The morning sun filtered through the small window, waking Ethan from a deep sleep. He stretched, feeling the soreness from yesterday's journey. The room was cramped, but it had served its purpose. He washed up quickly and headed downstairs.
Aunt Greta greeted him with a warm smile. "Good morning, Ethan. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you, Aunt Greta," he replied. "Where can I find breakfast?"
"Right here," she said, pointing to a table laden with bread, cheese, and fruit. "Help yourself."
Ethan filled a plate and sat down to eat, savoring the simple yet delicious meal. As he ate, he thought about his plans for the day. He needed to register as a hunter and start learning more about this world.
Just as he finished his meal, Aria walked in.
"Good morning, Ethan," she said cheerfully. "Ready for our adventure?"
"Good morning, Aria. Yes, I'm ready," he said, standing up and grabbing a simple cloth bag from the Inn. Aunt Greta handed him with a smile.
They left the inn and walked through the bustling streets of Arcadia. The city was alive with activity, vendors shouting about their goods and people hurrying to their destinations. It was a vibrant, colorful place, unlike anything Ethan had ever seen.
Aria led him to a large building with a sign that read "Hunter's Guild." They entered, and Ethan was immediately struck by the sheer number of people inside. Hunters of all shapes and sizes were gathered, talking, laughing, and preparing for their missions.
The language was entirely different from earth but he could understand it clearly as it was engraved in his mind.
Aria guided Ethan to the registration desk, where a stern-looking woman sat behind a counter. "Hey, Melinda, this is Ethan," she said. "He's here to register as a hunter."
The woman named Melinda's eyes softened when she saw who was speaking.
"Is he a newbie, Aria?" Melinda asked, scrutinizing Ethan.
"Yes, he is my new friend. Can you help?"
"Is that so?"
Ethan stepped forward, revealing a small smile. "Hello, nice to meet you, Miss Melinda. I am Ethan Smith."
She also smiled back. "Oh, nice to meet you too. What a polite kid! Just like you, Aria."
"So, if you're a newbie, then you have to fill out this form," she said calmly. "Name, age, skills, level, etcetera, etcetera."
Ethan took the form, filled it with his details, and handed it back to her.
"Alright, your Hunter ID will be ready in a few minutes, then you can choose a F-class skill for free," Melinda replied curtly.
As they waited, Aria explained more about the guild. "Hunters take on various missions, from gathering resources to slaying monsters. It's a dangerous job, but it's also rewarding. You'll earn money, gain experience, and can even find rare items. Moreover, they are granted access to the dungeon for a fee as well."
It was really convenient.
A few minutes later, Melinda handed Ethan a small badge. "This is your Hunter badge," she said. "Take good care of it."
"And you can choose one skill from these skills as per your liking."
She displayed a few glowing books on the table.
"Fireball."
"Wolf Instinct."
"Tiger's Claw."
"Speed Boost."
"Body Fortification Basic."
"Swift Sword Strike."
Ethan was amazed at the sight. Those glowing skill books were really tempting. But he could only choose one of them. Why is it always like this?
He read the description and picked Swift Sword Strike from those.
From the description, it seemed best for newbies. Fireball was a good skill, but it had no defense properties. While with Swift Sword Strike, he could attack and defend at the same time. Wolf Instinct was useless as it had no attack property.
"Good choice, Ethan. It is the best choice for you," Aria encouraged him from behind. So, it was final.
[Ding! ]
[ Congratulations! You have acquired a new skill: Swift Sword Strike.]
Instantly, some basic info about sword flowed through his brain as if he had been trained in it beforehand.
After the registration process, they went to a blacksmith's shop to buy a sword for Ethan.
He had no money, so he had to ask Aria for help again.
Aria lent it to him with no objection. To her, 10 silver coins were just like chump change.
[Appraisal ]
[ Iron Sword ]
[ Metal Grade: F ]
[ Attack Power: 3 ]
[ Durability: 10 ]
Ethan bought a regular iron sword worth 10 silver coins, which was a lot. So, he reminded himself that he had to return the money to Aria someday.
"So, what do you plan to do next, Ethan?" Aria asked as they left the blacksmith shop.
Ethan looked around the market as he replied, "I want to go to the dungeon." He wasn't completely sure though. He was a little scared, thinking about what might happen to him. He didn't want to die again, so he was hoping for Aria's help.
"Huh?" Aria looked surprised. "Dungeon, right off the bat? Won't it be dangerous?" She looked worried.
"Alright, Ethan, I will go with you, but only for today. What about that?" Aria decided to help him at last.
Ethan couldn't be happier. If she came with him, he would be at ease.
"Okay, thank you, Aria. Let's go," he urged, looking at the sun, which was about to set in a few hours.
From there, guided by Aria, they headed to an F-class dungeon called 'Fire Toad's Den.' The perfect place for newbies.
The journey to the dungeon was filled with the sights and sounds of the city gradually giving way to more rugged, natural surroundings. The bustling streets turned into quieter paths lined with trees, and the air grew fresher. Ethan felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.
When they arrived at the entrance of the Fire Toad's Den, he could feel a strange, ominous energy emanating from within. The entrance was a dark, gaping hole in the ground, surrounded by rocks and vegetation.
"This is it," Aria said, her tone serious. "Remember, stay close to me and follow my lead. The Fire Toads are dangerous but manageable for beginners. Just be cautious."
Ethan nodded, gripping the hilt of his new sword tightly. "Got it. Let's do this."
They entered the dungeon, and the temperature immediately rose. The walls were damp and covered in moss, and the air was thick with humidity. The only light came from the glowing crystals embedded in the walls, casting an eerie, flickering glow.
As they ventured deeper, the sound of dripping water echoed around them, and Ethan could hear the distant croaking of the Fire Toads. Aria led the way, her movements confident and sure.
"Keep an eye out for any signs of danger," she whispered. "The Fire Toads can be sneaky sometimes."
Ethan nodded, scanning the surroundings nervously. Suddenly, a loud croak echoed through the tunnel, and a large, fiery-red Toad leaped out from the shadows, its eyes glowing menacingly.
"Get ready, Ethan!" Aria shouted, drawing her weapon.
Ethan took a deep breath and raised his sword, trying to steady his trembling hands. The Fire Toad lunged at them, its mouth open wide, revealing sharp teeth and a glowing, fiery tongue. It was about three feet tall, definitely bigger than average toads.
Aria moved swiftly, dodging the Toad's attack and striking back with her weapon. "Aim for its eyes, Ethan! They're its weak spot! Quick! Don't let it spit fire on you," she warned.
Ethan nodded and lunged forward, swinging his sword with all his might.
"Swift Sword Strike."
The blade connected with the Toad's eye, and it let out a screech of pain, thrashing wildly.
"Huff!" Ethan let out a sigh of relief at the sight. "I can do this." He cheered himself before continuing his strikes.
"Good job, Ethan! Keep it up!" Aria encouraged, remaining standby. She was here just to protect him, so she wouldn't interfere unless he was in some kind of danger.
With a few more well-placed strikes, the Fire Toad collapsed, its body dissolving into a pile of ash and embers.
"Nice work, Ethan," Aria said with a smile. "You're doing great."
Ethan smiled, feeling a rush of exhilaration. "Haha, Thanks, Aria. That was tough, but I managed."
They continued deeper into the dungeon, encountering more Fire Toads along the way. Each battle was a challenge, but with Aria's guidance, Ethan grew more confident and skilled.
[ Ding!]
[ Congratulations! You have leveled up.]
[ You have received 5 attribute points to distribute freely ]
"Status:"
Name: Aengus Degaro (Ethan Smith)]
Race: Human
Level: 1
Class: None
Age: 18
Strength: 10
Agility: 8
Defense: 9
Mana: 100
Attribute points: 5
Skills: Swift Sword Strike (F)
Unique Skills:
- Basic: Appraisal
- Mythic: Skill Absorption
- Ultimate: Universal Synthesis
---
Ethan quickly distributed the attribute points on strength and agility, and felt a rush of power rising through his being. He clenched his fist, feeling the increased strength that almost felt unnatural. It was a exhilarating experience.
Ethan and Aria were currently on the third floor of the underground dungeon. Each floor became progressively hotter as they descended.
"Thud!"
As another big fire frog fell to the floor, defeated, Ethan saw a bright light where the frog had died. He approached and found a skill book there, the frog's body having disappeared.
[ Skill: Fire Toad's Leap.]
[ Class: F ]
[ Description: Acquiring it will grant you Fire Toad's jumping ability ]
"Wow! Ethan, congratulations! You've triggered your first monster drop. And, on top of that, you got a skill book out of it. You're quite lucky," Aria smiled.
"You can equip it, or even sell it at the market for 20 silver coins at least. Both win win situation."
"Let's go ahead more."
While Aria was momentarily preoccupied, her attention drawn to the floor, Ethan quietly held the skill book against his chest to equip it.
If Aria had noticed, she would have been stunned. Because, most people could only equip one active skill, and two passive skills at the beginning. It was the limit of a ordinary hunter's capabilities.
But Ethan, unaware of this restriction, managed to do so without a sweat.
[ Ding! Congratulations! You have acquired a active new skill: Fire Toad's Leap(F) ]
"Great!" He exclaimed inwardly seeing two active skills on his panel.
---
He continued to grind until sunset. Ethan managed to level up Once, which was great considering he had just started his adventure.
Aria just observed his struggles, feeling impressed at his tenacity.
Ethan was now at level 2 with 5 additional attribute points to distribute freely. He allocated them as per his need on defense and strength this time. Defense was equally important as others, as it makes his body more sturdier and stronger.
After leveling up, progress became harder, so they decided to quit for the day.
The Fire Toad's Den had twenty floors in total, and Ethan managed to clear the first four floors all by himself. Although he was close to dying many times, Aria saved him just in time. From this, he understood that he needed to prepare himself more for the next raid.
"Hey, Aria, I almost forgot. How should I increase my Mana? I can't use my attribute points on it." When they were about to part ways, Ethan finally asked the most important question that was on his mind.
"Oh, that. You need to use Mana orbs to increase your Mana. You can buy them from the shop, or if you're lucky, you can find them in monster drops."
She added, "Mana Orbs are very rare, so their price is also high. Ordinary people can't afford them at all. You will understand how rare they are soon enough."
"I see." Ethan nodded in understanding.
"By the way, how much Mana do you have?" Aria asked, curious.
"It's 100," he answered honestly.
"Well, 100 is good, especially if you're just a newbie.
----
After parting ways with Aria, Ethan entered a shop to sell the extra skill book he got from another monster drop. It was the same skill he already had: Fire Toad's Leap.
It was not useful to him anymore, so he sold it for 20 silver coins.
Afterwards, with that money, he bought another two iron swords.
"Synthesize!" he commanded after reaching his room.
"Congratulations! Your Synthesis was successful."
[ Appraisal ]
[ Iron Sword → Silver Sword (Sentient) ]
[ Metal grade: F → E ]
[ Attack power: 3 → 15 ]
[ Durability: 10 → 30 ]
"Awesome!" he cheered as soon as he saw the result. Its attack power had increased to 15, meaning it could double his strength now.
"You will be my buddy from now on." He kissed the silver sword with affection.
The silver sword softly glowed as if responding to his words. The soft glow emanated a sense of warmth and companionship, almost as if the sword had a soul of its own.
---
The next morning, Ethan woke up early, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. Today was the day he would head back to the dungeon alone.
After a quick breakfast, he made his way to the dungeon entrance. The city was bustling with activity, but his mind was focused on the challenges ahead.
As he descended into the dungeon, he felt the familiar heat intensify with each step. The first few floors were relatively easy, thanks to his new skills and his sentient sword. The Fire Toads were no match for him now. His confidence grew with each battle, but he knew he couldn't let his guard down.
On the fifth floor, the environment changed dramatically. The walls were covered in glowing red moss, and the air was thick with the scent of sulfur. The heat was almost unbearable, and he could feel the sweat pouring down his face. He took a deep breath and pressed on.
Ethan encountered a group of Fire Toads and used his Swift Sword Strike to take them down quickly. As he fought, he noticed a strange-looking Toad watching him from a distance. It was larger than the others and had a menacing aura.
"Darn..."
The creature leaped towards him with incredible speed. He barely managed to dodge its attack and retaliated with Swift Sword Strike. The blow connected, but the Toad didn't seem fazed.
"Croak Croak!" It let out a terrifying screech and lunged at him again while spitting fire from its mouth.
This time, Ethan used Fire Toad's Leap to jump out of the way and landed behind the creature.
.
"Die!" He struck with all his might, and the sword glowed brightly as it cut through the Toad's tough skin, thanks to his new upgraded sword.
"THUD!"
The creature let out one last screech before collapsing to the ground.
[ Ding! Congratulations! You have leveled up ]
[ You have received 5 attribute points to distribute freely ]
Ethan let out a sigh of relief and checked his status. He had received more attribute points, and his strength and agility had increased. He distributed the points evenly, focusing on improving his strength and agility.
Then, he quickly used Skill Absorption on the fallen Toad. If he hadn't done that quick, the body would have disappeared completely.
[ Congratulations! You have acquired a new passive skill ]
[ Skill: Fire Toad's Resilience (passive)]
[ Class: F ]
[ Description: Acquiring it will increase the user's resistance to fire-based attacks ]
This was exactly what he needed. Yesterday he wasn't able to use Skill Absorption because Aria was with him, but now he could use it as many times as he wanted.
Ethan equipped the skill and felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. The heat in the dungeon no longer felt as intense.
With renewed confidence, he continued deeper into the dungeon, determined to see how far he could go.
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