AN: any criticism and suggestion is welcome.
--- --- ---
The month-long vacation passed in the blink of an eye; Liu Shan lazily walked towards school with his hands in his pockets.
"I can now control 6 stars.... if this speed continues then I'll be able to release space magic in under 3 weeks", He muttered softly.
For the month-long vacation all Liu Shan did was meditation and control.
...
Liu Shan ignored the looks he got when he entered Tian lian high school.
Since he awakened a 'rare' element, Liu Shan was actually a little famous; Not much since he had kept a low profile but a lot of students did know him.
He nodded his head towards people who greeted him and made his way towards his class.
Lazily he took a seat at the back and relaxed in his chair.
All the training in the night really was catching to him, and the old man who taught practical magic wasn't any helpful.
His old and hoarse voice really worked better than any lullaby.
Soon almost everyone was seated, except of course Mo Fan; He was late, as always.
'Speak of the Devil, literally'
Just as he thought that, Mo Fan entered the class and took a seat near him.
Both nodded at each other.
Liu Shan and Mo fan both had a complex relationship, both grew up around each other, now grown up, Liu Shan was the only one who knew of Mo Fan's secret.
It was a relation of friendship, brotherhood and trust, with a little sprinkle of competitiveness.
"Good morning class, the teacher for your Practical Magic class has fallen ill and is currently at home recuperating. From today on, I will be in charge of everyone's Practical Magic classes. My name is Tangyue!" A mature, beautiful and bright sound resounded.
Hearing the voice Liu Shan perked up a little and sat up straight.
'I guess the plot is picking up a little'
Standing at the front was someone he was looking forward to a little.
This teacher, Tangyue, wore a standard, black suit. In between the outer black suit and the white shirt on the inside were a pair of bulging, majestic, and glamorous mountain peaks that were about to burst.
"It's been half a year since you awakened, and there's not a single person who has been able to use their magic. However, I hope you understand that being able to control an immense power does not signify that you know how to use it. If you don't properly control your powers, then they'll backfire on you," Mrs. Tangyue quickly entered her teaching state.
Liu Shan relaxed again after taking a good look at her.
He wasn't like the horny teenage dogs around him, getting drooly and foggy eyed. He might have died when he was only 16, but he's still better than that. Slightly...
When Tangyue turned around to write something on the board, the whole class witnessed roundness. (GYAATTT-Ahem, Sorry)
Liu Shan saw someone sitting at the front get a nosebleed! How's that possible!?
The Practical Magic classes went on for the entire morning. After finishing theory, Tangyue brought everyone to the field; personally showing everyone the essential keys to Magic Activation.
"Look closely; I will demonstrate the primary skill of Fire element, Fire Burst!" Tangyue stood in the middle of the students.
The students assembled into a half arc, scattered behind Mrs. Tangyue. Whether everyone really was watching Mrs. Tangyue's star path was something that no one was sure of.
"Fire Burst, it's the skill of Fire element. Brother Mo Fan... wipe your saliva, it's your element's skill. Never did I think that Mrs. Tangyue, who looks so tender and virtuous, would actually be a Fire Mage!" Zhang Xiaohou nudged the Mo Fan beside him.
Elegant and curvy physique outlined the slightly tight skirt which people felt was particularly moving. Perhaps it was because she was new to teaching, that was why her selection of clothing seemed a bit too hasty, resulting in this. This really gave the students a feast for their eyes.
"You have to meditate, be tranquil, and concentrate. Even if I am speaking to you right now, my mentality is wholeheartedly concentrated on the Fire element nebula within me... oh, I mean star dust." Mrs. Tangyue said.
Mrs. Tangyue's voice was transmitted to every student's ears. When everyone thought Mrs. Tangyue was standing still as a statue, a sudden fluctuation could be seen from her pear blossom hair.
There was not a single gust of wind, yet her hair danced around wildly.
"Control, at this moment, you need to call out so your star can obey your commands and open the doors of the Fire element Magic!!" Mrs. Tangyue's tone changed from its usual softness to a solemn one; it carried a hint of an arrogance which stated that everything should burn down before her.
Liu Shan felt a scorching aura radiating from her.
There was shock, reverence, and a certain intimidating presence in everyone's mind.
Liu Shan watched intently; he wanted to take a good look at the way she performed magic.
"Remember, after you've finished the arrangement of the stars, you can't relax your thoughts. You must immediately focus on the position of your activation!"
That dignified voice resounded once more.
"Searing Flames!"
The sound was like a magical bell, ringing inside everyone's mind.
While at the same time, a dazzling scarlet red Star Path emerged around Mrs. Tangyue's body before it quickly condensed within her hands.
Following this, a fiery red power rapidly grew on her half-gripped hands; it was incomparably violent!
With the flick of her wrist, the flame shot out like an arrow and gave off a scarlet red delicacy. After that, it became like a bullet, accurately and unmistakably penetrating the body of the puppet!
"Gone?"
"How come nothing happened?"
"It hit the target though."
The atmosphere grew silent for a period of time. The puppet which was hit by Fire Burst didn't have any kind of reaction while Mrs. Tangyue's aura was the complete opposite.
Within the confusion, Mrs. Tangyue slowly turned around and faced the entire 48 students of the class with her somewhat young and tender face; however, the corner of her mouth gave off a smirking smile that displayed her high self-confidence.
WHEEEEEEWWW!!!!!
Suddenly, a shocking scarlet red burst forth from the within of the puppet. It absolutely was not one of those slow ignitions; it was a violent flutter. It looked like something that was able to burn everything in one breath.
The intact human-like puppet from just now was engulfed by a scarlet red flame in just an instant!!!
'That's Just aura farming at this point,' Liu Shan thought.
It was actually fascinating, how magic worked in this world. Liu Shan had seen Mo Fan cast the primary Lightning magic, but compared to Tangyue, he is still way behind. Tangyue has way more control over her magic.
"Alright, who are the Fire element students in our class? Let me note them down." Mrs. Tangyue seemed to regard the gazes of worship from students as something normal as she continued to teach her class.
"I awakened fire element," a girl stepped forward, she had a resolute expression on her face.
'That's... Zhoumin? I think' Liu Shan wasn't certain about the names of his classmates. He did know them; He was just too busy to interact with any of them. Most of his time in school is spent sleeping or learning something new.
"I am! I am one too, Mrs. Tangyue! I am also a Fire element user!! My name is Huang Feifeng," the other male student who had awakened the Fire element jumped out.
'Look at this Huang Feifeng's excited expression...'
"Tea… teacher, I am also a fire… fire element user. My, my name is Zhao Daniu," a little man who stuttered stood up. As his eyes met Mrs. Tangyue's, his face turned completely red.
"There's only three Fire element users in a single class?"
"That's too little."
"There's also me; my name is Mo Fan," Mo Fan came back to his senses and walked out from the crowd of people.
A commotion started as soon as Mo Fan came forward, Afterall He still wasn't able to control any fire element stars. Liu Shan tuned out the rest of 'Looking down on the mc' part.
"And who is Liu Shan? He awakened the Space element, right?"
Oh. He didn't know He would also attract her attention. Standing a little straight he answered, "Here. Yes, I awakened Space element."
Mrs. Tangyue's eyes fell on him, she looked him up and down with a serious expression. "How many stars can you control now?" She asked.
"umm... 5" He could actually control 6, but since Mu Bai and Zhaoting both can only control 5 then he will also reveal 5 stars only.
"Meet me when you can connect all 7 stars. I'll give you some pointers for casting magic, Okay?"
He nodded his head; He wasn't sure why such treatment was given to him. Maybe she wished to recruit him into the Magic court? He wasn't sure.
"Damn! This Liu Shan gets to have one on one lesson with Mrs. Tangyue! How can the heaven be so unfair! It should have been me!" Liu Shan wasn't sure who said that, but he really wanted to rub salt over their wounds if he knew.
"Your homeroom teacher has already spoken to me about the importance of the Annual Examination. First, if you don't meet the requirements, then you'll be asked to leave the school. Second, they'll divide you into different classes based on your grades. If you're placed in the Elite class, then you'll obtain certain benefits that will give you an advantage on the Magic University's exams. Thus, this school semester, everyone should have no reason to not put in their utmost effort," Mrs. Tangyue said to everyone.
"Mrs. Tangyue, will you be teaching the Elite class?" A male student asked.
"Yeah, if everything goes according to the plans, I will be assigned to be the Practical Magic teacher for the Elite class after I've finished teaching you," Tangyue slightly nodded her head.
"Teacher, I, Yangguo... oh, I, Huang Feifeng will definitely do my best!"
"Mrs. Tangyue, I want to follow you in the future as well."
"Oh right, for others also, when any of you are able to control seven stars, then you can come and find me in private. I will take some time off of my schedule to teach you some more," Tangyue continued.
The commotion that followed was...wild to say the least, everyone was comparing how many stars they could control. Mu Bai and Zhaoting's names were thrown around.
Liu Shan even heard his name in the midst of it a few times.
---
1...2...3...4...5...6...
"Just one more.."
7.
"Telekinesis: Void Claw!"
The bedroom door flew open, coming off the hinges as it flew back with surprising force.
"Finally!" A whole month has passed as Liu Shan immersed himself in trying to release space magic, and finally he was able to do it.
Now, The Hunter's Union.
"Ahem..." He would have to fix that door.
'Should have chosen a different target.' He thought with a sweat drop.
---
Liu Shan entered the tall building; it was huge with all types of people buzzing about hurriedly. He walked down the Hall of Hunter's Union.
The Hunter's Union was an organization formed by wandering Hunter's Squadrons. There were tens of thousands of Hunter Mages who came to the Hall of the Hunter's Union to search for missions that were suitable for themselves.
The Hall of Hunters. The people came and went, it felt like a large hall of spirals, while at same time like a job fair.
Looking around, Liu Shan saw many Hunter squads lining up around the sides recruiting for missions. At the front was a massive desk area just above which hung a huge screen that announced the newest missions, as well as the rewards of the missions. The lowest reward was 100k RMB, and the higher reward missions could go up to millions.
As Liu Shan continued walking, the voices of the recruiters rose above the general noise, their pitches sharp and eager, like street hawkers vying for attention:
"Iron Hammer Squad is looking for Ice elemental Mages. Required battle experience is three years and above. Have the desire to cooperate in a team. The most important thing is to have adept control of the Ice spell. The mission has already been received, average reward is 20k RMB, estimated two months completion!"
"Wind Element Mages, the squad lacks an experienced Wind Magician who can lure a One-eyed Magic Wolf. Other Elements are not needed!"
"Fire Element. Where are the Fire Mages, join our Fierce Wind Squad! Guaranteed to efficiently complete missions, and get wealthy!"
Liu Shan adjusted his hooded jacket, pulling the hood just enough to obscure his features. He wore dark colored clothes he had found in his parent's wardrobe. They were perfect for blending into shadows.
Becoming a Hunter wasn't complicated; he'd done his research online. The process was almost suspiciously simple. Too simple, really.
All he needed to do was fill out a registration form, demonstrate his magic, and that was it—he'd officially become a Hunter.
Of course, just because he'd become a Hunter didn't mean he could take on any mission he pleased. There were divisions and restrictions in place for that.
The Hunters were ranked as: Novice Hunter > Intermediate Hunter > Advanced Hunter > Hunter Master 1-7 stars > Senior Hunter(Hunter King).
Some cities didn't even allow Novice Hunters to venture outside the safe zones.
Thankfully, Bo City wasn't one of them.
Liu Shan Made his way towards the reception desk, The beautiful lady sitting there gave him one of those practiced sugary smiles and said, "What can I do for you, sir"
"I—Ahem." He cleared his throat quickly, catching himself before his normal voice slipped out. "I'd like to sign up to become a Hunter."
"Of course, sir. Here, please fill out this form." she slid a sheet of paper across the desk toward him, the gesture fluid and precise.
"Alright"
Name? He paused for a moment, debating. Eh, just put anything, he thought. It wasn't like anyone would check. Most people used fake names anyway. The Hunter badges were linked directly to a person's magic, so it was impossible to fake being a Hunter. That's why the system was so relaxed.
With a slight smirk tugging at his lips, he scribbled down the name: Ying Shen.
Yeah, it's a bit chunni. So what? Fight him.
Let him feel edgy for a moment alright?
The form asked for other personal information as well—age, gender, magic element, cultivation level, place of residence, contact information, and so on. Liu Shan filled it out quickly, his pen scratching across the paper as he wrote.
When he finished, he handed the form back to the receptionist. Her bright, sugary smile lingered, and he couldn't help but think to himself, 'That smile's starting to get irritating.'
As she glanced at the form, her eyes widened slightly. "Shadow element!?" The words burst out of her before she could stop herself. Realizing her slip, she quickly composed herself, smoothing out her expression. "Ah—sorry for my outburst, sir," she said apologetically, though her tone was tinged with lingering surprise.
Clearing her throat, she continued, "Can you please show your Shadow Element star path—"
Her words trailed off, frozen mid-sentence.
Liu Shan had vanished.
The next moment, he was standing right beside her, emerging seamlessly from the shadow cast by her chair. His voice was low and dark, almost menacing. "Is this enough?"
The receptionist stiffened; a nervous gulp audible as she tried to compose herself. "Y-Y-Yes, sir. That's more than enough."
Before long, Liu Shan found himself holding a metallic badge engraved with the Hunter's Union symbol. It gleamed faintly under the overhead lights. Alongside it, he was handed a small handbook, The booklet contained all the essential information about the Hunter's Union—rules, guidelines, and tips for new recruits.
'I am glad that trick worked,' He breathed a sigh of relief as he was leaving the building. It's not like he could just show her his star path. He didn't have one! His Shadow stardust didn't have stars and it's not like he could just expose his space element.
In a place like Bo city, The number of Space mages can be count on one hand, With 4 fingers remaining.
Now that he was officially a Hunter, Liu Shan knew he'd need to join a team to take on missions. Even the simplest missions posted required a full squad of Hunters.
'But that can wait,' he mused, his thoughts drifting to the days ahead.
The annual test was approaching fast, and once it was over, the school would give a break for year end. He'd have nearly a month and a half of free time after that.
"I guess I'll just train in the meantime," he muttered to himself, already planning how to make the most of the break.
There was a slim chance he might get contacted by a team before then, since his information was now stored in the Hunter's Union database. But in reality, squads rarely reached out to novice Hunters—rare element or not.
For now, he'd focus on honing his skills.
---
The Summer hot air blew over Bo city, carrying dust and sand as it flew.
It was night time, The streets were deserted save for a few stray dogs littering about the trash can.
Awoo? A dog picked up its head to look at the street ahead, The street lamps wasn't able to illuminate the section, casting the half of the street in darkness.
There was a swish of wind when the dog's body stiffened, it sniffed in that direction a few times and suddenly its body started quivering.
A single glistening eye stared at it from the darkness.
---
The slightly chilly wind ruffled his hair as he lay sprawled on the rooftop looking at the stars.
The week-long break before the annual examination had finally allowed him a moment of rest.
Almost a year had passed since he awakened his magic—since he awakened this. An inky substance swirled lazily around his hand, its presence both familiar and unsettling.
So much time had slipped by. He'd been consumed by an endless cycle of meditation, practice, and training—both magical and physical. Somewhere along the way, he'd forgotten to stop, to simply exist, and to appreciate the fragile gift of being alive.
Life.
What a fickle thing. He had died before—twice, technically—and yet the thought of death no longer stirred the fear it once did. He didn't want to die. No. He wanted to live. That was why he pushed himself so hard, enduring gruelling hours of training.
But Liu Shan understood the nature of life. It was fleeting. Temporary. He didn't fear death, but neither would he accept it easily. He was unwilling to die without first accomplishing what he had strived for.
He didn't just wish for power. No. He wished for more than that—something greater.
Ever since that time, He could still feel the phantom pain of being engulfed in fire just because his own weakness. His weakness from that day still haunted him, and it fuelled his resolve.
Tremor.
A faint vibration coursed through the rooftop beneath him. It was subtle, like the distant aftershock of a faraway earthquake.
Tremor!!
A sharper jolt shook the building, snapping him out of his thoughts. Liu Shan sat up instantly, his senses sharpening.
'That was way too intense to be an Earthquake.'
His mind raced, He recalled everything he knew so far and soon his mind clicked.
Fragments of information clicked into place as he sifted through what he knew. The tremors...
The timing...
"The tunnels." The underground tunnels, Dug by One-Eyed Magic Rats. They were the routes the monster took to invade the city.
But shouldn't that be after a year?
He remembered from the story; a girl goes missing from Xinxia's school and a One-Eyed rat was found at the scene. "If I remember correctly, One such tunnel was under that school" He muttered.
His house was close to the school, His mind connected the dots.
"It would be impossible to dig such extensive tunnels in a short time. The Black Vatican must have been planning this for years."
It meant one thing—they had already begun.
Liu Shan quickly got dressed, ensuring his face was properly covered.
"I would've liked my first monster encounter to be under better circumstances," he muttered grimly before vanishing into the night.
---
The moon hung in the sky, obscured by clouds. It was way past midnight, deep in the night when none were awake.
A shadow was vaguely visible in-between the pools of light cast by the lampposts—a smudge of darkness moving unnoticed.
Liu Shan was following the tremors, his path leading him toward the city's garbage dump.
He knew it was hard to find the entrances for these tunnels. The one tunnel he knew, In the Ming Wen school wasn't open. It was still a little way from the school and the tremors were coming from another direction.
Soon he reached the dump. The smell of rotting waste assaulted his nose. It was disgusting, More than usual.
The dump was notorious, a place avoided by most. Even from a distance, the stench of rotting waste assaulted his senses.
As he approached, the rancid smell intensified, mingling with an odd, unnatural odor. Garbage was piled high near the entrance, the result of people tossing their trash from a distance to avoid getting too close.
Grrrroowlll...
A faint noise echoed from within the dump. Liu Shan froze, his body stiffened. The hair on his body stood on end as adrenaline pumped through his veins.
He could hear it. Something shuffling in the mound of garbage. Whatever it was, it wasn't a stray dog or cat.
Grrrroollww.... Grrsssllww...
The sound came again—a low, guttural growl, followed by the disgusting squeaking.
He saw it, The disgusting thing.
A grotesque monstrosity emerged from the heap of waste. Its neck was as thick as a tree trunk, so distorted it was hard to tell where the head began. Where a head should have been, there was instead a single, enormous eye—bloated, bloodshot, and as large as a basketball. Beneath it was a gaping mouth, stuffed with rotting garbage that dripped from its revolting jaws.
The beast hadn't noticed him yet. It continued to scavenge, its grotesque mouth snapping at scraps of refuse.
Liu Shan resisted the urge to retch, forcing himself to calm down. Silently, he extended his hand, focusing.
Shhhwww!
A crescent-shaped blade of shadow shot forward, slicing through the darkness of the night.
The blade was fast, fast enough that the Beast only had time to pick up its head. The beast paused, its single, monstrous eye darting around wildly, sensing something was amiss. As it looked up, the blade struck, tearing into its eye.
Blood sprayed like a geyser, thick and black, as the beast let out a piercing, guttural shriek.
Gugugu!!! Gwwlluu-"Void claw"
Before it could retaliate, Liu Shan's spell took hold. An invisible force clamped down on the beast's jaws, silencing its cries. Its gaping wound festered, the blackened blood spreading like a rot through its flesh.
"You're the first," Liu Shan muttered, stepping forward. With a swift motion, he plunged his blade into the beast's head, ending its thrashing once and for all.
It was dead.
His shoulders sagged as the tension melted away. He had done it. He had killed it.
He wanted to leave quickly; he knew someone would be coming soon. The commotion of a Beasts shriek would indeed attract many, perhaps even other monsters.
But he stopped, His eyes were lingered at the corpse of the beast.
He didn't pay attention to the remnant soul that floated out from it, Flying towards him. No.
That's did not call for him. In his mind, The dark Cosmic dust swirled wildly.
It pulsed with life; it beckoned him to move closer.
The remnant soul entered his body, submerging into the mysterious stardust, but that wasn't important to him.
His eyes stared at the body, No. It stared at it.
Wisp of smoke rose from it, calling him.
Without thinking, he stepped closer, his hand reaching out instinctively.
The words came to him unbidden, as though whispered by the shadows themselves.
"Be reborn from the shadows of death, to serve your King."
His voice was calm yet commanding as he spoke the final word:
Arise
The mist surged violently, and from within it, a claw emerged—dark and jagged. Slowly, the beast rose again, its grotesque form now shrouded in shadow.
It stood before him, its massive head bowed low.
It had been reborn.
Reborn to serve its King.
---
There might be a change of tone here and there. It was all written months apart.
Enjoy and don't forget to add to collection!