Magnus heard the roars.

He didn't care much about the roar of the bear. He didn't recognize it so it wasn't important.

But Magnus recognized the other roar or at least some parts of the roar. It was reminiscent of a dragon but different.

The roar sounded like it came from a young dragon or a sick dragon.

Dragon roars sounded magnificent and majestic but this roar sounded very fragmented or shattered.

Either way, Magnus needed to see what it was. If it was remotely related to him, he would take it in.

"Prince!"

Magnus turned to Elisha who suddenly called out his name.

"Yes?"

"You weren't listening!"

"Oh, I was thinking of something else. I apologize."

Elisha pouts, not because she was ignored but because Magnus was ignoring her.

"Aren't you interested in learning magic?!"

"Hmmm, not really."

"What?!"

Elisha stretches her hand. A small plume of cold air exits her finger. Her target was a tree branch. The branch was quickly engulfed by the cold air and it became frozen.

"See. Isn't that amazing?"

Magnus frowns. He approaches the tree. He touches the frozen branch and he feels the imperceptible pain that the tree is experiencing.

With closed eyes, Magnus saw the ancient years of this random tree. It was a small sapling carried by the coattails of a wandering air spirit.

Here in this forest, the sapling grew to be one of its many citizens. Magnus sighed.

"Elisha?"

"Hmm?"

Elisha felt weird. Magnus's voice didn't change but something did, like an invisible aura.

"Why the poor branch?"

Gregory and Jordan stopped. They both felt the change as well. Even Zack felt the change.

"Wha-what?"

"I asked, why did you freeze the branch?"

"What do you mean? It's just a branch?"

Elisha tried to stay calm. She didn't do anything wrong.

Magnus thought otherwise.

"A life on its own and a home for forest spirits."

"Wha?"

Elisha felt even weirder. How did Magnus know about the concept of spirits? She didn't mention them in the short time they've been together.

"Elisha."

Elisha felt her heart being gripped.

"Ye-yes?"

"Don't do it again."

Elisha quickly nodded.

"Yeah! I-I won't! I promise."

Almost immediately, the choking aura disappeared. When Elisha looks at Magnus, the young man was already walking ahead.

What just happened?

Everyone, including Gregory, was confused.

"Father, let's go. If we are not quick, the night might catch us."

Gregory snaps out of his confusion.

"Yes, let's go. Jordan, will you please take the lead?"

Jordan looks at Gregory as if surprised.

"Ye-yeah. Let's go. Elisha and Zack, snap out of it!"

Magnus was back in the center as Elisha and Zack tried to restart the conversation. Fortunately for them, Magnus was in a talking mood.

Jordan, on the other hand, was still nervous. Gregory felt just as nervous as him.

"Is that normal?"

"What is?"

"Your son... has he always been like that?"

"Oh... Yes... he has always been unique."

"With all due respect sir, that isn't just unique."

"I... Jordan... How much?"

"What do you mean?"

"How much, so you never talk about this situation."

"... Nevermind... I'm just curious about... him... worrier about you as well."

"I'm just your employer. No need to put yourself in my business."

"If you survive, you might become our employer again in the future. Goodwill always goes a long way, or so I was taught."

Gregory thinks, then he nods.

"Good lesson."

"Yeah."

The group continued onwards.

As the bear was about to deliver the death blow towards its challenger, it felt Magnus's overpowering presence.

It felt its wounds and knew it couldn't run. It was time to double down. It roared towards the overwhelming presence and charged towards Magnus, ignoring the other members of the group.

The group continued onward but was met with a brutal battlefield. Two giant creatures, both capable of wiping out platoons of soldiers, were battling each other.

The first one to curse was Jordan. He wasn't as well-read as Elisha but he knew what a golden-furred bear was. For someone like him, an amethyst-ranked adventurer, it was a death sentence.

"Run!"

The monstrous bear charged forward. With its claw stretched outward, the bear slams it forward. Gregory and Jordan managed to move away but they quickly realize, it's not after them, it's after Magnus.

SHIT!

Jordan and Gregory both cursed as they tried to rush towards Magnus but the bear was already in front of the three backlines.

The bear expected Jordan and Gregory to try and attack it from behind.

With a quick strike, the bear turned around and attacked both Jordan and Gregory. Jordan was unprepared and he suffered two broken arms. Gregory was better but he couldn't control his body and he was sent flying.

Elisha tried to cast a spell but she was too slow. The bear struck the mage and she was sent flying. Her magical barrier was immediately shattered and she was knocked unconscious.

Zack empowered his body with internal energy and he unsheathed his sword. With precise movements, Zack attacked the bear with an empowered strike.

The bear didn't even flinch as the blade struck its fur. Flexing its muscles, the bear shattered Zack's empowered weapon. It then struck its claw towards Magnus.

Magnus was prepared to react and defend himself but Zack was a bit faster.

Zack threw himself in front of the bear and he hugged Magnus with his body. The bear's claw struck Zack's body.

Zack screamed in pain as the claw almost rendered him paralyzed. Thankfully, Zack was toughened by his dwindling internal energy.

If he wanted to survive, Zack had to move. Zack ran with Magnus in his arms.

He spent most of his internal energy to survive the bear's initial strike. If he gets hit by one more, he's dead. Zack knows this, so he runs like hell.

Fuck fuck fuck... Why! Why did it have to be a monster like that?!

Zack heard the heavy footfalls of the beast behind him. It was frighteningly fast, especially for something its size.

Zack kept running. He felt the limits of his strength as his muscles strained to carry Magnus while making sure they didn't die.

"Why are you doing this?"

Magnus asked Zack an inappropriate question.

"What?"

Poor kid... he must be afraid.

"Don't panic! I'll get you out of here!"

Zack was panicking. Once his internal energy was out, he was dead. And if he was dead, Magnus was dead. He couldn't let that happen.

"If you leave me, you will be able to run and survive."

Zack ignores Magnus. He couldn't afford to listen or else he might lose focus. One misstep and he dies.

"Zack, I will be fine."

Zack pushed his body further as he felt goaded by Magnus's self-sacrificing words. Then he felt an earth-shaking roar as the beast behind him leaped forward and struck him with its claws.

Zack clenched his back as the claw tore through flesh. His remaining internal energy wasn't enough to even survive a tap from the beast, much less a full-powered strike.

With that strike, Zack was sent forward with Magnus in tow. Zack turns around to catch the ground with his remaining strength so he would land instead of Magnus. It was excruciatingly painful. He felt his torn back hit some sharp rocks on the forest floor.

Zack's vision was getting blurry but he tried to stand up.

"A-are you okay Magnus?"

"I am fine Zack."

Magnus was unscathed. He was a bit confused by Zack's determination to keep him alive.

Is his crush on Sanria that powerful?

"Zack, you've done enough. You should leave."

"No... No... can't let you... die..."

"..."

Magnus thinks for a while. The beast slowly makes its way towards the two of them.

"Sanria will not like you more even if you save me."

Zack was quiet. Then he stood up. His back was gushing out blood and if he moved a little, his spine might break.

Magnus was sure this man would die if not given the proper help.

"Wha... you... think... I'm... doing this... for her?"

"What else would be the reason for you to save me? Saving a child in the middle of a crisis offers no real merit. It endangers you."

Magnus words were sharp and almost devoid of emotion.

"I'M SAVING YOU CAUSE I DON'T WANT A CHILD TO DIE!"

The bear seems to respond to that scream and it roars.

"Now... come on... let's get out of here..."

Zack tries to lift Magnus with his feeble body. He no longer had any internal energy. Zack collapses from the sheer weight of Magnus.

Did he get heavier?

"You're risking your life, a life where you might achieve enlightenment, to save a feeble child?"

"Look kid... enlightenment... and that shit? I don't care... I only... wanna... do good..."

"Good?"

"I want... I want to help other... people..."

"That's it? What about my sister?"

At this point, Zack was starting to hallucinate or at least feel like he was. When he fell, he saw Magnus become bigger. It was a weird image. The child's body slowly broke and revealed a golden form.

This quest is fucking weird.

"Answer me, Zack, what about Sanria? Did you not do this to impress her?"

Zack mustered the last of his strength.

"No... I didn't... I just didn't want you to... die..."

Magnus nods.

Zack fell forward but instead of hitting the hard dirt floor, Magnus caught him. Magnus knew Zack was hallucinating so he transformed to his real form. He needed it to defeat the bear.

He was wary of Elisha and Jordan but Elisha was still out cold and Jordan was bleeding out.

Gregory.

Master?

Where are you?

Going to you my lord.

Assist Jordan and Elisha.

Oh... Yes, master.

We cannot have them die...

Why my lord?

If these three die, wouldn't the guild send more?

They would my lord.

Then make sure they survive.

Your will be done.

The bear roared at Magnus. Magnus lets down Zack on a soft patch of grass. Magnus leans forward and spits on the poor man's back. Almost immediately, some of the biggest wounds start to close.

Magnus hears an angry scream a few meters away.

Sanria what is the matter?

No-nothing my lord!

We shall talk later. For now, I shall handle this beast.

Yes my lord!!

Magnus heard Sanria mutter a bit more about envy but he didn't care.

Magnus took a step forward.

"No more beast. I give you a chance to leave. Do not challenge my authority."

The bear roared to reply.

"So be it."

Magnus inhaled a large amount of air. Dragons have enormous lungs which is technically a useless organ as they slowly lose the need for sustenance and air once they grow older. But it allowed dragons to gather insane amounts of oxygen for a variety of uses.

The bear charged forward.

Magnus rears his head and then he releases the contained air within his lungs, creating a powerful burst of sound and air in front of him.

The bear did not expect this and was struck with a shockwave that leveled the surroundings. Despite its bigger size, the bear was sent away.

The bear crashes into a tree and its body takes heavy punishment. The bear's body suffered a powerful shockwave that shook its organs and caused some of them to outright explode. The bear tried to stand up but its body couldn't move anymore.

The nearby trees and earth were devastated by Magnus's earth-shattering roar.

Magnus sees the damage he has caused and he apologizes to the environment. He releases an invisible stream of energy from his mouth which will repair the forest within record time.

Magnus looks at the near-death bear. Once he was sure the bear could no longer move to protect itself, Magnus reverts to his human form. It's better to be careful.

Magnus approaches the bear.

"Oh great king of the forest, I do not wish ill upon you but I must take your seat. Your lack of fealty makes you an enemy... Your passage in reincarnation will be smooth."

Magnus then stabs forward his hand. While his strength is limited, Magnus knew where to strike. The bear takes its last breathe as Magnus strikes its heart. Magnus pulls out his hand. It was slick with blood.

"Sanria, attend to me."

Sanria drops from a nearby tree. She quickly kneels.

"Yes, master?

"Cloth. My hand is bloody."

Sanria produces a piece of cloth from her pockets. She takes Magnus's hand and wipes it.

While Magnus observes the area, he hears a loud thud. Turning his head, Magnus sees Melinoe, who just fell down from a tree, slowly standing up

"You are awake."

"Master!"

Melinoe runs and does a sliding kneel.

"..."

"..."

Both Magnus and Sanria were shocked speechless.

"Master! You are finally back! And you took such a... such a... great form! One that brims with potential!"

Melinoe tried to be respectful, after all, he did not expect his master would turn to such a young form. Nobody would give such a young child their respect.

"Sanria, that is enough."

Sanria pulls the piece of cloth away from Magnus's hand.

Magnus turns his eyes towards the destroyed area. He sees a limping creature walking towards him. The creature resembled a dragon, albeit smaller and without wings. Its face also lacked the majesty or regalness of a true dragon.

It looked monstrous, yes but it was more similar to the giant lizards of the forest than the dragons of the skies.

Despite its wounds and beaten body, the reptile was visibly happy. It released a victory cry and it ran towards Magnus.

Sanria summoned a dagger from her sleeves and enveloped it with her internal energy.

She hisses at the reptile and it stops on its tracks.

"No further, animal!"

The reptile sees Sanria trying to stop it from going to Magnus. It then hisses at Sanria.

The reptile turns its eyes towards Magnus. Its eyes were shiny and filled with joy and reverence.

"Stand down Sanria, this one is kin. It is not close to me but still kin, albeit far from even the farthest of true dragons."

Sanria looks at Magnus to confirm his order. When Magnus does confirm his order, Sanria moves aside.

The reptile quickly loses its hostile appearance. It then seems to act like a dog, a very big and cold-blooded dog.

Magnus nods.

"Come."

The reptile rushes forward but before it could jump on Magnus, Magnus commands it.

"Sit."

It sits.

"Now... what are you?"

The reptile tilts its head.