VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

Light stood with his arms crossed, a slight grin playing on his lips as he faced the Chief Instructor, Zhankong. There was something oddly amusing about the situation, and the young mage could not help but let his casual nature slip into the conversation.

"Forget it, I don't like following orders," Light said, his voice cool and nonchalant.

Zhankong's face turned red with anger, his brows furrowing as he clenched his fists. Light's refusal to accept his offer of employment had hit him harder than he expected. This was no ordinary student. Light was extraordinary, and Zhankong knew it. But to have such an opportunity thrown back in his face stung.

When the Chief Instructor heard Light's dismissive words, his frustration grew, almost to the point of bursting. Light remained unphased by the tension brewing in the air. He looked around the barracks, then back at Zhankong, seemingly recalling something important.

"Oh right, I want to have a private talk with you," Light added as he shifted his weight, swinging the Bone Scythe Shield casually over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing. The shield gleamed under the lights, a reminder of Zhankong's begrudging generosity.

Zhankong raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "What do you want now, kid?"

"I'll explain once everyone leaves," Light replied with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Zhankong waved his hand, and with a collective nod, Luo Yunbo, Pan Lijun, Bai Yang, and the other soldiers left the barracks in silence. They knew better than to ask questions or linger in the presence of someone like Light, who had already upended the natural order with his sheer talent.

Once the room was cleared, Zhankong crossed his arms, facing Light directly. "Alright, what's so important that you couldn't say it in front of them?"

Light's expression grew more serious as he lowered the shield to the floor. "There's nothing else, I just wanted to ask if you could train five of my students whom I helped awaken. They've all reached 3rd level in the Primary Stage, and they need more than I can offer."

Zhankong blinked, caught off guard by the request. "Huh. You want me to have them as trainees?" His tone was laced with impatience, as if he couldn't believe this was the topic Light wanted to discuss.

Light nodded firmly. "Yes. You can take them under your wing since you can't get me. They're seedlings worth raising. And, they'll get the practical experience I can't give them. They're strong, but they need someone to refine their skills and guide them in real combat scenarios."

Zhankong scratched his chin, staring at the younger mage. "You really think they're worth my time?"

Light smirked. "Absolutely. Let me introduce them to you."

He beckoned towards the door, and five students entered the barracks, each of them standing tall and confident. Zhankong sized them up immediately, but there was something about the way they carried themselves that piqued his interest.

Zhankong's interest deepened. Five different elements, five different roles—each essential to any squad. Light continued, "They've all reached level three in their respective Primary Stages. Ren is our offensive powerhouse, Xiang focuses on defense, Lin provides control, Feng acts as the scout, and Mei is the utility specialist. They're a perfectly balanced team, and they have unique innate talents that make them stand out."

Zhankong narrowed his eyes, studying the young mages with renewed attention. "Innate talents, you say?"

Light nodded, a confident glint in his eyes. "They've got the potential to surpass their limits. You won't regret training them."

After a few moments of contemplation, Zhankong sighed and gave a small nod. "Fine. I'll take them on. But I expect results."

Light smiled, satisfied with the outcome. "Trust me, you won't be disappointed."

With that settled, the students left the barracks, leaving Light and Zhankong alone once again. Zhankong watched them go, his mind already racing with plans on how to whip them into shape. Once the door shut, Light turned back to the chief instructor.

"Well, that's that," he said, his tone lighter now. "Thanks for listening."

Zhankong grunted in response, still not entirely happy with how things had played out, but respecting Light's resolve nonetheless.

-----

After the practicals, Light found himself with about a month of summer vacation left. It should have been a time of relaxation, but for someone like Light, resting was the last thing on his mind. He needed to cultivate, to grow stronger.

Light paced around his room, thinking. He had a plan forming in the back of his mind, one that involved his trusty Little Loach Pendant. The pendant had the ability to absorb the spirits of magical beasts, and by doing so, it could upgrade itself. But to make that happen, Light needed to hunt, and he needed to slay beasts.

He paused, weighing his options. There were easier paths, safer routes he could take to improve his cultivation. But none of them would provide the kind of rapid progress he craved.

"It seems like this is the only way," he said, resolve hardening in his chest.

Since he had made the decision, there was no point in hesitating. Light was never one to shy away from danger, especially when the rewards were worth the risk.

"The heavens gave me this advantage," he muttered to himself, holding the pendant between his fingers. "If I neglect it, then it'd be good for nothing."

Without further delay, Light made his way to the Hall of the Hunter's Union.

The Hunter's Union was buzzing with activity, as it always was. The large hall echoed with the chatter of mages and hunters, all bustling about as they searched for missions, negotiated deals, and formed new squads.

The Hall of Hunters was massive, designed like a giant spiraling tower. At the center of the room, a colossal LCD screen displayed the latest missions, along with their rewards. Some of the lowest-paying jobs offered 100,000 RMB, while the more dangerous, high-level missions promised rewards that reached into the millions.

Light's eyes wandered over the million-level missions, his mouth practically watering at the sight of the numbers.

"If only I had the time…" he muttered. But for now, his focus was on finding the right squad to join. As he scanned the screen, several recruitment notices caught his attention.

"Iron Hammer Squad is looking for Ice Elemental Mages. Required battle experience: three years and above."

"Wind Element Mages, the squad lacks an experienced Wind Magician who can lure an One-Eyed Magic Wolf. Other Elements not needed."

"Fire Element. Where are the Fire Mages? Join our Fierce Wind Squad! Guaranteed to efficiently complete missions and get wealthy!"

Light chuckled softly as he read through the ads. Each squad had its own specific requirements, and many of them demanded years of experience. But Light wasn't here to fit into anyone's mold.

He glanced to his side and noticed that many of the other mages had brought resumes with them, proof of their time spent in previous squads, the missions they had completed, and the levels of difficulty they had faced. Light, on the other hand, hadn't even graduated yet. He was still a high school student about to finish his second year.

As he pondered his next move, a man suddenly bumped into him, nearly knocking him off balance. The man cursed under his breath, clearly in a rush, before offering a hurried apology.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. The City Hunter's Team is currently recruiting. I have to give it a try," the man blurted, adjusting his thick glasses before running off again.

"City Hunter's Team?" Light asked, his curiosity piqued.

The man turned back briefly. "Yeah, don't you know? They're specialized in sweeping dangers within the city. They kill magical beasts that hide in urban areas. The City Hunter's Team has always been the top choice for Hunter Mages. After all, who likes running around desolate areas fighting unknown creatures? And the rewards are high!"

Light's eyes lit up. The City Hunter's Team? That sounded perfect. They moved within the city, and they needed mages to help them clear out dangerous beasts. It was just the opportunity he had been looking for.

"They're looking for Lightning Mages?" Light asked quickly.

The man nodded, pushing his glasses up again. "Lightning Mages are always in demand. Even inexperienced ones are welcomed into squads. The power of Lightning spells is just too useful. With a Lightning Mage suppressing magical beasts, the whole squad's efficiency skyrockets."

That settled it. Light had his plan.

But before joining, Light knew he needed to keep his identity hidden. There was no point in drawing unnecessary attention. He wanted to move in the shadows, to gain experience without the weight of his reputation following him. Disguising himself wasn't difficult. He pulled on a long, gray hoodie and a mask, effectively concealing his face and making him look older than he really was.

When Light arrived at the City Hunter's Team recruitment area, he saw a long queue of applicants waiting outside. There were all kinds of people—veterans, rookies, and everything in between. Some looked nervous, while others seemed confident, already chatting with each other as if they were sure they would be accepted.

Light adjusted his mask as he approached the queue outside the City Hunter's Team recruitment office. It was a long line, filled with hopefuls of various calibers. Veterans, rookies, and even some who seemed to barely know what they were signing up for. The sun was high, casting a glow over Bo City, and the atmosphere was filled with a mix of excitement and tension.

Light smirked beneath his mask, amused by the sheer number of applicants. Most of these people were probably delusional, thinking they could secure a spot on the renowned City Hunter's Team, one of the most elite squads in the city. He had been looking forward to this moment for a while, and now that he was finally here, he felt a quiet excitement rising in his chest.

Ahead of him, the recruitment counter was manned by a tall, sturdy man with a bandage wrapped around his head. He was clearly still recovering from some previous encounter but didn't seem fazed by the injury. His eyes scanned the line with disdain, and he spat his frustration for all to hear.

"They're all trash," the man snarled, glaring at the line of applicants. "Do these morons think we, the City Hunter's Team, just sit on our butts and enjoy the benefits of the state?! This is no cushy job!"

"Captain, don't be anxious," came a voice from beside him. A fashionable man wearing a flower-patterned cap leaned casually on the counter. "There are a lot of people applying. I'm sure we'll find a good one."

Before the captain could respond, a sweet-looking recruitment girl rushed over, colliding directly into the captain's chest. She bounced back, her cheeks flushed, and stammered an apology.

"A… Ah, I'm sorry, Captain!" she said, hastily adjusting her uniform. "There's… there's a Lightning Mage applying to join our City Hunter's Team!"

The sturdy captain's scowl vanished instantly, replaced by a wide grin. "Are you for real?"

The girl nodded frantically, her eyes wide. The captain's excitement spread quickly to the rest of the team standing nearby. They exchanged glances, their faces lighting up.

"Lightning Mage!" someone whispered in awe. It was rare enough to find one applying to any squad, let alone theirs.

"Is that him?" The captain was already craning his neck to see, his impatience growing by the second.

"Y-yes, Captain. Are you going to personally interview him?" the girl stammered, clearly taken aback by the captain's enthusiasm.

"Interview?" The captain scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "What's there to interview?"

By now, Light had reached the front of the line, and he looked up, meeting the captain's gaze. With a casual flick of his wrist, he raised his hand, and in an instant, a crackling arc of electricity danced between his fingers. It buzzed and sparked, before transforming into a small, glowing insect-like form. The bug flitted through the air before falling onto the table, where it burned a small hole in the cloth.

The captain's face split into an even wider grin. "You guys… no longer need to line up!" he announced loudly to the queue behind Light. "We have found our person!"

The long line of hopefuls erupted in complaints.

"Shit, why? We haven't even been interviewed yet!"

"That's not fair!"

The captain's eyes narrowed. "If any of you is also a Lightning Mage, then this captain will break the rules and recruit you!" His voice was firm, brooking no argument.

The crowd fell silent. The mention of a Lightning Mage was enough to crush the hopes of everyone else in line. Slowly, they began to disperse, heads hanging low in defeat.

"Come, come, come, little brother!" The captain motioned for Light to step forward. "Welcome to our City Hunter Team. Let me introduce you to the crew." He patted his chest proudly. "I'm Xu Dahuang, Captain of the City Hunter Team. Fire Mage."

A delicate-looking girl with a shy smile stepped forward. "Hello, my name is Xiaoke, and I'm a Water Mage."

"Li Wenjie, Wind Element," said a handsome young man with a confident smirk, tossing his hair back dramatically.

A round-faced man with a flower-patterned hat, the same one who had calmed the captain earlier, grinned. "Call me Feishi. I'm an Earth elementalist."

Light nodded at each of them, his expression calm. "I'm Light."

Captain Xu Dahuang raised an eyebrow. "Light, huh? I can tell from your resume that you're a newbie. Probably haven't even seen a real magical beast yet. Let me remind you—don't get cocky just because you're a Lightning Mage. You still need to watch your own back."

Light glanced at the captain but said nothing.

"Oh, and this is my vice-captain, Cai Tang, Ice Element," Xu Dahuang added, gesturing to a beautiful girl standing near the back. She hadn't spoken yet but had been eyeing Light with a critical gaze.

"Alright, Light, we'll give you your City Hunter ID later," the captain said, clapping a hand on Light's shoulder.

"ID?" Light raised an eyebrow. "There's an ID?"

"Of course," Feishi chimed in, still grinning. "It comes with a few privileges. You're basically like an enforcement officer in Bo City now."

"An enforcement officer?" Light muttered, his brow furrowing.

"Haha, precisely!" Li Wenjie laughed. "We're City Officers!"

As they continued to chat, the squad's phones suddenly buzzed in unison. Captain Xu Dahuang picked his up, and his cheerful expression quickly turned sour.

"Hello? What do you mean you didn't report this earlier?! Are you kidding me? Those police officers are useless!"

The rest of the team stopped talking, their faces growing serious. Feishi leaned closer to Light and whispered, "We were planning on taking you out for drinks to celebrate. But it looks like we've got work to do."

Light's eyes narrowed as Feishi continued, "If I'm not wrong, it's probably related to that strange incident at Mingwen Girls Middle School. They've had some trouble with a quaking door in the cafeteria."

"Mingwen Girls Middle School?" Light's attention sharpened at the mention of the school. His mind immediately went to Ye Xinxia. She had mentioned something strange happening there recently, especially around the cafeteria.

Captain Xu Dahuang hung up the phone, his expression grim. "There's been another accident. A second girl has gone missing at Mingwen Girls Middle School."

The team's mood darkened instantly. They all knew the implications of a second disappearance.

"A Light Mage found some footprints that didn't belong to humans," Xu Dahuang added quietly.

Everyone's expressions shifted. This wasn't just a regular incident.

Xu Dahuang continued, "We're heading there now. We can't let this go on any longer."

The team arrived at Mingwen Girls Middle School later that evening. The campus was eerily quiet, its elegant gates standing tall as they walked through. Light found himself scanning the darkened surroundings, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

They were assigned positions around the school, with Light being stationed at the cafeteria. The building was massive, more like a banquet hall than a school dining area. Its grand windows and polished floors seemed out of place in the current atmosphere.

As Light entered, the vast emptiness of the cafeteria echoed around him. Only a few dim lights flickered in the far corners, casting long shadows across the room. He kept his senses on high alert, his Lightning Element crackling faintly at his fingertips.

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the cafeteria. The noise seemed to come from nowhere, reverberating through the walls. Light froze, his eyes narrowing as he tried to locate the source of the sound.

"This place is weird," he muttered under his breath, moving cautiously through the rows of tables. He had heard rumors about strange happenings in the cafeteria, but this was beyond what he had expected.

Another deep rumble shook the floor beneath him, followed by the unmistakable stench of something rotten. It smelled like decayed food—chives, fish, and salted vegetables. The odor was overwhelming, and Light had to cover his nose with his sleeve as he moved toward the kitchen.

Without warning, a series of strange noises emanated from the back of the kitchen. Light sent a quick signal to his teammates, using a subtle burst of electricity. He didn't need to use traditional communication methods; his element was enough to get the message across.

His eyes narrowed as he approached the kitchen doors. Something was lurking behind them. Something that didn't belong in a school cafeteria.