As the flames roared higher, the hay burned away, revealing a silhouette standing calmly in the inferno.
A terrifying sound echoed from the fire—like a dragon inhaling deeply before unleashing a storm of flames.
"Shouldn't we put out the fire?" Saishi asked, concerned.
"No," Hürs said casually. "It's his ritual."
Jibo and Saishi exchanged confused looks. It didn't feel right to just stand there while someone burned. But before either could act, the figure stepped out of the flames.
"Can't a guy have a minute to enjoy a smoke!?" the man shouted, his deep voice echoing through the clearing.
"Mo! It's me, Hürs!" Hürs called out excitedly.
"Mo?" Jibo and Saishi echoed in confusion.
A huge man emerged, completely naked, from the burning hay pile, laughing heartily.
"Long time no see, brother!" Mo bellowed.
He was a giant of a man, with muscles that looked carved from stone. His very presence radiated strength. Mo stomped toward Hürs, raising a hand for a handshake. Hürs met it with equal force. The sound of their palms slamming together echoed like thunder across the hilltop.
"How long's it been, Hürs?"
"Too long, brother!"
Jibo blinked. "Why the hell was he on fire… and why is he greeting us naked?"
Hürs chuckled. "It's a family thing. We're born with passive resistance traits. Mo has high fire resistance."
----------------------------------Lore Note: Passive Status-------------------------------------------
Every being on Hamriel is born with a passive trait. These abilities are passed down through families and can vary wildly—even among siblings. Mo, for instance, inherited fire resistance. Hürs has cold resistance, making him resilient to freezing environments but more vulnerable to fire damage.
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"So Mo has fire resistance. What's yours, Hürs?" Saishi asked.
"Cold resistance," Mo said with a grin, trying to light a stick like a cigarette. "Makes him tough in the winter, but not so much when things heat up!"
"That's a huge passive," Saishi said, impressed. "That could be useful in all sorts of situations."
"Sure, but it comes with weaknesses too," Hürs replied. "Everything has a trade-off."
Mo nodded, still grinning. "So, brother, what brings you all the way here?"
"We've got a problem. Our friend Burk was kidnapped by Paron from Guild Six. We—"
"I'm in!" Mo boomed.
"But—"
"No 'but,'" Mo interrupted. "I'll never turn my back on family."
The group settled in at Mo's place—a cozy little bungalow with a warm fire, a steel pot bubbling with stew, and a big bed covered in bear fur. As the sun went down and the group gathered around the fire, Mo leaned back.
"So… how do we start?"
"We need you to train Saishi," Hürs said.
Mo raised an eyebrow. "Wait—Saishi? I thought he was your pack mule! HAHA!"
"Fuuu—!" Saishi started to protest, but Hürs quickly covered his mouth.
"No no, he looks like one… but he's actually really strong."
"How strong?" Mo asked.
"Strength: 73."
Mo's eyes widened. He turned to Saishi and pointed at him with disbelief.
"This little guy? HAHAHA! Alright, show me your A-ID!"
Saishi handed over his card.
Saishi's A-ID Stats:
Strength: 73
Stamina: 39
Dexterity: 65
Intelligence: 30
"These are damn good stats," Mo nodded. "I've got just the training plan. We'll start with stamina. HAHAHA!"
"Eh... after breakfast?" Saishi asked hopefully.
"Breakfast? HAHA! We start now!"
--------------------------------------The Waterfall Trial-------------------------------------------
Mo led Saishi downhill to a lake, where a waterfall crashed into a flowing river.
"To build stamina, we need suffering! HAHAHA!" Mo shouted.
"Sounds… great," Saishi muttered.
"Cut down a tree. Put the log on your back. Then stand under the waterfall."
"Okay, I guess that's not so bad…"
Saishi felled a tree, hoisted the heavy log onto his back, and stepped beneath the crashing waterfall. Water slammed down on him like a falling mountain, and the log pressed painfully into his shoulders.
"I can probably hold this for a while…" he mumbled.
"For a while? HAHAHA! See you in the morning, little guy!"
"Wait, what?! Come back!" Saishi shouted, but Mo was already walking away, laughing.
He wanted to drop the log. He wanted to sleep. But then he remembered why he was here—why he couldn't give up.
"Fuck it," he growled, planting his feet firmly.
---------------------------------------Next Morning – 6:00 AM----------------------------------
Jibo was on his usual morning walk, foraging for mushrooms for his poisons. Near the river, he spotted a strange white mushroom with a red base.
"Huh, weird one," he said, leaning closer. Then he noticed something else—red coloring in the water, flowing downstream.
"Something must've died up there…"
He followed the red trail upriver. What he saw at the waterfall made his heart stop.
Saishi was still standing—unconscious—under the waterfall. The log was still on his back. His shoulders were shredded and bleeding. Bark was stuck to his skin. His body barely moved.
"Holy shit!" Jibo shouted. He shoved the log off, threw Saishi over his back, and rushed back up the hill.
With a burst of fury, he kicked open the bungalow door.
"Wake up, you flaming lunatic!"
Mo was calmly cooking breakfast.
"HAHAHA! You're finally awake, little guy! Didn't think you'd last an hour!"
Saishi stirred.
"Y-Yeah… I… did it…" he mumbled—and passed out again.
-----------------------------------------------The Next Day----------------------------------------------
"Saishi? Saishi! HAHAHA!"
"Let me sleep, damn it…"
Saishi groaned, waking up slowly.
"What happened? How long was I out?"
"Just a day!" Mo said with a big grin.
"A whole day," Jibo added. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Saishi nodded. "Did it work? The training?"
"Well… it was just a day," Mo replied. "You need to do it two more times. Stay awake until the sun comes up."
Saishi sighed in frustration.
"So I didn't pass yet… okay. Let's go again."
"HAHAHA! That's the spirit, little guy!"
Saishi headed out, determined. Hürs watched him go, frowning.
"Isn't this a little much for him?"
Mo's face turned serious—no smile, no laugh.
"No, Hürs. He'll be okay."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because no one's lasted more than an hour… not even me."
Jibo and Hürs stared at Mo, stunned. For once, they felt reassured—not by his words, but by the weight in his voice.
-----------------------------------------Three Days Later – Morning-----------------------------------
The morning sun rose over the hilltop, casting golden rays across the grass and warming the bungalow with its soft light. A gentle breeze stirred the trees as birds began their songs.
Mo stepped outside, ready for his usual routine—some hunting and a bit of smoke. But what he saw stopped him in his tracks.
Saishi was already awake, sitting by the campfire, calmly preparing breakfast. His body was bandaged and bruised, but his movements were steady, his eyes sharp and focused.
"Good morning, Mo," Saishi greeted him with a tired but genuine smile. "Just getting breakfast started."
Mo grinned wide.
"HAHAHA! Little guy, you did it! You're a beast!"
Saishi chuckled. "Thanks, Mo. I couldn't have done it without you."
As the two laughed together, the bungalow door creaked open behind them. Hürs and Jibo stumbled out, still groggy from sleep.
"Morning... Wait, is breakfast ready?" Jibo mumbled, rubbing his eyes. Then he froze. "Saishi? You're already up?!"
"Yup. I finally made it."
"Did you check your stats?"
"Not yet." Saishi reached into his pocket, pulled out his A-ID, and tapped it against his shoulder. A faint glow pulsed from the card as fresh blood activated the crystal.
"I think it worked," he said, a proud grin spreading across his face.
"How much is it now?" Jibo asked, leaning in.
Before Saishi could answer—
"BREAKFAAAAST!"Hürs came barreling out of the bungalow, arms open and hungry.