PHOENIX RISING (Book One In The Phoenix Hunter Series)

★CHAPTER 4★

   
   Kaito chuckled, a sound that was part amusement and part pity

“There are three types of hunters: Normal elite and ranked.  Normal hunters, like Luna, and Shadow, have common abilities like Swordsmanship, Dagger mastery, Staff mastery, Archery mastery, speed boosts, increased strength, team buffs, and shielders.  Elite hunters have unique, and rare skills, like elemental skills, teleportation, and a lot others...”

“Just like yourself.” I finished for him.

“Yes, They're specially sought after and trained by the Guilds. Both local and official. That's why skills are really important. They can make a huge difference in a fight.” he finishes

“Well that explains why booking an elemental was more expensive than the others.”    Everything was clear now.

Okay maybe not everything

“And what about the ranked up hunters?”

“Those guys are like the Powerhouse's of a Continent. Once you get to a certain level, your system transcends you into a being of immense power by ranking you up. They're usually called Archons. And the double ranked are considered god's.”

“I think I've seen that word somewhere before. Are there any Archons in the City?”

He thinks for a few minutes before replying “Yes there is one, Archon Hanry. He's so powerful that his aura alone could kill lower leveled hunters. Most especially beginners.”

“i'm gonna let you in on a little secret, all the Guild Masters are double ranked.” he says in a low voice.

“And it is why some of them don't hunt anymore, as they are already at what is considered the pinnacle of power.” Luna picks up.

“I want to be an Archon someday. It sounds like a great deal”

Kaito looks at me incredulously.

“Oh it is a great deal. But it takes hundreds of years to get there, Some of them are over 500 years. So you see.”

“Oh! I didn’t know that,” I admitted, feeling a little foolish.

He grinned, a kind expression softening his usually gruff features.  “There’s a lot you don’t know about this world yet, Lucas.  But we'll let you discover it on your own.  We wouldn’t want to rob you of the joy of exploration.”

He gestured towards a sprawling grassland that stretched out before us, nearly reaching the edge of the dungeon’s horizon. 

"This is where you'll start," he said.  "What are you going to be fighting with?"

I  looked around, trying to get my bearings.  I felt a surge of panic.  This was what I’d been training for, but now that I was actually here, it was all starting to feel very real.

“Well, I use a sword.”  I took a deep breath and unsheathed my weapon, its polished surface catching the sunlight.  It was a standard issue, nothing fancy, but it was mine.

“Perfect,” Luna said, her voice smooth and calming.  “You'll be fighting level one Bunnies.  They're not combat skilled, they’re practically harmless.  We hunt them for the rare gems they drop.  They hop around like, well, bunnies.  They’re pretty easy to spot.  Just follow me.”

Kaito and Shadow trailed behind, silent and watchful.  The world seemed to stretch out before me, full of possibilities.  I had a racing heart as I took my first steps into the grassland.

“I’ll be able to awaken my system as long as I receive experience points, right?”I asked, my voice a bit shaky.

“That's right,”Kaito said, his voice reassuring. “And if you're lucky, you might even get a unique skill or a rare one.  Think of it as a random drop.”

“And once you get to level ten…” Luna started, her voice trailing off. 

“In about a month or so, you’ll be leaving this dungeon to hunt in a mini-dungeon,” Kaito finished for her.

I nodded, a small wave of excitement washing over me. I took another deep breath and tightened my grip on the sword.

She points over to a few feets away. “Over there, some bunnies are waiting to be hunted. We'll be watching you from here”

“(Sighs) alright, here goes nothing.”

I'd seen monster encyclopedias about the Gem Bunnies, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer beauty of this place.  The grassland stretched out before me, a vibrant tapestry of green and gold.  It was unlike anything I'd ever seen in the grimy, polluted city.

I cautiously ventured into the meadow, feeling the soft earth beneath my feet. The wind rustled through the tall grass, caressing my legs as I walked. I felt a surge of awe as I looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of this new world.

A few meters away, a group of Gem Bunnies grazed on the lush grass. Their coats were a mix of reddish brown and white, and their small horns glinted in the sunlight.  I watched as one, a particularly large one with a golden gem nestled between its ears, hopped towards me.  It stopped a few feet away, its ears twitching nervously.  Then, in a flash, it burrowed into the ground, disappearing without a trace.

‘Well, it seems I'm the predator now.  But those rabbits looked extremely delicious.’

A strange thought, but it made me smile.
...