3 F-Ranked Mission
Zeno navigated through town and found a smithy nearby. To prepare for this trip, he needed a real weapon, unlike the wooden daggers he had back at home and his old school. Ignoring the enticing smells of food from the streets nearby, he walked into a store called 'The Dwarven Cavern'.
Clink! Clink! Clink!
A burly dwarf was hammering metal in the back. Noticing a customer, he placed down his hammer and looked up.
"Hello there! Call me Gyro. I was just finishing some work." He gave a hearty laugh as he walked over to study Zeno's figure. "A young adventurer, huh. What can I get for ya."
Gyro could see that Zeno's slim figure was hiding powerful burst strength. He figured Zeno was an Agility focused fighter. However, he also noticed that Zeno wasn't the wealthiest of customers.
"Greetings Mr. Gyro, I'm Zeno. I was looking for a pair of daggers, preferably balanced and able to dual-wield." Zeno glanced around the shop to see some of Gyro's work. Zeno rarely went shopping, let alone shopping for a weapon. He saw a large variety of swords, bows, and shields. They had all sorts of different metals and colors.
"Well, you've come to the right place. I've got plenty of daggers that might fit your taste. Oh, and drop the honorifics." Gyro motioned Zeno towards a certain section of the store. A couple aisles here contained a variety of short bladed weapons.
Zeno glanced at the first pair of daggers. "Analyze." He held both of them in his hands as he chanted his skill.
[Steel Daggers]
Classification : Dual-Wield Daggers
Power : F+
Attack Speed : Fast
Elemental Affinity : N/A
Condition : New (100/100)
The daggers seemed nice, and with a price tag of only 5 silvers, they wouldn't shoot holes through his budget. Zeno would probably end up buying this pair, as he couldn't afford to buy anything luxurious. But his curiosity piqued after he took a glance further down the aisle.
Zeno reached for a pair of curved daggers. The amethyst colored blades seemed to depict a night sky after sunset. "Analyze."
[Dashing Night]
Classification : Dual-Wield Karambits
Power : A+
Attack Speed : Insanely Fast
Elemental Affinity : Dark
Condition : New (1000/1000)
~ A pair of well made daggers using materials originating from the core of an Amethyst Tiger. ~
Zeno's eyes widened as he noticed the special description at the end. Only precious items and artifacts had details or lore at the end of any [Analyze]. Gyro was watching Zeno the whole time.
"It's your first time buying weapons, huh?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm planning on becoming a mercenary to earn some money for school," Zeno admitted.
"Ah, so you're an adventurous lad. Many of them these days, and many more to come. I was once like you, boy." Gyro looked up, reminiscing his early days. "An old dwarf like me quit that life. I lost too many things in the pursuit of power. I'm just a blacksmith now."
"Power..." Zeno quietly interrupted, then he began to speak up. "Yggdrasil can reconnect people with their loved ones right? If it takes power to search for Yggdrasil, I'm determined to obtain it."
"Zeno." Gyro paused and looked deeply into the boy's purple eyes. A strong resilience was present, something rarely seen in beginner adventurers. He was about to give Zeno empty encouragement, but he changed his mind. "From what I know, only the [Fruit of Life] has that power, and Yggdrasil, wherever it may be, doesn't bear fruit anymore..."
Gyro had to tell the truth to Zeno. He didn't want Zeno to fall harder after working so hard for his goals. Zeno, hearing those words, looked to the side, and a few moments later, his eyes quickly darted back towards Gyro.
"Then I'll find a way to make it bear fruit! Or maybe Yggdrasil will bear fruit in this lifetime. And Yggdrasil has been lost for so long, maybe there's even fruit on the tree now." Zeno wasn't discouraged, at least on the surface, and continued, "Gyro, I won't let go of any chance, no matter how small it really seems."
Zeno revealed his inner feelings. "I'll do everything in my power to connect my mother, even if it's only a failed attempt."
"I understand." Gyro looked deeply into the young boy's eyes, seeming to realize something. He studied his facial and body language and made a decision. "Kid, I guess I never really gave up on power, did I. I'm a blacksmith!" Gyro began to laugh. "I'm always perfecting my craft. Tell me kid, I'll gift you your first pair of daggers. Something at your level though, I don't want to coddle you too much."
Zeno had no plans of taking [Dashing Night], even before hearing Gyro's restriction. His eyes lit up though. "Really? You're a kind old Dwarf aren't you."
"Watch your mouth kid, I'm still in my prime," Gyro chuckled.
Zeno stuck his tongue out as he grabbed the [Steel Daggers]. "I like these. I've got the proper equipments for holding and taking care of them too."
"Zeno, Don't worry about it. Just come back here when you need repairs or sharpening. Maybe I'll even teach you a thing or two..." After a bit of chit-chat, Zeno exited the shop. Gyro watched the slim figure sprint away into the city.
"What an interesting lad..."
Gyro walked back to his smithing station, and picked up his hammer with extra vigor.
Clink! Clink! Clink!
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The Adventurer's Guild was the largest organization on multiple continents. Its branches spread from Lumious to the [Elven] and [Dwarven] continents, to the point where most cities had a building representing the Guild. As a result, multiple races could be seen mingling with each other on the streets, as they had come from far away lands to make their own dreams come to fruition. Some had even settled down to start their own businesses, like Gyro.
The newly outfitted Zeno walked inside the Adventurer's Guild and looked for a receptionist. Two steel daggers hung by his waist, and he was wearing a small backpack to carry supplies. He wore light clothes that protected a few of his vitals, but it still allowed for a flexible range of movement.
On [Selection Day], with so many people around, it was impossible to enjoy the beautiful paintings and decorations adorning the walls in the Guild building. Zeno couldn't help but be astonished as he looked around.
Zeno approached a large desk, where multiple workers were awaiting guests.
"Hello, is this where someone can become a mercenary?"
"Welcome!" A young female worker smiled politely. "Yes, let's get you signed up right away."
She retrieved a stone tablet from a drawer and placed it onto the desk in front of her. "Place your palm on the tablet here for me please."
Zeno quickly obliged. The tablet would take a mana imprint and then take information about the person's name and attributes in order to create the appropriate badge. This badge held information about a mercenary's rank, points, and identity.
"All done! Let me explain the mercenary system while we create your mercenary badge." The young lady put the tablet aside and another worker took it away for processing.
She continued, "All mercenaries have the freedom to pick a quest within 2 substages below or above your own rank. Of course, if you are partying with other mercenaries, in other words, taking on a quest as a team, you can accept quests from 2 substages below the lowest party member's rank up to 2 substages above the highest party member's rank."
Seeing Zeno's blank face, she hurriedly added on. "Basically, if you are an E- ranked mercenary, you can only accept quests rated F through E+. If you party with a D rank member, that range increases from F through C-."
"Okay, that makes sense." Zeno replied. "So, what can I do with the points I earn?"
"There's an exchange counter upstairs." She pointed towards a grand staircase, where many adventurers were heading up and down. "You can exchange points for items or coins. You'll see when you get up there."
As the two were talking, the worker who had left previously came back with a shiny bronze badge. The young lady attending to Zeno promptly passed it over to him.
"Try imbuing some of your mana into it."
Zeno did, and some information popped into his brain.
[Mercenary Badge]
Name : Zeno Tross
Rank : F+
Points : 0
Zeno looked back at the worker. "So where can I find the quest board?"
...
In 10 minutes, Zeno walked out with a quest :
[Eliminate 15 Grey Wolves]
Rank : F
Reward : 100 points
After entering the main streets, he made quick strides towards the exit of Lumious. Stocked with supplies and a new pair of daggers, Zeno was eager to start his first quest.
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A green flash was moving swiftly through the trees in the dense forest near Lumious.
"Skill Information - Tailwind!"
[Tailwind (Beginner/Active)]
Skill Level : Stage 1/9 (6/10)
Classification: Wind / Support
Summons a tailwind to increase Agility. Increases agility by 30% while outside of combat and 10% while in combat to nearby party members or self. Effects last for 5 minutes.
Mana Cost: 10
Cooldown: 15 minutes
Zeno loved this skill, as it saved him time while traveling, and allowed him to gain extra speed and reflexes during combat. Suddenly, Zeno stopped, as he had spotted a Grey Wolf nearby.
According to the quest he had picked up, Grey wolves had been recently attacking farms of a nearby village, and the chief of that village was looking for F ranked mercenaries to eliminate some of the wolves. To complete the task, young Zeno only needed to eliminate 15 wolves.
"Stealth."
Zeno slowly disappeared, becoming one with the surrounding fauna. With short, deliberate steps, he closed in on the target. He equipped his [Steel Daggers] and cocked his arms back while preparing for two slashes at the wolf's neck.
The fight wouldn't be so easy though. The Grey Wolf's fur raised as its bestial instincts kicked in. It swiped a paw towards its back, the direction in which Zeno charging in from.
Clang!
One dagger had met directly with the claws of the wolf, while the other managed to lacerate its belly.
Huuuuu!
The wolf quickly jumped backwards, disengaging from the initial contact. Then, it made an O with its mouth as it howled into the forest. As its grey fur tinged with red, its black pupils soon followed suit. It was enraged, and Zeno knew enough about wolves to know that the Grey Wolf's combat abilities had instantly doubled.
Zeno's purple eyes widened, and he swallowed some saliva. He realized that the situation was dire, and the Grey Wolf's reinforcements would soon arrive. Unknowingly, Zeno's purple eyes began to glow.
"Void Assault!" Zeno instantly appeared at the wolf's back, and he stabbed twice at the neck. However, it seemed as it the fur was not easily pierced this time. When the Grey Wolf entered its rage, its soft fur became as tough as cow hide.
His daggers managed to dig a couple inches deep before meeting resistance. Those two inches were enough though. The wolf began to bleed profusely at two areas around the neck. Even though it was in an enraged state, it never expected the young boy to maneuver himself to its back.
The wolf leapt towards Zeno, its jaws open and fangs bared. It was making its last attempts at injuring Zeno.
Zeno jumped backwards, performing a partial backflip and then using his hands to bring himself back onto his feet. He effectively dodged the wolf's advances, and, without delay, made a swift counterattack.
A quick slash at the Grey Wolf's face opened up an opportunity for Zeno to make the finishing blow. An incredibly weakened Grey Wolf had no time to defend, even during its enhanced combat state. However, while a quick stab ended the fight, a sudden swipe from the dying wolf managed to connect with Zeno's forearm.
Zeno had no time to rest though. He quickly collected a few of the wolf's fangs, and when the wolf died, its core emerged from inside its body to its chest. Zeno made a quick incision and collected the core, as it was necessary in proving his 15 kill count back at the Adventurer's Guild.
Huuuu! Huuuu!
Zeno left the scene before more grey wolves could arrive, but he could hear the howls in the distance though. The [Tailwind] supporting himself died out just as he moved a safe distance away. Zeno's glowing eyes returned back to normal as well.
"Never again..." Zeno quickly bandaged the scratch caused by the wolf during its last moments. It was on his left forearm, but fortunately, the injury was minimal and would have little effect in how Zeno would grip his daggers. The impact was heavy though.
Zeno was a first time hunter, and he made the mistake of underestimating his opponent. Furthermore, Zeno had no experience fighting beast-type opponents, as he usually practiced on a training dummy or with his peers. He then realized he forgot to [Analyze] his opponents. This would allow him to make strategies and backup plans to take down his enemies.
Experience was experience, and it was best for Zeno to make smaller mistakes at first before committing a fatal one. Zeno knew his knowledge and arrogance of having a couple E-rated stats blinded him from taking the F ranked quest seriously.
"14 more to go." Refocusing, Zeno steeled himself as he jumped from the branch of a tree he was resting on. The hunt resumed.
