The scream for help cut through the peaceful atmosphere of the Valley of Genesis like a knife. While Bars's instincts screamed "Help," his experiences in Aethelburg whispered, "Analyze the situation first." His logic won. He quickly hid behind a giant fern and cautiously advanced toward the sound.
The scene he witnessed was both comical and terrifying. A girl with curly, blonde hair, wearing a simple linen robe, was trying to defend herself with a wooden staff. What surrounded her were... the most adorable monsters Bars had ever seen. They had large, innocent eyes, fluffy, rabbit-like bodies, and trembling ears. However, that cuteness vanished instantly when they brandished their razor-sharp claws and hissed, opening their needle-toothed mouths. There were four of them, and they were gradually cornering the girl into a smaller and smaller space.
The girl noticed Bars. A flicker of hope shone in her eyes. "Help, please! These... these fluffy demons are going to eat me!"
Options flashed through Bars's mind. He was a Mage, but he had never cast a spell before. Intervening physically would be suicide; the class warning was still fresh in his mind. His only chance was that raw energy he had felt.
He noticed a translucent menu appearing at the edge of his vision. He focused on the text [SKILLS]. The menu opened, revealing a single option: [Mana Bolt - Level 1]. [Description: The most basic attack spell. Fires pure mana at an enemy. Requires focus.]
Bars focused on the nearest creature. A tag appeared above it reading "Zipirik, Level 1." He extended his hand, as if to push something. He felt a purple energy begin to gather in his palm. It was difficult, like trying to shape a dense liquid with his mind. The ball of energy formed unsteadily, and the moment Bars thought, "Fire!" the bolt veered off target, striking a nearby tree trunk and dissipating harmlessly.
One of the Zipiriks turned toward Bars and, with a hiss, lunged at him. The panicked girl extended her staff toward Bars and shouted, "Shield!" A faint, momentary light appeared around Bars. The Zipirik's claws slid off the light, its attack missing completely.
This brief moment gave Bars the time he needed. This time, he focused better. He calculated the Zipirik's movement, the distance, the flow of energy in his mind. The mana bolt in his palm was more stable this time. When he fired it, the purple bolt whizzed through the air and struck the Zipirik square in the chest. With a pained squeal, the creature dissolved into digital particles and vanished.
[10 EXP GAINED]
When the other two Zipiriks hesitated for a moment at their friend's disappearance, the girl seized the opportunity. "Let's run!" After running for a few hundred meters, they stopped, out of breath. The girl, with her hands on her knees, tried to smile as she panted. "Thank you. Really... I didn't think those fluffy monsters would be so aggressive. I'm Lina." "Bars," he replied, still trying to get used to the tingling sensation in his hand. "Are you... a Priest?" Lina nodded. "Yes! But I can only cast simple shields for now. It looks like you're a Mage, too. That purple thing was amazing!" Bars's first quest came to mind. "We need to find Instructor Elara." Lina's face lit up. "Great idea! Let's go together. I don't want to be alone in this valley."
They walked toward the heart of the valley and soon saw an elegant, elf-like figure among the roots of a colossal, sky-reaching tree. This woman, with long, silvery hair and a face that held a thousand years of wisdom, was Instructor Elara. She calmly sized them up. "New souls," Elara's voice was like the rustling of the wind. "Welcome to Aetheria. This world is as merciless as it is beautiful. It will not embrace you; it expects you to prove your strength. To survive, you must fight, learn, and adapt."
Elara raised her hand, and a quest window appeared before both of them.
[NEW QUEST: The Valley's Plague] [DESCRIPTION: Hunt 30 of the Zipiriks that are disrupting the ecological balance of the Valley of Genesis and bring me their fluffy tails as proof. This will be your first trial.] [REWARD: 250 EXP, 50 Copper Coins]
30 of them. Bars and Lina looked at each other. They had just gotten into trouble with only four. Hunting 30... It seemed impossible. Bars looked at his experience bar, which showed the 10 EXP he had just earned. It was a tiny, almost invisible sliver next to the amount needed for Level 2. He did a quick calculation. At this rate, it would take them weeks, perhaps even months, to reach the next level. Elara seemed to notice the shock on their faces and smiled faintly. "Yes, travelers. In Aetheria, strength is not easily earned. Now go, and prove your worth."
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Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to rate and leave a comment; any feedback or criticism is welcome!
I'll be releasing a chapter a day. Stay tuned!
This is my first release, so I'm releasing 10 chapters!