The iron-hide bulls proved every bit as challenging as their reputation suggested.
The first wave of attacks nearly shattered their formation before they could establish proper positioning. Eight massive beasts, each weighing close to a ton, charged across the valley floor with the thunderous momentum of an avalanche. Their metallic hides gleamed in the afternoon sun, while their horns sparked against stone as they lowered their heads for devastating impact.
"Shield wall!" Lyra shouted, bracing her large shield against the ground while raising her sword to deflect the lead bull's charge. The impact when it struck was tremendous—enough to drive her back three feet despite her prepared stance—but she held the line while Marcus darted in from the side to target vulnerable joints.
Aiden's first instinct was to use his standard combination of misdirection and Exploit Weakness, but he quickly discovered that awakened beasts operated on different principles than human opponents. The bulls' minds were too simple and focused for his deception abilities to find purchase, leaving his attacks without their usual precision enhancement.
His Icicle Spear struck the nearest bull directly in the flank—a solid hit that should have penetrated deep into vital organs. Instead, the crystalline projectile shattered against hide that had been enhanced by earth magic to approximate actual metal plating. The beast barely seemed to notice the impact.
Physical resistance, Aiden realized as he dodged a horn swipe that would have opened him from chest to groin. Their awakened abilities provide both offensive and defensive enhancement.
But his Frost Aura began to have cumulative effects as the battle progressed. The supernatural cold couldn't penetrate the bulls' enhanced hides immediately, but it slowed their movements incrementally with each passing moment. Muscles became stiff, reflexes sluggish, and coordination impaired as the temperature around them dropped below what their bodies could easily tolerate.
Stack the effects, he thought, maintaining his aura while adding Frost Bolt attacks to increase the environmental pressure. Can't overcome their defenses immediately, but sustained application should create exploitable weaknesses.
Lyra proved her competence as a tank by maintaining threat control even when facing multiple opponents simultaneously. Her shield work was masterful—deflecting charges, redirecting momentum, and creating openings for her teammates while absorbing punishment that would have crippled less prepared fighters.
Marcus demonstrated why speed-based fighters were valuable in team compositions by targeting exactly the vulnerabilities that Aiden's frost magic was creating. Each time a bull's movements became sluggish from accumulated cold, his daggers would find joints, tendons, or other critical points that bypassed their enhanced defenses.
Elena's support proved equally crucial, though less obviously dramatic. Her healing kept the team functional through what should have been disabling injuries, while her tactical spells provided environmental advantages—patches of solid footing where the ground had been churned to mud, enhanced visibility when dust clouds obscured sight lines.
The combination was devastatingly effective once they found their rhythm. What had begun as a desperate struggle for survival became a systematic elimination of dangerous beasts through coordinated application of complementary abilities.
The first bull fell when sustained frost exposure finally allowed Lyra's enchanted sword to penetrate its defenses, opening arteries that couldn't be sealed through natural healing. The second and third died almost simultaneously as Marcus's precision strikes found weaknesses that had been created by Aiden's environmental effects.
By the time evening shadows began to lengthen across the valley, seven of the eight bulls lay dead in pools of steaming blood. The last survivor—a smaller female who had been hanging back during the main battle—retreated toward the higher elevations with the kind of wariness that suggested she understood her situation had become untenable.
"We'll finish the cleanup tomorrow," Lyra decided as they surveyed the battlefield from positions that allowed rapid withdrawal if necessary. "One more sweep to make sure the stragglers don't return, then collect proof of completion for the contract payment."
The village inn was exactly what Aiden had expected—simple accommodations that provided clean beds and hot food without pretensions to luxury. After hours of intense combat, such basic comforts felt like incredible luxury.
"To a successful first mission," Lyra proposed, raising her mug of ale in a toast that acknowledged their collective achievement.
"And to discovering that ice magic combines well with sustained engagement tactics," Marcus added with the professional appreciation of someone who understood how difficult coordination could be.
"Definitely," Elena agreed. "Your frost effects made precision targeting much more reliable. I think we've found our permanent fourth member, if you're interested."
The offer was both flattering and strategically valuable. Working with a established team would provide access to higher-tier contracts, while their Academy preparations would offer insights into advanced training opportunities.
"I'm interested," Aiden said, meaning it sincerely.
"Excellent," Lyra replied. "In that case, let me tell you about tomorrow's conversation with the guild representative about moving up to E-rank classification."
The discussion that followed provided invaluable intelligence about how the guild system actually functioned at professional levels. Team advancement, contract classification, and the pathway from basic monster hunting to more sophisticated operations that required official recognition.
"Speaking of advancement," Marcus said during a lull in the conversation, "did you hear about the Flamebeast incident last week? Apparently wiped out an entire E-rank team—experienced hunters who should have known better than to engage awakened fire-types without proper preparation."
Aiden nearly choked on his ale. "Flamebeast boars?"
"You've encountered them?" Elena asked with professional interest.
"Recently," Aiden admitted. "During caravan escort duty. Nasty creatures—much more dangerous than their individual threat rating suggests."
"How did you handle them?" Lyra wanted to know.
Aiden described the distraction tactics they'd used, carefully omitting details that might reveal more about his background than was wise. But the story of four guards successfully avoiding casualties against two dozen awakened beasts earned respectful attention from his new teammates.
"Impressive," Marcus said when he finished. "That level of tactical coordination doesn't happen accidentally. Someone on your team knew what they were doing."
Guard Captain Thorne, Aiden thought with genuine respect for the man who had taught him so much about practical combat. Military experience makes all the difference when planning gets complicated.
The conversation eventually turned to their shared interest in Academy admission, providing Aiden with detailed information about the application process.
"Three main components," Elena explained. "Written examination covering magical theory, military history, and general education. Combat aptitude assessment against standardized constructs. And practical demonstration of individual abilities using calibrated testing equipment."
"The written portion eliminates maybe half the applicants," Lyra added. "Most adventurers are strong fighters but weak scholars. If you can't demonstrate basic literacy and reasoning ability, they won't waste time testing your combat skills."
"Combat aptitude is where things get interesting," Marcus continued. "They use magical constructs programmed to simulate different types of opponents—human fighters, awakened beasts, magical creatures. Your performance gets scored based on efficiency, tactical awareness, and ability to adapt to changing circumstances."
"And the skill demonstration?" Aiden asked.
"Pure measurement of raw capability," Elena said. "Magical output, precision, control, versatility. They've got devices that can quantify exactly how much power you can generate and how effectively you can apply it."
Comprehensive evaluation designed to identify genuine talent rather than just political connections, Aiden realized. The kind of merit-based selection that would actually produce competent graduates.
"What tracks are available once you're accepted?" he inquired.
"Depends on your scores and interests," Lyra replied. "Military command, magical research, intelligence operations, engineering, logistics—basically every specialized role the Imperial Army needs filled by awakened personnel."
"For someone with your abilities," Marcus said thoughtfully, "I'd recommend the magical warfare track. Ice magic has excellent battlefield applications, and your tactical awareness suggests you'd do well with strategic responsibilities."
"Though dual-track is possible if you're willing to handle the additional workload," Elena added. "Magic primary with martial secondary would give you more versatility. Just means longer days and more intensive study requirements."
Magical warfare with martial secondary, Aiden thought. Exactly the combination I'd need for hunting down the remaining names on my list.
The evening wound down with more discussion of Academy preparation strategies, guild advancement opportunities, and the various ways that professional adventurer work could support longer-term career goals. By the time they retired to their individual rooms, Aiden felt like he had gained valuable allies and comprehensive intelligence about his next steps.
But first, he wanted to review his personal development from the day's combat.
Settling onto his room's simple bed, Aiden called up his status screen to examine the changes from fighting iron-hide bulls.
NAME: Aiden (Valdris)
AGE: 16
CORE: Eyes of the Void (Epic)
BLOODLINE: Heroic Light (Rare) [DORMANT]
ACTIVE PATH: Path of Frost and Steel (42%)
ABILITIES:
Misdirection (Uncommon) - Enhanced
Exploit Weakness (Uncommon)
Detect (Common)
Icicle Spear (Uncommon)
Armaments of Frost (Rare)
Frost Aura (Uncommon)
Frost Bolt (Common)
Essence Absorption (Unique)
Merchant's Eye (Uncommon)
Sweet Revenge (Rare)
Adaptive Swordplay (Uncommon)
Iron Skin Defense (Apprentice)
NEW ABILITY GAINED:
Metallic Hide (Common) - Enhanced physical resistance
[ABILITY CONSOLIDATION AVAILABLE]
[MERGE: Iron Skin Defense + Metallic Hide = Reinforced Physique]
[PROCEED? Y/N]
Perfect, Aiden thought as he examined the consolidation option. The iron-hide bulls' natural defenses had been impressive enough that absorbing even a fragment of that capability could provide significant improvement to his survivability.
He selected yes and felt the familiar sensation of abilities recombining within his core. Knowledge flowed and reformed, creating understanding of how to layer different types of defensive enhancement for maximum effectiveness.
[CONSOLIDATION COMPLETE]
[ABILITY GAINED: Reinforced Physique (Uncommon)]
[Provides layered physical resistance combining hardened skin, enhanced bone density, and improved damage tolerance]
The change was immediately noticeable. His skin felt different—not obviously altered, but somehow more substantial. More resistant to damage, better able to absorb impact, naturally tougher without losing flexibility.
Significant improvement, he realized as he tested the enhancement by pressing his dagger's point against his palm. What should have drawn blood only left a red mark that faded quickly. Combined with my Armaments of Frost, I'm becoming genuinely difficult to damage through conventional attacks.
Tomorrow they would finish clearing the remaining bulls and return to Drakmoor City to collect their payment. Then more contracts, more team missions, more opportunities to develop both individual abilities and professional relationships.
Three months until Academy applications were due. Three months to build the kind of reputation and skill set that would guarantee acceptance to advanced training.
And eventually, when he was ready, three months to prepare for the next phase of his long-term plans.
Seven names still on the list, he thought as exhaustion finally began to claim him. But I'm getting stronger every day. More capable, more dangerous, more ready for what's coming.
The Path of Frost and Steel pulsed gently in his consciousness, pleased with the day's progress and eager for tomorrow's opportunities.
Outside his window, the mountain night was quiet except for the distant sounds of a world that continued turning regardless of individual ambitions.
But inside the small inn room, a predator was growing stronger through patience and preparation.
And someday soon, that patience would be rewarded with the kind of justice that could only be served by those willing to become monsters in pursuit of righteous ends.
The boy who had watched his family die was gone.
The weapon that would make their killers pay was nearly ready for use.