The Seal of the Lost Power

Returning from the Swamp Region, Diego walked towards the Hunter's Guild, his steps more determined, his shoulders straighter. He was still covered in mud, and exhaustion was etched on his face, but the sparkle in his eyes was far from the despair of an ordinary F-level villager. The parchment in his pocket was proof of his completed quest.

As he entered the Guild building, there was little change in the crowded interior. Hunters were still looking at quest boards, chatting, or handling business at the registration desk. This time, however, Diego's entrance didn't go unnoticed as before. The mud on him, his exhausted but determined posture, caused some eyes to turn his way.

He walked towards the registration desk. The same official from before was busy with paperwork, not looking up. When he saw Diego, that mocking expression reappeared on his face. "Well, kid? Was the swamp too scary? Since you're back, I guess you gave up."

Diego placed the parchment on the desk. The seal on the parchment indicated the quest was complete. "I completed the quest," he said, his voice calm but confident. "All three Mud Golems have been eliminated."

The official looked up in surprise. He peered at the parchment over his glasses, then at Diego. The mocking expression on his face slowly gave way to astonishment. "What? This... this is impossible. An F-level completing this quest alone..."

Another hunter at an adjacent desk had overheard the conversation and turned to them curiously. "What's going on there?" he asked.

The official stammered, handing the parchment to the other hunter. "This kid... says he's F-level and claims to have completed the Mud Golem quest."

The hunter took the parchment, looked at the seal, and his eyes widened. "This seal is real! The quest is complete!" A murmur spread through the hall. An F-level completing a D-level quest alone was unheard of.

The official was still in shock. "But how? Your mana level... How could an F-level mage defeat Golems?"

Diego opened the System interface in his mind. His name and the glowing "E" letter appeared below it. "My letter level increased," he said, his voice proud. "I'm E-level now."

This explanation only intensified the murmur in the hall. An F-level raising their letter level on a single quest? This was almost legendary. A few hunters began to look at Diego more carefully. Some had curiosity on their faces, others envy.

The official finally composed himself. His astonishment gave way to reluctant respect. "Alright... congratulations, Hunter Fruz," he said, his voice less mocking this time. "Your quest is confirmed. Your reward will be sent to you. You are now officially an E-level hunter."

Diego nodded. He didn't care about the reward. What mattered was that he had proven himself. But this small victory was just the beginning for him.

The following weeks were intense for Diego. He completed small quests from the Hunter's Guild one after another. With each quest, he discovered new features of the "System" and learned to use the ability copying module better. He tried to copy the ability of every creature or mage he encountered, thereby expanding his own pool of abilities. The "Mud Armor" and "Mud Fist" abilities he copied from the Mud Golem gave him a great advantage in physical combat. Furthermore, his "Essence of Shadows" ability was also developing; now he could not only absorb mana but also manipulate dark energy in more complex ways.

Each successful quest raised his letter level a bit more. From E to D, D to C... This rapid progression had begun to attract attention within the Hunter's Guild. Even the official who had initially looked down on him now treated him with more respect, even offering him special quests at times. Other hunters had also started whispering about him. "We've never seen someone rise so fast from F-level before," they would say.

However, despite being aware of this attention, Diego was still alone. He continued to undertake quests by himself. The loss in his village had distanced him from people. He was searching for a new family, but the emptiness in his heart wasn't easily filled. Until one day, in front of the Hunter's Guild's quest board, his path crossed with three different hunters.

There was a large quest announcement on the board: "Lost Caravan in the Dark Forest." This was a dangerous quest, usually undertaken by multiple C-level hunters or a B-level team. As Diego looked at the announcement, three people approached him.

The first was a sharp-featured girl with determined eyes. There was a sparkle in her eyes similar to the resolve in Diego's own. She wore light but durable armor. "Are you thinking of taking this quest?" she asked, her voice confident. "Alone?"

The second was a tall, slender young man with a calm and kind expression. He held a staff adorned with healing symbols. "The Dark Forest is dangerous," he said, his voice soft. "Going alone wouldn't be wise."

The third was a medium-built young man with a harsh and cynical demeanor. He had dark hair and sharp eyes. "If you're going to take this quest, you'll need a team," he said, shrugging. "And honestly, I've never seen anyone rise so fast from F-level. Maybe you'll be useful."

Diego turned to them. These three were Elara, Kael, and Roric. Each of them held a story, a potential within themselves. And for the first time, Diego felt the possibility that his loneliness might end. Perhaps this would be his new family.