Aaron approached the grand counter beside the massive, rectangular mission board. Staff helped adventurers as they discussed quests. After a short wait, an energetic staff member with striking red hair greeted him. "Good morning! My name is Fianna. How may I assist you?"
Aaron returned her greeting politely. "I've just registered. Could you explain how the mission process works?"
Fianna nodded. "Of course! It's simple. Choose any mission within your rank, note the mission number inscribed on the board, and let us know. We'll add your name to that quest."
Aaron nodded, thanked her, and made his way toward the mission board. The enormous board was divided into sections, each filled with missions in shimmering rune script. Quests ranged from Bronze 2 to Gold 1. Higher-ranked missions were never displayed—they were handed out in person.
The ranking system was as follows:
Bronze 2: Levels 1 – 25
Bronze 1: Levels 25 – 50
Silver 2: Levels 51 – 75
Silver 1: Levels 76 – 100
Gold 2: Levels 101 – 150
Gold 1: Levels 151 – 200
Platinum: Levels 201 – 300
Rainbow: Levels 301+
Aaron headed to the Bronze section, where countless missions were postedHe searched for quests targeting magic beasts below level 10. There were also research and gathering tasks, but Aaron wanted to hone his skills by hunting.
Accepting a quest didn't remove it—multiple adventurers could accept the same mission at once. Most of these tasks were posted by potion makers and merchants who needed a steady flow of rare materials.
After browsing for a while, Aaron found a mission that suited him perfectly.
⟡⟡⟡
Mission: Collect Verdant Tricktail Hearts and tails
Mission Number: B2-081
Mission Type: Hunting
Rank Requirement: Bronze 2
Tier: Fragment ★
Level: Levels 3 – 10
Reward: 1 gold coin for each heart and tail delivered.
Difficulty: ★
⟡⟡⟡
Aaron opened the Beast Manual and looked up Verdant Tricktail in the Beast Manual. They were smart for their rank, moving swiftly in the treetops, usually in groups of three to six. Their territory spanned a 10-kilometer area between the western and southern parts of the forest. Locals called them beginner tricksters because they rarely attacked directly. Instead, they used illusion magic to confuse enemies and reveal true power only when in danger.
Their common skills: Vine Lash Tail, Forest Mirage, Root Snare. Aaron wasn't worried. Even though these beasts were quick, his stealth would allow him to strike unseen, and their low health made things easier.
Aaron memorized the mission code, signed up with Fianna, and received her well-wishes. Grateful, he left Estrium. If he succeeded, the rewards would cover his food and lodging for weeks.
With resolve, Aaron set off toward the western gate, ready to begin his journey.
⟡⟡⟡
In the distance, a group of three men lingered in the shadows. They belonged to the Twisted Viper, a notorious gang known for preying on newly awakened adventurers. It was their usual spot, waiting to rob those just starting out—easy targets who could be silenced afterward to erase any trace.
One of the men spotted Aaron walking along the road and immediately recognized him. He poked the man beside him, who was cleaning his knife with a grimy cloak. "Taul, look. Isn't that the kid from yesterday?"
Taul turned, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't that Aaron from the slums? The one we finished off in the forest?"
Wex, the third member, nodded. "Yeah, that's him. I even checked before we left—he was dead. Did he somehow fake it?"
A sly grin spread across Taul's face. "Looks like we're getting rusty. We need to finish him off for good—if he talks, we're finished." He glanced at Estrium in the distance. "If he's coming from the city, maybe he's awakened. That's even better. He'll probably head out on a mission. We'll wait until he's worn out, then strike."
With a silent signal, Taul led the others. The three slipped into the shadows, trailing Aaron toward the western gate.
⟡⟡⟡
After an hour, Aaron arrived at the part of the forest where Verdant Tricktails were known to roam. Here, the trees grew closer together, their thick branches woven with tangled vines that formed a web-like structure above. The air was cool and heavy, filled with the scent of moss and damp earth. As Aaron moved deeper into the forest, a sudden noise caught his attention. He moved toward the sound, every sense on alert.
Just as he drew near, Aaron felt a presence to his right. A beast appeared—a monkey-like creature about two feet tall, with gray skin, pale fur, and a long, bright green tail. Its huge fangs came from its mouth as it growled, glaring at Aaron.
There was no time to hesitate. Aaron slashed at the creature with his knife. The blade passed through it, but the beast vanished into a swirl of green mist. Aaron quickly stepped back. From above, mocking laughter echoed through the branches. Five more monkey-like beasts looked down at him, their eyes filled with mischief.
Aaron sneered. "So that's why they're called beginner tricksters." He focused and activated Abyssal Insight on the largest of the group. Instantly, the beast's status appeared before him.
⟡⟡⟡
Name: Verdant Tricktails
Tier: Fragment ★
Level: 8
⟡⟡⟡
Health Points: 220 / 220
Mana Capacity: 100 / 100
Attack Power: 72
Affinity: Nature
⟡⟡⟡
Skills
Vine Lash Tail
Channels natural energy into its tail, hardening it like a flexible whip, increasing damage by 30%.
Forest Mirage
Release a faint green mist infused with natural mana, creating 1–2 blurred afterimages of itself.
Root Snare
Slams its tail into the ground, causing thin roots to burst upward around a target, binding for 3 seconds.
⟡⟡⟡
Aaron muttered, "So it was just an illusion—Forest Mirage. That trick won't work on me again." He smirked, pointed his knife at the Tricktails, and activated Shadow Stealth. In an instant, his presence vanished. The Tricktails fell silent, growing alert as they scanned the branches, trying to sense where Aaron had gone.
The trees here rose nearly twenty feet high. Aaron slipped behind the trunk where the largest Tricktail was sitting and began to climb, careful to make as little noise as possible. Thanks to his stealth skill, not even the sound of his movements could be heard. He climbed unnoticed, blending perfectly into the shadows.
He reached the branch with the largest Tricktail. Only twenty seconds of stealth remained. He had to act quickly. With his new attack power of 37.5, he was confident one strike would be enough.
Aaron activated Predator of the Weak. Gripping his knife with both hands, he leaped from the branch, aiming for the back of the Tricktail's neck. The blade struck, and the beast let out a piercing screech before falling lifeless from the tree. The sudden attack startled the other Tricktails. Aaron, too, lost his footing after the jump and crashed down from the branches.
[A/N]: Predator of the Weak boosts damage by 500%. So, 37.5 (Attack Power) × 6 = 225.
As Aaron hit the forest floor, a surge of mana from the fallen Tricktail rushed into him. A message flashed before his eyes.
[Verdant Tricktails (Lv. 8) Defeated]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up. Bonus attribute points awarded.] x3
Aaron stood to his feet and quickly shifted behind a nearby tree, careful not to reveal his position. As he moved, several thin roots burst from the ground where he'd just been standing. Aaron let out a sigh of relief—his quick reflexes had just saved him.
His stealth faded, and the Tricktails began leaping from branch to branch, searching for him. Aaron spotted one in the distance and activated Abyssal Insight to check its stats. Instantly, the beast's status appeared before his eyes.
⟡⟡⟡
Name: Verdant Tricktails
Tier: Fragment ★
Level: 5
⟡⟡⟡
Health Points: 140 / 140
Mana Capacity: 80 / 80
Attack Power: 52
Affinity: Nature
⟡⟡⟡
The remaining Tricktails had the same skills as the one he had just defeated, though they seemed a little weaker. Since the other four were about the same size, Aaron guessed they were all in the same level range. Their health was low, and with his current attack power, he could handle them. But with a thirty-second cooldown on his stealth skill, he decided to add four points to Strength, boosting his attack power for close combat.
As he assigned the attribute points, dark mana flowed through his body, filling him with new strength. Now his strength stat had risen to 7.75, raising his attack power to 77.5. He also added two points to Agility, bringing it to 4.75, so he could move faster if the beasts tried to bind him.
After a few seconds, one Tricktail spotted him and quickly used Root Snare. Thin roots shot up from the ground where Aaron stood, but with his increased agility, he dodged out of the way just in time.
Suddenly, a second Tricktail dropped down from the tree behind him, its tail growing longer as it unleashed Vine Lash Tail. The attack was so fast Aaron couldn't dodge. He tried to block with his knife, but the force pushed him back.
Aaron quickly lunged forward, slashing his knife at the Tricktail that had just attacked. The blade struck its shoulder, leaving a deep wound thanks to Aaron's high attack power. The Tricktail let out a sharp cry and collapsed to the ground, injured.
Suddenly, another Vine Lash Tail struck from behind, hitting Aaron square in the back. A deep, red mark appeared where the whip-like tail had landed. He gasped in pain, but there was no time to check his wounds. Gritting his teeth, Aaron raised his knife and took a defensive stance. The remaining three Tricktails now faced him, while the injured one lay behind.
He had fifteen seconds left before his stealth skill would be ready again. For now, he needed to stay on the defensive. Aaron still had just over 280 health remaining, but if he took a few more hits, things could get dangerous.
Then, all three beasts in front of Aaron launched their assault. Two began to circle, trying to flank him from both sides. The one in the middle used Root Snare, forcing Aaron to dodge back, but the other two pounced, their tails whipping through the air as they activated Vine Lash Tail.
Aaron couldn't defend against both attacks. He turned to block one, but suddenly roots burst from the ground, wrapping around his legs—this time, he was caught. The injured Tricktail behind him had used Root Snare, catching Aaron off guard because he hadn't seen it as a threat.
Both tail whips struck his shoulders, sending sharp pain through his body. Blood dripped down his arms as he groaned in agony. Still tangled in the roots, Aaron saw the first Tricktail—the one that had used Root Snare earlier—charging at him, its tail ready to strike again.
The recent attacks had dropped Aaron's health to nearly 160. If he took another hit, he'd be in real danger. As he struggled to think of a way out, the roots binding him crumbled away—their duration ended. Aaron quickly raised his knife, blocking the next Vine Lash Tail just in time, though the force pushed him back several steps.
The moment Shadow Stealth came off cooldown, Aaron activated it and vanished from the Tricktails' sight. The beasts grew tense, scanning their surroundings for any sign of him. Silent as a shadow, Aaron slipped up behind the injured one. He muttered under his breath, "Fuck, I won't underestimate a wounded beast again, not even on its last breath."With a swift slash to the neck, he ended the creature's life. A system message flashed before his eyes.
[Verdant Tricktails (Lv. 6) Defeated]
Aaron ignored the system message. Three more Tricktails remained, now alert and rushing toward him, drawn by the recent kill. He had to finish them before his stealth ran out. One beast reached the scene and tried to use Root Snare near its fallen companion, but caught nothing—Aaron had already moved to a new position.
Staying hidden, Aaron crept closer and activated Shadow Veil. He struck swiftly, slashing the neck of the nearest Tricktail. The beast dropped dead instantly. The other two reacted at once, whipping their tails at the spot where their companion had fallen. Aaron dodged to the side and triggered Predator of the Weak, striking with his knife and taking down another Tricktail.
[A/N]: Predator of the Weak boosts damage by 250%. So, 77.5 (Attack Power) × 3.5 = 271.25.
Only one Tricktail remained. Seeing its group wiped out, it tried to escape, but Aaron slashed at its legs, wounding it. At that moment, his stealth faded and he became visible again. The last Tricktail struggled to flee, but with its injury, it couldn't get far. Aaron quickly caught up and finished it off. Mana surged from the three fallen beasts, and a kill message appeared before him.
[Verdant Tricktails (Lv. 5) Defeated] × 3
[Congratulations! You have leveled up. Bonus attribute points awarded.]
As Aaron leveled up, his wounds began to heal, and he collapsed to the ground, exhausted. "That was one hell of a fight," he muttered, a tired grin on his face. "I haven't felt this much thrill in ages." Memories of past missions from his days in special ops passed through his mind.
He smirked. "Now I've got six Verdant Tricktails. That's six gold coins just for their hearts and tails, and I can sell the skins and fangs to Old Latem for extra. Looks like I'll be having a double dinner tonight." After another minute, his wounds were fully healed. Aaron stood up, ready to harvest the beasts.
Suddenly, the sound of clapping echoed nearby, followed by a cold voice. "You did well. We'll take it from here."