A New Direction The streets of Portland were alive with activity as Ethan left the Adventurers’ Guild. Even though it was still early, the city was bustling—merchants calling out their wares, street performers gathering small crowds, adventurers heading toward the Guild to pick up contracts. It wasn’t the world he had grown up in. But it was the world now. And for the first time since the System’s arrival— Ethan didn’t feel like he was on the outside looking in. He had a party. He had a class. He had a path forward. But there was still one problem. He wasn’t strong enough. Not yet.

  The Weight of the Unknown Ethan made his way down one of the side streets, hands in his pockets as he processed everything. There was a thrill in knowing he had leveled up, that he had his own Class and real abilities now. But with that came questions. Why had the System delayed his Awakening for so long? Why had his SSS-Rank skill stayed hidden during the rank assessment? And what the hell was the Nightshade Essence he had received from the dungeon boss? He pulled the small, obsidian vial from his pouch, holding it up to the light. The liquid inside was thick, almost like ink, swirling in slow, unnatural patterns. There was no System description when he focused on it. No explanation. Just a single line: An essence steeped in shadow. It calls to those who dwell in the dark. Ethan frowned. That didn’t sound ominous at all. But before he could dwell on it further— A loud shouting match nearby pulled him from his thoughts. A Glimpse Into Adventuring Culture Down one of the market streets, two adventurers were yelling at each other. A larger man, built like a brawler, was red-faced, towering over a leaner rogue-type. Ethan caught only bits of the argument. “-your fault we lost the contract!” “Maybe if you weren’t so slow, I wouldn’t have had to cut and run—” The larger man shoved the rogue, nearly knocking him off his feet. A few bystanders backed away, but nobody interfered. Not even the City Guards standing nearby. Ethan narrowed his eyes. This wasn’t the old world. Adventurers operated under different rules. Reputation, strength, and personal grudges meant everything. If you couldn’t defend yourself, you had no business being out here. The fight didn’t last long.

  The larger adventurer swung first, but the rogue ducked under the strike and retaliated—his fist colliding hard with the man’s gut. The bigger man stumbled back, cursing, but didn’t press the fight. Instead, he spat on the ground. “This isn’t over.” The rogue only smirked. Ethan shook his head and kept walking. The world had changed. And the rules were still being written.

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  Gearing Up His first priority was getting better gear. The dagger Gareth had given him was functional—but barely. And if he was going to be an Assassin-Mage hybrid, he needed something better suited for his fighting style. He found a small, but well-kept smithy tucked into a quieter district of the city. A wooden sign hung above the entrance: "Hollow Fang Forge – Weapons & Armor for Professionals." Stepping inside, the scent of burning metal and oil filled the air. Weapons lined the walls—daggers, swords, spears, even enchanted throwing knives. A hulking man with a scarred face looked up from behind the counter. “You buying or wasting my time?” he grunted. Ethan met his gaze. “Depends on the price.” The man grunted in approval. “Then you’ve got my attention.” Choosing the Right Weapon Ethan scanned the weapons, searching for something that fit his new Class. He needed something fast. Precise. Deadly. A massive broadsword? Too slow. A set of throwing knives? Useful, but not enough stopping power. Then—he saw them. A pair of twin daggers, displayed on a deep violet cloth. The black steel blades had a faint shimmer of purple, almost as if they were absorbing light rather than reflecting it. They weren’t just normal weapons. They were enchanted. [Shadow fang Daggers – Uncommon] Forged using shadow-infused steel. Grants +5% bonus damage in darkness. Slightly reduces enemy perception of the user when in low-light environments. Ethan felt his heartbeat quicken. These were perfect. “How much?” The smith gave him a long look. “450 Gold.” Ethan nearly choked. That was over $45,000 in old-world money. His entire dungeon payout had been 75 gold. “I… don’t have that.” The smith snorted. “No shit. You’re a fresh Adventurer.” Ethan sighed, setting the daggers back down. For now, he’d have to make do with his current weapon. But one day— He was coming back for them.

  A Reminder of What’s at Stake As he left the shop, his mind drifted back to his sister. Emma. The nightmares hadn’t stopped. Even after leveling up, even after getting stronger, her screams still haunted him. He clenched his fists. He wasn’t doing this just for gold. He wasn’t doing this just to survive. He had a goal. A mission. And no matter how long it took— He was going to find out what happened to her. Even if he had to tear through the System itself to do it.