Free Web NovelChapter 11: First Hunt
Hae-neul and Gerhman left the Awakened Association headquarters without delay. They got back in the vehicle and this time headed toward one of the many access points to the towers located on the outskirts of Seoul. During the journey, Hae-neul remained silent, her hands resting on the steering wheel. She occasionally cast a discreet glance toward Gerhman, who was watching the landscape pass by.
Once they arrived at the site, they got out of the car. In front of them stood a large circular dimensional portal, about five meters in diameter, surrounded by a metal frame reinforced with glowing runes. These portals were the official entrances to the towers. Each tower was an autonomous dimensional space that had appeared out of nowhere, used by the Awakened to increase their levels. They resembled miniature worlds with their own rules, fauna, and flora. The portals allowed safe passage from one place to another, under the control of the Association and the guilds.
Hae-neul approached the staff and presented her identification card. Once that was done, she continued on her way, followed by Gerhman. Once in front of the portal, a light scanned her body, then Gerhman’s. The portal activated with a low hum. A shimmering surface appeared in the center of the frame.
"We are going to Tower No. 47, beginner zone," explained Hae-neul in a calmer voice now that they were in action. "It is a terrain suited for low-rank Awakened. The monsters there are weak, but they remain dangerous if underestimated."
She stepped through the portal first. Gerhman followed without hesitation. An intense cold sensation enveloped them for a second, then they emerged on the other side.
They found themselves in a vast and verdant terrain. A grassy plain stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with groves of trees and small hills. The sky was a clear blue, without clouds. The air was fresh and carried a slight scent of damp earth. But the most striking difference lay in the density of mana, which was much higher than outside.
[A NEW QUEST HAS BEEN GENERATED]
[Quest Name: Purification of the Lower Plains]
Description: The integrity of your soul is wavering. Absorb the energy of the surrounding beings to delay the disintegration of your soul.
[OBJECTIVES]
[Goblins exterminated: 0 / 50]
[Kobolds exterminated: 0 / 50]
[Orcs exterminated: 0 / 50]
[REWARDS]
[Permanent increase in Mana Storage Capacity.]
[Title: Plains Hunter]
Gehrman read the message with a disdainful pout. Then he raised his hands and began to stretch. Each movement of his arms made his joints crack. He seemed to completely ignore Hae-neul, who stayed back, observing his preparations with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"You should be careful..." she noted. "Tower 47 is classified among those with the lowest danger rating, but we don’t know what might happen..."
Hae-neul had not yet finished her explanation when Gerhman was already dashing forward. His speed was not the result of a magical skill, but of a pure and brutal manipulation of his muscles. He reached the first group of Goblins in a few strides. These frail creatures with green skin did not even have time to raise their rudimentary daggers. Gerhman grabbed the first one by the jaw and, with a casual squeeze, broke the bone and cervical vertebrae. Dark blood spurted onto his gloves as he used the corpse to slam into a second Goblin, crushing its ribcage with the force of a cannonball.
[Target eliminated]
[Absorption of magical energy recommended to increase your power]
Each time a life was extinguished under his fingers, Gerhman felt a warm heat emanate from the remains of his victims. He did not merely kill. He opened his mana circuits and sucked in the vital essence even before the bodies hit the ground. He felt a satisfaction with each flow of energy that came to seal the cracks in his still unstable soul. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
The massacre continued for dozens of minutes. Gerhman moved like a shadow through the greenery. The Kobolds, canine humanoids armed with spears, tried to form a defensive line. It was useless. He tore through their ranks, ripping off limbs and crushing skulls with an efficiency that had nothing human about it. Blood, entrails, and bone fragments flew in all directions, staining his white shirt and hair.
Next came the turn of the Orcs. More massive, more resistant creatures, but they were not really a threat to Gerhman. A large Orc roared and brought its axe down above Gerhman, who simply shifted to the right and struck the monster squarely in the chest. His fist literally pierced the thick hide and ribs, sinking into the internal organs. He withdrew his hand, still holding the beast’s palpitating heart, which he crushed without flinching, all while absorbing the residual mana.
[Quest progress...]
[Goblins exterminated: 50/50]
[Kobolds exterminated: 50/50]
[Orcs exterminated: 40/50]
After that, he turned toward the orcs who were looking at him with fear. Without waiting any longer, he rushed at them, thus completing the quest. Then the system reappeared.
[CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE QUEST]
Quest Name: Purification of the Lower Plains
Description: The integrity of your soul is wavering. Absorb the energy of the surrounding beings to delay the disintegration of your soul. freeweɓnovel.cøm
[OBJECTIVES]
[Goblins exterminated: 50/50]
[Kobolds exterminated: 50/50]
[Orcs exterminated: 50/50]
[REWARDS]
[Your Mana Storage Capacity has just increased by 5 points]
[You have just gained 10 characteristic points to distribute]
[Title awarded: Plains Hunter]
Silence suddenly returned to the terrain. The green grass was now covered with a carpet of mutilated corpses and large crimson bloodstains. Gerhman, out of breath, headed toward a pile of Orc bodies that had stacked up in the center of the combat zone. He sat down heavily on the heap of dead flesh, ignoring the ferrous and fetid smell that emanated from it. In front of him, the system interface still displayed the results of his hunt.
Hae-neul approached slowly. She stared at the remains of the monster army with total disbelief. She had seen Rank A warriors clear zones, but never with such brutality and such speed for a Rank D.
"It’s... incredible..." she exclaimed in the face of such a display of raw power. "You took down these monsters without using any weapon or any long-range combat skill. Your performance is beyond anything for someone of your rank."
"No need to make a big deal out of it..." he replied simply.
Hae-neul hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been burning her since the start of the tutorial.
"Now that the hunt is over and you have stabilized your mana... what class do you plan to officially choose?" she asked. "With such mastery of close combat and such physical strength, you would make a genius Assassin or a destructive Warrior."
Gerhman turned his gaze toward her, a slight crease of disdain on his lips.
"I am already a mage..." he declared coldly.
"What?!" exclaimed Hae-neul, her mouth slightly open. She looked again at the dismembered Orcs, the Kobolds whose heads had been crushed like ripe fruits, and the Goblins torn apart with bare hands.
"A mage?..." she repeated, her voice rising an octave. "But... you didn’t cast a single spell! You destroyed everything with your fists and your brute strength! How can you be a mage when you just fought like the wildest of barbarians? It’s... it’s illogical."
"Since we are done, there is no reason to stay," said Gerhman rather than answering Hae-neul’s question.
Hae-neul, although still in shock from the revelation, did not dare insist. She nodded and guided him toward the exit portal, maintaining a respectful but doubt-filled silence.
