Ethan walked through the adventurer guild's doors and made his way to the quest board. The board was crowded with adventurers, each scanning the latest job listings. After a brief glance, his focus shifted to the Monster Hunting section.
Among the notices, two quests stood out to him:
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Stealthy Goblin Scout Clearance
Rank: B-Rank
Level Requirements: B-Rank
Minimum Party Requirement: Solo or party of two or more
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Moonshade Petal Collector
Rank: B-Rank
Level Requirements: B-Rank
Minimum Party Requirement: Solo or party of up to 2 people
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Both quests seemed related to each other, and the Moonshade Petal Collector task appeared to have useful benefits for Ethan's stealth skills. The opportunity to clear out the goblin scouts while collecting Moonshade petals was too good to pass up. After considering for a moment, Ethan accepted both quests. He felt confident these would be a good challenge, combining his combat abilities with his growing skills in stealth.
After accepting the quests, he left the guild and began his journey toward the Asura Forest, specifically the Shaded Area. He had brought along a map linked to his system to help guide him.
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[ Ding... ]
[ Map added successfully ]
[ Host, if you want detailed information, please instruct Calyra to take flight over the area. I will monitor her and provide information. ]
Ethan immediately communicated with Calyra through telepathy, asking her to fly high enough to remain unseen and keep a lookout for any dangers. He instructed her to head toward the Shaded Area.
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As he walked through the forest, Ethan noticed the map on his interface lighting up with several red dots—signifying the presence of monsters.
He asked Calyra to hover and wait for an opportunity to get close to the monsters, keeping them under observation. After a while, a group of Goblin Scouts moved in the same direction. Ethan decided not to follow them directly but instead entered the Shaded Forest, a dark and foreboding area that disoriented many travelers.
Suddenly, Ethan heard a series of system messages:
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[ Ding... ]
[ Skill: Night Vision activated. ]
[ System Analysis initiated... ]
[ Activating system anti-corruption. ]
[ Deactivation of outer law successful. ]
[ Host, you have regained all senses. ]
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Ethan blinked, the overwhelming darkness lifting as he felt his senses return. Confused, he asked, "System, what was that about the 'outer law'?"
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[ Host, to simplify the explanation, laws are created when the universe birthed the world, or if a person reaches a god-like realm and creates their own law. ]
[ In either case, I am uncertain whether anyone in this world has the power to create laws. However, I can deduce that this world has something it wishes to protect. ]
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Ethan's curiosity peaked, but he refocused on his mission. He had come to the Shaded Area for a reason, and he needed to complete the task at hand.
The system advised him, [ Host, first, you should do what you came here for. ]
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With that in mind, Ethan walked toward a nearby tree, activating his Appraisal skill. He carefully gathered ten Moonshade petals, each glowing softly in the moonlight. As he worked, the system monitored the area, tracking the monsters nearby.
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Soon, Ethan noticed the goblins moving toward him, stealthily closing in. The moment they got close enough, they activated their ultimate skill—stealth. However, what they didn't realize was that Ethan had already marked their presence. Their attempts to hide were futile against his senses. He gripped his sword tightly and charged forward.
Ethan closed the distance with a few quick strides and launched a simple but powerful strike. The goblins, unable to react in time, fell easily. There were only two of them, and though they could have been a challenge if there were more, they didn't stand a chance against Ethan's swift assault.
After the battle, he collected their right ears as proof of his success in completing the quest. He paused for a moment to catch his breath, then decided to rest for a while before continuing.
As he relaxed, he telepathically instructed Calyra to perform a deep twirl in the sky. The majestic bird flew overhead, keeping watch as Ethan gathered his thoughts and prepared for whatever came next.
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Ethan smiled, satisfied with his progress. He had completed his first tasks in the Shaded Area, and though it had been a quick victory, he knew it was just the beginning. The adventure was only starting, and there were more challenges ahead.
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