7 Chapter 7: Improving

The hunters walked along the road in the village headed to Kelly's. Soon after they saw the familiar building and entered it. They soon found Kelly and questioned him, "Hey Kelly, Ali said a Magic Knight was looking for us." Marshall quickly stated his reason for coming.

"Oh yeah, a Magic Knight from Crimson Lions said you should wait here. He's a regular here, so you'll meet him soon enough." Kelly said while cleaning the bar stand. "Tsk, fine then." Marshall and company waited until lunch time came. Soon a man wearing the crimson lions robe with slim physique, and a noticeable scar on his forehead came inside the Tavern. Wearing a Magic Knight uniform he was eye catching as he was soon noticed by Kelly, and the others.

Kelly immediately approached the man, he talked to him and pointed at Marshall, and the others. The Magic Knight patted Kelly's shoulders and walked toward the hunters. "So, you guys were responsible for hunting large animals here?" He directly asked them, wasting no time, "Oh yeah, name's Randall Luftair, just call me Randall."

"We are one of the many hunters here, but we mainly sell what we get at this Tavern." Marshall answered the man's question. Randall nodded when he noticed Marco, "A kid? Is he also hunting with you guys?" He looked at Marshall, and the others and asked them, while Marco was just quietly assessing the Magic Knight.

A complex expression was seen on their faces. They knew that letting a kid hunt, was unacceptable, they accepted Marco into the team, with the intent of being a support since they noticed his hearing capabilities. But due to recent events, Marco showed his skill, and competency, they now don't hold any negative ideas about letting Marco hunt with them. Heck, Marco could hunt alone and they wouldn't even bother.

"Cough! You don't have to worry about this kid, he can hold for himself out there, we can guarantee it, besides we wouldn't let a liability in our team." Marshall quickly explained as to satisfy Randall's doubts about why a kid was hunting.

"Is that so?" Randall raised an eyebrow, looking at Marshall, and Marco. "Its the truth, I even hunted a bear today." Marco looked at Randall and smiled at him. While Randall just thought what Marshall, and the rest first thought about Marco, 'What's up with this kid?'.

"Alright... Then, Marshall right? Kelly introduced you. I need to talk with you, in private." Randall then looked at Marshall with a serious expression. "Sure," Marshall went along with Randall, he then looked at the others, "You guys can go ahead, and have fun around." He waved at them while leaving with Randall.

They looked at each other, when Marco broke the silence, "So... you guys wanna hunt or fight?" He looked at the others with a provocative gaze. "Hmph! Getting cocky are we?" Hans looked at Marco with how a senior looks at a junior.

Marco grinned as he said excitedly, "Exactly! That's why you guys should humble me."

"You... Alright kid let's go!"

A few moments later they returned to to where Marshall and Marco fought. Ali looked at Marco and said, "Let's have a go kiddo."

"Sure."

Ali immediately summons his grimoire and casts his spell, "Mud Wall". While Marco, already predicts this, he rushed at Ali without him hearing him get closer. Chris and Hans, who were watching, noticed the phenomenon and were perplexed.

With Although an experienced Hunter, with Ali's poor close combat skills he already lost the moment Marco got close to him. At the next moment Ali was subdued, while Marco locks his legs.

"Oof, well then kiddo it's you and me." Chris then challenged Marco to experience his skills first-hand.

Marco faced Chris with a basic fighting stance. When Chris suddenly creates a stream of water directed at Marco.

He dodges as he already knew Chris' move. This was soon followed up by more streams of water. While Marco got bored with the attacks, as he already got used to it.

'Time to finish up.' Marco then showed off his nimbleness, as he dodges all of Chris' attacks while slowly drawing closer to him.

At the next moment, Marco knocked Chris out as he kicked him at his jaw.

"Huff... Huff... What about you Hans? You wanna go?" Marco said as he looked at Hans, lightly panting.

"Hehehe, oh I'm not in the mood to get beaten by a kid. When you tied with Marshall I already knew you were capable..." Hans shook his head. He acted as the second-in-command in the group, hence he's a calm person.

"Well then, I will get them to their houses. You go do... whatever kids do these days..."

"Sure thing."

Marco then goes to his house and do what kids do these days, Meditating. With more experience in controlling mana along the battle, he analyzed, and reviewed his actions.

He then proceeded to refine his heart with mana. The body cultivation technique's progress was at the blood stage. It provided Marco more stamina, recover stamina much faster.

The effects are enhanced with his mana breathing technique, and the mana breathing technique is enhanced by the stage of body cultivation.

The next stage after the blood is the heart. With it completion, it would allow Marco to have superhuman level of stamina, and recovery abilities, it would also improve his vitality. Which Marco already proceeded to do. With all his attention, he made his blood circulate in his body, while the heart was exposed to high levels of mana.

This part is the most dangerous as mana is a volatile substance of nature. Without the proper skillset exposing an organ to high levels of mana would be extremely fatal.

Fortunately Marco has superb comprehension abilities, as he was enlightened in the Dao of reading, and he is already experienced in handling mana.

A few hours passed as his body was covered in sweat. The inside of his house already reeked of his sweat. When he opened his eyes, full of vigor. He exhaled out a long air of breath. He succeeded! His heart has now adapted, and is compatible with mana.

He breathed in deeply, feeling the sensation of being full of energy. He felt that he could stay running for a whole day at full speed nonstop.

Suddenly, a couple knocks were heard at Marco's door.

"Who is it?"

"Hey, Marshall called for us. He says he's got some news."

He stared at his door, as he recognized Hans voice. He then thought about the possible news he would hear. But recalling the Randall's serious expression, and Marshall's return he couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

"Be right there!" Marco said while he shook his head. He then went to approach his door and went out to find Marshall.