Cora's words made Jimmy feel a cold chill in his heart. Despite facing countless monsters and dangerous situations in his life, this time... something felt different. He was rattled.
Just then, one of his subordinates rushed in.
"Master Jimmy, here's all the information we have on the target."
Jimmy snatched the folder from his hands and read through it quickly.
Target File: Aaron
- Name: Aaron
- Former Name: Aaron Goldvien
- Profession: Ninja (was exiled from his family because of this profession)
- Background: Rumored to be adopted not confirmed. But exile is confirmed.
- Level: Close to level 10
- Achievements: Cleared Goblin Dungeon solo. Later joined a noble party details hidden or classified.
- Latest Update: A new teammate named Fiona has joined. She was a receptionist at the Adventurer Guild.
- Fiona: Suspected fire mage. Other details unknown.
- Auriel: Ice mage
- David: Team's driver
Jimmy's face darkened as he finished reading. He knew he was in trouble. Clearing a dungeon alone was rare only true geniuses could do that.
And now, his team had provoked someone that dangerous.
He made a quick decision: the only way out was to kill Aaron and his team before they made a move against him. After that, Jimmy could escape to the New World. Even if the noble families hunted him, it would be better than waiting to be killed.
He turned to his subordinate, voice cold.
"Where are they now? Does anyone know their location?"
The man trembled under Jimmy's sharp aura.
"M-Master Jimmy, we don't know their current location. But earlier this afternoon, they were at the Dusk Inn. After that, they disappeared."
Jimmy's eyes gleamed with urgency.
"Spread the word. Get every hunter out there searching for them," he ordered.
"Anyone who provides useful information will get a tier 1 weapon. And whoever brings me Aaron's head not only will they receive a weapon, but I'll take them with me to the New World."
The room shifted. Both the subordinate and Cora lit up with excitement. For tier 1 adventurers, chances to reach the New World were rare. But under Jimmy's leadership, this was the opportunity they'd been waiting for.
.....
Back at Marsh Hollow
Four figures darted silently through the dense canopy, leaping from tree to tree as they ventured deeper into the marshlands.
At the front was Aaron, eyes sharp and focused. Every few meters, he tossed a kunai with deadly precision. Each throw struck its mark a venomous snake dropping lifelessly into the swamp below. Behind him, Auriel, Fiona, and David followed closely, quietly marveling at his skill.
Suddenly, Fiona's voice rang out, her gaze fixed ahead.
"Aaron, look! Those ruins… our target is there."
Aaron halted atop a thick tree branch, prompting the others to stop beside him. Together, they stared at the eerie scene unfolding in the distance.
The remains of an ancient city lay half-submerged in the marsh, its stone structures crumbled and overgrown. Monsters prowled the ruins Swampy Lanterns floated with haunting glows, Marsh Eels slithered through the muck, and Croc-Scaled Lizards lurked beneath broken pillars.
But it was the beast at the heart of the ruins that truly stunned them.
A massive, shifting mound of mud loomed at the center. It pulsed and groaned a Giant Sludge, swirling with elemental filth and buried menace.
David blinked, voice rising with disbelief.
"Don't tell me… that thing's the monster we're supposed to fight for the advancement quest?"
Auriel's gaze grew heavy behind her veil.
"The intel was wrong," she said quietly. "That's not a Boss-tier monster."
Fiona completed her thought grimly.
"It's a Leader-tier. Far too dangerous to face head-on."
She took a slow breath, eyes locked on the sludge beast.
"We need to leave now."
Aaron looked ahead, a wild spark flashing in his eyes.
"Guys, if we kill that monster and finish our advancement quest... what do we get from it?"
Auriel, Fiona, and David froze. Aaron sounded far too calm and even excited. There was something in his eyes that made their hearts skip.
This man isn't like us, each of them thought.
David stayed silent, keeping his focus on Miss Auriel's safety.
Auriel wanted to speak, but no words came out. She was too stunned.
Fiona took a deep breath, trying to calm the uneasy feeling in her chest.
"If we defeat a leader-tier monster," she said, "our skills will evolve. They'll become stronger... maybe even change into something more powerful."
Her words brought clarity to the others.
Yes, defeating a normal boss was enough to pass the quest. But killing a leader-tier monster? That could unlock hidden powers and benefits they never even dreamed of.
Aaron stared at the Mud Golem, eyes gleaming with excitement. He turned to his teammates and said,
"Let's take this monster down. I know you're all scared and don't want to take the risk. Just help me clear the smaller ones leave the boss to me."
The trio were speechless.
Is he crazy? they all thought.
No one fights a leader-tier monster alone at level 10.
Fiona sighed, starting to regret joining the team. Aaron had always seemed calm and quiet but now she realized he was a bit crazy.
"Damn it! Fine, I'll fight with you, Aaron," she said. "Let's go crazy just once. If we beat that leader-tier monster, the rewards will be something to brag about for life."
Auriel's eyes turned serious.
"Me too," she said firmly. "Let's face it together."
David didn't speak, but nodded. His main concern was protecting Auriel.
Aaron smiled at their responses.
"Alright then. I'll take the lead and fight the boss. You three support me from a distance."
Fiona spoke up.
"Aaron, did you find the Mud Golem's weak point?"
Aaron shook his head.
"Not yet. But I'll figure it out during the fight."
Fiona groaned and rubbed her forehead.
"Mud Golems have a magic core that holds their body together. Normal ones use mud wall, mud ball, and mud spike skills. But this is a leader-tier Golem, so its abilities could be more advanced I don't know much about them."
Aaron tapped his chin, thinking.
"So, if we destroy the magic core, we can defeat it, right?"
Fiona nodded. "Exactly."
Aaron clapped his hands and grinned. "Alright then. First, we clear out the small monsters. If they show up mid-fight while we're handling the boss, we're as good as dead."