James followed Commander Rhen into the private briefing chamber, his heart still pounding from the events of the last day. The moment the door shut, Rhen turned to him, arms crossed, gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Tell me everything," he said.
James didn't hesitate—he recounted the chase, the ravine, the stolen shipments, and finally, the monster cores he had risked his life to retrieve. He kept his voice low but urgent, watching for any flicker of doubt in Rhen's expression.
Instead, Rhen's jaw tightened, his stance rigid with controlled anger. He let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "Monster cores—intermediate rank? That's more than just stolen goods. That's regulated material." His fingers tapped against the table, deep in thought. "And you're certain you saw the mayor's crest on their leader?"
James nodded. "It was etched into his bracer. He wasn't just some hired thug—he was someone with authority."
Rhen let the weight of that settle. Then, with practiced precision, he walked to a locked cabinet near the wall, pulling a set of files free. He flipped through them swiftly, then stopped—his gaze narrowing.
"This isn't the first hint of something shady," Rhen muttered. "Supply shipments have been disappearing for months, but no one wanted to accuse the wrong people without proof." He looked up, eyes burning with resolve. "Well, now we have proof."
He paused, scanning James again. "You're wounded. You need treatment before we take this further. But after that, we're not letting this get buried."
---
James finally allowed himself to breathe. The fight wasn't over, but at least he wasn't alone in it anymore.
Rhen wasted no time, summoning a healer from the Mission Hall's ranks to tend to James's wounds. The gash in his arm was cleaned properly, wrapped in fresh bandages, and a mild potion was given to help replenish some of his strength. The pain was duller now—still present, but manageable.
"You did more than most would've dared," Rhen said, watching as the healer worked. "Risking your life for evidence? We're lucky you made it back at all."
James huffed, shaking his head slightly. "Not luck. Just barely enough skill to crawl out of a bad situation."
Rhen studied him for a moment before leaning back. "Skill will only take us so far. Especially against people who know how to cover their tracks." He glanced toward the sealed documents on the table, the files already being reviewed by trusted members of his team.
"This thing runs deeper than we thought," Rhen muttered, fingers tapping the wood. "I'll start following the connections, but you need to focus on getting back to full strength. When the time comes, I'll need you ready."
James nodded. Rest. Recovery. Then action.
He wasn't done. Not even close.
---
James knew that going after the mayor's connections would require more than just proof—it would require strength, enough to stand against whatever forces were protecting the corruption. And right now, his injuries, exhaustion, and current limits weren't enough.
He needed more power.
And there was only one way to get it—by absorbing an intermediate-ranked monster core.
It was a reckless gamble. Hunters usually trained for years before attempting to absorb cores of higher ranks, ensuring their bodies could withstand the volatile energy they contained. Even those with experience risked death or permanent injury if the process failed.
But James didn't have years. He had days. Maybe less.
Through quiet inquiries, he tracked down a black-market supplier, someone willing to sell him an unprocessed intermediate core—one carrying immense potential, but also immense danger.
When the exchange was complete, James found himself alone in a secured space—a forgotten hunter's lodge deep in the outskirts, its stone walls shielding him from prying eyes. He placed the glowing core before him, feeling the pulse of its energy thrumming beneath his fingertips.
This was it.
He steadied his breath, forced himself into a meditative state, and began the process of absorbing the core's raw energy.
The moment it entered his system, agony tore through him. His veins burned, his muscles convulsed, and his heart pounded with unnatural force. His body rejected the power, fought against it, tried to break him apart.
He clenched his jaw, refusing to let go.
Minutes felt like hours as he fought against the core's energy, forcing it to merge with his own essence, to become part of him instead of tearing him apart.
Then—silence.
The pain dulled, the chaos settled. His breath came in sharp bursts, but his body was intact.
And more than that—he had succeeded.
When he stood, his limbs felt lighter, his senses sharper, his strength undeniable.
James let himself rest, letting the energy from the absorbed monster core settle within him. His limbs still felt heavy from the ordeal, but his breath came easier now, his strength unmistakably different—enhanced, sharpened.
After a while, as the sun hung low, he called forth his status window.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: James Smith
Class: Arcane Ranger (Hybrid – Archer & Rune Master)
Level: 18
Experience: 0/250000
Stats:
Strength: 18 → 32
Agility: 22 → 40
Endurance: 17 → 31
Arcane Power: 18 → 35
Perception: 23 → 42
Dexterity: 20 → 37
Abilities:
Arcane Infusion – IntermediateTier– Temporarily reinforces arrows with arcane energy, increasing penetration and elemental impact. Now stabilizes energy output for greater consistency.
Steady Shot – Refined – Accuracy enhancement now applies to moving targets and adjusts for irregular terrain.
Silent Step – Advanced– Movement muffled further, allowing for near-silent approach under most conditions.
Runic Imprint (Partially Unlocked) – Basic rune application available for arrows. Limited effects until full mastery is achieved.
Hunter's Precision – Enhanced – Projectile trajectory calculation now compensates for high-speed movement and unstable conditions.
Hidden Trait (Evolved):
- Elemental Convergence(??? - Latent Ability Developing) – Residual energy from absorbed cores now actively integrates with attacks. Elemental influences—heat, cold, static—appear sporadically but can begin manifesting intentionally with training.
Status Effects:
Energy Residue Stabilizing – Body adjusting to absorbed monster core energy. Fatigue still present but gradually fading.
Growth Potential Unlocked – Level-up process complete. Core absorption has accelerated rune mastery development.
Instability Detected– Unusual energy fluctuations recorded during absorption. Signs of increasing elemental interaction—further control needed.