In a realm shattered by chaos and ancient rivalries, a young warrior named Andres Santos and his enigmatic phoenix familiar, Light, embark on a journey to restore balance and peace. Born into a world fraught with danger and oppression, Andres's earl...
Grinning from ear to ear, Andres couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude toward the goddess for the extraordinary blessing she had bestowed upon him. As he exited the temple, his thoughts lingered on the new skill he had received. "I was hoping for a strong attack skill, but..." he muttered, rubbing his chin. "Ruler's Eye? Interesting," he said with a smile.
Curious, Andres opened his status window to review his available skills. His eyes focused on the display, showing three distinct abilities glowing before him.
"Two attack skills and Ruler's Eye from Solara," Andres murmured, excitement sparking in his eyes as he wondered what Ruler's Eye could do.
(Lvl 1) Attack Skill: Flame Slash - A swift, fiery swing of the Bolo, leaving a trail of flames in its wake. The attack targets a single enemy and ignites them.
(Lvl 1) Attack Skill: Scorched Earth - The warrior slams the Bolo into the ground, creating a burst of flames that erupts around them, damaging and knocking back nearby enemies.
(Solara's Blessing) Skill: Ruler's Eye - ???
"I wonder what it can do," Andres thought, intrigued by the skill's name and potential. His mind raced with possibilities, curious about the effect and the damage it might cause. "Could it reveal something special or give me an edge in battle?"
As he descended the temple stairs, hunger gnawed at him. A food stall selling grilled meat caught his attention, but the price—5 gold—quickly reminded him of his predicament. "I have no money!" he groaned. Determined to find a solution, he headed to the Adventurer's Hall.
At the hall, he learned he couldn't take quests alone without an adventurer's card. Frustrated, he gritted his teeth and left the hall as fee for the Awakened adventurer card was 10 gold, a price far beyond his reach.Frustration washed over him as he gritted his teeth and stormed out, desperate to prove himself. Outside, he approached a nearby mage, hoping for guidance. "Where can I find monsters for beginners?" he asked.
The mage gave him a sympathetic look. "You can hunt low-level monsters to the west of Valoria. Just be careful—you don't have your adventurer's card yet, do you?"
Andres shook his head. "I don't have the money for that useless card!" he protested.
"Well, stay safe out there, then. Don't forget to collect monster drops—you can sell them for gold," the mage advised.
Andres thanked the mage and made his way westward, eager to start hunting. As he ventured out, he encountered a variety of low-level foes: Town Rats (Level 1), Gobblers (Level 2), and Lost Spirits (Level 3). But these were not what he was after.
"There you are!" he shouted, spotting a Mischievous Sprite (Level 10) flitting about. Andres activated Flame Slash and dashed forward, striking the sprite with a single blow. Two indicators flashed: Critical Hit.
Not content with just one victory, Andres spotted another Mischievous Sprite and decided to test his second skill. "Scorched Earth!" he shouted, slamming his Bolo into the ground. Flames erupted, knocking back the sprite and burning it in the process.
He grinned, impressed. "So, Flame Slash is a single-target skill, while Scorched Earth damages and knocks back enemies nearby," he noted, his excitement growing. "Not bad for my level."But low-level monsters weren't enough for him. Hungry for a challenge, Andres headed north, where stronger foes awaited. "These weaklings are wasting my time!" he muttered, eager to test his new powers.
As he ventured deeper into the north, Andres spotted the boy from Solara's tower once again, gracefully swinging his katana at Blazing Fireflies (Level 11). Curious, Andres activated Ruler's Eye. His eyes glowed blue as the status window appeared, revealing the boy's information:
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Status WindowHaruki TakedaOrigin: JapaneseClass: SamuraiRank: Awakened
"A samurai, huh?" Andres whispered to himself, intrigued by Haruki's skill.
He began hunting Blazing Fireflies (Level 11), effortlessly defeating them in one hit. Damn it! Another one hit!" he muttered, frustration boiling over as he continued searching for monsters above Level 15.
Just as he was about to venture deeper, a sudden attack caught him off guard. It was Haruki, glaring at him with an annoyed expression. "I said don't follow me around, you idiot!" he shouted, their weapons clashing as they faced each other.
"I told you I wasn't following you!" Andres shot back. "I'm looking for ways to get gold and level up."
Haruki raised an eyebrow, glancing at Andres' level. "You just awakened. Why are you up here? You should be leveling in the west!"
Andres shrugged, a grin forming. "The monsters there are too weak for me. You also just awakened right?"
Haruki chuckled, clearly impressed. "You've got guts. Want to spar with me?" said with a serious face.
Shocked by the sudden duel invitation, Andres stayed calm and composed, contemplating how to respond to what might be a formidable and trained opponent. Holding his chin thoughtfully, he boldly asked, "What will I get if I win?"
Haruki laughed out loud, clearly amused by the audacity the adventurer. "You are really crazy, kid! I like your boldness and bravery. Tell me, what is it that you want?" He brandished his small katana, its razor-sharp blade glinting in the sunlight, adorned with his family crest.
Andres waved his hand dismissively, "I don't want to rob you; it's useless to me since I already have my weapon." He chuckled, then stopped to think for a moment. An idea sparked in his mind. A party, huh? I don't want that...
With a grin, he declared, "Okay, I'll tell you what I want if I win."
"Tell me then," Haruki replied, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"I will be your master, and you will be my slave!" he said, crossing his arms defiantly.
Haruki laughed again, the sound echoing through the open space. "As if I would let you win!" he shot back, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Wanna bet?" Andres retorted, feeling the thrill of competition surge through him.
"What will I get if I win?" Haruki asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the exchange. Andres pointed at Light, his eyes glinting mischievously. "I'll give you this little guy," he said with a wide smile.
Light, perched on Andres's head, looked shocked, flapping his wings in protest as he hammered his tiny head with his peak. "What?! You can't do that!" he squawked indignantly.
"Sure! I'll eat that friend of yours after I trash you," Haruki replied, his grin widening as he relished the idea of defeating Andres.
Andres leaned in closer, tauntingly saying, "Attack if you're ready, or just bow if you're scared.""Here I come!" Haruki announced with a smile, unsheathing his katana. The air between them crackled with tension as both young adventurers prepared for their duel.
