Main Quest and Class Up

"Do I need this?" I questioned myself as the only effect from the gas that I felt was probably the heaviness in my chest.

I've already gotten used to it, and though it sometimes interferes with my sleep, that's the least of my worries when trying to get a restful night.

"Also, there's this," I muttered before glancing at a set of another few panels.

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[Main Quest: Rise to Power]

[Description: The boiling anger of your abusive family can finally be taken out, but you might want to gather some allies first. Your family is strong, so strong in fact that you have no chance as you stand now. Your family has a myriad of high-tier adventurers, so plan and get strong. But, once you have become the head of your family, excrete the pollutants and build your family's reputation once again.]

[Reward: [???]

[Penalty Upon Failure: Death]

[Time Left: Six Years]

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What… What is this? A main quest? I've never seen this from the system before…. Is this the present?

"It seems fun… Though it is right. I have barely even started. I need to continue to level up and grow stronger, so let's not stall any longer. By the age of 17, I swear I'll become the head," I muttered to myself.

Though that doesn't really sound possible, I'll give it a try, y'know.

…

After only a few days, I had finally found the last victim that I needed until I could acquire a class, and they looked very weak.

They hobbled as they stepped forward, and their body was very thin.

Despite being most likely in their early thirties due to their upright and decent posture, they looked to be in their late seventies or something close to that, just judging from the many wrinkles.

Though, the most noticeable part would probably have to be that he wasn't wearing a mask at all.

"It's a good thing I decided to start wearing this," I muttered while patting the black mask on my face.

It was noticeable that there were some people who either couldn't afford masks or just completely refused to wear them, and the consequences of that were their well-being.

The slight haze over this city was toxic pollution created by factories that produce mass-produced magic equipment.

The fumes that emit from these factories are so toxic, in fact, that if you stood in one of the chimneys, you'd just die instantly after breathing just once.

"What a fucked up world," I muttered before pulling the same move on all of my other victims.

I tripped them, and then with a hard yank and infusing mana into my muscles, I pulled them into my alleyway before slicing their eyes and throat with a sharp rock.

I had sharpened it over the past few days, so now, there was barely any friction.

Oh yeah, that butterfly knife I acquired just disappeared the night I had acquired it... like it was never there in the first place.

The man writhed in pain, but I quickly put his suffering away as I stabbed him in the head repeatedly.

Even with infusing mana into my muscles, I didn't have enough strength to fully cut through his throat, so an instant death wasn't possible.

[10 XP gained]

[You have leveled up]

[Max level cap reached]

[You have completed a hidden quest]

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[Hidden Quest: Stealthily Murder 30 Beings of Your Same Race]

[Description: Kill thirty beings of your same race without them ever suspecting who it was. Even if they catch a glimpse of you, the kill won't count towards the quest.]

[Reward: [Skill Book - Stealth Puddle]

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[Reward granted]

[You are able to class up]

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A flood of notifications came in, and it took me a while to absorb, but after about fifteen minutes, I think I had the gist of it.

Oh yeah, I also disposed of the body.

I guess there are these things called hidden quests, which are essentially quests that I have to discover rather than receive and then complete.

Plus, there was this leather book sitting in my hand, and this was most likely the skill book that I had received as an award.

"Interesting," I muttered before glancing up at my status, and something caught my eye.

『Status』

[Name: Cyrus]

[Race: Human]

[Level: 10/10] (Click to Class Up)

[HP: 15/15 MP: 15/15 SP: 15/15] - Normal Human

[Strength: 1] - Normal Human

[Defense: 1] - Normal Human

[Magic: 5] - Normal Human

[Speed: 1] - Normal Human

[Aether: 5] - Non Human

[Skills: [Tidal Strike]

…

"Should I… Use it here? The process doesn't take that long, but that is more than enough for somebody to feel the lingering death in the air… and then ultimately lead to killing or capturing me,"

I pondered over whether classing up right now was a good decision since if I increased my other stats, then I might unlock more powerful classes.

I was not one to use a weapon besides a magic staff in my previous life, but the idea of a magic swordsman intrigues me…

"But, would the system be so kind as to give that to me as my first class up option… meh, probably not. I'll increase my strength later as I'm sure I'll only get a swordsman as an option…."

I stared long and hard at the class-up option before finally giving in and ridding myself of any more hesitation lingering in my body.

I clicked on the class-up option, and my vision went dark. My senses had been lost, and the only thing I had was my mind.

The first time I encountered this, I panicked so bad as I thought I had been blinded or something.

Zzzzzzz

A light buzz echoed through my head, and it almost seemed to bounce around inside my brain, rattling my skull itself.

Then, with a blinding flash of white light, I appeared in an endless black void with a single panel floating in front of me.

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[Prove your worth]

[Round 1: Goblin]

[Description: A goblin is the most basic of monsters. Failure to complete this round will result in complete humiliation and mockery by the gods.]

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"What? No options? Where are my options?"

All of a sudden, a wooden staff with lingering magic power appeared in my hand, and the familiar cackle of a dreaded monster appeared behind me.