Chương 17: [BL] 17. The Bright Light [4]

[Fire Light]—Warm orbs of fire will be summoned around the Guard based on the Guard's current Fireflies Runes count. Firelight can be infused into the Guard's spell, if wished, granting +20% Arcanic for every Firelight imbued; or the Guard can imbue Firelight into her own body and receive +10% All Attributes. Grant [1 Arcanic] [3 Fireflies Runes] [Grand Hunt]—The hunt is on by the Hunter's will. Invoke Grand Hunt, assigning an experience boost to every monster killed by the Hunt Party only.

Grand Hunt will also place Hunt Bounty, and rewards can range from imbued equipment and items to extra experience. Hunt Party members' levels will be required to match or be below the Hunter's level. Current Hunt Party Limit [3]. Grant [1 Strength, 1 Dexterity, 1 Vitality, 1 Constitution, 1 Sense, 1 Arcanic] [5 Bright Runes] [Archer's Instinct]—Archery is a skill that takes years to master, but not for a Hunter. An Instinct inside the Hunter's body was born—an Instinct of the Hunter.

This is merely an instinct, as the Hunter still needs to learn the art of archery herself, albeit with boosted learning.

Grant [2 Strength, 4 Dexterity, 1 Vitality, 2 Constitution, 3 Sense, 1 Arcanic] Name: Willow [Guard] Class: [Guard—Level 2] Outfit: [Sheran Village Guard's Uniform] Rune: [Fireflies 3/3] Attribute: [5 Strength, 1 Dexterity, 3 Vitality, 2 Constitution, 2 Sense, 2 Arcanic] [+5% All Attributes] [3 Fireflies Rune] Spell: [Sword of Light] [2] Enhancer: [Guard Honour] [Strong Strike] [Fire Light] Name: Willow [Wind Mage] Class: [Wind Mage—Level 5] Outfit: [Wind Mage Outfit] Rune: [Dark Wind 0/6] [+ 100%] Attribute: [1 Strength, 2 Dexterity, 2 Vitality, 4 Constitution, 7 Sense, 15 Arcanic] [6 Dark Wind Rune] Spell: [-50%] Scythe (1) [2] Dismember [4] Ravenous Spear [4] Enhancer: [Ravenous Wind] [Devour] [Ravenous Eyes] Name: Willow [Hunter] Class: [Ranger—Level 1] Outfit: [Huntress Garb] Rune: [Bright 5/5] Attribute: [3 Strength, 5 Dexterity, 2 Vitality, 3 Constitution, 4 Sense, 2 Arcanic] [5 Bright Runes] Spell: [Mana Bow] [3] [Mana Arrow] [1] Enhancer: [Grand Hunt] [Archer's Instinct] Name: Willow Class: [Guard—Level 2] [Wind Mage—Level 5] [Hunter—Level 1] Outfit: [Wind Mage Outfit] Rune: [Fireflies 3/3] [Dark Wind 6/6] [Bright 5/5] Spell: [Guard] -Sword of Light [2] [Wind Mage] -Scythe (1) [2] -Dismember [4] -Ravenous Spear [4] [Hunter] -Mana Bow [3] -Mana Arrow [1] Enhancer: [Guard Honour] [Strong Strike] [Fire Light] [Ravenous Wind] [Devour] [Ravenous Eyes] [Grand Hunt] [Archer Instinct] The light around her body began to die out, and the cold-hot energy snuffed with it.

Once again, the frosty night air entered her lungs, and Willow breathed in wide, letting life flow inside her, pushing herself up in the process. Josha, beside her, tapped her back. His eyes gazed around them as the wagon they were on rolled through the forest. A branch came swooping right to her head until Josha forced Willow to duck. The rustling leaves escaped them, and Willow gasped, still reorienting herself. She looked around. Where are we going? Five horsemen galloping along the wagon, no, not just five.

"Stop! Stop at once!" The horse neighed, and the wagon came to a stop slowly. Two guards were riding on the wagon's driver seats, and they dismounted; one of them calmed the horses, and the other went to the new riders who stopped the entire party. Each of them, except one, wore Sheran guard uniforms. They got into an argument. None of them hid their voices. Willow craned forward, wanting to hear, until a hand took hers. Shera stared at Willow with her mouth gaped open.

Not just her, but Josha as well, with five other young women and men crammed into the wagon.

"This is really her? The Bright Star?" Bright Star? Willow tilted her head skyward, and streaks of brilliance cut through the heavens, under a sky blanketed with stars that mirrored thousands of eyes. The horizon filled with tailed golden radiance, and most of them flew eastward, which Willow guessed would be the capital's location.

It did not strike her until now, but now she realised that in a way, the empire monopolises the outworlders by gathering them in one place and having them well integrated by various schemes such as marriage and bribery. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. It was probably for the outworlders' benefit to be fair, so they could train safely and they would not risk dying in the wilderness.

However, this took away some outworlders that were supposed to spawn in remote areas, rendering help to most cities or villages that the empire did not care for. She shook her head. No use in thinking about it now.

"Three classes. You have three classes!" Shera exclaimed, her mouth wide open, and Willow could swear that her eyes went sparkling like a child. Her hand even shaking Willow's shoulder tightly.

"Guess I am," Willow responded, still massaging her forehead.

"Josha? What the hell happened? Why are we here—" [The Grand Hunt has been called!] What's this now? [Princess Elesis, Twelfth Imperial Princess of the Empire, was seized by painful contractions! Her midwife had decided it was too dangerous for her to continue the journey. Her caravan stopped, and she was snuck out and forced to give birth right in the middle of the first surge of the Apocalypse cycle. A Kobold Rift had opened, and the creatures rushed at her retinue's defense alongside many other monsters. Enter the Kobold Rift and destroy its Dungeon Core to elevate the pressure upon the Noble retinue!] [Target Rift: Kobold Half-Dragon Rift] [Green Rift] [Hunt Target] [Kobold Half-Dragon—Level 18-25] [Reward: Warrior Class Stone] [Kobold Bone Warrior—Level 11 X5] [Reward: Bone Buckler] [Hunt Party 0/3] [Level limit: 1] [Everyone inside the hunt party will receive a 100% Experience boost during the grand hunt] [50% shared experience boost activated among hunt party members!] A glowing blue leaf nestled between Willow's right ear. She picked it up and set it down. Instinct of a hero, huh? So this was why Bright Rune was hailed as something legendary. True, having multiple people with this ability would help quite… greatly. Ignoring the wide-eyed looks she got from the youngsters, Willow scrambled up with Josha lending his shoulder. She stripped the cloak Josha had given earlier and stared at the dumbstruck youngster. She hated this reaction.

"Close your mouths," Willow said to them. They flinched, then the questions came out of them like a flood.

"Hold! No! Down, hey! She needs to rest!" Shera held them back with her arms wide open.

"You're probably confused," Josha said as he softly pushed Willow behind him to shield her from the curious youngsters.

"The noble's army—""Did not come."

"—Yes. Alfred put full effort into closing the Rift, but then monsters attacked. The Apocalypse truly started now, Willow. And it started yesterday, before the Bright Starshot even came. Goats—called Blight Goats—climbed the mountain. Wyverns. Griffins… Shera and I were freed and told to protect you with our lives. Luckily, we managed to sneak you into a wagon. The others are currently fighting inside the Hollow Rift.

They're being surrounded on two sides by monsters surging at them, as well as the native Rift monsters. We're meant to escort you and find out why the Noble army hadn't arrived as they promised." Josha clenched his hand, and his voice choked out every word.

"A noble lady. An emperor's daughter is pregnant. That is why they had to stop."

"Pregnant? Wait, you mean an Imperial princess? Willow, how did you—""Well, I'm your bright star now," She said with a small smirk and touched Josha's cheek. His eyebrow furrowed in confusion, and when he was about to say something, a prompt blared. Invite [Rider—Level 1] to the Hunt Party? She mentally commands 'yes' Willow let out a small chuckle as Josha did not hesitate to accept. [Hunt Party 2/3] [Hunter—Level 1] [Rider—Level 1] Does it only count my hunter levels?

Can I still use my Mage class during the hunt? Willow did not waste time and summoned her Mage Outfit. [Hunt Party 2/3] [Hunter—Level 1] [Rider—Level 1] Hm, it still counted Hunter… Hopefully, she still gets the effect of the hunt even as she uses her mage class. For now, she had no reason to put the hunter class on yet. Testing could come later in a safer place.

"A hundred percent experience boost…" Josha's mouth hung open. She moved to Nesha next, who was still trying her darn hardest to calm down the group of youngsters in front of her. They still bombarded her with questions, and it was obvious that they were afraid. But Willow's concern right now was not them but behind her—the soldiers, especially the one with a different uniform.

"Shera!"

"What?" She turned, and Willow caught her cheeks. Being forehead to forehead with Mera allowed Willow to access her thoughts, so she'd just thought this would invite her to the party. [Hunt Party 3/3] [Hunter—Level 1] [Rider—Level 1] [Frost Witch—Level 1] Shera blinked, probably read ing the guidance spirit's prompt, and her eyes widened.

"A Class stone as reward… Is this the Quest Enhancement I heard so much about?"

"And Experience boost," Josha added.

"Yes, and that too."

"So she is really the one then?" Suddenly, one youngster asked. When he met Willow's eyes, he nodded and stifled a cry.

"Good, then my brother's death is not a waste." That quieted the others as well.

"We'll see if we survive," Willow said. Gripping the edge of the wagon, Willow hopped down, and she was relieved when her body responded to her well. She hit the ground and tried to hop up and down. Unfortunately, the Syl Sword was no longer with her. A soldier must have taken it for the fight in the Hollow Rift. She stepped toward the soldiers who were still arguing somehow. Willow chewed her cheek. This is not the time for this. Josha and Shera followed her in a hurry.

"The Guidance Spirit told me to stay close to you to gain the full benefit of the hunt," Josha said, his hand idly caressing the horse attached to the wagon.

"Same here," Shera said.

"Josha!" A horseman rode, shadowing over them. The man, probably five years older than them, glowered down.

"Get back on the wagon! Don't cause any more trouble!"

"Jaquin…" Josha hesitated. That name sounded familiar. Ah, Josha's brother!

"Do you hear me? Shera, you too! I got enough trouble from you lot already so—" Willow walked faster, ignoring Jaquin's shout for her to stop, and she stopped, but only when she near the horseback soldiers.

"I'm telling you." An old soldier breathed calmly.

"We will need all the help you can provide. You will be greatly rewarded—""Rewarded? You noble dogs were supposed to arrive weeks ago! Do you think you can worm your way out with gold coins?" One of the Sheran guards demanded. The Imperial soldier looked around. His bronze chain-mail gleamed under the bright star shots and moonlight. His plume, above his helmet, swayed as the wind tossed it about.

"Look, the Bright Lady—""Bright Lady! That's what you call those noble? We have an actual Bright Runist to protect. Are we to—""An unavoidable situation arose, and we have no choice but to—""She is pregnant and currently giving birth," Willow cut in, earning a sharp look from the imperial soldiers. Every eye gathered toward her, and she continued on.

"She is the imperial princess. Princess Elesis? And her 'retinue ', which suggests that she is separated from the promised army, isn't she?" The Imperial Soldier's eyes went from hostile to soft, even teary, as realisation dawned on him.

"The Bright Rune tells you?"

"It did." The soldiers, not just the imperial but also the Sheran guards, stare even more wonderingly. Willow wondered what kind of legend had been told about the bright Rune. She could guess, of course, but it did not matter now. What mattered was that she held it, and it told her what to do, and she would trust it.

"What do we need to do?"

"First of all, where's the promised army?" The Imperial Soldier slams a fist to his bronze chest plate.

"Her Highness had been snuck out of the Main army because the main camp had been under pressure from the early surge of the Apocalypse—five rifts opened, and the riftborns descended upon us."

"Five? Five! How are they not wiped out!" One of the Sheran guards asked.

"We numbered two thousand, enough to hastily form a defence, and among us there are a thousand class holders, with half possessing tier two classes." That seemed to shut the Sheran Guards up, and they even shifted uncomfortably above their saddles.

"Nine tier three and one tier four class holders snuck the princess carriage out. But the kobolds still ambushed us; while we do not have a problem disposing them, their constant harassment proves to be troublesome." He dropped from his horse and went kneeling on one knee.

"Bright One, I'm yours to command. What should we do? Should we mount an attack to destroy the rift Dungeon Core to close it for good?" [Legionary—level 12]"If we destroy a dungeon core belonging to the Kobold's rift, what would happen then?" Perhaps it was a basic question, but the soldier did not hesitate to answer.

"The Kobolds outside of the rift will remain. But they will disperse when they sense their homes' destruction, which would send them into a panic.

"Can we handle it?" Willow looked at Josha, who was surprised that he had asked her.

"We can," Josha said. Willow moved her gaze to the soldiers next, who nodded in agreement, albeit hesitantly.

"That's what we'll do, then. We'll close a rift."