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.
“You saved me there, Siara. Thanks,” Jason said, flashing a dazzling smile that made all the girls in the group blush.
In just a month, Jason had become stronger, more reliable, and undeniably more handsome. He was the number one heartthrob not only in their class but also throughout the Empire.
Siara blushed slightly before shrugging it off. “Hmpf. Let’s take care of the frog now!”
“Yeah! I’m on it!” Jason smirked, raising his sword high. “Hero of Light, Light Speed!”
A yellow glow enveloped Jason’s body as he took a step forward. His speed increased dramatically, and he began to circle around the frog with blinding agility. He swung his sword, and a massive chunk of flesh was sliced from the frog’s side. The creature groaned in pain but remained alive, its eyes glaring with fury.
The frog lashed out with its paw, but Jason dodged and swung his sword again. This time, the frog anticipated his move and retaliated with a swift kick. The unexpected speed of the attack caught Jason off guard, and he barely managed to block it with his sword, stepping back a little from the impact.
“Let’s help Jason! Fire Lance!” one of the girls shouted.
“Yeah! Earth Lances!” another cried.
“Earth Boulders!”
The girls from Jason’s group quickly launched their elemental Skills at the frog, unleashing a barrage of attacks. Flames, sharp earth lances, and massive boulders bombarded the creature, weakening it significantly as it struggled to defend itself against the relentless assault.
The frog groaned, its eyes narrowing at the girls who had come to Jason’s aid. It leaped toward them with startling speed, but Jason quickly intervened, appearing in front of them in a flash of light.
“You won’t touch them with me around!” Jason declared, grinning as he swung his sword and forced the frog to retreat.
The relieved girls stumbled and nearly fell, but Jason’s protective presence kept them safe. He then focused entirely on the frog, drawing its attention away from his group. Dodging its attacks and countering with precise strikes, Jason managed to keep the beast at bay. Siara, being the only one with an A-Rank skill and at Level 47, was the only one who could effectively support him.
Cecilia watched the battle with a proud smile. She was delighted by the progress her students had made. In just a month, they had become capable of taking on a Forest Green Frog, a creature known for its formidable strength.
“This is the end!” Jason shouted, his sword glowing even brighter as he rushed at the frog. The creature, now covered in bruises and visibly exhausted, seemed to recognize its impending defeat.
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.
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