Time is full of expectations. It brings us together and drives us apart. It teaches us lessons and shows us the truth. It shapes our days and our years.
***
[The God of Time is proud of you]
Seeing that, Haste couldn't help but open his mouth in disbelief. He never expected that the God of Time was actually watching over him.
He just thought that he had been lucky to have been blessed, and that's all. He didn't expect that the one who had blessed him was actually watching him.
'And what does that exactly means? I didn't do anything for you to be proud of,' Haste thought.
Haste's shocked expression didn't escape Jil's eyes. So the latter asked, "Is something wrong?"
"No, why?" He answered after a short moment.
"Why do you look so shocked then?"
"I just thought of the countless possibility your idea gave me. And I couldn't help myself but be shocked by it," Haste lied once again. "But anyway, do you want to go home? Or should we go hunting?"
"No, I'm okay with hunting, but I have an idea."
"Yes?"
"Should we go to a higher zone?" Jil asked. "I don't know your level, but by how easily you dealt with the dogs, I don't think there's much sense to stay here. You won't gain any EXP nor too much battle experience since it would be too easy, and at some point, you will just lazily swing your sword to kill monsters in this particular zone."
"But there's not only the black dogs in this zone, right?" Haste asked, not sure about it.
"Yeah that's right," Jil answered. "Each zone had different types of monsters. Here, for example, you have all the weakest monsters. The black dog, black rabbit, black hedgehog, and so on. But the zone they stay in is for weak monsters. Every monster you will find here is very low-level monsters that only beginners fight against to level up slowly but surely. And as you go further in the monsters' continent, you will meet stronger and fiercer opponents."
"What do you mean by monsters continent?" Haste tilted his head to the side.
"They still didn't explain it at school?" Jil asked as Haste said no. "Well basically, there's the human continent with all the countries you know, and the monsters continent we are actually in."
"Is there a big distance between both continents?" Haste asked, curious to know more about it.
"As far as I know, yes. That's why they installed teleportation gates to go from a city to the monsters continent," Jil explained. "Of course, the monsters' continent is far bigger than the human continent. And we still didn't manage to conquer it because every time we try to advance, monsters that you can't even phantom their strength appear and destroy everything, be it the technology we deployed or even those who went there, so the humans."
"Why are monsters doing that? And aren't humans the stronger predator?"
"We don't know their reason, or should I say that I don't know. Maybe those who are very high level know about it, but for us, even if we know about it, I guess we won't be able to see things objectively," He answered. "As for your second question, where did you even hear that?"
"I don't know, it's just that with our power, I have the impression that we're stronger than anything else."
"Well, it's totally false. Maybe you don't see it here, but as you go further in the monster continent, the monsters began to use magic too. So no, we humans aren't the apex predator. If we were, our ancestors would have already conquered the continent."
"I see, thanks. But earlier you said that we couldn't conquer a lot the monsters' continent because the monsters were blocking our advance, then does that means that we don't have any base that goes even a little deep?" Haste asked.
"Yeah, that's right. For a reason that I ignore, they let us install a base at the very beginning of the continent. That's why we appear in this low-level zone instead of a zone filled with legendary monsters."
"Legendary what? Do you mean dragon and such creatures?"
"Dragons are indeed legendary monsters, but that's just a rank," Jil answered and saw Haste's expression saying "I want to know more". "I guess there's no harm in knowing it in advance.
"As you can see on your profile, there's something written in front of the status tab, right?" Haste nodded. "As you will level up, your status tab will change too. From level 1 to 51, you are an ordinary rank. Then from level 50 to 150, you are a rare rank. From 151 to 350, a special rank. From 351 to 500, you are an awaken. 501 to 700 a saint. And last but not least from 701 to 999, you are considered a legendary rank. Of course, the rank shows your prowess. Moreover, as you go up ranks, levels don't matter too much anymore. But you will see that in due time, don't worry.
"And monsters have the same ranks. However, for them, there's also another thing to take into account. But well, we talked too much already, so we should continue this conversation later."
"Just one last thing," Haste immediately stopped his brother from walking away. "What's after the level 999?"
"I'm not sure. Some say that you become a god rank. But since I don't know anyone that strong yet, I can't say much regarding that."
"I see, thank you for all the information," Haste smiled as his brother did the same.
'Well, I don't know if it's good or not, but at least, I know that I can be strong over time. And since there's nothing that pressing me to level up fast, I can take my time.
'And Jil is talking about another power since we went hunting. I don't know what is it. But if it's what is important after ranking up, then I must train hard when I will learn them.'
Even though there wasn't anything forcing him to level up, just hearing all of that made him want to increase his level. It made him want to fight even more.
And the black rabbit that appeared in front of them was the perfect prey.
He rushed toward the rabbit while the latter did the same. And at the last moment, Haste swung the arm which hold his sword so fast that the black rabbit couldn't even do anything and died on the spot.
However, because of the speed of his arm, Haste almost fell to the ground after making several turns on himself.
Almost