Zura was hyped. First official mission as a Magic Knight. His blood was boiling in all the right ways.
But more than the mission itself, he was excited about something else.
Lightning magic.
He hadn't tested the spells he secretly absorbed during the Magic Knight exam, but now… now he'd get the perfect chance to let that shit loose in the wild.
He walked into the common hall, eyes sharp, and found Yami leaning against a pillar, smoking the same cigarette like it had never ended.
"You called me?" Zura asked.
Yami exhaled a slow cloud of smoke and flicked something that looked like a wrinkled scroll toward him. "Mission. Bandit group's been stealing from passing trade carriages near Saikan Village. Merchants are pissed. Royals are whining. Go sort it out."
Zura grabbed the scroll, skimmed it. A bandit clean-up?
Kinda tame. But whatever. He could use it as a warm-up.
"I'm ready," Zura said, rolling his shoulders. "When do I leave?"
"Now. Or after you finish scratching your balls. Your call."
Zura grinned and turned toward Noelle, who just walked in. "Oi, Noelle. Let's go."
But just before she could reply—
"Who said she's going with you?" Yami cut in, voice sharp.
Zura blinked. "Uh… I mean, I figured. We get along. She's strong. I could learn a lot—"
"She's going on a different mission. With Charmy and Luck," Yami interrupted flatly.
"What?" Zura frowned. "Then who's going with me?"
"Vanessa and Magna," Yami replied without hesitation. "They'll meet you out front. Try not to slow 'em down."
Zura gritted his teeth. He liked Magna's energy, but Vanessa? That's asking for distractions. She was the walking embodiment of temptation.
Still, he nodded. "Fine. Anyone else involved?"
Yami took one last drag of his cigarette before crushing it under his boot. "Rumors say Silver Eagles might be after the same bandits. Probably their chance to act like they're the only ones that matter. Your job is to get there before them, wrap it up clean, and earn us that damn golden star."
He took a step closer, towering over Zura. "We're already swimming in black stars. One more, and they'll think we're doing this for a damn hobby. Don't screw it up."
Zura smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Yami jabbed a finger against Zura's forehead. "And remember—fight like a beast, think like a bastard. And if you die… make sure it's worth it."
Zura chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
Vanessa and Magna showed up at the entrance shortly after, all geared up and ready.
"You ready, rookie?" Magna grinned. "Time to show off what you got."
"Just don't fall behind," Vanessa added, brushing her hair back and flashing him a wink.
Zura cracked his knuckles, flames of excitement rising in his chest.
'Time to show the kingdom what I'm made of.'
And with that, the three of them took off into the sky, leaving behind a trail of mana and chaos.
The ride to Saikan Village wasn't long, but the heat made it feel like hell's doorstep.
As soon as they landed, Zura, Magna, and Vanessa started asking around.
The village was nothing special. A few dusty homes, half-rotten fences, and too many chickens. But the tension in the air? Heavy.
One old man leaned on his cane and muttered, "The bandits hit again last night. Took food and coins from the convoy heading to Eastport."
A worried shopkeeper added, "They're vicious. Real bastards. Took my cousin's arm for a loaf of bread."
Then came the fat, greedy merchant with gold rings on every damn finger. "What the hell took you so long?! You Magic Knights are all the same. Lazy good-for-nothings! You better take care of those bandits or I'll write a formal complaint to the King himself!"
Magna cracked his knuckles. "Say one more thing, fatty, and I'll turn your wig into a firecracker."
Vanessa held him back lazily, sipping from her flask. "Ignore him. He's all bark and stomach."
Another local, calmer and more informative, said, "Actually… a group of knights came earlier. Few hours back. Wore silver capes. Didn't do much. Just asked some questions and rode north."
"Silver Eagles," Zura muttered.
"Obviously," Magna scowled. "Tch. They've got enchanted rides and better funding. Of course they'd reach first."
Vanessa swirled her drink. "They probably think we'll do the dirty work while they take the credit. Typical noble play."
The three huddled near the tavern wall.
"They'll just sit back, wait for us to fight, then sweep in when it's over," Magna spat.
"We need a plan," Zura said, arms crossed, eyes scanning the horizon.
"If we just go marching into the forest together, the bandits won't show. They'll be watching," Vanessa nodded. "Too risky."
Zura tilted his head. "Then we split. Set a trap. I go alone, pose as bait—some young traveling mage. You two stay hidden nearby. Once they bite, we crush 'em. Fast."
Magna raised a brow. "You sure? You'll be alone, kid."
"I've got this," Zura said confidently. "Besides, if we don't move fast, Silver Eagle's gonna beat us to the punch. And I'd rather be Yami's target for screwing up less."
Vanessa grinned. "Alright then. Operation: Reckless Rookie it is."
Magna slapped his fist into his palm. "Let's give 'em a welcome they won't forget."
After talking to more locals and connecting the dots, one thing became clear—
"The bandits only show up after sunset," said a man with a missing front tooth. "They hide in the woods during the day. Come out when the roads are quiet."
Zura let out a long sigh and leaned against the tavern wall. "So we've got nothing to do till night."
Vanessa stretched, drink already in hand. "Guess I'll stay here and keep the liquor stock low."
Magna yawned, tossing his jacket over his head. "Wake me up when it's time to break bones."
Zura glanced at the setting sun. "I'll go practice somewhere quiet. There's a few spells I've been meaning to try."
"Don't blow up the forest," Vanessa said casually, flopping down on a bench.
Zura waved them off and walked down the trail, deeper into the trees until the village faded behind him.
He stood in a small clearing, cracked his neck, and opened his grimoire. Pages flipped until one stopped glowing with faint sparks.
"Lightning Spear," he muttered.
Mana surged to his palm, gathering into a jagged lance of crackling electricity. The air hissed.
Zura narrowed his eyes, tossed it at a thick boulder nearby—BOOM.
It shattered like a firework, lightning dancing across the rock before fading.
"Damn… this is strong," he smirked, flipping to another page. "Let's try something faster."
He trained for the next few hours. Sparking shields. Chain lightning. Slow but steady progress.
Eventually, the forest dimmed. The sun dipped low, and the air grew colder.
Zura walked back to the village. Vanessa was still drinking, sitting cross-legged on the porch. Magna was wide awake and itching for action, tossing fireballs into the sky like flares.
"The sun's gone," Zura said, brushing dust off his cloak. "Let's do this."
The three of them moved into position, just off the roadside where the last merchant caravan had been hit. Zura stepped out first, looking like an easy target—a lone traveler with a glowing grimoire and no backup in sight.
Vanessa and Magna hid behind the trees, magic pulsing faint beneath their cloaks.
"Alright," Zura muttered under his breath. "Come out, you bastards…"
The real show was about to begin.
==
A/N- I changed the title of my OG novel to- Harem with the Limitless System in the Apocalypse: I am Super OP.
It's my first OG novel, so I need feedback and support. So kindly give it a read. I am sure you will like it!