The morning sun crept over the hills of Solmere, washing the rooftops in soft gold. A breeze stirred the dewy grass as birds called to one another in the hedgerows.
Andreas Barnes rolled his shoulders and adjusted the strap on his belt pouch. The single, heavy gold coin inside jingled with a satisfying weight that felt far more than its value.
He passed the old well in the square and took one last look at the tavern down the lane. The windows were dark—no smoke from the chimney. Mirra would still be asleep.
A slow grin tugged at his lips, remembering her breathy voice and the feel of her nails down his back.
"Best not to linger," he muttered to himself. "Boy, like me, gets distracted easily."
He turned toward the Adventurers' Outpost, his boots thudding against the packed earth. The squat, stone building seemed smaller in the daylight, but the worn Guild crest hanging above the door still gleamed like a promise.
Inside, it smelled of parchment, ink, and worn leather. The same grumpy old clerk from yesterday still sat behind the counter, nursing a steaming black mug.
"You again," the clerk said without looking up. "You got the gold?"
Andreas slapped the coin onto the counter.
The clerk grunted and took it, sliding a blank Adventurers Guild Card across the desk. "Name, height, weight, place of birth?"
Andreas paused a second and then spoke clearly, his voice low and country-rough. "Andreas Barnes. Six foot two. Hundred ninety pounds. Born right here in Solmere."
The clerk handed him a thin silver needle. "Drop a bit of blood on the card."
Andreas pricked his thumb without hesitation and smeared the blood across the ruined surface. It flared briefly with a faint blue light before settling into a dull glow.
"Now, the orb," the clerk gestured.
The black orb pulsed softly. Andreas placed his hand on it. Warmth surged up his arm, then sank into his chest. For a brief moment, he felt like the orb was staring back into him—reading him like a ledger.
The orb flashed.
[Rank Evaluation Complete: F-Rank Adventurer – No Core Detected – No Magic Detected – High Physical Potential]
The clerk glanced at the results and nodded. "You're in. Welcome to the Adventurer Guild, Barnes."
He handed Andreas the newly marked Adventurers Guild Card, now glowing with faint inscriptions:
Name: Andreas Barnes
Rank: F
Mana Core: None
Registered Region: Solmere Branch
Affiliation: Independent
"Congratulations," the clerk muttered, tone still bored. "You can now accept quests, earn coin, raise your rank, die horribly in the forest, and all that."
Andreas grinned, slipping the card into his belt pouch. "Can't wait."
The clerk handed him a rolled parchment. "Newbie quest list. F-Rank missions only. You want more; prove yourself."
Andreas stepped outside into the sunlight, unfolding the parchment.
[Available Quests – F Rank]
• Gather 20 Redcap Mushrooms (Location: Shimmergrove Forest) – Reward: 6 Silver
• Escort Local Merchant to Rindale Village – Reward: 1 Silver + Meal + Favor
• Clear Rats from Solmere Grain Storage – Reward: 8 Silver
• Hunt: Wild Boars Disturbing Southern Fields – Reward: 10 Silver per head
• Optional: Report Any Strange Creatures or Magic Fluctuations to Guild
He scratched his chin. "Boars, huh? Could be fun."
The System chimed in, its presence like a whisper in his head:
[System Notification]
Adventurer Registration Complete – Quest Progression Unlocked
Tracking Activated: 'Become an Adventurer' – Status: COMPLETE
+5 UXP Earned
Total UXP: 10
He took a few steps down the road, leaned against a fence post, and thought: "System. Show me what I can spend ten points on."
The familiar glow formed a scroll before him, displaying only a handful of options.
[Suggested Options — Based on Current Activity]
Upgrade Skill: Farming → Level 8 — Cost: 5 UXP
Upgrade Skill: Handyman → Level 6 — Cost: 4 UXP
New Skill: Basic Weapon Handling — Cost: 8 UXP
Physique Enhancement: Minor Stamina Boost — Cost: 10 UXP
Andreas scanned the list, rubbing his jaw. "So this is all that's available?"
"Negative. These are contextual suggestions based on your current skills and activity. You may request access to additional or specific upgrades at any time."
He nodded slowly. "So it's like... showin' me what I'd probably want, but not everything that exists?"
"Correct. All things in the universe are accessible. UXP is your key. Your intent is the door."
He smirked. "Huh. Fancy way of saying'' You get what you earn.'"
"Precisely."
Andreas folded his arms, thinking. The Weapon Handling was tempting. So was the stamina boost.
His hand drifted to the back of his shoulder, where Mirra's fingernail had left a faint mark. Then he thought of long hunts, hauling meat, running when needed—and nodded.
"Alright then," he said quietly. "Buy the stamina boost."
[Physique Enhancement: Minor Stamina Boost Purchased – 10 UXP Spent]
[Physical Trait Upgraded – Endurance Threshold Increased]
[Muscle Fiber Regeneration Accelerated – Minor Fatigue Resistance Gained]
The sensation was subtle at first. A light warmth in his chest. Then it pulsed through his limbs—legs, arms, core. It was like stretching after a hard day and realizing you weren't tired anymore.
"Damn," he muttered. "Like I just took a nap inside a lightning bolt."
The scroll faded from his mind's eye, leaving only the faint tingle still dancing in his muscles.
He took a back path through the southern fields, past grain ridges, and barley plots, toward the scrublands where wild roots twisted, and the trees began to thicken.
The prints were easy to find—broad and deep, with sharp cloven edges that meant a big sow or a thick-tusked male. He crouched low, feeling the old instincts stir. Tracking wasn't a skill he'd bought, but farming taught you to read the land, and the System sharpened everything he already knew.
A broken branch here. Upturned soil there. Muffled grunts just beyond the ridge.
He crept toward them, pitchfork in hand—solid, familiar, but still just a tool.
The boar appeared between two low trees.
It was bigger than he'd expected.
Mean-eyed. Scarred. Thick hide matted with dirt. Andreas felt the ground shift beneath its hooves when it snorted and turned.
He braced, took a slow breath, and charged first.
The pitchfork struck true, jabbing into its shoulder—but didn't sink deep enough. The beast screamed and twisted. Its tusk clipped Andreas' thigh, nearly spinning him sideways.
He dropped into a roll, coming up breathless but upright.
His heart pounded—but not frantically. His lungs pulled deep and full. He was still ready.
This time, he struck low, jamming the haft into its underbelly and rolling again as it barreled past. Then, with a snarl, he caught it broadside—crashing the fork down on its neck until it stilled.
When the dust cleared, he stood heaving, both hands on the bloodied haft, his thigh-burning, but his breaths were steady.
The boar twitched once, then stopped.
[Quest Progress: 1 Boar Killed – 20 Silver Earned]
He exhaled slowly, looking down at the corpse.
Then, at the cracked pitchfork.
Then, at his hands.
Still shaking. But not from exhaustion.
"Stupid bastard nearly took my damn leg," he muttered, flexing his thigh. The cut was shallow, more bruised than bleeding, but it throbbed all the same. He gritted his teeth, grabbed the rope from his belt, and lashed it around the boar's hind legs.
Then he paused, standing over the corpse, brow furrowing. "System," he thought, "you reckon you can help me pick a weapon? Somethin' that fits me."
[Recommended Weapon Type: Blunt or Hybrid
Your combat pattern shows high physical strength and direct movement. Iron-reinforced club, short-handled Warhammer, or heavy spear.]
He raised an eyebrow. "Warhammer, huh? I've never used one, but... sounds like it hits harder than a stick."
He tied the boar's legs and slung it over his shoulder with a grunt. It was heavy, but the new stamina upgrade held strong. Every step back toward Solmere felt lighter than it should have.
The sun was already dipping low when he reached the village gate. He passed the baker, the grocer, and old man Harn polishing his wagon—and all of them turned to stare at the blood-slick boar bouncing over his back.
Andreas just smirked and kept walking.