A City of Opportunity and Danger The morning air was crisp and cool as Ethan wandered through the bustling streets of Portland. The city had changed so much since the arrival of the System. Once, Portland had been a modern metropolis filled with office buildings, cars, and tech startups. Now? It was a city of adventurers. The streets were filled with blacksmiths, potion makers, and mana crystal traders. Taverns had become gathering spots for mercenaries and dungeon raiders. And looming in the distance, just beyond the city walls, were the Rift Gates—massive structures glowing with eerie energy, leading to unknown worlds. For better or worse, this was the new reality. And Ethan had finally taken his first steps into it. An Unexpected Message Ethan was on his way back to his inn when a small blue notification window appeared in his vision. [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION] You have received a private request. Sender: Portland Adventurers’ Guild Mission Rank: F Request Details: Speak with Guild Overseer Elias Thurman regarding a job opportunity. Ethan frowned. He wasn’t expecting a job so soon—especially not a private request. Most adventurers had to fight for contracts, competing with other parties for the best paying jobs. So why was the Guild contacting him directly? He exhaled sharply and turned back toward the Guild Hall. Something about this felt off. But if he was going to make a name for himself, he couldn’t afford to ignore it.
A Job Offer from Elias The Guild Hall was just as busy as before, adventurers coming and going as they picked up contracts and reported missions. Ethan made his way to the main reception desk, where Elias Thurman stood reviewing paperwork. The Guild Overseer barely looked up as Ethan approached. “You got my message,” Elias said simply. Ethan nodded. “What’s the job?” Elias finally set down his papers and folded his arms. “There’s a minor situation that needs handling outside the city.” He tapped a map pinned to the counter. “About six miles west of here, there’s a small supply outpost that regularly delivers materials to the Guild. They’ve been late on their shipments.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “And you think something happened?” Elias gave a short nod. “It’s probably nothing serious—maybe a few wild beasts. But the Guild can’t afford delays, so we need someone to check it out.” Ethan hesitated. “…Why me?” There were plenty of experienced adventurers who could handle something like this. So why was the Guild reaching out to a brand-new F-Rank? Elias smirked slightly. “You survived Nightshade Caverns.” That was all he said. But Ethan understood. That dungeon should have killed him. The fact that he made it out—not just alive, but stronger—meant the Guild was watching. Testing him. He clenched his fists. This was his first real job. A chance to prove that he wasn’t just lucky. “I’ll take it,” he said. Preparation and Planning Before setting out, Ethan took stock of his gear and status. His Shadowcaster class was versatile, but he still had a long way to go before he could hold his own against higher-ranked threats.
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[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: Ethan Voss
Class: Shadowcaster (Hybrid Assassin-Mage)
Level: 10
Health: 320/320
Mana: 80/80
trength: 24
Agility: 32
Endurance: 23
Perception: 25
Mana Control: 10
Available Stat Points: 5
Current Skills:
Shadow Step (Short-range dash + invisibility for 1 second)
Silent Blade (Infuses melee attacks with shadow energy for extra damage)
Dark Grasp (Summons shadow tendrils to restrain enemies)
Void Lance (Launches a piercing bolt of dark energy at enemies)
Shadow Cloak (Passive - Rare) (Enhances stealth in low-light environments, reduces enemy perception range.) Ethan still needed better weapons—but for now, he had to work with what he had. He stopped by a small supply shop, spending 10 Gold to stock up on: Rations (for travel) Basic healing potions (x2) Whetstone (to keep his dagger sharp) His remaining balance was 65 Gold. Not great. But if he played this right, this job could be the first step toward real independence.
The Road to the Outpost The western roads leading out of Portland were worn but well-traveled. Caravans passed by, pulled by strange System-born beasts that had replaced traditional animals. Other adventurers occasionally rode past on mana-powered mounts, heading toward their own assignments. Ethan walked with purpose, keeping an eye on his surroundings. His Perception stat had increased thanks to his leveling, and he was starting to notice details he would have missed before. A broken wooden signpost, claw marks embedded in the wood. Small tufts of fur caught on nearby bushes. Something had happened here. And the closer he got to the outpost— The more uneasy he felt. Something’s Not Right By the time Ethan reached the outpost, the sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky. The place was silent. Too silent. The small cluster of wooden buildings stood intact, but there were no signs of people. No movement. No supplies stacked outside, even though shipments were supposed to be prepared. He approached cautiously, dagger in hand. Something felt wrong.
