Leo sensed a palpable aura emanating from its core as he stood on the mountain. A knowing smile curled up on his face, sparked by an inexplicable desire to confront and vanquish the source of that aura. Leo's anticipation grew, fueled by the prospect of an imminent battle.

With his smile still intact, Leo's attention was abruptly diverted as he noticed a goblin girl. Approaching her, he spoke in a friendly tone, "Hello, young one. I shall rid this place of its troubles only under two conditions."

The goblin girl, visibly trembling and still distressed, managed to ask, "W-What are the conditions?"

Leo responded with a calm assurance, "First, tell me your name, and second, you must wipe away your tears and replace them with a smile. Then, this uncle... I mean brother, will take care of those individuals."

With a determined resolve, the goblin girl wiped away her tears and a genuine smile emerged on her face. She spoke with newfound confidence, "My name is Noir."

Leo carefully cradles Noir in his lap, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and uncertainty as he prepares to take a daring leap off the cliff.

As he begins his ascent, gripping the rugged face of the cliff with determination, a flood of thoughts rushes through Leo's mind. "Why did I make this impulsive decision? Is it my adventurous nature that pushed me to do this? Will I come out unscathed?"

Despite the apprehension, Leo steals a quick glance at Noir, nestled comfortably in his arms, and is reassured by the feline's composed demeanor. Strangely, fear seems to elude the creature, and Leo finds himself chuckling with a sense of exhilaration.

The rush of adrenaline heightens as Leo's descent reaches its climax, and he gracefully lands on the ground below, unharmed. Standing at the entrance of the village, Leo senses a heightened energy in the air, embracing the aura more vividly than ever before. With utmost care, he sets Noir down safely on the ground, relieved that both he and Noir have emerged from the daring leap intact.

Leo carefully accesses his inventory, a virtual storage space exclusively accessible to players like himself. With a swift motion, he activates a sub-space within the inventory, causing a shimmering portal to materialize before him. Stepping through it, he finds himself in a magnificent armory, filled with an assortment of weapons and armor. His eyes are drawn to a massive sword resting on an ornate pedestal. The sword boasts an impressive design, with a gleaming silver blade adorned with intricate engravings depicting ancient symbols of power. Its hilt is wrapped in supple black leather, providing a comfortable and firm grip. The sword is called .

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Continuing his exploration, Leo's attention is captured by a suit of armor hanging majestically on a display rack. Crafted meticulously, the armor appears to be forged from the legendary scales of a dragon. Each scale is carefully fitted together, creating a seamless and formidable defense. The armor's surface shimmers with an iridescent glow, shifting colors like the scales of a living creature. It exudes an air of strength and resilience, promising impenetrable protection to its wearer. Leo can't help but admire the intricate craftsmanship and intricate details that bring the dragon-scale armor to life. This armor is called .

Leo, adorned in formidable full-body dragon armor, gripped his sword tightly as he stood on the threshold of the village, ready to face whatever lay ahead. His keen eyes surveyed the contents of his inventory, which included an enigmatic mask with a striking design of black and red. Intrigued by its allure, Leo found himself irresistibly drawn to the mysterious mask. Without hesitation, he clicked on it and felt its snug fit as it settled onto his face.

With the Noir now in his hand, Leo activated his skill called 'speed booster' to enhance his speed. As he ventured deeper into the village, a scene of devastation unfolded before him. Half of the once thriving village lay in ruins, and the lifeless bodies of goblins were scattered across the ground, some missing limbs. Leo took a moment to absorb the gravity of the situation.

Amidst the chaos, he caught sight of a lone hero accompanied by four loyal sidekicks. The hero, with distinct blue hair and piercing white eyes, wielded a holy sword named . As for the sidekicks, two were skilled magicians, one was a skilled archer, and the last was a fierce warrior.

In the virtual world of the "God's Grace" game, players could choose from a plethora of professions such as archer, warrior, or magician. Each profession was further divided into specialized classes. While any player could freely select and switch between professions, there was one exception: heroes were a special class that players were born into and could not change.

As Leo stood there, lost in thought, he suddenly caught sight of a figure with distinct features—blue hair and a gleaming sword. His mind raced as he connected the dots, realizing who it must be. Before Leo could gather his thoughts further, Noir, the blue-haired figure, pointed urgently toward a hero who was poised to strike down a female goblin. Noir exclaimed, "Hero, she is my mother. Please help her!"

Upon hearing these words, Leo's adrenaline surged, and without hesitation, he sprinted toward the hero. Acting swiftly, he positioned himself between the hero and the defenseless goblin, bracing himself for the impending clash. Though Leo was aware of his own unlimited strength, he suppressed his strength and softly pushed back against the hero's attack. However, to Leo's astonishment, the hero was sent flying by the force of his defense, careening through several houses and causing immense damage. As the hero lay injured, coughing up blood from the strain.

Confused and shocked, the hero's mind raced, wondering how such a powerful monster, like a guardian, had found its way to a humble beginner's village. The whole situation seemed bewildering and alarming to the hero.

- To be continued.

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