Aki slowly blinked awake as a soft beam of morning light slipped through the curtains and stretched across his face. He groaned, rubbing his eyes, and pushed himself upright. The bed wasn't exactly comfortable… but after yesterday's chaos, it felt like luxury.He swung his legs over the edge, yawned, and stood.
The room was small but cozy — wooden floor, a simple desk, and a single window where warm sunlight gathered like gold dust.Aki walked over and pulled the curtains aside.His breath caught.
Beyond the inn's window, the Justia Kingdom awakened in full splendor.
The streets below bustled gently with early-morning vendors opening their stands, guards patrolling lazily, mothers calling out to children, and the distant sound of a fountain trickling somewhere below. And towering above it all, on the farthest rise of the city —
the Castle of Justia.
Its white stone walls gleamed like polished marble, reflecting the sunlight in a soft glow. Tall blue spires rose into the sky, banners fluttering with the kingdom's insignia. Morning birds circled the highest tower, their shadows dancing against the castle's walls.
Aki leaned forward on the windowsill, eyes wide.It didn't feel real — like he was staring into the opening shot of a fantasy movie.After a long moment, Aki pulled himself away from the view and headed back to his bed. He sat down, hands resting on his knees, mind slowly transitioning from awe to reality.ill, eyes wide. Aki stretched and let out a long yawn as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
[Aki yawning]:" Morning Cynth. Today's my first ever quest... I'm both nervous and excited." [Cynth]:" Well, we'll have to see wat your quest will be before we make any judgments. " " I guess you're right about that." A soft chime echoed in the room as a holographic system screen lit up in front of him. [Cynth]:" Now that you're officially an adventurer here's your starter pack suit."
An exclamation mark blinked above his inventory icon. Aki tapped it, and the display opened to reveal a full set of gear. A sleek black cloak lined with subtle silver patterns. Matching black pants with reinforced stitching. A clean white shirt and sheath, crisp and sharp. He equipped it immediately. The cloak draped comfortably around his shoulders, the fabric surprisingly light yet sturdy. Suddenly, his body felt sturdier—his HP bar pulsed and rose, and a faint glow showed his defense had increased.
[Aki excited]:" These are so cool! I already feel comfortable in it, thanks a lot Cynth." " No problem. You should head out now and eat before you go to the guild."
Aki pushed himself to his feet and grasped the door handle, unlocking it. [Aki]:" Yeah you're right I kinda feel hungry." He stepped out of the room and gently closed the door behind him.
His destination was obvious—the only place he knew so far where he could get a decent breakfast: The Midnight Café. He walked inside and took a seat at a free table. The same waitress from yesterday approached him, bright smile and all. After ordering the same meal as before, they exchanged a small friendly smile and she went to the counter.
A few minutes later, she returned with his coffee and freshly served scones—this time topped with a smooth layer of vanilla cream. Aki's stomach practically celebrated.He thanked her, ate quietly, and then paid his bill.And with a deep breath, he set off toward the Guild Hall.
Aki reached the Guild Hall and stopped right in front of the massive doors. His palms felt sweaty. His stomach tightened.
Who could blame him? It was his first real quest.He inhaled, exhaled, and slowly pushed the doors open.
The hall was quieter than yesterday. Only a handful of adventurers lingered around—most must've already taken quests for the day. His eyes immediately found Amy at her counter, and since no one was in line, he walked toward her… slowly, almost cautiously. Amy was casually fixing her nails, but the moment she noticed him, her expression shifted—concern first, then something like relief. It only made Aki more nervous.
[Amy concerned]:" Are you okay? You are not hurt or anything?" [Aki confused]:" I'm perfectly fine... Why would I be hurt?" [Amy crossing her arms]:" Because those newbie hunter's came after you. The guards reported to the Guild after arresting them so we revoked their licences. They said that you single handedly took them down, impressive by the way." [Aki]:" Yeah... I took them down but I didn't get hurt so... You don't have to worry."
[Amy giggling]:" Okay, thanks for taking care of them for us. And… I really like your new look." Aki blinked in surprise.
[Aki]:" Thanks. I didn't think you'd notice." Amy waved a hand dismissively, then shifted into work mode. [Amy]:" Now, back to business. You're here for your first quest, right? Let's see…" She shuffled through a stack of papers, eyes skimming quickly. After a moment, she pulled one sheet free and placed it on the counter, sliding the rest into a drawer.
[Amy]:" This one should suit a Copper rank." Aki looked down. A crude sketch of skeletons covered the top. The title read:
"Mysterious Skeleton Camp." He glanced back at Amy. [Amy]:" Yesterday, a gatherer from the Western Village ventured into the forest—pretty far from the village, actually—and spotted what looked like a camp. He peeked inside and saw skeletons. A whole group of them. He ran straight back to report it. The village chief issued this request to wipe the camp out. Reward is 100 silver. Pretty nice deal, since they're just normal skeletons, right?"
Aki frowned, gears already turning. [Aki thinking]:" Wait something's not right. According to games skeletons are monsters that do not just make a camp unless someone or something is controlling them." He explained his thoughts to Amy. Her expression immediately tightened. [Amy a bit troubled]:" So you're suggesting there might be a skeleton knight… or an overlord… or worse, a necromancer behind them. That's… not good." [Aki]:" It's still just a theory. I'm not one hundred percent sure."
Amy inhaled then exhaled and adjusted her glasses. [Amy]:" Aki, three adventurers already took this quest. Two are Bronze. The other is a level 20 elite—Iron rank. I need you to go and warn them. If something is wrong, you and the Iron should be able to help the siblings escape. Are you up for it?"
Aki ran the situation through his head. [Aki thinking]:" I really hoped I would get an easy first mission but nooo... I have to deal with this. Well I can't refuse." He turned toward the door, confidence returning to his smile. [Aki smiling back at Amy]:" Don't worry... You can count on me." He left the Guild Hall. Amy whispered something to herself as he left. [Amy whispering]:" Soe, you jerk… please look after them."
Aki arrived at the western gate on a horse-drawn cart. When the cart rolled to a stop, he hopped off, paid the driver, and headed toward the guards standing at the entrance. He handed over his adventurer card; the guards glanced at it, nodded, and pushed the gate open for him.
The Western Village resembled the Eastern one—but only at a glance. The layout was different, the buildings slightly older, the people quieter, and the air smelled faintly of tilled soil. Aki walked through the village until he reached its far edge.
Ahead stretched a long dirt path cutting through a huge open field of crops—rows of wheat, beans, and vegetables swaying gently in the breeze. Far in the distance, barely visible through a light haze, stood the massive forest he was heading for.Aki sighed and started down the path.
After several minutes of steady walking, he rubbed the back of his neck. [Aki lazily]:" Cynth… don't you have, like, a flight spell? Or a teleportation spell? I'm already tired of walking this far." [Cynth]:" Suck it up, you'll die to those skeletons if you can't handle a stroll to a forest." " Easy for you to say. You're not the one using actual legs…"
Up ahead, he spotted a lone giant tree standing beside the road—the only tree in the entire stretch of farmland. [Cynth]:" Oh, I almost forgot. You also have a quest system. It'll give you missions at random—things you can do for extra rewards. Sometimes the rewards are specifically designed to help you in whatever situation you're in." [Aki]:" So, like… if I'm falling off a cliff, and I complete a quest mid-air, you're telling me I might get a parachute?" " Technically... yes." [Aki smiling]:" Alright. So I should probably stop being surprised when I get insanely convenient rewards, huh?" Aki chuckled under his breath and kept following the dirt path toward the enormous forest looming in the distance.
As Aki continued down the dirt path, the giant tree grew larger and larger until he could finally make out someone resting beneath its massive shade. A man lay slumped against the trunk, peacefully asleep. He had dark brown hair, worn leather wraps on his arms, and clothing typical of a frontline brawler but way cooler. An adventurer…? Aki wondered. He stepped closer—then froze.
A boar emerged from the tall grass ahead. Its tusks were cracked and jagged, and patches of its body burned like molten coal. A Fire Boar—and from the size of its flames, a high-level one. It crept toward the sleeping man, embers falling from its skin. Aki's eyes widened. [Aki]:" Hey! Hey—wake up!" He broke into a sprint, shouting louder and louder. The boar's ears twitched at the sound—and it suddenly charged straight at the sleeping stranger. Aki instantly used Flash Step, his body flickering forward in a burst of speed—but he was still too far.
[Aki, yelling]:" Mr.! Wake up!"
The man's eyes snapped open—one eye only—and Aki caught a glimpse of a sharp, light-blue iris. In the split second before the boar collided with him, the man calmly rose to his feet and extended a single hand. With a swift, almost lazy motion, he grabbed the boar by its snout mid-charge. The flaming beast squealed. Then the man slammed it into the ground with brutal force. The impact sent dust flying and carved a small crater beneath the corpse. Flames guttered out instantly.
Aki skidded to a stop, stunned. His system screen popped up:
[Fire Boar – Level 14 – Defeated]
Level 14!? He one-shotted it like nothing… just who is this guy? The man dusted his hands off and strode toward Aki. [Guy, shouting casually]: "Hey, kid!" He reached him and extended a hand. [Guy]: "Thanks for waking me up before that thing turned me into roast meat. Name's Soe. Level 20, Iron-rank elite adventurer." Aki blinked in realization—no wonder he handled the boar so easily. And finally, he'd found one of the adventurers assigned to the mission. Aki shook his hand.
[Aki]: "I'm Aki… Aki Toshiba. Nice to meet you." Soe smiled, already turning toward the distant forest.
[Soe]: "Anyway, thanks again, kid. But I'm kinda busy right now." He began walking off. Aki jogged to catch up, quickly explaining his theory about the skeletons and what might be controlling them. Soe listened with a serious expression.
[Soe]: "I thought it was strange too. Skeletons don't organize themselves unless something's giving orders. If your hypothesis is right, those two siblings might be in real danger." His expression hardened.[Soe]: "We need to move. Come on!"
Without hesitation, he grabbed Aki's wrist—and the two sprinted straight toward the towering forest.
Aki and Soe slipped into the forest, the air colder and quieter beneath the towering trees. Roots twisted across the ground like veins, and every distant crackle of leaves made both of them twitch.
The silence between them stretched uncomfortably. Aki finally decided he couldn't handle it. [Aki awkwardly]:" So… Mr. Soe, um… why were you sleeping under a tree?" Soe turned his head slowly, giving Aki a sharp, offended glare. [Soe annoyed]:" Hey. Don't call me Mr. I'm not that old. I'm twenty-one. You hear me, kid?" [Aki trembling]:" Okay!" Soe sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. [Soe calmly]:" Sorry. I just hate formal stuff. Makes me feel like an old man. Anyway… I was up all night researching something. Personal business. I didn't really get to—"
A scream cut through the forest like a knife. Aki and Soe's heads snapped toward the sound. Without exchanging a single word, they bolted. Their footsteps tore across roots and leaves as they sprinted toward the echo. A second scream broke out—this time weaker and filled with panic. They burst into a small clearing.
In the center was a girl sitting on the ground, trembling, a younger boy unconscious on her lap. Bruises covered him, blood trickling down the side of his head. The girl held a staff with a blue orb, shaking, her eyes wide with dread. A Level 6 skeleton loomed over them, sword raised to deliver the killing blow. Soe didn't hesitate. He dashed forward in a blur—faster than Aki could blink—caught the blade mid-swing, and crushed it in his hand. Metal dust fell like rain.Before the skeleton could react, Soe grabbed its skull and crushed it like brittle stone. Aki immediately dropped beside the two.
The girl had black hair tied neatly behind her and striking purple eyes. She wore simple white-and-black mage clothing—cute, but clearly practical. She had cuts on her arms and legs, but nothing severe. The same couldn't be said about the boy. He had the same colour hair and wore the same type of clothes as the girl but for males, he had blood coming from his head and a lot of bruises. From their similarities Aki and Soe quickly deduced that they were the siblings.
The girl gently set her brother down and stood. She bowed deeply. [Girl]:" Thank you so much for saving us. If you came even a little later… we would've been dead." She lifted her head with a grateful smile—and Aki felt his heart skip. Cute… he thought before mentally scolding himself. She proceeded to walk over to her brother. She pressed a hand to her staff. A warm green glow enveloped her brother, dissolving every bruise and wound as if they were wiped away by light. Once finished, she rejoined them.
[Soe]:". Healing magic, pretty useful." [Girl]:" Well I'm only a level 3 so I'm not way near high tier magic. I'm Mia by the way, a copper rank. That one over there is my little brother Komi a level 2 copper adventurer. You two are?" [Soe]:" I'm Soe, a level 20 iron rank elite..." [Mia excited]:" I can't believe we got an elite as back up and a level 20 at that." Aki raised a hand sheepishly. [Aki]:" I'm Aki, a level 2 bronze rank elite." [Mia shocked]:" How dangerous is this place if they sent 2 elites."
Aki took a breath and explained his hypothesis about something controlling the skeletons. [Mia]:" "My brother has a detection skill. Before the ambush, he sensed 5 skeleton archers and 14 normal skeletons. No strong presence. No boss. No unusual signature." Aki felt a bit calm but there was still fear lingering in his mind.
The forest was quiet again, but the tension still clung to the air like a thick fog. Mia knelt beside her brother one last time to confirm he was fully healed before standing and facing the other two.
They exchanged information quickly.
Aki rested his hand on his sword hilt. [Aki]:" I'm a swordsman. Close-range combat is what I'm best at." Soe cracked his knuckles, a smirk tugging on his lips. [Soe]:" I'm a Brawler. I specialise in Hand-to-hand combat. Who needs a weapon when I got these." Mia held her staff close, her tone earnest. [Mia]:" I'm a support mage… I can heal, buff, and disable. I can't fight up close yet, so I'll stay back and cover you."
With their roles clear, they formed a plan. Aki and Soe would rush the camp together—Aki taking down the archers before they could rain arrows on them, Soe smashing through the normal skeletons. Mia would remain behind the treeline, supporting them from a safe distance with buffs and recovery spells. They moved. The three crept through the forest until the faint glow of torches flickered between branches. The skeleton camp was just ahead—a ruined clearing filled with makeshift bone totems and cracked stone. Five archers stood perched on broken stumps like sentries, while clusters of sword-wielding skeletons wandered aimlessly.
Mia whispered from behind a tree, "I'll start buffing you… now." A warm light enveloped Aki and Soe for an instant—Fleet Step and Minor Strength Boost. Soe grinned. Aki felt lighter. [Both]:" Let's go." They broke from the foliage. The moment they were spotted, bony heads snapped in their direction and archers raised their bows. Aki vanished into a blur—Flash Step activating. He darted between trees, cutting down the first archer before its arrow even left the string. The bones clattered as it collapsed. The second archer fired, but Aki twisted aside and cleaved it clean through the ribcage.
Meanwhile, Soe roared and slammed into the group of sword skeletons. One swung at him; he caught its wrist, tore off the arm, and used it like a club to smash another skeleton's head in. Bones scattered around him with every strike. A skeleton leaped from the side, blade overhead—Soe ducked, uppercutting so hard the skull launched straight into a tree trunk and cracked apart.
Aki finished the fourth archer, sliding under a low branch and slicing its legs out from under it. The fifth tried to retreat into the forest, but a shimmering green bolt from Mia struck it, throwing off its aim long enough for Aki to close in and shatter it with one decisive blow.
On Soe's side of the battlefield, only one skeleton remained. It charged with reckless speed. [Soe disappointed]:" Oh come on, you're the last one?" Soe sighed, grabbed the skeleton by the spine, lifted it overhead, and slammed it into the ground hard enough that its bones scattered in a wide circle. Aki lowered his sword. Soe dusted bone fragments from his shoulder. Mia hurried out from the trees, relief on her face. The camp was finally cleared. Aki sheathed his blade, breathing out slowly as he looked around at the eerie structures, dead campfires, and the strange markings etched into stone slabs.
[Aki stepping forward]:" Alright, let's start searching. If something caused the skeletons to act weird… the answer might be here." Soe nodded. Mia tightened her grip on her staff. Together, they began investigating the remains of the camp.
Aki wiped bone dust off his blade and opened his system panel for a moment. Level up. He didn't assign any stat points yet. Skills depend on points… I need to know what I'm lacking first, he thought. Now wasn't the time to experiment. He pushed open the flap of the last tent they hadn't checked. It was barren—no treasure, no chests, not even scrap gear. Every camp he had seen in games gave rewards. This one? Nothing. Aki's stomach tightened. This is wrong… too wrong.
He crouched, lifting a nearly-empty weapon rack—and beneath it, a square panel of wood shifted. When he pulled it aside, a narrow staircase descended into darkness.
[Aki calling out]:" Soe! Mia! You need to see this." They gathered around the opening. A faint, cold air drifted upward, carrying the scent of earth and something... rotten. They exchanged a tense look. [Soe]:" We check it. Anything hidden is never good news." They descended together.
The underground chamber they entered was massive—far larger than the camp above. Torches lit with eerie purple flames lined the stone walls. Strange runes pulsed with energy. Dust and fragments of shattered bones covered the floor like scattered leaves. Then—Aki froze. His Danger Sense exploded in his head like alarms screaming all at once. They spun around—and towering behind them stood a level 35 Skeleton Warrior. Its armor was cracked but thick. A massive greatsword dragged behind it, carving a faint groove through the stone floor. And inside its hollow eye sockets lit a deep purple glow swirled, unnatural and malevolent.
Aki's system flared:
[WARNING! ESCAPE IMMEDIATELY. TARGET FAR EXCEEDS USER LEVEL.]
His breath hitched. But there's no way out. Soe's jaw clenched. Sweat trickled down his cheek. Even as an Iron Elite, this thing was above him—maybe far above. Yet instead of backing away, a crooked grin slowly formed on his face. [Soe]:" Aki,Mia. This is gonna be rough… so let's hit it with everything we've got." Aki nodded sharply, drawing his sword with trembling hands.
Mia swallowed hard. Her knees shook, her staff quivered—but seeing Aki and Soe standing firm in front of her made her chest steady. She stepped behind them, planting her staff into the ground, her lips already beginning to shape a spell.
The Skeleton Warrior lifted its greatsword with a creaking, grinding sound, purple light leaking from the cracks in its bones.
The Skeleton Warrior moved first. With a roar-like rattle, it swung its greatsword horizontally—so fast the air cracked. Aki barely ducked in time, the blade carving a trench in the stone behind him. Soe charged.
His fist glowed with raw mana as he slammed it into the Skeleton's ribcage. The impact echoed, the monster stumbling half a step back—but only half. It lifted a heavy, cracked arm and backhanded Soe with enough force to send him skidding across the ground.
Aki darted in, slashing across the Warrior's leg joints. Sparks flew as his blade collided with bone as tough as metal. The Warrior pivoted toward Aki immediately, swinging its sword down in a devastating overhead strike. " Aki, move!" Aki rolled aside just as the greatsword smashed the ground, shaking the entire underground chamber. Soe leaped onto its back, locking an arm around its skull. [Soe yelling]:" Break already!"
The Skeleton grabbed him and hurled him away like a ragdoll. Soe crashed into a pillar but got up with a grin [Soe]:" Heh… tough bastard." They kept at it—Aki slashing, Soe punching through bone fragments—but the monster's health barely dropped. After minutes of relentless fighting they had only managed to cut it down to around three-quarters HP.Soe clicked his tongue. [Soe]:" This isn't working. Aki, cover me." A dangerous smile crept across his face.
[Soe yelling]:" Rage Mode!" Mana erupted from Soe like an explosion. His muscles tightened, veins glowing red with energy. His eyes turned sharp, wild—his entire aura became that of a beast unleashed. He blurred forward. His first punch cracked the Skeleton's sternum. His second shattered the entire left side of its ribs. His third blow launched the monster into a wall, bone fragments spraying like shrapnel. Aki watched in awe. Soe's speed… he tripled it!?
The Warrior roared, swinging wildly, but Soe was everywhere—dodging, striking, ripping bone apart with bare-handed fury. For a moment, Aki believed Soe alone could finish it. But Rage Mode had a limit. Soe staggered. The red aura flickered. The Skeleton seized that moment, grabbing him by the face and slamming him into the stone wall so hard the surface cracked like glass. Before it could crush him completely, Aki charged in, striking the monster's wrist. [Aki]:" Let him go!" The Warrior tossed Soe aside like debris and raised its sword toward Aki.
Mia aimed her staff towards Aki. A yellow aura surrounded him. [Mia]:" Aki, this is a boost that drains 90% of my mana finish it off quickly!" A surge of magic shot into him. His body felt light—electric—like lightning was crawling under his skin. Aki inhaled sharply. [Aki exhaling]:" Blitz!" He vanished. A streak of light tore through the chamber as Aki reappeared behind the Skeleton, blade slightly drawn then he fully sheathed it. The Skeleton Warrior split in half, its purple glow flickering… then fading into nothing as its bones collapsed. Aki dropped to one knee, panting. [Aki faintly smiling]:" We… did it…" Then the world tilted. He collapsed. Last thing he had was Mia calling out his name.
Aki's eyes fluttered open. The world swayed gently. The sky above him glowed orange with the fading sunset. Warm air brushed against his face… and then he realized—He was being carried. Soe trudged along the dirt path toward the Western village, Aki slung carefully over his back. His clothes were torn, his arms bruised, but his steps were steady. When he noticed movement, he glanced back. Soe slowed to a stop and gently set Aki down on his feet.
Aki blinked, surprised.
His body… didn't hurt at all. No broken bones, no open wounds. Though his limbs felt like jelly, he was physically fine. [Soe]:" So how do you feel, Mia poured her heart out to heal the both of us." Aki looked around but she was nowhere insight. [Soe]:" She already left to take her brother home. She can heal the body but can't wake you up if your mind's exhausted." Aki was Aki tried to take a step forward but nearly stumbled. His legs shook from fatigue. Soe instantly steadied him. "Easy. You used up everything you had." Aki sighed, embarrassed. "Yeah… kinda feels like it." Soe gave a quiet chuckle. "Listen, you should head home for now. I'll go to the guild, explain everything, and collect your reward." Aki blinked. "You… will?" "Of course. We fought together. Leave it to me. But—"
He extended his hand. "I'll need your adventurer card."
Aki hesitated. The card was important. But after everything they had gone through—nearly dying together—he trusted Soe. Slowly, he placed the card into his hand. "Alright… Let's meet at the Midnight Café." [Soe smirking]: "Sounds good. Tomorrow, eight in the morning." They reached the Western gate and parted ways—Aki toward his hotel and Soe to the guild.
Aki didn't bother with the lights. He dropped onto the bed, sinking into the sheets with a long breath. He opened his system. Level 5. He stared at the blinking stat points but his mind was too clouded to think. [Aki tiredly]:" I'll deal with that… tomorrow…" He shut the system off, crawled under the blanket, and sleep claimed him instantly.
Somewhere in an unknown area, a round table in a dark room surrounded by six chairs. On the main seat, a single shadowed figure leaned back, fingers tapping slowly against the armrest. Its voice echoed like a whisper buried in darkness. "So… they found it already." A pause. Then a low, amused chuckle. "No matter. There are more where that came from." The darkness swallowed the room once again.