An Encounter pt—3: Skills Level-Up

"Here, with this you're now registered as a Stage-1 mage-class adventurer." Hellen said, handing Skyler his adventurer's licence. On the bronze plate, his name was engraved, followed by his class and stage, verified by the Risers Clan.

"Skyler." Hellen whispered, leaning towards his ear, "Please avoid facing any members of the church or the Clan Leader. They all have 'Grace of Insight.' You may get into troubles if your secrets were revealed to any of them."

"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine." He chuckled as he took a glance of the clan.

It was same as the Vanguard Clan. Back at Vanguard, everyone wore the mask of good while being evil. However, in Risers, intension was written all over the faces of adventurers— whether it was good or evil.

'Man!' Skyler sighed, noticing a group of adventurers glaring at him suspiciously, 'Better keep myself away from those guys.'

"Another thing, Skyler." Hellen spoke, preventing him just as he prepared to leave "Also take these."

She brought out a pouch full of shiny gold coins— Siets, the currency of this world. They shined brightly, mesmerizing Skyler as he kept looking at those.

"What's… what's these?" He stammered, dumbfounded.

"This is the quest completion reward— total amount of 100 Siets." She smiled, handing him the pouch.

"Yeah, I get that." Skyler hesitated to take those, "But, it's earing of Joseph's party. Why give it to me?"

"Hay now, come on." Joseph chimed in, stepping forward, "It's thanks to you we're still alive. Besides, your report is the real deal that ended our main objective, and I'm pretty sure you need money for shelter and food. Speaking of which, do you have any money on you?"

"No. I don't"

"Then it's all yours." He continued speaking, "Think it as a compensation for our awful behaviour back then."

"He's right." Martin added, "We were naïve back then. But you were kind enough to forgive us. So please accept these as a token of apology."

They all bowed, even Hellen from the other side of the desk. They were sincere. Yet, Skyler— he wasn't.

'Well, money takes priority than anything.' He thought as a sly grin forming on his lips, 'And it's them who's handing their money to me, not like I forced them to. So what's the harm?'

He accepted the money, preparing himself to leave the clan. Others waved their hands as he stepped out.

Unknown to him, the group of six adventurer who stared at him the whole time, stood on their leader's mark. They tailed him from the shadows.

************

"Man! It's already dark." He muttered, glancing at the sky full of stars, "I better find an inn to spend the night. My stats need a replenish too. Speaking of, what's my current MP?"

[MP: 3200/4900]

'Seems like resting back at the clan paid me off.' He thought, looking at the system screen, 'But I need more rest to fill out my MP. Who knows when I'll need that.'

"Good evening, Mr mage." A gruff voice came from the shadowy alley next to him, "Do you mind playing with us for a minute."

Skyler looked irritated. He already thought something might going to happen. But it was lot sooner than he anticipated.

The group of six adventurers ambushed him, made him to came deep into the dark allay where they could rob him.

"If you value your life, hand over the reward money you received from the clan." Their leader, a towering bald man, unleashed his foul aura, pointing his sword at him, "We mean no harm, if you corporate."

"Our boss is right." A fellow member added, licking his knife, "As long as you cooperate with us, we swear not to attack you."

[Alert: Hostile Intentions detected. Passive skill 'Wrath' has been activated]

"And what if I refuse." Skyler replied as a draconic aura surrounded them, gazing them with blood-thirsty eyes.

Skyler's oppressive aura terrified them. They were frozen, unable to move even for a second.

'What's this?' The boss thought, 'I'm sure he's a stage-1 mage. Then how is he able to unleash such a demonic presence? And what's with the smug grin on his face? Did we pissed someone we shouldn't have?'

"Are you guys done now?" Skyler said, making the situation more intense than it already had been, "If you still wish to take my money, I won't mind killing you at all. No one will care if some scums like you, were to disappear from this world."

The feeling of true terror ran down through their spines. They, surely comprehended they had ganged up on the wrong guy.

Their face turned pale. Their throats dried up. their eyes trembled, so as their entire body. They tried, but failed to flee. Even, to Skyler's warning, they were incapable of giving answers.

[Congratulations! Passive Skill 'Wrath' has levelled up]

[Passive Skill: Wrath (Lv 2)]

'Sweet!' He grinned, looking at the notification tab, 'Who would've thought that running into these scumbags will actually help me to level up. But what to do with this guys? I mean I can just kill them. But I like to avoid killing humans. Top of that, I might end up facing trouble to kill the members of Risers Clan. I don't want to break the trust I put into those fools.'

"Please forgive us, boss." Grovelling on the ground, they finally responded, "We don't want any trouble. Please spare us. If you want, you can take our moneys as well."

"Just get the hell out of here." He commanded with a sharp voice, looking down on them with disgust in his eyes , "I'm not a scum as you. Leave here at once. And if you ever try to cross my path, I'll kill you without hesitation."

His cold eyes were enough to scare them off as they ran away, saving their skins. Skyler let a sigh of relieve. He came out of the dark alley. Looking at the sky he murmured.

"Sheesh! Such a pain in my ass. I don't wanna get myself again into that kind of situation."

Patting his bluish-white hair, he started walking towards the nearby inn.

************

"It will be two Siets for one night and dinner." The sweet old-lady at the inn's counter told Skyler, smiling sweetly, "If you need anything in else, feel free to let me know."

"Sure." He said, and gave her two Siets, pulling out from his system's 'Inventory'.

"By the way, may I ask your name?" She said, taking a good look, "And what brings you here, son? "

"My name is Skyler." He replied, "I just registered as a mage-class Adventurer. I wish to travel around the whole world."

'Yep, that's a total lie.' He thought afterwards.

"Oh my, such a grand ambition. Then what stage are you at, son?"

"Stage-1." He answered.

"Then, take my advice, son." She looked concerned, "In our nation, low stage adventurers often get robbed by the upper stages. Be careful okay."

'A bit late for the warning.' He chuckled as he said, "Sure, I can handle myself. Don't worry."

She led him to a small yet fine room filled with yellowish-light. Showing him the room, she told him, "Your meal will be served in your room very soon."

And left.

Skyler sat on the bed, trying to think, but got interrupted by his system as it popped out.

[Sorry for calculation delay]

[Your EXP has increased. Your level has been up]

[Level-up reward: +15 Strength; +10 Agility; +5 Defense; +1 AP; +1 EP]

[Notice: AP and EP have exceeded their limits. Do you like to convert them into Ascension Card to upgrade the Active Skill 'Element Lord']

[]

"Yes." He commanded.

[Congratulations! Active Skill: Element Lord (Lv 2)]

[Notice: A surprise box has been received. Do you like to open it?]

[]

"Not right now." He commanded, sinking into the bed as he looked at the box on system screen, "For now, Full Status."

*********

[Name: Skyler]

[Level: 11]

[Class: Dragonborn Sorcerer]

[Title: None]

[Protection of Azrathos]

___________

[HP: 3500/4100]

[MP: 3800/5600]

[Strength: 210]

[Agility: 200]

[Defense: 215]

[AP:1/10]

[EP:0/10]

____________

[Active Skill: Element Lord (Lv 2)]

[Passive Skill: Wrath (Lv 2)]

____________

[Equipped Magical Item: None]

********

"I'm on Level 11 yet I'm already this much powerful." He looked amazed, thinking how he defeated Joseph and his friends back then, "I wanna see what will happen if maxed out."

He smiled, nearly forgetting about the surprise box.