ã€ŠSeth (Stubbed)ã€‹


 Chapter 1

    <blockquote>

    Synopsis:

    Seth loved his life on Earth. He graduated from his dream college, worked at his dream job, and married his dream girl. Unfortunately, it was all taken away from him when he woke up alone in a dark cavern prowling with dangerous monsters.

    Armed with only a small dagger of mysterious origin he has no choice but to fight through this web of death and darkness to get to safety. But with his grit, his determination, and his desire to return home, he will survive this nightmare by any means necessary, and maybe eventually get revenge on those who ripped him away from his dream life.

    </blockquote>

    Seth Williams woke up with a jolt. A searing pain pressed down on his mind, like someone was hitting his head with a hammer. He grabbed his head and screamed.

    Finally, after a moment which felt too long, the pain subsided. He flopped onto the floor, taking deep breaths. Why had he gotten a migraine so early in the morning? He was still in his early 30s and didn''t want to be subjected to some disease. Not so early in his life at least.

    "Where''s Sarah?" he asked. He knew his wife would have heard his screams and come running. He blinked his eyes, sensing something unusual.

    "Wait! I''m not in my bedroom. Where am I?"

    Now that the headache was gone, his senses were finally returning. The ceiling had stalactites hanging from them like chandeliers. Turning his head, he could see them all over the place, water dripping down from a few of them.

    His back hurt from laying on the rocky floor so he stood up, eyes wandering everywhere. He seemed to be in some sort of a cave with boulders and walls overgrown with fungi that glowed dimly. Faint light filtered through the small cracks in the ceiling, illuminating the cave just enough for Seth to look around.

    It was massive and seemed to run deep.

    The air felt a bit damp and earthly. He felt something odd in the air. The unknown sensation was strange yet pleasing.

    It was a completely different scenario from the cosy and warm atmosphere of his bedroom.

    Seth felt another headache coming, but he tried to take deep breaths. I need to stay calm, he told himself as he tried to process the information that was presented to him.

    The last thing he remembered was going to bed. His wife, Sarah, had been working on an art project of hers, so he had simply played games and gone to bed in his pyjamas without disturbing her. By that logic, was he dreaming? But it felt too real.

    He pinched his cheeks and they hurt. He looked down at his pyjamas to find the hem soiled and a bit crumpled, just like his entire backside, probably from laying on the floor for so long.

    "This doesn''t seem like a dream," Seth muttered. He wasn''t the type to dream a lot, but whenever he did, they were about a clown with an axe chasing him. Certainly not like this.

    "All this is so weird. I don''t know what''s happening."

    He felt like he would collapse any second out of panic. He frowned, taking a step back to lean against the wall. As he did that, something fell from his pockets onto the floor.

    He blinked down at the object. It was a knife.

    "What is this doing in my pocket?" He picked the knife up and examined it. Looking closely, it looked more like a dagger rather than a simple kitchen knife. The blade was sharp and the hilt had intricate designs on it, with symbols woven on the fabric. He didn''t recognise them, but it seemed like something he¡¯d spot in an antique store.

    He kept inspecting it, wondering how it had appeared in his pocket. He had never seen such a dagger before.

    Suddenly, something opened up in front of his vision. He stumbled back startled, hitting his head on the wall as he cried out in pain. Ouch!

    "Is that a hologram?" he asked, looking at the text floating in the air. It was transparent and he could see through it, but he couldn''t deny that it was there in the air, straight out of a scene from the last Avengers movie.

    The Dark Blade - ???

    No information is available.

    Seth stared at the holographic screen for a minute, then back to the dagger in his hand. The screen just hovered there. When he moved, it moved with him.

    He held his head again, wondering if he¡¯d gone crazy. Maybe that was the case? Maybe he had some kind of injury while he was sleeping, and now, he was in a coma. Sarah must be sitting beside him, praying to God for him to wake up.

    "That doesn''t seem like a good explanation. That''s probably the worst explanation of this scenario."

    Sighing, he shook his head, shoving those thoughts aside and focusing on the screen. He tried to touch it, but his hand passed through it.

    "So, it''s really like a hologram. Can I get information for everything in this cave, then? Is that it? Or are there any more screens?"

    As he spoke, two more screens opened up in his view. This time, with a different set of information.

    One of them simply had his information and the other was titled ''Stats''.

    Name: Seth Williams

    Age/Sex: 31 years/Male

    Affiliations: None

    Class: None

    Rank: None

    Level: 0

    Titles: Earther

    Skills: Identify (Level 1)

    Mana: 110

    Health: 100

    Stats

    Strength - 10

    Agility - 12

    Constitution - 10

    Wisdom - 11

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Luck - 14

    "Reminds me of a video game,¡± he said, more and more bewildered by what was going on. His eyes were glued to the screen. "Is this my status screen? And why don''t I have levels?"

    Even in the video games he¡¯d played, no one started without any levels. Was he not a playable character? Things were becoming weirder by the second.

    In the next ten minutes, Seth kept experimenting with the holograms and realised that he could make them appear and disappear with just a thought. It was a bit surreal and he was sure that something was wrong with his mind, but it was still something he felt fascinated about.

    "So, now, I have a mental command hologram and a skill that lets me identify stuff,¡± he said, looking over at the strange looking algae on the wall next to him. A screen popped up as he focused on it.

    Green Algae - Plant organism.

    When he desired to not see it, it disappeared like it was never there.

    "Weird," he said, wondering what to do next. He¡¯d found himself in a cave and had holograms in his mind, reminding him of video games and anime. If he had been transported to another world, it was a joke he couldn''t accept.

    Maybe I should try to ex¡ª

    Suddenly, he heard a scratching sound, like a cat clawing at a wall interrupted his thoughts of finding an exit from the cave. He shuddered instinctively, sensing something nearby. The sounds of footsteps appeared beside him and the scratching sounds increased.

    He looked around and when he finally saw it, he froze.

    Right there on his left, a tiger-like creature sat, its claws scratching the rocks it perched on. It looked like a tiger, but had a shiny black coat. Its build looked powerful and its claws sharp. Its mouth was open, teeth glinting sharper than the dagger he held in his hand. Saliva dripped down from it.

    One strange feature was that the creature didn''t have eyes. Only a mouth, nose and ears, making him look more alien than a tiger.

    A holographic screen opened up as soon as he saw it.

    Forsaken Prowler - ???

    Other than the fantastical name of the creature, there was no information. Yet Seth knew it was powerful.

    All his instincts told him to run away as the Prowler faced him. If it had eyes, Seth was sure that he would be reflected as prey in them.

    "You are a good kitty, right?" he asked nervously, trying to back away from the Prowler. The next moment, it snarled and leaped at him with extended claws that promised agony. He leaped to the side, his body hitting the ground and rolling. The rough texture of the rocky floor gnawed at his skin, leaving a trail of stinging pain as he desperately sought safety from the creature¡¯s grasp.

    Without wasting a moment, Seth ran, knowing that the Forsaken Prowler was just behind him. If his stats were anything to go by, his ability to run was better than average and he hoped that it would be enough to escape.

    The cave was big enough for him to not worry about space to run and he soon found a tunnel. He ran inside, scratching sounds coming from behind him.

    I need to run away. If that monster catches me, I''m dead!

    Those thoughts rang in his head as he put every fibre of his being into running. The tunnel was dark with barely any light, but Seth had no option. He kept running into the darkness, adrenaline rushing through his veins, taking turns at every junction in an attempt to lose the Prowler.

    When he haphazardly looked over his shoulder, he saw the Prowler there, not moving. Its ears perked up as he took another step and it made its way towards Seth.

    His eyes widened as his mind ran along with his legs.

    That creature doesn''t have eyes. It''s relying on his hearing to find me. Fuck! I am making too much noise.

    He looked down at his bare feet; the rocks had scraped his skin a bit. If he had known that he was going to wake up in a cave, he¡¯d have slept in his sports shoes.

    He couldn''t lower his speed or the Prowler would simply catch up to him. Instead, Seth picked up a few rocks while running and chucked them away from him.

    They hit the wall with a loud thud and the Prowler suddenly stopped in its tracks. Seth grinned, taking the time to hide behind a large stalagmite. He tried to make as little noise as possible as he hid.

    Slowly craning his neck, he kept an eye on the Prowler as it walked towards the place he had thrown the rock. It was as he had expected.

    Suddenly, the Prowler stopped and moved its head towards the stalagmite he was hiding behind. It slowly started walking towards Seth, ears perked up.

    He can''t see me. Don''t worry. Don''t think too much!

    He repeatedly said in his mind as the Prowler slowly moved towards him. Seth hid completely behind the stalagmite. Each step the monster took, his heart thundered loudly.

    Thump! Thump! Thump!

    He gulped, his whole body shaking due to fear. Saliva dripped from the mouth of the Prowler as it stalked closer, its claws scratching against the rocks.

    Judging by the sound of my heartbeat, the Prowler might notice me just by that. I''m dead, he thought, his life flashing by in front of him. He didn''t know how he had gotten here and now, he was going to be killed by a creature he had never seen before. He doubted anyone would even find his body.

    His legs hurt and he had no clue if his stamina would last long if he tried to run again. However, he still had to try, even if it was just one last attempt.

    He tried to calm himself as the Prowler came closer. He prepared to run again if the Prowler discovered him. Now, it was just one step away from him, coming to a halt as it tried to find its prey. Seth could almost feel the Prowler breathing beside him.

    He prepared for an attack, his mouth running dry. Yet the attack never came no matter how much he waited.

    What is going on?

    Seth blinked his eyes as he heard a sudden squeaking noise, like the crying of a helpless animal. The sensation of breathing on his neck disappeared.

    Peeking out his neck, he looked up and his body froze. The Forsaken Prowler was in the air, struggling and hissing in the grasp of a monster that he never wanted to see even in a nightmare.

    It was a centipede. A giant one, almost 100 feet in length, dozens of legs running everywhere in the room. It looked down at the Prowler with eight eyes.

    It held the Prowler by its fangs as the monster struggled, trying to escape the grasp of the giant insect. In the next moment, fangs dug into its body, ripping it apart.

    Seth kept staring at the whole thing with shock. A screen appeared in his vision.

    Giant Centry - ???

    He just stood there, staring as the Giant Centry ate the remains of the Prowler. He just wished in his heart that the monster would leave without seeing him, but the next second, one of the eyes suddenly locked onto him.

    Fear and despair creeped up in his heart as the Giant Centry looked down upon him, its fangs bloodied from the remains of the Prowler. Going by the size of the monster, he wouldn''t be able to outrun it. His last moments would be in the mouth of a giant, ugly insect.

    Those thoughts filled his head as he froze, waiting for the Giant Centry to make its move. But the monster simply turned back to make his way into an opening that seemed to be another tunnel.

    "I, I survived!" Seth exclaimed, sighing out in relief. His eyes were almost teary from the near death experience he just had. He was sure that he would die, but the Giant Centry had left him alone.

    Maybe his high luck stat had saved him? Or maybe the Giant Centry simply didn''t like human meat. He didn''t know and he didn''t want to know. The only thing that mattered was that he had survived.

    I need to get out of here!

    He quickly made his way back to the tunnel where he had appeared. Aside from the Prowler, he didn''t see any monsters there and if he could find a safe spot, then he would be able to plan out his next move.

    As he ran, questions about this place, the monsters, and how he would get back to his family and friends came to his mind. By this point, he had already quashed the possibility of this being a dream. It was as real as it could be.

    Now, he needed a way out of here. A way to survive. Or he would just get eaten by the next monster. Luck won''t always help him.

    Suddenly, something appeared like a static, stopping him in his tracks.

    You have taken part in defeating a Forsaken Prowler!

    You have levelled up!

    You have turned Level 1! You have turned Rank 1!

    You are now eligible to choose a class. Do you want to look at the options?

    A class? Seth thought back to his status screen, then back to the monsters ¡ª his thoughts stopped at his near death experience. If it was really like a video game, then a class might be a way to achieve power. Power to survive and maybe find a way out of this hellhole.

    I don''t know how I came here, but I need to survive and get a way back to my family no matter what!

    He knew he didn''t want to be helpless. He took a deep breath and focused on the screen, ready to choose his class.

    <blockquote>

    Author''s Notes:

    First chapter done! Let''s go!!

    Hey everyone, this is my first time writing a real original story on RoyalRoad! I am a young, aspiring amateur author who previously wrote on Webnovel, but decided to move away from the website when I heard about RoyalRoad. Just so you know, English isn''t my first language, but I''m still trying my best and learning how to write better. I apologise if you spot any grammatical errors or typos. Please leave a comment if you do, and I will try my best to rectify the error as soon as possible. The first 20 chapters have been line-edited by Mel''Kane before I have put them up here, but I also hope to grow enough as a writer as this story continues so there will be even less errors going forward.

    I will double-post chapters for the first few days, but afterwards, I will move to once a day chapters until my backlog runs out. Then chapters will be up when they''re ready. I hope you enjoy reading!

    Co-written with MelasDelta (contact him for any business inquiries.)

    Cover art by FuyuDust, Typography by Azrie

    </blockquote>

 Chapter 2

    A squeaking sound followed the footsteps that walked the tunnels of the cave. They came from monsters that resembled rats with beady eyes and pointed teeths, adapted for gnawing. They were 4 feet in length and had black fur coats. They travelled in groups of 4 and unbeknownst to them, Seth watched them.

    Cave Rat - ???

    He hid behind a large boulder and kept watching the Cave Rats as they passed. After they were gone, he sighed in relief.

    "Just how many monsters inhabit this place?" he muttered in a whisper, not wanting to alert anything of his hiding place.

    Taking another peek, he first ensured that there was no other monster around.

    Finally, he opened up his screen, getting the time to look over his class. Until now, Seth had been simply running away from one monster to another and hadn¡¯t had a chance to go over the options he had been provided with.

    Here are your options:

    Warrior: A basic class focused on fighting in close combat and dealing damage. It is strength heavy, giving +2 points to Strength and +1 point to constitution every level with 1 free stat point to assign. Can use weapons such as swords, axes and spears.

    Archer: A basic class focused on ranged combat and handling a lot of enemies at the same time. It is Agility heavy, giving +2 points to Agility and +1 point to Constitution every level with 1 free stat point to assign. Can use weapons such as bow, slingshots, guns.

    Caster: A basic class focused on magical ranged combat and can adapt in battle based on learned spells. It is Wisdom heavy, giving +2 points to Wisdom every level and +1 point to Agility with 1 free stat point to assign. Doesn''t require a weapon, but one can use wands and staffs to enhance spellcasting.

    Rogue: A basic class focused on ambushing opponents and stealth. It is Agility heavy, giving +2 points to Agility every level and +1 point to Strength with 1 free stat point to assign. Can use weapons such as daggers, short swords and knives.

    "These are pretty basic classes," he muttered, reading through the paragraphs of text. The information was similar to making a new character in a video game. The only difference was that he was in the game now, for better or worse.

    He had to choose one of them. Taking a deep breath, he contemplated for a while. Warrior and Archer looked cool, but those two classes clearly needed weapons to be effective. Weapons he wouldn''t find anywhere in the cave and without them, he would mostly be useless.

    So, they were ruled out.

    Caster was next. Truthfully, it was the class that attracted his attention the most. Seth had often hurled spells at his enemies from a distance behind his computer screen, but this was real life. Magic was cool, but going by what he knew of video game classes, it was a class that needed to be carried at the back of a party. Especially at the start when they didn''t really have a lot of spells.

    They had low physical stats and the monsters around him were clearly too powerful. He couldn''t even see their levels. If the Giant Centry returned and was hungry again, would his spells be able to save him? He wasn''t sure.

    Caster might be good, but I don''t know if I¡¯d be able to survive with it. What about a rogue?

    His eyes went to the last class that was presented to him. Rogue ¡ª a class designed for solo play and something that could let him sneak. Would it help him hide from the monsters? That approach had indeed worked out till now.

    Seth eyed the class, his eyes flickering like he was contemplating something. Finally, he looked down at the dagger in his hands. His Identify skill couldn''t inspect the item beyond the name, but it could still be used as a dagger. Wouldn¡¯t that be a perfect weapon for a Rogue?

    His eyes moved between Caster and Rogue before he made his decision.

    He clicked on one of them without wasting any time. A notification rang out in his head and new screens appeared.

    You have acquired the basic class ¡ª Rogue. You have taken your first step on the path of a Rogue!

    You have gained two basic skills:

    Backstab (Level 1): A basic attack that Inflicts critical damage if executed from a blind spot.

    Passive sneak (Level 1): A passive skill that effectively conceals you within your surroundings. Whether you¡¯re navigating treacherous terrain, evading enemies, or observing unnoticed, this skill allows you to blend seamlessly into the environment.

    "I don''t feel anything different," he muttered, examining his body. His pyjamas were unrecognisable from before, smeared with dirt.

    Have I really gotten these skills?

    He wondered and right then, a noise rang out. His head snapped in its direction and he quickly hid behind the boulder, this time with a precise movement that hadn''t been present before.

    He eyed the corner the noise had come from. A large group of monsters walked into the tunnel, oblivious to Seth who watched them with shocked eyes.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Cave Lizard - Level 8

    It was the first group of monsters that had levels to their names. Could he identify them because of their lower level? Maybe. He didn''t get any other answers as he continued to watch them.

    As their names suggested, the monsters were Lizards, though they were four feet long with earthy coloured scales and eyes that looked creepy in the darkness. They walked on two legs and the group was rather large, heading towards a fork in the tunnel.

    As Seth observed the group, he saw a taller one that seemed to be the leader. It was the highest level monster in the group at Level 15. The lowest level was Level 5 and tailed the group.

    He kept watching them as they passed, eyes checking the level of every Cave Lizard. Suddenly, one member of the group, one of the smallest, strayed off the group and walked into the wrong tunnel. His eyes twinkled with excitement.

    Cave Lizard - Level 6

    It was at a higher level than him, but Seth was confident in his skills and wasn''t that the point of a Rogue class? Sneaking around and killing higher levelled enemies? He didn''t know if he would get a better chance with most monsters being too high level for him.

    So, he strode off, chasing after the Cave Lizard.

    Immediately, he realised that his steps were lighter, his body crouched on the floor with an ease and each step he took felt coordinated ¡ª obviously due to his skill. He had an on and off relationship with exercise, but even when he was at his peak, he had never felt so dexterous.

    He shifted with a grin, trying to use the darkness of the tunnel to better conceal himself.

    You have concealed yourself in the surroundings!

    Seth followed the path, making sure to make as little sound as possible. He soon spotted the Cave Lizard that was slowly walking in the distance. His grip on the hilt of his dagger tightened.

    I need to stab its neck to finish it off in one attack. If it gets the time to attack, then I might not survive, he told himself.

    His muscles coiled with tension. Now that he was close to the Cave Lizard, his eyes trembled a little. Fear rose in his heart as he prepared himself to attack. This was the first time he would be attacking something and killing it. It could go wrong in a hundred ways, but if he managed to kill it, then he would have made progress.

    Just trust yourself. Just trust yourself.

    He took deep breaths and slowly inched closer to the Cave Lizard. It suddenly stopped and Seth''s heart almost dropped. Did it hear me?

    Its slit-like eyes looked around before it picked a rock to examine. It dropped it with disappointment and made its way forward again. The whole sequence took merely a few seconds, but Seth felt like he had aged a lot in those seconds.

    I can''t waste too much time.

    He got closer to the monster. However, this time, his steps were a bit more impatient. Holding the Dark Blade in his hands, he pointed the tip of it towards the Cave Lizard. It was then that it stopped in its tracks, turning around. But it was already too late.

    Seth thrust the knife into its neck, growling as he slammed the Lizard on the ground. Blood splattered as the Cave Lizard shrieked, its tail whipping around wildly. Its claws tried to make their way towards Seth''s arms, but they were barely able to scratch his skin.

    "Die! Why won''t you die?" he demanded.

    The skin of the Lizard was too thick for his blade to inflict any real damage. Grounding his teeth, he got up and plucked a large stone off the ground.

    The Cave Lizard tried to rise and pull the Dark Blade from its neck. The next thing it knew, Seth had smashed its head with the stone, bashing it repeatedly until the screeches of the Lizard died down. He finished it off with one more slam, blood and dirt spraying on his clothes.

    You have defeated a Cave Lizard!

    You have received experience!

    You have killed a monster that''s 5 times higher than your current level. You have gained the Title ''Bane of Monsters''.

    You have levelled up to Level 2! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 points in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.

    A warm feeling washed over his body as he read the notifications. The dead body of the Cave Lizard lay in front of him and he slowly pulled his blade out of its neck, shaking it to clear the blood and innards off it.

    Flashes of the fight appeared in his mind, but he shook his head.

    "I can do this. I can survive if I just keep up with killing monsters,¡± he told himself with a nod. He was still scared, but he simply knew that the only way to survive here would be to level up. Being a Rogue, he just might be able to do it without anyone noticing him.

    A smile appeared on his lips as he heard another noise, quickly concealing himself before another group of monsters passed through.

    ***

    The next few days were filled with constant fighting and hiding for Seth. A part of him still hoped that he would wake up back on his bed, but everyday, he had been focusing less and less on returning home.

    Most of his attention was on hiding and perfecting his posture as he chased after any monsters that were either alone or had separated from their groups. He mostly kept his focus on Cave Lizards, as they were close in level and one of the only monsters that he could kill.

    Keeping an eye on their groups and chasing after any low levelled stragglers became a daily routine. They were easy to kill for the most part as Seth simply attacked their skulls and neck area after realising those were their weak spots. The other areas just had too many scales protecting the body.

    It wasn''t like there were no mishaps.

    Once, a Cave Lizard had nearly managed to claw his face off, and he only survived by quickly ducking, an effect of his increased Agility. Another time, he hadn''t seen a rock and nearly slipped, attracting the attention of the Cave Lizard he was chasing.

    Thankfully, he had managed to kill it on time, having gotten used to their attack patterns.

    The more he continued sneaking around and backstabbing monsters, the more he realised how much the class suited him. His steps being so light and the ability to backflip easily was amazing. He had also gotten better in using his environment to conceal his presence.

    You have received experience!

    You have levelled up to Level 3! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 points in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.

    You have received experience!

    You have levelled up to Level 5! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 points in Strength and 1 free stat point to assign.

    You have defeated a Cave Lizard!

    You have levelled up to Level 6! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 points in Strength and 1 free stat point to assign.

    Seth didn''t know if his levelling speed was high or not, but he was quite pleased with himself.

    Although he didn''t gain any more titles, he did receive two new skills:

    Double Slash (Level 1): An attack skill that lets you attack twice in a row, twice as quickly.

    Nocturnal (Level 1): A passive skill that lets you see better in the darkness, like the creatures of the night.

    Seth smiled at his new skills. Was there a limit to the skills he could get? Or were there any other ways to get skills other than levelling up and fighting monsters? There were a lot of questions on his mind.

    Sadly, there was no one to answer in the endless caves. There were only monsters to kill, and kill he did as he explored the caves.

 Chapter 3

    Seth sat in an alcove, the curved structure giving him shelter as he bit down hard on the raw meat of the Cave Lizard that he had just killed half an hour ago.

    A stab to the eye had been enough for him to kill the Level 7 Lizard, but chasing it had taken a long time. By the time he was done with it, his stomach was rumbling and he had no choice but to cut off the meaty parts of the monster to eat.

    "This tastes so bad. I would do anything for some chicken right now."

    He stared at the brown, unappetizing meat of the monster in his hand that he had cut into smaller pieces to eat it more easily. He had no idea if the meat was even edible, especially raw. But he had no other option and there was no way to light a fire in this godforsaken cave.

    Seth had been eating it for a few days and thankfully, he hadn¡¯t fallen sick. Although it tasted horrible, there didn''t seem to be any bad effects other than the horrible aftertaste. The meat did its job and that was as much as he would get.

    He had also found a small pool of water to drink from.

    "Maybe it''s because of my increased stats that I''m able to digest this without any side effects."

    His thoughts wandered to his fights with the Cave Lizards as he ate. At first, it had not been easy. He had escaped death by a hair¡¯s breadth quite a few times, but as he had levelled up, his hiding and fighting skills had gotten better. It was as if with each skill level and class level, his system was pumping information into his brain.

    Though, one strange thing he noticed was the efficiency of his weapon.

    The Dark Blade - ???

    "I still can''t see any information." Seth examined the blade, squinting his eyes at the symbols. He hadn''t noticed it before, but they seemed to glow dimly. He couldn''t understand them, but he found himself relying on the dagger a lot to kill monsters, almost as if it was an extension of his arm and it had been made for that sole purpose.

    "I don''t know how I got it, but I need to find out what these symbols mean. Maybe it would give me a clue on how to get out of this place."

    The only thing Seth wanted more than good cooked food was to see the light of the day. Though, that seemed like a distant dream right now.

    Shaking his head, he pulled out his status screen, and eyed it.

    Name: Seth Williams

    Age/Sex: 31 years/Male

    Affiliations: None

    Class: Rogue

    Rank: 1

    Level: 8

    Titles: Earther, Bane of Monsters

    Skills: Identify (Level 2), Backstab (Level 3), Passive Sneak (Level 4), Double Slash (Level 2), Nocturnal (Level 3), Dagger Mastery (Level 1)

    Mana: 110

    Health: 150

    Stats

    Strength - 17

    Agility - 26

    Constitution - 15

    Wisdom - 11

    Luck - 16

    Other than the stat points he had gained in Agility and Strength, he had invested most of his points in Constitution after finding out that it increased his health points. They were correlated, so bringing Constitution to 15 had increased his health points to 150.

    He had also invested 2 stat points in his Luck stat. Although he didn''t know if he was right, he credited the Giant Centry leaving him alive to his Luck stat. Even in games he had played, luck applied to better critical strikes and finding loot, so it wasn''t a waste.

    There was also the "Bane of Monsters" title he had gained that gave him 10% surge in attack power everytime he''s against an enemy of superior level than him. It had helped him a lot in previous battles.

    His skills had also grown a lot in the last few days. The newest addition was Dagger Mastery that he had gained just yesterday while killing two Level 5 Cave Lizards.

    Dagger Mastery (Level 1): A passive skill that increases efficiency while using Daggers and improves chances of landing a critical hit.

    The skill made him feel connected to the dagger. He also noticed that he was holding it a bit differently from before, in a way that would let his attacks land faster.

    All thanks to one skill.

    I wonder how many skills are there for me to collect, he thought, getting up from the ground and deciding to go hunt more monsters. Truthfully, Seth would have already gone crazy from the silence of the cave had he not had monsters to kill. It was the only thing he could do here and by this point, he had started treating stalking prey as a hobby. Hunting had become quite addictive.

    You have concealed yourself in the surroundings!

    With that, he was off.

    He had already grown familiar with most of the area around him where the Cave Lizards frequented. With his Nocturnal skill, he could see without any problems, so scouting was easier.

    It seemed like monsters had divided their areas among different species somehow. Taking a right tunnel would lead to the Cave Rats and the left would lead to the Lizards.

    Seth took the left one and stayed close to the walls in a crouched position. Any monster nearby would not be able to detect him.

    Thus, he slowly advanced forward, keeping to his usual route of hunting, but strangely found no monsters. Usually, they would be in a group and then he would just have to tail them.

    He didn''t give up and increased his speed. Soon, he felt the air around him grow heavy. The damp smell of the cave was filled with something that Seth had gotten familiar with.

    Death!

    He stopped, looking around the vast cave. Finally, his eyes landed on a dead body lying in a small puddle of blood. It wasn''t a Cave Lizard. Instead, it was covered in a black fur coat.

    It was a Cave Rat.

    What are they doing here in this area?

    Checking its level, he found that it was Level 12. Seth walked closer to it and saw marks all over its body as well as a large wound on its head, like someone had smashed its head on a wall.

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    Raising his head, he found out that it wasn''t the only dead body around. A whole trail of them followed, all of them being Cave Rats between Level 8-12. Most of them had been killed in a similar way and three of them had a burst head. Whoever had killed them had done it brutally.

    Seth followed the trail slowly and soon, his steps came to a halt. In front of him, a Cave Lizard was smashing the face of a Cave Rat with a ferociousness he had never seen before. Blood and brain matter spilled everywhere, but the lizard seemed to be enjoying the gruesome act.

    As he stared, he noticed that the Cave Lizard was a bit different than the ones he had seen before. It had red eyes and was taller in height, almost as tall as Seth. The scales upon its back looked tougher, its tail twice as long as the average Cave Lizard. And rather than sharper claws, it had more brute power as it punched the Cave Rat repeatedly.

    It gave off the feeling of a boxer.

    One use of his identity skill was enough for Seth to realise why.

    Cave Lizard Brawler - Level 13

    A brawler? Is it a variant or just an evolved version? Seth wondered as the brawler continued its assault even after the Cave Rat was dead. The monster was clearly a case of short temperedness and crazy.

    He contemplated his course of action here, his eyes on the back of the brawler. Should he return back and find some weaker monster to hunt? Or should he take the chance?

    The difference between their levels told Seth that he should back away, but the lower levelled Cave Lizards weren''t really giving him the experience he wanted. Levelling up took more and more kills.

    The brawler had a few scratches and wounds on its body. The Cave Rats hadn¡¯t gone down without a fight. If he could kill the brawler, he would level up once at least.

    If it doesn''t work out, I could at least run away.

    One thing Seth was now confident of was his ability to run. His Agility stat was his highest and he knew his way around this part of the cave. He could easily escape if things went wrong. With his backup plan in place, he moved fast.

    The brawler was still punching the face of the Cave Rat, lost in its rage. Taking the chance, Seth moved towards it, using boulders in the way to approach his target sneakily. His steps made no noise as he reached the brawler.

    Then, he Backstabbed it, hoping that it would be a one hit kill. Blood gushed out as Seth put all his strength into his attack, yet he wasn''t able to go all the way in, the hide of the brawler too thick.

    It let out a sharp, screeching noise like it was trying to roar and turned around. Rageful eyes landed on Seth and pressure weighed down on him. It felt like he was being looked down upon by a being that was more evolved than him.

    The pressure only stayed for a second as he fought it, taking out the knife and holding it in front of the monster.

    Immediately, he used his other skill, Double Slash. His body moved faster than the blinking of an eye as he aimed for the torso. Before the brawler could react, he made two sharp cuts. It let out a screeching noise filled with pain.

    "That¡¯s obviously not enough to kill it," Seth muttered and retreated a step, but the next moment, a punch hit him right in the stomach. Blood and spittle flew from his mouth.

    It''s too fast, Seth thought. He spent the next few moments putting his everything into dodging the brawler¡¯s attacks. If even one more punch struck him, he would be close to death.

    As he kept dodging, the brawler grew more and more agitated. In that agitation, Seth managed to hit it two more times. The damage was nothing compared to what would¡¯ve happened if the brawler managed to hit him. He was losing stamina with every passing second and he knew that it wouldn''t be long before he would join the dead rats on the floor.

    Seeing an opening, he kicked the brawler in the stomach, pushing it back a few steps.

    The brawler stared at him, eyes looking excited for a fight, but before it could launch a few more attacks, Seth turned around and ran away.

    Slitted eyes followed him in bafflement.

    I need to run. That monster is too dangerous.

    Seth ran as fast as he could, making no attempt to conceal himself. His stomach hurt from the attack, but he wasn''t focusing on it. Adrenaline helped him not focus on the pain and only on the running.

    Soon, he heard a loud screech. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the brawler close on his heels.

    Ah, fuck!

    He put more energy into running and tried to change his course, but no matter what, the brawler kept following him, screeching at every turn like it couldn''t wait to kill him. Unlike the Forsaken Prowler, Seth couldn''t even use stones as distractions here.

    His only option was using the terrain he knew and hiding before the brawler caught up to him. Every corner he turned, he looked for a hiding spot, but found nothing.

    The brawler picked up pace and it wouldn''t be long before it could catch up to him.

    I am really going to die like this!

    Seth regretted attacking the monster with every fibre of his being and prayed to whatever God was free enough to listen to help him. And as if his prayers had been answered, when he took another turn, he finally saw something that gave him hope .

    An alcove.

    It was one with a boulder in front of it and just enough space for him to slide in. Without wasting any time, he jumped in, his knees scraping upon the jagged ends of the rocky surface.

    He quickly tried to slow his breathing, pushing himself to the farthest corner.

    You have concealed yourself in the surroundings!

    Seth calmed down at the sight of the message.

    Hopefully, the brawler couldn''t see him anymore. Footsteps echoed and Seth soon saw the outline of the brawler. His heartbeat increased, but his opponent passed by the alcove, looking for him.

    He took a sigh of relief, and prayed for the brawler to leave.

    But it didn''t.

    It just stood a few steps away from the alcove, looking around for Seth.

    A few minutes passed by but the brawler was still standing there.

    Why isn''t it moving?

    Seth, perplexed, studied the Lizard Brawler''s body. Blood was still gushing out from the area he had attacked and although he hadn''t noticed before, the bruise and cut wounds from the battle with the Cave Rats were quite severe.

    If not for its rage, he was sure that the brawler wouldn''t be standing.

    Do you really not plan to go away?

    Seth frowned as the brawler still didn''t move. He saw no way out of this. If he tried to run, the brawler would attack him, but he also knew that he couldn¡¯t stay in the alcove forever.

    I need to take a chance again.

    He gulped, knowing that the last time he had attacked the brawler, it hadn''t gone well, but it looked too bloodied and bruised. Something inside of him told him that it would work this time. He just had to make use of his skills.

    Thinking it through, Seth finally decided to act.

    He waited until the brawler¡¯s back was facing him, before he crawled out, slowly walking up to him and aiming at the wound he had given it on the neck.

    A screeching sound followed as Seth Backstabbed the brawler, putting all his force into it. The brawler tried to throw Seth away, but he stabbed harder, blood spurting everywhere.

    For a moment, Seth doubted whether a second backstab would be enough. The skin of the brawler was too thick, but with a little bit more force, a flurry of notifications popped up in his vision, just above the now dead body of the brawler.

    You have landed a critical blow!

    You have defeated a Cave Lizard Brawler!

    You have defeated an evolved monster!

    You have received experience!

    You have levelled up to Level 9! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 points in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.

    You have received experience!

    You have levelled up to Level 10! You have received +2 points in Agility, +1 point in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.

    Your skill "Backstab" has levelled up to Level 4!

    You have reached Level 10! You can now move to the next Rank. Do you want to evolve your class?

    Blood pooled at Seth¡¯s feet as he basked in the success of his hardest kill till now. It had been hard and he had almost died, but the end result rewarded him with two more levels.

    He smiled at his notifications, particularly on the last one. Class evolution? He had a slight idea of what it meant.

    "I can finally rel¡ª"

    No sooner had he said that, a rumbling voice echoed in the distance.

    Seth turned around, only to freeze. In front of him, a group of over 20 Cave Lizards stood, their slit-like eyes looking over at the dead body of the brawler, then locking onto him.

    They erupted into enraged hissing.

    Fuck... My luck is really in the gutters today!

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 Chapter 44

    Gideon was dead. They¡¯d won the battle. They¡¯d won. He¡¯d won. Seth slowly stood up, taking a final look at Gideon''s corpse as he kneeled beside him.

    His armour was tattered and there were bruises and cuts going down his body. The worst part was his face which Seth had repeatedly punched and now, it resembled something akin to a monster that would come up in the worst nightmares, a physical wreckage.

    Now that Seth was in control of his emotions, he could feel what he had done. How he¡¯d lost control over his emotions.

    It had won him the fight, but the aftermath of it left him with questions and a strange uncertainty over his powers. The cult Gideon belonged to, and just about everything¡­

    To distract himself from these thoughts, he took another look at the notifications. He hadn''t checked the levelling ones yet and wanted to know how many levels he had gained after defeating a strong opponent like Gideon.

    You have defeated an Enforcer!

    You have received experience!

    You have received experience!

    You have levelled up to Level 27! You have received +4 points in Agility, +2 points in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.

    You have levelled up to Level 28! You have received +4 points in Agility, +2 points in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.

    You have received experience!

    You have levelled up to Level 29! You have received +4 points in Agility, +2 points in Strength, and 1 free stat point to assign.

    Defeating more than a dozen bandits and Gideon pushed him a lot in terms of experience. Since they were also high level opponents, he was even able to level up faster than expected.

    Now he stood just one level below Rank 4.

    With the stat boost his title had given him, he might just be stronger than most people at the same level and might even stand a chance against early Rank 4 opponents. Yet, he felt nothing.

    In the past, he might have celebrated, but the sense of nothingness quashed everything else. Frowning, he dismissed the notifications when he heard footsteps behind him.

    Turning back, he saw Rebecca who looked at him unblinking, concerned deep in her eyes.

    ¡°Seth, you look terrible,¡± she said, looking at his body. It was only now that he looked down at his body.

    Similarly to Gideon, his own shape was no good, either. His mana had only replenished enough for him to walk and his health was embarrassingly low. His body ached all over and his leather armour now looked like rags, most of it having burned away.

    Contusion marks were all over his chest and it was hard to say how he had survived the assault.

    ¡°Here, take the potion. It''s the last one left.¡± Rebecca handed him a potion. ¡°We will get you bandaged up and get you a Cleric once we get back to the city.¡±

    As he drank the potion, strength slowly returned to him. He felt a surge of energy travelling everywhere inside of him, slowly healing him and increasing his health.

    From the corner of his eye, he kept observing Rebecca. She had the look of someone who had a lot of questions in her mind, but didn''t know how to ask. She peeked at this dead body of Gideon, then back to him as he finished the potion.

    ¡°What happened to the ones we bought here?¡± He asked, recalling having three of them, including the one in Derek''s party.

    ¡°We lost them,¡± she said, casually, as a matter of fact. ¡°The bandits went after them first, knowing they were a big advantage. One was pierced by an arrow and another fell to an unsuspecting rogue. The last one fell to blood loss after getting hit on the head. We weren''t able to save a lot of people because of losing them.¡±

    When Rebecca pointed that out, he looked beyond her to see the dead bodies of the adventures. Those who had survived were checking on every body, hoping to find if someone was still alive.

    They had won, but almost half of their forces had fallen. Even the guards had lost quite a few and if Seth hadn''t interfered, Hudson might have the same fate.

    ¡°Wyatt¡­ Is he okay?¡± Seth asked. Wyatt had gotten injured severely while protecting Seth and Gideon''s last attack on him had been deadly.

    ¡°He''s better now. He¡¯s got burns all over his body; would take weeks to fully heal, but he will be okay. We were able to save him with a few potions. He¡¯s not as young as he used to be, you know. It will take him a long time to recover his strength even with healing spells and potions.¡±

    Rebecca pointed far behind them atop a boulder where Vernon was putting on some bandages on Wyatt''s burnt hands. When he noticed Seth''s gaze, he nodded encouragingly with a wry smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad he''s alive,¡± he said, standing up and giving one final look to Gideon before walking towards the Dark Blade that had fallen on. ¡°You should pick those up. They are probably valuable.¡±

    He said, pointing towards Gideon''s gauntlets that were right in front of a tree. Rebecca nodded and they started making their way back towards the area where the others were gathered.

    All of them were bloodied and battered. Only a few knew minor healing spells and even in that, most of them had no mana left, so they could simply endure until they make their way towards the city.

    Seth saw Derek sitting with his party members, all of their shoulders sunken. One of them had tears in his eyes as he kneeled to the dead body of their Cleric.

    When Derek saw Seth, he looked up at him, ¡°Good job. I heard you defeated the bandit boss.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Seth said. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I will be.¡±

    Seth nodded and hesitated a bit, ¡°You have my condolences.¡±

    ¡°He was a young kid. It happens in this work. He knew that. I didn''t want to lose another one in my vengeance, but it seems like the Gods aren''t that kind to me.¡±

    Seth wanted to say more, but he felt like it was better to let Derek grieve alone with his party. He didn''t know the Cleric, hardly spoken to him before.

    They didn''t talk any more and picked up the members that had broken legs, then made their way outside the forest area. A few parties picked up their fallen members to give them a proper funeral in the city while others were left behind to pick up later on.

    There was a chance of monsters living in the forests to devour them, but Rebecca used what was left of her to cast a barrier that would protect them for a few hours.

    The distance between the city and the forest was around two hours and they had binded their horses just outside the forest area.

    So, they had some respite despite being severely injured. The journey back was still not easy and no one spoke.

    Tons of people have lost a friend or a comrade and there was unspoken understanding that they should give each other time to grieve. Seth walked in the back with Rebecca and her party, silently looking onwards.

    The two hours of journey felt like a lifetime and as they reached Sacria City, they saw a crowd gathered there. There were a lot of people gathered at the gates, waiting for their heroes to return.

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    ***

    The guards at the gate waved at them as they saw the adventurers coming back with Hudson and Wyatt leading the front. They congratulated them on their victory and by their expressions, it was clear that they had already heard the news of the expedition being successful.

    It seemed like Wyatt had sent back an Archer with the news of them returning. It was already spreading in the city that the Banished were no more.

    After the attack on the Mayor''s estate, their infamy had risen by miles and everyone was talking about them. With them finished, it was a moment of celebration.

    ¡°We will get everyone healed at the Adventurer''s guild. Church Clerics are already present there alongside the Mayor. They have enough space for everyone.¡±

    Wyatt said, looking towards the rest of the adventures who all nodded their heads.

    The gates of the city opened and Seth widened his eyes, seeing the people all looking at them.

    A crowd had gathered on the streets and all of them were looking at them. Seth could see young ladies excitedly talking among themselves and children waving their hands at them. As they entered the city, a cheer erupted, almost startling the horses.

    A few adventurers looked surprised by the display of the grand welcome as everyone clapped and cheered for them, but they soon got used to it. Wyatt looked unsurprised as he led the adventures, waving one hand at the crowd.

    Their return had somehow turned into a parade of sorts as they stepped towards the Adventurer''s guild. It helped dispel the solemn mood of the adventures as they smiled and waved at the onlookers.

    People peeked out from the windows of their houses to look at the adventurers, shopkeepers momentarily halted their business and they all looked at them with eyes of wonder and curiosity.

    In the back, Seth perked up his ears to hear the whispering voices of the City folks.

    ¡°I can''t believe they were able to defeat The Banished,¡± a woman said, ogling the adventurers making their way through the city. ¡°I thought they had over a hundred high-levelled members.. And especially their leader was said to be strong.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but they were led by Wyatt,¡± a man, presumably the woman¡¯s husband, replied. ¡°The Guildmaster isn''t someone who could be defeated by a mere bandit.¡±

    ¡°It was only a matter of time before they were exterminated,¡± someone else said. ¡°They went after Young miss Helena and the Lord cares for her too much. It''s a surprise he didn''t ask help from the capital mages to burn them to the ground.¡±

    A boy looked on gleefully, pointing up. ¡°That man looks so cool on top of a horse. Do you think I could become an adventurer like him one day?¡±

    But his parents shook their heads in response. ¡°Adventuring is a dangerous job. It¡¯s better if you become a merchant like us.¡±

    Seth got to know about the celebrations to be held for the victory against the bandits from the whispers. Rebecca kept walking next to him, occasionally taking glances at his face as they reached the Adventurer''s guild.

    A lot of people that Seth recognised were standing there ¡ª The receptionist Erika, Galan who was busy with another quest and wasn''t able to accompany them and a few others he had seen occasionally in the guild. In front of them all, Lord Thorian stood, welcoming them with open arms as they descended the horses.

    ¡°Welcome. I heard about your exploits. I had no doubt you would be able to defeat The Banished and return safely,¡± he said, patting Wyatt on the shoulders and looking beyond him at the injured. ¡°It seems like you had a hard time.¡±

    ¡°We lost more than we expected.¡± His shoulders sagged. ¡°It wasn''t an easy battle, for sure, but Seth took on Gideon, their boss, and defeated him single handedly. He saved my life.¡±

    Thorian''s eyebrows shot up at Seth before settling on his tattered clothes and congealed blood on them.

    ¡°You performed better than my expectations. For defeating the leader of The Banished, I will make sure to give you a special reward. You have protected my daughter and even killed the perpetrators behind the attack. I cannot be thankful enough.¡±

    Seth nodded at that, not wanting to hold a conversation in his state, but Thorian clapped his hand.

    ¡°I have a surprise for you,¡± he said and looked on the side. Seth followed his gaze and saw two guards dragging Charles through the street.

    The affluent merchant looked completely opposite than before. His luxurious clothes and accessories were replaced with a rag to conceal his body, and he seemed to have aged considerably in just a short time. There was a collar around his neck and the guards were pulling him by chains.

    Even Seth felt a little bad looking at him. They had a sour relationship, but it wasn''t that deep for him to not have any sympathy for him. Though, knowing what he had done, Charles deserved it.

    ¡°Unhand me, you filthy peasants!, please! Lord Thorian, please forgive me, this once. You are making a grave mistake! I am wealthy! I can offer you all my wealth! Just spare me this humiliation! Just forgive me!¡±

    Charles shrieked, looking at Thorian with pleading eyes, trying to wriggle out of the iron grip of the guards, but one of them slapped him hard across his face.

    ¡°Stop barking. You have no rights here. No one can save you. By the law of the kingdom, you are guilty of treason against the Lord and conspiring against the nobility. You are going to rot in the darkest pits of the dungeon for the rest of your miserable life!¡±

    The guards dragged him by the chains and walked towards the main street.

    ¡°He''s getting dragged to the dungeon cells. It''s a punishment and warning, so no one dares to do something like it again,¡± Thorian explained and Seth nodded his head.

    All of them moved inside and the next few hours, they all tended to their wounds. The Church Clerics used their spells on everyone, providing much needed assistance to the injured adventurers.

    A few people were pulled from the jaws of death and had been told to rest for over a week. Some people had lost their arms and legs, and like Jules, it was going to be a long and expensive process to regrow them with magic.

    Fortunately for them, they had been all promised all the assistance from the Mayor, so they could rest free.

    ***

    At night, after everyone was done healing their injuries and putting the fallen to their graves, celebrations begin in every tavern in Sacria City.

    Thorian had funded the inns and taverns for tonight''s celebration, so everyone could drink to their heart''s content and celebrate the heroes who have returned to the city victorious.

    Seth also joined Rebecca''s team and Derek after he was bandaged up at the Rabbit Hole. After a few healing spells and one spell to dispel the burn marks, he was feeling as good as before. A few marks remained, but there was nothing he could do about them.

    ¡°This feels good!¡± Derek slammed the jug of ale on the table and took a bite out of the chicken meat. ¡°There''s nothing better than some good ale after an expedition like this.¡±

    ¡°Especially when it''s on the house,¡± Jules said, chugging up a glass. ¡°The Lord is truly generous.¡±

    ¡°He had to be since The Banished went after his daughter. I can''t believe we took them on and managed to defeat them. You should have seen how I plunged my blade into a burly one that was charging at me.¡± Elva made motions like she was swinging her sword as she ate a steak from the other hand. Her flushed face was enough proof that she was already intoxicated.

    ¡°You were only able to do it because I supported you. Even Vernon did more than you with his spells.¡±

    ¡°That''s not true! You are just trying to take credit from me!¡±

    Elva protested as everyone around her talked about the battle and how valiantly they had fought. Seth kept mum, silently eating his food.

    He didn''t feel like participating in the conversations or drinking a lot. Maybe a drink would help, but the thoughts in his mind would not dispel with it. He would just delay them.

    Halfway through the celebrations, he silently climbed the stairs up to his room. No one noticed him not being at the party as he slipped through, making full use of being an Assassin.

    As he walked into his room and sat down on his bed, his shoulders slumped. A knock on the door made him jump up from the bed and hesitating, he opened the door to reveal Rebecca standing there.

    ¡°Rebecca, what are you doing here? Why are you not at the party?¡±

    He asked. His ears still picked up on the noise of the celebrations, so she had left the party midway after him.

    ¡°Can I come in?¡± she asked back and he nodded, letting her come inside, wondering what was going on.

    ¡°So, what is¡ª¡±

    As he opened her mouth, Rebecca suddenly hugged him tight, surprising him. He didn''t push her back and gave her a moment.

    ¡°I heard bits of what Gideon said back there, about you being a failed vessel and Seven Seals being responsible. I didn''t understand everything, but I know he stripped you off your family. You are not the same since we left for the city. I don''t understand what is going on, but I know you are not part of a Cult. I support you and am here if you want to talk.¡±

    Seth stayed silent as she finished. Come to think of it, she was right next to him when Gideon had gone on with his mad laugh. There was no way she wouldn''t hear parts of it.

    He hadn''t thought about it due to being distracted.

    What am I going to do?

    Lots of thoughts went through his mind. He wanted to keep his origins hidden since he didn''t know how anyone would react. All he knew, he might be dragged to the capital and experimented on by mages who want to know how he skipped dimensions. Still, he trusted Rebecca.

    Something caught in his throat when he thought about lying again. Thinking about the time he had spent with Rebecca and how much he knew about her, he trusted her. The weight of keeping it all in for the unforeseeable future was too much for him and finally, he decided.

    Sighing, he held her shoulders and looked down at her, ¡°Rebecca, actually, I''m not from this world. I''m from another world called Earth.¡±

 Chapter 45 (End of Book 1)

    ¡°Rebecca, actually, I''m not from this world. I''m from another world called Earth.¡±

    Seth felt a weight lifting from his heart as he said those words. Rebecca widened her eyes hearing that, her jaw dropping at the revelation.

    ¡°I was pulled from my world one day and found myself in the Tunnels of Grithza with nothing but my clothes and the Dark Blade. I somehow managed to survive due to my class and ate raw, vomit inducing monster meat for weeks before I met you. Those were some tough days.¡±

    Seth frowned, remembering his first week in this world. He had contemplated suicide several times, but constant fighting with the monsters and the memories of Sarah had kept him going.

    Slowly, he¡¯d found respite in growing stronger and focused his everything into battling monsters and exploring the caves.

    ¡°It makes sense now,¡± Rebecca softly said, taking another look at Seth. His features were different from most people in Sacria and the kingdom. She had assumed that he belonged to one of the tribes in the deserts since they normally have black hair and sharp features. Though, his accent and skin tone made her doubtful.

    With Seth revealing himself as an otherworlder, it started to fall into place.

    Everything made sense to her.

    The strange way of talking, not knowing the basic things about the system like he had skipped his basic educational classes at the church and the way his eyes would sparkle when she had used her barriers for the first time like he had never seen it before.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re an otherworlder,¡± she said. ¡°I never thought of that possibility. I have only heard legends and myths about them before.¡±

    ¡°Legends? Do you mean there have been others?¡± Seth asked. He hadn¡¯t found anything like that in the books he¡¯d read in the library. Were there other people like him? From Earth or other planets?

    ¡°I have heard of instances, but they are from centuries ago. There were rumours that some noble families and cults used rituals to pull people from other dimensions and make them slaves of war, but it was never proven.¡±

    ¡°But if I''m here, then that means there''s some substance to the rumours,¡± Seth deduced, and Rebecca nodded her head.

    Silence settled between them as they came to terms with the new information. She looked conflicted on Seth being an otherworlder, but once the initial shock died down, questions sprung up in her mind.

    ¡°Seth, did you have a family back home? You were mumbling someone''s name in your sleep once, I remember.¡±

    ¡°Sarah.¡± He frowned, a knot forming in his throat when he thought about her. ¡°She is my wife. We had everything we ever wanted before I was ripped away from her. I had a nice job, friends and it was just getting better. I am pretty sure she''s still looking for me, but there''s no way to go back. Not one I know of.¡±

    When he thought back to those happy moments, the face of Gideon flashed in his vision, laughing at him. He clenched his fist, thinking of him and the cult he belonged to.

    Seven Seals.

    ¡°I was stripped away from my family due to Seven Seals,¡± he said, sighing in an attempt to control his anger. ¡°Honestly, more than going back, I want revenge on those who brought me here without my consent. Those bastards are still out there, I''m sure of it.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Rebecca muttered and put a hand on Seth''s shoulders. Squeezing it a bit, she looked him straight into the eyes. ¡°Seven Seals is an infamous cult and I honestly don''t know a lot about them, but I will help you out with them.¡±

    Her eyes shined with a resolution that wasn''t there before.

    ¡°I honestly don''t know how you feel. Getting stripped from your home and family out of nowhere isn''t something I have gone through, but I will do my best to make sure you find your way back home. You have saved my life and mages always repay their favours.¡±

    Seth smiled at that as he felt a bit relieved. He didn''t know how it would have gone if Rebecca had behaved strangely after knowing he''s an otherworlder, but it had gone better than he had expected.

    ¡°I will hold onto your words,¡± he said and Rebecca smiled.

    ¡°My master would be able to help us out. Knowing him, he might have more information about Seven Seals, Dark Blade and even otherworlders. I think we should head out to see him as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°Did he respond to your query?¡± He asked. Over a week had gone by since they had a talk about her master.

    ¡°Not yet.¡± She shook her head. ¡°That''s why, we should go to the academy and find him. All I know is that he might just be busy with some research and had no time to respond to me. It has happened a few times.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡­¡±

    They spent time talking a bit more, but since it was night, Rebecca left his room to head to bed. Seth, having revealed his whereabouts to her, felt much at ease. It was almost like a stone sitting on his heart had been lifted.

    Earlier, when the relationship was fresh, he felt uncomfortable about lying¡ª like he was a criminal trying to trick her, through and through, for his own gain and benefit. And to a certain extent, that was true. However, he wasn¡¯t taking advantage of her either.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Obviously, he hadn''t done any crime, but the feeling was extremely similar since they had gotten close in the short time they had known each other.

    I feel like I will have a better sleep tonight.

    As soon as he laid down on his bed, a feeling of comfort washed over him. A whole day of walking and fighting, and almost dying was too much for him to take. He also got to know about the people who were responsible for his summoning in this world.

    Too much for a single day.

    Rethinking all the incidents, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, as the exhaustion and comfort caught up to him.

    ***

    When Seth opened his eyes in the morning, his whole body was aching. Although the spells and potions had healed him, the aftermath of the battle would make him suffer for a few days.

    On the better hand, he¡¯d woken up with no nightmares troubling him in his dreams. Because since he had come to this world, nightmares of monsters and then people he killed had troubled him constantly, making him restless. However, the previous night, Seth slept like a baby.

    Hopefully, it continues like this, or I might have to see a therapist. The thought idly crossed his mind, then he paused. Are there even therapist in this world?

    After shaking his head and splashing water in his face, he made his way downstairs. He felt a gnawing hunger, craving something hot to kickstart the day.

    As he reached the reception area, he saw Jeff yawning on the counter. A few people were already there, sitting and eating their breakfast.

    ¡°Seth, welcome!¡± Jeff called out, noticing him. ¡°You are up early. The others are still down from the party last night. I didn''t see you around much yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I headed to bed early last night. Was pretty tired from the battle.¡± Seth made an excuse, but Jeff didn''t doubt him and nodded his head with a smile.

    ¡°Were the bandits tough?¡±

    ¡°They were,¡± he said. ¡°I nearly lost my head.¡±

    ¡°Glad you¡¯re okay. Alright, how about breakfast? We have some leftovers from last night, bread and a nice hot soup to wake you up whole.¡±

    ¡°Just what I needed.¡±

    Seth nodded and walked up to a table to sit down. Breakfast would take a while and once it was done, he needed to be at the Adventurer Guild to pick up his rewards.

    The quest for extermination of bandits was a hard one and it would give him enough money to go on for a while. Moreover, with the points he would get, he might even be able to move up in the Guild rankings and become a higher ranked adventurer.

    Thorian also said he will have a reward for me, right.

    Before he left the City to find Rebecca''s master, he wanted to equip himself with a better set of armour. If he got more gold coins from the Mayor, he would be able to afford a good set.

    His previous clothes hardly passed as any type of protection since he had no money, but the fight against Gideon had taught him that a good armour would delay death by a few centimetres. Some armours were also enchanted, providing different types of benefits to the user.

    It followed the logic of an RPG video game, but in this world, it was real.

    One more thing was to see if there was a way to conceal his status. Identity skill was apparently rare and not everybody had it, but still, Seth didn''t want to take chances and hide his power level from others.

    ¡°Here''s your food!¡±

    Jeff arrived with his food as he was thinking and he smiled at him. Gulping down the soup and bread with it, he felt like he was getting more used to the taste. It was a bit bland, but since eating raw monster meat, anything comparatively better felt like a huge upgrade.

    After eating his fill, he left for the Adventurer Guild, but what he didn¡¯t know was that someone else was just entering the city at that time.

    ***

    ¡°Are you new to the city?¡± Jackson, the city guard, asked, looking at the man standing front of the line to enter the city. His appearance was a bit odd to him with black hair and sleek frame and his expression blank, not showing any emotion on his rather ordinary face.

    He wore a cloak that travellers often wore and looked to be a wanderer. It hid his whole body, not giving away anything. Only parts of his face could be seen.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± he said, looking beyond Jackson inside the city. ¡°I am simply here¡­ to pay a visit to someone. Someone I have been searching for quite a while now.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Maybe put out a request in the Guild or go to the Mayor''s office. They might be able to help.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± he said with a smile, but for some reason, his smile sent chills down Jackson''s neck. ¡°I believe I will be quite alright in that regard. More importantly, I heard some people talking about a bandit extermination on my way here. What''s that about?¡±

    ¡°It''s just a group of adventures and the guards taking on The Banished. They emerged victorious against them and it''s been the talk of the town. If you go to the Guild, you will hear everyone talk about it.¡±

    ¡°Wyatt had a hand in them?¡±

    The man tilted his head and Jackson nodded.

    ¡°Yes, he led the extermination group, but everyone is talking about a new adventurer called Seth. Apparently, he had a big hand in taking down Gideon, their leader. I heard he''s scary. Well, he was scary.¡±

    Jackson laughed, but the expression on the man''s face had changed to something else for a second. It was short, but the guard noticed it.

    ¡°Seth? Who''s that?¡± the man asked and the chattering guard didn''t bother to hide any information, thinking of it as a friendly conversation.

    ¡°He''s new to the city, but incredibly strong. From what I know, Lord Thorian seems to favour him a lot and he''s sure to become a big adventurer with his strength. He even helped me out when he was first entering the town.¡±

    ¡°Interesting,¡± the man said, giving a smile to the unsuspecting guard. ¡°Okay, I will be on my way to the Guild.¡±

    Entering the city, the man looked around, making sure that his cloak was on and no one could take a good look at his face. Then, he strolled towards the Adventurer''s guild as he hummed a happy tune to himself.

    Reaching the guild, he stood there for a few seconds. A few men walked past him, but they didn''t seem to care enough to give him more than a passing second.

    He disappeared into an alleyway right by the guild. He made sure there was no one there. And when he was certain he was in the clear, he took out an orb from his cloak. Seeing it glowing faintly, he smirked.

    ¡°I have finally found you¡­¡± His eyes flashed as his gaze locked onto the orb. There, he saw an image reflected on the crystalline surface. The face of a young man from another world. ¡°Seth.¡±

 Seth Book 1 Amazon KU announcement

    Hello, Everyone, Seth The Abyssal Assassin Book 1 is finally out on Amazon KU.

    It''s been a crazy journey and I would like to thank you all for supporting me in it. I really hope it''ll do well and I really appreciate anyone who checks it out.

    If you all can, please leave a rating to get it up to 50 in the next 5 days. It''s free to rate and you don''t have to buy the book for it and won''t take more than five minutes. If we reach that goal on KU, I would be giving 5 extra chapters on 5 February.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    Thanks for anyone to check it out.

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 1: An Isekai LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

 Chapter 46 (Start of book 2)

    Seth Williams, the Abyssal Assassin, and now a local hero in Sacria City, rubbed his eyes to wake up properly before starting yet another day in the adventurer hub.

    It had only been a few months since he¡¯d woken up in this world, but it felt like he had been here for years. Like he had aged a decade in that relatively short period of time.

    From his time in the Tunnels of Grithza to fighting the bandits ¡ª it had been one strenous and dangerous situation after another and Seth was grateful that he had been able to come out on top every single time.

    He had almost recovered from his injuries he had gotten from the fight against Gideon. Some marks had remained, but they didn''t bother him anymore.

    The fight had been close, tense and he had almost lost his mind, but in the end, it had been worth it for all the gold and especially, his new set of armour.

    Looking down, he saw his new piece of armour he had gotten straight from Thorian as additional rewards for saving his daughter and killing Gideon.

    Shadow Raven Lightweight leather armour - Rare Grade

    Effects: +10 Agility, +10 Constitution, 1% chances of blocking a critical attack

    The black leather armour suited him a lot and the stat boost was a welcome bonus.

    Thorian had handed it all to Seth in a private ceremony in his office a few days back and aside from the leather armour, there was an additional cloak to go ahead with it and a dagger.

    Shadow Raven Cloak - Rare Grade

    Effects: +10 Agility, 5% increase in stealth

    Shadow Raven Dagger - Rare Grade

    Effects: +10 Strength, 10% chances of landing a critical attack

    Seth donned the black cloak made from the same materials over his armour and sheathed the dagger. An additional dagger, especially of this quality, had been helpful to him and two daggers were always better than one.

    It had all been a set that Charles had been carrying with him. He had bought it from the capital and since he had lost everything due to plotting against the Mayor, all his belongings had been confiscated.

    Seth was sure that if Charles saw him wearing the armour, he would have a heart attack.

    Thinking of how strange fate worked, Seth made his way downstairs to find Rebecca and the others already eating their breakfast.

    A seat was empty on their table for him and he swiftly grabbed it before telling Jeff to send him his regular order.

    ¡°Hey, Seth, do you want to head to the Tunnels with us?¡± Vernon asked as he sat down. Rebecca chewed on a piece of bread next to him.

    Elva and Jules silently ate their breakfast, but perked up their ears at the question.

    ¡°Another expedition?¡±

    Jules coughed at that. The last time they had gone on an expedition to the Tunnels, he had lost his arm. If Seth and Rebecca hadn''t rescued them, he would have been a meal for the Abyssal Horror.

    Shaking his head, Jules explained, ¡°No, it''s not an expedition. We took on a quest to scout out the area where the Cave Lizards lived. Wyatt wants to make sure nothing strange is going on there by Lizards who might have survived. We can''t afford another situation like that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a scouting quest, so we would be back by night,¡± Elva said.

    ¡°He asked us because we are already familiar with the surroundings,¡± Rebecca said, looking up at Seth. ¡°We wanted to reject it, but the money was good. I wanted some additional money before we leave for the academy.¡±

    Seth nodded as his food arrived. ¡°I don''t know about that. I wasn''t planning to go back to the Tunnels so soon¡­¡±

    He had lived in the Tunnels for so long and most of the memories associated with it had been one of constant struggle for life. When he had gotten out of it, he had decided to not go back so soon.

    A part of him wanted to explore more of the Tunnels, especially the Final Chamber where the King Centry and the other monsters he had seen in the final battle against the Abyssal Horror lived.

    Though, he wasn''t strong enough yet.

    ¡°I''m sorry, but Erika had a quest prepared for me,¡± Seth looked around, carefully picking everyone¡¯s expressions. Thankfully, they didn''t seem to mind. ¡°I don''t want to hold her off for long.¡±

    ¡°That''s alright,¡± Vernon said, standing up from his seat. ¡°I believe we will be fine on our own. We¡¯d be avoiding most monsters, anyway. The dungeon¡¯s been quiet according to recent reports from the Guild.¡±

    Seth narrowed his eyes. He wondered why that was the case. Could it have been a natural result of all the monsters that were killed from the fighting against the Abyssal Horror? Or was something more sinister going on? He didn¡¯t know. Perhaps he could investigate this matter with them later on.

    ¡°If you change your mind, you know where to find us.¡±

    Jules and Elva were next to get up followed by Rebecca who waited till everyone had left before opening her mouth.

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to change your mind, are you?¡± she said as she leant forward. ¡°The scouting mission probably won¡¯t take too long, but if something goes wrong, you know you might take a few weeks to get back.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Seth nodded, closing his eyes.

    He thought about what he had discussed with Rebecca over the last few days. The offer she had kindly given him. To meet her mentor.

    ¡°And when will we be leaving for the Academy?¡± he asked as he looked up to meet her gaze.

    Rebecca replied simply, ¡°A carriage would be going towards the Academy in a few days. We should be able to get on it and reach there in a week.¡±¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Seth looked down at himself. He recalled his life back on Earth. Once again, the events here in this world replayed in his mind.

    He saw the Dark Blade hanging from his belt. He remembered the sneering face of Gideon, talking about the Cult. And Seth made his decision.

    ¡°I¡¯ll prepare for the journey.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± she said as she got to her feet.

    She left the inn and Seth ate his breakfast in silence. Although he had assimilated himself in this world, he still had a lot of questions remaining and for that, he needed to meet up with Rebecca''s master.

    Hopefully, he has the answers I seek.

    Seth got to his feet after finishing up his breakfast. Paying for the food, he made his way towards the Guild.

    The unfamiliar surroundings of the City had slowly become something he had gotten used to. He¡¯d also made quite a few friends at the Guild, and the market area.

    The residents were used to new people entering the city and they warmed up to him quickly after the news spread that he had saved the Mayor''s daughter and defeated an infamous bandit.

    He reached the Guild and just as he entered, a voice called him out.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ¡°Seth, you are up here early today,¡± Derek said, waving at him from a corner. His party members sat besides him on the table and nodded as a sign of greeting as he approached.

    ¡°Yeah, I wanted to take a quest and move my body around a bit. I have been feeling sluggish with all the rest.¡±

    ¡°The amount of coins you earned as rewards. I bet you can go a few months with no work.¡± Derek grinned at him. Seth had gotten around 100 gold coins just from the bandit quest.

    Originally, there was only 60 gold coin reward, but Gideon had a bounty on his head, and that had factored in, increasing his overall reward.

    He had also been rewarded for submitting the information that Gideon had been part of the Seven Seals, putting the whole case of The Banished in a new light. Though, it was on Wyatt and Thorian to investigate.

    ¡°I don''t have anything else to do,¡± he said, suddenly missing the internet. Magic was cool, but he missed watching movies or scrolling cat videos on YouTube. ¡°What about you all? Here to take another quest?¡±

    ¡°No, we are actually looking for another party member. We need a supporting mage or a Cleric in our team, but most adventurers are not interested and newbies aren''t meeting our standards,¡± Ambrose said, taking a sip from a glass of ale.

    ¡°If only you agreed to join us,¡± Derek grumbled, looking up at Seth and frowning.

    ¡°I told you I don''t mind doing another quest, but right now, I''m better off alone. I¡¯d also be out of the city for a while, so it won''t work out either way.¡±

    Seth smiled. Aside from Derek, Vernon had also asked him about joining their party since they had the place for an assassin, but he had rejected it, deciding to remain alone for a while.

    His decision mainly came from the fact that he didn''t want to share experience with other people and was more comfortable alone. Moreover, until he was heading into a dungeon or going after a monster way above his level, the need for a party wasn''t there.

    ¡°It''s alright,¡± Derek said. ¡°Just come to me if you ever change your mind. With you in my party, we could aim for being the biggest party in Sacria.¡±

    ¡°You have my word for it,¡± he said before glancing at the counter. The line wasn''t long, so he bid Derek and his party farewell and stood on the back of it.

    Five minutes later, he came face to face with Erika who smiled when she spotted him.

    ¡°Seth, I was just thinking when you would come,¡± she said, leaning forward.

    ¡°So, what type of quest have you found for me?¡± He asked and she quickly pulled out a piece of paper and slid it towards him.

    Taking a good look at it, he asked, ¡°Owlbears?¡±

    A photo of a large beast with the body of a bear and the face of an owl was on top of the paper. Below it, information and rewards were written down.

    ¡°Yes, travellers have spotted these creatures in the forest area. The exact locations are written down here. They are generally Level 21-25, but are very sluggish due to their huge bodies. I''m pretty sure it would give you good experience and you would be able to handle them well. Reward is also 10 gold coins for the three of them.¡±

    Erika explained everything and he calmly listened to it. Since he was at the verge of breaking through Rank 4, he was trying to take on stronger monsters and Owlbears were good enough.

    ¡°Okay, I will take the quest and be here in the evening,¡± he said and Erika brightened.

    ¡°Thank you, most of the parties were already busy, so this would help us out a lot. Just bring in their feathers as a proof and we would send one of our teams to go collect the body. They are valuable.¡±

    Seth nodded and headed towards the forest area. For a brief moment, he wondered if this world had things like storage rings like he had seen in novels and anime. It would make everything way easier.

    He decided to ask Rebecca about it later.

    ***

    Seth looked down from the tree at the three Owlbears that sat in a clearing, tearing away a corpse of a Dark Wolf as all of them ate in silence. With the Cloak of Shadows on, they weren''t able to spot Seth who hid in between the canopy of the trees.

    The monsters had an avian head with a long beak that easily broke through the flesh of the wolf. With the brownish fur clad bodies and height, they looked like formidable opponents.

    Two Level 22 and One Level 20.

    Owlbears were humongous and their claws had enough strength to tear him apart, but for that, they needed to catch him. He was confident in his agility and taking a good look at his armour, he decided to start the attack.

    He took a deep breath, calming himself down before he took the jump, his blade shining as a ray of sunlight hit it. He stabbed right into the back of the Owlbear as it cried out, dropping the piece of flesh it was devouring.

    Abyssal energy flowed through his blade as he launched Savage Flurry. His strikes made holes in the back of the monster as it fell on the ground with anguished hoots. Before it could turn around and hit with his beak, Seth cut off its neck, finishing it off.

    ¡°One down,¡± he said as he looked at the notification in front of it, but there was no time to celebrate as the other two Owlbear looked at him.

    Large monstrous eyes dug into him as a primal roar filled the forest. Both the Owlbears lunged at him, one of them slashing at him with its claws and other with its beak.

    Seth jumped back, dodging both the attacks. The Owlbear was faster than expected and a claw headed right for his head, but he vanished from the spot, appearing right next to it and cut at its underbelly.

    The information Erika had given him had told him to aim for it and the back of the neck. It seemed like it was correct information as the Owlbear cried out, grabbing its wound before charging at Seth with fury.

    He simply dodged back as the creature followed him. It attacked with his beak, but found only a tree as it got stuck in the bark of it. Seth vanished and appeared right over it, his blade ending the creature''s life.

    Before he could take a sigh of relief, the third Owlbear smashed into him, sending him tumbling through the ground as he hit a boulder. Seth quickly pulled himself back up before another attack could land and landed on a tree in some distance.

    The last Owlbear looked around, stomping it''s hind legs and slashing at the trees, trying to get him to reveal himself, but Seth took his time as he waited for the right opportunity, making it look like he had run away.

    When the monster thought he had run away, Seth appeared right on top of it. He backstabbed it and kicked, sending it crashing into a tree before slashing at his belly. Blood spewed out as the monster cried in anguish and misery before its eyes went blank.

    You have defeated an Owlbear!

    You have gotten experience!

    He sighed, looking up at the third and last notification. He took another look at the surroundings before sitting on top of a boulder, giving himself time to recover. The attack he had taken hurt now that the adrenaline had passed away, so he took out a vial of potion and gulped it down.

    Energy filled him as he felt a bit better. He opened up his status and frowned at his level.

    Name: Seth Williams

    Age/Sex: 31 years/Male

    Affiliations: None

    Class: Abyssal Assassin

    Rank: 3

    Level: 29

    Titles: Earther, Bane of Monsters, Lizard Killer, Mark of the Abyssal Son

    Skills: Identify (Level 2), Backstab (Level 6), Passive Sneak (Level 5), Savage Flurry (Level 4), Nocturnal, (Level 3), Dagger Mastery (Level 3), Cloak of Shadows (Level 3), Dark Step (Level 2), Abyssal Strike (Level 3), Unyielding (Level 1), Flickering Step (Level 2), Abyssal Form (Level 1)

    Mana: 800

    Health: 850

    Stats

    Strength - 110 (+10)

    Agility - 144 (+20)

    Constitution - 85 (+10)

    Wisdom - 80

    Luck - 76

    Most of his stats had gone up by a lot in a short time, a reason why the battle didn''t last long.

    Just the title of ¡°Mark of the Abyssal Son¡± had given stats way more than ranking up. It was one more thing he wanted to ask Rebecca''s master.

    Still, what bothered him was that he stood one step away from Rank 4 and ranking up would take much more than a couple of Owlbears. He didn''t know how many months he would have to be at one level.

    ¡°Can''t do anything about it,¡± he muttered, shaking his head and picking up the feathers of the three Owlbears as proof. ¡°It''s already getting late. It will be late at night when I enter the city.¡±

    He looked up at the sky that was darkening and sighed before making his way out of the forest.

    At night, more monsters would come out and from the information he recalled, they would be way more deadly, so he wanted to head back as early as possible.

    Stepping up through the forest, he made no noise and kept an eye out for any activity in the background. In his mind, he reviewed the battle against the Owlbears and thought about the mistakes he made.

    I could have taken note of the third one. It was an easy attack to avoid. I survived from the charge, but if it had used his claws, I might have lost an arm.

    It was a habit he¡¯d picked up recently. He knew that in battle, one bad moment was all it took for a person to lose his life. Just getting his level and stats up won''t make him a good fighter. For that, he needed to¡ª

    A noise stopped him in his tracks.

    More leaves rustled around him and he turned back, his hand moving towards his dagger. Footsteps echoed in the distance and it seemed like whoever it was had no intention to hide.

    Hopefully it''s some adventurer or traveller making way back to the city.

    Soon, three figures emerged out of a bush. Unlike an adventurer, they wore dark cloaks that hid their whole body and a mask shielded their faces. Beyond it, their eyes shone as they looked at him.

    ¡°I''m assuming you all are no adventurers,¡± he said, feeling the air tense around him. Were those mages? He wondered and checked their levels.

    ??? - Level 30

    ??? - Level 31

    ??? - Level 34

    He swallowed seeing that. For some reason, he couldn''t check their names, but their levels were enough for him to know that he was in danger.

    ¡°There you are,¡± one of them said, stepping forward. ¡°We have been searching for you, Seth."

 Chapter 47

    ¡°We have been searching for you, Seth,¡± One of them said, stepping forward.

    By the tone of the person''s voice, it was a woman. It was hard to see their appearances beyond the cloaks and the masks, and he was surprised to hear his name from her mouth.

    ¡°I don''t know why you were searching me out, but I don''t give my services at this time. Why don''t you try tomorrow? I have to get to the City for now and who are all of you anyway?¡± he asked and the woman chuckled, stepping forward.

    Seth studied their cloaks in detail. They wore black cloaks with blue embroidery on them and going by how all of them looked similar, he could tell that they were part of the same group or organisation.

    The woman in the centre held a long blade which shone with a glint in one hand, and on her other hand, he noticed a glove. Her companions stood on the back imposingly, also wearing similar gloves in their left hands. One of them had a large hammer on his right and the other was unarmed, making him suspect that he was a mage of sorts.

    ¡°Unfortunately, we can''t let you go,¡± the woman said. ¡°You are coming with us to our cult.¡±

    ¡°Your cult?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes, Seven Seals desire your presence, failed vessel.¡±

    Hearing the name of the cult and ¡°Failed vessel¡± Seth widened his eyes, realising who they were.

    Seth knew that with his connection to the Seven Seals now out in the open, he would have to deal with them sooner or later, but he hadn''t expected them to come looking for him so soon after the battle with Gideon.

    How they had come to know of him was beyond him as it couldn''t be Gideon, but it was a question for later.

    ¡°I''m sorry, but I can''t come with you.¡± He frowned, his eyes glancing around the forest.

    He was confident he could take one of them, but he had no chance against all of them. They were all at Rank 4 and even if he might be able to stand against them for a while, he was overpowered, both in numbers and strength.

    The only way out of here was to injure them and run. Although he wasn''t sure about their strength, Seth was confident in running away from danger.

    ¡°What will you even do with me if I come with you?¡± He tilted his head and the woman sneered.

    ¡°You will know soon, failed vessel.¡±

    ¡°I''m not a failed vessel!¡±

    He roared and the woman rushed at him, brandishing her sword at him as he stepped out of reach of it, then kicked at her, putting some distance between them, but the woman looked unaffected.

    She was the strongest out of the three, being at Level 34 and it showed in her movements. She swung her sword with a dexterity that was hard to dodge and he blocked it with his dagger, her eyes going towards the Dark Blade.

    ¡°The lost sacrificial blade.¡± Her eyes shone as she looked at it. ¡°It would soon unlock its true powers.¡±

    ¡°I don''t know what you are talking about, but can you please shut up,¡± Seth said, pushing his mana into the blade and slashing at her chest.

    She moved back, dodging his blade and from the corner of his eye, he noticed something. Using the Flickering Step, he escaped the hammer that made a hole in the ground.

    Gritting his teeth, he looked at the hammer-welding cultist, his wide arms and muscular body making him look like a bodybuilder from Earth. He lunged at Seth and he used Flickering Step, dodging every attack that came his way from the two.

    Seth saw an opening and aimed to use Savage Flurry at the woman, but something held his steps. Looking down, he saw vines rising from the ground and trapping him in one place.

    The mage. Fuck!

    He looked up to see the third cultist smirking. Vines danced around him and he extended a hand towards Seth.

    Vines sprouted and headed towards him with a fury and Seth swung his dagger, freeing himself and jumping back, but one of the vines hit him right in his jaw. He cried out before hitting the ground.

    He saw the shadows of the hammer over him and rolled, just out of the impact and landed on his feet before swinging his blade at the cultist. The burly man swung his hammer, but Seth dodged it easily before slashing across his chest.

    Blood spurted out and he fell back before glaring at him. Despite the cut going through his chest, the man looked fine and Seth knew it would take much more to finish him off.

    Seth didn''t have a moment to rest as the woman attacked him.

    Her longsword glinted with dark energy and she swiped at his face with it, but Seth slid to one side, avoiding her attack with a flexibility and swinging his dagger at her shoulder. The woman stepped back, but the attack hit.

    Blood sprayed out from the deep cut, and she yelped in pain, flinching away from the attack.

    Seth moved quickly, channelling his mana into the blade and trying to end the woman, not knowing if he would get the chance again, but something stopped in his tracks.

    The mage was quick to capitalise on Seth being occupied and launched several vines at him. He swung his blade, cutting a few of them, but it wasn''t enough.

    Several others escaped the edge of his dagger and lashed out at him, pushing him back as he hit a tree. A crackling sound echoed as he felt his bones cracking.

    A sharp pain hit his head as he felt blood soaking his hair. Despite his armour soaking most of the impact, it hadn''t been enough, especially with his head having no protection.

    He gritted his teeth in pain and looked up to see the three cultists looking down on him. The burly man and the woman looked to be in mild pain, but it was nothing compared to Seth. The mage stood in the back, being the most dangerous of the lot as vines swirled around him.

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    The woman took a step ahead and laughed, ¡°If you had just come without struggle, you wouldn''t have been hurt.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think a few bones are enough,¡± the burly man sneered. ¡°Let me break a few more. Maybe his weapon hand.¡±

    ¡°Silence!¡± The woman barked back at him. ¡°We need him in one piece.¡±

    Saying that she walked towards Seth, holding her longsword with the vines right behind her to protect her and bind him. As she knelt down to pick him up, her body froze.

    Abyssal energy simmered around Seth and a large blast of energy slammed into her, throwing her on the ground as he got up. His dagger shone with abyssal mana, the surge of energy making it glow like a piece of darkness.

    It wasn''t only his blade. All around his body, abyssal mana covered him and even his eyes turned hollow like they were mirror to the abyss itself. It felt strange, but Seth liked the feeling of power pulling him up, making him feel like he was way stronger than before.

    His wounds slowly healed and the world seemed to change around him. He was more sensitive to everything¡ª Mana, air, wind and every small movement that was happening in the background. He sensed and heard it all.

    I will be exhausted and without mana after the skill ends. I need to end it fast.

    Last time, he had used his skill unintentionally against Gideon and it had left him in a state of mana exhaustion, so he charged straight towards the burly cultist.

    The man, seemingly shocked by Seth''s sudden surge of energy, took a second more to block his attack, and he slid past his hammer to cut into his abdomen. He grunted but swung his hammer.

    The heavy weapon left a mark on the ground as Seth slid past it, a touch swifter than before and stabbed into his back. The cultist turned around just in time, but the attack landed on his arm. Dropping the hammer, he held his arm as his face strained behind the mask. Blood trickled down, dirtying the cloak.

    ¡°That skill!¡± Seth turned back as he heard the mage''s voice. Red eyes peeked past the mask he was wearing and his voice was cold and shaky. Vines swirled around him and Seth could sense the palpitating mana in the air. ¡°How can you use it?¡±

    Seth didn''t reply, saving every bit of energy as vines came for him.

    A blade of energy cut them apart as they fell to the ground. He headed right for the mage, intending to finish him off but as his blade was about to reach him, a wall of vines blocked him.

    He cut them apart, but more and more vibes appeared, blocking the mage from him. Footsteps echoed in the back and Seth turned around just in time to block the longsword from taking his neck.

    ¡°You survived,¡± he grunted, looking at the dishevelled woman. Blood coated parts of her cloak and her breath was rugged, but the dark energy swirling through her blade was deadly, vicious.

    Seth didn''t know what element it was, but it wasn''t abyssal mana like he used.

    The woman attacked his sides, but he blocked it again, trying to push her off, but she held her around. Both of them exchanged blows for a while as Seth failed to take another strike at her.

    Gritting his teeth, he slid past an attack, using Flickering Step to appear in some distance, but a vine struck him right into the stomach before he could cut it off. He was thrown back just in time for the third cultist to recover as he attacked with his hammer.

    Seth jumped back and for the next few minutes, he fought against them, but all their defences were too formidable for him. Even if he managed to land a strike at them, they were too strong to die in one blow and he was also sure that they had some kind of regenerative skills as their wounds healed at a rapid pace.

    The battle drained his mana more and more as time went and realising, he wouldn''t be able to kill them, even with his Title Skill, he made a decision.

    Rolling back to dodge another attack, he vanished from the surface. The three of them looked around, waiting for him to appear again in the clearing, but a few seconds went by and the mage widened his eyes.

    ¡°He''s escaping!¡±

    Realising Seth was making a run for the city, the three of them chased after him.

    It would take nearly an hour to reach the gates. 40 minutes if I can maintain my speed.

    Seth used Dark Step with Flickering Step interchangeably, significantly increasing his speed. His only hope was to reach the gates and take shelter there.

    Even if the cultists tried to attack there, there was a group of adventurers coming back from their hunts every day in the evening alongside the guards. That would be enough to hold them off until someone informed the Mayor.

    He did his best to run through the forest, leaves crumbling under his foot, but after a while, footsteps echoed in the back. Taking a look back, he could see the three of them chasing him with ease with the mage in the centre and the burly cultist in the back.

    Despite his size, he was maintaining his speed, probably using some sort of a skill himself.

    The real problem was the mage as Seth could sense him coursing mana on his palms. Frowning, he increased his speed, trying to use trees to throw them off, but a vine erupted from the ground and grasped his leg.

    He cut it off with his blade, but more and more vines lashed at him in a grasping motion, making it difficult for him to fight back while running.

    His face strained as one of the vines grasped his left hand. He cut it off as others came at his legs and waist. The distance between the cultist and him lowered as he struggled with the vines.

    I can''t waste my time like this! My mana is already running low!

    Using Flickering Step, he ran ahead, trying to escape them and not wasting time with the vines. He grunted with each step as his mana reserves lowered and lowered, making it harder and harder to keep going.

    They chased after him and he managed to keep them at a distance, but suddenly, a wall of vines rose from the ground up ahead and blocked the path.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Seth cursed and tried to jump over it, but more vines dragged him down and he slammed on the ground. Slashing at them with his blades, he looked at the three cultists who now stood a short distance away, stopping their sprint to give him a snare.

    ¡°You can''t escape anymore,¡± the woman said as Seth made a run for the trees, but vines grew out of the forest floor, intertwining together to form a barricade.

    After the third barricade was up, Seth realised he was trapped.

    ¡°Just come with us, vessel,¡± the mage spoke. ¡°You are more interesting than I initially assumed. It seems like we might have a use for you as a slave.¡±

    ¡°Fuck off!¡±

    Just as he said that more vines erupted. He knew the mage was strong, but his mana reserves were almost unending. They headed toward him as he used the last bit of mana he had to cut them off.

    They fell on the ground, but more took their places. Finally, one vine grasped his waist, holding him down as he lost the grip on his blade.

    More came from his right and held him in one place as Seth struggled to escape. The mana coursed through his whole body as he tried to break through, but more and more vines held him into place until he stopped trying.

    ¡°You were stronger than I gave yourself credit for,¡± the mage said, stepping towards him. The woman had a scowl on her face next to him and the burly cultist laughed in the back, excited looking at Seth on the ground.

    ¡°What¡­ What do you want from me?¡± Seth asked, feeling like it was even hard to speak. His mana reserves had run dry and he was barely keeping himself going.

    ¡°You will know soon, but I will tell you one thing,¡¯¡¯ the man kneeled down, his eyes giving him a maniacal look. ¡°Your life ends here. You will only be a slave from now on. That''s what you were brought into this world for and you will now fulfil your rightful role.¡±

    ¡°I think I have a few things to say about that,¡± a voice cut off into the conversation as the three cultists turned back.

    Seth looked up to see a man leaning against a tree. He wore a hood, hiding his face, but he was sure that he didn''t know the man. He had never heard such a voice before and he hadn''t even sensed anyone else being in the forest in such a close vicinity, despite him being so sensitive in his current state.

    Who is this guy?

    Seth grunted, feeling the situation becoming worse as the man took a step forward from behind the cultists.

 Chapter 48

    Who is this guy?

    Seth grunted, feeling it hard to keep his eyes from closing, but he knew that if he passed away, he didn''t know if he would even wake up again. He hadn''t sensed anyone coming their way, so the presence of the hooded man was shocking, both for him and the cultists.

    The man looked at the cultists with a smirk. Only parts of his face could be seen, the rest hidden by the hood, but Seth could see a rough beard. He took a step forward and the cultists strained their faces.

    ¡°I don''t know how you managed to get past my barrier, but it would be better for you to leave right now,¡± the mage spoke, glaring. ¡°I don''t have a habit of showing mercy, so consider yourself lucky.¡±

    Vines simmered around him like a warning to the man, but he simply raised his hands in mock surrender.

    ¡°Lucky? It''s been so long since someone had called me that,¡± he said, his voice deep with a hint of mischief in it. ¡°It''s funny though because I was thinking the same thing. Letting at least one of you run away, so you can report it to your Elder. What was his name again? I keep forgetting since I killed so many of them.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± The mage narrowed his eyes. Seth saw the brute gripping his hammer and the woman looking visibly annoyed.

    ¡°Are you deaf? Or Cultists like you lose your hearing as part of some tradition. It wouldn''t be beyond what I have heard,¡± the man shook his head, slowly moving towards them. ¡°As for your barrier, it was a good one, at least for a beginner. Took me a few seconds to get past it, so you can be proud of that. If you weren''t a Abyss loving knob head, you might have became a nice¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    Vines shot towards the man, but Seth felt something. A current of mana passed the man''s hand and dark flames covered them. He threw them straight at the vines and they burned, falling on the ground before turning into ash.

    A gust of wind blew them away as the cultist looked in shock.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± the woman asked, and the man flashed a smile.

    ¡°I go by a lot of names. I don''t know which one you would recognise me with,¡± he said before pulling off his cloak, revealing black hair and slanted eyes. His frame was sleek and it was hard to tell whether he was wearing armour under his cloak. There was a spark in his eyes as the man scratched his rough beard. ¡°I would let one of you live if you recognised me.¡±

    He cocked his head at them, but the cultist looked in confusion, not recognising him. Seth felt the same, but something about the man was strange.

    Frowning, the man shook his head.

    ¡°Here, I thought I was too popular for my own good. It makes sense as I haven''t shown my face in public ceremonies for a long time now. It looks like you all are dying without knowing who I''m.¡±

    ¡°You speak a lot of unnecessary things,¡± the woman quipped, scowling at the man, but he shrugged his shoulders. ¡°The only one dying is you.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± The man questioned. ¡°And who''s going to kill me? Don''t tell me it''s you three frail cultists. I would be surprised if you could even land a scratch on me.¡±

    He said mockingly and it seemed like the cultist had enough of the man as the burly cultist leapt at him, swinging down his hammer. It left a mark on the ground, but the man was nowhere to be seen.

    The burly man looked in confusion before turning around and swinging his hammer again. The black haired man stood there, unblinking as the hammer struck what looked like a barrier.

    Not even a crack appeared on it as the cultist yelped in pain, getting thrown back by an invisible force.

    ¡°I thought you would be more powerful going by your size,¡± the man said, shaking his head in disappointment and turning back at the same time to dodge the longsword cutting through the air. ¡°You are also a tad bit too slow for my tastes. I was hoping for a good battle.¡±

    Saying that, he kicked at the woman and she dropped to the ground, blood coming out of her mouth. She looked up, trying to gauge the extent of the man''s powers but he squatted her away as she rolled on the ground, knees scraping.

    The man walked towards her, hoping to finish her off, but vines came in his way, lashing at his arms. He squatted them away like they weren''t filled with thorns. As his hand touched them, the vines withered away, dropping into heaps of sand.

    With a flick of his wrist, the man conjured up dark flames and shot them at the mage who shot up in surprise at the casting speed of the man. His hands glowed and he slammed them into the ground as vines erupted just in time to protect him from the flames.

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    Though, it had no effect as the flames burned the barricade standing in their way. The cultist poured more mana and intertwined vines together, but it was for nothing as their fate was to become ashes.

    ¡°Fuck,¡± he cried out and dodged to the side, barely escaping the flames as they burned parts of his cloak. He gritted his teeth and looked at the man with hatred beyond his mask. ¡°You will suffer for this insolence.¡±

    ¡°Aren''t you haughty for someone who''s going to be dead soon. Or do you really think you stand a chance against¡ª¡±

    His words got cut off as he felt the swing of a hammer behind him. He ducked under it and conjured up an ice shard, aiming it right at the burly cultist foot. Due to the close proximity, he wasn''t able to dodge it and the shard dug into his foot, making him yelp in pain.

    He tried to push through it, but a knee landed on his stomach. He wheezed, falling onto the ground and stared at the black haired man who smiled.

    ¡°I don''t like being interrupted,¡± he said and mana swirled on his hands, a blade of wind hit the brute''s neck, cutting it off. His body fell on the ground with a thud as blood pooled on the ground.

    With just one spell, he was dead.

    Seth stared at the dead body of the brute and couldn''t believe it for a second. Although he had managed to land a few strikes on him, killing him was difficult for him. Here, he had been killed in just one spell.

    The black haired man hadn''t even broken a sweat. Looking up at him, he wondered whose side he was on. He clearly was against the cultist, but he didn''t know if Seth was safe from him.

    If the figure tried to attack him, Seth knew there was no way he would survive in his current state.

    ¡°You bastard!¡±

    The woman rushed at the black haired man in fury, swinging her longsword in an arc. He jumped back, avoiding it, but the cultist didn''t seem to be in any mood to stop, too enraged by the death of her fellow cultist.

    She launched a barrage of strikes at the man, moving her longsword like a snake leaping at prey, but the man dodged each one of them expertly. Despite Seth only seeing a blur of her moments, the man was dodging the strikes like he was fighting against a kid.

    It was a display of strength Seth had never seen before.

    ¡°Did you really care about your friend there? I didn''t know Seven Seals were such a close knit group. It''s almost making me feel a little bad.¡±

    He kept talking as he dodged, infuriating the woman more and more.

    Gritting her teeth, her longsword shone with a blue hue before it turned into ice. She slammed the ice covered weapon into the ground and the ground around her froze, slowly heading towards the black haired man.

    He conjured up flames again, but vines grabbed his hand, trying to hold him in one place.

    ¡°Ah, you were a bit faster this time.¡± He said, looking at the mage. ¡°I will give you props for it.¡±

    More and more vines came for him as he talked, trying to grab him, but the man''s eyes shone with a glint.

    ¡°Sadly, I''m getting bored now. Let''s end it.¡±

    Dark flames covered him, burning off the vines and he slammed his foot on the ground. Immediately, flames burned the ground around him, melting the ice heading his way.

    His whole arm burned, but it didn''t seem to affect him as he lunged towards the woman. She slid back and aimed at his neck, but he was too fast. Grabbing her throat, he burned her neck as she screamed in agony.

    ¡°I know you miss your friend. Let me send you to him.¡±

    Flames engulfed her whole body as screams filled the forest. Seth widened his eyes seeing such sheer display of power and horrific way of killing someone.

    The burnt body of the woman fell into the ground as the man turned back, looking at the last cultist remaining.

    The mage was the most versatile and strongest out of the three, but under the gaze of the black haired man, he trembled, not knowing what to do. His comrades were dead and his vines hadn''t worked against the man at all.

    Seth knew the mage was next and nothing could help him.

    The mage frowned and opened up the vine barricade he had constructed earlier and made a run for it.

    Unfortunately for the mage, the black haired man didn''t let him go. Dark flames erupted just in front of the mage, making him come to a halt as he felt the temperature increase around him.

    He turned back, looking up at the mage who walked towards him.

    ¡°Who are you¡­¡± the mage said, his voice breaking. ¡°Such power. Only the one reigning over the abyss can wield so much¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don''t give a dragon¡¯s ass about your abyss,¡± the man snarled. ¡°You should have run away earlier. I might have let you go, at least one of you with a message to the rest of your members, but I changed my mind. That train left the station a long time back.¡±

    ¡°Seven Seals would go after you if you kill me. You don''t know¡­¡±

    A wisp of flame passed by the mage and his words died in his throat. Clicking his tongue, the black haired man frowned.

    ¡°No one goes after me if they have a semblance of a brain in them,¡± he said. ¡°I''m the one who goes after them. Even the Seven Seals.¡±

    He crouched down enough for the cultist to stare in his eyes and then, his expressions changed like he realised something.

    ¡°You¡­ you are¡­,¡± the mage tried to speak as the man touched his shoulders.

    ¡°You are Noah, Archmage Knight¡­ and the strongest adventurer to live.¡±

    The mage widened his eyes as he said that name out loud, his voice trembling.

    ¡°You got it!¡±

    Noah said as the mage''s face paled.

 Chapter 49

    The black haired man, Noah, smiled calmly as he looked down on the cultist mage. Having recognised him, the mage paled from the shock of it as his whole body trembled. He bit his lips as the horror present in his eyes before seemed to multiply by folds.

    ¡°Noah, the Archmage Knight,¡± Seth said out loud, registering the new information.

    Just going by the name of the class, he could feel that it was a strong one, probably combining both spellcraft and swordsmanship. From the way Noah had killed the other two cultists, his abilities were way beyond what Seth could deal with right now.

    ¡°Yes, I''m Noah the Archmage Knight,¡± he said, turning his head back to glance at him, a smile creeping up on his face like an excited child. ¡°I go by a lot of names, but my class has been one of the most prominent out of them. I''m pretty sure you have heard a lot about¡ª¡±

    ¡°I actually never heard of you before.¡±

    Seth said, laying on the ground. His strength had been gradually returning during the fight even if he had exhausted his mana.

    It all sounds cool, but who exactly is he?

    The cultist definitely recognised him and by the way he had called him the strongest adventurer to live, Seth assumed that he was famous enough. Still, he had no idea who he was.

    He¡¯d never heard of him before. Thinking back to every conversation he had since entering his world and reading through those books in the public library, there were a few things about kings and famous people throughout history, but there wasn''t anything about adventurers or someone named Noah the Archmage Knight.

    Even Rebecca had never mentioned him when she would occasionally blabber about mages. Though, it was mostly contained to her master and people she had met at the academy she had studied in.

    Noah turned around completely, blinking his eyes, a shocked expression plastered on his face.

    ¡°You have never heard of me,¡± he said, his face straining. ¡°What about Lord Krashan? Or Helif the Unknown? You have heard of none of my aliases?¡±

    ¡°No, I am hearing about them for the first time today,¡± Seth replied, honestly.

    ¡°You''re not messing with me right? I only like my own jokes.¡±

    ¡°No, I''m telling the truth.¡±

    Noah frowned and stared at Seth''s face before his expressions relaxed. He shrugged his shoulders and looked a bit disappointed.

    Putting a hand on his forehead, he muttered, ¡°That¡¯s understandable. After all, you are not from this world. I just assumed you had time to learn these things. Guess, they don''t prioritise me in history books. I need to do something about it later.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Seth asked, his eyes widened.

    ¡°That I have to do something about it. I believe I have done enough to have my name in the¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± he said, cutting him off. ¡°Before that. About me not being from this world. How do you know that?¡±

    Seth fixated his eyes on Noah. From what he had seen and heard, the man wasn''t with Seven Seals nor did he look to be with any other cults. Though, he couldn''t be sure about the last part.

    Still, him being from another world was a secret that only Rebecca would know. Seth doubted she had ousted him. So, it couldn''t be her.

    ¡°I have been watching you for a long time, Seth. I know a lot about you,¡± Noah said before he burst into a laugh. ¡°As for why, I would tell you everything later. For now, I need to deal with this annoying pest.¡±

    He turned around, but the mage was not on the ground anymore. Seth hadn''t noticed it due to his shock, but the mage was making a run for it.

    He was sprinting faster than before, vines all around him, protecting him from any attack Noah might launch at his back. It was a desperate struggle for his life.

    He used some sort of a skill as his pace was unusual for a class which would usually not prioritise agility.

    ¡°These cultists are just like cockroaches.¡± Noah shook his head and his eyes changed colours for a moment. Then, he vanished from the ground.

    A scream echoed in the far distance. Seth squinted his eyes to see properly as Noah appeared right in front of the mage and punched him down. Not expecting such an attack, the mage yelped in pain and looked at the Archmage Knight in terror.

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    Vines moved to protect the mage, but Noah burned them to the ground before crushing the mage''s leg with his own. The mage muttered something, but Seth was too far to hear it.

    It made Noah chuckle and he crushed his other leg. With both legs broken, the mage was crippled, but he didn''t stop there.

    He kept punching him before picking him up by the collar and vanishing again.

    The next moment, he appeared in front of Seth and threw the mage on the ground.

    Seth wasn''t sure if it was a skill similar to his Flickering Step or Noah had just moved that fast. Either way, he doubted the mage would try to run again.

    The mage''s mask fell off, revealing a plain face that was bloodied and battered. He was crippled and his whole body was bruised. Seth doubted he would be able to walk again without magical assistance.

    ¡°You tried to run away again,¡± Noah said, looking down on him. ¡°It ended with the same result, right? Even after realising who I''m, why did you try to run? I might have just given you an easy death.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯d have never,¡± the mage said, voice shaking. He tried to stand up, but fell down and crawled on the ground. ¡°I have heard about your cruel deeds. You have burned away so many of my brethren¡­ decapitated them and hung them for the world to see.¡±

    ¡°And you haven''t done the same to innocents,¡± he replied, sighing like he was talking to an idiot. ¡°I might not be a good guy, but I haven''t sold my soul to the abyss like you all.¡±

    ¡°You''re delusional¡­ you aren''t much different than us,¡± the mage said before raising his head to look at Noah. ¡°You''re doomed, mage. Seven Seals will come for the failed vessel again. And the Overlord will come for you. And he won''t spare you. He won''t spare any of you, Archmage Knight..¡±

    For the first time since their conversation began, Seth saw the eyes of Noah flicker a bit at the mention of Overlord, but they soon returned to normal before he crouched down.

    ¡°Who cares? Anyone can come, bring it on. I''m the strongest there is.¡±

    He shrugged his shoulders and flames appeared on his hands. He touched the mage''s shoulder and his whole body ignited. Screams filled the forest for the next few minutes as Noah tortured the mage before his whole body turned to ashes.

    That wasn''t all as he sent flames to torch up the body of the brute and the woman too, leaving no traces of their existence in the forest.

    Only a burned surface remained and the ashes flew into the air.

    Seth watched all this with widened eyes. Not only was the Archmage Knight unbelievably strong, he was also ruthless. He had gotten nightmares due to killing humans, but here, Noah was burning them alive without a trace of remorse on his face.

    Noah stood up and extinguished the dark flames on his hand before looking up at Seth.

    Seth''s face scrunched up and his face froze, feeling his gaze on him.

    ¡°I was in two minds about interrogating him a bit, but I decided against it. He was a waste of time. He knew nothing, I could tell. Those types of people hardly have useful information.¡± He sighed. ¡°There was nothing exciting about him. The only thing interesting about him was his vines. Same with his buddies. Scum, all of them.¡±

    He walked a few steps towards Seth until he was towering over him.

    Seth tried to move, but was unable to. Effects of mana exhaustion were still there and it would take more time for him to recover. Right now, he was at the mercy of Noah.

    ¡°So¡ª¡±

    ¡°Here, drink it.¡±

    Noah cut him off and threw a vial at him. Seth caught it and looked at it. A screen popped up showing that it was a potion, but he paused, contemplating whether he should drink it.

    Seeing his hesitation, Noah smiled, ¡°It''s not poison. If I meant any harm to you, I doubt you would be able to defend against me. I don''t have to go through these backhanded methods¡±

    Seth took in his words and nodded. He had barely stood against the Rank 4 cultist and Noah had defeated them like they were kids. The difference between them was too steep for him to climb even if he used his everything.

    Also, Noah looked friendly to him.

    The mage had called him the strongest adventurer to live. Seth didn''t know if it was true, but his strength definitely made him a contender for him. Most importantly, if he was an adventurer, then they were on the same side.

    Gulping down the potion, he felt a bit better. His body recovered a bit of strength. Noah threw a mana potion at him too and once he drank that, Seth felt like he could move.

    ¡°You will be okay in an hour. It would take a day or two for you to recover fully. That skill you used seems to take a big toll on your body.¡±

    Noah commented. By his words, Seth could guess that Noah was watching the battle between him and the cultist, but he hadn''t been able to sense him at all.

    He had hidden himself so well.

    It was all weird. It had been a normal quest of hunting Owlbears, but it had turned into something else. He didn''t know how Seven Seals had found him and the man who stood before him seemed just as mysterious.

    He was difficult for Seth to comprehend, but he knew that he was not in danger anymore. The questions racing through his mind came to his throat and he was unable to hold them back.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Seth looked at him and let out the barrage of questions he was holding inside of him. ¡°Why did you save me? How do you know I''m from another world? And what do you want from me?¡±

    Noah smiled like he was expecting those questions from the beginning. He took another look around the forest, then turned back to Seth.

    ¡°I''m Noah. You already know that. And you also know my class. I''m an adventurer. Like you, but that''s not all.¡± He sighed and gave him a long look. ¡°I will answer all your questions. It''s a long story, so brace yourself. I will start from the beginning. When the Seven Seals decided to summon you into this world.¡±

 New Novel Announcement!

    Hello, everyone, I''m sorry I had been busy in personal matters in the past week, but those are done now. Today, I''m bringing you a project I have been working on together for a few months with a good friend of mine.

    I really hope you all give it a try and follow it because that would help out a lot.

    Here''s the synopsis -

    Kai of the Sorcerer''s Tower is one of the last mages left, barely surviving in a world ruled by creatures of the dark ¡ª where the era of mages ended, and most of the lands got contaminated with dead mana.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    To save his world and fulfil his master''s last wish, he put himself through a forbidden ritual, risking his soul being ripped into pieces to make his way into the past. In an era with abundant mana ¡ª an era yet to enter the Golden Era of Magic.

    Things go wrong, of course, as they always do, and he finds himself thousands of years before the world fell to mana contamination ¡ª in the body of a young lord, Arzan. All is not well, though, as the young lord was murdered by someone and he had a beast wave to protect his territory from before moving to larger threats as well trying to get back his former strength in a world where magic techniques and technology is primitive.

    He might be able to change that.

 Book 2 is out!

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

    Check it out if you haven''t had the chance yet! It''s a great book 2, and Kart Studios did a fantastic job with the cover!

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

    Amazon.com: Seth the Abyssal Assassin Book 2: A LitRPG Adventure eBook : Lewis, V.A., Extra26: Kindle Store</a>

 Book 3 is out!

    Hello Everyone, Seth''s last book is out on Amazon now! If you have enjoyed the first two books, please go read and rate it. It was my first fantasy litrpg series and I learned a lot out of it, so would always be grateful to get the opportunity to write it. Thank you for everyone here too to give me love when I was a fairly below average author.

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    PS - I had to copy paste so many times because of word limit!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    Hello Everyone, Seth''s last book is out on Amazon now! If you have enjoyed the first two books, please go read and rate it. It was my first fantasy litrpg series and I learned a lot out of it, so would always be grateful to get the opportunity to write it. Thank you for everyone here too to give me love when I was a fairly below average author.

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    Hello Everyone, Seth''s last book is out on Amazon now! If you have enjoyed the first two books, please go read and rate it. It was my first fantasy litrpg series and I learned a lot out of it, so would always be grateful to get the opportunity to write it. Thank you for everyone here too to give me love when I was a fairly below average author.

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    Hello Everyone, Seth''s last book is out on Amazon now! If you have enjoyed the first two books, please go read and rate it. It was my first fantasy litrpg series and I learned a lot out of it, so would always be grateful to get the opportunity to write it. Thank you for everyone here too to give me love when I was a fairly below average author.

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    Hello Everyone, Seth''s last book is out on Amazon now! If you have enjoyed the first two books, please go read and rate it. It was my first fantasy litrpg series and I learned a lot out of it, so would always be grateful to get the opportunity to write it. Thank you for everyone here too to give me love when I was a fairly below average author.

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!

    I have given the link in both the author notes! Thank you again!