The Seal of the Lost Power

Diego's rapid ascent within the Hunter's Guild was sparking whispers in the corridors. Starting as an F-level and quickly reaching C-level was an unprecedented achievement. However, Diego paid no mind to these whispers, his gaze fixed solely on larger quests. The memory of his lost family was the fuel that constantly pushed him forward. He would never allow anyone else to suffer the fate his village had endured. For that, he had to grow stronger, to climb to the very top of the system.

One afternoon, in the main hall of the Guild, as he looked at the "Lost Caravan in the Dark Forest" quest announcement, three figures approached him. This quest was known as one of the most dangerous in recent times. It was a mission that even several C-level hunters hesitated to take on together, and even a B-level team would be risking it.

"Are you thinking of taking this quest, Fruz?"

The voice had a sharp, confident tone. Diego turned and found the girl he had seen from a distance before: Elara. Her long, dark hair was tied in a ponytail, reflecting her practical and focused nature. Her light yet durable leather armor suited her agile and combative build. Her eyes, filled with a fiery glint, mirrored the determination in Diego's own.

"Alone?" Elara added, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. Her tone wasn't mocking, but rather inquisitive.

Diego shrugged. "I've always done it alone so far."

From behind Elara, a tall, slender young man with a calm and gentle expression stepped forward. He held an elegant staff adorned with delicate healing symbols. This was Kael. His eyes conveyed deep understanding and compassion. "The Dark Forest has its own unique dangers, Fruz. Not just monsters; the forest itself can be your enemy. Going alone wouldn't be wise." His voice was soft, full of concern.

The third person, Roric, appeared right behind Kael with a harsh and cynical demeanor. This medium-built, strongly built young man with dark hair had keen intelligence and a slight disdain in his 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." The "maybe" in his last sentence showed that Roric was still not fully convinced.

Diego looked at all three carefully. Elara's determination, Kael's compassion, and Roric's sharp tongue... Each possessed a different aura. The System interface in his mind showed their letter levels: Elara B, Kael D, Roric C. All of them were higher level than Diego, yet Diego's potential might be greater than their combined total.

"Why me?" Diego asked, looking directly into Elara's eyes. "There must be other teams to take this quest."

Elara smiled slightly. "Because we, like you, have been pushed to the fringes of the system, Fruz. As a B-level, I want to join the Magic Knights, but it's not easy for a female Knight to rise in the Ocxi Kingdom. Especially under the shadow of the Letra Kingdom. Kael works wonders with his healing abilities, but he's constantly underestimated because he's D-level. And Roric... he just loves getting into trouble and hates following rules."

Roric laughed cynically. "True. And you, you're an anomaly, soaring from F-level to C. Perhaps we can all change the destiny this kingdom has set for us. And this caravan quest could be a good start to prove ourselves."

Kael gently interjected. "The real reason, Fruz, is the determination in your eyes. And what we've heard about you... The rumors of you defeating Shadowed Beasts alone. Even though the Hunter's Guild hasn't officially confirmed it, some are whispering."

Diego was surprised to hear that the events in his village had reached the capital. This was proof of how great a shockwave his power had created.

"Alright," Diego said, taking a deep breath. Solitude had been his armor. But now, these three people were piercing through that armor. "Let's take this quest together. But I have one condition: during the quest, no one questions anyone else's power. We just do our job."

A satisfied expression appeared on Elara's face. "Agreed, Fruz. I'm Elara. This is Kael and Roric. Welcome to our team."

The next morning, the four set off towards the Dark Forest. At the forest's entrance, the air grew even heavier. Giant trees blocked out the sky, preventing sunlight from penetrating. Fallen leaves and rotting tree trunks formed a damp, earthy-smelling carpet. This place truly lived up to its name, a genuinely dark place.

Elara led the way, her keen eyes scanning their surroundings. Thanks to her air magic ability, she could sense the slightest change in the wind, foreseeing potential dangers. Kael was in the middle of the group, clutching his staff tightly. There was a slight tension on his face, but his eyes watched their surroundings carefully. Roric, at the very back, constantly cast cynical glances around, breaking the forest's silence with occasional murmurs. Diego, with the strange feeling of being part of a group, silently followed them. The System interface in his mind was constantly active, scanning for mana and abilities in the vicinity.

After several hours of walking, they had ventured deeper into the forest. The air had grown colder, and mist had set in. Suddenly, Elara stopped. She raised her hand. "Hold on. Something's approaching."

The mana in the air had suddenly intensified. Growls came from among the trees. And then, they appeared. Forest Golems, formed from tree roots and earth, much larger and more aggressive than the Mud Golems Diego had previously encountered. They were covered in moss, their eyes glowing in the darkness.

"Damn it, these aren't normal Golems!" Roric grumbled, his hands already beginning to flare with fire. As a C-level Fire Mage, Roric's damage potential was quite high.

Elara, donning her armor, shouted, "Formation! Kael, stay back and support us. Roric, deal damage to the front lines. Fruz, you..."

Elara turned to Diego. She didn't have full knowledge of Diego's abilities. She only knew he had risen rapidly from F-level.

Diego didn't hesitate. "I'll be on the front lines," he said. "I'm physically durable and can withstand their attacks." In the System interface in his mind, the "Mud Armor" and "Mud Fist" abilities glowed. Forest Golems were also earth-based; these abilities might work.

The first Forest Golem swung its colossal fist towards Diego. Diego activated "Mud Armor" and met the blow. The mud armor absorbed the force of the impact, but Diego still staggered back a few steps. The Golem's strength was far greater than that of the Mud Golems.

Roric attacked the Golems with fireballs erupting from his hands. When the flames struck the Golems' mossy bodies, sizzles rose, and small burn marks appeared on the Golems. However, the Golems were surprisingly resistant to flames.

"Fire doesn't seem to be working!" Roric shouted, frustrated.

Kael had already begun casting healing spells from the back. He was mending his teammates' minor wounds and replenishing their mana. "Their bodies are empowered by the essence of the forest. They're resistant to fire!"

As Diego dodged the Golem's attacks, he focused on the System interface in his mind. The "Ability Copy Module" was active again.

Ability Found: [Forest Essence (Forest Golem)]

Copying Possibility: 80%

"Forest Essence?" Diego's eyes lit up. This must be the source of the Golems' durability. He didn't hesitate to tap the "Copy" button. A greenish stream of energy flowed into his body.

Ability Copied: [Forest Essence (Forest Golem)] - Level 1

New Ability Added: [Nature Resistance]

New Ability Added: [Plant Manipulation (Basic)]

Diego quickly scanned his new abilities. "Nature Resistance" was a passive ability, granting him resistance to nature-based attacks. But the most interesting was "Plant Manipulation."

A Forest Golem swung a massive tree root towards Diego to catch him. Diego activated the "Plant Manipulation" ability and extended his hand towards the root. Surprisingly, the root bent at Diego's command and wrapped around the Golem's own leg. The Golem stumbled, losing its balance.

"What did you do?" Elara shouted in surprise.

"I'm using their own powers!" Diego replied. Then, he activated "Essence of Shadows" and lunged at the Golem. The purple aura surrounding him began to absorb the Golem's natural energy. The Golem growled, feeling weakened. Diego used his "Mud Fist" ability to deliver successive blows to the Golem's chest. With its weakening resistance, the Golem began to shatter.

Elara was amazed by Diego's ability copying skill. "Air Blade!" she cried, and with sharp wind blades emanating from her hands, she attacked the other Golem's weakened points. Roric, too, took advantage of the openings Diego created, sending more intense fire bursts.

Kael, supporting the team with healing spells, watched Diego's effectiveness in battle. It was incredible for an F-level hunter to be able to copy and use so many abilities in such a short time.

The battle was the first real test of their teamwork. Elara's strategic intelligence and air magic, Roric's destructive fire power, and Kael's unwavering healing, combined with Diego's unique ability copying and infinite mana potential, left the Forest Golems no chance.

When the last Golem disintegrated and vanished, a profound silence fell over the forest. The four young people were breathless, but a smile of triumph and shared accomplishment was on their faces.

"Wow, Fruz," Roric said, dropping his cynical demeanor. "You're actually useful."

Elara walked towards Diego. "Ability copying... I've never heard of such an ability before. How do you do it?"

Diego shrugged. "Thanks to the System. It appeared after I awakened in my village. I can copy the ability of any monster or mage."

Kael's eyes gleamed. "This... this is incredible potential! With this ability, you could surpass even the most powerful mages!"

Diego nodded. "Perhaps. But for now, we need to find the caravan."

The team continued their journey. The ice between them had now melted, and a bond of trust had formed. They were not just a quest team, but a group that complemented each other's weaknesses and supported each other. Deep within the Dark Forest, they continued their search for the lost caravan. This quest would test not only their abilities but also their faith in each other. And this was just the first step of Diego's long journey with his new family.