The trek down Shadow Mountain was far easier than the climb up. Leonardo felt a strange lightness in his feet—the result of his new +2 Agility points. Every step felt calculated, every breath rhythmic. The golden energy from the Level Up still hummed beneath his skin, a constant reminder that he was no longer the "Mana-less Zero."
As the first gray streaks of dawn began to paint the sky, the massive obsidian gates of Aethelgard came into view. Suddenly, the blue screen flickered with a low hum.
[Hidden Quest Update: Destination Reached.] Reward: Skill Book - [Mana Perception (Level 1)] Bonus: 100 Gold Coins added to Inventory.
"A skill book?" Leonardo whispered. He tapped the screen, and a surge of information rushed into his mind. Suddenly, the world looked different. He could see faint trails of blue mist floating around the city walls—the flow of magic.
But his awe was cut short. Using his new [Mana Perception], he looked up toward the highest spire of the Royal Palace—the Tower of Silence. There, standing on the balcony, was a figure draped in white silk. It was Princess Aurora. She was staring directly at him, her eyes glowing with a faint silver light.
Before he could react, a group of Royal Guards blocked the gate. Their captain, a burly man named Boros, stepped forward with a sneer. "Where have you been, trash? Trying to find a drop of mana in the dirt?"
The guards laughed, but Leonardo didn't flinch. He noticed a jagged, unstable flow of red mana around Boros's sword.
"Step aside, Boros," Leonardo said, his voice calm and steady.
Boros's face turned bright red. "What did you say? Apologize now, or I'll give you a scar to remember!"
[New Emergency Mission: Defend Your Honor] Objective: Defeat Boros without using spells. Reward: +10 Strength, New Weapon: [Broken Hero's Blade]
Leonardo tightened his grip on his obsidian shard. Boros roared and swung his massive blade, but Leonardo stepped to the left, the blade missing by an inch. He used his momentum to drive his elbow into Boros's ribs. A loud crack echoed through the gate. The 'Trash' had just landed a hit on a Silver Knight!