“Y-you killed him,” Mathideus said, holding a hand to his head.

“Gladly,” Beelith replied. She swung her arms, ridding them of bloody matter, and shifted back into a fully human appearance. “If this farce is over, we will take our leave.”

“But, Ezin . . .”

“That’s your problem now,” Byron said, pushing off from the wall where he had been watching. “You chose to act as a witness on behalf of the guild. It’s your job to inform him and bury the body.” He nodded at Beelith. “Loot the corpse.”

“What a load of bullcrap,” one of the brothers said and spat on the ground. “All that bravado, yet he dies like a rat just born yesterday! My six-year-old cousin could have put up a better fight.”

I looked at the butchered redhead, unable to reconcile the outcome with the events that came before it.

Like, what the heck, man? You did all that posing only to fold when it mattered?

Bile rose in my throat.

“Hey, what gives?” Beelith said, rising from the ground. “Was this guy a sick fuck or something? There's only ten copper coins and a slime condom in his inventory!”

The second caster laughed. "Keep the condom, Beelith. We know you need it."

"Oh, you fucking cunt." She leaped at her teammate who ducked with exaggerated motions and hollered at the top of his breath.

A shiver shook me as I watched their antics—at the way they acted so unbothered by the scene. Blood still dripped from Beelith's fingers, yet there they stood, laughing like they'd just left a club.

Red Wyrm strolled away shortly after that, with Beelith sharing her annoyance over the paltry XP she had gotten. For one moment as they passed, I felt the terrible urge to stab her with my dagger.

But, I was neither stupid nor suicidal. Such a move would only end in my demise. So, I stayed in place, fuming as the last of the quartet of young adults stalked into the night.

Mathideus raked a hand through his hair a second time. “Oh, Herald’s breath. I’m going to need a shovel, aren’t I?” He scurried away in the opposite direction, muttering to himself.

I kept my abilities active, just in case any of them returned, and approached the fallen man. His skull had shattered in the last attack, leaving him unrecognizable. Out of curiosity, I activated [Identify].

Corpse of City Adventurer.

He had really bitten it, huh?

I walked away.

The redhead groaned behind me.

A health meter appeared above his corpse, filling back up in front of my eyes. Blood, teeth, and hair bubbled up from out of nothingness, replacing all that he'd lost. His limbs reformed on his torso, as did his head.

A moment later, he leaped to his feet, sporting a vulpine grin. “Now, that was a good nap.”

I dropped my active techniques. “Wait, what? How?”

The man blinked at me. He stood almost as tall as I did, maybe even taller, which was impressive for a human. “Oh, you. Dark Elf. What are you doing here?”

“How are you alive?!”

“Ranker technique. How else?” He looked around the alley. “That blonde git would soon be back, so I'd scram if I were you”—then at his ruined pants—“Drat. I need a change of clothes.”

He turned to leave. I couldn’t let him! Loser or not, he had just displayed a technique that was probably unheard of in the entirety of the Vizhima.

If this wasn’t the strongest ally I could meet, I didn’t know who.

I used [Identify] again.

City Adventurer LVL 13.

Well, that was a head scratcher. Despite the incredible feat he had just displayed, the [System] revealed he was weaker than me. Was this some kind of trick? To hide his power?

“Hey, wait—” I said.

“Damien?” Nicola called, wandering out of an alleyway. “That was so unfair. You left me to pick up your tab.”

She stumbled into the avenue, still in her belly dancer costume. “I saw Byron and his cohorts leave. They were talking about a dead person. Are you alright?”

The redhead paused to stare at her. Nicola looked at me. I gaped in turn at the redhead.

“Um,” I said, “I know this isn’t the best way to introduce ourselves, but how about dinner? I’ll pay.”

“Dinner?” the redhead said, averting his eyes from Nicola. “What’s this? A kiddie party? A real man would know to offer another a drink.”

“Well, yeah. I’m technically not a man . . .”

“I’m fine with dinner,” Nicola interjected. “And, I know a cheap spot. After that scare in the tavern, I don’t think I can handle another tankard.”

I glanced at the redhead.

He glared at me as if contemplating blowing us off. I held his gaze until he turned away. “Whatever.”

“Great,” I said, smirking at my small victory. “Dinner it is, then.”

My coin purse had taken a dent between shopping and renting a room. I still hadn’t bought any ranker gear, but two extra meals shouldn’t impoverish me.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

If all went well, the redhead would share his secret, and I would find myself one step closer to securing my life.

The two gluttons tried to impoverish me.

Nicola led us to a night market and then to a roadside cart that sold this world’s version of beef barbecue. The redhead and her managed to devour six plates between them before I stamped my foot.

We sat atop a flight of stairs after that, nursing full bellies.

“Paz,” the redhead said, still bare-chested from after his fight. “Gordo Sangrepaz. But, everyone calls me Paz.”

“Hi, Paz,” Nicola said.

Paz grunted. “You two are the ones that did it, right? The ones who used discernment? I can respect that; that kind of guts. Rankers should never be cowed.”

“I didn’t do . . .” Nicola paused, and the gears turned in her head. “Damien, was that your doing?!”

“Yeah . . .” I rubbed the back of my neck.

Nicola shrieked and pounded my shoulders. “Do you know how close I came to pissing myself? What is wrong with you?”

“Hey,” I said, wilting away from the onslaught. “I came to your defense! Plus, I’ve been using that skill all this time, and no one ever raised an eyebrow. I didn't think it was possible to trigger that kind of reaction!”

“[Predator Sense],” Paz said, stroking his chin. “A high-tier Shifter skill. Very high tier. By the time it becomes available, most Shifters are better off chasing other options. She must have beaten an ogre or something to unlock it this early.”

“How did you do it anyway?” Nicola asked, stopping her pounding to settle for pinching my arm. “[Identify] is only available to magic classes.”

“He’s special, that’s how,” Paz said, pulling a strip that remained of his shirt off his shoulder—

Or, at least, I hoped it was. I didn't want to believe that strip was actually his flesh.

—“I could tell from the way he studied everyone in the tavern. But, he’s also green. ‘Doesn’t know the rules. At the rate he is going, he’ll get himself killed.”

His words resonated within me, having come close to the mark. He was rather perceptive for a drunk, which made him even more intriguing.

“I’ve been careful,” I said in my defense. “It’s not like I started the day with the intent to draw anyone’s wrath. Thanks for the assist though. The night would have gone differently had you not intervened.”

“I hate bullies,” Paz said. “Can’t stand them ever since I was little. Sad that I couldn’t fight Byron. I would have loved to engrave my fist into his face.”

Nicola frowned. “Damien says you got destroyed before you could land a single hit.”

“Hey! I was just testing her reaction, okay? I didn’t expect her to be that fast.”

“Still kind of stupid. Beelith’s in the top percentile of rankers in Skeelie. What did you expect to do?”

“I’m much stronger than you think! This isn’t my final form—”

The two continued bickering.

They were both young—not teenagers, for sure, but only a little older than the members of Red Wyrm. At twenty-five, I probably numbered as the oldest in our trio.

These two had grown in a harsh world that defied comprehension. Yet, they found time for levity, even in the shadow of their recent ordeal.

“How did you do it?” I interjected. “The resurrection thing.”

Paz quietened. “Only fools share their secrets with strangers.”

“Alright, then. Let's both be fools. 'Cos, I was wondering if it's something you can teach?”

Paz laughed. The moonlight glinted off his teeth, revealing sharp canines. For that matter, his eyes glowed red like Nana's, though of a paler hue, less fervent than was common with the Irithiel.

“I unlocked that technique with help from my master,” Paz said. “Though, I can't see how it will be of any benefit to you. The act of Specialization cannot be reversed. You'll never learn anything outside your chosen affinity and class.”

Bummer. I’d been hoping that wasn’t the case.

I’d ruined my chances to mingle with Glamring and would rather blow toads than align myself with Red Wyrm.

With two spirit orbs left, I was running out of choices. And, the less said about the second legacy quest—the one that seemed intent on killing me by getting me to explore dungeons—the better.

Gather strong allies, huh?

I inhaled and took the plunge. “I need a party.”

Nicola stopped humming to herself long enough to raise an eyebrow. “This again? You’re going to have a hard time getting anyone to join you now. Not after you’ve drawn the ire of the strongest party in the city.”

“I don’t care about other people. I’m asking you guys. Party up with me.”

“Damien . . . we’ve talked about this.”

“That was then when you still had Ben. Besides, everyone at the tavern saw us together during the fiasco. If you had problems joining parties before this, it will be even harder now.”

Nicola froze. The thoughts cracked in her head, almost loud enough to hear. Then, she shrieked and pounded my shoulders for the second time. “No! You’ve ruined me. Go back to the tavern. Tell them I wasn’t with you!”

“I’m not sure Byron would care . . .”

“Damien,” she hollered, clinging to my shirt.

Paz rose to his feet, interrupting our antics. He cut an imposing figure when he wanted to, what with his wide muscles and well-defined back. But, I didn’t like his expression. If he looked that serious, then he planned to reject me.

Paz patted down his torn pants and cleared his throat. “Dark Elf, what do you wish to accomplish?”

Um, I have a name, bro. “What do you mean?” I asked instead.

Paz kept his gaze fixed at a distance beyond the stairs. “I won’t sugarcoat it. I am destined for greatness, and I refuse to settle for mediocrity.”

“You’re weaker than us,” Nicola said, letting go of my shirt. “Who are you calling mediocre?”

Despite her proclivities, she held more than a fair bit of pride in her abilities. Paz had no right to mock that.

“I am, huh?” Paz said, chuckling. “But, levels have nothing to do with strength. Byron might be the strongest adventurer in your insipid guild. But, he is weak as far as I am concerned.”

He glanced down at me. “Do you understand what I am saying, Dark Elf? Everyone has the potential to be much greater than they are. But, all of that depends on the loftiness of their goals. The more difficult the goal is, the brighter they shine. What is your goal?”

To save the world . . . But, that wasn’t it, was it? That was the goal the [System] had saddled me with. Were it in my power, I'd chuck the heroic nonsense into the bin. But, I had to care, as long as I needed spirit orbs.

Paz narrowed his eyes. “I have a gut feeling that you are destined for greatness too. But, the you in front of me won’t reach your full potential. You come across as flighty, without the drive to change the world.”

“What are you saying?” Nicola said, springing to her feet. “Who cares about any of that? Anyone with real responsibilities knows that fulfilling them is its own reward! Stop talking like a drugged-up dreamer and focus on reality.”

“Pray tell, what are these so-called real responsibilities?”

“Family,” Nicola said and gritted her teeth.

“Family?” Paz snorted. “Deadweights are not responsibilities.”

“You fucking—”

“I don’t care much for people with weaker goals than mine. They exist to be devoured or trampled beneath my feet.”

“Nutjob!”

A part of me stirred at their words. I’d been worried about finding people strong enough to help me, but what made me think I was strong enough for them?

Who needed a Hero who was unwilling to become one? Of what use was a person who shied away from wearing his mantle?

Paz made his exit, without another glance at us. Nicola yelled some choice words at him and made a rude gesture, but even she soon took her leave.

This seemed like a perfect time for the [System] to offer some kind of guidance.

But, a new quest didn’t pop up, even as they both disappeared down the street.