First Main Quest

"I wonder when the system will issue a quest." Dante mused aloud while chasing down an escaping Trool Pig.

The Trool Pig was known for its tough skin and cowardice. For a Holder looking to hunt in a dungeon without getting too banged up, going after a Trool Pig was the smart choice. Dante had already dispatched at least two of these creatures he'd encountered on his way. His level steadily rose as he made his way toward the teleportation platform. Dante decided to conquer this dungeon for two reasons: its proximity to his home and its repeatable nature.

The shrill cry of the pig reverberated in the surroundings.

"You gained +50 Exp!"

Dante proceed to skinning the pig. Trool Pig meat was far more delicious than that of a regular pig, and Dante had developed quite a taste for it.

Near a water stream, Dante could already see the mountain housing the teleportation platform. Judging by the position of the sun, he estimated it was well past 3 in the afternoon.

"I've been hunting since morning," Dante muttered, referring to his time spent inside the dungeon. He stowed away the trool pig's skin, meat, and monster core into his inventory. Monster cores found within the dungeon fetched a good price outside, with stronger monsters yielding higher returns.

Accumulating monster cores is also one of Dante's primary objectives.

As he continued on, he noticed a colossal footprint by the water's edge, large enough to engulf his entire head.

Studying it intently, Dante activated his skill. With the mask enhancing his concentration to a new level, he meticulously analyzed the imprint. His eyes narrowed, and he suddenly surveyed his surroundings with heightened focus.

"Main Quest! Kill the Founding Goblin!" The mechanical voice of the system resounded in Dante's mind, and a translucent screen materialized before him.

Dante was left momentarily speechless. He had just been pondering when the system might issue a quest, and now it had materialized.

"A Founding Goblin..." Dante scrutinized his stats, revealing level 10. Most of the points went to Strength and Agility.

Because of his sudden surge in strength had yet to be fully comprehended, so he had primarily targeted those creatures that are considered weak. Now, with this quest before him, Dante believed he would be able to completely assess his capabilities.

Dante quickly recalled the information he had about Founding Goblins and set off in search of one.

Founding Goblins were leagues above their ordinary kin in terms of strength and intelligence. They usually established settlements and commanded normal goblins as their subordinates. Due to their superior genetics, they stood at almost 2 meters in height, often mistaken for ogres due to their size.

"Only 1-star Holders would dare take them on," Dante considered that if he succeeded in defeating a Founding Goblin, it might be worth pursuing a 1-star medal.

But Dante doesn't realize that with his current stats, aiming for just a 1-star medal is underestimating his potential.

Lucius, Sarah, Michael, and George were all 1-star Holders. It made sense given their financial capacity and exceptional skills. Dante, on the other hand, had started as a non-combatant. He'd learned to fight out of necessity for survival, and funds for a star medal were beyond his reach. These thoughts swirled in his mind as he meticulously followed the trail of the Founding Goblin.

"System, what are the rewards for completing this quest?" Dante asked casually, not looking at the reward.

"As this is your first quest, you will be awarded a support skill."

"Can't you offer something more impactful? Like a strengthening skill or a 'magic' skill?" Dante complained. With skills like those, he could be facing off against a dungeon boss right now.

"The system's role is to help you become the greatest support."

"Yeah, right," Dante said sarcastically, knowing he had no intention of using support skills on others. Selfish? Perhaps, but Dante was done with being a pushover.

"What if I fail this quest?" Dante asked, realizing he hadn't received any notification about penalties.

"You won't fail this quest," the system replied emotionlessly.

***

Hyra City, much like any urban center, boasts various establishments and entertainment venues that draw visitors from far and wide. It's also known for its strong support of guilds.

In an abandoned train station, which had remained unused since a dungeon portal appeared within its confines, people in suits were now preventing anyone from entering. Strange devices surrounded the portal, and a monitor screen displayed continuous streams of incomprehensible data. A man in a suit, lean and with long hair cascading over his shoulders, frowned as he studied the information intently. His eyes held a serious intensity.

"Here you go, sir." A dainty hand extended, holding a cup of iced coffee.

"Thanks."

Joann, the woman behind the counter desk in this dungeon, had reported anomalies, prompting her boss to dispatch an investigation team and temporarily close the entry.

"Welcome, sir," Joann replied. However, noticing the gravity with which he studied the data, her curiosity got the better of her and she tried to make sense of it herself.

In the end, she gave up and decided to ask him.

"Sir, what does it mean?"

"I don't know," the man replied with confidence in his voice.

"T-then why—" Joann asked, puzzled.

"Oh, you see, it's fun pretending you know something. Hahahaha!" The man chuckled, observing Joann's speechless face with satisfaction.

"Sir Z!" Suddenly, one of the staff called out and handed him a report.

Z took the paper and scanned it.

"When did this dungeon appear?" Z inquired, his eyes on the report.

"Around a week ago," Joann replied, regaining her composure.

"Hmm, I see."

Silence fell, and they all watched as Z examined the report, anticipating his next words.

'A total of 21 Ghast Wolves in an F-class dungeon? The fluctuations from the portal are definitely unusual... These last couple of years, things have been getting stranger and stranger.' Z pondered to himself. As he held the report, Z's interest was thoroughly piqued. Lucius, Sarah, Michael, George, and Dante's profiles were all included.

After a moment, Z handed the report back to the staff member and turned to Joann.

"What's your name?"

"Joann."

"You're promoted. You'll be in charge of this investigation," Z said with a casual smile.

Joann's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe she had been promoted so suddenly. 'I got promoted just for handing him an iced coffee,' she thought, a mixture of shock and excitement coursing through her.

As Joann watched Z walk away, she recalled the details she had read about him.

'Z, one of the five-star Holders in the country. His origins are a mystery, shrouded in secrecy. Easy-going, and fond of jokes. Yet, among the five-star Holders, he's considered the most dangerous.' Joann remembered reading this in a handbook her boss had given her.