章節 38: 38 - Blue Dragon Scales
After some time waiting, the Guild receptionist returned and said, "He is waiting in his office. Allow me to escort you there."
Rygar followed her deeper into the Guild's building.
"He is in this room. You may enter." She bowed and left.
The office of the Adventurer Guild branch leader was spacious yet simply decorated. Books and scrolls lined the shelves, while a detailed map of the region covered the main wall. Behind a sturdy desk, the leader, a tall bearded man, gazed at Rygar with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. He gestured toward the chair in front of the desk and said:
"Who would've thought that the leader of the Iron Legion would be just a boy barely entering adolescence?"
Rygar sat calmly, showing no emotion. He was used to being underestimated, though the comment still mildly annoyed him. After all, he was nearly 140 centimeters tall, which made him look older than his nine years. However, he didn't bother correcting the man.
"I'll get straight to the point," Rygar said, his voice calm but firm. "I want the Adventurer Guild to grant me an S-rank classification, along with five S-rank classifications for the core members of the Iron Legion. I also expect certain benefits when it comes to mission selection."
The leader raised an eyebrow, surprised by the bold request. Crossing his arms, he replied:
"Unfortunately, it's not that simple. There are rules to follow. It wouldn't be fair to other adventurers if we just handed you all S-rank classifications. High rankings require a proven record of successful missions. These missions are also a way for us to evaluate adventurers. We have a code of conduct here and can't allow just anyone to reach S-rank."
Rygar remained impassive.
"I don't think it's wise for you to refuse this proposal," he said, leaning slightly forward. "You've probably done your research on me as soon as I entered the city, but let me be clear. I'm only nine years old and already a King-tier Earth and Wind Mage, as well as a Sword Saint. The Iron Legion is constantly training and systematically growing stronger—physically, economically, and politically. Soon, it will be a force recognized worldwide. I can guarantee that. What I can't guarantee is that you'll have the advantage of supporting us while we're still in our early stages."
The leader narrowed his eyes but didn't interrupt. Rygar continued:
"Moreover, granting these classifications would benefit the Guild. With the reputation the Legion will have in the future, there will be a significant influx of high-level adventurers through the Legion, boosting public trust in the Guild and attracting more mission requests."
The man rested his elbows on the desk, stroking his beard thoughtfully. Before he could speak, Rygar concluded, releasing a faint magical pressure into the room:
"And, of course, I'd strongly recommend you accept. I'm still somewhat displeased with the reception I received upon arriving here."
The pressure in the air wasn't suffocating, but it was enough to make the leader uncomfortable. He took a deep breath before hesitantly responding:
"I… can grant you the S-rank, but only for you. As for the other five, I can offer A-rank classifications on one condition. They'll need to complete specific missions to justify their promotions. Otherwise, it would be impossible to make it official, as even I cannot bypass the rules."
Rygar tilted his head slightly, as if considering the proposal. In truth, he already knew his request was bold, but that's how negotiations worked, and he had the advantage of his strength. Pushing the limits was part of the strategy. Securing five A-rank positions for his members was a win, as his primary goal had always been obtaining his S-rank.
"Very well. I'll send the members in question to speak with you later. What mission would I need to complete?"
The leader sighed in relief, visibly relaxing as Rygar agreed. He pulled a scroll from the cabinet behind him.
"This is a material hunting mission, but it's been gathering dust here for quite some time. A noble requested blue dragon scales to forge a flashy armor. The scales can only be obtained in the Blue Dragon Range, an extremely dangerous region, which is why it remains incomplete. The reward is quite good, though. I recommend taking a group."
Rygar quickly read through the scroll, analyzing the details. Internally, he felt satisfied. He was already planning a trip to the Dwarven territories, and with this mission, he could combine his goals.
"Perfect. I'll accept this mission."
The conversation became more relaxed after the two established an initial cooperation. They discussed future collaborations, such as sending members of the Legion to guild branches in other parts of the continent with fewer adventurers, strengthening the guild's presence while Rygar expanded the influence of his organization. Both recognized the potential for a mutually beneficial partnership.
When Rygar finally left the guild, he looked at the new adventurer card he had received. His name gleamed with the S rank beside it. He couldn't help but feel a slight sense of pride. This was just another step toward consolidating his position in the world.
Name: Rygar Adoldia
Gender: Male
Race: Beast Race
Age: 9 years
Job: Magic Swordsman
Rank: S
Group: Iron Legion
With a faint smile on his face, he tucked the card away and walked back to the barracks, already thinking about how to inform the selected members of the Legion about their future rankings and the new mission awaiting them.
---
The sound of heavy footsteps and labored breathing echoed through the clearing. Skoll, the massive ebony-colored wolf, charged with ferocity, his coat shimmering in the sunlight. Though he was already the size of a horse, he was still just a pup—ebony wolves seemed to grow very large. His eyes shone with determination as he tried to bite Rygar, who moved with superhuman agility.
Around them, Taes, Kidar, Eidar, Joseph, and five other members of the Iron Legion encircled Rygar, coordinating their attacks. It was an uneven battle: ten against one, with Rygar limiting himself to auxiliary magic, relying on his sword, monstrous strength, and extraordinary senses and combat instincts. Yet the difficulty of the match was evident.
Kidar was the first to strike, his enormous sword roaring as it cut through the air. He aimed a direct blow at Rygar's side, who parried with his blade. The earth around them immediately shifted into spikes, but Rygar sidestepped using Flash Step, vanishing momentarily and reappearing several meters to the left. Before he could catch his breath, Skoll was already on his heels, his claws tearing through the ground.
With a swift spell, Rygar used Earth Manipulation to raise a rock barrier between himself and the wolf, but Skoll shattered it with brute strength, leaping at him. Rygar spun his azure sword with precision, deflecting the attack and creating a gust of wind that forced Skoll to retreat.
"Nice try, kid." Rygar smiled, even as he analyzed the movements of the group around him.
Eidar then took the lead, engaging in close combat, his Water God style evident in his fluid movements and counterattacks. He advanced with a series of rapid strikes, exploiting the gaps created by Taes and Joseph. Taes, with his fire-imbued sword, used earth and wind spells to create distractions, while Joseph alternated between the ferocity of the Sword God style and the versatility of the North God style, switching between quick attacks and weapon throws.
Rygar blocked Eidar's strikes with impressive ease but had to manipulate the surrounding earth again to deflect Taes's magical barrages. Joseph seized the opportunity to attempt a strike from behind, but Rygar was already prepared.
He vanished again with Flash Step, reappearing behind Joseph and knocking him down with a punch to the ribs, sending him flying. The combat unfolded at breakneck speed, with the clearing constantly reshaped and destroyed by the impacts.
Joseph retreated, groaning.
Skoll took advantage of the distraction to lunge at Rygar from the side, his enormous jaws aiming for the azure sword. Rygar moved swiftly, dodging and channeling touki to enhance his strength. He then delivered a flying kick to the giant wolf, sending it sprawling.
Kidar shouted as he swung his massive sword in a powerful attack. At the same time, Eidar re-engaged Rygar in close combat, while Taes, from the opposite flank, unleashed supercharged fire and wind spells at Rygar. The coordinated combination forced Rygar to fight on multiple fronts.
Rygar retreated a few meters, blocking Kidar's blade with his own and using Flow to cut through Taes's combined magic with a vertical slash, splitting the fiery wave. In a fluid motion, he dodged Eidar's strike and created a shockwave by spinning his sword, knocking down two of the weaker members of the group.
The battle continued at a stalemate for a while—shockwaves, explosions, clashing blades, and the destruction of trees filled the forest. Whenever Rygar was about to take someone out, Taes would save them with some creative use of magic or face him head-on with his sword.
"You're improving," Rygar noted, deciding to end it for today.
With an explosive leap, Rygar soared above the field, landing directly in front of Taes. Before he could react, Rygar struck the ground with force, using Earth Magic to create tremors and cracks that unbalanced the entire group. Skoll tried to intercept him, but Rygar leapt again, slamming his sword into the ground to create another shockwave.
What followed was a swift and relentless hunt of the disoriented group.
When the dust finally settled, only Rygar was left standing.
Rygar spun the blue sword, brushing off the dust from its blade, before turning to Taes, who was still kneeling, catching his breath and healing himself.
"An adventurer told me something about the North God Style at the Saint level and beyond the other day," Rygar began. "It requires the use of any tricks or methods necessary to win. And you utilized that very well today."
Taes lifted his head, still panting heavily.
"Even though you're still lacking in terms of physical strength and touki," Rygar paused, observing the young man. "However, overall, your battle strength has already reached the level of a Saint."
Taes's eyes widened in surprise.
"I can't officially name you as such, but you can already consider yourself a Saint of the North, Taes."
For a moment, the young man remained silent, trying to process what he'd just heard. Then, a wide smile spread across his face.
"Thank you, Chief! I… I won't let you down!"
Taes had always worked hard to reach this point. As a child, he'd trained tirelessly to defeat and surpass Rygar. But during the attacks of slave merchants on the tribe, his perspective began to shift. He realized it might not be such a bad idea to follow Rygar, and time had proven his decision right.
He had often worried his strength was falling behind. His leader improved so quickly that Taes feared his own abilities would become obsolete. This drove him to never relax in his training, copying Rygar's methods and developing various magical combat techniques. Today's event was a major step in the right direction. He was confident he was no longer a burden and felt genuinely happy.
Rygar nodded slightly, maintaining his calm demeanor.
Taes returned the gesture, still wearing his radiant smile.
"But don't get complacent. You only reached this level through magical tactics. Without those, you're still at the Advanced level."
"Understood!" Taes replied, his enthusiasm unwavering.
Rygar then said his goodbyes to the rest of the group and left the clearing. As he reached the edge of the training grounds, he spotted Peikak waiting for him, looking eager to talk.
Rygar walked along the trail leading back to the headquarters of the Iron Legion, listening to Peikak beside him. The logistical commander was deep in thought, discussing the steady growth of the Legion and some important decisions that needed to be made.
Peikak asked about all sorts of matters—new recruits applying to join, trade agreements, training methods, and plans for future outposts. Rygar knew that if he were to manage the Iron Legion alone, the work would never end. That's why he instructed Peikak to only bring him the most critical issues.
"Milis has also shown no signs of interference or hostility so far."
Peikak glanced at Rygar with an approving expression.
"It seems your strength is a greater deterrent than we anticipated. This gives us room to operate with more peace of mind."
Rygar nodded. For now, things seemed to be under control. He could proceed with his plans to travel to the Dwarven territories without significant concerns. It had been over a month since the Iron Legion established itself in the region, and the base was more solid than he had expected. Even so, something continued to trouble him.
"The Joylore House is also quiet. Too quiet. They must have learned by now that I'm Verdia's student. I was expecting a stronger reaction," he said, frowning as his unease became evident.
Peikak snorted.
"Maybe they've backed off after the last Saint you killed in the Great Forest. Or they're planning something big."
Rygar didn't respond immediately, his thoughts drifting over the possibilities. Another matter, however, had been occupying his attention more frequently: the mating season had started again, and it was creating complications.
He let out a soft sigh as he recalled the behavior of the Legion over the past few weeks.
Taes was already involved with Lisa, one of the slaves who had joined the Iron Legion after being rescued, and he seemed to handle the situation well. But for Rygar, things were different. Almost all the single beast-women in the Legion were trying to seduce him in every way imaginable. Even some who were still children, were attempting to impress him with glances or small gestures.
No matter how much he tried to stay calm, Rygar couldn't ignore the growing strength of his instincts. He was only nine years old, but the blood of his race already coursed through his veins with intensity, and controlling himself was becoming increasingly difficult.
He still had enough self-discipline, but he knew this control wouldn't last forever. More importantly, he wasn't entirely opposed to the idea. Some of the women in the Legion genuinely attracted him, and denying that would be a lie.
Still, two things kept him cautious. First, he was too young. The little Rygar still hadn't grown much, so he preferred to wait a bit longer. Second, there was the risk of losing control to his instincts during sex. Having a child impulsively wasn't part of his plans for the next few years.
"I'll just hold myself back… for now," he thought.
When he finally arrived at the Legion's headquarters, his gaze was immediately drawn to several beast-women watching him. Some smiled openly, while others cast furtive glances. Rygar took a deep breath, crossing the gate with firm steps, as a faint, mischievous smile formed on his face.
His journey was just beginning, and every step brought him closer to his destiny—and to challenges that only continued to grow.
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DaoistJunkYard
DaoistJunkYard Writing a chapter a day, working, and studying is taking up a lot of time, maybe at the end of the year I'll just do 1 chapter every 2 or 3 days, guys.
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