Aster had only taken a few steps away when the old storyteller's voice drifted across the square.
"Young adventurer."
He stopped.
Turning around, he found the old man smiling beneath the maple tree, his cloudy eyes carrying a strange clarity they hadn't possessed before.
"I almost forgot."
"You listened."
"Very few people do."
Aster walked back.
The old man slowly reached into the worn pouch hanging from his waist. Instead of taking out an item, he merely pointed toward the distant mountains beyond Mistvale's western forests.
"There is a mountain."
"Its name has almost been forgotten."
His finger remained steady.
"The villagers now avoid it."
"The young know nothing of it."
"But long ago..."
"...every swordsman in Mistvale bowed toward its peak before drawing their blade."
Aster quietly listened.
"The mountain is called..."
"Skyrend Peak"
"The mountain that split the heavens with a single sword."
The old man's voice grew softer.
"Whether the story is true..."
"I cannot say."
"But if you seek the Divine Swordsman's legacy..."
"...begin your search there."
He lowered his hand.
"The mountain stands at the heart of the Mistvale Highlands."
"It hides itself within the morning fog."
"Only those who truly seek it..."
"...ever seem to find the path."
Aster committed the name to memory.
Skyrend Peak.
It was a name worthy of legend.
"I'll remember it."
The old man nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
He closed his eyes.
"I've carried that story for many years."
"It feels lighter now."
At that exact moment—
A brilliant golden light descended upon Aster.
The familiar chime echoed inside his mind.
Hidden Quest Updated
New Objective Added
Travel to Skyrend Peak
Before Aster could react, another notification appeared.
Experience Awarded
Hidden Quest Discovery Bonus
+100 EXP
"As expected, hidden quest gives a lot of EXP."
The light surrounding him intensified.
Congratulations!
Level Up!
Level 1 → Level 2
Warm energy flowed through every part of his body.
His breathing deepened.
His muscles tightened ever so slightly.
A pleasant sensation spread from his chest to the tips of his fingers.
"So this..."
"...is leveling."
The golden light slowly faded.
He immediately opened his status panel.
Character Status
Name: Aster
Race: Human
Class: Novice
Level: 2
Health: 130 / 130
Mana: 60 / 60
Attributes
Strength: 8
Agility: 8
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 6
Spirit: 6
Skills
Passive
• Basic Human Physiology
• Beginner's Adaptability
• Iron Body Foundation (Uncommon) ★
Unique Skill
• Echo of Origin (Unique)
Recorded Skills:
1 / 20
Primal Codex
Chapter I — The First Truth
Progress:
1 / 20
Aster stared quietly.
"My health increased again..."
The permanent effect of Iron Body Foundation combined with his first level-up had noticeably strengthened him.
Although his numbers remained modest compared to experienced adventurers...
He no longer felt like the frail boy who had awakened in Mistvale only hours ago.
As he closed the panel, another window suddenly appeared.
Unlike the others, this one was accompanied by a ringing tone heard throughout the village.
Feature Unlocked
Global Player Rankings
"Oh?"
Aster tapped the notification.
A massive leaderboard unfolded before him.
Thousands of names rapidly shifted as players around the world continued hunting monsters and completing quests.
At the very top stood a single name.
Divine Nexus Global Rankings
Rank 1 Valerius
Lvl 6 [40%]
Rank 2 Lunae
Lvl 5 [88%]
Rank 3 Drakon
Lvl 5 [74%]
Rank 4 Kaizen
Lvl 5 [62%]
Rank 5 Ragnar
Lvl 5 [51%]
Rank 6 Nyx
Lvl 5 [43%]
Rank 7 Solstice
Lvl 5 [27%]
Rank 8 Aurelius
Lvl 5 [19%]
Rank 9 Cipher
Lvl 5 [11%]
Rank 10 Verdant
Lvl 4 [96%]
Aster blinked.
"Level six..."
He had expected someone to be much higher.
Then again...
The game had only been open for a short time.
Everyone was still standing at the same starting line.
His own name was nowhere to be found.
Not surprising.
Level two wasn't nearly enough to enter the top rankings.
He quietly smiled.
"I don't need to rush."
The leaderboard meant little to him.
Others were racing to become the strongest player.
Aster was searching for something entirely different.
Truth.
If the Primal Codex was right...
Understanding would eventually surpass simple levels.
He closed the ranking panel.
In the distance, beyond the rooftops of Mistvale, the silhouette of a lone mountain barely pierced the sea of mist.
**Skyrend Peak.**
The forgotten mountain where a legendary swordsman's trail had gone cold.
Aster adjusted the wooden sword hanging at his waist.
His original goal had been to search for an offensive skill.
Perhaps...
Fate had already chosen where he would find it.