A Mandatory Quest

—The system voice echoed in his head again.

[Dragon forge is an Overlord system, allowing for the player to 'level up' by gaining experience. The system was dubbed this name because it was detected that the player possessed a dormant draconic aspect and was also a summoner.]

Alister stared at the system window, shocked, bewildered. 'A dormant draconic aspect?'

He knew about dragons from the textbooks he read.

'According to what I remember, they are supposed to be the monsters that appeared early on in the apocalypse. I believe it was mostly because of them the world was brought to such a state.'

Dragons, mythical creatures of immense power that were practically legends. But a dormant aspect within him? It sounded more like a bedtime story than reality.

Hesitantly, he focused on the yellow window again. It seemed to respond to his thoughts, highlighting specific words and offering additional information in smaller windows that popped up besides the bigger one.

[Draconic Aspect]: A hidden genetic anomaly within the player that grants them a trace of draconic potential. This potential can manifest in various ways, depending on the individual.]

[Summoner (SSS)]: The player's awakened Talent allows the player to summon monsters from other realms. The Dragonforge system will enhance the player's summoning abilities allowing the player to summon forth unique draconic summons.]

Alister's mind raced, 'A draconic aspect?'

'Could that be the reason me and Miyu were able to survive back when we lived in the wastelands?' his thoughts momentarily drifted to his bedridden sister, memories of their hardship momentarily flashing before his eyes.

'But if it was dormant, how did this system detect it and not the other one? And how is it related to being a Summoner?'

He placed his hand under his jaw as he thought further, 'So wait, Because I have a draconic aspect, I can only summon dragon monsters, that must be the monster that my mana will be compatible with then.'

Hesitantly, he asked another question, 'Can you explain how the Dragonforge system works?'

[The Dragonforge System is a comprehensive growth and advancement tool. By completing quests, defeating enemies, and acquiring experience, the player can level up, unlocking new abilities, enhancing existing ones, and potentially awakening their dormant draconic aspect.]

[(Quests): Depending on their nature, they could be mandatory or optional. These are tasks assigned by the system that offer rewards upon completion. Quests can range from simple tasks like gathering resources to complex challenges like defeating powerful enemies.]

[(Experience): Earned through completing quests, defeating enemies, and various other actions. Experience is necessary for leveling up and unlocking new abilities.]

Alister read through the information, a spark of hope flickering within him. Maybe… maybe if this strange system was real, and would allow him to be able to really get stronger, by 'leveling up' then this could be a chance to turn things around.

Suddenly, a new message popped up in the yellow window, titled:

[Starter Quest: Summoners can fight too]

[Quest details: Raid a gate, with or without a party and single handedly kill at least five monsters.

(Reward): 100 EXP, Beginner's Guide to Summoning (Rank E), Basic gauntlet (Rank E).

Quest nature: mandatory.

Time limit: 24:00:00

Failure: Death/System deactivation.]

Alister stared at the quest details displayed in the yellow window, his mind reeling. "Mandatory quest? Death penalty for failure? Isn't this a bit much for the first quest…?" He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "But, to kill monsters without a combat related talent could prove to be difficult."

Just then, someone bumped into him, their shoulder sending a jolt through his arm. "Hey, watch it, statue!" a mocking voice snapped. Alister recognized the voice – it belonged to a student from a rival class who had always enjoyed belittling him. He ignored the comment, muttering to himself, "I need to find a quiet place to learn more about this system and the quests before I attempt anything."

Pushing through the throng of students, he finally reached the edge of the crowd. Just then, A sudden, booming laugh echoed from the sky, drawing everyone's attention upwards. Heads tilted back as a figure descended from the sky, landing with a dramatic thud that sent a shockwave through the plaza and created a small crater. Dust billowed, momentarily obscuring their appearance.

As the dust settled, gasps filled the air, as everyone present recognized the person before them. A woman with vibrant purple hair and red eyes stood amidst the debris, her imposing figure clad in advanced black and purple armor that gleamed under the afternoon sun.

This was none other than Anya Petrova, the infamous Guild Master of the Berserker Guild. Anya was a legend in her own right. Known for her unparalleled strength, her reckless battle tactics, and her insatiable hunger for power, her boisterous personality ensured she left a lasting impression wherever she went.

Cracking her knuckles and neck with a series of pops, she grumbled, "Those damn barriers are getting more annoying every time. Took me ages to get through them."

With a booming voice, she addressed the stunned crowd. "Alright, you lot! Who was the one who caused that crazy light show during their awakening?"

An unnerving silence descended upon the plaza. Murmurs started to spread, some speculating that Anya must have witnessed the massive dragon conjured form Alister's awakening. Just then, Magister, his face frowned in anger as he stepped forward.

"Anya! As I recall, I specifically requested you stay away from the Awakening Ceremony this year!" he yelled.

Anya simply smirked, a glint of amusement in her crimson eyes. "Rules are like chains, old man," she said in a theatrical voice. "They're meant to control the weak. Naturally, someone as powerful as me doesn't need to follow them!"

Anya waved a dismissive hand at Magister. "Just relax, like always, I'm here to snatch the top talent and I'll be out of your hair."

Magister's eyes narrowed as he retorted, "I can't let that happen again this year, Anya. Your attitude nearly caused all the other guilds to withdraw their sponsorship from the academy last year."

This wasn't the first time Anya had pulled a stunt like this. Every year, she'd descend upon the Awakening Ceremony in similar fashion, her sights set on scouting and recruiting the most promising student. Her success in snatching top talents had earned her the nickname "Talent Snatcher," a title she wore with a certain mischievous pride. It was also a major reason why the Berserker Guild remained dominant across multiple megacities.

Anya shrugged nonchalantly. "If you won't cooperate, I'll just proceed like I usually do." She began scanning the crowd, her gaze flitting across faces, until her eyes landed on Alister. A wide smile, genuine this time, spreading a cross her face.

"Don't get any ideas," Magister warned, his voice filled with frustration.

But Anya ignored him, instantly leaping forward toward Alister. "Hey kid," she called out, her booming voice easily drowning out the murmurs of the crowd, "are you interested in joining my guild?"