บท 27: First Quest

Alex walked along the uneven dirt path, the folded quest parchment resting in his pocket. The morning sun was warm on his back, but the southern outskirts of the city carried a stark contrast to its lively streets. The open fields ahead were quiet—too quiet. Farmers worked silently, their heads down, glancing around nervously every few minutes. It didn't take a genius to figure out why.

As he approached a weathered farmer leaning against a broken fence, the man gave him a wary look. "You with the guild?" he asked, his voice rough.

Alex nodded, pulling the parchment from his pocket and holding it up. "Yeah, I'm here for the razor hounds."

The farmer squinted at him, then at his plain clothes. "Hounds've been prowling just past this ridge," the man said, pointing to the rolling hills beyond. "Lost a few sheep last night. They're quick and hunt in packs. Careful out there."

"Thanks," Alex replied curtly, tucking the parchment away. He followed the path the man had indicated, cresting the ridge where the hills stretched wide, dotted with patches of grass and shrubs. The quiet unease that hung in the air was heavy, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves carried on the wind.

He stopped, crouching low as his eyes scanned the area. A small movement caught his attention—a flash of fur weaving through the brush. His jaw tightened.

The razor hounds were there, just as the farmer had said. Four of them.

The beasts were lean, with sharp, wiry fur and long, curved teeth that glinted faintly in the light. They moved with practiced ease, their bodies low to the ground as they stalked an unseen target near a cluster of grazing sheep.

Alex crouched low on the crest of the ridge, letting the wind flow around him as he surveyed the open fields below. The air carried the faint rustle of grass and the occasional bleat of sheep, but beneath those soft sounds was something sharper. His Wind Sense sharpened the world within a 20-meter radius, painting invisible impressions of movement and life around him.

Four razor hounds stalked the fields near a broken fence, their wiry forms low to the ground as they prowled toward a small flock of sheep. Their fur glinted in the sunlight, sharp and bristly like the edges of a blade. Alex frowned, his pulse steadying as he mapped their positions. The lead hound was closer to the flock, while the others hung back, waiting for the right moment to strike.

His fingers twitched as he extended his hand, forming the familiar gun shape with his fingers. Wind Gun. The magic was born from a sudden inspiration during his breakthrough—an idea to focus and condense his wind mana into small, deadly projectiles.

The process was delicate. Alex drew on his mana core, letting its energy flow into his fingertips. The air swirled rapidly, compressing into a dense, invisible bullet. The trick was control. If he lost focus, the wind would scatter, wasting the mana. But if he succeeded, the result was a projectile capable of piercing through flesh with surgical precision.

He aimed at the lead hound, his thumb flicking down like pulling the hammer of a pistol.

Crack!

The air bullet streaked through the field, striking the hound in the side of the head. The beast crumpled instantly, its body tumbling forward before going still. The sharp sound of the shot echoed across the fields, alerting the remaining hounds.

They froze for a split second before reacting, their growls low and menacing as they turned toward Alex. The largest of the group let out a bark, and the pack charged together.

Alex gritted his teeth, springing to his feet. His Wind Sense buzzed as he tracked their movements, the air vibrating with their speed. They were fast, faster than he'd anticipated, but he was ready.

He fired again, the wind bullet tearing through the chest of the closest hound. It yelped and collapsed mid-sprint, but the other two didn't slow. One darted left while the other lunged straight at him, its jagged teeth snapping.

Alex jumped back, the beast's claws swiping inches from his chest. He landed with a roll, twisting as he fired another bullet. The projectile struck the hound in the neck, cutting its growl short as it fell.

The last one circled him warily, its growl rumbling like distant thunder. Alex steadied his breathing, mana pulsing faintly in his fingertips. He couldn't afford to waste shots now. The beast charged, zigzagging to throw him off, but his Wind Sense kept it pinned in his awareness.

He sidestepped at the last second, his hand snapping up as he fired point-blank. The air bullet punched through its side, and it crumpled with a final whimper.

Alex exhaled sharply, letting the tension bleed from his shoulders. He crouched by the fallen hounds, prying free their claws as proof. The air stilled around him, his senses quieting.

"Four down," he muttered, standing and glancing back toward the ridge. The job was simple enough, and he felt no rush to return. But as he pocketed the claws, a faint vibration prickled in the air—something heavier, sharper than before.

His head snapped up, his Wind Sense flaring as the new presence came into focus. It wasn't just one ripple. Multiple razor hounds emerged from the far side of the field, their growls like a chorus of menace. Alex counted six.

"Forget my bad luck; but it's okay now. I'm stronger than before, so this is easy for me."

The first two hounds rushed him together, their movements more coordinated than the last group. Alex sprinted forward to meet them, the wind whipping around him. He fired twice in quick succession, the bullets striking true and sending the beasts tumbling to the ground.

The remaining four circled him, their eyes gleaming with intelligence. One lunged at his side while another charged head-on. Alex ducked, sliding low to the ground as he fired upward. The bullet caught the charging hound mid-air, blasting it back with a yelp. He rolled to his feet, pivoting as the other beast closed in.

He leaped back, twisting mid-air as he aimed downward. The wind bullet fired cleanly, striking the hound's spine and dropping it instantly. The final two hesitated, their growls faltering. Alex took a slow step forward, his hand raised, daring them to move.

They didn't. With sharp barks, they turned and bolted, disappearing into the hills.

Alex lowered his hand, his breathing steady. The air buzzed faintly with his remaining mana, but he felt the strain creeping in. His core was strong, but this was his first real fight since the breakthrough, and the effort was adding up.

He turned to gather more claws, crouching by the fallen beasts. As he pried the last one loose, the wind shifted again—this time sharper, heavier.

Alex froze. His Wind Sense screamed with the weight of the presence approaching. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as a massive figure emerged from the hills.

It was another razor hound, but this one dwarfed the others. Its bristled fur gleamed like steel, and its teeth curved like jagged blades. The beast's red eyes locked onto Alex, its growl low and guttural.

"A Rank 2," Alex muttered, his jaw tightening.