Now came the harder problem: food.
He looked around the stream bank, searching for anything edible. Berries, maybe. Roots. Mushrooms, though those were risky even in normal circumstances. In a dungeon? Potentially lethal.
His eyes caught on a cluster of bushes growing along the far bank, their leaves a deep green that stood out against the darker forest vegetation. As he focused on them, something strange happened.
A notification appeared in his vision, not the usual red warning or blue status update, but something new.
[BETA CONTENT AVAILABLE]
[Would you like to enable System Assistance features?]
[Warning: This feature is in testing phase. Functionality may be unstable.]
Boran stared at the message, his tired mind struggling to process it. System assistance? What did that even mean?
What did he have to lose? He was alone, injured, starving, trapped in a forest with an unkillable monster. If the System wanted to offer help, experimental or not, he'd take it.
Boran pressed Accept.
The world seemed to shimmer for a moment, like heat waves rising from pavement. New notifications cascaded across his vision in rapid succession:
[System Assistance: ACTIVATED]
[Analyzing user activities...]
[Skill detected: GATHERING]
[Skill detected: BOTANIST]
[Skills initialized successfully]
More text appeared, expanding into detailed descriptions:
[GATHERING , FF]
[Increases efficiency when collecting natural resources. Higher levels unlock identification of rare materials and improve yield quality.]
[Current bonus: +5% collection success rate]
[BOTANIST , FF]
[Grants knowledge of plants, flowers, trees, and fungi. Allows identification of properties, uses, and potential dangers. Higher levels unlock cultivation and hybridization capabilities.]
[Current bonus: Can identify common plants within visual range]
Boran blinked, reading the descriptions again. This was... this was exactly like a game. The kind of system he'd seen in MMORPGs, where every action contributed to skill progression. Chop wood, gain woodcutting levels. Pick herbs, gain herbalism experience.
His gaze drifted back to the bushes across the stream. Immediately, his vision overlaid new information, text appearing beside the plants like an augmented reality interface:
[Silverleaf Bush]
[Common medicinal plant. Leaves can be consumed raw or brewed into tea.]
Effects: Mild pain relief, slight boost to natural healing
Toxicity: None
Gathering Difficulty: Trivial
Boran's breath caught. The System was telling him what the plant was. What it did. Whether it was safe to eat.
He looked around wildly, his eyes catching on other vegetation. Each time he focused on something, new information appeared:
[Redcap Mushroom]
[Poisonous fungus. Consumption causes severe digestive distress and hallucinations.]
Toxicity: HIGH
DO NOT CONSUME
A cluster of small purple flowers:
[Twilight Blossom]
[Uncommon alchemical ingredient. Petals have mild sedative properties.]
Effects: Reduces anxiety, promotes rest
Toxicity: Low (safe in small quantities)
A gnarled tree root exposed near the water's edge:
[Ashwood Root]
[Common root vegetable. Edible when cooked, bitter when raw but non,toxic.]
Nutritional Value: Moderate
Gathering Difficulty: Easy
Boran's mind reeled. This changed everything. He didn't have to guess which plants were safe. Didn't have to risk poisoning himself out of desperation. The System was literally telling him what he could eat, what would help him, what would kill him.
He crossed the stream again, moving more confidently now despite his injuries. The Silverleaf Bush was his first target,pain relief and healing would be invaluable. His hands reached for the leaves, and as he plucked them, another notification appeared:
[Silverleaf x3 obtained]
The leaves were soft in his palm, with a faint silvery sheen that gave them their name. Boran brought one to his mouth hesitantly, then bit down.
The taste was surprisingly pleasant,slightly sweet, with a cooling sensation that spread across his tongue. Within moments, he felt the effect. The constant ache in his ribs dulled slightly. The throbbing in his leg became more bearable. Not gone, but... manageable.
[Silverleaf consumed: Minor pain relief active for 30 minutes]
[Natural healing rate increased by 10%]
He moved to the Ashwood Root next, digging his fingers into the soft earth around the exposed section. The root came free with some effort, thick as his forearm and surprisingly heavy. The System helpfully informed him:
[Ashwood Root x1 obtained]
Note: Cooking recommended for optimal nutritional benefit and improved taste.
Cooking wasn't an option, but the System had said it was safe raw, just bitter. Boran wiped the dirt off as best he could and took a bite.
Bitter was an understatement. The root tasted like dirt mixed with old leather. But it was food. He forced himself to chew, to swallow, to take another bite.
He gathered more Silverleaf, the System informed him he now had seven leaves total. He found another type of edible plant, something called Nutrigrass that looked like ordinary weeds but apparently had high caloric content.
Each collection brought new notifications. Item descriptions. Tips about optimal gathering methods. It was like the System was teaching him, guiding him, transforming his desperate scramble for survival into something almost... methodical.
Boran looked around with fresh eyes, and suddenly the forest was alive with information. Plants he hadn't noticed before now glowed faintly in his vision, marked with subtle highlights. Green for safe and useful. Orange for caution required. Red for dangerous.
He could see medicinal herbs growing in the shadow of a fallen log. Could identify which mushrooms were edible and which would kill him.
Boran sat beside the stream, his small collection of gathered materials arranged before him. Silverleaf for pain and healing. Ashwood Root for sustenance. Twilight Blossom for rest. Even some medicinal moss that could be applied to wounds as a primitive antibiotic.
Boran checked his status again:
[HP: 32/75]
[TIME REMAINING: 20:53:07]
[Silverleaf x7 added to inventory]
[Ashwood Root x1 added to inventory]
[Twilight Blossom x4 added to inventory]
[Nutrigrass x12 added to inventory]
[Medicinal Moss x1 added to inventory]
He couldn't stay here any longer. When he looked back at the cave, the nightmare flooded his mind. He couldn't force himself back into that confined space.
Besides, staying in one place for too long wasn't smart. The Alpha Wolf had found him once in his dreams. What if it found him for real? What if it was already tracking his scent, circling closer with each passing hour?
It was still morning, the sun hadn't yet reached its peak. Boran made his decision. He would move. Find somewhere else to shelter.
He set off along the stream, following its path downstream. The water burbled cheerfully beside him, a constant companion. Maybe, if he was lucky, he could find a way to make fire.
About Twenty-One Hours Later
The notification came late the next morning, its familiar blue glow appearing in Boran's vision as he gathered medicinal moss near the stream.
[DUNGEON MISSION COMPLETE]
[TIME REMAINING: 00:00:00]
[Objective completed: Wolf Pack Elimination]
[Party reward already claimed by registered party members]
[Penalty applied]
[Reputation: -10]
[Joining or creating a party is locked until you complete 10 solo missions]
[You may now exit the dungeon]
[Portal activation available , Return to District D]
Boran stared at the message for a long moment, his hands still clutching the moss.
No reward.
And worse than that, a penalty.
The others must have turned in the mission after they escaped. Boran had been in the party when the wolves died, but not when the reward was claimed.
He looked down at himself, taking stock. His clothes were torn and stained with dirt and dried blood. His ribs still ached, though the Silverleaf and natural healing had brought him back to fifty-eight health points. The bite wound on his leg had scabbed over, treated with medicinal moss that had prevented infection.
The System's new assistance features had been invaluable. With his Botanist and Gathering skills active, the forest had transformed from a death trap into a resource,rich environment.
Sleeping had been the hardest part. When night came again, Boran had climbed into a tree high enough that the Alpha Wolf couldn't reach him if it came hunting. He'd wedged himself into the crook of two branches, tied himself in place with strips of cloth torn from his shirt, and forced himself to sleep in shifts. Never more than two hours at a time. Always listening. Always ready to run.
The nightmares had come every time he closed his eyes. Yellow eyes burning in the darkness. That howl that shook the earth. The sensation of being utterly, completely helpless before something so far beyond his ability to fight that resistance seemed meaningless.
But he'd survived.
During the daylight hours, he'd continued gathering. His skills had improved too. Small notifications had appeared periodically:
[GATHERING increased to Level F]
Collection success rate: +10%
New ability: Can sense valuable resources within 5 meters
[BOTANIST increased to Level F]
[Can now identify uncommon plants]
[Detailed information available for common plants]
The progression had given him something to focus on besides fear. Each plant identified, each resource gathered, each skill level gained felt like a small victory against the overwhelming terror that lurked at the edges of his mind.
He'd even managed to make a primitive shelter before the final night, a rough lean-to built from branches and leaves, positioned high in an ancient oak tree. It hadn't been comfortable, but it had been safer than sleeping on the ground. The System had rewarded his efforts:
[New Skill Discovered: SURVIVAL]
[Improves your ability to endure harsh conditions and craft basic tools from natural materials.]
Current Level: FF
Now, standing by the stream with the exit notification glowing in his vision, Boran felt a complicated mix of emotions. Relief, certainly,he could leave this nightmare forest behind. But also something else. Pride, maybe. Or perhaps just the grim satisfaction of having refused to give up.
He checked his final status:
[HP: 58/75]
[GATHERING , Level F]
[BOTANIST , Level F]
[SURVIVAL , Level FF
Boran gathered his remaining supplies, stuffing the last of the medicinal moss into his inventory.
A glowing blue marker showed the location of the exit portal, back near where he'd first entered the dungeon, in the clearing where Portal 9-D had deposited him two days ago. It was several kilometers away, but the path was marked clearly. The System was guiding him home.
He started walking, keeping to the stream at first, then following the map's guidance as it led him through the forest.
The journey took three hours of careful movement through the underbrush. Boran moved cautiously, using every bit of awareness he'd developed over the past two days. He avoided open spaces where possible, stuck to shadows, kept his footsteps quiet. Old habits from his brief military training combined with new instincts born from desperate necessity.
Finally, through the trees ahead, he saw it, the clearing where he'd first arrived. And there, shimmering in the center like a vertical slice of liquid light, was the portal.
Portal 9,D.
Boran's pace quickened despite himself. His heart pounded, not from fear this time, but from hope. He was almost out. Almost free of this nightmare forest.
He emerged from the tree line and stopped at the clearing's edge, scanning for threats. The area was empty. No wolves. No monsters. Just the portal, humming softly with energy, its surface rippling like water disturbed by a gentle breeze.
Through the shimmering gateway, he could see the familiar sight of the portal chamber, the massive indoor complex with its dozens of gateways, the crowds of adventurers, the harsh artificial lighting. It looked like paradise.
Boran took a deep breath and stepped forward.
His first footstep into the clearing felt like stepping across a threshold. The second felt lighter. By the third, he was walking steadily toward the portal, his eyes fixed on that shimmering surface and the world beyond.
He reached the portal, felt its energy wash over his skin like static electricity, and stepped through.
Reality twisted.
For a moment, he existed nowhere,suspended between worlds. His stomach lurched. His vision blurred. The sensation of falling and flying simultaneously overwhelmed his senses.
Then his foot came down on solid concrete, and the portal chamber materialized around him.
People moved around him. The smell of coffee drifted from a nearby vendor cart.
The portal shimmered behind him, then vanished, sealing shut now that he'd exited. He was out. He was actually out.
A notification appeared:
[+500 XP (Survival Bonus)]
[New Title Earned: LONE SURVIVOR]
People were staring at him. Boran realized he must look like hell, clothes torn and filthy, covered in dirt and dried blood, his face gaunt from lack of proper food, his eyes probably wild from two days of constant vigilance.
“Hey—are you alright?” an older adventurer asked beside him. She had kind eyes and a healer’s insignia on her jacket—an emblem Boran recognized from military training.
Boran looked at her, tried to speak, but found his throat was dry. He nodded instead.
"You need something?" she asked, concern evident in her voice. "You look pretty rough."
"I'm... I'm okay," Boran managed, his voice hoarse from disuse. "Just need... some proper sleep."
The healer frowned but nodded. "But seriously, get yourself checked out after. You look like you've been through hell."
"Yeah." Boran said quietly.
The scent of coffee drifted past him again, and Boran's stomach clenched with longing. He turned toward the vendor cart he'd noticed earlier,a small mobile setup with a cheerful barista serving various drinks to adventurers between missions. The normalcy of it, the simple pleasure of buying a hot coffee, suddenly felt like the most desirable thing in the world.
He started walking toward it, already imagining the warmth of the cup in his hands, the bitter-sweet taste, the caffeine that would help clear the fog from his exhausted mind.
Boran pulled up his inventory interface with a thought, the familiar translucent screen appearing in his vision. His eyes went immediately to the bottom corner where his resources were displayed.
Current Balance: 0 gold
Boran stopped a few meters from the cart, staring at the menu board with its cheerfully displayed prices. Even the cheapest option,a basic black coffee,was beyond his reach.
He turned back to find the healer still nearby, organizing supplies in her pack. She looked up as he approached.
"Excuse me," Boran said, his voice still rough. "Is there... a botanist shop nearby? Or an alchemist? Somewhere that might buy dungeon materials?"
The healer's expression shifted to understanding. "Yeah, actually. There's a place about 2 minutes from here. It's called The Greenleaf Exchange. They deal in plants, herbs, alchemical components,pretty much anything organic you might find in a dungeon. The owner's fair, too. Won't try to cheat you like some of the bigger chains."
"Thank you," Boran said, genuine gratitude in his voice.
"East exit, take a right. You'll see the sign,it's got a big silver leaf on it." She paused, then added, "Get yourself some food after you sell your stuff, yeah?"
Boran nodded and headed for the exit she'd indicated, weaving through the crowd of adventurers. But the healer's directions were clear, and he found the east exit without trouble.
The transition from the complex's controlled environment to the outside world was another small shock. The street beyond was busy with foot traffic, vendors, and the general chaos of District D. But true to the healer's word, just down the block he spotted a sign: a large silver leaf hanging above a shop entrance.
The Greenleaf Exchange.
The shop's exterior was modest but clean, with display windows showing various plants and alchemical equipment. A small bell chimed as Boran pushed open the door.
Inside, the shop was larger than it appeared from outside. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars of dried herbs, vials of extracted essences, and carefully preserved specimens. The air smelled of earth and growing things,a scent that reminded Boran of the forest. Several customers browsed the aisles, examining merchandise.
Behind the main counter stood a middle,aged woman with sharp eyes and careful hands, currently weighing something on a precision scale. She looked up as Boran approached.
"Fresh from a dungeon run?" she asked.
"Yeah," Boran said. "I've got materials to sell."
She smiled at that,a quick, genuine expression. "What have you got?"
Boran accessed his inventory, and the familiar translucent interface appeared in his vision. He began pulling items out one by one, materializing them on the counter: bundles of Silverleaf, Twilight Blossoms, various medicinal mosses and roots, the Ironbark fungus, several samples of Swiftvine, and an assortment of other plants he'd gathered during the mission.
Her expression grew more interested as the pile accumulated. She picked up items carefully, examining them with practiced efficiency,checking for quality, freshness, proper harvesting technique. Her hands moved with the confidence of someone who'd spent decades in this trade.
"You've got a good eye," she said, holding a particularly pristine Silverleaf up to the light. "Clean cuts, harvested at the right time, properly preserved. These are quality specimens."
She worked in silence for another few minutes, weighing and cataloging each item. Finally, she looked up at Boran. "Alright. For the lot, I can offer you thirty gold."
Boran blinked. He had no real frame of reference for whether that was good or bad, but the number itself sounded substantial. "Is that... fair?"
Her expression softened slightly. "You're new to this, aren't you? Yes, it's fair. These are useful materials, but they're still from a low-level dungeon. I could probably resell the collection for more, but I've got overhead, processing costs, and I need to make a profit. Thirty is honest."
Something in her tone convinced him. And honestly, thirty gold sounded like a lot right now. "Okay. Yes. Thank you."
"Smart choice." She pulled out a payment terminal. "I'll need your System ID for the transfer."
Boran provided it, and a moment later a notification appeared in his vision:
[GOLD RECEIVED: 30]
Current Balance: 30 gold
The relief that washed over him was almost physical.
"Thank you," he said again, meaning it deeply.
She was already carefully sorting his materials into proper storage containers. "You did good work here. If you're planning to keep running dungeons, come back. I'll always give you a fair price for quality materials."
"I will," Boran promised.
The bell chimed again as Boran stepped back outside. He stood there for a moment, breathing in the city air, feeling the weight of the mission begin to lift.
Then he turned back toward the portal complex, his mind fixed on a single, simple goal: that vendor cart and its coffee. He could afford it now. At least that much.
But first, coffee.
The vendor cart was exactly where he'd left it, its cheerful barista serving a steady stream of adventurers. The smell of fresh coffee hit him as he approached,rich, bitter, intoxicating. Boran joined the short queue, acutely aware of his bedraggled appearance. The adventurer in front of him,a warrior with gleaming armor,gave him a sympathetic glance before collecting her order and moving on.
"What can I get you?" the barista asked with a practiced smile.
"Black coffee," Boran said, his voice still rough. "Just... the basic one."
"Two gold."
Boran accessed his interface and authorized the payment. The transaction completed with a soft chime, and moments later, the barista handed him a steaming cup.
Current Balance: 28 gold
The first sip was exactly what he needed. Hot. Bitter. Good. The warmth spread through his chest, and for a moment Boran just stood there with his eyes closed. It was only coffee, but after the dungeon, it felt important.
He found a quiet corner near one of the pillars and stood there, drinking slowly, letting the caffeine work its way through his system. Around him, life continued. Adventurers came and went. Conversations overlapped. Someone laughed at a nearby table. The normalcy of it all felt surreal.
When the cup was empty, Boran allowed himself one more moment of stillness. Then he straightened, feeling marginally more human, and headed back toward the main corridor.
He needed clothes. His current outfit was torn, bloodstained, and reeked of dungeon muck. He at least wanted to look normal.
The marketplace district was easy to find, marked by colorful signs and the buzz of commerce. Vendors of all kinds lined the wide corridor,weapon smiths, potion sellers, enchanters, and among them, several clothing shops.
Boran picked one at random, a modest storefront with practical,looking garments displayed in the window. Inside, the shop was organized and clean, with racks of clothes sorted by type and function. A young clerk looked up as he entered, her professional smile faltering slightly at his appearance.
"Welcome," she said, recovering quickly. "Looking for something specific?"
"Shirt and pants," Boran said. "Nothing fancy. How much are they?"
"For casual clothes? Starts at twenty gold."
Expensive, but he couldn't keep walking around in torn, bloodstained clothes.
"And shoes?" he asked.
"The cheapest ones, I guess? They start at thirty."
Boran looked toward the shoe display for a moment. Thirty gold was impossible.
"Just the clothes, then," he said.
She nodded. "Casual?"
"Casual."
"This way."
She led him to a section filled with simple, practical clothing. Plain shirts in various colors. Durable pants.
Boran selected a dark gray shirt and black pants that looked sturdy without being bulky. The clerk directed him to a changing room, and he emerged minutes later feeling almost civilized again. The clothes fit well enough,a bit loose, but comfortable.
The clerk tallied the price. "That'll be twenty gold total."
Boran authorized the payment after a short pause. The clothes were worth it. The feeling of being clean, of wearing something that didn't smell like death, was worth the coins.
Current Balance: 8 gold
"Would you like me to dispose of your old clothes?" the clerk asked, eyeing the torn, bloodstained pile with barely concealed distaste.
"Yes. Please."
She whisked them away with visible relief, and Boran stepped back out into the corridor feeling a little more human, even with his old shoes still on his feet.
Now. Food.
The Endless Tavern beckoned, its massive entrance visible even from this distance. Boran made his way back through the Hub, weaving between groups of adventurers, his stomach already anticipating an actual meal.
The Tavern's interior was just as overwhelming as before, but this time Boran had a specific destination in mind. He scanned the vast space, looking for an empty table, somewhere he could sit and eat.
He found a smaller table tucked into an alcove where he could eat in peace. A server approached, tablet in hand. "What can I get you?"
Boran glanced at the menu display on the table. His eyes skipped over the expensive items, settling on something substantial but affordable. "The roasted chicken and vegetables. And water."
"Five gold."
He authorized the payment, and the server nodded, disappearing toward the kitchens.
Current Balance: 3 gold
Boran sat back in his chair, finally allowing his body to relax. The Tavern's ambient noise,conversations, laughter, the clink of dishes,washed over him like a gentle tide.
His food arrived surprisingly quickly. The roasted chicken was perfectly cooked, the vegetables seasoned and tender.
He ate slowly, savoring each bite, his body desperately grateful for actual nutrition. The warmth of the meal spread through him, combining with the earlier coffee to push back the lingering cold that had settled into his bones during the mission.
When he finished his meal, Boran leaned back with a satisfied sigh and accessed his System interface. His eyes found the time display in the corner of his vision.
11:47 AM
Almost noon. He was tired, but not in the way he had been inside the dungeon. The food helped. The coffee helped more. His body still wanted rest, but his situation did not care about what his body wanted.
Current Balance: 3 gold
Almost no money. No weapon. No shield. Nothing left in his inventory that he could sell.
Dungeon missions were the only way forward, but walking into one with bare hands felt stupid. Worse than stupid. Suicidal.
Boran left the Tavern and stepped back into the Hub's main corridor. For a few minutes he wandered without a real direction, his eyes searching the crowd.
Part of him was looking for Sude, Deniz, or Kerem.
He hated that. Hated that even after everything, his gaze still caught on every familiar-looking jacket, every group of three, every laugh that sounded close enough.
He did not see them.
So he started looking for something else.
A shield.
At first he only watched. Adventurers passed in groups, some carrying polished gear, some with old equipment strapped to their packs. Higher-level adventurers were easy to spot. Better posture. Better armor. Better weapons. The kind of people who looked like they could throw away a weak shield and not miss it.
Boran stood there for a long moment. He did not want to do this.
He forced himself to approach a tall adventurer in heavy armor near the eastern exit.
"Excuse me," Boran said. His voice came out quieter than he wanted. "Do you have an extra shield? Anything you don't use anymore?"
The adventurer looked him up and down, then laughed once.
"Seriously?"
Boran swallowed. "I'm not asking for anything good. Just something usable. Like, something you don’t use."
“Back in the old world, people like you were begging,” the adventurer said. “Now you’re starting again here?”
A few nearby adventurers heard and turned to look. Someone snorted.
Boran's face burned.
He could have explained. He could have said he had survived a broken dungeon, lost his party, been locked out of party formation, sold everything he could, and still had nothing.
He did not.
"Sorry," he said, and walked away.
He asked again near the weapon stalls. Then again near the portal wing. Then again outside a repair shop where two higher-ranked adventurers were arguing about enchantment costs.
Most ignored him.
Some laughed.
One woman told him to stop wasting people's time.
A man with a silver-trimmed spear gave him a pitying look and said, "If you can't afford a shield, maybe you don’t belong here."
That one almost made him stop.
Almost.
Boran kept walking.
“Why is everyone like this?”
Each question felt like scraping something raw inside him. Every time he opened his mouth, his pride twisted harder. But pride would not keep him alive.
Eventually his feet brought him to a storefront with a bold sign above the door.
Iron & Oak Outfitters.
Through the window he could see armor stands, shield racks, and rows of weapons displayed under warm light.
Boran pushed the door open.
The interior was spacious and well,organized, with different sections for various types of equipment. Leather armor on one wall. Metal pieces on another. Shields of varying sizes and materials arranged by function. A burly man with a thick beard stood behind the counter, examining something on a tablet. He looked up as Boran entered.
"Good afternoon," the man said, his voice gruff but friendly. "Looking for something specific?"
"Armor," Boran said automatically. "And a shield. Something practical for a beginner."
The man nodded, setting down his tablet. "First dungeon run?"
"Second," Boran said.
"And you survived the first without gear?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Lucky or skilled?"
"Lucky," Boran admitted.
The man grunted. "Luck runs out eventually. Come on. Let's see what we can fit you with."
Boran followed him across the shop, letting the man talk. Leather armor with metal reinforcement. Better mobility than plate. Enough protection for a beginner. A medium round shield with reinforced wood and a metal rim. Not too heavy. Good balance.
Boran listened to all of it and nodded at the right times.
For a few minutes he pretended.
He pretended he was a normal customer.
He pretended he was about to buy the armor, the shield, maybe even a pair of proper armored boots if the price was not too awful.
The shopkeeper eventually led him back to the counter and started calculating.
“The full set of leather armor is four hundred and fifty gold,” he said. “The shield is four hundred and fifty. I can make it eight hundred and fifty total if you take both.”
Boran stared at the counter.
Then he exhaled.
"I can't buy them," he said.
The shopkeeper paused. "Then why did you ask?"
Boran's fingers curled against his palm. He hated the answer before he even said it.
"Because I needed to know what I should buy later," he said first. Then the lie died in his throat. He forced himself to continue. "And because I need to enter a dungeon now. I don't have money. I don't have anything left to sell. But I need any shield you can spare. It can be broken. Old. Bad. I don't care. I just need something between me and whatever tries to kill me."
The shopkeeper's expression changed. Not pity exactly. Something heavier than that.
For a second, he said nothing.
Then he sighed and walked into the back room.
Boran stood alone by the counter, his face hot, his stomach tight. He stared at the floor and tried not to regret asking.
The man returned carrying a battered round shield. The wood was scratched, the metal rim dented, and one of the straps looked like it had been repaired more than once.
"This is a starter shield," the shopkeeper said. "Ten durability left. That's it, a couple of hits and it might be gone."
Boran took it carefully.
[Starter Shield]
[Durability: 10/20]
[Quality: Starter]
"Normally," the shopkeeper added, "I'd still ask twenty-five gold for it. Even at less than half durability. Gear is gear."
Boran looked up.
"Why give it to me?"
The man shrugged, uncomfortable with the question. "Because you look like someone who's going into a dungeon anyway. At least have something that might save your life."
Boran gripped the shield tighter. "Thank you."
“Don’t thank me yet. Survive, earn some gold, then come back here and buy that armor set and shield.”
"I will," Boran said. Then, after a second, "I'm going now."
The shopkeeper gave him a long look, then nodded once.
Boran left Iron & Oak Outfitters with the shield on his arm.
It did not feel like victory.
He was angry. Angry at himself.
He returned to the Tavern and made his way back toward the Mission Board. The massive display still dominated the eastern wall, its surface glowing with thousands of mission listings. Most of the crowd from earlier had dispersed,people had already claimed their missions or moved on to other business.
He stopped in front of the board and accessed the interface, pulling up the filter menu.
[DISPLAYING: RANK FF MISSIONS]
The list appeared again,roughly two dozen accessible missions, each one glowing softly, waiting to be claimed.
So he read the missions one by one, searching only for something he could do alone. No combat. No monster elimination. Nothing that needed another person watching his back.
He adjusted the filters with stiff fingers.
[FILTER APPLIED: Solo missions only]
[Combat Risk: Minimal]
[Recommended Party Size: 1]
Most of the list vanished.
Only a few options remained.
[FF,RANK MISSION: Herb Gathering , Portal 4,C , 1 Adventurer Recommended , Reward: 3 Gold, 10 XP]
Objective: Collect 20 bundles of Moonpetal herbs from the meadows of Portal 4,C. Herbs glow faintly at night and are used in basic healing potions.
Estimated Duration: 2,3 hours
Difficulty: Very Low for FF,Rank
Danger Level: Almost None
Additional Notes: Avoid deep water and stay on marked paths.
Three gold was not much, but it was something. More importantly, the mission was built for one person and almost no combat. With his Botanist and Gathering skills, it was the safest option on the board.
Another mission appeared below it.
[FF,RANK MISSION: Resource Collection , Portal 9,A , 1 Adventurer Recommended , Reward: 5 Gold, 20 XP]
Objective: Collect iron ore fragments and timber from the quarry zone in Portal 9,A. Minimum 15 ore fragments and 10 timber logs required.
Estimated Duration: 2,4 hours
Difficulty: Low for FF,Rank
Danger Level: Low
The second mission paid slightly better, but even "low" danger felt like too much right now.
Boran looked back at the herb gathering mission.
Almost none.
That was what he needed.
He reached out and selected it.
[MISSION ACCEPTED: Herb Gathering , Portal 4,C]
Report to Portal 4,C in the Hub's transit wing. Mission timer begins upon entry.
He turned away from the Mission Board and headed toward the transit wing, his damaged shield resting against his back. The Tavern's noise faded behind him as he walked, replaced by the quieter hum of the Hub's main corridors.
Boran found Portal 4,C near the eastern section,a swirling vortex of soft green light, its surface rippling like disturbed water.
Boran stepped through.