The Edge of Ambition

Chapter 6: The Edge of Ambition

Ryo Aelren limped through Varnholt's gates as the sun dipped below the horizon, the chipped iron sword from the goblin chieftain heavy at his side. His body ached—bruises from clubs, cuts from arrows, and the fresh wound on his shoulder burned under its bandage. Yet the System's chime echoed in his mind: Level 0: 60/100. New Skill: Weak Point Strike. He'd cleared the goblin nest alone, a feat no porter should've managed. The thrill of it warred with his exhaustion.

The streets were quieter now, the market stalls closing, but the Adventurer's Guild still buzzed with activity. Ryo pushed through the doors, the pouch of copper coins from the nest jingling alongside his three silvers from the dungeon. He approached the clerk, sliding the goblin mission scroll across the counter.

"Done," Ryo said, his voice hoarse. "Nest's cleared."

The clerk, a wiry man with spectacles, raised an eyebrow. "Solo? You're no Awakened." He inspected the scroll, then Ryo's battered state. "Proof?"

Ryo opened his pack, revealing a goblin ear—gruesome but standard for such missions. The clerk grimaced but nodded, stamping the scroll. "Five coppers, as agreed. Good work… for a porter."

Ryo pocketed the coins, ignoring the jab. The System had made him more, even if the world didn't see it yet. His Status Screen flashed in his mind: Strength 3, Agility 5, Endurance 4, Weak Point Strike. Close to Level 1. Close to something greater.

He turned to the job board, scanning for another mission. His body screamed for rest, but the System thrived on action. A few low-rank jobs caught his eye—Clear Rat Infestation, Rank F and Guard Warehouse, Rank E—but a new posting stood out: Assist Rift Survey, Rank D. Requires: Combat experience, no Awakened status needed. The pay was ten silvers, enough for a proper sword or even a night in a decent inn. But Rank D was a leap from goblins.

"You're eyeing the survey job?" A low voice broke Ryo's thoughts. He turned to see a man leaning against a pillar, his face weathered, a scar bisecting his left eyebrow. He wore a dark cloak over leather armor, a longsword sheathed at his hip. His presence was quiet but commanding, like a blade hidden in shadow.

"Maybe," Ryo said, wary. Danger Sense didn't stir, but the man's gaze was too sharp, too knowing.

"Name's Calen," the man said, stepping closer. "I'm leading the survey. Saw you come in, looking like you wrestled a Riftspawn and won. Goblin nest, right?"

Ryo nodded, his hand resting on the iron sword. "What's the job?"

"Mapping a new Rift branch," Calen said. "Low activity, but unpredictable. Need someone who can handle themselves without relying on Awakened powers. You interested?"

Ryo hesitated. Rank D was dangerous, and his wounds hadn't healed. But ten silvers—and another chance to push the System—were hard to ignore. "Why me? I'm just a porter."

Calen's lips twitched, not quite a smile. "Porters don't clear nests solo. You've got instinct, kid. That's rarer than mana." He paused, eyeing Ryo's sword. "Get some rest first. Meet me at the Rift Gate, dawn. Don't die before then."

Calen walked off, leaving Ryo with a mix of curiosity and unease. The man saw too much, like Gav, but without the malice. Ryo shook it off and headed to the inn, spending a copper for a bed and a bowl of stew. The food was bland but warm, and the bed—though lumpy—was heaven compared to stables.

As he lay down, he summoned the Status Screen, studying it. Level 0: 60/100. So close. Weak Point Strike intrigued him—10% extra damage to vital areas. He imagined using it on a Riftspawn, picturing the goblin chieftain's neck. The System rewarded precision, survival. But why him? Why now?

Sleep brought fragmented dreams: the Rift's violet glow, the altar's ancient symbol, and a voice—not the System's, but deeper, older—whispering words he couldn't grasp. He woke at dawn, his wounds stiff but manageable. The iron sword felt steadier in his hand, a step up from rust.

At the Rift Gate, Calen waited with two others—a wiry archer named Mira and a stocky healer named Brom. Both were un-Awakened, their gear practical but worn. Calen gave Ryo a nod. "Good. You're punctual. Ready to see what the Rift's hiding?"

Mira snorted, nocking an arrow. "Hope you're not just baggage, kid."

Brom chuckled, adjusting his satchel of herbs. "He's got the look of someone who's seen trouble. He'll do fine."

Ryo said nothing, his Danger Sense calm but alert. Calen activated the portal, and the familiar vortex of violet and black opened. They stepped through, emerging in a Rift branch unlike the dungeon. The air was sharp, crackling with static. The ground was ash, dotted with crystalline shards that pulsed faintly. In the distance, a spire loomed, its surface etched with runes like those Ryo had seen before.

"Survey means observe, not fight," Calen said, his voice low. "Map the area, note the spire, avoid trouble. Got it?"

The group nodded, but Ryo's Danger Sense stirred as they moved. The shards hummed, and shadows flickered at the edge of his vision. Mira's bow tensed, and Brom's hand hovered over his satchel. Calen's sword remained sheathed, but his eyes were everywhere.

They reached the spire without incident, its runes glowing brighter up close. Ryo felt a pull, like the System but older, heavier. He traced a rune with his finger, and the System chimed.

Memory Fragment Detected. Analysis incomplete. Progress: 1/10.

Ryo froze. Memory Fragment? Before he could process, Danger Sense screamed. He spun, shouting, "Down!"

A crystalline serpent erupted from the ash, its scales glinting like blades. Mira fired, her arrow bouncing off. Brom scrambled back, chanting a healing ward. Calen drew his sword, moving like water, but the serpent's tail lashed, knocking him aside.

Ryo's Survival Instinct kicked in, boosting his agility. He dove, the serpent's fangs missing him by inches. Weak Point Strike guided his iron sword to its eye. The blade struck true, drawing a screech. The serpent recoiled, and Calen seized the chance, his sword cleaving its neck.

Experience gained. Level 0: 70/100.

The serpent collapsed, its shards scattering. Calen wiped his blade, eyeing Ryo. "Good call. You've got a knack for this."

Mira muttered, "Lucky shot," but Brom clapped Ryo's shoulder. "Keep that up, lad."

Ryo's mind was on the System. Memory Fragment. The spire's runes. The Rift wasn't just a monster den—it was something more. As they mapped the area and returned through the portal, Ryo's resolve hardened. The System was his key, and the Rift held its secrets. He'd uncover them, no matter the scars.

To be continued…