. It's been two weeks already, and that beast is still causing chaos in the villages around the city. If this continues, the grain collection this year will suffer. If too many farmers starve to death before the grains are collected, who is going to pay the taxes at the end of this year?" Lior, the City Lord, said in a cold tone, as though the grains were the only thing giving those villagers' lives any value.
"I know, Lior. I can assure you, my Chaos seekers are reliable. That beast's skull will soon be brought to you. Do not worry. It's just a slight delay," the Guild Master said in a confident tone.
"You say this is just a slight delay?"
Just as the City Lord was about to start arguing again, a voice sounded outside the office door.
"I am sorry to disturb, Masters, but I have urgent news to report!" a guild assistant said in a slightly serious tone.
"Humph!" The City Lord snorted loudly, then walked toward the couch made of demonic beast hide and sat down.
The Guild Master also went to his desk and sat down. "Come on in."
The assistant entered and first bowed toward the Guild Master and then toward the City Lord.
"Tell me, what is the report about?" the Guild Master asked in a serious voice.
"Guild Master, two members of the Wind Blade Team have returned. One of them seems to be injured, so he was sent to the infirmary. The other one is outside, waiting for an audience. He said he has urgent news to report."
Hearing the name Wind Blade and that only two members had arrived and one was even injured, both men's eyes became serious.
"Alright. Bring him in," the Guild Master said in a firm voice.
The guild assistant bowed and left the room. Shortly after, the door was opened once more by the assistant. He led in a tall, slender figure with blond hair, his head lowered.
The figure bowed and said:
"Greetings, Guild Master and City Lord. My name is Ron. I have an urgent report to make regarding the strange beast that has been attacking the Hunting Teams." Ron said in a hurried tone, trying his hardest to restrain his anxiety.
The Guild Master, seeing Ron's demeanor, immediately questioned: "Tell me what happened. Why have only two of you come back? Where is Narun?"
Ron lifted his head and looked the Guild Master in the eyes and said through clenched teeth: "Captain Narun is in grave danger. That beast had the strength of a Notorious demonic beast and was able to use flame abilities. We stood no chance against it, so the Captain stayed behind to give us an opportunity to report the situation. Guild Master, we must assemble a Chaos team at once and rescue him!" The last part Ron said in an anxious tone, finally unable to hold it in.
The City Lord immediately stood up and said: "That's impossible! My scouts said it was a Spawn rank beast. They confirmed it when the beast passed by a monitoring tower with a Flame of Will!"
Guild Master Arthen frowned, and his eyes locked onto the City Lord when he heard this. Could this bastard City Lord have actually lied about the beast's rank?
"Yes, City Lord, the beast was indeed of the Spawn rank. We confirmed it with the Will of Flame, but it still possessed the physical strength of the Notorious rank and, even stranger, could use flame abilities which should be impossible. The Captain was caught off guard and injured because of it. Clearly, the beast is an anomaly," Ron reported hurriedly.
"Hmph. An anomaly? I think your Captain was just too weak and lost to this demonic beast. Now you guys are just trying to save some face with this…" the City Lord said in a sarcastic tone, clearly not believing such a thing.
"City Lord, please don't accuse my Chaos seekers of such things. This beast must truly be something strange. We must hurry and assemble a Notorious rank team at once to hunt this beast," said the Guild Master in an angry tone.
Ron's heart immediately burned when he heard the City Lord's mocking words of the captain, but when he heard the Guild Master's words, he immediately cheered inside.
"Hmph. You deal with it. I just want to see that beast's skull at my mansion at the end of this week. I don't care how," the City Lord said in an arrogant tone. He stood up and left without looking back.
Ron bowed toward the City Lord's figure with clenched teeth, while the Guild Master had a stone-cold expression.
The door closed with a thud.
A few moments later, the Chaos Seekers Guild started working like an awakened beast, ready to assemble a powerful team to hunt down that Demonic beast.
Back in Blue Stone Village, Old Theno was walking on the path leading outside the Village Chief's courtyard. His tense face finally showed a slight look of relief,
"Move out of the way, old man!"
"Ugh," old Theno groaned after being pushed by a village guard running toward the Village Chief's meeting room. "Damn guards, they are always so rude," old Theno complained in his heart but soon let it go. He was too much in a good mood.
Finally, it's over. Now that I reported to the Village Chief, it has nothing to do with me anymore. Thankfully, the Village Chief was kind enough to not force me to go to the city and report. I can finally see my family.
While walking outside the courtyard gate beside a tall tree, he spotted a small figure with his head down, looking at the ground in a dazed manner. Immediately, his heart ached and he called out:
"Son, your old man is back!"
The dazed Aris, hearing the familiar voice, immediately turned his head and finally saw his dad. Tears that had barely dried immediately started flowing once more.
"Dad, you're back!" Aris screamed and immediately ran toward old Theno to embrace him.
Old Theno opened his arms and gave his son a strong hug, his tired eyes turning slightly moist.
"Yes, I am back. I am sorry for making you worry. We should head home now. Your mother and sister must be waiting anxiously at home. We must hurry."
Aris nodded and a few seconds later left his father's embrace and asked in a hesitant voice:
"Father, is Bruno… is Bruno back?" Aris asked in a hopeful voice with teary eyes.
Theno, hearing his son's words, immediately lost his slight smile from the reunion and his face fell. He slowly put his hand on his son's shoulder and said:
"I am sorry, son. But Bruno…"
Just as old Theno was about to answer, a sound that made his hand tremble and his stomach churn sounded from afar.
Nighhh!!
"Oh, divine Knight, this can't be!" Theno said in a terrified low voice, his hand on his son's shoulder tightening.