Chapter 3: Adventures Begin.

Caelan returned to the quest board, eager to put the recent confrontation behind him and focus on his next tasks. Scanning the available quests, he decided to take on two Silver-ranked missions that he believed would be both challenging and rewarding.

The first quest was a retrieval and transportation mission. He was tasked with collecting a specific type of herb from a small town not far from the city and delivering it to a nearby apothecary. This quest would not only yield a decent sum of gold but would also help him establish connections with the town and apothecary, potentially leading to more opportunities in the future.

The second quest was a monster culling mission. A den of worgs near the same small town had grown out of control, and the creatures had become bold, attacking the townsfolk. Caelan's task was to eliminate at least 25 worgs and bring back their tails as proof of their demise. Successfully completing this quest would not only reward him with gold but also earn him the gratitude of the town and improve his reputation among its residents.

With his objectives clear, Caelan prepared for his journey, gathering the necessary supplies and mentally reviewing the information he had on both tasks. He felt a renewed sense of purpose as he set out, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead and prove his worth as a Gold-ranked adventurer in this new world.

Caelan stepped outside the guild building and found a transportation service that would take him to the small town of Esterford. The cost for a one-way trip was 200 gold, with an additional 400 gold for a round trip. Caelan agreed to the fee, but asked the driver to wait for an hour while he took care of the second quest involving the worgs. The driver agreed, but noted there would be an extra 100 gold charge for the wait time. Caelan consented to the additional cost, knowing the time saved would be valuable.

Caelan hopped into the carriage, which emitted a low magical hum, indicating it was powered by a combination of magic and technology. As the carriage set off towards Esterford, Caelan took the time to review his quests and mentally prepare himself for the challenges ahead.

Unbeknownst to him, a shadowy figure had been watching from a distance and began to follow the carriage. The figure, cloaked and obscured, seemed intent on tracking Caelan's movements, though their intentions remained unclear. As the journey continued, the mysterious figure kept pace, remaining just out of sight, but always close enough to keep Caelan within their sights.

The carriage made its way smoothly towards Esterford, the scenery passing by as Caelan remained vigilant for any unexpected occurrences. Upon arriving at the town, he made his way to the farmer who had the herbs required for the first quest. The farmer greeted Caelan warmly and handed over the herbs, which Caelan carefully stowed away in his inventory.

With the herbs secured, Caelan shifted his focus to the second quest. He ventured towards the worgs' den, which was located not far from the town. As he approached, he activated his armor and sword, feeling the familiar surge of power that came with donning the magical equipment. The sleek, black armor with green accents materialized over his body, providing him with both protection and an increased sense of agility.

Using the UI provided by the system, Caelan scanned his surroundings for any signs of the worgs. He also kept an eye on the mini-map in the corner of his view, which offered a more comprehensive understanding of the terrain and the location of the den.

As he stealthily approached the den, Caelan became increasingly aware of the danger he was about to face. The worgs were not to be underestimated, and he would need to employ all his skills and experience to successfully complete the quest.

Drawing nearer to the den, Caelan began to hear the growls and snarls of the worgs, echoing through the trees. He could see their silhouettes, moving around in the darkness of the den. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation ahead.

Caelan decided on a strategic approach, aiming to take out the worgs one by one or in small groups to minimize the risk of being overwhelmed. He focused on his surroundings, using his UI to identify the positions of the worgs and gauge their level of alertness.

He stealthily moved closer to the den, targeting a smaller group of worgs that had wandered away from the main pack. With the element of surprise on his side, Caelan struck swiftly, his magical sword cutting through the air and dispatching the worgs with ease.

As he continued to cull the worg population, Caelan's confidence grew, but he remained cautious, aware that one wrong move could spell disaster. He gathered the tails of the defeated worgs as proof of his accomplishments and pressed on, determined to protect the town of Esterford and complete his quest.

But even as he focused on the task at hand, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was being watched, the shadowy figure from earlier still lingering at the edge of his thoughts. Caelan remained vigilant, taking care to watch his surroundings for any signs of a hidden threat.

As he continued to dispatch worg after worg, the remaining creatures began to catch on to his presence. They howled and growled, communicating with one another, and Caelan knew that it was time to brace himself for a larger confrontation.

Sure enough, the worgs began to converge on his location, working together in an attempt to overpower him. Caelan readied himself, gripping his magical sword tightly and mentally preparing for the onslaught.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Caelan's skill as a warrior shone through. He met the charging worgs head-on, using his agility and precision to cut them down. His armor protected him from their vicious bites and claw swipes, while his sword cleaved through their ranks.

As he fought, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity, the thrill of battle reminding him of his time as a knight in his previous world. This connection to his past fueled him, giving him the strength and determination to see the quest through to its end.

Finally, with the last worg defeated and the requisite number of tails collected, Caelan breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as Caelan believed he had finished the quest, a sudden change occurred. He heard two massive howls echoing through the area, chilling him to the bone. A notification appeared before him, alerting him that two optional bosses had been engaged: the Worg Matriarch and the Worg Alpha.

Caelan knew that defeating these powerful creatures would not only further ensure the safety of Esterford but also potentially yield greater rewards and reputation. He weighed the risks and ultimately decided to face the challenge head-on, prepared to test his mettle against these formidable opponents.

As he approached the location of the two bosses, he could see the Worg Matriarch, a larger, more fearsome version of the other worgs he had faced, with dark fur and piercing red eyes. Beside her stood the Worg Alpha, an enormous, battle-scarred beast that exuded an aura of dominance and power.

Caelan took a deep breath and charged into battle, his magical sword at the ready. The Worg Matriarch and Alpha immediately responded, lunging towards him with ferocity and cunning. The battle was intense, pushing Caelan to his limits as he dodged, parried, and struck back against the two powerful worgs.

The fight raged on, with each side giving and receiving devastating blows. Caelan's armor took the brunt of the damage from the teeth of both the alpha and the matriarch.

Caelan's energy began to wane as the battle against the Worg Matriarch and Alpha continued. He could feel his strength slipping away, the relentless onslaught of the powerful worgs taking its toll. Just as it seemed that both worg bosses were about to finish him off, Caelan took a deep breath and heard an all too familiar voice in his mind.

The demon that had cursed him sneered, taunting Caelan about his struggle against the worgs and reminding him of the "gift" it had bestowed upon him. As the demon's words echoed in his head, a new notification appeared, revealing a new tab called "Spells."

Caelan hesitated for a moment, wary of embracing the demonic power that had tainted his soul. But with no other options left, he opened the tab and found a single spell: Balefire Blast. Desperate, he called upon the spell and unleashed a powerful blast of demonic fire towards the Worg Matriarch and Alpha. The fireball struck them both, igniting them in a fire that could not be extinguished by normal means.

As the worgs writhed in agony, Caelan mustered the last of his strength to push the demon's voice out of his mind. The Worg Matriarch and Alpha eventually succumbed to the relentless flames, collapsing to the ground, defeated.

Exhausted but victorious, Caelan stood amidst the charred remains of the Worg Matriarch and Alpha, their once fearsome forms now reduced to smoldering heaps. Despite the victory, Caelan couldn't help but feel a pang of unease at the thought of having used the demonic power. The voice of the demon still haunted him, a reminder of the darkness that had infiltrated his soul.

But there was no time to dwell on it now. Caelan collected the additional rewards that came from defeating the optional bosses, hoping that the increased reputation would be worth the risk he had taken. He sent a silent prayer to whatever gods might be listening, asking for the strength to resist the demon's influence in the future.

His tasks complete, Caelan made his way back to the carriage, eager to return to the city and deliver the herbs to the apothecary as well as report the completion of the worg culling quest. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed, and he remained vigilant, determined to confront any hidden threats that might be lurking in the shadows.

As the carriage carried him back to the city, Caelan couldn't help but reflect on the challenges he had faced in this new world. Though he had been granted a second chance at life, he knew that it wouldn't be an easy path, filled with both new allies and dangerous enemies.

As the carriage approached the city, it was suddenly stopped by a blockade on the road. Caelan's intuition screamed that trouble was ahead, and as they got closer, his suspicions were confirmed. The blockade was formed by members of the Knights of the Sacred Flame, the same organization that Torvald and his party belonged to.

Caelan's UI scanned the group, identifying the vice commander of the organization among them. The vice commander was a Gold-ranked Vanguard, level 10, and seemed to be leading the blockade. It became clear that this was an attempt to find Caelan and exact revenge for the earlier confrontation and embarrassment.

As the carriage came to a halt, Caelan prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation. He could feel the tension in the air, the Knights of the Sacred Flame itching for a fight. The vice commander stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Caelan with a mixture of anger and determination.

"So, you're the one who humiliated my men earlier today," the vice commander sneered. "You have no idea who you've crossed, do you? We're the Knights of the Sacred Flame, and you're about to learn a painful lesson in respect."

Caelan stood his ground, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that he couldn't back down from this encounter. The future of his journey in this new world hinged on his ability to stand up to powerful adversaries and prove his worth as a warrior and an adventurer.

As the conflict seemed poised to begin, the shadowy figure who had been following Caelan finally revealed themselves. To Caelan's surprise, it was the guild master of the Adventurers' Guild. With an air of authority and power, the guild master intervened, effortlessly rendering the Knights of the Sacred Flame unable to move.

The vice commander's eyes widened in shock as he found himself immobilized, unable to do anything but watch as the guild master approached him.

"You and your men have not only brought disgrace to your organization but also to the Adventurers' Guild as a whole," the guild master said, his voice cold and stern. "For your actions today and your previous transgressions, I hereby excommunicate you and your men from ever being a part of the Adventurers' Guild."

The vice commander could only grit his teeth in anger and humiliation, unable to respond or retaliate as the guild master's words echoed through the air.

With the Knights of the Sacred Flame dealt with, the guild master turned to Caelan, offering a nod of acknowledgment. "You've done well today, adventurer. Your actions have protected the people of Esterford and upheld the honor of the Adventurers' Guild. We will handle the situation from here."

Caelan, relieved that the conflict was resolved without further bloodshed, thanked the guild master and began to head back to his carriage.

As the guild master released his control over the Knights of the Sacred Flame, the vice commander, fueled by rage and humiliation, unleashed a massive tremor of earth in a last-ditch effort to strike back. The guild master was momentarily caught off guard, unable to react quickly enough to block the incoming attack.

However, Caelan, with his keen instincts and reflexes, immediately turned around and activated his sword's ability. The blade cut through the air, slicing the tremor in half as it continued its trajectory towards Caelan and the guild master. The attack was not only deflected, but the residual power of the sword's ability extended towards the vice commander, striking him with devastating force and slicing him in half.

The scene was suddenly filled with silence, as both the guild master and the remaining Knights of the Sacred Flame stared in shock at the vice commander's lifeless body. The situation had escalated far beyond anyone's expectations, and the gravity of Caelan's actions hung heavy in the air.

The guild master, after a moment of stunned silence, spoke up. "This matter has been settled, for better or worse. The Knights of the Sacred Flame have been dealt a blow they won't soon forget. You should return to the city and complete your quests, Caelan. We will take care of the rest."

Caelan, still processing the events that had just unfolded, nodded solemnly and continued his journey back to the city. Though he had triumphed over a powerful enemy, the consequences of his actions weighed on his conscience. In this new world, it was becoming clear that the line between hero and villain could be a thin and dangerous one to tread.

Caelan's attention was drawn to two new notifications that had appeared in his UI. The first notification was labeled "Secret Boss Encounter: Vice Commander." He hadn't expected the encounter to be counted as a secret boss, but considering the circumstances, it made sense.

The second notification was about the rewards he had gained from defeating both the worgs and the vice commander. Curious about what he had obtained, Caelan opened the reward interface to see the list of items and benefits he had earned.

From the worgs, he received an assortment of valuable worg materials, such as pelts and fangs, which could be sold at a high price or used to craft powerful equipment. Additionally, he gained a substantial amount of experience points, contributing to his overall growth and progression as an adventurer.

As for the rewards from the vice commander, Caelan found himself in possession of a unique, powerful accessory that belonged to the fallen warrior. The accessory was a ring imbued with the power of earth, enhancing its wearer's control over earth-based abilities and granting them increased defense against earth-related attacks.

Moreover, defeating the vice commander had earned Caelan a significant amount of reputation points, both positive and negative. While his standing with the Adventurers' Guild had risen considerably, his reputation with the Knights of the Sacred Flame had plummeted even further into the negatives, marking him as a major enemy in their eyes. This development would likely make future interactions with the Knights of the Sacred Flame even more tense and potentially dangerous.

Despite the mixed nature of the rewards, Caelan understood that every encounter and challenge he faced in this new world would shape his growth and determine the course of his journey. With a newfound resolve to navigate the complexities of this modern urban fantasy, he focused on the tasks at hand.