When the door of his apartment closed behind him, Bars stepped out onto the neon-drenched streets of Aethelburg. The $100 he had earned wasn't a weight in his pocket, but a feeling of lightness. It was a freedom he hadn't felt in weeks. He headed to the nearest street-side food stall; the air smelled of fried ginger and soy sauce. He ordered chicken noodles and vegetable spring rolls, some of the cheapest options on the menu. The total was $10.
As he sat on a plastic stool and put the first bite of food in his mouth, he barely stopped his eyes from tearing up. After the monotonous, artificial taste of nutrient paste, this hot, salty, and real food was like a feast. This wasn't just about sating his hunger; it was about remembering he was human. Every single bite fueled his desire to return to the game, to earn more, and to escape this miserable life completely.
He returned to his apartment with a full stomach and a mind sharpened by determination. When he put on the helmet, there was only one thought in his mind: More money. More power.
When he opened his eyes in the Genesis Grove, the morning sun was painting the surroundings in a golden hue. He saw a blonde-haired silhouette anxiously looking around near the Great Tree. Lina.
"Bars!" Lina called out when she saw him, a clear look of relief on her face. "Finally! I thought you were in the game all night, you must have overslept!"
Bars simply nodded. He didn't feel the need to mention his dangerous hunt. The light but powerful feeling of the new staff in his hand and the experience points he gained from the Alpha Zipirik were his secrets for now. "Should we turn in the quest?"
Together, they went to Instructor Elara. When Bars took the 30 Zipirik tails from his inventory, a faint expression of approval appeared on Elara's face.
"You have passed the trial, children," the wise woman said. "Your perseverance is the sharpest weapon in this world."
[QUEST COMPLETE! YOUR REWARDS: 500 EXP, 10 SILVER COINS]
Along with the reward notification, a brilliant beam of light enveloped both Bars and Lina. They felt their bodies grow stronger, their minds clearer.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOW LEVEL 2!] [YOU HAVE 1 STAT POINT TO DISTRIBUTE]
Bars unhesitatingly put his point into [INTELLIGENCE]. He felt the flow of his mana grow even stronger. Lina, on the other hand, put her point into [SPIRIT], increasing the effectiveness of her healing and protection spells.
"Your strength has grown," said Elara. "But the source of the unrest in the Valley may not be just those stray creatures. Deep in the forest, there is an old and mossy cave. The whispers emanating from it have grown louder recently. Something is out of balance."
Elara looked at them, her eyes holding both a request and a challenge. "If you have the courage, go and learn the secret of that cave. Report to me what you find inside."
[NEW QUEST RECEIVED: The Secret of the Mossy Cave]
[DESCRIPTION: Find the mysterious cave deep in the forest and investigate the source of the anomaly within]
This was the adventure they had been looking for. The symbol on the map that they had previously looked at with fear was now an official objective.
They advanced into the forest with renewed strength and confidence. Being Level 2 meant that stray Zipiriks were no longer a threat to them. The Mana Bolts Bars fired with his new staff were faster and more destructive.
Following the map, they turned onto a path they had never entered before. Soon, they reached their destination.
What stood before them was not a simple hole. The entrance to the cave, carved into the side of a hill, was almost completely covered in dark green, trembling moss that looked like a parasite. A cold wind, contrasting with the warm air outside, blew from within, and with this wind came a faint, humming sound. The dark mouth of the cave was like the throat of a living thing, waiting to swallow them.
Bars and Lina stood at the entrance of the cave and looked at each other. Their faces showed both excitement and a justified apprehension. Their first real dungeon, their first unknown, lay before them.
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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!