The next day, Kal woke up in the hospital. He opened his eyes and looked around the room. Just beside him was Dontrelle. Dontrelle's left leg and right arm was wrapped in bandages. He was eating turon (A classic Filipino dessert that is made of ripe banana and wrapped in lumpia wrapper and then fried in oil covered in caramelized brown sugar)while watching the news in the TV. When he saw that Kal was awake, he immediately greeted him.
"Kal your awake! Thanks for saving me back there and look! You're in TV." Dontrelle pointed at the TV screen.
Reporter 1:
"A HIGH E-RANK DUNGEON HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE IRON SANCTUM IN CEBU. WITNESS HAS IT THAT THERE WERE THREE HUNTERS IN THE VICINITY AND HAD ENTERED THE DUNGEON GATE WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE HIGHER-UPS, UNFORTUNATELY THEY WERE FOUND DEAD BY THE HUNTERS WHO WERE ASSIGNED FOR THE DUNGEON RAID. WE WILL NOW TALK WITH THE LEADER OF THE ASSIGNED RAID."
The news then transferred to another reporter as it interviewed someone that both of them were familiar with. It was the man who was supposed to lead the dungeon raid but had to hide from afar and let two young teens do the dangerous task for them by defeating all the monsters in the dungeon including the boss.
"It's the man!" Kal said as he point to the screen.
"Do you know his name? I don't think he ever told us his name." Dontrelle ask in confusion.
"He was assigned by teacher Dante and I assume he must thought we already knew him." Kal replied as they continue to watch the report.
Reporter 2:
"MR. JOMAR, WHEN YOU ENTERED THE DUNGEON WITH YOUR TEAM, WHAT TYPE OF MONSTERS DID YOU ENCOUNTER? AND HOW DID YOU FIND THE THREE HUNTERS?"
Jomar:
"WHEN WE ENTERED THE DUNGEON, WE ENCOUNTERED KOBOLDS. THEY WERE EASY TO DEFEAT BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR NUMBERS, IT MADE IT HARD FOR US TO QUICKLY ENTER THE DEEPER PARTS OF THE DUNGEON. WHEN WE ARRIVE AT THE CENTER OF THE DUNGEON, WE SAW THE HUNTERS BUT WE WERE TOO LATE TO SAVE THEM."
Reporter 2:
"I SEE, SO HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO SUBJUGATE THE DUNGEON?"
Jomar:
"WE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME DEFEATING THE BOSS SINCE IT WAS A MUTANT VARIANT. SOME OF MY MEN RECEIVE INJURIES BUT WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT NONE OF US DIED."
Reporter 2:
"ITS AMAZING HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO DEFEAT A MUTANT BOSS MONSTER WITHOUT SUFFERING ANY CASUALTIES! YOU EVEN MANAGE TO RETRIEVE THE HUNTERS CORPSES!"
Jomsr:
"HAHA THANKS, BUT WE COULDN'T DONE IT WITHOUT THE FULL COOPERATION OF OUR TEAM."
The TV was quickly shut off by Dontrelle. Both Kal and him showed infuriated expressions. Kal couldn't help but grit his teeth, he grip the metal bar in his bed and bend it like a rubber.
"Cooperation my ass! You and your team didn't even do sh*t!" Dontrelle cursed and exclaimed.
"Why are they taking all our hard work? Did they deserve it? No! They didn't even mention our names! He acted like some hero in the news and act humble! Jomar was his name right? Oh, if I see you again, I'll definitely beat the crap out of you with my bow!" Kal exclaimed. He immediately stood up and brought Dontrelle down into a wheelchair.
"Let's tell Dante about this!" Dontrelle said in an angered tone.
"Yeah." As soon as Kal push the wheelchair out of the room, the door was opened by Dante and saw Kal and Dontrelle looking like they were about to get out of the hospital ward.
"What are the two of you doing?" Dante asked as he closed the door in the room.
"We have something to tell you." Kal said with a serious look.
"What is it?" Dante asks. Both of them then explained what they saw in the news. After explaining it to Dante, he didn't look angered, as a matter of fact, he didn't show any reaction and just sighed.
"I told him to say that." Dante plainly responded.
"What? It was you?" Both of them reacted in shock at the same time.
"You do know that the media spreads information all over the world. And if news founds out that the two of you have any connected relations, it won't end good for you Dontrelle and it will also end horribly for Kal. Once your sister or your brother hears about this, they'll do anything they can to hunt down Kal so that's why I had to make sure no topics about any of the two of you will spread. This is not only for the sake of Kal's safety but for the two of you to be able to continue to hunt without giving yourself any attention." Dante explained. Both of them understood what Dante said and sighed deeply. A bit of fame couldn't hurt anybody but it was different to their case. They looked very down as they know that they didn't get the hard work they deserved so Dante cheered them up.
"Don't be sad, don't you wanna see your rewards from the dungeon?" Dante said with a cheerful smile.
"We have rewards?" Kal ask in confusion.
"I fainted so I don't remember anything that happened but they said that the loots dropped by the boss monster were all of high quality items and materials." Dontrelle said.
"Since the Boss monster the both of you defeated was a mutant, the drops was better that normal loot drops. My men who went with you didn't feel like they deserve the rewards so they decided to just split some mana crystals and the loot drops from the boss monster would be given to the both of you." Dante said.
"At least they're not greedy. Well I'll forgive them for now." Dontrelle said as he crossed his arms while making a pout. Kal just nodded to what Dontrelle said in agreement.
"Speaking of which, they're here!" Dante said when the door was opened. Men in suits were pushing trolleys that carried different sized steel cases. There were about 5 cases, two of which where as big as a giant crate and the three are the size of normal suitcases.
The suited men opened the cases in unison right in front of Kal and Dontrelle revealing varieties of items.
"This is for us?" Kal ask in awe as he looked at the items shown to them. They were all of high quality and each were of different types. Dontrelle, didn't seem amaze by the items but still was eager to look at what they were.
"Dontrelle, you don't seem to be interested by the items?" Dante asked Dontrelle who was just looking at the items with his cold eyes.
"They are all of high quality but they don't suit my class. I'm filthy rich so I can just buy my own items plus my brother seems to be more interested in them and he is also the one that killed the boss monster so I don't think I'm deserving of the rewards." Dontrelle said shrugging his shoulder off.
'Brat, just because your rich, you can't even appreciate the small things. Well at least your being humble to Kal.' Dante thought to himself forcing not to make an infuriated expression.
"Really brother!? You're giving all of this to me?" Kal exclaimed and looked at Dontrelle with teary eyes.
"How could I not give this to someone more deserving than you? You save my life in the dungeon and without you, I would probably be in a coffin. You already saved my life two times, this is at least what I can do to repay you." Dontrelle said revealing a soft smile to Kal.
"*sniff* You're so kind brother!" Kal cried and embrace Dontrelle in joy which suddenly surprised Dontrelle but he accepted the affection and felt happy as he hugged and patted Kal in the back.
'This kid can actually smile? Who could've thought that he'd only need a good friend to change?' Dante said to himself in disbelief as he watch two dudes displaying their affection in front of 6 men (Again this is not gay!).
****
Kal merrily checked the items. First he checked the bigger items. The first one was a plate mail. It had a very scaly form and the elastic texture of the armor made it possible for the wearer to move freely. The design was very outlandish and the dark grey color gave it a very edgy look. Kal decided to wear the armor and a window panel popped up in his view.
Ting~
BEAST CHAMPION ARMOR
Rank: D
Defense: 70
Health: 300
Durability: 400/400
Passive- Endurance of a Champ: Once fatigue reaches 90%, the armor will release a cooling sensation from the inside replenishing half of the fatigue.
Cooldown: 1 hour
Passive- Power Up: If health drops down by 50%, strength and agility increases by 15 for 1 minute
Cooldown: 30 minutes
"This armor is amazing!" Kal was astounded as soon as he finish reading the description of the armor.
'With this armor, I won't get tired that easily and can endure longer fights!' Kal exclaimed to himself and continued to admire the armor. Next he checked the second case, it was a long sword. The sword was 1.5 meters in length which was almost the same height as him. The handle was a beautiful jade color and the design of the guard was similar to a medieval sword used by a knight of order. The blade was nothing of the ordinary, it just looks like a long blade made of shiny steel but the aura it exude gave of a cold breeze as if the blade was made of ice. When Kal grabbed the sword, he immediately felt the cold rushing through his arms, it gave him a quick shiver but his body was strong enough to handle the cold.
'It looks big and heavy but it's surprisingly light for a long sword!' Kal thought to himself. A window panel then showed up from his view showing the description of the weapon.
Ting~
THE NORTHERN BLADE (GROWTH)
Rank: D+
Damage: 120
•Frost Damage: 90 (5% chance)
Durabilty: 400/400
Passive- Frostbite: Dealing frost damage slows the target by 10% (stacks up to 10). If fully stacked, the target will turn into ice stopping all of its movement for 5 seconds. The target's defense sharply decreases to 90% in its frozen state.
Active- Ice Wave: User deals 90 (+10% STR) frost damage in a wide area slowing all targets by 60% for 2 seconds.
Mana Cost- 50
Cooldown- 1 minute
HIDDEN FUNCTION (LOCKED)
Requirements: Advance Sword mastery, level 17, 90 strength, 80 stamina
"..!" Kal's eyes grew wide after reading the sword's description.
There were some new contents he was unfamiliar with but he still got a good understanding of what it was. What really got his interest was the hidden function in the description.
'It's a growth weapon so it means it will become stronger the more I use it but what is the hidden function all about? I should start learning some sword arts in the future and maybe I can unlock it but for now, I should focus learning a martial art for my dagger skills.' Kal said to himself in a deep thought. Dante was curious as to why Kal looked very interested in the sword and couldn't help but make a humorous statement.
"You already mastered archery and have some good techniques with knives and daggers, don't tell me you're gonna learn how to use that sword?" Dante jokingly said. Though Dante said that light heartedly, Kal took what Dante said seriously and simply nodded in agreement as he returned the sword back in its case. Dontrelle who had wide knowledge about the sword didn't have much interest in the long sword Kal received since the sword he was fond off was a short sword. He simply stared at Kal's facial expressions and saw how happy and amazed he was by the items that he was dazing in the air for some time every time he holds the item.
'Brother seems to be very happy from his earnings that he keeps on looking to nothingness with a smile in his face. I should continue to support him and make him smile like this every time. I know he had a harsh childhood so I'll make sure that you'll live a comfortable life.' Dontrelle said in thought revealing a smile in his face.
Kal moved on to the the smaller items. The third item was a runestone. A rune stone is an item that can only be dropped by boss monsters. A rune stone contains an ability of the boss monster slain. To get the ability, you have to simply break the stone with your hands and the ability will be granted to you. But to know the ability, you must have to be a D-rank and above where you are able to use your mana since abilities rely on mana to activate.
Kal held the rune stone in his hand. The rune stone was as big as a pebble. The rune stone had a symbol glowing in grey that formed the shape of the kobold champion. A window panel then pop up in his view.
Ting~
RUNESTONE: Whirlwind
Rank: E+
Type: DMG/DEF/BUFF
- A gust of wind will surround the caster that can block projectiles excluding magic damage. If an opponent deals a physical melee attack to the caster, it will be counterattacked with double the damage absorbed.
Mana cost: 100
Duration: 10 seconds
Cooldown: 10 minutes
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN THE SKILL? (Y/N)
As soon as Kal read the description, a small rectangular panel popped up in his vision asking him if he wanted to learn the skill.
'I would definitely accept the skill but there are too many people around. A D-rank hunter would be able to learn this skill just fine but since I'm still an E-rank hunter in my records, if they found out that I already surpassed that rank and I'm already able to learn abilities, they might grow suspicious of me.' Kal said to himself in deep thought. He returned the runsetone back to its case and acted disheveled about it.
"Don't worry Kal, if you manage to leap a rank in your next reawakening, you can then get the skill in the runesone." Dante said to Kal as a means to reassure him.
"It's okay brother, in my next reawakening, I'll be sure to reserve you some rune stones and wait for you to reach D-rank."
Dontrelle said who also tried to cheer Kal up.
"Thanks guys." Kal said as he accepted their pity. Although he was just acting bummed about it, he was genuinely happy that there were people who would support him to any means necessary since he had never felt it ever since he had been left to survive alone.
He removed the sad look on his face and moved on to the fourth item. The fourth item was a material. Unlike items, materials were consumables that can be both used one time or multiple times or can be used as an ingredient to make potions or forge items. The material was the long nails of the kobold champion when it went berserk. The nails were as long as a pencil, they were as sharp an obsidian and as sturdy as steel. There where about 5 of it and as soon as Kal held one of the nails, a window panel averted in his view.
Ting~
BERSERKER NAIL (D)
Type: Material
Durability: 60/60
Effects: Alchemy/Forgery (A/F)
A- (80% chance) Increases strength by 10% for 10 seconds
A- (80% chance) Increases agility by 10% for 10 seconds
A- (40% chance) Pain immunity for a 30 seconds but will lose senses. After effect duration stops, weaken's user by 60% for 5 seconds.
F- Can be made to: Projectiles(Darts, Throwing knife, shuriken, arrow, needles etc.), Dagger, bayonet, etc.
F- (40% chance) grants passive skill
F- (30% chance) grants active skill
F- (50% chance) high effeciency
'The nail has some good effects. It might be better to turn this into an enhancement potion but I don't know any alchemist.' Kal said in thought after reading the material's description.
"Do you know any alchemist here in the city?" Kal asked.
"I know of one. Why? Do you think that materials can be used as an ingredient for potions?" Dante said as he raise his eyebrow in doubt.
'Carp! I shouldn't have asked so casually! Now he's superstitious of me!' Kal said to himself in panic.
"Uh...I just have this feeling that it's suitable for alchemy." Kal said as tried not to stutter his words.
"Hoh? Really? Well then, I'll introduce you to one alchemist, if what you say is really true then I'll pay for the brewing cost and if it's false, then you'll have to give me all the materials for free." Dante said to Kal with a smirk in his face. Kal swallowed his nervous saliva in panic and agreed with the deal.
"Fine." Both then shake hands. Kal moved on to the last case which was also a material. The material was the monster core of the kobold champion. The yellow monster core had a brilliant glow in it showing that the mana inside the monster core contained a very pure one. It was the size of a tennis ball and as soon as Kal held it in his palm, a window panel showed up in front of him.
Ting~
MANA CORE
Rank: D+
Purity: A
Element: Wind
Effects:
+6 STRENGTH
+10 AGILITY
Elemental effects:
+2 WIND ATTRIBUTE
DO YOU WISH TO ABSORB THE MANA CORE? (Y/N)
Note: All the effects of the mana core will be transferred to the user.
"..!" Kal's eyes widened in shock. He wasn't expecting that a monster core had such an effect to the user. Usually, monster cores are used as a material to make weapons, armors, martial fluid, alchemy and all other majority of advanced crafts humanity has invented and innovated but there was no information that monster cores can be absorbed by a hunter to increase their powers.
'The system is even capable of doing this? But why was there no window panel popping out when I grabbed normal monster cores? Does the grade and rarity of the monster core dependent to the system? Having the variable that it's a monster core of boss monster from a dungeon only activates it? Arrgh! I'm so confused!' Kal said to himself as he try to wrap his mind around this mystery.
"Do you want to sell that monster core? I'll give you a great price for that." Dontrelle said to Kal.
"It's okay Dontrelle, I don't plan on selling it for now." Kal replied.
"Give it to me, I'll ask my colleague, who's a blacksmith to make you a weapon with that monster core." Dante said showing his hand to Kal.
"I'll save it for now, maybe in the future." Kal said to Dante.
After checking all the items, Kal had to open a storage bank so he can store all of the items he earned. It would have been fine if he placed it in his spatial inventory but it would raise a commotion if someone finds out Kal had spatial abilities. He decided to put all the items he didn't need to the storage bank and those stuff he would need would be in his inventory.
Everything was finally settled. Dontrelle had to stay in the hospital since he still hasn't recovered from his injuries and Kal who was now completely fine in just a day of rest was able to leave the hospital. He returned to his apartment and locked the doors. He entered his room and as he looked around for any spies that may be watching him, he saw that there where none so he opened his inventory and no pulled out the runestone.
Ting~
RUNESTONE: Whirlwind
Rank: E+
Type: DMG/DEF/BUFF
- A gust of wind will surround the caster that can block projectiles excluding magic damage. If an opponent deals a physical melee attack to the caster, it will be counterattacked with double the damage absorbed.
Mana cost: 100
Duration: 10 seconds
Cooldown: 10 minutes
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN THE SKILL? (Y/N)
"Yes." After Kal's command. The essence containing the runestone seeped out. It flowed in the air like a slithering snake and went through Kal's chest. Kal could feel the essence entering his mana core and a tropical wind breezed through his entire body.
Ting!
YOU HAVE OBTAINED THE SKILL: WHIRLWIND (E+)
As soon as the windy breeze inside him vanished and everything turned to normal, the window panel popped out in his view telling him that he had successfully acquired the skill.
"I have a good understanding about how mana works so let's try activating the skill." Kal opened his skill tab and there he saw the skill: Whirlwind.
Ting~
[WHIRLWIND]
[empty]
[empty]
[empty]
Tap!
Kal pressed the icon of the Whirlwind and then he could feel his mana core being depleted in mana. The mana disappeared from his body and turned into a gust of air that circulated around him as if he was in the center of a tornado. The small object around him was being pushed away and when a loose bulb fell on him, it rebounded back which not only shattered the glass bulb into smithereens, it left a small dent into the wall where it collided to.
"Holy crap this is crazy!" Kal exclaimed in astonishment.