The goblin quest was supposed to be simple.
Kael had scouted the outskirts of Eldwyn early that morning, following the map scribbled on the quest slip. The old well lay half-buried in moss and ivy, surrounded by broken stones and rotted fence posts.
Just before dawn, he crouched in the underbrush, eyes fixed on the clearing. No movement.
Then—a flash of green.
Three goblins emerged from the trees, cackling and dragging something behind them—a dead sheep.
Kael drew his sword.
[Quickstep Lv. 1] activated.
He lunged from the shadows, blade arcing low.
Steel met flesh.
One goblin dropped instantly. The others screeched and drew crude knives.
Kael didn't wait.
He ducked, swept a leg, and drove his blade through the second. The third turned to flee
A rock slammed into its skull.
Goblin Fighter Lv. 3 defeated.
Skill Fragment Extracted: [Tough Skin] – Incomplete (3/5 pieces collected)
Kael wiped the blade clean and scanned the well.
Something glowed faintly below.
Cautiously, he descended the moss-slick stones.
The tunnel beneath the well wasn't deep—but it stank of rot. Bones littered the ground. The goblins had made this a lair.
In the far chamber, Kael found it: a small mana crystal, cracked and glowing faintly. He recognized it from System prompts—it could be used for enchantment or sold for good coin.
Item Acquired: Lesser Mana Crystal (F-grade)
Bonus: +5 MP when socketed
Grinning, he pocketed it and climbed back out.
Mission complete. Or so he thought.
Smoke rose above the trees.
Kael froze.
From this far out, he could see the black column rising over Eldwyn.
His heart dropped.
Something was burning.
He ran.
By the time he reached the city, chaos had erupted.
A plume of fire engulfed the western gates. Buildings blazed. People screamed. Mages hurled spells into the night as figures cloaked in black tore through the streets.
A rogue mage attack.
Kael dove behind a wagon as a blast of purple lightning incinerated a city guard.
He scanned the battlefield. The guild hall was still standing—but barely. One of the attackers stood on its steps, laughing, arms crackling with arcane fire.
[Mana Signature Detected: Rogue Caster Lv. 12]
Warning: Target strength exceeds safe threshold.
Kael clenched his teeth.
He couldn't win this fight. But maybe…
He crept closer through the alleyways. His eyes fixed on a collapsed guard near the steps—a crossbow still clutched in his hand.
He dove, rolled, grabbed it.
Loaded.
System Ability Unlocked: [Fate Branching – 1 Use Available Today]
Preview Possible Outcomes? [YES] / [NO]
"YES," Kael whispered.
[Outcome A]: You shoot and miss. The mage notices. You die in 3.6 seconds.
[Outcome B]: You shoot while he's casting. The bolt disrupts the spell. He flees.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He waited… watched…
The mage raised his hands, chanting—
THWIP.
The bolt hit his shoulder just as energy swirled around him. The spell fizzled. The caster howled, blood spraying, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
Cheers rose behind Kael as the guild's Silver-ranked adventurers finally arrived, pushing back the remnants of the attack.
Hours later, the fires were extinguished. The guild hall stood, blackened but intact. Kael sat on its steps, body bruised, hair singed—but alive.
The silver-haired receptionist approached, her eyes wide.
"You… that bolt. You stopped him."
Kael didn't answer. He was watching his System panel.
New Title Earned: [Spellbreaker]
Fate Branching Cooldown: 23h 59m
Reputation with Adventurer's Guild: +200 (Trusted Bronze Adventurer)
The city had nearly burned.
But Kael had made his mark.