Leon had won—barely.
The weight of his sword felt heavier than before, not because of exhaustion but frustration. His grip was tense, his breathing controlled but not entirely steady. The fight had revealed everything he already knew.
He was weak.
His opponent gave him a nod before stepping back, unbothered. "Not bad. You've got decent instincts."
Leon nodded back. The man meant well, but he wasn't lying either. Instinct alone wasn't enough. Against real threats, instinct only carried you so far. If this had been anything more than a sparring match, Leon wouldn't have walked away.
A notification was still hovering in his vision, waiting for him to acknowledge it.
[Quest Complete]
[Reward Granted: Level Tab Unlocked, 50 EXP, New Unranked Skill]
He focused, letting the menu shift, revealing his updated status.
[Status]
[Name: Leon Valtherin]
[Level: 1]
[EXP: 50/100]
[Rank: F]
[HP: 90/90]
[Strength: 12]
[Speed: 14]
[Vitality: 10]
[Skills: Blade Focus (D), Quick Slash (D), Guard Counter (D), Analyse (Unranked)]
[Equipment: E-Rank Sword]
[Gold: 32]
[Inventory: Empty]
[Quest Log: Active]
The new skill was already listed.
[Analyse (Unranked)]
[Effect: Grants basic information about people, including name, age, HP, and stats. The stronger the target is compared to the user, the more limited the information.]
Leon frowned slightly. It wasn't a combat ability, but it was useful. Knowing where he stood compared to others meant understanding his limits.
Still, none of this changed the fact that he was at the bottom.
With a short sigh, he stepped away from the training area, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He needed an actual mission, something beyond controlled sparring, something that would force him forward.
As he walked toward the guild's mission board, someone matched his pace beside him.
"You fought well back there," the voice said, casual but clearly directed at him.
Leon glanced to his side, finding a younger fighter—probably a year or two younger than him—carrying a smaller blade at his waist. His stance was relaxed, but there was a sharpness in his eyes, a calculated awareness.
"Didn't feel like it," Leon replied.
The boy gave a small chuckle. "Yeah, I get that. That guy you fought—Dero? He's been training for years. A win against him is better than you think."
Leon didn't say anything at first, just kept walking. The boy kept pace.
"You new to missions?" he asked.
Leon shook his head. "Been here a while."
"Looking for something specific?"
"Something real."
The boy nodded slowly, understanding the meaning. "You planning on heading out alone?"
Leon gave him a glance but didn't answer right away.
"It's rough for solo fighters," the boy continued, unfazed. "If it's a combat mission, having at least one backup is smart."
Leon wasn't in the mood for conversation, but he could tell this guy wasn't trying to sell him something or get involved. Just conversation.
"I'll manage," Leon finally said.
The boy didn't press further, just gave a small nod. "Well, good luck."
Leon didn't reply, just gave a slight wave before stepping toward the board.
There were dozens of missions posted—some routine collection tasks, others full combat assignments. Most higher-ranked requests were out of his reach. He filtered through the lower-tier ones until his eyes landed on something manageable.
[Rank: F]
[Mission Type: Investigation]
[Location: Black Hollow Woods]
[Request: Missing caravan. Possible creature interference. Scouts required.]
[Pay: 120 Gold + Potential Combat Bonus]
Leon pulled the paper down, turning it over to check the official guild stamp near the bottom. The pay wasn't bad for a first mission. If creatures were involved, the combat bonus could make it worth even more.
It was good enough.
He slipped the mission paper into his bag, adjusting his stance as he turned away from the board.
Tomorrow, he was heading out.
And if the system really worked, he was going to find out exactly how much it could push him.