[You have completed the second stage.
You have been rewarded with 800 EXP.
You have level up 7 times.
You have gained 7 Free Stat Points.
You're currently level 21.]
Max smiled. He leveled up seven times.
He glanced at the current exp points required for him to level up and smiled bitterly.
[Level: 21
Exp: 30/210]
To level up to 21 only required 110 EXP points, but now, it added 100 points. Nevertheless, Max was elated to know he was already level 21.
He was ten levels higher than others.
Now that he had 11 Free Stat Points, he already knew which stats to spend them on.
For now, he has to finish the conversation with Archmage Arlen first before logging out.
Archmage Arlen said, "Now, what you have to do is locate the pact sigil. The possible locations are beneath the bell tower foundation, under a marsh bridge support, or inside an abandoned supply hut. Once you finally locate it, the demon will be forced to reveal them.
Just in case, use this Sigil Disruption Scroll to successfully destroy it completely. Once it finally reveals itself, well, you can defeat it since it's only stronger in psychological attacks."
Max received the scroll and stored it in his inventory.
The system notified him.
[You have triggered the third stage: Hidden Sigil.
Description: The corruption fragments form a pattern converging toward a hidden Infernal Pact Anchor somewhere within the village.
Objectives: Locate the Pact Sigil.
Rewards: 1,000 EXP
Remarks: Once you've completed the third stage, the fourth stage will be triggered automatically.]
Max's eyes widened with the rewards. Coupled with +5% EXP gain, it would be near impossible for others to surpass him now when it came to leveling.
Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to complete the third and fourth stage respectively, he had to log out now within less than an hour.
Of course, he must log out outside Archmage Arlen's residence.
If he returned and he was alone in his residence, it would be completely impossible for him to leave with the presence of countless runes.
Only with Archmage Arlen's permission could he pass through them, but what if he was absent?
Max wouldn't allow such a stupid thing to happen.
After bowing and assuring Archmage Arlen he would complete the quest, he left his residence and walked through the hallway.
He was quite surprised by the presence of Jaden, filled with excitement as he passed through him.
Max was totally ignored, which he didn't mind.
But, he was bothered by a sudden realization.
If he completes his class advancement today, there's a high chance for Archmage Arlen to give him the same quest.
Since I have completed the first and second stage, then he can proceed to the third stage.
Max pinched his chin tightly as he walked through the hallway. He was completely ignoring even mage trainees who greeted him.
He was wholly immersed by his own thoughts.
If Archmage Arlen gives him a scroll, then they can easily complete the third and fourth stage.
What should I do now?
Max's eyes flashed with resolution.
There's still more than half an hour left.
His pace started to increase. Currently, he only noticed he was finally outside of the Arcane Cottage, as he shifted his body to face a direction where he believed the hidden pact sigil was located.
…
Jaden Norris was clearly excited to complete his first class advancement.
After Archmage Arlen acknowledged his talent, he was tasked to increase his proficiency level in mana sensitivity to intermediate while his mana control to basic level.
Now that he had successfully achieved Archmage Arlen's expectations, he would surely gain the class that was similar to the current First Mage.
Furthermore, Archmage Arlen hinted about a mission to be given to him that was also currently being taken by the First Mage as long as he completed the class advancement.
He was confident that the First Mage has yet to complete it since based on his experience from other virtual reality games, a quest on a village level would be divided with stages.
Each stage has a reward.
What mattered always was to complete the last stage.
Jaden had also been familiar with the First Mage's routine to the point he confidently assumed that the First Mage's gaming pod was at the commercial grade.
Compared to his NovaPro Immersion Pod, which was sponsored not by the Lewis Family, but by a gaming branding team organization in North America.
The Titan Coast Armada.
In Max's past life, the Titan Coast Armada ranked only behind the Lewis Guild. It was also led by Jaden Norris after he successfully completed the village quest.
However, in this new life, the story might be rewritten again.
Jaden was now competing with other players that, compared to him, had already contracted with the Titan Coast Armada as their player.
Of course, once Jaden completed the class advancement and acquired the Arcane Caster Class, he would have a high-salary contract with the branding team.
However, if he completed the village level quest, he would certainly become their franchise player.
Fame, prestige, money… Those were what Jaden desired.
Filled with anticipation, he was standing patiently at the opened hallway that led to Archangel Arlen's residence.
After all, he was confident that Max would leave now due to the hours limit of his commercial grade gaming pod.
…
Max, after a minute of running, finally arrived in the bell tower. He met the same warriors, guarding the bell tower, who greeted him.
They were about to initiate a conversation with him, when Max, gasping for breath as he almost consumed all his stamina points, raised his hand.
After panting for a while, he said, "Can you lead me beneath the bell tower foundation? It's an emergency."
The warriors glanced at each other and hesitated for a while.
The warrior on the right said, "Alright. I will lead you there. Will it be possible if I have to keep you in check while you are—"
"Sure. Please lead me there now."
Max wasn't in the mood to turn down the warrior's request, as the warrior finally led them inside the bell tower's area.