The Seal of the Lost Power

The capital of the Ocxi Kingdom felt like a completely different world to Diego after the dusty roads of his village. Tall, ornate stone buildings, bustling marketplaces, the sparkle of magic rising from every corner, and crowded streets... This was a place where power and status reigned. Dragon figures, symbols of the Kingdom, proudly waved everywhere, on flags and on the facades of buildings. However, beneath this splendor, the class distinctions Diego had felt in his village were far more pronounced here.

Walking the streets, it was possible to guess people's letter levels from their clothing, their demeanor, and even the amount of mana they exuded. A and B-level mages in bright attire walked with shoulders back and noses in the air, while D and E-levels wore more modest clothes, usually working in service industries or less significant jobs. Diego, still in his old, worn field clothes, was virtually invisible in this crowd. With every step, he felt people's disdainful glances or indifferent attitudes. The F-level tag had followed him here too.

The Hunter's Guild building was located in a more modest, yet still central, part of the city. Unlike the grand structure of the Great Magic Knights headquarters, this was a more functional and sturdy building. Upon entering, he found a crowded hall. Hunters of various levels looked at quest boards, chatted with each other, or handled business at the registration desk. The air was a mix of mana energy and sweat.

Diego walked towards the registration desk. Behind the desk sat a tired-looking, middle-aged man. He looked at Diego over his glasses. "What do you want, kid?" he asked, his voice indifferent.

"I want to be a hunter," Diego said, his voice a little tense.

The man's eyebrows raised. "A hunter? What's your letter level?"

Diego hesitated. He was aware of his power, but how could he explain it? "F..." he mumbled.

A mocking smile appeared on the man's face. Another officer nearby chuckled at what he heard. "F? Are you serious, kid? This isn't child's play. An F-level can't even complete the simplest quest."

"But I..." Diego tried to protest. "I saved my village from Shadowed Beasts. All by myself."

The man's smile widened further. "Haha! All by yourself? An F-level villager defeated Shadowed Beasts? Go tell those fairy tales to someone else. This is the Hunter's Guild, not a land of fairy tales. Now, be on your way." The man waved him off.

A wave of anger surged within Diego. The betrayal in his village was now thrown in his face here too. But he wouldn't give up. The "System" interface appeared in his mind. The same incomprehensible symbols were still under the F. Perhaps there was a way to prove his power to these men.

"Give me a chance," he said, his voice more determined this time. "Give me the simplest quest. If I fail, I won't come back here again."

The man was surprised by Diego's persistence. Usually, F-levels would give up at the first rejection. "Alright, since you're so persistent," he said, as if granting him a favor. "I'll give you a 'trial quest.' A few 'Mud Golems' have spawned in the Swamp Region outside the city. Usually, even D-level hunters can handle them. Go, destroy three of them and bring me proof. But be careful, if you die, no one will mourn you." The man handed him a small parchment.

As Diego took the parchment, his face held a determined expression. This was his first chance. A chance to prove himself. And in memory of his family, he had to succeed. As he walked out of the Hunter's Guild, the noise of the crowded streets engulfed him. But he was no longer alone. The infinite power within him would guide him.

The path leading out of the city soon gave way to muddy trails riddled with tree roots. The air grew heavy, humid, and smelled of mildew. Sunlight struggled to pierce through the dense trees, casting a misty veil over the swamp. This was the "Swamp Region," home to Mud Golems, which, as the official at the Hunter's Guild had said, even D-level hunters could usually handle without much difficulty. But for Diego, this was more than just a quest; it was the first test of his new life.

He took a deep breath. He was aware of the power within him, but he didn't quite know how to use it. The battle in the village had been an instinctive burst. Now, he needed to be more controlled. He focused on the "System" interface in his mind. The F-letter was still there, but beneath it, the "Essence of Shadows" ability glowed. Below the ability, a small "Level Up" button appeared, but it was faded, not yet active.

He continued walking. His footsteps echoed on the muddy ground. Suddenly, a bulky shadow emerged from among the trees ahead. It was a large figure made of mud, its eyes glowing like swamp moss. It was the first Mud Golem.

The Golem's heavy steps vibrated the ground. As it approached Diego, it raised its arms, ready to bring down its muddy fists. Diego instinctively leaped back. The Golem's fist struck where he had just stood, splattering mud.

Diego refocused on the System in his mind. He activated "Essence of Shadows." As the dark purple aura enveloped his body, the Mud Golem paused for a moment. Golems were usually resistant to mana-based attacks, but this aura seemed to affect even their natural energies.

"Shadow Burst!" Diego launched purple energy orbs from his palms. The orbs created small craters when they hit the Golem's muddy body. However, the Golem surprisingly regenerated quickly. The mud filled in the broken parts, restoring the Golem to its original state.

"Damn it!" Diego muttered. This was different from the Shadowed Beasts. Absorbing their mana wouldn't work because Golems had no mana; they were purely physical entities.

Diego lunged at the Golem. He brought his muscular fists, empowered by the Essence of Shadows, down on the Golem's chest. When his punch landed, a deep crack formed in the Golem's chest, but it didn't completely disintegrate. The Golem reached out its arms to grab Diego. Diego quickly retreated.

At that moment, a new notification appeared in the System interface in his mind:

Ability Copy Module: Scanning Nearby Abilities...

Ability Found: [Earth Manipulation (Mud Golem)]

Copying Possibility: 75%

Diego's eyes widened. Ability copying! This was the potential he had felt during the battle in his village. He could copy the Mud Golem's ability! But how?

As he dodged the Golem's next attack, he focused on the "Copy" button that appeared in his mind. The moment he tapped the button, a thin, green stream of energy flowed from the Golem's body towards Diego. He experienced a brief dizziness.

Ability Copied: [Earth Manipulation (Mud Golem)] - Level 1

New Ability Added: [Mud Armor]

New Ability Added: [Mud Fist]

In the System interface, new abilities had appeared below "Essence of Shadows." Diego looked at them in astonishment. "Mud Armor"... "Mud Fist"...

When the Golem attacked again, Diego didn't hesitate to activate the "Mud Armor" ability. Instantly, a thick layer of mud, similar to the Golem's body, covered him. This armor greatly reduced the impact of the Golem's punch when he deflected it.

"This is amazing!" Diego thought. He was using the Golem's own strength against it. Then, he activated the "Mud Fist" ability. His fists suddenly became covered in mud and grew to enormous sizes. He lunged at the Golem and brought his enhanced fist down on the Golem's head. When mud clashed with mud, the Golem's head shattered. This time, the Golem couldn't regenerate and collapsed into a pile of mud.

The first Golem was gone. Diego was breathless, but a smile was on his face. This was not just a physical victory, but also the first true discovery of his potential.

However, his relief was short-lived. Two more Golems emerged from the depths of the swamp. This time they looked larger and more aggressive. Diego looked at the System in his mind again. The "Earth Manipulation" ability was still active.

When the two Golems attacked simultaneously, Diego further strengthened his "Mud Armor" and met their blows. Then, he launched successive attacks with his "Mud Fists." The Golems were astonished by Diego's new abilities. Their own power being used against them unbalanced them.

As the battle continued, another notification appeared in the System interface in Diego's mind:

Letter Level Increasing...

F -> E

A faint wave of energy passed through Diego's body. His F-level tag had finally changed. He was now an E-level hunter. This was a small victory for him, but also the beginning of a great hope.

At the end of the battle, both Golems had turned into piles of mud. Diego was tired but filled with triumph. He had defeated all three Golems. His quest was complete. He put the parchment in his pocket and set off to return to the Hunter's Guild. A newfound confidence, more pronounced than ever before, was etched on his face. The weakest hunter in the Ocxi Kingdom was no longer just an F-level. He had begun to discover his potential, embarking on a new path. And this path would lead him to much greater adventures.

Diego's first quest and his process of discovering his powers were thus completed. He had now leveled up to E-level and learned to use the ability copying feature.