Sael and Rhea stepped through the gates of town, their packs weighed down with gathered materials and newly acquired weapons. The setting sun cast long shadows across the bustling streets as they made their way toward the Adventurers' Guild. Their immediate goal was clear—finding a teacher for earth magic to help set their trap.

  Inside the guild hall, the usual mix of mercenaries, hunters, and traders filled the space with lively chatter. Sael approached the request board, scanning it briefly before turning to the receptionist. "We're looking for a magic tutor, specifically someone skilled in earth magic."

  The receptionist, a sharp-eyed elf, nodded. "We do have a registered tutor who specializes in elemental magic. Her name is Lyra. You’ll usually find her at the study hall upstairs or out in the training fields. Would you like me to send word?"

  "That’d be great."

  A short while later, a soft-spoken voice addressed them. "You were looking for a tutor?"

  Sael turned to find a woman standing before them—a mothfolk, with delicate wings folded against her back. Pale, luminescent skin contrasted with the soft white fur that covered parts of her arms and shoulders. Her large, deep purple eyes shimmered with an otherworldly glow, framed by long white hair that fell past her waist. Two feathery antennae twitched slightly as she studied them, curiosity evident in her expression.

  "You're Lyra?" Sael asked.

  She nodded. "I am. You wish to learn earth magic?"

  "Yeah. I need to be able to move a lot of earth efficiently," he explained. "For a hunting expedition."

  Lyra considered this for a moment, glancing at Rhea, before smiling gently. "Then let’s step outside the town walls. It will be easier to practice where we won’t disturb anyone."

  They followed her to an open field beyond the outskirts. The terrain was rugged, patches of dry grass and scattered stones marking the landscape. Lyra moved with an unhurried grace, her wings barely shifting with each step. Once they reached a suitable spot, she turned to Sael.

  "Earth magic requires patience and understanding of the land beneath you," she began. "It is not just about force but about knowing how to guide the earth’s weight." Before they began the training, Lyra tilted her head slightly, her antennae twitching. "I appreciate your interest in learning earth magic, but I do require compensation for my time," she said softly, her large purple eyes flickering with curiosity.

  Rhea reached for her pouch. "We can pay in gold," she offered without hesitation.

  Sael, however, considered other options. "I can also offer crafted equipment or materials," he said, pulling a mana crystal from his inventory. "We found these in a cave—raw crystals with residual mana."

  Lyra’s gaze locked onto the crystal, her luminescent skin pulsing faintly in interest. "Mana-infused minerals?" She stepped closer, her delicate fingers brushing over the surface of the stone. "These could be refined… used in enchantments." Her attention then shifted to Sael’s gear. "And you make equipment as well?"

  Sael nodded. "I do a lot of crafting—weaponry, armor, tools."

  Lyra gave a thoughtful hum, her wings fluttering briefly. "I accept," she said. "One mana crystal, and perhaps… a crafted item of my choice later?"

  Sael exchanged a glance with Rhea, who shrugged. "Sounds fair to me."

  "Agreed," he said, handing over the crystal. "Let’s start with the fundamentals."

  For the next few hours, Sael practiced under Lyra’s careful instruction. She demonstrated how to shift soil, displace rocks, and reinforce surfaces. His first attempts were clumsy, small patches of dirt barely responding to his will. But under Lyra’s watchful eye, he gradually began to feel the subtle pull of magic beneath his feet, the way the earth resisted and yielded in equal measure.

  Rhea observed from the side, occasionally chiming in with her own thoughts. Lyra, intrigued by their gear, gestured toward Rhea's crafted bow and Mirage Vest. "These are finely crafted. Did you make them yourself?"

  Sael wiped sweat from his brow and nodded. "Yeah, I’ve been working on improving my crafting skills. Materials from our hunts have been a huge help."

  Lyra’s eyes lit up with interest. "That is a wonderful way to grow stronger. Magic and craftsmanship are not so different—both require an understanding of the materials you shape. If you continue refining both, you may find ways to combine them in unexpected ways."

  The discussion continued as the training went on, with Lyra offering insights not only into magic but also into the potential for weaving magical properties into crafted items. By the time the session ended, Sael could move a significant amount of earth in controlled bursts, though the effort left him drained.

  As they prepared to head back to town, Lyra gave a small nod of approval. "You have potential. With more training, you’ll refine your control. If you ever need further guidance, I will be here."

  Sael and Rhea exchanged a glance, both pleased with the day’s progress. With another skill under his belt, they were one step closer to preparing for the hunt ahead.

  System Message: Skill Update

  New Skill Acquired: Earth Magic (Lv.1) – Allows basic manipulation of soil, stone, and terrain. Efficiency increases with practice.

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  Skill Level Up: Earth Magic → Lv.2 – Improved control over shifting terrain. Can displace larger amounts of earth with reduced effort.

  Skill Level Up: Shadow Magic → Lv.2 – Increased proficiency in manipulating darkness and illusions. Mana cost slightly reduced.

  Skill Level Up: Novice Crafting → Lv.7 – Greater efficiency in crafting basic equipment. Minor quality improvement in created items.

  Skill Level Up: Monster Crafting → Lv.2 – Enhanced ability to utilize monster parts for specialized equipment. Increased durability and effect of crafted items.

  Sael and Rhea returned to town, the weight of their training and new skills settling in as they booked a room at the tavern for the night. Once inside, with the door shut and the noise of the streets muffled, Sael sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out the spiraling blue sword they had recovered from the cave. He ran his fingers over the mithril blade, its craftsmanship intricate, the dark green handle fitting comfortably in his grip.

  “This sword,” he muttered, his thoughts turning over the oddity of finding such a weapon just lying in the depths of a cave. “These kinds of things—why do they just… show up? It’s not the first time I’ve come across something valuable in a cave.”

  Rhea, lounging in a chair near the window, glanced at him with a knowing expression. “That’s just how it is,” she said. “Some things are left behind by others—maybe as a memento. Other times, it feels like the world itself puts them there, like a reward for those willing to venture into danger. And sometimes… people just don’t make it back with what they find, adventuring is dangerous after all.”

  Sael considered her words, gripping the sword a little tighter. It made sense in a way. This world was full of dangers, and not everyone who set out on a journey returned. The first thing he found was so tucked away, and on a fallen adventurer after all. Whatever the truth was, he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. With their preparations underway, they were almost to face the behemoth.

  Sael and Rhea returned to the Mana-Touched Behemoth’s territory, the dense forest brimming with tension as they began their preparations. The air carried a faint, charged hum, a constant reminder of the massive creature that roamed these lands. Sael knelt near the edge of a clearing, pulling thick strands of spider silk from his inventory. The silk gleamed faintly in the dim light, strong and flexible—perfect for crafting.

  "We’ll need a lot of these nets to make this work," Sael said, his voice steady but focused. He worked quickly, weaving the silk into sturdy, wide nets. His fingers moved with practiced precision, the crafting system assisting as he shaped the materials. One by one, the nets began to take form, each large enough to entangle a creature far larger than a man.

  System Message: Crafting Complete

  Crafted Item: Reinforced Spider Silk Net x5 – Highly durable and capable of restraining large creatures. Can be anchored to trees or other sturdy structures.

  Rhea paced nearby, her ears flicking as she kept a watchful eye on the surrounding forest. "How many do you think we’ll need?"

  "The more, the better. But five should give us a decent chance."

  With the nets completed, Sael moved to the next part of their plan. He surveyed the edge of the behemoth’s hunting grounds, selecting a spot where the terrain naturally dipped. Using his newly-learned earth magic, he began to shift and displace the soil, carving out a massive pit. The process was grueling, each movement of earth taxing his mana reserves. Sweat dripped down his face as he concentrated, the strain leaving him lightheaded by the time the pit was complete.

  "That’ll do," he said, stepping back to inspect his work. The pit was deep and wide enough to trap even the behemoth, its sides steep and loose to prevent escape.

  Rhea helped anchor the spider silk nets above the pit, tying them to the thick branches of the canopy. The setup created a layered trap: the behemoth would crash through the nets and fall straight into the pit below. Sael added a few finishing touches, securing the nets with additional supports to ensure they held under the creature’s immense weight.

  Once everything was in place, Sael handed Rhea three of the grenades he’d crafted earlier. The chitin shells glinted in the dappled sunlight, their explosive payloads packed tightly with gel and shrapnel.

  "These should help us weaken it once it’s in the trap," he said. "Aim for the center of the pit."

  Rhea nodded, slipping the grenades into her pouch. "Got it. Let’s hope this plan works."

  The two of them moved into position, Sael summoning his shadow magic to mask their movements as they approached the Mana-Touched Behemoth. The creature loomed in the distance, its massive form shimmering faintly with arcs of mana. It moved with a lumbering grace, each step shaking the ground. Sael swallowed hard, the sight of the beast sending a chill down his spine.

  "Ready?" he whispered.

  Rhea’s eyes narrowed, her claws flexing. "Ready."

  They began their assault, Rhea darting forward to slash at the creature’s legs while Sael launched bursts of shadow magic to blind its eyes. The behemoth roared, its mana flaring as it swung its massive limbs, but the pair stayed just out of reach, their movements coordinated and precise.

  They sprinted away luring the creature toward the trap. The behemoth’s rage grew, its steps growing more frantic as it charged after them. At the last moment, Sael and Rhea broke off, running to safety as the behemoth crashed through the nets. The silk strained but held, tangling its massive frame before giving way and sending it plummeting into the pit below.

  The ground shook with the impact, dust and debris flying into the air. Sael didn’t waste a second. "Now!" he shouted, pulling the first grenade from his belt. He hurled it into the pit, the explosive detonating with a deafening roar. Shrapnel tore into the behemoth’s flesh, its agonized roars echoing through the forest.

  Rhea followed suit, throwing her grenades with deadly precision. Each explosion sent more shrapnel ripping through the creature, weakening it further. Smoke and the stench of burned flesh filled the air as the behemoth thrashed, its movements growing weaker with each passing moment.

  Sael prepared himself summoning his exo-suit. The hum of the suit’s mechanics filled the air, and the cannon mounted on his arm began to glow with stored energy.

  The Mana-Touched Behemoth let out a guttural roar, dragging its massive frame out of the pit despite its grievous injuries. Its sheer resilience was terrifying, but Sael steadied his breathing, locking onto the target.

  Sael aimed the suit's cannon at the creature's torso. "Firing!" he yelled.

  A pulse of concentrated energy erupted from the cannon, slamming into the behemoth and leaving a smoking crater in its thick hide. The creature roared in pain, stumbling as its movements grew increasingly sluggish. Sael fired again and again, each shot carving deep holes into the behemoth’s flesh.

  The forest trembled with the force of the blasts, and the behemoth finally let out a final, pained bellow before collapsing to the ground, its massive body shuddering one last time before going still.

  "We did it," Sael said, his voice tinged with disbelief. He collapsed to one knee, the strain of the fight and his magic finally catching up to him.

  Rhea placed a hand on his shoulder, a small smile breaking through her usual stoic demeanor. "Yeah. We did."

  The two of them stared down at the fallen behemoth, the weight of their victory sinking in. Sael activated the system and began collecting materials, starting with the behemoth’s mana-infused hide and the thick plates of its armor.

  System Message: Loot Acquired – Mana-Touched Behemoth Materials Collected

  As they worked, Sael’s mind was already racing with ideas for crafting. He couldn’t help but grin, imagining what powerful tools and weapons could come from the spoils of this battle. Now, all that remained was to return to town and celebrate victory.