[Don't even think about blaming me for this! You should know that something like this is possible. *mumbles* idiot...]
"I can read you know." Leon growled after reading the message.
But the system wasn't wrong, he did know that such a thing could happen. As in the name, a hidden quest was hidden, but couldn't that also mean that the rewards were hidden as well? While it never showed up on the quest screen, there was always a chance that something could be triggered by some unknown means.
One of the known means, to God-like beings at least, was when a small number of 'Players' completed something. The system seemed to recognize less than 100 people as an achievement, which created a hidden reward out of nowhere.
Now, he and all the other 92 Players who completed the hidden sub-quest would get an extra hidden sub-quest when the next Main Quest came out.
"Will this extra quest be hidden or will it be revealed to us?"
*ding!* [Hidden duh! You think I'm going to let you see it for free? In your dreams old man.]
Leon rolled his eyes but didn't dwell on it. This was something he could worry about more once the next Main Quest was out but even then, he didn't NEED to complete the hidden quests. It was optional but he would try to do it if he found out what it was easily.
Looking back at the Quest completion, it didn't matter which reward he chose for the Main Quest as he completed the bonus one as well. He now had both an F rank item and skill that he could get but he was thinking most about was what he would choose for the hidden reward.
"Skill or item? Which one do I need more?" He mumbled to himself as he looked over his stats, skills, titles, and inventory to see what he had the most of and what he was the most in need of.
The reason he went over everything was because he wanted to make sure it would be something that would actually help him, not just collect dust in his inventory. He didn't want to get an item or skill similar to his Crude Knuckledusters, which he had not found a practical use for.
Bare handed weapons had limited use in general, as the likelihood of using them especially against another human was low. Having a weapon with a mid to long range of attack would be much easier and more practical to use then something barely protruding off his fists.
That wasn't to say the knuckledusters were useless, as he could still use them to kill plenty of animals, he probably wouldn't be able to one shot kill anything unless he had a much higher attack stat than their health and defense though.
Continuing his research, his stats seemed fine as he was in E rank now which was likely above average compared to the rest of the world while he had plenty of good titles that meshed well with his more overpowering skills.
The issue with the majority of his skills though, were that they were mostly F rank. As people and animals alike slowly crept closer to E rank, these F rank skills would become obsolete and as he had a lot of them, some of them would definitely fall behind.
He didn't want to be some all-rounder or Master of None. It was best to specialize in something and stick with it as you would fill a certain niche that others would not be able to contend with you in.
A lot of the F rank skills he had were directly related to survival. He had skills like Material Harvesting and Woodworking that allowed him to make things out of the natural surroundings while his skills like Bow Mastery and Silent Steps were related to the hunting of wild animals.
Going off of that mindset, it might be best for him to get an item so that he got another tool or weapon that would directly help those skills grow and make it easier to survive in this harsh environment.
On the flipside, the items and equipment he currently had were quite good even though a week had barely passed since the intervention of the Universal Law. He had a full set of armor that provided him with extra stats. He had a main weapon and several secondary weapons that he could make more of at anytime.
He also had the mini totems that he uses for an extra boost for a certain amount of time along with the Soul Stone that he recently got that could be used if needed. Not to mention the very overpowered items: Cloak of Concealment and The Eyes of Heimdall.
On top of all that he also had an item that could repair anything E rank or lower, keeping the 12 hour cooldown in mind. It seemed like he was set with items, but was he really?
He may have good weapons but their reach was very short. He had no long range weapons right now and getting so up close and personal with animals that naturally had an advantage over humans with their claws and fangs was just a dance with death.
He also couldn't fully bring out the power of his overpowering items, limiting what he can do in an extreme situation and meaning it might be best to get a more practical item for the current stage of Terraformation.
Also, how was he able to bring out the power of his skills, if he didn't have anything to use them with? He had Bow and Axe Mastery but had neither weapon in his arsenal and he may have the Throwing skill now but he didn't want to constantly lose and make new knives every time he missed.
Leon felt like he was in quite the dilemma.
[Don't think about it too much. *nom* *nom* Its been what? 7? 8 days? Either or. *nom* It doesn't matter much. Better to make mistakes now rather *nom* than later.]
[You are also *nom* *nom* way ahead of the game. From what I can see, there's maybe *nom* *nom* 6 others? Who are as strong as you. They are all first Awakeners like you, *nom*, and well... only one is kinda interesting but their situation is special, like yours. *nom* *nom*]
[*gulp* Anyways don't stress about it. Do you want me to choose for you?~]
"First off, shut it with the pretend eating. Its annoying. Second, can you even choose it for me? What happened to your fairness?" Leon complained.
[Hey! I was eating though! I may be the literal Universe but I still need sustenance. And I wouldn't choose physically, we can play a little game! How 'bout it?]
"Ugh... no." Leon grumbled as he got up to go to bed.
[Come on~ Have a little spice in your life.]
"I have plenty with you and furball over there," Leon gestured the pup that had its tongue out twitching while it dreamed, "I'll just choose later."
[It'll be quick and easy I promise. No teasing. No tricks. Deal?]
"..." Leon paused as he thought for a moment. The system was always bugging him but even though it was a brat, it was useful for many things. It may not know what he needed the most or what he would get out of the reward, but maybe having someone else, or something else, choose for him would be the best.
"Fine... be quick." Leon finally caved.
[Okay! Pick a number between 1 and 2.]
"What kind of bullshit are you-"[Just do it!]
*sigh* "Fine... 1."
[ding! ding! ding! Congrats! You have chosen (E) rank item! Woop Woop!]
Leon held his forehead in frustration as the system bombarded him with celebratory messages. After a moment to calm himself, he pulled up the hidden reward message and selected the E rank item.
*ding!* [You have selected (E) rank item x1 as your reward. Would you like to open it?]
*ding!* [(E) rank item has been used. Generating Reward.]
Leon watched and waited as the red glow in his hands grew brighter and dimmer as if it was thinking of what to give him.
[You don't want to question my methods? Shocker.]
Leon could hear the attitude in the system's message but he didn't react right away.
"What if I knew what you were up to and subconsciously chose 1 because I figured it was the skill? Or what if I assumed you were trying to trick me and picked 1 to get the item? What happens if this little game of yours ends up screwing me over later?" Leon asked a bunch of his own questions in response.
It seemed like he was accusing the system in someway but that wasn't it. He wasn't sure what he wanted yet the system just made it seem so simple, almost too simple. Was it really that easy to decide on something that meant life or death?
[You are reading way too into this,] They system replied as the light in Leon's hands began to dim, [I told you I had a quick and easy way to fix it. I assigned a number to the items and asked you what you wanted. I don't care about what you might want deep inside your mind, I didn't care if you thought I was tricking you and who cares if it screws you over? Just push through the pain and continue surviving like you've been doing.
[Nothing in life is ever going to go perfectly like you want it. Believe me. There are still plenty of things even I can't control that irk me to no end but I don't go around bitching about it. Well... sometimes... but not usually... Anyways stop thinking so seriously all the damn time, its quite annoying you know?
[Didn't you tell me you were going to live your life how you wanted? Then do that! Don't let me, the Universal Law, stop you. I'll only stop you if you try to destroy all life in the Universe but that won't happen since you said you don't care right?
[Just keep being a grumpy old man, Leon.]