As the sun rose, Acki began to wake up from his sleep, thinking about the previous day, still feeling the cold sweat he had.
Acki: “I guess today is the day I become an adventurer,”
he said with sorrow, his face so sad it could’ve made a grown man break. The despair in his eyes was like no other. He got up sloppily, with no emotion, getting ready for the adventurer’s guild.
Acki: “How weird, no breakfast waiting for me… wonder what the stands are selling.”
Still moving sloppily, he left his hotel room and went to a local stand.
As he was ordering his food, he couldn’t stop thinking about Ian. Suddenly, his flames burst from his hands, but Acki managed to stop them in time. Everyone around him watched in shock, not knowing what had just happened.
When Acki’s food was ready, the shopkeeper, terrified, handed the food to him for free.
Shopkeeper: “Here, kid, just don’t hurt me,”
he said with a worried face. The man was afraid of Acki’s power, not knowing what it was.
Acki: “Chill out, gramps, I won’t hurt you.”
Acki gave the old shopkeeper money for the food and started walking toward the guild, thinking back on the situation.
Acki’s thoughts: “That was pretty awkward. Plus, why was he so scared? It’s not like I would’ve hurt anyone… right..?”
Acki slowly started to doubt his own intentions, not knowing if he was the bad guy.
Acki’s thoughts: “He really was afraid of me. It was as if he was staring at a beast.”
Acki’s face slowly twisted into a grin.
Acki’s thoughts: “Maybe I should be more like a beast. All I’ve ever known in my life was nothing but despair—never having something, someone, keeping me happy, asking if I was okay, thinking about me… This world is evil. It needs a greater evil to conquer the darkness that has already been set.”
As Acki started to feel the world was against him, he arrived at the entrance of the adventurer’s guild. Still eating, he finished his food and ran in.
As he entered, he saw people cheering, drinking, having a good time, and talking to their friends as if they had no worries.
In that moment, what he saw truly disgusted him.
Acki’s thoughts: “Look at all these egotistical scum, thinking the world has nothing but good to offer. They’ve never felt the despair this world has… I’m different… I’ve felt the despair, and that’s why I will become the strongest.”
Acki, staring in disgust, went up to the counter and rang the small bell for help. A beast girl appeared with a slave chain around her neck.
The girl, looking extremely tired and exhausted, spoke.
Slave Girl: “How may I help you, sir?”
she said in a low voice.
Acki’s face and mood completely changed as he stood there. He saw a girl who had lost all hope for living. Acki couldn’t help but relate to the sorrow in her eyes.
Acki: “I would like to register as an adventurer.”
Slave Girl: “No problem, sir. Here.”
She handed him the registration paper with her thin, shaky hands.
Acki: “Thank you.”
Slave Girl: “You’re welcome, sir.”
Acki filled out the form, his anger growing as he glanced at the girl’s condition, ignored by everyone around her.
Acki’s eyes widened with a huge amount of anger.
When he finished the form, he placed it back on the counter.
He looked at the girl with a huge smile and closed eyes, looking cheerful.
Slave Girl: “Alright, sir, I’ve registered you. You’ll start at the bottom of the rank. Oh, and just so you don’t get confused, I’ll explain all the ranks.”
The guild ranks work using letters, starting from E for beginners and progressing to D, C, B, A, and S for elites. Beyond that, there are rare SS ranks for world-class individuals and mythical EX ranks, reserved for the 8 legendary heroes that founded our nation.
Each rank determines the difficulty of quests adventurers can take, from simple errands at E rank to world-threatening missions for SS and above. Promotion requires earning points through missions and passing guild tests.
Acki listened carefully and then responded cheerfully.
Acki: “Interesting. Thank you so much for explaining that to me. I appreciate your goodwill. Could I get a quest now?”
Slave Girl: “Oh, it was nothing. I’m glad to help. And yes, you may. Give me a second to find you a quest suitable for your rank.”
She looked at Acki with a slightly happier expression, feeling like someone had finally found some sympathy for her.
The slave girl came back with a sheet of paper containing the quest details.
Quest: Herb Collection. Gather 10 bundles of Glowleaf herbs from the outskirts of the Whispering Forest. Reward: 5 silver coins.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Acki took the sheet and slowly turned around.
Acki: “Thank you.”
As he was turning, the slave girl spoke.
Slave Girl: “Oh, by the way, be careful. There are venomous insects and small aggressive critters.”
Acki: “I will,”
he said, waving his hand as he walked out.
As he left the guild, Acki’s thoughts fluttered.
Acki’s thoughts: “That’s it. I’ve settled my mind. I have no choice.”
He said with a face full of ambition and a mysterious vibe; he was planning something that was unknown at that time.
As he ventured to the forest to finish his quest, he couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about being in a forest.
Acki: “Man, this brings back memories. Really do wish I wasn’t alone out here…. I wonder… what’s Teach up to?”
He said with a curious face as he kept picking herbs.
Once he was finished, the day had already slowly begun to fade.
He started to walk to the adventuring guild. As he walked, he couldn’t help but feel a strong aura. The aura had a twisted and evil feeling, it had to have been a monster capable of destroying the whole city.
Acki’s thoughts: Looks like that could be a problem. Unfortunately, no one in the city is strong enough to beat it. I might as well deal with it.
He grinned.
Acki said out loud with a smile and a confident face, staring at the sky.
Acki: “FINALLY, SOMETHING I CAN LET ALL MY STRESS OUT ON!”
As he grew excited, his feet glowed white. He started floating with the black flames pushing him into the air.
Acki: “Time to fight.”
As he said that, he disappeared. The herbs he was holding fell, using his skill Infernal Step.
(Brief explanation)
Narrator: The skill allows Acki to vanish in a burst of black flames, instantly reappearing a short distance away. The flames surge around him like a violent explosion, making his movement unpredictable. While incredibly fast, it quickly drains his stamina and requires focus to control.
As Acki grew closer and closer to the beast, he couldn’t help but feel excitement.
Narrator: As he arrived, he saw a beast that was enormous, its black scales gleaming in the dim light. It had claws the size of boulders and a tail that could level forests. Every step it took shook the ground, and its roar destroyed anything in its path. It was a living disaster, strong enough to obliterate entire cities.
Acki got even more excited, his face showing a psychopathic look.
As the beast noticed Acki, even it couldn’t understand the look Acki was making.
Acki: “HEY THERE, BUDDY!”
Acki shouted.
Acki: “LOOKS LIKE YOU’LL BE MY STRESS BALL FOR TONIGHT, SO YOU BETTER PACK A PUNCH, ‘CAUSE I WON’T BE HOLDING BACK!”
He screamed, floating in the air, looking like a psychopath.
As the beast was getting ready to attack Acki, Acki had none of it, summoning his soul sword and starting to fight.
Acki: “HERE I COME!”
Acki shouted.
The beast let out an earth-shattering roar and charged, its massive claws slashing the air with deadly precision. Acki’s excitement only grew, his eyes wide as he watched the creature approach.
Acki: “HOW FUN!” Acki grinned, his voice filled with mania. He lifted his soul sword, the black flames around it flaring with intensity. Without hesitation, he teleported forward, using Infernal Step, a burst of black fire enveloping him as he vanished from sight, reappearing beside the beast.
The beast swiped its enormous claws at Acki, but he was already gone, only the scorching heat of his flame was left. He reappeared in the air above it, sword raised.
Acki: “Too slow!” he taunted the beast, slashing downward. The Black Flame cut deep into the beast’s side, searing through its armored scales. The beast bellowed in pain, stumbling back, but it wasn’t finished yet. It whipped its tail around, aiming to crush Acki with a single strike.
Acki: “Is that all you’ve got? Pathetic,” Acki shouted, his voice filled with exhilaration. Without waiting for the tail to land, he teleported again, his body surrounded by surging flames as he reappeared behind the creature.
The beast spun around, but Acki was already upon it, his sword leaving a trail of black fire as it slashed through the creature’s hind legs, causing it to fall.
Acki: “EVEN MY GRANDMA WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF BEATING ME!” Acki yelled, his voice manic.
The beast swung its claws at him, but Acki dodged, effortlessly evading each deadly swipe.
His body was a blur of flames, constantly shifting and moving in unpredictable patterns. But with each dodge and strike, his energy began to fade. The black flames drained his stamina with every use of Infernal Step, but Acki didn’t care. The thrill of the fight kept him going.
Acki: “Come on, entertain me more!” he shouted, taunting the beast as he vanished again, reappearing above it, his sword poised for another blow. With a roar, Acki descended, slashing deep into the beast’s back. It howled in agony, but Acki wasn’t finished yet.
He continued to strike, each hit leaving the beast weaker, its movements slower.
Acki: “I’m not done yet, not until I see you suffer more!” he yelled, his voice filled with adrenaline.
The beast struggled, its movements growing more sluggish with every cut.
With a final, devastating thrust, Acki drove his sword into the beast’s heart. The black flames surged through it, burning the creature from within as it let out one last deafening roar before collapsing to the ground.
Acki stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily, his heart racing. His face was still twisted in a grin, eyes wide with the thrill of the battle.
Acki: “I win,” he muttered, looking down at the beast’s massive body. His flames flickered around him as his sword started to disappear, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
As his flames slowly vanished, Acki was ready to get his herbs and head back to the guild.Acki Drained from the fight, he used earth magic to float back to where his herbs had fallen. Picking them up, and started his walk back to the guild.
As night grew darker, Acki arrived back in the city. He noticed the people gathered in small groups, their voices filled with worry.
Villager 1: “Did you hear that roar earlier? It sounded like a monster!”
Villager 2: “And the ground shaking! What if it comes to the city? We’d be doomed!”
Acki walked past them, smiling faintly, feeling proud of his kill. He decided to keep his mouth shut and continued toward the guild.
When he entered, the guild hall was eerily empty. The noise and cheer from earlier had vanished. He approached the front desk and rang the bell.
Once again, the slave girl appeared from the back, looking both surprised and relieved to see him.
Asha: “Oh, thank God you’re safe, sir. I was quite worried about you.”
Acki raised an eyebrow.
Acki: “Is that so? Why?”
Asha: “Haven’t you heard? People have been talking about the roars and earthquakes coming from the forest.”
Acki shrugged, acting stupid.
Acki: “Nope. The forest was so quiet I accidentally fell asleep out there.”
The slave girl looked puzzled but didn’t press further.
Asha: “That’s strange… Anyway, do you have the herbs from your quest?”
Acki reached into his bag, pulling out the bundles of Glowleaf herbs and placing them on the counter.
Acki: “Here they are.”
The slave girl blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his efficiency, then smiled softly.
slave girl: “Thank you. Let me just process this for you.”
She took the herbs, placing them beneath the counter, then handed Acki a small pouch of coins.
Slave girl: “Here’s your reward: 5 silver coins.”
Acki accepted the pouch, then scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Acki: “So… where is everyone? The guild looks deserted.”
The slave girl hesitated, glancing toward the entrance before answering.
Asha: “All the adventurers went to the forest to investigate what caused the roars and earthquakes.”
Acki’s face briefly flashed with worry, but he quickly masked it with his usual nonchalant expression.
Acki’s thoughts: I knew I should’ve buried the body. Oh well, too late now.
Acki: “Is that so?”
She nodded.
Slave girl: “Mhm. They’ll probably be gone for a while.”
Acki gave a quick smile.
Acki: “Alright, well, that’s all from me tonight. Thanks for your help.”
He turned to leave but paused mid-step.
Acki: “Oh, one more thing…”
She tilted her head.
Slavw girl: “Yes?”
Acki: “What’s your name? I don’t think I’ve asked before.”
Asha’s eyes widened in surprise, her expression softening into something more genuine.
Asha: “My name is Asha.”
Acki gave her a slight nod and a warm smile.
Acki: “Alright then, Asha. See you tomorrow.”
Asha watched as Acki left the guild, her voice barely above a whisper.
Asha: “Bye… Acki.”
As he stepped outside into the cool night air, Acki let out a small chuckle, his mind wandering.
Acki’s thoughts: Well, that was an interesting day. Time for some rest. Tomorrow, the real fun begins.
With that, Acki disappeared into the shadows, heading back to his hotel.