The morning sun glinted off the floating islands as John, Kai, and Bailey prepared for their first real quest.
"Alright, newbie," Kai said, grinning. "Your first mission: clear the Forest of Shadows, Level 1 dungeon. Easy money, easy XP."
John swallowed nervously. Easy? It still looks scary…
A quest menu appeared in his vision:
[Quest: Forest of Shadows]
- Recommended Level: 1-3
- Rewards: 50 XP, 20 Gold, Random Loot
- Status: Accepted
John clicked Accept, and a soft chime confirmed the quest.
The forest loomed ahead, thick with fog and twisting trees. The air smelled of damp earth, and eerie whispers floated between the trunks.
"Stay close," Bailey warned. "The monsters here are tricky."
As they advanced, small goblins jumped from the bushes. Kai swung his sword, Bailey fired arrows, and John… froze. His hands trembled.
I can copy skills… but which one?
He focused on Kai's attack. A spark of light traveled from Kai to John's hands. Without thinking, he mimicked the slash, cutting down a goblin with perfect precision.
"Still… copying?" Bailey asked, wide-eyed.
"Yeah… it's… amazing," John muttered. He felt the thrill of power he had never experienced before.
Further in, the forest thickened, and a larger creature emerged: a wolf-like beast with glowing blue eyes.
[Forest Wolf | Level 3 | HP: 120 | Skills: Bite, Howl]
Kai swung, but the wolf dodged. Bailey shot arrows, but they barely grazed it. The wolf's howl sent a shiver through the team, slowing their movements.
Now it's my turn… John concentrated. He copied the wolf's Bite skill after observing its attack pattern. Heart racing, he lunged forward and executed it perfectly—dealing critical damage.
"Whoa… he actually did it!" Kai shouted.
John breathed heavily. "I think… I can really do this."
As they finished the quest and looted the treasure, a mysterious figure appeared on a hill nearby. Cloaked in black, he watched them silently.
"Interesting," the figure murmured. "The copy skill… it's rare. This one has potential."
John glanced up but saw only a shadow disappearing among the trees.
Who… was that? he wondered.
Little did he know, this mysterious figure—Axel—would soon become his mentor, teaching him to master his power and survive challenges far beyond the Forest of Shadows.