VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

"Light, fall back. Leave this animal to me!" Captain Xu Dahuang shouted as he and Fei Shi arrived on the scene in a rush.

It was as though they were moving on a flat escalator. The ground beneath their feet rippled, almost as if carrying them forward without effort. They didn't take a single step, yet they slid across the terrain with startling speed. Light recognized the spell instantly.

Earth Ripple.

The ground shifted beneath their control, bending to the will of the mages. This primary spell of the Earth Element was often used for swift mobility, and the speed with which they were approaching could only mean one thing: trouble.

As they neared the clearing, Vice Captain Guo Caitang spoke up, her voice a steady, calm contrast to the tension thickening in the air. "This is a Colossal-eyed Ape Rat. They usually live underground," she informed the group.

Light's stomach clenched as he locked eyes with the hulking creature before them. The Colossal-eyed Ape Rat was a monster nearly as tall as a man, its body hunched over like a grotesque, feral ape with claws that glistened in the dim light. Its grotesquely oversized eyes glowed a sickly yellow, filled with animalistic fury.

"Normally, this kind of Magical Beast runs away peeing itself when it meets a Magician. How come this one dared to initiate an attack?" Light whispered to himself.

Fei Shi's lips twisted into a wry grin, his relaxed posture betraying no fear of the creature before them. "This one's starving, most likely," Fei Shi said casually. "When they're desperate for food, they become more aggressive. Lucky for us, we found it first."

Despite the tension, Fei Shi's calm demeanor only added to Light's growing respect for the veteran Hunters around him. These were not the same wide-eyed students who fled at the sight of a Spirit Wolf. Captain Xu Dahuang, Guo Caitang, Fei Shi, and the Wind Mage Li Wenjie—all of them faced down the Colossal-eyed Ape Rat with an air of cold professionalism.

Light stood awkwardly, unsure of his role. He was new to the team and hadn't yet proven himself in real combat. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of admiration as the Hunters spread out into an attack formation, keeping enough distance between them for support but also allowing room for retreat if things went wrong.

Suddenly, the loud rumble of a hungry stomach echoed through the air, interrupting Light's thoughts. He stiffened, his embarrassment obvious. The Colossal-eyed Ape Rat's piercing gaze locked onto him, its oversized eyes narrowing as if recognizing its next prey. But before it could act, its attention snapped to the closest target: Li Wenjie, the Wind Mage.

The creature's throat began to glow an eerie red, the telltale sign of its next attack.

A sharp beam of crimson light shot from the beast's maw, tearing through the air with alarming speed. Li Wenjie was ready. With a mere flick of his wrist, his body blurred, leaving behind only a gust of wind. The red beam passed harmlessly through the empty space where he had stood just moments before.

"You want to attack us?" Li Wenjie asked casually, his tone mocking as he reappeared several meters away, standing nonchalantly beside a stone table tennis stand. His eyes narrowed in cold amusement. "Fool. You dare come out and harm people with just this little skill?"

The Colossal-eyed Ape Rat screeched in rage, its claws digging into the dirt as it prepared to charge. Its speed was terrifying. The creature closed the gap between itself and Li Wenjie in seconds, lunging at him with its claws extended, aiming for his throat.

"Wind Track, Flash Steps!" Li Wenjie shouted, his strike smashed into the stone table, turning it into a cloud of debris that scattered in all directions. But Li Wenjie had already repositioned himself, standing several meters away, a smirk on his face.

"Your movements are slow," Li Wenjie taunted, his voice low and calm.

As the Colossal-eyed Ape Rat looked around, trying to locate its elusive target, Light's mind raced. He had learned so much in theory, but standing here in this real-life battle, he realized how limited his schooling had been. No classroom could prepare him for the sheer intensity of combat with a Magical Beast.

It was the right choice to join the Hunters, Light thought, a new resolve forming within him. I'll never grow strong if I don't face these real dangers. Only by learning from these experienced mages can I hope to survive.

The sudden flare of flame snapped Light out of his thoughts. Captain Xu Dahuang stepped forward, his palm outstretched. A ball of scorching fire ignited in his hand, casting a crimson glow over his rugged features. His expression showed no fear, only grim determination.

"Have a taste of my flames!" Xu Dahuang roared as he hurled the fireball directly at the Colossal-eyed Ape Rat.

The creature screeched in alarm and tried to dodge to the side, its animal instincts sensing the danger. But Xu Dahuang's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. He had anticipated this.

"Hiding? Futile!" he bellowed, twisting his hand in the air. "Fire Burst!"

The fireball exploded mid-air, its heat expanding in all directions. A blinding ray of light followed, erupting with a violent boom as the flames engulfed everything within a ten-meter radius.

The Colossal-eyed Ape Rat screamed in agony, its enormous bulk flung through the air like a ragdoll, smashing into the canteen walls with a sickening thud. Its once-mighty form crumpled to the ground, twitching in pain. The ferocity that had defined it moments ago was gone, replaced by the panicked thrashing of a creature on the brink of death.

Light's breath caught in his throat as he watched the creature writhe on the ground. Xu Dahuang's spell had stripped the beast of its monstrous aura, reducing it to little more than a pathetic, half-dead rat.

But the battle wasn't over yet. The Colossal-eyed Ape Rat, though critically wounded, had one final surge of energy. With a roar that echoed across the school grounds, it leaped up, aiming straight for Guo Caitang.

"Ku...!!!!" it screeched, its claws outstretched, desperate to land one final blow before it fell.

Guo Caitang's eyes widened in shock. She had been preparing her next spell, but the Rat's sudden attack caught her off guard. She gritted her teeth, summoning her Ice Vine technique. Thin tendrils of frost snaked along the ground, freezing the spot where the Rat had stood moments ago. But it was too fast—faster than she anticipated.

"Xiao Ke, Water Meld! Now!" Xu Dahuang's voice rang out, his tone sharp with urgency.

Panic flashed across Xiao Ke's face as she scrambled to link her Water Star Path. Her fingers trembled, and in her haste, she fumbled the spell. The water beneath her feet rippled but didn't take form fast enough.

Guo Caitang braced herself, knowing she wouldn't be able to dodge completely. She dove to the side, her mind racing with a grim realization. I can't avoid it entirely, but if I protect my vitals, I can survive this. She could lose an arm—anything was better than losing her life.

Just as its jagged claws swiped toward her, multiple seals surged in the distance.

"Lightning Seal, Fierce Whip!" Light's voice rang out.

In an instant, a series of lightning-shaped seals appeared midair, crackling with intense electrical energy. They struck the Colossal-Eyed Rat like a whip, each hit flaying the creature's flesh, its thick hide no match for the fierce electric currents.

The Python marks on the rat's body began to coil deeper into its muscles, binding the creature even tighter. The beast let out a gurgled roar, its movements becoming frantic, but it was too late. The seals had rendered it immobile, its body twitching as electric shocks ripped through its nervous system.

Halfway through its dash, the Colossal-Eyed Rat seized up and slumped to the concrete, rolling to a stop right at Guo Caitang's feet. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared down at the defeated beast, the tension still buzzing through her body.

She quickly leaped back a few meters, eyes wide with disbelief as she turned to Light.

"Second level Lightning Strike…" Xu Dahuang breathed, his voice filled with awe. He had known the kid had potential, but this? This was something else entirely. "Good job, Light!"

Fei Shi, still recovering from the close call, gawked at the colossal creature. "Man, this Colossal-Eyed Rat has to be mutated! It's more violent than a One-Eyed Wolf! Even half-dead, it's still attacking instead of running."

Xu Dahuang's expression hardened as the adrenaline started to fade. "I've told you so many times! Be on your guard, be on your guard! Guo Caitang nearly died just now. If it wasn't for Light, how would we have stopped the rat from going berserk?"

Xiao Ke, the team's Water Mage, lowered her head in shame. "I'm sorry… I… It's my fault."

"Sorry won't help you if someone dies!" Xu Dahuang snapped. "You're the only one with defensive capabilities, Xiao Ke! As a Water Mage, it's your responsibility to be on guard and ready to cast your spells at any moment. Do you understand?"

Xiao Ke bit her lip, guilt weighing heavily on her as she nodded in silence.

"Light, your reaction was quick," Li Wenjie said, stepping up and patting Light on the shoulder. "Your spellcasting speed was impressive. None of us expected that."

"Yeah," Fei Shi added with a laugh. "We thought we'd have to babysit you for at least six months before you'd be any help. Who'd have thought you'd save Guo Caitang on your first mission? Guo Caitang, looks like you owe him your life."

Guo Caitang glanced away, her emotions conflicted. She had been the one to criticize Light for being too inexperienced, for being too much of a rookie to be on the team. And now, here he was—saving her life when it mattered most.

Xu Dahuang's voice cut through the tension. "Alright, Li Wenjie, Fei Shi, go inspect the cafeteria. If there's no other Magical Beast, we can let the police handle the rest. Assuming the girl is still alive."

It had been over a week since they had received the mission. The likelihood of the girl being alive was slim, but they still had to try.

As Light was about to leave, he felt a strange vibration coming from the Little Loach Pendant hanging around his neck. The pendant hummed faintly, as if something was calling out to it.

There's a Soul Essence, Light realized, his eyes lighting up with excitement. He rushed over to the corpse of the Colossal-Eyed Rat, his heart racing in anticipation.

A blue radiance emerged from the beast's body, flickering like a candle flame in the darkness. It floated toward Light's pendant, slowly being absorbed into the mystical item.

The Little Loach Pendant had the unique ability to absorb Soul Essences and remnants from Magical Beasts. This was not the first time it had done so, but the thrill of it never ceased to amaze Light.

As the blue light disappeared into the pendant, Light suddenly felt a tingling sensation in his Lightning Stardust. The stars within his spiritual universe seemed to pulse with energy, much like they had when his Fire Element had transformed.

His eyes widened as the realization hit him. My Lightning Element… It's about to break through!

The stars of his Lightning Stardust danced with excitement, as if they were on the verge of a transformation. Light could barely contain his anticipation. He had already reached the 3rd level of the Lightning Element.

As Light reveled in his discovery, Xu Dahuang approached him with a grin. "Not bad for your first mission. You'll be receiving your first commission today."

Light blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts. "Commission?"

"The school paid the City Hunter Team 200,000 yuan for this job. You'll get 10% as your share," Xu Dahuang explained. "Normally, rookies get intern wages, but considering your performance today, we're giving you a full share."

Light's eyes widened in surprise. 20,000 yuan?

The reward from the City Hunter Team had far exceeded Light's expectations. Although it had been a dangerous task, the pay was higher than what most hunters outside the city earned. Now it made sense why so many strived to join the City Hunter Team. The risk was high, but the rewards were undeniably lucrative. For Light, this was his first real taste of earning from his work, and the thrill of it only fueled his motivation to become stronger.

Light glanced down at the payment slip in his hand. The sum was enough to support not only his cultivation but also some of his personal needs. He grinned slightly as he pocketed the slip, his thoughts drifting to his next challenge. "It's no wonder the hunters go to such lengths for this," he murmured to himself.

---------

At the Mu Family Manor, the sky-blue private pool shimmered under the sunlight. Gentle ripples spread across the surface as Mu He, wearing a swimming cap, swam gracefully to the shore. His muscular body was still wet from his swim as he casually laid down on a recliner beneath a large umbrella, shielding himself from the midday sun.

He glanced at his private swimming instructor, her tanned skin gleaming in the sunlight, and let his gaze linger a moment too long as she dried off nearby. A smirk crept across his face, but before he could say anything, a soft creaking sound interrupted the serene scene.

Creak, creak, creak…

Mu He frowned slightly and looked toward the pool. The surface, which had been calm moments ago, now shimmered unnaturally. A thin layer of frost began to grow across the water, spreading out from the edges toward the center. Within seconds, the entire pool had frozen over as though a sudden winter had descended upon the manor.

"Don't… I'm going to swim again soon…" Mu He muttered, his voice filled with both amusement and frustration. Before he could even finish his sentence, the entire swimming pool was completely frozen solid.

Mu He sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry."

"Uncle He, my father wants you to come over," a tall, slender young man with a gloomy expression approached from the shadows, his voice calm and cold.

Mu He turned to face him, smiling despite the inconvenience. "Yu Ang, your Ice Stardust has gotten stronger again. How has your training been?" he asked, clearly pleased with the young man's progress.

Yu Ang, the youth with the ice-cold gaze, replied with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice, "The progress is a bit slow."

Mu He let out a forced chuckle. "You call that slow? Others your age are still at the first level of Ice Spread, while you've already mastered Ice Spread: Condense. With your speed of cultivation, you won't need two years to reach Ice Spread: Cover! By then, you'll be capable of freezing an entire battlefield on your own, not to mention dealing with a small fire elemental student."

"Two years? That's still too long," Yu Ang mumbled, his dissatisfaction palpable.

Mu He shook his head with a smile. "You're always so harsh on yourself. You're already far ahead of your peers. Sure, there's a gap between you and Mu Ningxue, but she's… special. You know your father, Mu Zhuoyun, has been keeping an eye on Light. A year from now, when you've dealt with that boy, your father will reward you handsomely."

Yu Ang's gaze grew colder. "I haven't even considered that clown worthy of my attention."