Anomaly in the Zairan Forest
From the moment he became aware of the existence of Absorption and Release, Bagan had been able to use them instinctively. The same was true for the Blessing of Flame. The instant he recognized its presence, he simply understood how to activate it.
It operated like a switch. Once turned on, it would continue running until he deliberately shut it off. Since Barret had been a mage, one might assume the Blessing of Flame was restricted to mages alone. But that wasn’t the case.
‘It’s practically universal.’
Even for a warrior-type character, the trait wasn’t useless. Radiating intense heat around oneself or infusing attacks with flames offered tremendous advantages. It also dramatically increased resistance to fire-based attacks when defending.
For Bagan, who currently couldn’t use mana for certain reasons, it was an incredibly welcome ability.
He channeled the fire attribute gained from the Blessing of Flame into his fist and released it.
Sizzle.
‘Fire Fist.’
The image of the pirate whose chest he had burned through flashed in his mind, but there was no denying its power.
Gion watched him without a hint of surprise and spoke calmly.
"I'll see for myself just how hot-blooded you really are."
"If it gets too hot, you can always give up," Bagan replied.
With those words, he moved immediately.
Swish, swish, swish!
Wherever Bagan passed, scorched black marks were left behind. He was releasing flames from the soles of his feet to propel himself forward. The technique allowed for smoother movement than simple kinetic release.
Whoosh!
He first circled around Gion, enveloping him in flames. He was curious whether the guildmaster could defend himself even while surrounded by roaring fire.
Yet Gion remained completely composed. Even as the flames surged as if ready to swallow him whole, he continued his assessment of Bagan without pause.
"If you truly possess a blessing, it makes sense that you carry yourself with such confidence."
People referred to traits as blessings. While those who possessed them weren’t extremely common, they weren’t as rare as stars in the daylight either. That was one of the reasons Gion wasn’t particularly shocked.
Besides, whether or not someone had a blessing didn’t hold much importance in Gion’s eyes. He valued fundamentals far more than special powers.
Bagan agreed with that philosophy. Blessings, or traits, certainly influenced growth and strength, but the most crucial factor was the fundamental ability to fight. Because of that, many renowned powerhouses lacked blessings, while plenty of people with blessings never reached the level of true masters.
Gion himself fell somewhere in that ambiguous middle ground.
"You're not the only one with a blessing."
Piiing!
Gion’s trait was Intimidation (B). Compared to Bagan’s Absorption and Release, it was a rather plain B-rank ability. However, when backed by his massive physique and skill, it approached A-rank in effectiveness. As long as the target remained within the realm of living beings, its influence was unavoidable.
A wave of overwhelming pressure swept across the training ground.
Bagan couldn’t escape its effects. He didn’t freeze like he had during the Dragon Words, but his speed dropped and the intensity of his flames weakened.
"This fight would end with a single solid hit. Don’t you think using your blessing is a bit unfair?"
His tone sounded aggrieved, but in reality, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. The situation had shifted from an exam into a spar, and he didn’t mind it one bit.
By now, Gion must have realized it too — that Bagan could land a clean blow on him whenever he wanted. That realization made Gion’s eyebrow twitch.
"You’re barely affected by my Intimidation. At this point, I’m starting to question who you really are. Well then… I suppose I should cool that heated body of yours."
The idea of simply landing a hit had long been forgotten. Gion, who had been standing tall and waiting for his opponent to attack, now gripped his spear firmly and took a proper stance.
Bagan kicked off the ground and charged.
Thud!
The propulsion from his flames worked even in midair. Adding rotational force with a spin, he delivered a blazing kick.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Gion blocked it with his spear and attempted a counter. Bagan threw a punch at his face to disrupt the attack.
But—
"I’ll give you credit for making me move. However, you’re still lacking in experience."
Crack!
Gion simply turned his head to effortlessly dodge Bagan’s punch and thrust his spear forward in the same motion. The attack was precise and blindingly fast. The sheer speed created a slight shockwave as it pierced the air.
Bagan realized he couldn’t dodge it completely, so he absorbed the impact from the point of contact. Fortunately, the spear was a practice model without a blade, making it possible.
He took several steps back and spoke.
"You’re attacking now?"
"I was testing you."
"The meaning of this test seems to have changed quite a bit."
Despite their words, both men wore pleasant expressions. For Bagan, this was a special event. For Gion, it was the thrill of meeting a worthy opponent after a long time.
"Shall we wrap this up now?"
"What, you still have energy to spare? Looks like I went too easy on you."
Trading verbal jabs as part of the spar, the two clashed once more. This time, Bagan mixed shockwaves into his attacks, intending to land a real blow. It was the same technique he had absorbed from Gion earlier.
Boom!
Gion was now forced to dodge more often than block. The continuous explosions of shockwaves clearly rattled him.
"What a ridiculous monster you are."
Clang!
Gion’s spear collided with Bagan’s shockwave-infused fist. Gion was slightly knocked back but quickly recovered, swinging his spear to block the next strike.
Fwoosh!!
This time, instead of a shockwave, it was flames.
"That should be enough to make you sweat."
Gion wanted to remain relaxed, but Bagan’s irregular patterns were proving extremely difficult to handle. He couldn’t help but regret that he wasn’t using his personal spear. The practice weapon was clearly reaching its limit, screaming under the strain.
The solution Gion came up with was something that would be completely unreasonable if this were still an official test — but perfectly acceptable in a spar.
"Martial Technique! Morning Hunt!"
Swoosh!
Gion’s body dropped low before shooting forward at a speed too fast for the eye to follow. It felt as if his entire body had become a spear.
‘He’s really going all out?’
Caught off guard by the sudden use of a martial technique, Bagan used Release to fling himself sideways with maximum force. Morning Hunt was a thrust-based technique, and dodging to the side was the best counter.
As a result, the martial technique sliced through empty air.
Martial techniques were skills manifested through aura, which was stored throughout the body rather than concentrated in the heart. They appeared only after rigorous physical training. Since every powerhouse had their own unique set of techniques, they were incredibly versatile.
Bagan rose from his evasive roll and looked at Gion. The guildmaster still hadn’t recovered from his extended thrust stance, spear gripped tightly. The fact that his eyes never left Bagan even in that position was intimidating. The look of genuine surprise that Bagan had actually dodged was an added bonus.
Since things had come to this, Bagan decided to use the opportunity to land a hit.
He gauged the distance and shot toward Gion’s flank like a bullet.
Bang!
He used Release to amplify both power and speed. Gion, who had only just begun recovering his stance, was forced to take a defenseless blocking posture. Without turning his torso, he positioned only his arms and spear in the path of the incoming kick.
It might have been enough to block. After all, a strong lower body was necessary to withstand heavy blows.
‘I was counting on that.’
All Bagan needed was a clean hit. As he flew forward, he used Release midair to change direction, flipping over to Gion’s opposite side. He had used the force against the hand that had touched the ground.
Even with reaction speed beyond human limits, Gion lost sight of him. Relying purely on instinct, he tried to reposition his spear to where he sensed the attack would come from.
Tap.
Contrary to Gion’s prediction, Bagan struck down on his shoulder from behind with a knife-hand. Not with full force — more like gently placing it there.
Gion turned to look at him, but his body suddenly lost balance, as if resisting an incredibly powerful rebound force.
Bagan steadied himself and asked with a grin.
"There. Did I pass the promotion test?"
Gion reacted to the words "promotion test."
"Damn it, I’ve gone and done it again. You pass."
At the word "pass," Bagan’s red hair returned to its original black color. He let out a long sigh.
"Haa~ Man, that was exhausting."
"I’ll take that as you had fun."
The words ‘No, I said it was exhausting,’ were swallowed back down. Of course, it had been fun. Bagan simply smiled in response.
Then Gion suddenly became curious.
"I couldn’t follow that last move with my eyes at all. How did you do it?"
"If I tell you, how am I supposed to beat you next time?"
"I could still win even if I knew."
Crack!
Gion shattered the practice spear in his own hands.
"I’ll go get my real weapon. Wait here."
"Ah, wait, wait."
"Changed your mind about telling me?"
Bagan answered cheekily.
"…I just came down from the air."
"Damn it. I got done in by some cheap trick. I thought it was something amazing like Lord Vidion’s invisible spear technique."
"Oh, high praise."
"It wasn’t a compliment."
Vidion was the prince of the Seiros Kingdom and one of the Seven Great Heroes. His characteristic was a spear thrust so fast it was nearly impossible to track with the eyes. Opponents felt as if they were facing dozens of warriors at once, which earned him the title of Divine Spear.
"For a rookie, just having your name compared is already praise."
"And here’s a rookie who managed to land a hit on the guildmaster."
Gion held Bagan in extremely high regard.
"If word gets out that an adventurer like you exists, everyone will be shocked."
"I’d rather not become that famous just yet…"
His reaction was perfectly natural. Skilled adventurers tended to get dragged into troublesome matters. And the lower one’s rank was compared to their actual ability, the worse it became.
Perhaps sensing Bagan’s feelings, Gion made a firm promise.
"If that’s what you want, I understand. Protecting the identity of registered adventurers is also part of the guildmaster’s duty."
"Just for the time being, please."
Gion had taken a genuine liking to Bagan. There was a reason for his strength, and his confidence was excellent. He believed Bagan would become an extraordinary adventurer before long.
"By the way, how long do you plan on speaking to me like that?"
"What?"
"Speaking informally to your elders, of course."
"How do you know you’re older than me?"
"Just by looking at your appearance…"
"What if I only look like this on the outside, but I’m actually an old snake of a grandfather on the inside?"
Gion looked Bagan up and down.
"Somehow, I doubt that."
"Truth is, I don’t even know my exact age. So I’ve decided to just speak casually to everyone. How others talk to me is none of my business."
"You could at least use polite speech when the other person seems like a superior by appearance."
Bagan waved his hand dismissively.
"That’s too much hassle. And if it turns out they’re actually younger than me, it becomes even more annoying."
"You really are quite… unique. In more than one way. Are you aware of that?"
Bagan simply shrugged at Gion’s words.
"Anyway, you pass. I apologize for letting the test become more violent than intended. Here, take this to Rina."
"Thanks."
Bagan accepted the paper Gion handed him. On it was written: Special Promotion Test Result: Gold.
He waved the paper in farewell and left the training ground.
Stepping out the door, he found the guild interior still bustling with activity. The layout made it feel like he had simply looped around behind the reception desk.
He walked straight up to Rina, who was working at the counter, and handed her the paper.
"I got promoted."
Rina was slightly startled by Bagan’s sudden appearance, but after reading the document, her attitude changed completely.
"Yes, Sir Bagan. Here is your Gold rank registration card."
She must have prepared it in advance just in case. She immediately took it out and presented it to him.
"From now on, you may accept any request, and personal commissions may come in under your name. You are free to decline personal requests, but please be aware that doing so may negatively impact your reputation."
Without replying, Bagan took the registration card and headed toward the request bulletin board.
The guild board covered the entire left wall near the entrance, packed with countless requests. Each had a designated rank requirement based on its content. Since Bagan could now accept any of them, he searched for high-reward requests that seemed manageable.
After looking around for quite a while…
‘Is this all?’
There was only one request that offered more than two gold in reward and could be completed immediately.
Investigate the Anomaly in the Zairan Forest. Requester: Gion. Reward: 4 gold.
If there was an anomaly in the Zairan Forest, it had to be the severe cold that had suddenly descended despite it not being winter. With three whole months left until winter, such unnaturally frigid weather — even colder than winter itself — was undoubtedly abnormal.
Bagan picked up the request sheet and returned to Rina. He had no intention of actually investigating the anomaly as written, but he knew exactly what was causing it.
In fact, if not for him, no one would have been able to figure out the reason behind the phenomenon.
‘How would a regular adventurer figure out that Palamus was responsible?’
"I’ll take this request."
Rina looked surprised that he had returned so quickly. She stared blankly for a moment, then looked back and forth between the request form and Bagan’s face.
"Are you sure you don’t need a party?"
"I’m fine. Instead, please tell Gion I’d like to speak with him. It’s a consultation request."
Gion wasn’t someone an ordinary adventurer could casually call for. Though puzzled, Rina left her post since it was an official consultation request.
"What on earth is going on? Why would the guildmaster…"
She muttered to herself, then spotted Bagan and smiled.
"He says you may come up. Please follow me."
Even while clearly suspicious of Bagan’s unknown identity, Rina escorted him all the way to Gion’s office since the guildmaster had approved the meeting.
Gion’s office was located on the second floor of the guild building, where he handled administrative duties. He used the most central room.
"Guildmaster, it’s Rina. I’ve brought Sir Bagan for his consultation request."
"Come in."
At Gion’s permission, both Bagan and Rina entered. The room was exactly what one would expect of an office. Nothing particularly unique, though the red-and-white checkered wallpaper was striking. A mounted deer head added a sense of dignity befitting the master of an adventurer guild.
Given that Gion frequently met with important figures, there was a sofa and chairs arranged with a seat of honor and regular seats. The large table in the center was perfect for serving tea and refreshments — which appeared to be its intended purpose, as Gion rose from his desk and moved to the seat of honor.
"Rina, prepare some tea and then you may return to your duties."
"Yes, Guildmaster."
After giving Rina instructions, Gion gestured for Bagan to sit. Bagan took the seat to Gion’s right.
"What made you want to see me again? Don’t tell me you’ve decided you want to fight me seriously this time?"
Although it had been one-sided, Gion seemed somewhat frustrated at having lost the spar. However, that wasn’t what Bagan wanted to discuss.
"I know the reason for the sudden cold snap."
At Bagan’s words, Gion’s expression changed completely.