Starting With A Trash Hand

First Silver

[GEOSHOCK]

RANK - SILVER

TYPE - MAGIC/ACTIVE

[At the cost of all your MP, create a circular wave of stone spears that causes mid gold rank earth-element damage. The range is equal to the 1 meter for every 5MP.]

'Look at this. I mean. LOOK. AT. THIS. Have you ever seen a silver rank skill that causes gold rank damage? No siree. Even rich brats or kids with superdaddies could only dream of having a card like this. Even if they could buy a gold rank skill book, they'd find it impossible to cast, unless he's at silver rank.'

After boasting to myself and slapping the card to a non-existent someone's face, I started surfing the web. It was hightime I'd search for a iron dungeon. The previous two was a no-brainer, those gates were like standard for any newbie hunter. But now that I have a silver card, it was time to aim bigger. That, or my head was inflating.

Gold Sand City, where I'm at, had a total of 4 wood rank gates, 4 copper rank gates, 3 iron rank gates, 3 bronze rank gates, 2 silver rank gates and 1 gold rank gate. Gold Sand City got its name from its gold rank gate, just like any other city. Forrier named its cities based on the strongest gate the city has. For example, Gold Sand City has a gold rank gate, hence Gold, and Sand because the gate had a desert environment.

The 3 iron rank gates were namely, RED GORGE, FROG MARSH and THUNBULL GRAZING. They're elements were fire, water and lighting respectively. Each of them has their own pros and cons. Red Gorge has weak monsters but harsh environment. Frog Marsh has capable monsters that group up and can blend in the mud and the murky waters prevent one from running. Thunbull Grazing was on the side of the spectrum, it had strong beasts on an open grassland and they herd themselves.

Although I said that Red Gorge had weak monster, that was only in comparison to the Thunbull's thick hide or Ogre Frog's skin. Salamanders of the Red Gorge had thin skin covered by a layer mucus that absorbs the high temperature in their surroundings and gathers all the heat in a mutated salivary gland. This gives them low defence and dragon breath-like attacks.

From the data I got so far, the best gate for me was the Thunbull Grazing. With the [GEOSHOCK], wiping out a herd should be cinch.

A full day of grinding and I'd be rubbing my face on a bronze grimoire. No one could probably compare to my speed. Not even a week passed and I was about to be bronze from the initial wood-rank. Ofcourse, there were also those talented people that awakened as bronze ranks. But that was just down to luck. My strength, on the other hand, was built up from hard (easy) work. I toiled (not really) to reach where I was today.

Anyways, I also need to gather cards from the other two gates. I had a hunch I could get a no-element card pack if I recycled differing elements together.

I became lost in a daydream of upgrading my Trash Hand. Imagine looting dozens of cards for every kill. I would tire out from fusing cards all day long.

"Solon dear, It's time for dinner." I heard mom's voice from behind the door.

"Coming."

****

"I became iron rank today." I dropped the ball in front everyone.

"Pfft. Cough. Cough." Klee suddenly spat out her drink and started a coughing fit.

"Klee dear, are you alright?" Mom asked, passing a napkin at Klee. Then she turned towards me and said, "My son has finally started to grow." Dad nods in approval.

"This much is nothing mom. I still have a long way to go. Also what do you mean I started growing." Another nod from dad.

"Nothing. Just couldn't wait to see my grandchildren." Another nod.

"Kehum. Mom don't you think it's a little early for that?"

"No. Not at all. No."

Eribh nods again.

'Why are you always agreeing!!'I shouted inwardly. "Well I do think it is."

"Okay. Suit yourself."