Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas and the scouts exited the dark tunnels just as the sun hit their faces, causing the others to celebrate as the gate was closed behind them. He was thankful to escape the creepy underground and continue the last two quests.

He watched the guards tend to the lost scouts while a healer checked them. After ten minutes, Arash approached him with a piece of paper that he handed over: ''Take this as proof of you completing the quest. The guild will know the Explorer Guilds mark.''

He nodded while taking the offering, ''Thanks, Arash. Are you guys being taken by the guards?''

The dark-skinned man smiled, ''Yes, the mayor wants to see us, and the commander said he wants all the details about the underground and its monsters.''

''Okay. It was good meeting you, but I will be off now to prepare for my next quest, which will be guarding a bridge against monsters,'' Atlas said before walking away as the older man watched.

''We will meet again Azhar'Zul. May you continue pointing the way,' Arash said with a smile.

He stopped walking and turned to the man with a smile, ''Maybe so, look after yourself out there, old man.''

Afterward, Atlas put on his helmet and set off toward the city, the morning sun casting a warm glow over his path. As he walked, he took out the second quest paper and reviewed the details of his next task.

[Rank D - The Forbidden Quarry: An abandoned quarry sealed off centuries ago has been reopened, and now strange, aggressive creatures are emerging. Deal with the monsters and see what is causing it – Reward 2 Gold on completion – Proof: Anything which shows you went there]

Maybe I can do this before completing the last tomorrow. He read the directions and realized the quarry was inside the mountains to the east. Atlas started walking through the streets and noticed dozens of stalls lining the street.

Atlas walked through the city for ten minutes until he spotted a weapons & armor shop called the Wanderer's Arsenal and checked what sort of stuff they sold. He stepped inside and noticed it was busy with several adventurer parties browsing the shelves.

The place looked like a typical fantasy weapon shop. The inside was decorated with Achaemenid battle murals, and swords hung on the walls. The counter where an older woman stood was made of blue oak wood cut down from the forest he traveled through.

Atlas started glancing around and found a shelf with large marble-looking objects behind protective glass; they caught his attention and caused him to read the signs.

[Thunderclap Bombs 5 silver coins]

A yellow light shone, reminding him of lightning and thunder waiting to be unleashed. 'I wonder how they get the elements inside.'

[Inferno Bombs 4 silver coins]

The next one Atlas looked at was a reddish one that resembled flames, which caught his interest. 'This would be good in a confined space to deal with crowds,' he mused with a curious expression.

[Frostfall Bombs 5 silver coins]

'This one looks like a snowstorm ready to be unleashed,' Atlas mused, loving the bomb's bluish-white color.

[Gravity Bombs - 8 silver coins]

'Plain, but I can feel the power radiating off this one,' he thought while looking at the black-colored orbs.

[Smoke Bombs 3 Silver]

'Clear white, makes sense as their smoke bombs.'

[Flashbang Crystals - 7 Silver]

'These look like jewelry.'

'Oh, these are all useful,' Atlas mused with a smile. 'I should buy as many as the store can sell; I'm sure they will save me during my journey.'

After that, he approached the counter but noticed something in a robust protective case that radiated mana. Atlas glanced at it and noticed eight colorful pills that called to him, but when he spotted the price, 'Eighty gold! What are these things?'

He shook his head as the older woman turned to him, ''Welcome to the Wanderer's Arsenal, young man; I'm Laleh, and this is my son Omid. How can we help you today?''

''I want to buy as many bombs and Flashbang Crystals as you can sell,'' Atlas replied with a smile.

Omid turned to the woman, who laughed and gave him a friendly slap on the back. "I told you they'd sell my boy," she said with a grin. "Gather them all while I figure out the total for him."

Her son nodded and hurried into the back, excitement etched on his face. The older woman's gaze shifted to the newcomer, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "You're a Nova Mage, aren't you? I can sense your aura growing stronger."

Atlas smiled, ''Yes, but I haven't learned much about them yet,'' he answered honestly.

Laleh looked at him before a big smile appeared on her face as she took out a stack of papers tied into a booklet and slid it across the counter, ''Take this; it will tell you everything you need to know about Level One Body Tempering and the eight pills that come with it.''

He took the papers and noticed they were an instruction manual. Atlas stored the manual in his Dimensional Storage before asking about the colorful pills. ''I guess those are Body Tempering Pills?''

''Yes, but they are expensive; many people can't afford them,'' Laleh said with a frown.

''How much?'' Atlas inquired.

''Eigthy gold, 10 per pill as made by a Legendary Mater Alchemist my husband saved from a bandit raid,'' Laleh revealed. ''He gave us a dozen sets of pills as a thank you, and we decided to sell one to raise funds for Omid so he could attend the Royal Magic Academy in Babylon City.''

Once Laleh finished speaking, she started writing a total for the purchase, and Atlas was shocked when he saw the total.

[35 gold for 2000 Flashbang Crystals]

[15 gold for 2000 smoke Bombs]

[24 gold for 2000 Gravity Bombs]

[16 gold for 2000 Inferno Bombs]

[20 gold for 2000 Frostfall Bombs]

[20 gold for 2000 Thunderclap Bombs]

'With the Body Tempering pills, it will use all but two gold and ten silver, but I can always run the dungeons and complete the quests to earn more,' Atlas thought while taking out most of his wealth in a large pouch.

Atlas dropped it on the counter as he spoke, ''I'll take the pills as well.''

Laleh's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself, carefully counting the coins from the pouch. A smile spread across her face as she securely stored the money in her ring. Then, stepping around the counter, she wrapped him in a warm embrace, as a mother would her son.

"Thank you, young man," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "You've done more for our family than you might realize. I'd even say you've helped save the shop with your purchase."

Atlas was surprised, but Laleh spoke, ''Let me give you some freebies that will help you on your adventures, Habibi.''

The woman disappeared for a few minutes and returned with two objects. She put them on the counter before opening the Body Tempering Pills case. When Laleh took them out, Atlas could see the eight colorful pills.

''Here, boy, take a look at the pills so you know which ones you're taking,'' she said with a smile. ''And take off your helmet so I can add the Night Eye Rune, allowing you to see in the dark.''

[Fire – Red]

[Water – Blue]

[Wind – Green]

[Earth – Brown]

[Lightning – Yellow]

[Dark – Black]

[Light – White]

[Metal – Grey]

Atlas's smile widened as he carefully stored the pills in his inventory. Removing his helmet, he handed it to Laleh with a gesture of respect. She took the helmet and began to explain the final gift.

"This," she said, holding up an old-looking map, "is the Map of the Hidden. It reveals secret passages and concealed rooms. It was one of my father's greatest creations, and something tells me it belongs with you."

Atlas took the map, noting its intricate details. As he examined it, he saw that it displayed every room in the store. His eyes widened when he spotted a trapdoor behind the counter leading to a hidden passage extending into the mountains.

He glanced up at Laleh, who met his gaze with a nod. "Yes, that's an escape route we share with the general store," she confirmed. "It's been a well-kept secret for a long time."

The woman engraved the Night Eyes Rune onto the helmet and returned it to Atlas. As he examined the helmet, he had to admit he was impressed. It was adorned with intricate patterns that decorated its surface yet remained streamlined with no dangling attachments.

Atlas loved the helmet's design, which revealed only his eyes while granting him a perfect vision—an elegant blend of functionality and style. He put it back on and felt comfortable before Omid returned with a massive box.

The young man started unloading it, and Laleh took out a belt pouch with eight pouches and gave it to Atlas. ''This is a basic adventurer's belt; each pouch will allow you to carry twenty bombs, potions, or other things.''

''How much?'' Atlas questioned with narrowed eyes, causing the mother and son duo to laugh.

''Twenty silver,'' Laleh quickly answered, causing him to get the coins out of storage.

Once the woman had the coins, Atlas put the belt on as Omid organized the boxes. He explained, ''There are boxes of one hundred bombs; I see you have a storage skill, so store them away so I can unload the others.''