Since IS wasn't answering my calls, I had to take a cab to Harmony district. The district lies on the outer edges of Felmore city. There had been reports of multiple monster attacks here. This was why it was abandoned.
Gates that rank E to C usually appeared here so the threats weren't that large.
"Are you here to enter the gate?"
The knight who was guarding the gate came up to me as I stared at the space behind him.
"Yes."
"Let me see your official hologram card."
"Okay."
I gave my card as he asked. He scanned it using an appraisal item. This was to check if I had any criminal offenses on my name. Criminals would usually try and enter gates to rob newbies. Hunters that enter the E to C rank gates are the easiest prey.
I was also robbed a few times back when I was a naïve newbie. I became used to their patterns so I could spot them rather easily now.
"Be careful in there. There has been news going around that the parasites are getting more common these days."
The knight patted my back with a smile before returning to his duty.
'The parasites, huh.'
As seen in the news report video of that monster titan invading our city back then, it was being controlled by a parasitic organism.
Everyone suspected that these little troublemakers came from the high ranked gates given their abilities. They could even boost the strength of humans as well.
Since there are a lot crazy scientists out there, the dangers didn't stop them from studying these parasites. They come in all shapes and sizes. The biggest one ever recorded was being kept alive in a cage somewhere in our world. They hold many mysteries after all.
"58th time..."
I sighed before stepping through the gate.
◇◇◇
The monsters that could usually be found inside D rank gates are superior slimes, orcs, trolls, ground dragons etc..
Gates only begin having floors once the gate is ranked B and higher. D rank gates only have one floor which is an entire world inside the portal. It does have an end though. I could see the outer edge of the world just beyond the darkness of the mist.
There are rare cases of hunters finding the remains of lost civilizations. Not related to humans but to other life forms.
This was why so many hunters become wealthy after their discoveries. Many treasures and high grade magic items could be found inside those gates.
If you were to clear a gate then all the resources would be yours to take. This depends on what kind of gate it is. If you clear it solo then everything is yours. There hadn't been anyone capable of clearing an S-rank gate alone though.
This was why raid parties existed.
"Is that one..?"
I could hear grunting noises coming from a stream nearby. After I walked for a while, I could see the cause of those noises.
'It's draining the blood of its prey.'
I didn't expect to find one so soon.
I looked at my short sword. Since it's an item meant for thrusting, it was perfect for me since I aim for vitals. Usually it would be a secondary weapon for when a knight's main weapons breaks apart or loses too much of its durability.
'Well, I don't have to use my attack power that much on stealth.'
As I mentioned before, I was a coward when it came to close combat. I'd usually do hit and runs in the past.
'Maybe I should try asking someone to train me in swordsmanship.'
Although guns and nuclear bombs existed in this day and age, swords and spears were the most favourite weapons for physical attack dealers. That was because of the blessings we get from the gods. There are many gun and bow wielding hunters as well though. Take the SS-rank Divine Archer, Calliope from the White Orchid Guild for example. She managed to become one of the strongest hunters in the world with a weapon everyone looked down on.
I used bows and guns in the past but that didn't work out as I had hoped. I didn't have the abilities suited for long range weapons.
I creeped up from behind the orc and slashed his throat.
'Yeah, I'll stick to daggers and swords.'
"GUOOO….!"
The orc clutched its throat and pitifully thrashed around before dying.
I stole the animal he was busy cleaning. After putting it in my storage bag, I checked my hologram card. The system added a feature that allowed me to view my quests on the card without having to call it every time.
-
[Orcs slain: 1/10 ]
-
It wasn't even a few minutes later that I spotted my next prey.
'This is going smoother than I thought.'
Since there were two orcs, I couldn't charge in like an idiot.
"Keeek~"
"Guguguooo~"
The two were busy chopping off a tree with crude stone axes.
'If they're here then that means that there's a tribe nearby.'
I frowned.
'I'll have to either lure them out of their nest or wait for nightfall before taking them all out.'
I wasn't confident if I could do the latter. I only had two days to complete the class quest before I face the punishment. Maybe IS wasn't answering my calls because he wanted me to finish this on my own.
'You bastard system. I'll show you...'
I coated a needle with poison before throwing it towards the first orc.
"GUOOOO!!"
He grabbed his neck that was pierced by the needle. The other one dropped the axe and began looking around.
I was busy creeping around in the bushes so that he couldn't see me.
After arriving at a suitable spot to strike, I took out of my short sword.
I finally have my license!
I'll definitely become stronger than all of you!
M-Maybe I'll do better on my second try.
I sighed as the past played itself inside my head.
I faced death countless times in the past. How was I even still alive?
'Did Lexan watch over me all my life?'
It was weird how perfectly timed our meeting was right after my death. Maybe that was the case.
-
Skill activated – Limbo
-
A shadow jumped out from under my feet. It transformed into me and ran towards the orc.
"Keuk!?"
The orc reacted quickly and swung his club.
"Guo?"
His club struck empty air.
I moved at that moment.
"Guooo!?"
THUNK...!
I jumped on his neck after cutting his wrists. His weapon fell to the ground.
I locked my legs around his neck.
"You should watch your back, you dumb orc."
A cracking sound resonated after I twisted his neck. His face was turned 180 degrees before he fell down.
I looked at my hands in surprise.
"What the hell? I'm stronger than I thought I would be..."
I handled the other orc in a few seconds as well. It was extremely easy.
I was only level 33 but I was able to beat down orcs that were usually around level 60.
Ding...!
[Orcs slain – 3/10]
"I can do this."
◇◇◇
I found a village of orcs up in the mountains. The sky was already turning orange since it took a long time for me to locate any others. The mountain was thankfully filled with them.
When I jumped onto a tree, I looked down at the orc village. I saw a giant tent in the middle of the village.
That must be the orc chief's tent. I knew that he wasn't there since the village looked so empty. He must've taken some of his warriors to hunt another monster.
"Screw stealth."
I took out a fireball scroll. After amplifying the scroll with my mana, the scroll burned to a crisp as a fireball was left in its place. Since I hadn't learned any spells before, I could only rely on the intermediate scrolls I had on hand. I took out several more.
'Wait a second. If IS could give me an OP skill like spatial jump then what kind of spells can I learn?'
I wanted to ask him right away. I might even be able to learn something that was similar to Dark's magic. He could stop that train with telekinesis alone, after all. He might not be the most powerful mage but he had skills that would even put the high rankers to shame.
After letting the spell cook for a minute, I aimed it right at the orcs that were gathered around each other.
Boom...!
Boom...!
"---!!!"
The fireball was bigger than usual since I used nearly all of my mana. One orc was cooked to a crisp while the others were injured by the fire. They were slowly burning as well.
"GUO!"
I jumped on one of them and cut out its eyes. After breaking its neck, I aimed for the others. There were at least eight gathered around me.
I smashed a brick on another one that broke its entire face.
The others tried to hit me with their weapons. I had to be careful of my weapon breaking so I had to block their clubs with my arms.
After their weapons broke, they were but prey for me.
'Who would've thought that Absolute Defense would become this handy down the road.'
My defense was nearly 2000. That was equivalent to a B ranker's defense. That was basically a cheat in a D rank gate.
'Since it's a C rank skill, I wonder if I can undergo a skill evolution.'
That referred to when your skills get enhanced by themselves. It depended on what kind of skill you had and how strong your will was.
Reinhart already went through a skill evolution. That was what made him become an S-rank knight.
If I had Absolute Defense then I was more suited to be a shield bearer. I could become the strongest tanker in the world. But...
'I'd rather stick to fighting with a dagger.'
I didn't want to learn how to use a shield when I was already used to swords and daggers. Since I had a skinny body, I was more confident in my agility.
"GUUOOO!!"
Another orc tried to hit me with his club.
"AAAH!!"
It broke on impact when I crossed my arms. I didn't even feel anything.
"Guo?"
His stupid expression was the last thing I saw before I kicked his balls.
"....!!!!!"
He collapsed immediately after the kick with foam coming out of his mouth.
"...? Didn't I slay more than the quest required me to?"
Ding...!
Ding...!
Ding...!
[Quest complete! 11/10]
]Quest clear reward – Mana Barrier(A) gained.]
[All stats rewards have been applied!]
'An A rank skill?'
It was amazing but still useless because of my miniscule mana.
'I have to grind before I can use it. Maybe I should ask IS for mana related quests.'
When I was about to leave the camp, a rumbling sound caught my attention.
".....!"
The low gurgling sound made my entire body freeze.
TAK...!
TAK...!
The being moved the giant tress out of the way using its bare hands.
"...Ah..."
ROOOOAR....!
Its roar shook my insides.
It was an orc chief. I could tell by its red skin.
It was a Level 90 monster.
'I spoke too soon. Why did I have to jinx myself?'
"I'm fucked."
I cursed as I saw more orcs coming from behind it.
Ding...!
-
Hidden class quest detected – Defeat Parasitic Orc.
Reward – All stats +30
MP+500
Punishment – Get thrown into the Nightmare World.
Special reward - Lucky Draw(skills or techniques gained depends on the user's luck.)
-
"...Are you serious?"