The memories gathered, discussing what had happened at the meeting point.
Eventually, they reached a conclusion.
The guards at the Quarry had killed the real messenger.
His corpse was later discovered by a bandit, who stole his belongings.
Those guards hadn't been waiting to escort anyone—they were simply pretending to fulfill their duty, knowing the messenger would never arrive.
But why would Xera a Quarry guard kill a messenger from the Violet family, the ones who truly owns the Quarry.
The Violet family would demand payment in blood. What reason justified that risk?
There were a few possibilities.
The Noble Memory spoke.
"Perhaps the Quarry found a new partner and no longer needs the Violet family."
The Assassin Memory.
"Or someone within the Quarry wants the current Guard leader replaced."
" A convenient betrayal, and no one will know."
Amadeus nodded slowly.
"At least we have a picture of what's happening. Now we need to decide our next move."
After discussion, they settled on a plan—use the map Jack had given them to find an alternate route to the Quarry.
Once there, they would decide based on the next side mission goal.
Amadeus opened his eyes, leaving the Memory World.
With the map in hand, he began walking once more.
The day passed, and by nightfall, Amadeus found himself in a barren stretch of land.
Crown frowned, looking uneasy.
"Isn't this… a danger zone?"
Amadeus replied calmly.
"You're right."
"Then why are we here? Couldn't we just go around it?"
Before Amadeus could answer, an arrow moved past and landed near his foot.
Four bandits emerged from the shadows.
One of them groaned.
"Didn't I tell you to learn how to use that damn bow?!"
Then smirked.
"Whatever. I'll deal with him."
The man stepped forward with a sword in hand.
Above the Four Bandits Heads.
[ Easy ][ Easy ][ Easy ][ Easy ]
Amadeus thought.
Easy, huh?
What a waste of time. But better than nothing.
[ Sword Mastery Lv.1 ]
He pulled his sword from his inventory, causing the bandits' eyes to widen at the strange display.
But it was already too late for them to change their mind.
The first bandit charged with a vertical strike.
Amadeus's blade moved faster. One slash severed the man's arms mid-swing.
The bandit collapsed to his knees, screaming.
His cries ended abruptly when Amadeus's sword took his head.
The remaining three froze, trembling.
Amadeus frowned.
"What are you waiting for? Attack me."
None of them moved.
He sighed.
"Waste of time."
Amadeus dashed forward. Two of the bandits raised their axes in desperation.
His horizontal slash knocked both aside, leaving them exposed.
With another swing, he cut them down in one stroke.
The last bandit—shaking—snatched up his bow and fired an arrow.
Amadeus tried to shatter it with his blade, but he was a fraction too slow.
He barely tilted his head aside in time. If he had been even a second late, the arrow would have pierced his skull.
Amadeus lunged forward, cutting off the bandit's arm before he could notch another arrow.
The man screamed, rolling on the ground.
Amadeus breathing heavily, thought.
Pathetic.
And I'm still too slow… even tired after just four bandits.
Amadeus drove his sword through the bandit's chest, killing him.
[ You killed 4 Easy Humans ]
[ Reward: 4 Essence ]
A grin tugged at his lips.
"My favourite part."
[ STR lv 1 --) STR lv 2 ]
[ AGI lv 0 --) AGI lv 2 ]
[ STM lv 0 --) STM lv 1 ]
Power rushed through his veins. His fatigue melted away, his body lighter and stronger than before.
Crown.
"So that's why you came into a danger zone."
" But you do realize the enemies here won't all be weak, right?"
Amadeus returned his sword into the inventory.
"I'll take my chances."
He pushed deeper into the danger zone, hunting every threat he found.
[ Reward: 5 Essence ]
[ Reward: 3 Essence ]
[ Reward: 4 Essence ]
[ Reward: 2 Essence ]
Luck was on his side—every enemy he encountered had been just more bandits.
By the following day, Amadeus stood at the edge of ta cliff, looking at the Quarry.
From a distance, it looked like a vast pit carved into the middle of nowhere, surrounded by stone walls.
The sounds of pickaxes striking echoed from within.
Amadeus exhaled.
"Finally. That took longer than I thought."
[ Goal completed: Reach the Quarry ]
[ Reward: 1 Essence ]
A new panel appeared.
[ Side Mission ]
[ The Quarry ]
[ Goal: Liberate the slaves from the Quarry ]
[ Reward: Special Item ]
Amadeus narrowed his eyes.
"So I have to wipe out the guards and defeat Head Guard Atlan… Or maybe—"
Crown interrupted.
"Or maybe nothing. Look at yourself. You're not ready."
" Those bandits barely gave us any Essence. The stronger you get, the weaker they become."
" The last group you fought didn't even have a difficulty marker."
That means they're no longer considered enemies. No Essence. Nothing."
He checked his accumulated gains.
[ STR lv 2 --) STR lv 7 ]
[ AGI lv 2 --) AGI lv 6 ]
[ STM lv 1 --) STM lv 4 ]
[ HP lv 0 --) HP lv 3 ]
Amadeus clenched his fist and struck a nearby rock. The stone cracked, nearly shattering apart.
He looked at his hand with a faint smile.
My strength is now beyond human… even if only slightly.
And thanks to my HP, my hand didn't shatter from punching stone.
But Crown is right, am still too weak to fight strong people
Amadeus sighed.
"You're right. Which means… we need stronger enemies."
Just then, his eyes caught movement.
A child ran frantically, Two guards in his pursuit.
[ Encounter Mission ]
[ Goal: Save the child from the guards ]
[ Reward: 5 Essence ]
Amadeus smirked.
"Well, looks like we found our source of Essence."
He readied his sword and stepped forward.
With his new stats he moved down from the cliff.
Easily reaching the bottom, then dashed forward towards a canyon where the child ran into to hide.
Amadeus.
that kid is smart, trying to use the canyon terrain to hide.
But why do i fell like something isn't right.
Amadeus reached the Canyon, he to listened to the guards screaming.
" com out, stop this meaningless act ".
" when we find you i will make sure to play with you, a really fun game "
Amadeus followed the guards voices to reach the kid.
Or at least kill them before they do anything to him.
To be continued.