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The gates of Frenria Town loomed before Sarah, a chaotic symphony of sounds and smells. Demi-humans of all kinds—beast-kin with twitching ears, scaled individuals with glittering eyes—jostled through the streets. Vendors shouted over the crowd, hawking shimmering fruits and rugged weapons. For a girl who had spent her previous life in isolation, the sensory overload was overwhelming and exhilarating.
Her destination was clear: the Adventurers' Guild, a sturdy building marked by a banner of a crossed sword and staff. As she stepped inside, the noise settled into a low hum of clinking glasses and murmured conversations. Before she could get her bearings, a cheerful voice cut through the din.
"Yoo!"
Sarah turned to see a girl her age with silvery hair tied in a ponytail and lively green eyes. Sarah froze. This was the first time anyone her own age had ever openly addressed her.
"The name is Sylvia," the girl said, smiling. She gestured with her thumb toward the reception desk. "Looking to register? Go on, I'll wait."
Nodding mutely, Sarah approached the desk.
"I came here to register as an adventurer," she stated, trying to project confidence.
The elf-like receptionist raised an eyebrow. "You're quite young for this line of work. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," Sarah replied, her voice firmer than she felt.
After filling out the paperwork, the receptionist presented a small crystal orb. "Please touch it."
Sarah obeyed. The orb glowed with a soft, transparent light, revealing her status to the receptionist, who scrutinized the results.
"Hmm. Strength, Speed, Endurance... all quite average. Your Intelligence shows promise, and your Potential is remarkable. However, your current magical affinity is negligible." The receptionist leaned forward. "Given your stats, your class will be Fighter or Warrior. Magical classes are out of reach for now. But with hard work, you can grow."
"Sarah!" Sylvia's voice called out again. She was now sitting at a table, patting the seat opposite her. "So, what did you get?"
"A Fighter or Warrior," Sarah said, sliding into the chair. "No magic."
Sylvia waved a dismissive hand. "Hey, don't sweat it. Magic isn't everything. Plenty of greats started right where you are." She leaned in conspiratorially. "Besides, your class isn't a life sentence. As you level up and your rank increases, you might unlock abilities you can't even imagine now. Your potential is what matters most."
Encouraged, Sarah accepted a simple quest to cull four goblins in the nearby woods. The task was tedious, and as dusk began to fall, weariness set in. She was ready to return when a system alert flashed.
[ALERT: Unregistered Dungeon detected. Approximate distance: 6 km.]
Curiosity overpowered fatigue. Following the system's directions, she found a hidden cave entrance and stepped into the damp, dark passageway.
The air grew cold and heavy. Deeper in, the tunnel opened into a cavern where a terrifying scene unfolded. An 8-foot-tall Goblin King was on its knees, groveling before a tall, humanoid figure.
"W-WE BEG YOU!" the monster pleaded.
The figure, a man with cold, beautiful features and crimson red pupils, didn't utter a word. He simply reached out and laid a hand on the Goblin King's head. Black flames erupted silently, consuming the creature in an instant. Its agonized screams echoed before being snuffed out.
[WARNING! WARNING! HOSTILE ENTITY DETECTED: "BEYONDER" RANKER!]
[THREAT LEVEL: CATASTROPHIC! EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!]
Sarah's heart hammered against her ribs. A Beyonder? But she had Auto-Battle Mode. Surely she could...
"Hey," she called out, her voice echoing in the sudden silence. "Would you mind me asking who you are?"
The man turned his crimson gaze toward her. "Hm... Who are you supposed to be, a girl?"
[SARAH, YOU DUMB F##K! HE IS DANGEROER! LET'S GET OUT!!!]
Ignoring the system's panic, she stood her ground. In a blur of motion, the man was before her. A strong hand grabbed her face, and with terrifying, effortless strength, he hurled her across the cavern.
Her body slammed into the stone wall with a sickening crunch. Agony exploded through her as she crumpled to the ground, coughing up blood. The world swam in and out of focus.
"N-no... I'm losing..." she panted, her vision darkening.
[Sarah! Sarah! Wake up, you dumbass!!]
The last thing she saw was the Beyonder walking toward her, his expression one of cold, impersonal annihilation.
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