We are now in the golden era of hunters.
Across the capital of Sylvean, dungeons and relics defined power, and countless adventurers rose and fell chasing glory. Among these rising stars stood one man who, despite his lazy reputation, outshone them all.
His name was Hiro Ludin, the Lazy Trickster. This is the tale of how the weakest man somehow became the leader of the top-ranked clan Blazing Dawn, and how his party shook the capital.
---
[Chapter 14 Begins]
Monsters attack.
SLASH—!
BANG—!
"Phew, that's the last one... at least around here," Billy said, driving his sword into the ground, his breath ragged. Steam rose from his armor, faintly glowing under the moonlight.
"This isn't looking good."
"These monsters..." Ruby muttered, leaning on a tree, "they're not from the Frostfang Den. Their energy feels... off. This isn't a normal three-star dungeon."
"They're tougher than anything I've fought," George said, wiping blood from his cheek. "I can't believe we got tricked into coming here."
"We're not dead yet," Mia snapped, cracking her knuckles and stomping on a monster's head. "So stop whining."
Billy frowned. "Guys... I have bad news."
"What now?" George groaned, rubbing his temples. "Please don't tell me another horde is coming."
"It's worse," Billy said, lifting his sword. The once bright-red flame core embedded in its hilt flickered weakly. "I can't use my fire attribute anymore."
"What?" Ruby's eyes widened. "Why?"
"Ever since Hiro... I mean, the trickster...took my sword back at the duel... it's been rejecting me. I can't feed it mana. It refuses to answer."
Mia's expression darkened. "You mean your artifact no longer recognizes you as its wielder?"
Billy nodded bitterly. "Yeah. It's like... it knows I lost. That man did something to it."
"Maybe we should call the quest off," Ruby said quietly. "We can go back and ask Hiro for help. If it were him, he'd clear this dungeon in one sweep."
"Huh?!" Mia snapped, glaring daggers at her. "Why are you calling my master by his name like that?"
Ruby stepped back. "S-sorry! I didn't mean—"
"No," George interrupted. "She might be right. If even four-star hunters like us are struggling with these things, something's not right. Maybe we retreat and regroup."
Billy clenched his fists. "The conditions of this dungeon are nothing like what Trickster told us. He said it was a 3-star den, but these monsters are at least 5-star, maybe higher."
Mia crossed her arms, her face unreadable. "We're continuing."
George turned on her. "Mia, this isn't pride talking this is survival! If we push further, we might not make it back."
"And if we go back now," Mia said calmly, "what do I tell Master? That I ran away? That his top disciple gave up when it mattered most?"
Her tone silenced them. The air grew heavier as cold mist drifted from the woods. Even the forest seemed to be listening.
"If another horde approaches, we won't win," Billy muttered, his hand trembling. "You saw what those beasts did to the other beast around here, there were all wipe out.
"Hahahahaha!" Mia suddenly burst into laughter, startling the group. "You really don't get it, do you?"
They stared at her, confused.
"Master always has a plan," Mia said, her voice filled with conviction. "He doesn't send us somewhere without reason. This is part of it. He's watching us right now."
George frowned. "Watching us?"
Mia nodded. "You don't understand him like I do. He's testing us especially you, Billy."
Billy blinked. "Me?"
"Yes. The reason your Flame Sword rejects you isn't because of some curse," Mia said, stepping closer. "It's because you're weak without it. You relied on that artifact for everything. Master is showing you that without your sword, you're no better than your old party."
Billy froze, her words cutting deeper than any blade. So that's it... he planned this?
His grip on the hilt tightened. "He put a seal on it... to make me realize that?"
Mia smiled faintly. "Exactly. He's forcing you to grow."
The others fell silent. Ruby looked conflicted, while George sighed heavily. "If that's true, then your master is cruel."
"Cruel," Mia said, "but right."
---
Meanwhile…
High above the clouds, Hiro Ludin was flying through the night sky at terrifying speed.
"AAAAAHHH—TOO FAST!" he screamed as the Flying Cape whipped violently in the wind. His body spun once, twice then flipped upside down as a gust nearly sent him crashing into a mountain. "I'm gonna die before I even get there!"
The system's voice buzzed in his mind, calm as ever.
> 'User's vitals unstable. Recommendation: stop flailing.'
"Shut up! You're the one who said it was stable!" Hiro yelled, yanking the cape's edges. The fabric shimmered, barely stabilizing him. "I swear, if this thing breaks, I'm haunting the system for life!"
He took a deep breath, trying to regain his balance as lights flickered below. "That must be it… the Frostfang Den."
The distant horizon glowed faintly red fire, battle, and chaos.
"Looks like they're already fighting," Hiro muttered. "They should've cleared it by now. Why am I even going there…?"
He sighed, the guilt finally settling in.
"I'm such an idiot… I sent them to die, didn't I?"
> 'Correction: You are currently attempting to prevent said death, therefore not an idiot.'
Hiro groaned. "You're really not helping…"
The wind tore at his face as he descended lower, scanning the area. "I just hope I'm not too late. If Mia dies because of this, I'll.."
He stopped mid-sentence as a massive explosion erupted in the distance. The shockwave nearly blew him off course.
"...Oh, you've got to be kidding me."