After the Boarox retreat all of the people from Dawn City left to rest to work for the next day as the night came
The night over Dawn City was calm only for a moment. The stars glittered in a small way, their light shining behind clouds, and a cold wind carried the scent of damp soil through the weary streets. The barony slept peacefully, the people still adjusting to the presence of their new lord — Elias Starborne, the young duke's son, who had inherited their land brimming with ruin and despair.
But peace, was as always fragile.
A deep, wild roar split the night apart.
The ground trembled, and the silent air burst into chaos as the creature from the forest — the same Boarox that had attacked the workers earlier — charged into the outskirts of the village. Its massive form glistened under the moonlight; thick, bristled fur rippled like steel fur, and twin horns, sharp as nails , reflected the glow of torches as it charged through fences and carts alike.
Screams followed.
"Monster! The Boarox is back!"
"Run! It's the same one from the forest!"
Men scrambled to their feet, clutching crude spears and pitchforks. The guards, though brave, were ill-equipped; their armor dented, blades dulled by neglect. A few stood their ground, but courage alone couldn't match the raw force of a beast born of mana and wrath.
The Boarox's eyes gleamed — black eyes filled with primal hatred. When it charged, the earth and stone beneath cracked. Its horns struck a guard squarely in the chest, hurling him several feet away killing him instantly. Seeing this people panicked even more but Another guard slashed its flank, but the blade barely scratched the surface before being flung aside by a powerful swipe of the creature's tusks.
"Hold the line!" a voice shouted, that voice rising above the chaos.
The young warrior dashed forward, gripping his rapier tightly. It was Cyrus Dawn who protected the people in the morning, his determination burned brighter than his Amber eyes. His brown hair, matted with sweat, clung to his forehead as he sidestepped the Boarox's charge and struck, thrusting the rapier toward its eye.
The beast snarled, jerking its head aside — the blade scraped across its cheek, drawing blood but no real injury.
"Damn it…" Cyrus muttered, retreating, his arm trembling. "This thing's hide is thicker than plate armor!"
He retreated backwards as the beast's charge crushed the ground where he stood a moment ago. The impact sent shrapnel of stone flying. The other guards faltered, their formation broken. Panic began to ripple through them once again.
And then — a calm, firm voice rang out.
"Cyrus!"
Eli's voice.
He had arrived barefoot, his coat hastily thrown on, his eyes wide but steady. He stood near the village square, illuminated by torchlight and moonshine — a noble out of place among soot, blood, and fear.
Cyrus turned to him. "Lord Elias, stay back! It's dangerous!"
But Eli didn't listen. His mind was already spinning — he had no combat skill, no battle sense like his siblings, but he did have something else.
He opened his palm. Within it, faint blue particles shimmered as the [Shop] skill interface appeared before his eyes. The letters glowed faintly:
> [INFINITE SHOP SKILL]
[Available Balance: 8025 SC]
[Category: Inventory — 1 item stored]
He scrolled, his eyes narrowing as he remembered a certain entry — a small trinket given to him years ago by his elder brother, Christian Starborne, the "Blaze Knight" known for his fiery magic and battle ingenuity.
The "Blaze Core Bomb."
A single-use artifact designed for escape. It creates a fiery explosion meant to make monsters flee. Christian had told him to use it only if he needed to flee if needed though he was stern when he gave it as if Christian was mocking him.
But tonight, Eli didn't want to run.
Eli thought "So that Boarox manager to remember the scent of our members and tracked down us with just scent! Dam beast I need to kill it or else it will attack Cyrus now "
He reached into his inventory, and in a swirl of pale light, a crimson orb appeared in his hand. The sphere pulsed with fire essence, its surface etched with runic inscriptions that flickered like embers.
Eli took a deep breath. "Cyrus! Draw it away from the villagers!"
Cyrus glanced at him in disbelief. "You're insane! What are you—"
"Trust me. Just move!"
Though unwilling, Cyrus clenched his teeth and obeyed. He slashed the Boarox's side again, earning its attention, and ran away to the side. The beast enraged followed Cyrus running through the square as it charged towards him. Dust and debris were in the air.
Eli's fingers trembled slightly, but his expression never wavered.
When the Boarox came within reach, Eli hurled the Blaze Core Bomb straight toward its face while Cyrus ran in opposite direction.
The orb struck between its horns — and in that instant, the world around Boarox became erupted in flames and due to explosion impact Eli was sent a few meters back falling on haystack as if he was lucky.
A pained and devastating groan was heard through the village as flames engulfed the creature. The explosion painted the night sky crimson, scattering sparks like dying stars. The shockwave threw nearby debris aside, and for a brief second, silence claimed everything.
Then came the low hum of smoldering flames slowly dying out .
Cyrus, now kneeling behind a broken wall, shielded his face as the fire subsided. "Lord Elias!" he shouted. "You— you'll die if you're that close!"
Eli now in a haystack several meters from the blast site, coughing through the smoke. His clothes were singed, his hair coated in soot, but he was alive. He had dived at the last moment, his mana instinctively flaring to form a weak barrier . The Boarox, however, was not so fortunate.
The beast lay motionless — half of its head charred, its body smoking. Its once-terrifying form was now still, its eyes blank and hollow.
The villagers emerged slowly, disbelief etched on every face.
"It's… dead?"
"He killed it… Lord Elias killed it…"
The murmurs grew, a mixture of awe and shock. Eli, still catching his breath, smiled faintly and approached the corpse. A faint shimmer drew his gaze — the Boarox's monster core, gleaming faintly within the remains.
He bent down and picked it up. It pulsed softly with energy — a dull orange hue, faint but alive.
> [Item Acquired: Boarox Core (E-Rank)]
As the notification flickered before his eyes, another message appeared.
> [You have defeated an E-Rank Beast.]
[EXP gained: 15]
> [You have defeated a Beast for first time] [EXP gained 195 ]
[INFINITE SHOP SKILL — Level increased to 1/50]
[Required EXP for level 2/50 = 10/300]
Eli froze.
He blinked, staring at the glowing text. I leveled up? But… the shop skill isn't a combat ability. Does that mean it evolves with my own progress?
The realization dawned upon him — his skill wasn't limited to trade or crafting. It grew with him. His actions, his risks, his choices — they all contributed to its power.
His lips curved into a soft smile. "So it can grow… just like me."
He stored the core he took from the burnt beast in inventory and turned back, his exhaustion replaced by relief. Cyrus rushed over, still pale but standing tall.
"Lord Elias," Cyrus said sharply, gripping his shoulder. "What were you thinking? You could've been killed!"
"Oh?" Eli tilted his head with a faint grin. "So, am I finally a Lord Elias now?
Cyrus blinked, caught off guard. His ears reddened slightly as he turned away.
Eli chuckled weakly. "Anyways Ihad to do it . If I didn't, someone else would've died. I'll take that trade any day."
Cyrus's frown softened slightly, though his tone remained stern. "You're reckless… but brave, I'll give you that."
Cryella, who had arrived amidst the aftermath, overheard the exchange. She placed her hands on her hips, smiling faintly despite the soot on her face. "Brother, perhaps you should reconsider. He did just save the entire village."
Cyrus's expression stiffened. "You're siding with him now?"
"I'm siding with reason," she replied calmly. "Also… you might want to use a longsword next time."
Cyrus turned, confused. "A longsword? I've trained with rapiers since I was four."
Eli, suppressing a chuckle, adjusted his soot-streaked glasses and said casually, "Just a hunch. The way you move — it's more suited for wide arcs, not quick thrusts. Try it someday."
"Ridiculous," Cyrus muttered, though his gaze flickered with doubt. "Rapiers are the Dawn family's legacy. We don't—"
Cryella interrupted, her voice thoughtful. "Maybe legacy isn't everything, brother. Father's pride cost us enough already."
The silence that followed was brief but heavy. Eli, sensing the tension, gently changed the topic. "Well, for what it's worth… thank you for protecting the people. Without you holding it back, I wouldn't have had the chance."
Cyrus crossed his arms, grumbling. "I wasn't helping you. I was protecting the Barony."
Eli smiled warmly. "Of course. Then I'll trust you to continue doing that, Captain Dawn."
Cyrus blinked. "Captain…?"
"I'll make it official tomorrow," Eli said simply, turning toward the damaged wells. "We have too much to fix before winter."
Cryella couldn't help but laugh softly. "You really are strange, and fine I will accept that my Lord."
"Strange gets things done," Eli replied with a grin. "Now, let's get everyone some rest. We'll need their strength tomorrow."
As the villagers dispersed and the fires dimmed, Eli stood for a while longer beside the Boarox's remains, the faint pulse of the monster core still resonating in his hand.
Level 1… he thought. If I can grow this skill, I can rebuild Dawn faster than anyone expects. Maybe this is my path… not through swords or spells, but through creation.
Above him, the clouds parted slightly, revealing the faint glimmer of the morning star — a quiet promise of light after chaos.
---
Later, at the Starborne Manor
Far away, in the grand marble halls of the Starborne Duchy, a dwarf craftsman burst through a pair of ornate doors, nearly tripping over himself.
"Lord Christian!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "The Blaze Core Bomb — it's been used!"
Christian Starborne, the "Blaze Knight," looked up sharply from where he sat beside his sister Delphine. The warmth from his face gone now etched with worry "What?"
"I double-checked the resonance crystal! It's his — Lord Elias used it tonight!"
Delphine's eyes widened, her usually calm expression fracturing into worry. "Eli…?"
Christian stood abruptly, his hand tightening into a fist. The memories of his younger brother's laughter, his gentle smile, flashed before him — the same boy who had always refused to harm even a bird.
"He used it…" Christian murmured, his voice low. "That means he's in danger."
Delphine placed a trembling hand on his shoulder. "Then we must go to him."
Christian nodded, his gaze hardening like forged steel. "Prepare the horses. If anyone dares threaten him, they'll learn what it means to provoke the Starborne flame."
As the siblings stood beneath the flickering light of the hearth, far away in the wounded barony of Dawn, a new fire had been lit — not of destruction, but of renewal.
And it burned brightest within the gentle heart of Elias Starborne.