Chapter 6 - Vanguard Squad

Zephyr stepped out of the wagon, standing before the huge building. He
glanced and saw Doran standing beside his giant stallion, giving orders to
the guards who came out of the building. Looking around, Zephyr eyes
drifted toward a fancy wagon moving in front of him.
The wagon rolled forward at steady pace. Princess Eldora and Cassandra
were inside that wagon. Zephyr guessed they were headed to meet with the
King, as the wagon moved toward the towering palace visible in the
distance. They had arrived at Lumisgard, the royal capital of Valdoria.
The weather here is better compared to Atria. Maybe a bit hot for
Zephyr.
“Come on, boy. Let’s go,” Doran called him.
After defeating the black dragon, Zephyr vaguely remembered someone
came to his aid just before everything went black. When he woke up, he
found himself back at the mansion. Doran informed him that he passed the
test and he had been assigned to serve as a guard in the unit he commended
- Princess Cassandra’s Vanguard Squad. On the next day, they set off for the
royal capital, Lumisgard, home to Divine Blade headquarters.
Following Doran, Zephyr made his way inside the halls of Divine Blade
Faction. Inside the hall were the people wearing armor similar to him. Upon
seeing him, the expressions on their faces changed.
“Doran! Who’s that skinny boy behind you?” A bulky man with beard and
blond hair walked toward them.
Doran’s face shifted to subtle annoyance.
“Marc,” Doran called.
The man had a huge muscular build and almost as tall as Doran. His gray
beard and matured face suggested that he was in his mid-forties. He wore a
knight armor similar to other commanders and wielded a giant axe strapped
to his back.
Marc leaned in and looked at Zephyr closer.
“He looks too skinny to be called your bastard. Where did you pick up
this brat?”
Doran sighed, clearly not wanting answer his question.
“He is a new recruit. He had been assigned by Princess Eldora to serve as
Princess Cassandra’s guard.”
At the end of Doran’s word, everyone’s attention turned to Zephyr. Marc
raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Really? This guy?”
Marc studied Zephyr’s build and weapon.
“A Katana user, huh? Well, it is nice to meet you kid!”
Marc’s huge hand fell on Zephyr’s shoulder. Zephyr looked up and saw
Marc’s eyes glowing as he used [Inspect] on him.
“Hmm, that’s interesting.”
Doran shoved Marc away from Zephyr.
“I know what you are doing, Marc. Back off.”
Marc stumbled back, looking annoyed at Doran’s interference.
“Tsk, you are no fun.”
Zephyr heard the people whispering about him. Although he couldn’t
hear them clearly, Zephyr knew he wasn’t welcomed here just by their looks
and expressions.
Together with Doran, Zephyr walked toward a counter where an adult
woman in glasses stood behind.
“Kyra, a badge for him please.”
The woman named Kyra gave them a stern look behind her glass before
turning her back to find the badge. Zephyr glanced at her and noticed that
her eyes look a little red.
“Had she been crying?” Zephyr pondered.
Doran rubbed the back of his neck. “I am sorry to hear about Cyrus,” he
said.
The woman tensed up for a moment but maintained her calm exposure.
“Thank you,” she said calmly and handed Zephyr a circular metal object.
Zephyr looked at the glimmering object on his palm - golden badge
craved in the shape of giant saber, exactly like the one Eldora wield. Just by
the looks, one could tell it was made of excellent craftsmanship. Every
explicit details of the blade had been carefully crafted in such small badge.
When Zephyr put on badge on his armor, he body stiffened, sudden wave
of energy surging through his body. At the same time, his body heated up.
“That’s proper reaction for anyone who is putting this on for the first
time.” Doran chuckled at his reaction before continuing “The badge is not
just for show. It has special effects. You can check it with [Inspect]”
Zephyr’s eyes glowed as he used [Inspect].
[Name - Badge of Divine Blade
Type - Accessories
Rarity - Legendary
Innate Abilities -
• Experience gain increased by 30%.
• If there is at least three people with same badge within the area you
can’t be hexed, hypnotized, feared.
• If you are in Divine Blade user’s party, all your attacks are empowered
by 20%]
“The effects were pretty good,” Zephyr thought.
“Follow me. Zephyr,” Doran, leading him deeper into grand hall. As they
walked through the lavish corridor, Zephyr couldn’t help but notice the
statues lining both sides.
 There were six in total, each holding different weapon - Bow, Hammer,
Staff, Gauntlets, Greatsword, and Saber.
“These are Six Holy Hero Relics,” Doran said, glancing at the statues.
“Tell me, boy, how much do you know about the Hero Relics?”
“I read about them in the book you gave me,” Zephyr replied. The book
explained that Heroes relics were ancient weapons wielded by “Heroes”
during the War of Ancients, thousands of thousands years ago. To obtain a
Hero Relic meant the possibility of becoming a “Hero” - the next stage
beyond an Adventurer.
Being a “Hero” has its own perks. Not only would a Hero gain new
abilities unique to them, but their existing skills would evolve. However,
becoming a Hero wasn’t as possible as possessing a relic. Each relic had its
own will, choosing only those worthy of wielding its full power. After being
chosen, the wielder had to embark on a series of quests, leading them on a
path to fully become a Hero and earn a title.
Every nation, no matter how small, had at least two Heroes with titles.
Heroes are powerful, capable of facing down several monsters and even
armies.
“Our Kingdom currently holds four Holy Hero Relics,” Doran explained
“but there are seven heroes with titles - King Regulus, Queen Araidna,
Princess Eldora, Prince Rowan, Lord Aurien, Vice-Commander Rodrick and
myself.”
“Princess Cassandra wasn’t one of them?” Zephyr asked, curious.
Doran sighed, shaking his head. “Unfortunately, our little princess
wasn’t chosen by a holy relic. Or any hero relics. But recently, she formed a
contract with Icarus. You’ve seen him, right?”
“You mean the little phoenix?”
“Yes. It’s not widely known, but one can also become a Hero by forming
contract with mythical beings or deities. The process is still the same with
Hero Relics. She is still completing her quests, so she hasn’t received her
Hero title yet.”
As they passed through the corridor, Doran and Zephyr arrived at the
training field. Four people were sparring in pairs.
Doran glanced at them, “Our purpose is to guard and assist Princess
Cassandra while she completes her quests to become a Hero. We protect her
from any dangers - be it assassins, monsters, or worse. Every members here
were handpicked by Princess Eldora herself. So, a lot is expected from you.”
Doran patted Zephyr’s shoulder. The training members noticed Doran’s
presence and greeted him. Four of them stood before Zephyr, each wielding
different weapons.
The one with two axes who appeared to be the leader, stepped forward
and stared at Zephyr. “Captain, who’s this?” he said.
“Sten, it’s rude to stare at someone you’ve just met,” said a blue-haired
archer behind him.
“Everyone, let me to introduce you to our newest member.” Doran said,
placing a hand on Zephyr’s shoulder.
“Zephyr Barnet. Pleasure meeting you all.” Zephyr greeted curtly.
“Zephyr? What kind of name is that?” a tall guy with broadsword leaned
forward, glaring.
“Now now,” said an older boy with emerald eyes, stepping between
them. “You’re scaring the new recruit. Welcome to Vanguard Squad, Zephyr.
I’m Hendrick Artero.”
The blue-haired girl smiled. “I am Selene Huix, an archer. Nice to meet
you!”
The tall guy with broadsword extended his hand. “Name’s Terrence.”
Zephyr shook his hand, noticing that Terrence grip was tighter than
usual.
Sten eyed Zephyr’s katana, “I am not sure that little weapon can do
anything worth.”
Sten flexed his twins axes, spinning them effortlessly. “Now these are
the real deal. What’s your for? Farming?”
Zephyr didn’t say anything back. He knew Sten was trying to provoke
him. The last thing he needed was trouble on first day.
But trouble always seems to follow him.
“Why don’t you spar with him and find out?” Doran suggested to Sten.
Zephyr glanced at Doran who merely shrugged.
“Shouldn’t you be breaking this up?” Zephyr thought.
Sten grinned. “I’d be more than happy to, Captain. I was getting bored
anyway. Let’s see what this guy is made of.”
Doran whispered to Zephyr, “Consider it an opportunity to gain
experience. Feel free to go all out.”
Sten gestured for Zephyr to follow him to the training ground. They took
positions, facing each other.
“No active abilities allowed,” Doran warned.
“Yes, sir!” Sten nodded.
“Captain, are you sure about this? You know how Sten fights,” Selene
asked with concern.
“Don’t worry. Zephyr will be fine. He lacks experience with real
opponents, and Sten is perfect match since he always take sparring
seriously,” Doran reassured her.
Zephyr unsheathed his Katana, standing across Sten. With his buff build
and twin axes, Sten was clearly a strength-based fighter.
“I will show you how real men fight,” Sten said, pointing one of his axes
at Zephyr.
He then charged at Zephyr and swung down with a brutal two-handed
attack.
 Zephyr blocked the strike with his blade, feeling the weight of Sten’s
strength bearing down on him.
“This guy’s no joke!” Zephyr thought, retreating and circling around Sten
to find an opening.
“You are boring,” Sten sighed, easily catching up to Zephyr’s speed and
started attacking relentlessly. Zephyr’s hadn’t expect him to be so fast.
Forced into a defensive stance, he barely managed to parry the onslaught of
strikes.
[Inspect] Zephyr’s eye glowed.
[Sten Hamos : Level 32
Class : Berserker
Quests Completed : 12
Mana : 982/982
Status : None
Weapon : Bonecrushers (Twin Axes)
Abilities : 8(Active) 5(Passive)]
“Inspecting in the middle of a clash?” Sten scoffed and kicked Zephyr
back.
Zephyr crashed to the ground.
“Is that all you got?” Sten taunted. “You won’t do jack shit here like this.
Only blocking and deflecting like a coward. Attack! Attack like you mean it!”
Zephyr stood up. He is starting to feel the thrill. This wasn’t like fighting
wild monsters - this was true battle against an Adventurer.
He gripped the Uchigatana tight, holding it horizontally across his body
with both of his hands. His eyes focused on the opponent before him.
He was ready.
Sten grinned. “Now that’s more like it!”
They both lunged at each other.
Sten swung one of his axe but Zephyr evaded the attack sideways,
countering with downward slash. Sten blocked the attack with second axe,
pushing Zephyr back.
Zephyr quickly regained his footing and charged again.
Sten hurled both axes at Zephyr. The axes traveled at great speed in
circular motion. Zephyr slide to doge the attack. The axes spun around,
circling back to Sten like boomerangs.
Sten leaped, axe raised for a crushing blow. Zephyr rolled, narrowly
avoiding the strike. But Sten was relentless, closing in with a double-axe
attack.
Zephyr closed his eye. He had dealt with this kind of opponent before.
The Heallbears
Zephyr recalled about how he parried the hellbear’s double claw attack.
He just need the exact timing, exact amount of strength to pull off that kind
of parry.
 Zephyr opened his eyes just as Sten came down on him. With a swift
horizontal parry, Zephyr knocked Sten off balance.
Seizing the opportunity, Zephyr slash at Sten, who dodged - but not
completely. The blade grazed his shoulder.
And there was blood.
Both fighters froze, their bodies tensing up.
Zephyr and Sten were so consumed by their battle that they forgot
something important. Something that made them dangerous.
[Passive Skill “Taste of Blood” has now taken effect]
[Passive Skill “Berserker’s Rage” has now taken effect]
Their minds blurred.