Aria woke up with a sudden jolt. Ever since she had the weird dream, she had occasional restless night where she would be visited by the being in the form of light that blinded her and filled her with knowledge. It was gradual, but she could piece the information together; she was reincarnated.
She could not fully remember who she was in the past nor what country she was from. She could only recall the information related to the 'bizarre' monsters that appeared. They were all seemingly from a game that she had addictively played in her previous life. It was surreal when encountering them in the game versus real life.
Aria sat up from the laid out cushion made up of layers of cloths draped over straws and scanned her surroundings. Several other female tenants were still sleeping on the same cushion sprawled on the floor of the huge room. This was the room of the inn that the guild had recommended for newcomers.
Aria stood up, folded her blanket and slowly made her way out of the room so as not to disturb the other tenants. Outside, she walked along the corridor and at the end, was a public bathroom where it was bustling with people. It seemed that many adventurers woke up early to grab the juiciest quests while others had to travel to other cities and so, sunlight became an important source of light during the travel.
Many females of various ages were washing their face with water drained from a nearby upstream river while some stripped down and wiped their bodies.
"Looking at their clothes and equipment, they may have just returned from a night quest." Aria thought as she proceeded to wash her face and brushed her teeth with some plant fibers that she had collected yesterday from the Forest of Beginners. "Yesterday, the guild master decided to organise a hunt to exterminate these foreign monsters, they will probably start with the Great Jaggi."
After cleaning herself, Aria headed to the dining hall of the inn where they served simple breakfast of potato stew, hard bread and honeyed jam. Aria showed her plaque to the canteen lady before collecting a portion of the meal and gobbled up the content. It was not as appetising as what Aria expected, but it filled her up enough to start her day. She collected her equipment from the adjacent locker room by showing her plaque and headed out to the adventurer's guild.
Inside the guild, the usual buzz could be seen but, there was an unusual excitement in the air. Many adventurers were waiting while checking their equipment and supplies. Aria approached one of the staff member to enquire and she was told that the guild master had an announcement to make and rumours had circulated that it would be very rewarding. Coincidentally, the guild master descended to the hall just as the staff finished explaining to Aria.
"My fellow adventurers, I am here to announce an urgent hunting quest to those who are brave. We are going to subjugate monsters that had invaded our territories! Those who participate will be given extra rewards from the guild and from our noble Lord!"
Many adventurers got riled up when they heard about the extra rewards and began to buzz among themselves. Some enquired about the subjugation request and were told to be patient as the guild master continued.
"We will be dividing into 2 groups. Adventurers with rank Iron and below will be in group 1 while the others with rank Steel and above will be in group 2. Group 1 will head to the Forest of beginners to hunt down the Great Jaggi and its clan members. Group 2 will head Southwest to the Cloudy Jungle to take down the Rathian."
Most adventurers were confused at the names of the monsters, but they decided to continue listening, thinking that they were newly discovered monsters that invaded the native region. Aria, on the other hand, were surprised that they will be hunting both monsters at the same time. Nevertheless, she remained quiet and continued to observe.
"Those who wish to participate, please register and be ready to depart when the second morning bell ring. Assemble at the southern gate entrance and you will be led by the guild's chosen adventurers parties. I wish you will help us defend our way of life from these pests!"
Many adventurers decided to participate. While most got lured by the extra rewards, some were intent on preserving their city's way of life. Aria noticed that Daniel decided to participate and approached him.
"Good morning, Daniel. How are you?"
"Ah! Aria! Good morning to ya too. I am fine but, I want to get that extra reward and help clear out that thing, so that the orphans can get their income from that forest again."
"You do know how dangerous those monsters we encountered are, right? Do you still have the courage to face them? There is no guarantee that you will come out alive. I believe that life is much more important than any fame, glory or wealth."
Daniel looked at Aria with despondent eyes. "Heh. If only others were worried about me the same way ya did. I only live once, so I wanna fill it with the most I can. And if I fall, it just means I am not fated for more."
Aria could not said anything. The lives of commoners seemed to be cheaper than she initially thought.
***
The second morning bell rung, indicating the peak of morning buzz. Several adventurers gathered at the Southern gate of the city, being well-equipped for the expedition. Many civilians were murmuring amongst themselves at the rowdy sight while distancing themselves. Merchants however, were actively approaching every individuals to sell their products and/or to make connection with famous adventurers. Afterall, most of these merchants relied on adventurers to safeguard them and their supplies when travelling.
Aria blended in with the crowd and quietly waited for departure behind several adventurers. Soon, the leaders of the 2 groups announced their departure.
The party leading Group 1 was a famous Iron-ranked party called Will of the Wind who had risen to fame a year ago with 100% success rate. The leader, Gunther, was a powerful swordman with keen senses and strategic mind while his vice captain, Elisia, was his childhood friend who was a beautiful, level-headed female wind magician with great administrative skills. Other members included Peter, who was tall, muscular and had known the pair ever since they started their lives as adventurers. He was holding a large shield and a lance as weapon. Mary and Noel met them at around the same time as scouts with wind magic that they utilised to increase their nimbleness and lethality when using various weapons. These 5 decided to formally form a party a year ago and had since gained a coveted reputation and trust from the guild.
Aria was following them quietly as they made their trip; observing their demeanor and behaviour as a template. As the vegetation grew in density, so did the alertness since the Jaggis could come out at any given moment. Group 1 consisted of 30 adventurers, but most were novices who were barely copper rank; there were 7 Bronze rank and only the Will of the Wind party were Iron ranked. Aria and Daniel were the only 2 Glass ranked.
"I guessed the reward for Group 1 is too little for many Bronze and Iron ranked adventurers while most Glass ranked adventurers view it as too dangerous." Aria thought to herself while observing her surroundings.
Mary and Noel suddenly raised their right hands to make a signal, telling everybody to stay alert. With their various weapons raised, the rustling sound reverberated around the bushes; several Jaggis leapt and kicked several adventurers. Fortunately, they were ready and countered with deadly forces. Several Jaggis felled, but many were able to escape while calling out reinforcement.
"Everyone! They are coming! I could sense a big one!" Gunther drew his sword and warned everybody.
Right on cue, the Great Jaggi emerged and did a tail whip on the group, but luckily, they were able to dodge. Gunther immediately took the lead and charged at the Great Jaggi while giving orders, "Bronze ranked are to come and take care of the big boss with us! The others are to keep the goons away from us!"
Aria and the others moved to surround the main party fighting the leader of the pack. The Jaggis and Jaggias coordinated their attacks to penetrate the ranks and disoriented their prey. The Copper ranked adventurers fended off their advances with various weapons: swords that cut the neck, spears that stabbed the organs, magic that dealt extra damage, bows and arrows that sniped. Aria moved nimbly around as she used her sword and magic to attack and defended her fellow comrades. Others were in awe of her magic that could easily kill several Jaggis in a single blow.
"Wind. Be my arm, be my blade that cuts my enemy. Air blade!" Aria chanted and swung her enchanted blade, beheading the Jaggia that charged at her.
"Fire. Burn my passion onto my enemy. Fire shot!" Several sparks ignited and burned the air. Aria directed the fire with her left hand and shot at the Jaggis emerging from a cliffside burrow, killing 2 while injuring the rest.
Aria looked around her and noticed several Jaggis and Jaggias were heading to aid the Great Jaggi. Aria ran past several injured adventurers to intercept.
In the intense arena, the Great Jaggi suddenly did a sideway body slam onto Peter who defended with his huge shield on time, but the difference in mass sent him flying towards Elisia who was chanting. Gunther immediately charged at the monster to distract it, allowing both of them to recover with recovery potions. However, the Jaggis that penetrated the fray jumped on Gunther, knocking out his balance as he stumbled down the rocky platform.
Several Bronze ranked swordmen adventurers went in to cut the Great Jaggi, but they were only able to inflict superficial wounds. Mary and Noel shot several wind enchanted arrows the Great Jaggi, but had to switch to the goons that had entered the fray.
The Great Jaggi did another body slam followed by a tail whip that threw the adventurers off. Picking up on this, Aria leapt off the nearby rock formation and landed a deep cut onto the Great Jaggi's back. She then straddled the beast like a horse while inflicting wounds onto the tough hide with her knife. The beast soon succumb to the continuous stabbing and fell down on its side.
"This is a chance!" Aria shouted as she jumped out of the way as Elisia finished chanting her wind magic and conjured a hurricane onto the struggling monster. The force tore the earth and several branches that hit the beast from all direction. As the wind subsided, the battered Great Jaggi was limping as it tried to escape towards the denser part of the forest.
"Do not let it escape! Pummel it to death!" Gunther, who had recovered and climbed back up, shouted with vigor as he ran towards the escaping beast. The other goons ran towards the same direction as their king to protect it. "Curses! Get out of my way!"
Several arrows took down some of the goons and with a clear path, Gunther jumped off a ledge as his target was about to cross a stream and landed a strike onto its head, breaking its frill. The beast finally made its final call and fell down, never to rise again.
Gunther raised his blade and announced the death of their prey. Other adventurers cheered as they were finishing off the remaining monsters that were confused and stunned with the death of their majesty.
As the wipe-out operation came to conclusion, the majority of the members of Group 1 rested on the nearby stream while some took care of the carcasses and harvested anything they deemed useful. Aria helped to harvest the Great Jaggi when she was approached by Gunther and his party.
"That was a marvelous display, young lady. It's hard to believe that you're just a Glass ranked novice."
"Well, I just did my best." Aria blushed at the compliment from the senior. "But, thank you for the compliment though."
"Ya were amazing when ya rode that thing! It's like ridin' an tamin' that monster to behave! Right Noel?"
"Indeed, indeed, Mary! Ya made it kiss th'ol earth!"
"It is because of you that I could land that hurricane. You should be proud of yourself."
With praises and warm gazes, Aria smiled, enchanting the audience with an ephemeral beauty. However, gazes of jealousy and envy were rampant from the Copper and Bronze ranked adventurers.
Aria went into the shallow stream and noticed Daniel washing his bloodied equipment. She approached him and asked if he was fine.
"It was terrifying, but yet exhilarating. Th'ol me would never have imagined being part of such incredible expedition just after 1 year of being an adventurer. Though I think it's more accurate ta say that I've had 2 years of experience. Some alumni brought me out and taught me the ropes of being an adventurer when I was just 10 years old."
"In that case, let this expedition serves as a learning experience and count yourself lucky. What doesn't kill you make you stronger. I am learning from this as well."
"Haha. I bet ya gonna go on and do more amazing feat like that."
Both chatted and laughed until Aria finished filling in her water container made of leather before she returned, leaving Daniel to continue cleaning his blade.
The sudden chill hit Aria in the back and in a flash, as she turned around, a huge azure bear charged at Daniel from the opposite bank of the stream. Daniel held out his sword, but was swiped away by the bear's giant claw and he was pinned down.
"Daniel!"
With the sudden ruckus, all the other adventurers readied their stance to confront the new threat.
"What in the mighty name of God is that thing?!" Gunther rushed in to save Daniel who was pinned by the armoured claws of the beast. However, the bear, that was estimated to be around 8 meters in length, picked up its victim, shook and threw him out of the stream, hitting a nearby rock face that Gunther had used to deliver the final blow to the Great Jaggi.
The bear stood up on its hind legs and roared, as if claiming its territory. It has an overall bluish hue for its fur and had thick layers of pelt on its back. Its huge arms were covered with harden spiky shell that mimic the armour of a knight. Aria knew this monsters.
"Arzuros. Bloodlust incarnate."