[New Combat Skill Gained: Fire Fist]
[Description: A flame-coated punch that increases destructive power and applies a burning effect on the target]
[Successfully killed a 2-star Soul Beast. Gained 20 skill points]
Noah let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Not one, but two new skills—Fire Fist and Vital Strike—flashed across his interface.
Not bad at all.
"Uh… are you alright?" the old man asked, one eyebrow raised in mild suspicion.
Noah blinked, the glowing hologram in front of his eyes dissolving into nothing. "Oh—yeah. Sorry. Just that rush you get when you drop something big and dangerous," he said quickly, smoothing his tone. "Name's Noah."
The old man nodded slowly. "Alistair Crowne. And that unconscious girl over there is my granddaughter, Zara. I'm in your debt, young man," he said, bowing with unexpected formality.
Noah waved a hand. "No need for all that, Mr. Crowne. Honestly, it's just part of my training. Still… that was one hell of a fight."
Alistair studied him a moment longer. He'd met plenty of cocky young talents before—but there was none of that smugness here. Just focus.
"Your special ability—fire-based, I assume? What class?"
"S-Class," Noah replied without hesitation.
Alistair's eyes widened slightly. "S-Class…? No wonder. I could feel the heat even from here," he murmured. "Strange though… with power like that, your name should've spread fast. S-Class users tend to become known overnight."
"I like keeping it that way," Noah said simply.
"I see." Alistair nodded, then winced, clutching his side. "In that case… one more favor. Help us reach our vehicle—it's about five kilometers from here. My strength's almost gone. I'll repay you, I swear."
Noah hesitated. His Starflame reserves were running low, and the scrapes and cuts stung more with each passing minute. Still…
"Alright," he said at last. "But first… I'm taking the soul stones from this thing. And that dagger from your granddaughter—mind if I keep it?" His tone was casual, but his eyes stayed sharp.
Alistair instinctively glanced at the knife lying on the ground beside Noah. At first, he thought it might be some kind of special weapon, but on closer look, it was just an ordinary knife. That, in fact, made him even more impressed.
"Of course. Go ahead and take the soul stones, and the dagger too," Alistair replied with a warm smile.
He knew that a simple weapon in the hands of someone like Noah could be far more valuable than an expensive one in the hands of the wrong person.
"Thank you." Noah smiled, then walked over to the charred body of the Mandrill.
Beneath the blackened fur and cracked hide, three green stones pulsed faintly, warm in his palm. Mid-tier. Worth keeping. He slipped them into his pack, then picked up the dagger. It had a lean, lethal balance—built for speed, not brute force. The grip molded into his hand like it belonged there.
"That's a B-class magic dagger. It has the ability to adapt the user's energy," said Alistair, now standing beside him.
Noah raised an eyebrow. He had guessed it was special, but he didn't expect it to be class B.
"You can try it now," Alistair suggested.
"Now? How?" Noah asked.
"All ranked weapons have the ability to absorb energy from their user, making them perfect for elemental awakeners like you. However, you'll need to learn 'Energy Channeling.' It doesn't require a skill scroll and can be learned on your own," Alistair explained.
Noah nodded, a spark of excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Alright then. I'll give it a try."
Noah tightened his grip on the dagger, his right hand trembling as he drew in a deep breath. Slowly, a crimson glow began to pulse from his arm—Starflame answering his call. The energy trickled into the dagger, but the flame wavered, unsteady, like a candle struggling against a restless wind.
Alistair stepped forward, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"Ease up. Don't force it. Think of it like water through a narrow pipe—guide it, don't shove it."
Noah gave a short nod, inhaling slowly. He sharpened his focus, shutting out everything else.
This time, the flames crawled along the dagger's edge, licking toward the tip. A faint, steady ember held there, stubborn against the pull of the air.
Alistair's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. You've managed a spark. Full mastery takes patience—and a lot more than a few minutes."
But Noah didn't stop.
Again.
And again.
The energy surged and faltered—sometimes flaring too hot, searing his skin with a prickling burn; other times sputtering out entirely.
Minutes slipped by.
The dagger quivered each time the channeling broke. Sweat rolled down his face, his breaths deep and ragged, but his eyes stayed fixed, unwavering.
Alistair watched, silent, a faint shake of his head betraying his thoughts. Stubborn… but rare. Energy channeling wasn't something you picked up in minutes—most couldn't grasp it in months.
Still, Noah pressed on. And then—
[Combat Skill Acquired: Energy Channeling]
[Description: Allows the user to channel energy into weapons or external objects. Effectiveness depends on control and object compatibility]
A grin split his face.
"Hahahahaha!"
The laughter tore from his chest, raw and triumphant, drawing a narrow-eyed look from Alistair. Before he could speak, his gaze froze.
The dagger erupted.
Starflame roared to life, coating the blade in a deep crimson blaze—calm, dense, and coiled with pressure, like a dragon stretching awake after centuries of slumber.
Alistair's breath caught. His voice was barely a whisper.
"…My Lord."