The air inside the Quest Shop was filled with the faint scent of parchment and leather, a quiet hum of magic buzzing from the glowing boards on the walls.
Dozens of players milled about, their eyes scanning the quests, some muttering to themselves while others strategized with friends.
Lucas hesitated at the entrance, suddenly aware of how plain his gear looked compared to the players wearing glimmering armor and wielding ornate weapons.
"Alright," he muttered under his breath, forcing himself to step forward.
The quest boards were split into sections, each glowing panel displaying missions categorized by difficulty.
Most of the high-tier quests were red, marked with ominous warnings about danger and the minimum level required. Lucas quickly ignored those, focusing instead on the green section.
[Quest: Cull the Ravager Pack
Description: A herd of Ravager Beasts has been spotted near the Whispering Grove, causing havoc among traders. Eliminate at least five and report back for a reward.
Reward: 50 EXP, 3 Nexus Coins.
Difficulty: Low.
Location: Whispering Grove, south of Nexus Haven.]
"That'll do," Lucas said, tapping the glowing ACCEPT button. A notification appeared in his interface, marking the location of the quest on his map.
The sun hung low in the sky by the time Lucas passed through the southern gates of Nexus Haven, heading toward the Whispering Grove.
The path led through rolling hills before dipping into a dense forest. The trees stood tall and imposing, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that filtered the light into golden shafts.
Lucas couldn't help but feel a flicker of unease as he entered the grove.
The air grew cooler, the sounds of the town fading behind him. His dagger felt small in his hand, and the leather armor offered little reassurance against whatever was waiting out here.
He consulted his map, following the glowing marker until he heard a low growl in the distance. His heart jumped, and he crouched instinctively, peering through the underbrush.
The air inside the Whispering Grove was heavy with tension. Lucas crouched low behind a tree, watching the herd of Ravager Beasts grazing in the clearing.
Their elongated limbs and spiked backs shimmered faintly, blending with the forest's shadows.
Lucas's grip tightened on his dagger. His heart pounded as he planned his next move.
'Alright, focus. Pick one off at the edge and don't panic.'
He crept forward, selecting the smallest Ravager at the perimeter. It hadn't noticed him yet.
Activating Quick Slash, Lucas lunged forward, his dagger glowing faintly as it struck true. The Ravager let out a pained snarl and spun to face him.
The fight was chaotic. Lucas fumbled with his dodges, narrowly avoiding the beast's snapping jaws.
He managed to land a second hit, but as the Ravager began to dissolve into light, another growl erupted from the shadows.
Lucas turned just in time to see a larger Ravager barreling toward him. He raised his dagger, his mind racing for a plan, when a streak of light shot past him.
The beast yelped and burst into glowing fragments.
"What the — " Lucas spun around, his shock turning into irritation.
A tall figure stepped into the clearing. His sleek black armor glimmered faintly with purple runes, and a large sword rested against his shoulder.
The stranger smirked, looking every bit the seasoned warrior.
"Relax, rookie," he said, his tone casual. "You were about to get eaten. Consider that a freebie."
Lucas bristled. "I didn't ask for your help!"
The man shrugged. "Yeah, but you needed it. Name's Kael Varen, by the way. Combat pro, and apparently, your new babysitter."
Lucas clenched his fists, ignoring the jab. "I was handling it."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "With that toothpick of a dagger? Sure, you were."
Lucas glared, his frustration mounting. "Look, I don't need you swooping in and stealing my kills. This is my quest."
"Your quest?" Kael snorted. "Newsflash, rookie: nothing in this game belongs to you unless you can hold onto it."
The two stared each other down, the tension thickening. Lucas debated lunging at Kael in frustration but knew he'd be outclassed.
"Fine," Lucas said finally, his tone icy. "You've had your fun. Leave me alone so I can finish my quest."
Kael tilted his head, studying Lucas for a moment. Then, to Lucas's surprise, he smirked. "Tell you what: I'll make you a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yeah. Team up with me. You're clearly struggling, and I could use someone to watch my back while I clear these pests. We split the loot, split the kills. It'll go faster for both of us."
Lucas hesitated. Trusting Kael felt risky, but the Ravagers were tough, and the thought of tackling the entire herd alone was daunting.
After a moment, he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But we split everything evenly."
Kael grinned. "Fair enough. Let's get to work."
Working together was awkward at first. Lucas followed Kael's lead as they moved through the grove, his confidence growing with each encounter.
Kael demonstrated efficient strategies, showing Lucas how to bait a Ravager into attacking, dodge cleanly, and strike at the right moment.
"You're getting the hang of it," Kael said after they felled their third beast.
"Thanks... I guess," Lucas muttered, still wary of his new partner.
Kael chuckled. "Relax, rookie. I'm not here to steal your thunder. Well, not entirely."
Lucas rolled his eyes but said nothing.
As they approached the next Ravager, Kael gestured for Lucas to take the lead. "This one's yours. Show me what you've learned."
Lucas nodded, focusing on the beast. He activated Quick Slash, lunging forward and landing a clean hit.
The Ravager roared, turning to attack, but Lucas dodged smoothly, using Kael's tips to stay one step ahead.
When the Ravager dissolved, Lucas let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
[You have gained 10 EXP.]
[You have collected Ravager Fang x1.]
Kael clapped him on the back. "Not bad, rookie. Keep that up, and you might survive this game after all."
Lucas smirked despite himself. "Thanks. I think."
By the time they reached the heart of the grove, the herd of Ravagers was noticeably smaller. They had taken down four beasts, and Lucas was starting to feel a rhythm to the fights.
"This is the last one," Kael said, nodding toward a particularly large Ravager standing in the center of the clearing. Its spines glowed faintly, and its growls sent a shiver down Lucas's spine.
"That thing's huge," Lucas said, gripping his dagger tightly.
"Yup. Boss of the pack," Kael said, drawing his sword. "You ready?"
Lucas swallowed hard but nodded. "Let's do this."
The fight was intense. The Ravager was faster and stronger than the others, forcing Lucas and Kael to work in perfect sync.
Kael took the lead, drawing the beast's attention while Lucas darted in and out, landing quick hits whenever he saw an opening.
"Keep it distracted!" Kael shouted, dodging a swipe of the beast's claws.
"On it!" Lucas activated Quick Slash, striking the Ravager's flank and drawing a furious snarl.
The beast turned on him, giving Kael the chance to charge in with a devastating blow. He brought his two weapons – daggers down in a swift crimson arc… lighting the place up entirely.
The Ravager let out one final roar before collapsing in a burst of light.
[You have gained 20 EXP.]
[You have collected Ravager Core x1.]
Lucas dropped to his knees, panting. "That... was insane."
Kael laughed, sheathing his sword. "Welcome to Ethereal Nexus, rookie. It only gets harder from here."
Lucas managed a tired smile. For the first time, he felt like he belonged in this world.
"Thanks," he said, glancing at Kael.
Kael waved him off. "Don't mention it. Just don't go getting yourself killed out here. I might not always be around to save your butt."
Lucas chuckled, standing up. "Fair enough. Let's head back."
Together, they walked toward the gates of Nexus Haven, the faint glow of their loot lighting the way.