At noon, a magnificent Phoenix descended gracefully from the sky, landing right in front of Renji. He had been attempting to concentrate on his mana, but the sudden arrival of the majestic bird startled him. His heart skipped a beat as he instinctively took a step back.
"Whoa… what is this thing?" he blurted, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"This is a hybrid Phoenix, incapable of using magic. Officials often employ them to deliver important messages," Mizuki's voice echoed softly from inside his mind, her tone calm yet tinged with curiosity.
Renji's gaze shifted to the bird's right leg. "Wait… there's something tied to it," he muttered, reaching out to inspect it. White particles swirled around him, coalescing gradually into Mizuki's familiar form. Her ethereal figure shimmered as she materialized beside him.
"It's from the Adventurers' Guild," she explained.
With a mix of curiosity and urgency, Renji untied the small scroll from the Phoenix's leg and carefully opened it. The letter contained only a brief message, yet it carried an unmistakable weight of authority:
[Renji Yamamoto (Registration No.: 763620147),
I, the Guild Master of the Reukago Adventurers' Guild, hereby demand your immediate presence at the guild. Reach the guild as soon as you receive this letter. This is an order.
– Hanjiro (Guild Master)]
Mizuki finished reading and immediately took Renji's hand, initiating a teleportation spell. Within a heartbeat, they were whisked away, materializing in front of the guild's grand main gate. The sudden arrival drew the attention of everyone nearby. Whispers flitted through the crowd, curious and awed.
"Isn't that the boy who supposedly masters every magical element?" someone murmured.
"Look at him… didn't he face a Hell General?" another voice questioned, disbelief and admiration mixed together.
As Renji and Mizuki proceeded through the bustling guild hall, their presence stirred a subtle tension. At the reception, Rika appeared, her eyes sparkling as she guided them directly to the Guild Master's chamber.
The Guild Master, a stern yet composed man, looked up and immediately focused on Renji. "Welcome, Renji. I've been expecting you."
Renji responded with a polite, "Yes?"
"What exactly transpired in the forest? I intend to send a team for investigation, and I require accurate details," the Guild Master continued, his gaze unwavering.
Renji took a deep breath. "Mizuki and I were collecting medical herbs when, unexpectedly, a demon Hell General appeared out of nowhere."
"Was it… an Elite Hell General?" the Guild Master asked sharply, his brows furrowed in concern.
"Yes, it was," Mizuki interjected, her voice firm but calm.
"Did you attempt to defend yourselves?" he asked again, keenly observing their reactions.
"No… we didn't," Mizuki replied. "It vanished almost instantly."
The Guild Master paused, deep in thought. Perhaps it was a higher-ranking demon, and they misidentified it as an Elite Hell General, he considered silently.
"Very well," he said after a moment. "I will dispatch a group of experienced adventurers to investigate further."
Renji inclined his head politely. "May I leave now?"
The Guild Master stood, shaking his head slightly. "Not yet." She called over one of her assistants and instructed her to hand Renji a pouch of three hundred gold coins.
Renji frowned slightly, confused. "What… is this for?"
"You were nearly killed. Though you were attempting an E-rank quest, encountering a demon of that magnitude is comparable to an A–S rank challenge. Consider this compensation… and an apology," the Guild Master explained.
Renji shook his head gently. "It wasn't your fault."
"Just take it," she replied firmly.
With the transaction complete, Renji and Mizuki exited the guild, stepping back into the sunlit streets.
"Hey, Mizuki," he said, turning toward her.
"Yes?" she responded.
"What's our next step?"
"I'll take you to a perfect location for training," she replied, her tone measured yet encouraging.
"Ah… okay," Renji said, a mixture of anticipation and curiosity evident in his voice.
They walked for several minutes until they arrived at a vast, serene grassland, bathed in warm sunlight. Mizuki gestured to a quiet spot among the rolling hills. "This is ideal. Sit here and focus on your mana flow," she instructed.
Renji settled onto the soft grass, closing his eyes and centering himself. Mizuki's form dissipated into the air, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Time passed, and gradually, he began to feel the subtle currents of energy moving within him. The air around him grew warmer, and a soft blue aura emerged, enveloping his body in a gentle glow.
Mizuki's voice echoed inside his mind once more: "Now, try to gather the mana into your hand."
He opened his eyes, raising his right hand, and concentrated. Slowly, the mana coalesced, forming a small sphere of glowing blue energy. The sensation was electrifying, almost like holding a fragment of the sky itself. The aura around his hand flickered like a contained flame, shimmering with power.
Fascinated, Renji stood and clenched his fist, preparing to test his newfound control. With determination, he struck the ground with all his strength. The impact was tremendous, sending a shockwave through the earth. Dirt, dust, and small stones erupted into the air as a crater formed where his fist had landed.
Renji coughed from the force and the debris, but before he could take a step closer, Mizuki reappeared, her expression unreadable, and teleported him several meters away from the spot.
He looked at her, perplexed. "Is something wrong?"
"That punch…" Mizuki said, her voice tinged with concern. "It takes months of training to master properly. You could have seriously injured yourself."
Renji's lips curled into a small, confident smile. "My father taught me martial arts, remember?"
Mizuki's expression softened slightly, though a hint of disbelief remained. "I… suppose that explains it," she murmured, her voice filled with faint admiration.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the grassland as Renji resumed his training, feeling more determined than ever. Every flicker of mana in his hand, every surge of energy through his body, was a reminder of the path he had chosen—the path of power, responsibility, and the destiny that awaited him.
He knew the road ahead would be grueling, but for the first time, he felt a tangible connection to his potential. The blue aura surrounding him pulsed steadily, as if echoing the heartbeat of a future hero just beginning to awaken.