An adventurer with an enormous greatsword on his back bumped into Bao's shoulder who already struggled to hold his balance, given the bags filled with new equipment, he just bought, in both of his hands.

"Watch where you're going, you damn scarecrow!" screamed the adventurer over his shoulder.

He ignored the taunting and glares from other passersby and continued on his path. The rattling in his bags, containing a simple sword and a set of leather armour, mixed with the other sounds on the street. If possible he would have wanted to acquire some healing potions but they seemed to cost a small fortune, which made sense given their effects. He could have bought even better equipment with the money he received from the king but what for? The stats required to wear something like that were too high, which reminded him once again how week and insignificant his existence was.

Two days.

That was the timeframe he had to prepare for their departure towards the unknown tower. Bao tried to protest since he was barely able to kill two goblins in his current state and the land they were going to sounded like a high level one, at least from the story Elincia told but without much success. She was obsessed with the research of the ruins and wanted to go there as soon as possible, leaving Bao no choice but to give in to her demands.

He sighed.

Ten of Elincia's guards and a hired mage he knew nothing about, will accompany them on their travel but that was nowhere near enough.

"A whole army was annihilated and she thinks of going there with a hand full of soldiers?" Bao's thoughts slipped over his tongue.

He scratched his head, how was he supposed to level up for an endgame region in just two weeks? If only he found a new side quest to do, those seemed to be the fastest way to gain more XP even though probably one of the hardest. The problem lied in finding them, after all, there were no question marks over the people heads, contrary to normal videogames. His only choice, for now, was to take as many guild requests as possible to at least gain some XP.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

With that in mind, he found himself standing at the end of the line at the guilds reception, in order to accept all requests available for his level, no matter the payment. Like a drill, his leg went up and down, the line didn't seem to become any smaller if anything it became even larger. He took a glance over his shoulder where the previously empty space was filled with five nervous adventurers who were waiting for their turn. The moment he turned around a big man, about one and a half head taller than him bumped into his shoulder, on his back the same greatsword Bao saw on the street market.

"You really have a problem with me scrawny, don't you?" The big guy's front wrinkled.

"I... I don't. I just wanted to get my quests at the counter and nothing more. I don't have anything against you!" Bao hated these type of guys, they were nothing but bullies, picking up on the weak to make them feel superior.

"Then why are you continuously bumping into me?!" The guy flexed his muscles and already put his hand on the grip of his sword.

"Please calm down, I didn't mean to..."

"To what? Disrespect me?! It's already a shame that a guy like you could be called an adventurer, you should just quit and work as a scarecrow!"

Bao put also his hand on his just bought sword, he knew that this guy had a quick temper and he was rather safe than sorry.

"No fights in the guildhouse!" The receptionist looked past the people standing in line.

But her warning already came too late, with one big swing the guy drew his sword from his back and cleaved right through a nearby wooden pole that could've been Bao's head if he wouldn't have ducked under it. The nearby bystanders fled under the second swing of the giant sword which Bao tried to parry, by letting his bags fall and gripping his sword with both hands. In vain. With those big muscles on his arms, the man sent his sword flying through the air which stuck, after several rotations, right on the counter. The receptionist fled under an ear-deafening scream. As a last desperate attempt to turn the tables, BAo activated his scuffle skill and once again an invisible hand took over his body, launching him right onto the enemy but this time with little effect. He stood there embracing the torso of his enemy who didn't even bulge half a step. A big grin was printed on the adventurer's face when he looked down on Bao, they both knew what was about to follow. As if the time stood still he saw how the man lifted his greatsword, how the receptionist screamed something incomprehensible, how to guards ran towards them to stop them and how everyone only observed the whole scene without interfering.

Bao closed his eyes.

A gust of wind blew over his exposed neck.

The sound of metal hitting wood echoed through the hall.

"Please help! I need help!"