Free Web NovelChapter 14: 14 | Not Enough
"My mother was a hero," Tessa’s voice lowered softly.
"She died in a D-rank Cyclops dungeon when I was ten."
Dexter paused and he looked at her.
"She was a B-rank hero." Tessa’s green eyes were fixed on the ground. "Strong enough to clear D-rank dungeons in her sleep, everyone said. But dungeons don’t care about ranks. One wrong step, and she never came home."
"I’m sorry."
"Don’t be." Tessa looked up, and her eyes were dry. "Heroing isn’t as glorious as the Hero Association makes it out to be. It’s ugly and dangerous and most people who try it end up dead or worse. The ones who survive are either lucky, talented, or both." She studied him. "You’re neither."
"Thanks."
Tessa guffawed at his reply.
"Come by the bakery tomorrow morning. We’re preparing our special — honey buns with secret glaze. They’re good for recovery." She paused, looking back at him.
Before Dexter could respond, she dropped down on the other side of the fence and disappeared into the neighbor’s yard.
Dexter stood in his backyard, staring at the empty fence.
The girl was definitely not simple.
But she’d helped him. And she hadn’t asked for anything in return.
He shook his head and turned back to the punching bag. He spent the next hour throwing hooks using the method she’d shown him.
---
By the time he went back inside, the sun was setting and Dexter was sweaty and exhausted but not felt really good.
Mira was sitting at the kitchen table with her eyes closed.
"Not even married for a month and you’re already talking to pretty young girls."
Dexter paused in the doorway, a drop of sweat falling from his chin to the floor. And he grinned.
Mira’s expression was flat. Her voice was even flatter. But there seem to be somythythat resembled amusement.
"Should I be jealous, husband?"
Dexter chuckled and walked to the sink, turning on the tap to wash his hands. "She’s sixteen, Mira."
"And I’m crippled, not blind." Lyra’s eyes followed him as he moved. "She was looking at you like you’re a lost puppy she wants to adopt."
Dexter dried his hands on a towel and leaned against the counter. "She’s just a neighbor."
"Just a neighbor who happens to know how to throw a perfect punch and stand on a fence rail without falling."
Mira remained silent but then spoke. "Be careful who you trust, Dexter. Everyone has an angle, even you."
Dexter froze where he stood.
The last three words ringing in his hears.
She was telling him she knew that he had an ulterior motive but she might have misunderstood.
"What do you think is my motive?"
Mira sneered. "What is everyman’s motive?"
Dexter stared at her then he bursted out laughing much to the surprise of Mira.
He laughed for a good 2 minutes before he finally recovered. "You can’t begin to imagine how wrong you are."
"Remember to call me when you want to use the bathroom. I heard it causes sickness if you hold your pee for long."
Then he left to the shower
---
He washed up and changed into clean clothes. Then he sat on his air mattress and pulled up his system interface.
---
[10,000x INVESTMENT MULTIPLIER SYSTEM]
[10 kills to upgrade to 100x Multiplier]
[Investment Target(s)]
- Mira Calloway (Wife)
- Lyra Vance (Wife)
- Selene Frost (Wife)
- Jasmine Constance (Ex-Girlfriend)
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[Name]: Dexter Ashford
[Talent]: Enhanced Hearing (E-Rank)
[Occupation]: Rank 1 Master Food-Smith (Peak)
[Bloodline]: Flame Demon (Royal Grade)
[Mana Affinity]: C-Rank
[Rank]: Awakened Hero / Meta Hero
[Level]: 3
════════════════════
[Attributes]
Strength: 75
Agility: 85 [+10 Hidden Needle]
Physique: 75
Mana: 75
════════════════════
[Meditation Technique]
- Starlight Meditation Technique (Mortal Grade)
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[Bloodline Skills]
- Scorching Fury
- Flame Demon Transformation
- Flame Slash
- Flame Burst Step
════════════════════
[Relics]
- Serenity Bangles ×2 (Type 2 Relic)
- Tranquility Bangle (Type 2 Relic)
- Self-Recharging AI Smart Glasses (Type 1 Relic)
- Hidden Splinter Needle Hairpin ×3 (Type 2 Relic)
---
[Hidden Splinter Needle Hairpin]
[Grade]: Type 2 Relic
[Category]: Hidden Weapon
[Durability]: 100/100
════════════════════
[Attributes]
↳ Agility +10
════════════════════
[Passive Effects]
↳ Silent Flight
• Produces no sound and conceals its aura while in flight.
↳ Aimlock Accuracy.
• Auto correct throw path when targeting close to a fatal point.
════════════════════
[Active Skill]
↳ Ghost Needle
• Cooldown: 30 Seconds
• Throws the hairpin at tremendous speed.
• Ignores 40% of the target’s Physical Defense.
• Deals greatly increased damage when striking a vital point.
• Automatically returns to the user after the attack.
════════════════════
He had bought seen an hairpin as one of their wedding gifts and gave it to the girls.
The system actually produced a Type 2 Relic as investment returns to him.
Right now, his mana affinity has increased to C-rank which meant his cultivation speed will increase as he can now easily absorb mana.
And his strength was seven and a half times higher than a normal human. being. However, this is the base strength for a Tier 3 awakened.
For each Tier broken through, one gains 25 extra attributes across all the stats. For Tier one their strength, agility, physique, and mana increases from 10 to 25, tier 2 is another 25 stats making 50 attribute points across all stats and Tier 3 making 75 attribute points across.
Three days ago, he was an F-Rank, nobody with stats of 25 across his board.
Now, his growth was terrifying and he had advanced to Level 3. If anyone in the Hero Association saw his progress rate, they’d either call it a miracle or assume he had some sort of secret.
But this speed still wasn’t enough.
