I was so scared that I put all my points into health.

The Elf King Dragon (parrot form) rolled its eyes at the low-level quests Wang Xiaoyi and Alpha had accepted, its disdain evident. To it, those quests were like children's games, utterly tedious and boring. It flapped its wings a few times and "whoosh!" flew away, its speed like a blue lightning bolt streaking across the sky. However, every mealtime, it was as punctual as if wound up, chirping as it flew back, bursting into its house, transforming into human form, and grabbing a knife and fork to devour the food piled on the table. Its ravenous eating was like that of a starving little glutton, a sight that was both amusing and endearing.

On this day, Wang Xiaoyi and Alpha were carrying out their daily tasks in the village as usual. The sun was shining brightly, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the villagers were busy working in the fields; everything seemed so harmonious and peaceful.

However, halfway through the mission, Wang Xiaoyi noticed that Alpha seemed distracted and frequently spaced out. He quietly approached Alpha and asked with concern, "Alpha?"

Alpha snapped out of his daze and smiled somewhat sheepishly. "Brother Renn, I... I think I should do the job change quest. Thank you for taking care of me during this time. I've accumulated quite a bit of experience and copper coins, which can be used to get some better equipment and buy some medicine. I think I shouldn't have too much trouble completing the quest."

Hearing Alpha's sincere words, Wang Xiaoyi felt a surge of relief. He clearly remembered that Alpha used to be a cowardly fellow who would tremble with fear at the sight of monsters and hide in the back, too afraid to fight.

Take the missions they took on before, for example. Most of them were low-risk tasks. Alpha always carefully assisted from the sidelines, mainly taking on auxiliary tasks such as helping to deliver items and observing the surrounding environment. Although this earned them some copper coins and experience points, over time, Alpha himself realized the limitations of this approach.

Through continuous missions and training, Alpha's level has gradually increased to level 5. During this process, he earned a lot of copper coins, and his life was relatively stable. However, a voice always echoed deep in his heart: "This can't go on. I can't always do these low-risk jobs. I have to grow up eventually, and I must learn to fight monsters."

Now, Alpha has finally mustered the courage and made full mental preparations to face the monsters. He knows that this is a hurdle he must overcome on his path to growth; only by conquering his inner fears can he truly grow and become strong in this challenging alien world.

Looking into Alpha's determined eyes, Wang Xiaoyi felt a surge of encouragement and support. He knew Alpha had taken a significant step forward. The road ahead was long, but with such determination and courage, he was sure to overcome even greater difficulties and become an even stronger adventurer. He looked at Alpha, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Alpha, this is truly good news. It seems you've become more confident and independent. Since you're ready, I won't accompany you. I believe you'll successfully complete the mission."

Upon hearing Wang Xiaoyi's words, a hint of surprise flashed in Alpha's eyes. "Really? Brother Renn, you really believe I can do it?"

Wang Xiaoyi patted Alpha on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Of course! I've always believed in your potential. As long as you bravely take that step, you'll definitely succeed."

Alpha looked at Wang Xiaoyi gratefully, "Thank you, Brother Ren. I will do my best to complete the mission and will not let you down."

System notification sound: "Ding, gratitude points +80"

In the town's adventurers' guild, newcomer Alpha stood nervously before the counter, clutching the slip of paper detailing the job change quest requirements. His heart pounded, and his eyes revealed a mixture of unease and anticipation.

Today, the Adventurers' Guild staff member was a kind old man. He looked at Alpha with a smile and asked, "Young man, are you going to do the job change quest?"

Alpha nodded, and the old man said, "Alright, your task is to collect ten sets of nocturnal bird feathers. These materials can be found in the nearby forest."

Alpha's expression changed slightly upon hearing the mission requirements. He had heard of the ferocity of the nocturnal birds, which made him somewhat afraid. But remembering Wang Xiaoyi's encouragement, he took a deep breath and mustered his courage to say, "Okay, I understand."

After leaving the guild, Alpha went to the nearby forest. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. He walked cautiously along the forest path, looking around nervously, afraid of encountering any danger.

He searched for nocturnal birds in the forest, which was silent and mysterious. Alpha walked cautiously when he suddenly heard a sharp bird cry. He looked up nervously and saw a nocturnal bird perched on a branch.

Alpha cautiously approached, preparing to shoot down the nocturnal bird with his bow and arrow. But then he realized that shooting it down might scare away the other nocturnal birds. So he decided to try sneaking closer and slashing the bird's wing with his knife.

This was no easy task. Alpha held his breath and cautiously approached the night-walking bird. His heart pounded, and sweat streamed down his forehead. Finally, he managed to get close enough to the bird to slit its wing with his knife. The night-walking bird let out a scream and fell to the ground. Alpha breathed a sigh of relief, filled with a sense of accomplishment.

After tireless efforts, Alpha finally gathered all the materials. Filled with excitement, he ran back to the Adventurers' Guild. The sound of his hurried footsteps seemed to tell of his joy and eagerness.

Upon entering the Adventurers' Guild, he went straight to the old man and respectfully handed him the materials. The old man looked up, his gaze falling on Alpha, his eyes full of approval. He nodded slowly and said in a calm and gentle voice, "Young man, you have done very well. This is your certificate of induction. Now you can go to the Thief Mentor to complete the induction ceremony."

Upon hearing this, Alpha's face instantly lit up with a radiant smile, as bright as sunshine. That smile brimmed with pride and excitement; he knew clearly that he had taken a crucial first step. At that moment, a powerful force seemed to surge within him, brimming with anticipation for the future and unwavering confidence, as if he could see a fantastical and challenging path slowly unfolding before him.

Alpha clutched the certificate of official employment tightly, as if it were the key to unlocking a new world, and hurried toward the training ground where the thief mentor was located.

The training ground was located in a secluded area behind the guild's mountain, surrounded by tall trees. Patches of sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting golden spots on the ground. As Alpha stepped into the training ground, he was immediately enveloped by a tense yet vibrant atmosphere.

The thief mentor was a fit middle-aged man dressed in a black, tight-fitting leather armor with intricate patterns that gave him an air of mystery and power. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, seemingly able to see through any disguise. At this moment, he stood before a giant wooden dummy in the center of the training ground, a gleaming dagger in his hand, intently practicing his attack techniques.

Alpha took a deep breath, trying to calm his nervousness, then strode towards his thief mentor, bowed respectfully, and said, "Mentor, I've come with my official certificate to receive the inauguration ceremony."

The mentor stopped what he was doing, his gaze slowly shifting to Alpha, scrutinizing him carefully. His gaze seemed to pierce Alpha's soul, trying to see through his potential and determination. After a moment, the mentor nodded slightly and said, "Very good. Since you have the courage to accept this ritual, then be prepared to accept the challenge."

After speaking, the mentor walked to a stone platform on one side of the training ground, where a small box sat. He gently opened the box, revealing a ring emitting a faint blue light. The mentor picked up the ring and said to Alpha, "This ring is a heirloom of our Thieves' Guild, called the 'Shadow Ring.' When you wear it, it means you have officially become a thief. You must abide by our thief's code, hide in the shadows, keenly observe the movements of your prey, and strike a fatal blow to your enemy like a shadow."

Alpha's eyes gleamed with excitement as he carefully reached out and accepted the ring from his mentor. Slowly, he slipped the ring onto his finger. The instant the ring touched his finger, a faint blue light flashed, and Alpha felt a mysterious power surge into his body, as if he had gained a special connection with his surroundings.

“From this moment on, you are a true thief,” the thief mentor said solemnly. “But you still have a lot to learn. First of all, your stealth skills are far from sufficient.”

The mentor walked to a corner where some makeshift cover was placed. With a flash, he vanished from Alpha's sight, seemingly disappearing into the surrounding shadows. Alpha stared wide-eyed, trying to find his mentor, but saw nothing but the cover.

"Concentrate your mind, feel the changes in light and shadow, and let your body become one with everything around you." The instructor's voice came from the shadows. "Try to move like I do."

Alpha took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused on his surroundings. He began to move slowly, trying to blend his body into the shadows and carefully avoid the light. At first, his movements were a little stiff, but as time went on, he gradually found his rhythm.

And so, under the strict yet meticulous guidance of his thief mentor, Alpha began his formal training on the path of thieves. Every moment was filled with challenges and unknowns, but the flame of adventure burning brightly in his heart propelled him ever forward.

Just as Alpha was fully engaged in the crucial job change quest, Wang Xiaoyi sat quietly in a corner of the Adventurers' Guild's hall. Around him, a bustling crowd of adventurers discussed the quest enthusiastically or rested wearily, but all of this seemed to be separated from Wang Xiaoyi, who was lost in his own thoughts, by an invisible barrier.

He frowned slightly, a deep look in his eyes, as he began to carefully summarize and reflect on his recent situation. He knew that a clear understanding of his current predicament was a crucial prerequisite for planning his future.

He silently assessed his own strength, his equipment, and his performance in various missions. Currently, in this competitive and challenging adventure world, he was like a gem yet to be fully polished and shine; while he possessed some potential, it was far from sufficient. Each low-level mission granted him some experience points, but the leveling speed was far too slow, like a trickle of water taking a long time to form a river or sea. Moreover, the silver he earned was meager; in this strange world, this amount was barely enough to cover basic living expenses and some simple equipment repairs.

His gaze inadvertently swept in the direction Alpha had been standing, and he pondered to himself. If Alpha could successfully change jobs, it would be a significant turning point for them. This would give their team two members, like a more solid foundation for a building. Next, they just needed to find a few more like-minded individuals with complementary abilities to form a complete team, and they could venture into more remote places to explore those unknown and dangerous regions. While the risks were immense, they also held many more opportunities—precious treasures, rare materials, or monsters that could greatly boost their levels—enough to help them escape their current predicament and embark on the true path of adventurers.