The next day had quickly arrived, and Ryker made his way to the Wryn Forest once again. This time, his goal was much more specific - he needed to find the legendary [Infinite Seed] that would change everything for him.
While Ryker went to hunt and search for the precious fruit, he had sent Stella on an important mission. Her task was to find potential recruits for their small mercenary group that he planned to establish. The blood oath ensured she would follow his commands without question, making her the perfect scout for this job.
He had instructed her to get people interested in joining, and when he returned from his hunting expedition, he would personally evaluate each candidate. Of course, he didn't have much hope for the people of this small 1-star town, but he didn't plan on staying here for long anyway. Besides, with his knowledge from the novel and his growing power, he could easily train ordinary people to become much better fighters than the average person in Wryn Town.
Time was becoming a critical factor now. With ten days already gone from the remaining time of the month, the prestigious Astral Academy was bound to start in just one week. Ryker couldn't afford to be lacking behind the other students, especially the noble children who had been training their entire lives.
Even though he might seem strong compared to the locals he had encountered, this was only because most people he had met didn't have the proper training that nobles and academy students went through from childhood. If the Stonekin man from San's shop had received formal academy training, Ryker might very well be dead right now. The same could be said for all the other opponents he had faced so far - they were street fighters, not trained warriors.
The real competition would begin once he entered the academy, where every student was a potential threat with years of preparation behind them.
As Ryker approached the familiar checkpoint leading into the forest, Jake - the very first guard who had the unfortunate experience of fighting him before - spotted him coming from a distance. The sight immediately caused Jake's body to shake uncontrollably with terror.
'H-He's back!' Jake thought frantically, his mind racing with fear. What Ryker had done to him during their first encounter was still painfully fresh in his memory. The humiliation, the pain, the helplessness - it had all taught him to fear this seemingly innocent white-haired boy.
Jake's hands trembled as he gripped his spear, remembering how easily Ryker had disarmed and beaten him. The kid looked even more dangerous now, with a cold confidence in his stride that hadn't been there before.
"What's a kid doing here so early in the morning?" The man beside Jake questioned with a raised eyebrow, completely unaware of the danger approaching them.
Jake's blood ran cold. Now he understood exactly how his former partner Steve must have felt when he tried to stop Ryker that first day. The memory of Steve's screams echoed in his mind.
'Shit! He doesn't know what this kid is capable of!' Jake cursed inwardly as he grabbed his colleague's shoulder with desperate urgency.
"Hey, stop what you're doing right now! Don't approach him!" Jake yelled, his voice cracking with panic.
The man, whose name was Ronnie, paused and stared at Jake in complete surprise for several seconds. He had never seen his usually calm partner act like this before.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Jake?" Ronnie replied, roughly shrugging off Jake's trembling hand with a deep frown creasing his face. He couldn't understand why his coworker was suddenly acting like he'd seen a ghost, but he assumed it had something to do with the approaching boy.
Jake tried to warn him once again, his voice desperate and pleading. "Ronnie, please listen to me! That kid is dangerous! He's not normal!"
But Ronnie had heard enough. Without warning, he backhanded Jake across the face with enough force to send him stumbling backward. "Get a hold of yourself! It's just some brat trying to play adventurer!"
Ronnie was different from Jake in almost every way. Unlike his cowardly partner, Ronnie was a guard who had received proper training from a military academy outside of town. His skills were far superior to Jake's, and his confidence came from years of real combat experience. More importantly, he possessed the powerful Flameborn bloodline, making him a formidable opponent even by academy standards.
His body was lean but muscular, built for speed and precision. Scars on his arms told stories of battles fought and won. His eyes held the sharp focus of a trained killer, and when he activated his bloodline, his entire presence became intimidating.
Ryker, who had been observing their interaction with mild amusement, continued on his way toward the checkpoint. He had more important things to worry about than two guards having an argument.
But just as he was about to pass through, Ronnie suddenly stepped directly into his path, blocking the way forward. The guard crossed his arms and looked down at Ryker with obvious contempt.
"Where do you think you're going, little runt?" Ronnie's voice was filled with authority and challenge. His hand rested casually on the hilt of his sword, a clear threat.
Ryker stopped and looked up at the guard with cold, calculating eyes. This one was different from Jake. He could sense it immediately - this guard had real training, real power. The air around him felt warmer, and Ryker could detect the faint scent of smoke that came with Flameborn bloodline users.
"I'm going into the forest to hunt," Ryker replied simply, his voice calm and unbothered. "Same as the day before yesterday, and the day before that."
"Not without paying the proper fees and showing respect to your betters," Ronnie sneered. "You think because you scared my pathetic partner over there, you can just walk through here like you own the place?"
Jake, who was still holding his bruised cheek, frantically shook his head behind Ronnie. "Please, just let him through! You don't understand what he can do!"
"Shut up!" Ronnie barked without turning around. "I'm tired of hearing your cowardly whining."
Ryker sighed softly. He really didn't have time for this, but it seemed like this guard wasn't going to back down easily. Unlike Jake, who had been motivated by greed and bullying, this one seemed to be driven by pride and a genuine belief in his own superiority.
"How much is the fee?" Ryker asked, deciding to try the diplomatic approach first.
"For a disrespectful little brat like you? One thousand credits," Ronnie said with a cruel smile. "And an apology for whatever you did to Jake."
The price was clearly meant to be impossible for a young boy to pay. Most kids in town didn't see that much money in an entire year.
But Ryker just reached into his pouch and pulled out the exact amount without hesitation, placing it on the small table beside the checkpoint. "There. Now move."
Ronnie's eyes widened slightly at the sight of so much money, but his expression quickly hardened with suspicion. "Where did a kid like you get that kind of money? Did you steal it?"
"Does it matter? You got paid," Ryker said, his patience beginning to wear thin. "Now step aside."
"I don't think so," Ronnie said, his hand now fully gripping his sword handle. "I think we need to have a little chat about where you got this money, and what you really did to my partner."
As Ronnie spoke, his body began to change. His skin took on a reddish tint, and the air around him started to shimmer with heat waves. Small wisps of flame began to dance around his fingers, and his eyes literally started to glow with an inner fire.
"You see, kid, I'm not like Jake over there," Ronnie continued, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "I've actually been trained to fight. I know how to handle little troublemakers who think they're tough."
Ryker could feel the heat radiating from the guard now. This wasn't just bloodline activation - this was a trained fighter preparing for serious combat. The man's stance shifted into a proper fighting position, balanced and ready to strike.
"Last chance, boy. Tell me where you got that money, apologize to Jake, and maybe I'll let you crawl back to town with only minor burns."
But Ryker was done talking. His own bloodline began to stir in response to the threat, and he could feel his blood starting to move faster through his veins. The familiar cold focus of battle settled over his mind.
"You want to know what I did to him?" Ryker asked softly gazing towards Jake, his voice carrying a dangerous undertone. "Why don't I show you instead?"
Ronnie's grin widened, showing teeth that seemed to have flames flickering between them. "Now you're talking my language, kid."
The confrontation was about to begin, and this time, Ryker would face an opponent who might actually be able to match his power.
***
Finally we have crossed the 100 collection barrier, I am very greatful to you all for the support and love!
Although I didn't mention it there will be a collection milestone chapter reward, so two chapters will be out on Wednesday rather than the regular old one chapter!
Thank you for your support anf keep supporting me with your Powwaaaa.