James steadied his breath, his eyes locking onto the three summoned creatures before him. He didn't have the luxury of reacting blindly—every second counted.
He quickly assessed their forms, noting their differences.
- The first was small and agile, darting across the field in erratic patterns—much like the sleek beast from his previous fight. Speed was its advantage.
- The second was heavy and armored, its plated hide thick enough to endure standard strikes. Pure force wouldn't be enough—he needed precision.
- The third was shifting, its body flickering between solid and spectral—unpredictable, resistant to physical attacks.
James grabbed three arrows, working fast. His runes had to counter their strengths.
- First arrow: Velocity Rune—the only way to match the speed of the agile beast.
- Second arrow: Piercing Rune—to cut through the thick armor of the plated enemy.
- Third arrow: Spectral Stabilization Rune—a gamble, but necessary to hit the shifting creature when solid.
As his arcane power flowed into the inscriptions, he felt the pull of energy stabilizing. His exhaustion was gone—now it was just a matter of execution.
Amelia watched silently, arms crossed. Claire stood nearby, ready to adjust the rune field if things spiraled out of control.
James knew that firing blindly wouldn't cut it—if he wanted to win, he had to force the creatures into vulnerable positions where his rune-enhanced arrows would hit with maximum effectiveness.
He shifted his footing, studying the terrain. The open area behind the orphanage had just enough uneven ground and obstacles to manipulate the battlefield in his favor.
The agile beast darted toward him first—its speed meant direct shots would be ineffective. James moved fast, positioning himself near a broken fence post, letting the creature follow his movement.
Then, just before the beast lunged,he feinted to the side—causing it to adjust mid-charge.
A mistake !
James fired his velocity-enhanced arrow in that instant. The rune activated mid-flight, locking onto the beast's trajectory with perfect timing.
Direct hit !
The creature collapsed into mist.
One down.
The armored beast advanced next—slow, but unstoppable. James kept moving, forcing it toward a narrow passage between a stack of old barrels and a tree trunk.
Amelia raised an eyebrow, watching. Claire observed with quiet approval.
The creature stepped in—but now it was stuck.
James fired his piercing-runed arrow, the inscription working exactly as planned—striking deep through its defenses.
The beast crumbled, fading into the air.
Two down.
Only one remained—the shifting enemy, flickering between solid and spectral. This was the hardest opponent—it wasn't just strong, it was unpredictable.
James adjusted his stance. He needed to anticipate its shifts, not react after they happened.
His grip tightened on his bow—his spectral stabilization rune activated.
He waited.
The creature lunged—solid.
James fired.
The arrow hit just as it flickered, the rune stabilizing its form long enough for impact.
Final strike.
The last beast dispersed into mist, the battle ending just as quickly as it had started.
James let out a slow breath, feeling his arcane power course through his veins—stronger now, more refined. This wasn't just survival anymore. It was mastery.
Amelia smirked. "You're starting to fight like a real rune master."
-------------------------------
James took a deep breath, feeling the lingering energy of his last fight still pulsing through him. His progress had been undeniable, to check up on his progress he called for his Status Window.
STATUS WINDOW
Name: James Smith
Class: Arcane Ranger (Hybrid – Archer & Rune Master)
Level: 21
Experience: 3500/500000
Stats:
- Strength: 32 → 35
- Agility: 40 → 44
- Endurance: 31 → 36
- Arcane Power: 35 → 41
- Perception: 42 → 46
- Dexterity: 37 → 43
Abilities:
- Arcane Infusion – Advanced Tier – Arrows now store residual energy, allowing delayed activation upon impact.
- Steady Shot – Mastered – Full precision compensation for moving targets, obstacles, and environmental shifts.
- Silent Step – Enhanced – Movement is completely muffled when arcane energy is properly circulated.
- Runic Imprint – Significantly Improved – James can now inscribe multiple runes simultaneously with greater stability.
- Hunter's Precision – Refined – Real-time trajectory calculations now incorporate elemental energy effects.
Hidden Trait (Evolved):
- Elemental Convergence (??? - Progressing Toward Active Control) – Residual elemental energy now flows intentionally into inscriptions instead of sporadically manifesting. Training required for full mastery.
Status Effects:
- Recovery Complete – Arcane energy reserves have stabilized after overexertion.
- Rune Layering Efficiency Improved – Higher inscription success rate during combat, though excessive layering still strains arcane reserves.
- Adaptability Increased – Reflexive battle adjustments showing marked improvement, though fine-tuning of real-world combat applications remains necessary.
James studied the updated window carefully. His rune mastery was improving rapidly, and his ability to use elemental effects alongside inscriptions was becoming more refined—but even now, real combat was different from training scenarios.
Amelia smirked. "Enough reading," she said. "The next challenge isn't going to wait for you to adjust."
Claire nodded, reinforcing a new rune circle at the edge of the open area.
"This time," Amelia continued, "it's not just about countering individual enemies—it's about survival. Multiple opponents, shifting conditions, unpredictable threats. Adapt, or lose."
James exhaled, gripping his bow tighter.
James tightened his grip on his bow, making a firm decision—no elemental interference yet. His control over rune layering was improving, but adding unstable elemental energy would only risk failure.
This battle was about precision. Strategy. Mastery of inscriptions before adaptation.
Amelia seemed to notice his choice immediately. She smirked. "Smart call," she said, nodding. "Most would rush ahead, thinking more power means better results. But rune layering is about efficiency, not raw force."
Claire activated a shifting rune, causing the enemies to move unpredictably across the battlefield.
James didn't react instantly. Instead, he studied their patterns—their formations, their movement shifts. Every step counted.
One creature relied on speed, weaving erratically.
Another was built for endurance, absorbing attacks.
The last was ranged, keeping its distance.
James moved, positioning himself near a low ridge of terrain—forcing the enemies into a confined space where they couldn't maneuver freely.
Then, with his refined rune layering, he worked fast:
- Velocity and trajectory correction for the fast enemy.
- Piercing reinforcement for the endurance beast.
- Deflection and counterforce for the ranged attacker.
Each rune activated in succession—perfectly layered, no wasted energy.
His arrows struck true, eliminating each target efficiently. No excess force. No instability. Only mastery.
The battlefield fell silent.
Amelia nodded slowly, impressed. "Now you're thinking like a real rune master."
James exhaled, lowering his bow.
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