Chapter 19: Quest [1]
Ding—!
[ WORLD SERVER ANNOUNCEMENT]
[Server Notice]
Player ID: Adrian — first to hit Level 10 in the 10010 Novice Zone!
You've earned: 5 skill points, a silver chest, and one honor point.]
[Due to the appearance of the first level 10 player, cross-region chat channels, cross-region trading channels, and the novice town map are now open to all servers simultaneously.]
[When there are more than 10 level 10 players, the Novice Town teleportation channel will automatically open. At that time, players in each Novice Zone who have reached level 10 can cross zones at their own expense.]
---
Flashback — Five Minutes Earlier
(Adrian's POV)
" I just need one more kill monster to get Exp... and I'll level up to Level 10?"
"Hiss..."
"Hiss—!"
Jason and the others shock State to hearing it as their eyes go wide as if they'd just witnessed some divine miracle.
"One monster away for Brother Adrian to reach level 10?" Jason whispered. His voice trembled.
Then look at the ground that was scattered with loot from the Hidden Boss The Terrorclaw Bear. These loots are all like armor, weapons like swords, Bow etc.
Every pair of eyes was locked on Adrian, the faint golden light flickering under his boots.
"Could it be... he really made all that drop himself?"
"But his drop rate's only 0.01%, isn't it?"
"So... how many monsters would you even have to kill for that...?"
Claire's voice wavered. "H-he actually did it."
Jason's pupils shrank. His brain replayed a memory — that lone figure standing against the Fire Ferrous Bird. That same impossible silhouette.
"The Dragon Raises Its Head! You... you're that guy!" Jason blurted, awe mixing with disbelief.
How can it be him? The idol, the Great Master that he'd been a quiet fan for weeks... was now standing right in front of him all the time.
.
---
Adrian just gives sigh~ expressions.
As he brushed away a streak of blood from his chest.
"It's not as crazy as it looks but the Terrorclaw's damage hit about 3,200 near the end. If I hadn't used rotten eggs to lower its health first, I'd be dead already."
He spoke like it was no big deal, but his voice was rough — mana bone-dry, fatigue sitting heavy behind his eyes.
If he had made one mistake earlier in the fight then he would have been killed and he will not revive.
Jason's eyes were sparkling and rush came to Adrian then he looked at his eyes then he clench his fists as he had a big decision.
"Brother, you're insane. But whatever you need, I'm in and I'll follow you to the end."
Adrian nodded, faintly smiling. "Level 10 mobs will respawn soon. Hunt slimes instead. If you get any slime tears, bring them to me."
Jason was already nodding when Adrian suddenly said, "Wait."
Jason froze mid-step.
"I've got a level 15 blue spear. Want it?"
A flick of Adrian's wrist — and there it was. The spear gleamed with cold blue light, dragon patterns along the shaft, a crimson tassel dancing like fire.
Jason's jaw nearly hit the dirt. "I—uh—I don't have that many coins—"
Adrian smirked, tossing it over. "Then owe me fifty thousand."
Jason caught it like it was a holy relic. His voice cracked. "Thank you!"
From the side, Claire puffed out her cheeks. "Why did you charge me a hundred thousand, but him only fifty?"
Adrian grinned. "Because you're rich."
Claire: "…"
---
A shadow suddenly flickered at the valley entrance.
[LV10 Dugbog]
Before the monster could even snarl—
Boom!
Adrian's spear flashed once, and the thing dropped. Health bar emptied. Silence.
[Ding! You killed a level 10 Dugbog. +125 EXP. "Winners Take All" triggered: +2 Strength.]
[Ding! Level 10 achieved. +10 Free Attribute Points.]
Golden light exploded around him, flooding the valley.
[Congratulations to Adrian, first player in Zone 10010 to reach level 10...]
The same system chime echoed again, like thunder rolling through every server.
"Glory Town," Adrian said quietly, choosing his return point.
Light swallowed him whole.
---
(Present)
Novice Area 10010 — Kevin, at the Resurrection Point
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Kevin's scream rattled the spawn plaza. His veins bulged, eyes bloodshot. He'd just respawned — humiliated. Not by the boss... but by Adrian's spear, right through the— yeah. Pain simulation at 100% was way too real.
"I'll kill you, Adrian! You hear me? I'll tear you apart!" he spat.
But mid-rant—
Ding.
The world announcement popped up.
He froze. "He... already hit level 10?"
That wasn't just bad luck. That was impossible.
"This guy's..… definitely not a simple downgraded talent player," he muttered. "I can't touch him yet but not until I grow stronger then him"
"After that I will kill him or make him my underlying."
The hatred didn't fade. It just... sank deeper.
---
Novice Area 9527 — Nathan and Vanessa
Flames lit up Blood Wolf Ridge. A meteor shower of magic tore through the sky, reducing monsters to ash.
Then — the announcement.
Vanessa's mouth fell open. "Level 10?! Already?"
Nathan's thin lips curved. "So... Adrian again." His tone was cold, measured. "Maybe he's one of the Jade Pendant holders."
Vanessa scoffed. "So what? You're a Forbidden Mage. He's nothing."
Nathan's gaze sharpened. "Never underestimate anyone. If he keeps this pace... he's dangerous. Maybe the most dangerous player out there."
His fists were clenched in jealousy and hatred for Adrian. "We wait. And if needed... we will erase him."
---
Dark Guild — Hunting Zone
"Are you pigs or what ! look at me, I'm already about to reach level 10, and you're all at Level 4?"
" And now you're fighting for credit?" the guild leader barked.
"P-president, we'll definitely get the next announcement at level 20!"
"Ha! At your speed, they'll be changing classes while you're still killing rabbits! Get lost!"
---
Indo Country — Military Command Center
"Commander, Adrian has reached level 10."
The officer's eyes hardened. "Investigate him. If he refuses to cooperate... eliminate him. We can't have variables."
"But sir," another soldier hesitated, "the chance he's a Jade Pendant holder is only 0.01%."
"Then prepare as if he is," the commander snapped. "If we underestimate him, we die. If we overestimate him, we lose nothing."
---
Underground Organization — Black Conference
"Doctor, should we find out who Adrian really is?"
"No need," the man replied calmly. "I already know. He's just... ordinary."
A pause. Then:
"But the extraordinary often starts that way. Keep watching. If he gets in the way — remove him."
---
The Golden Round Table — Hidden VR Chamber
Inside a hall of black glass, five golden silhouettes sat around a massive table.
"Elron Misk" broke the silence. "Level 10 already. Interesting."
Jefferson Baze snorted. "Probably just a lucky kid. Wave some money and he'll fold."
Will Gateson drummed his fingers. "No. Data says otherwise. His efficiency curve's exponential."
Warren Buffman smiled thinly. "Then he's either an asset... or a threat. If asset — we buy him. If threat... we bury him."
Zhao Yuncheng nodded slowly. "This game isn't just a game anymore. It's an experiment. People like Adrian... could change everything."
Elron chuckled. "Disruption's my favorite word."
Their laughter echoed like a storm breaking.
---
Back to Adrian
As the golden glow faded, Adrian opened his inventory. "Ten free points... all in Strength."
Then, a soft light flickered — a scroll in his hand.
"Glory Town," he repeated, activating it.
Whoooosh!
White light wrapped around him, and suddenly, cobblestone streets stretched out beneath dim lanterns. Glory Town — quiet, cold, beautiful.
Then—
A faint sound.
"Sob... sob..."
Adrian turned to look at the corner then he saw a ragged old man crouched by the wall, shoulders shaking.
"So the quest was triggered and it's starting already..." Adrian murmured.
He remembered the rumor — an old man near the trading house, a secret questline.
"Old man," Adrian called softly, "need help?"
The elder lifted his face — dull eyes, full of despair. "I... I was a craftsman once. Ten years I spent forging a divine artifact. Then the trading house owner cheated me. A merchant robbed me. Everything's gone."
Ding!
[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The Redemption of the Divine Craftsman]
[Accept mission?]
Adrian smiled faintly. "Accept."
[Task 1: Find a bottle of plum wine for Master Craftsman Vanric Louis Von.]
[Task Time limit: 30 minutes]
[Quest Failure: ends the chain quest.]
[Quest-Rewards:10,000 EXP, 10 Silver, 2% Crit Rate, Random Equipment Chest.]
[Bonus Tip: Completing this chain quest will raise your Crit Rate to 100%.]
Adrian's eyes gleamed. "Plum wine, thirty minutes... alright then. Let's move."
Now the time is Ticking...
Tick..
tick...
tick...
The countdown began.