Chapter 36 Jason's Group
Forest Green Frog, Level 44.
"Light Sword!" Jason shouted, swinging his sword with a flourish.
"Raaah!" The frog easily leapt backward, avoiding the blade that shimmered with radiant energy. Then, with surprising agility, it swung its large paw.
"Ugh!" Jason grunted as he quickly raised his sword to block the attack. The force sent him skidding back several meters. Despite being Level 55, Jason felt the raw power of the beast. Beasts were genetically superior in strength compared to humans, and Jason was no exception to this rule.
"Hero Jason! Don't be so reckless! You have to first assess your opponent!" Cecilia scolded, her voice tinged with frustration.
This wasn't the first time Jason had charged headlong into a fight without considering the nature of his adversary. His impulsiveness was a constant source of concern for Cecilia. She understood his strength—he was undeniably powerful, the strongest and most important Hero among them. However, he was still inexperienced, a novice who needed to gain wisdom and experience to face the even greater threats that lay ahead.
Cecilia's worry was not unfounded. She knew that Jason's raw power alone wouldn't be enough to keep him safe in the future. He needed to learn strategy, patience, and the importance of understanding his enemies before striking.
"Yes..." Jason nodded, though his mind barely registered Cecilia's admonishment. His confidence in his own strength was unshakable. As the possessor of an SSS Skill, the Hero of Light, one of the most powerful abilities among even the SSS ranks, he believed he could handle any monster, especially one weaker than himself.
"Guaaaap!" The frog suddenly opened its mouth and spat a stream of poisonous saliva.
"Jason!" A woman's voice rang out, and a shimmering wall of water appeared in front of him, neutralizing the poison completely. The water was a radiant, beautiful blue, unlike any ordinary water.
Jason's groupmates immediately turned to see who had cast the spell.
It was one of the most beautiful girls in their high school. She had auburn hair tied back neatly and striking blue eyes. She wore a robe over her armor, and her staff was pointed at the frog, its tip glowing faintly.
Siara Spencer, the wielder of an A-ranked skill known as the Great Water Mage. It was a remarkably rare skill even among A-rank abilities, making her an invaluable member of their team.
BADOOOM!
Suddenly, a massive explosion rang out.
"Jason!!" The girls screamed in unison, their voices filled with worry but fortunately Jason came out of the smoke unscathed but his gaze was ahead.
Jason wasn't the target of the explosion; instead, it was the frog, now lying charred and defeated.
"AHAHAHAH! You guys are so weak!!! Two hours to beat this weakling!!!" A loud, mocking voice boomed from the smoke.
A figure emerged, laughing heartily. It was a red-haired man, one of the top three alongside Jason and Sienna.
"Aiden..." Jason glared at him.
Aiden wore an arrogant smirk, his hand still flickering with residual flames. He wore minimal armor but had a formidable greatsword strapped to his back.
Cecilia's eyes narrowed as she looked at Aiden.
Aiden Fletcher.
SS-Skill: Fire Berserker.
Despite his skill being a lower rank than Jason's, Aiden was a formidable opponent. In training fights, he often matched Jason and sometimes even gained the upper hand. Their strength was nearly equal, making their rivalry intense.
"Showing off again, Aiden?" Jason's voice was cold, his earlier confidence replaced with irritation.
"Just cleaning up your mess," Aiden replied with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Someone has to show you how it's done."
Cecilia sighed inwardly, knowing the rivalry between the two was both a blessing and a curse. Their competition pushed them to be stronger, but their constant one-upmanship was exhausting for everyone else.N/nêw n0vel chap/ers are published o/n n0v/e/(lb)i(n.)co/m