A week had passed since the system upgrade. Leo dressed carefully, glancing at Aisha before stepping toward the door. He smiled and said, "I'll be back soon," before stepping outside into the cool morning.
Instead of rushing with his enhanced speed, Leo decided to take a slow walk toward the town. The air was crisp, and the path was lined with lush greenery, a rare moment of peace for him. The serenity of the morning gave him a chance to enjoy the tranquility of the world around him, something he hadn't had in a while.
As Leo strolled along the empty path, a sudden, sharp prickling sensation made him freeze. His instincts, sharpened by the system's enhancements, were always on high alert for nearby threats. He paused, scanning his surroundings, and soon spotted the source of his unease — a small, slug-like creature blending into the muddy earth.
"That's a Mud Lurker," Leo thought, recalling what he'd learned from his new **World Knowledge** ability. His **Appraisal** skill activated, displaying the creature's details in a translucent screen before his eyes.
---
**Species**: Mud Lurker
**Details**: Mud Lurkers latch onto their prey with sticky mucus, slowing them down. They're usually harmless on their own, but in large groups, they can be a nuisance, especially in damp environments.
---
Leo studied the information, impressed by the level of detail. **Not bad,** he thought. With **Appraisal**, he could now learn everything about anything he targeted — their strength, defense, agility, and skills.
He decided to test another ability. Activating his **Aura**, he watched as the Mud Lurker's stats increased dramatically, its defense and speed improving tenfold. Leo wasn't concerned; the creature was still no threat. He pushed his aura outward, intending to intimidate it.
In an instant, the Mud Lurker's stats returned to normal. It turned and tried to flee, but Leo felt a surge of curiosity. He pushed his aura even further, and without warning, the creature collapsed, lifeless.
Leo blinked, startled. "What just happened?" he muttered.
A voice echoed in his mind, cold and neutral:
*The Mud Lurker died from fear. When the aura ability is used at full pressure on a much weaker being, it induces a fatal level of fear.*
Leo frowned. He hadn't expected that. **I'll need to be careful with this power,** he thought, still processing the strange result.
---
Continuing his walk, Leo reached the town gates. As he approached, he saw a group of familiar faces — the C-rank adventurers he had met during the battle with the Shadow Goblin. Relief washed over him; he was glad they had made it out alive. He quickened his pace, eager to greet them.
The group was deep in conversation when one of them, a tall man with a scar across his eye, suddenly squinted into the distance. "Hey, isn't that...?" he began, his voice trailing off.
The others turned, confused. "What are you talking about?" one of them asked.
"That guy we met in the forest last week, when the Shadow Goblin went berserk? He's coming towards us," the scarred adventurer said, voice tinged with uncertainty.
A woman in the group scoffed, shaking her head. "You can't be serious. When the Goblin went into rage mode, we all fled to warn the town. He didn't make it out with us. And after we got the A-rank adventurers, we went back. There were signs of a huge battle, but no sign of him or the Goblin."
The group exchanged confused looks as Leo walked toward them, unaware of the disbelief they were facing.
"Hey, it's nice to see you guys again," Leo greeted with a wave.
One of the women, a young adventurer with short brown hair, stared at him in shock. "If you're a ghost, please don't hurt us," she said half-jokingly, but her nervousness was clear.
The leader of the group, a scarred woman wielding dual blades, smacked the back of the young adventurer's head. "He's not a ghost, you idiot. Can't you see he's real?" she scolded.
Leo chuckled. "I promise I'm not a ghost."
Relieved, the adventurers invited him to dinner. They wanted to hear what happened during the fight with the Shadow Goblin, and Leo agreed. They made their way to the Adventurer's Guild tavern, ordering food and drinks as they settled into their seats.
Once they started eating, a burly man with a greatsword leaned forward. "After Daniel, our archer, was injured by the Goblin, we thought you were right behind us. But when we made it out, you were gone. We came back to find backup, but all we found was the aftermath of a huge battle. What happened?"
The group's eyes were fixed on Leo, waiting for an explanation. He felt his heart race — the truth was something he couldn't tell them. He couldn't explain how a drop of blood from their injured archer had awakened his hidden vampire bloodline, leading to a fierce battle with the Goblin.
Taking a deep breath, Leo decided on a different story. "Let me explain," he began carefully. "After you carried Daniel out, I stayed behind to hold off the Shadow Goblin. I was barely holding on when a masked man appeared. He looked at me and said, 'Is it just a Shadow Goblin you're struggling with?' I knew right then he was incredibly powerful. He called himself the Reaper."
The group's expressions shifted to surprise as they leaned in closer. Leo continued, "He defeated the Goblin easily and then took me back home before disappearing. I barely had time to thank him."
They exchanged surprised glances. The leader, furrowing her brow, said, "A master like that was there? No wonder the forest was so destroyed. If the Chanter Forest wasn't so resilient, I'd have gone back to check."
A man with a longbow asked, "The Reaper? Never heard of him."
Leo nodded. "That's what he called himself."
The adventurers whispered amongst themselves, theories swirling about this mysterious masked figure. Eventually, their concern returned to Leo.
"You okay?" the scarred woman asked. "You must've been in bad shape after that."
"I'm fine now," Leo assured her. "Thanks for asking."
The conversation died down, and Leo stood to leave. "I need to visit the blacksmith before heading home."
"Take care, Leo," the leader said with a nod.
"You too," Leo replied, waving as he stepped out of the tavern, relieved they believed his story.
At the blacksmith's shop, the familiar clang of metal greeted him as he entered.
"Did you bring anything for repairs?" the blacksmith asked.
"No, not today. I just had a question," Leo answered.
The blacksmith raised an eyebrow. "A question? Go ahead."
Leo hesitated. He had been curious about the Adventurer's Guild since his time with the C-rank group at the tavern. It seemed like a good opportunity to grow stronger and gain more resources, but it was a big decision. The blacksmith was a good person to ask.
Before he could ask, a notification popped into his mind.
---
**System Notification:**
*Daily Quest Activated:*
1. 100 push-ups
2. 100 sit-ups
3. 100 squats
*Reward: A Bronze Treasure Box*
*Side Quest Activated:*
*Objective: Meet Aizen to discuss more odd jobs.*
*Reward: A Mask that can conceal your identity.*
---
Leo blinked at the notification, distracted by the mention of a mask. **A mask to conceal my identity?** He considered it. He could already change his appearance with his abilities, but this could be useful for creating a new persona, something mysterious and powerful.
The blacksmith cleared his throat, snapping Leo out of his thoughts. "You alright? You seemed a bit distracted."
"Yeah, sorry," Leo said, snapping back to attention. "I was just thinking. Do you think joining the Adventurer's Guild is a good idea?"
The blacksmith grinned. "The guild? It's a solid choice. Pays well for monster hunts and bounties. If you want to make a name for yourself, it's the place to be. I've seen a lot of rookies with nothing but a dream. Some make it big, others don't. But if you've got the skills, it's worth it."
Leo nodded thoughtfully. The blacksmith's words made sense. It could be a good way to earn money, grow stronger, and gather more information. With that decision made, he thanked the blacksmith.
"I'll check it out. Thanks for the advice," Leo said, heading for the door.
"Good luck!" the blacksmith called after him. "If you need weapons or repairs, you know where to find me."
Leo made his way to Aizen's mansion, ready to complete his side quest and explore the new opportunities ahead.