As Kei approached, he smirked at their display—Zeph’s martial movements fluid yet aggressive, Hachi’s wild energy tempered by instinct and growing skill.
Then—
Baaaaa.
The two immediately halted, their attention snapping toward the unexpected sound.
Their gazes landed on the black-wool Fellhorn with marble-white horns standing beside Kei, walking with a casual air of confidence, as if it had always belonged here.
Hachi simply tilted his head, sniffing the air, as if assessing this new presence.
Zeph, however, had a far more direct approach.
He pointed at the fire pit they used for cooking, then looked back at Kei.
His meaning? Crystal clear.
"Is that our next meal?"
Wooloo froze, then slowly turned its head toward Zeph. Their eyes met.
The realization dawned.
The fury ignited.
With a vengeful bleat, Wooloo charged straight at Zeph, hooves kicking up dirt as it barreled toward the smug Zephyr Monkey.
Zeph, not one to back down, grinned and braced himself, eyes gleaming with mischief as he met the charge head-on.
And just like that—
A fight broke out.
Kei?
Kei just threw his head back and laughed.
Kei leaned back, letting out a slow exhale as he reopened the quest notification that had appeared on their way back.
A sudden emergency quest.
[Emergency Quest: Rescue the Enslaved Elves]
Objective: Infiltrate the Goblin Settlement and rescue the captured elves.
Failure Condition: All elves perish during the mission.
Reward: Based on the number of elves successfully rescued.
Note: The system prioritizes the survival of these elves. Their loss would be considered a great failure.
Kei narrowed his eyes. Why would the system care so much about these elves?
And what exactly were the goblins doing with them?
Twirling a bone projectile between his fingers, Kei pondered the implications. The system wasn't typically so hands-on unless something was significant. If it was emphasizing the importance of saving all of them, then there had to be a deeper reason.
He sighed, slipping the thoughts away for later.
Nearby, Wooloo and Zeph were still fighting it out, their respective Eclipse Force and Zephyr Force clashing mid-air as sparks of their aether surged against each other. They looked like two titans battling, even though it was just a sheep and a monkey trying to assert dominance.
Kei turned his head—
And saw Hachi.
The Fangcub was rolling around in the grass, happily chasing his own tail.
Kei blinked.
"...Hey, buddy."
Hachi perked up, ears twitching at Kei’s voice.
Kei gestured toward Wooloo and Zeph, then manipulated the air currents around his fingers to give a visual demonstration.
“What’s your Force Alignment?”
Hachi’s ears flicked back. His playful rolling halted as his golden eyes lowered slightly, as if Kei had asked a question that he didn’t want to answer.
Then—
A low, almost hesitant growl escaped his throat.
“…I don’t know.”
Kei’s fingers stopped twirling the projectile.
For the first time, Hachi actually sounded ashamed.
Kei watched Hachi carefully.
Ever since the mischievous cub had tricked him into getting stuck up a tree, their bond had been unshakable. But even with their friendship, Kei had noticed one very peculiar thing—
Hachi never used Force Manipulation.
At first, Kei assumed that the astral projections Hachi summoned were tied to his Force Alignment. After all, it was an impressive ability, one that let him form and launch spectral constructs seemingly at will.
But then—Zeph started doing it.
And now?
Even Wooloo had begun to display traces of the same ability.
Kei clicked his tongue, connecting the dots.
So it wasn’t Hachi’s innate power.
It was something that came from me.
Ever since Zeph and Wooloo had consumed Kei’s blood, they had both started using similar astral projections. And now, as he observed closely, he could even feel aether shifting subtly around them, as if they were unconsciously commanding the energy in the environment.
That meant…
His blood was acting as a conduit for external aether.
Whether it was tied to his Will or maybe even his Charisma stat, Kei wasn’t sure. But what was clear was that his blood carried an ability that enabled those who consumed it to manipulate aether in a way that wasn't natural to them before.
He made a mental note to test this theory later.
For now—
It made one thing obvious.
Hachi had never truly used his own Force Alignment.
Curious about what it might be, Kei patted the cub on the head and gently pulled him closer.
"Hey, buddy," he murmured, directing Hachi’s gaze toward Zeph and Wooloo still going at it.
“Let’s sit back and watch them beat the hell out of each other.”
Hachi’s tail wagged slightly, but there was still a shadow of uncertainty in his golden eyes.
Kei gave him an easygoing grin.
“Who knows? You might learn something.”
Hachi slowly padded over to Kei, settling down beside him and resting his head on Kei’s lap.
Kei chuckled, ruffling the cub’s fur.
“Hey buddy, take a look at how the aether in the environment responds to them.”
Hachi’s golden eyes followed Kei’s gesture toward the fight.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“See Zeph? He’s using Zephyr Force to control the wind. He’s moving around like a blur, letting the wind carry him, and using those quick bursts of force to form blades of air and other wind-based techniques.”
Hachi’s ears perked up slightly, following Zeph’s swift movements as he carved through the air with sheer agility and precision.
“And then there’s Wooloo,” Kei continued, voice calm yet instructive. “See how he’s countering? It’s not just brute force—he’s using his own force to push back. That’s his Ebb & Flow Force.”
Hachi blinked, looking closer as Wooloo’s energy fluctuated between two states.
Kei smirked, breaking it down.
“Ebb & Flow Force is a dual-force alignment, derived from Lunar and Tidal energies. It embodies the push and pull of celestial and oceanic forces.”
“When Wooloo is passive, his wool takes on that soft, moonlit shimmer. His presence exudes a gentle, soothing aura—kind of like a calming tide. That energy lets him lightly regenerate and stabilize the aether of allies nearby.”
Hachi’s tail flicked slightly, intrigued.
“But…” Kei’s eyes gleamed as he nodded toward Wooloo, whose entire aura suddenly shifted.
“When he gets agitated or goes into battle, his wool surges like crashing waves.”
At that moment, Wooloo let out a fierce bleat, his energy pulsing outward in a raw, pressurized burst. The air around him twisted and compressed, sending a sudden, crushing force straight into Zeph’s midsection.
Zeph barely managed to recover, flipping midair before retaliating with a blade of wind.
Kei grinned.
“When that happens, his energy shifts into pure force—capable of battering, crushing, or eroding anything in its way. It’s like an unstoppable tide.”
Hachi’s eyes gleamed as he took in every word.
Kei smirked.
“See, buddy? This is what happens when you understand your force and how to use it properly.”
The cub’s ears twitched, his focus unwavering.
Kei continued lecturing, breaking down every movement, analyzing their aether usage, pointing out techniques, strengths, and weaknesses.
Hachi listened with rapt attention, absorbing every bit of information.
For the first time, the cub wasn’t just watching a fight.
He was learning.
Kei let Hachi observe from the sidelines as the other two clashed, studying each other in ways only those attuned to battle could. Zeph, ever the agile fighter, flitted through the air with Zephyr Force, his movements effortless as he weaved between Wooloo’s lunges. The Zephyr Monkey’s body seemed to blur with the currents, each step light as a feather yet sharp with intent.
Wooloo, however, was an entirely different presence. Unlike Zeph’s flickering speed, the Ardent Eclipse Fellhorn exuded a shifting pressure, its Ebb & Flow Force oscillating between tranquil control and raw, unrelenting destruction. The moment it steadied itself, a calming aura radiated outward, pulling in the surrounding energy as if drawing breath. But in the next instant, a pulse of condensed force erupted from its hooves, the ground beneath it cracking from the sudden shift to an overwhelming offensive surge.
Kei let them test each other, allowing their instincts and abilities to speak for themselves. Meanwhile, he busied himself with preparing a meal. With Wooloo now among them, his portions had to be adjusted, though that was a minor concern. As always, before serving, he separated his own food and then infused the rest with a splash of his blood—an act that had become second nature by now.
A thunderous impact shattered the relative peace of the clearing. A shockwave rippled outward, leaves and dust scattering into the air. Both Zeph and Wooloo had disengaged, now locked in a silent stare-down, neither willing to back down first. Zeph’s fur bristled, his tail flicking as he balanced effortlessly on his knuckles, while Wooloo lowered its stance, exuding a gravitational weight that warped the air around it.
Kei exhaled sharply. “Alright, that’s enough. Come eat.”
Neither moved at first, their competitive spirits still burning, but the promise of a meal laced with aether-rich sustenance was enough to break the standoff. They turned away from each other, finally joining Kei and Hachi for their well-earned food.
After a proper introduction for Wooloo and some much-needed rest, the night passed without incident.
—
By the time the next day arrived, Kei found himself perched atop a thick tree branch, his sharp gaze locked on the sight before him.
Nestled beyond the treeline was a goblin settlement.
Clusters of crude wooden huts sprawled across the uneven terrain, interwoven with sharpened barricades and makeshift watchtowers. Fires burned in scattered pits, thin columns of smoke rising into the sky. Kei could make out figures moving between the structures—small, wiry bodies, their greenish skin blending into the dim morning light.
His expression remained unreadable as he observed the scene.
The emergency quest had led him here. Now, it was time to see just what he was dealing with.
Kei’s Breeze Force unfurled around him, the wind becoming an extension of his senses—his eyes, ears, and even his nose. Air currents slithered through the settlement below, weaving between crude wooden huts, slipping past watchtowers, and brushing against the skin of every creature in its path. Through them, Kei gathered a complete layout of the area in mere moments, every gust whispering information back to him.
The goblin settlement was crude but structured, with makeshift barricades forming a jagged perimeter. Smoke curled from scattered fire pits, filling the air with the scent of burning wood and charred meat. Patrols were lazy, their movements disorganized, but their numbers weren’t small. More importantly, his wind slipped past a particularly reinforced hut, where he sensed a group of captives. The elves. Their presence was weak, their breathing uneven. Even without seeing them directly, Kei could tell they were in a ragged state—malnourished, wounded, and possibly on the brink of collapse.
He remained still, perched atop the thick tree branch, gaze unwavering as he took in every detail. Yet, while he scouted, his mind was also focused elsewhere—on his new skill.
[Skill Acquired]: Tempest Convergence
[Description]:
Harnesses wind currents and external aether flow, allowing the user to momentarily merge with natural storm phenomena, enhancing movement speed, agility, and environmental adaptability.
[Additional Effect]:
When utilized in combat, this skill amplifies projectile-based attacks, increasing their precision, speed, and impact force depending on surrounding wind conditions.
Kei narrowed his eyes slightly. The description was straightforward, but what intrigued him most was the first part:
“Harnesses wind currents and external aether flow.”
He had already a solid understanding manipulating the wind, but this skill suggested something more—a deeper synchronization, a state beyond mere control. Not just bending the wind to his will, but becoming part of it.
For hours, he remained still, not just observing the goblin settlement but focusing inward.
He extended his awareness, letting his Breeze Force stretch out, to listen. The air moved naturally, chaotic yet purposeful. It flowed, shaped by unseen forces, shifting between pressure changes, temperature shifts, and the invisible pulses of external aether that drifted through the world. Kei let himself fall into that current.
The shift was subtle. His body remained solid, unmoving, yet something within him unmoored from his physical form. His presence blurred—not just in a stealth-based sense, but in a way that made him feel lighter, almost indistinct. He wasn’t just using the wind—he was within it, part of it.
A stray breeze wrapped around him, and for the briefest moment, it felt as though the wind carried not just movement, but thought—an instinctual connection between himself and the unseen currents threading through the world.
Kei exhaled slowly.
This… This is different.
It wasn’t just an upgrade to his speed or agility. Tempest Convergence wasn’t simply a technique—it was a state of being.
And that surface, he put into action.
For the past few hours, Kei had been understanding Tempest Convergence—its intricacies, its limits, and the depth of its connection to Breeze Force. He hadn’t just been watching the goblin settlement. He had been weaving himself into it.
The true nature of Breeze Force came into play—not in bursts of violent wind, not in bladed gusts cutting through the air, but in its unnoticed nature. Kei was silent, unseen, yet his influence spread like an invisible thread, gradually altering the very air that surrounded his enemies.
Deep within the settlement, a goblin soldier sitting alone in its hut suddenly slumped forward. No noise. No struggle. Just… stillness. And no one was there to witness it.
Elsewhere, the same scene played out. A patrolling goblin’s steps faltered, its head growing heavy, its breath shallow. It blinked sluggishly before collapsing against a wooden post. Another fell face-first into a half-eaten meal, never to lift its head again.
None of them screamed. None of them realized.
The air itself had turned against them.
Kei remained cross-legged on his perch, far from their sight, his breathing steady, his presence nearly indistinct. He wasn’t forcing the air from their lungs—no, that would be too noticeable. Instead, he had subtly altered the balance.
At first, it was imperceptible. More air was entering the settlement than leaving. A faint shift, so small it went unnoticed. But gradually, he reversed the flow. More air was leaving than returning.
The change was gradual, measured. Oxygen drained ever so slightly faster than it could be replenished. The goblins' bodies adjusted at first, dismissing the lightheadedness as fatigue. But then the drowsiness set in. Their limbs grew heavier, their thoughts sluggish. Some leaned against walls, intending to rest for only a moment. Others yawned, thinking nothing of it as their vision blurred.
Then, they stopped moving altogether.
Kei’s method was cunning, ruthless, and completely untraceable. The very thing they had relied on—the simple act of breathing—had betrayed them, treating their lungs no differently than a gentle breeze. Unnoticed. Ignored. Forgotten.
And as more of them fell into permanent slumber, the cause of their silent demise remained still, high in the trees, watching, waiting.
It wasn’t until the next day that Kaito Ren received the notification:
[Emergency Quest: Rescue the Enslaved Elves] – Completed.
Someone had finished it before he even had the chance to act.
Unbeknownst to them, that very person was still fast asleep, nestled in the branches of a tree.
Within the goblin settlement, not a single creature stirred. The bodies of every goblin lay motionless, scattered across the ground, their lives snuffed out in utter silence.
Meanwhile, the elves—huddled together in their crude prison—found the air unnervingly quiet. At first, they thought little of it. The usual sounds of goblin chatter and movement had simply… stopped.
When they peeked beyond the barred openings of their shelter, they noticed a few guards slumped over, seemingly asleep at their posts. It wasn’t an uncommon sight. Goblins were lazy, undisciplined.
But then… time stretched on.
They sat there.
Waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting even longer.
Their daily food never came.
Their daily torture never came.
The guards outside never stirred, their bodies unnervingly still. Hours passed, yet not a single goblin came to check on them.
A creeping realization settled over the captives.
Finally, a young elf—barely past adolescence—broke the silence, staring at the unmoving goblins. "Yup, they’re dead." They spoke matter-of-factly, as if stating the weather.
A few others stiffened. One swallowed hard.
"So… what now?" someone else muttered.
Meanwhile, Kei remained deep in slumber, his body undisturbed atop his perch. Floating before his closed eyes, his system notification continued to blink, the soft beeping persistent yet ignored.
[Perfect Completion Achieved.]
The rewards reflected that.
[Perfect Completion Rewards – Emergency Quest: Rescue the Enslaved Elves]
Custom Weapon – Windpiercer Needles
- A set of three ultra-thin needles crafted from condensed wind-aether.
- Invisible to the naked eye when thrown, making them nearly undetectable.
- Can be guided mid-air using Breeze Force, allowing precise, silent strikes.
- Automatically return after being used.