The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the village. The once-quiet training grounds now echoed with the clash of wooden swords, the sharp hum of mana techniques, and the occasional grunt of effort.
Two years had passed since Hiroshi and Kaito began their training under Ryoji Kasama. What had once been the fumbling steps of beginners had now evolved into the disciplined strikes of trained warriors.
Hiroshi wiped the sweat from his brow, breathing steadily. His body had become far stronger, and his movements now carried precision and purpose. He glanced at Kaito, who was standing across from him, his hands crackling with tiny sparks of lightning.
"You’ve improved," Kaito said with a grin. "Not bad, Hiroshi."
Hiroshi smirked. "You too. You don’t just zap yourself anymore."
Kaito’s grin vanished instantly. "Hey, that only happened a few times!"
Their friendly banter was interrupted by a deep chuckle. Ryoji Kasama stood nearby, arms crossed, watching them with an approving nod. "You two have come a long way," he said. "Your mana control is solid, your combat instincts are sharper, and you’ve both reached a level that would put you on par with a Grade C mage."
Hiroshi and Kaito shared a look. Grade C. It was a huge leap from where they had started, but compared to the true powerhouses of this world, they were still just stepping onto the battlefield.
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Understanding the World
Over the past two years, they had learned not just how to fight, but also how the world functioned. Mana was the foundation of everything. Those who could harness it were divided into different Grades, starting from the weakest at Grade F and rising all the way to the legendary Grade S.
But power alone wasn’t enough.
The world was filled with creatures far beyond human comprehension—Mana Beasts.
Mana Beast Rankings:
Low-Grade Beasts – Common creatures that were dangerous to ordinary people but manageable for trained fighters.
Numbered Grade Beasts – Special beasts classified from Grade 5 to Grade 1, each significantly more powerful than the last.
Grade 1 Beast: The Black Unicorn – The pinnacle of existence. Unlike the other mana beasts, which varied in numbers, the Black Unicorn was a unique entity. Only one had ever existed, and no one had ever slain one.
Even the Six Strongest Warriors of the World refused to challenge it.
A legend surrounded the creature, a warning passed down through generations:
"Don’t ever try to approach or even think about it. If you do, you die in a millisecond."
Even hearing those words sent a shiver down Hiroshi’s spine.
"To think that something like that exists," he muttered one evening as he and Kaito sat by a campfire, discussing their training.
"Yeah," Kaito said, tossing a small spark of lightning into the fire. "But you know… I kinda want to see it one day."
Hiroshi stared at him. "Did you not hear the part where even thinking about it can get you killed?"
Kaito laughed. "I didn’t say I’d fight it! I just wanna see it. From a safe distance."
"With your luck, you’d sneeze, and it’d notice you."
Kaito groaned. "Come on, have a little faith in me."
Hiroshi chuckled but stayed silent. The world was much bigger and more dangerous than he had ever imagined.
Growth and the Road Ahead
Despite their progress, they knew they still had a long way to go. The warriors they had trained under—Ryoji, Maito—were strong, but even they weren’t among the legendary elite.
The Six Strongest Warriors were on another level entirely, individuals who had achieved near-godlike mastery over their elements. But even they feared what lay beyond Grade 1.
Hiroshi clenched his fists. One day, he would stand on the same battlefield as them.
But for now…
Ryoji’s voice snapped them out of their thoughts. "Your basic training is done. From now on, you’re no longer just students—you’re warriors. It’s time for you to see the world with your own eyes."
Hiroshi and Kaito’s eyes widened.
They were finally leaving the village.
