Max's parents remained silent as he finished his apology, their faces expressionless. Rashi looked at them with pleading eyes, hoping that they would show some sign of forgiveness or understanding. But there was nothing, only a tense silence that hung heavily in the air.
Finally, Max's father spoke up, his voice low and cold. "You brought shame to our family, Max. You know how important mana is in this world, and yet you couldn't even manage a D rank affinity. You were a failure, a disappointment."
Max lowered his head in shame, feeling the weight of his father's words like a physical blow. He had heard this all before, but it still hurt just as much as the first time. Rashi put a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.
"Max, we don't want to punish you," his mother said softly. "We just want you to understand how important it is to have a good affinity. We want you to have a good life, to be successful and happy."
Max looked up at his mother, tears brimming in his eyes. "I know, Mom. I'm sorry. I'll try harder, I'll do better."
But his father shook his head. "It's too late for that, Max. You've already shown your true worth. You're a liability, not an asset. We can't have you dragging us down anymore."
Max felt his heart sink. He had hoped that his parents would be willing to give him another chance, but it seemed that their minds were made up. He knew that he had to find a way to prove himself, to show that he was worth something in this world.
As they walked back to their house, Rashi tried to cheer him up by pointing out different street food vendors and suggesting they try something new. They stopped at a few stalls and bought different snacks, enjoying the warmth of the food and the bustle of the city around them.
But despite Rashi's efforts, Max couldn't shake off the heavy feeling of disappointment and shame that weighed on him. He knew that he had to do something, anything, to change his fate. And he was willing to do whatever it took to prove himself to his family and to the world.
The next few days were filled with tension and awkwardness at Max's home. His parents barely spoke to him, only acknowledging him when it was absolutely necessary. Rashi tried to bridge the gap between them, but even she found it hard to break through the thick silence.
Max spent most of his time alone in his room, brooding and thinking about his next steps. He knew that he had to do something drastic, something that would prove his worth and earn him respect. But what could he do? He was weak, with a F rank affinity, and he had no special talents or abilities.
One day, he stumbled upon a group of people in the city square, gathered around a board with different job postings. They were discussing the various requirements and rewards of each job, and Max listened intently, hoping to find something that could give him a chance to prove himself.
One particular posting caught his eye - a porter job for a C-rank dungeon. It paid well, but the risk was high, as the dungeon was known to be dangerous and many porters had died trying to complete it.
Max knew that it was a risky move, but he also knew that he had to do something to change his fate. He applied for the job, hoping that he would be selected. To his surprise, he received an invitation to join a group of adventurers who were planning to raid the dungeon.
He packed his bag and headed out early in the morning, not wanting to face his parents and risk their disapproval. Rashi had begged him to stay, but he had made up his mind. He was going to prove himself, no matter the cost.
The group of adventurers he joined were a motley crew, made up of different races and backgrounds. There was a tall, muscular orc who introduced himself as Grimgar, a quiet elven archer named Aria, and a dwarf named Bofur who was the group's healer. They welcomed him into their group, but Max could tell that they were wary of his low affinity rank.
As they made their way towards the dungeon, Max felt a sense of excitement and fear wash over him. He had never been on a real adventure before, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for what was to come. But he steeled himself, determined to prove his worth and earn their respect.
When they finally reached the dungeon, Max felt a thrill of anticipation. The air was thick with the scent of magic, and he could feel the mana pulsing through his veins. They entered the dungeon, their weapons at the ready, and began their descent into the depths.
The dungeon was filled with traps and monsters, and Max had to stay alert at all times. He was not as skilled as the others, but he tried his best to keep up with them. They fought goblins, orcs, and even a group of trolls, and Max found himself getting stronger with every battle.
But it was during their final battle that something strange happened. They were facing a powerful monster, a giant spider with venomous fangs and a thick, armored shell. Max had been injured during the battle, and was barely holding on. But as he looked up at the spider, something changed within him.
He felt a surge of power coursing through his body, and suddenly he knew what he had to do. He attacked the spider with all his might, his movements smooth and precise. He could feel the mana flowing through him, guiding his every move.
And then, with a final strike, he defeated the spider. The others looked at him in awe, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"What the hell was that?" Grimgar said, his voice gruff. "How did you do that, kid?"
Max stood before Grimgar, his hand extended in greeting. Grimgar's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden appearance of his old friend.
"Max? Is that really you?" Grimgar asked, taking Max's hand and pulling him into a bear hug.
Max laughed, feeling the weight of his troubles lifting for the first time in what felt like ages. "Yeah, it's me. It's been too long, old friend."
Grimgar stepped back, a wide grin on his face. "What are you doing here? I thought you were off on some grand adventure."
Max's expression turned somber. "I was, but things didn't go as planned. I lost my party, and I was left alone to fend for myself."
Grimgar's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "Are you alright? You look like you've been through hell."
Max shook his head. "I'm not alright, Grimgar. I'm barely hanging on. But seeing you again... it's given me a glimmer of hope."
Grimgar put a hand on Max's shoulder. "You're always welcome here, my friend. You know that. We'll take care of you."
Max's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Thank you, Grimgar. Thank you so much."
As they walked through the city, Max told Grimgar everything that had happened to him since they last saw each other. Grimgar listened intently, his heart heavy with sympathy for his friend's struggles.
Along the way, they stopped at various street vendors, sampling different foods and enjoying each other's company. Max felt a sense of peace that he hadn't experienced in a long time. For a few hours, he was able to forget about the monsters and the trials he had faced.
Eventually, they arrived at Grimgar's home, where Max was welcomed with open arms by Grimgar's family. Max felt a pang of sadness as he realized how much he missed having a family of his own. He had always felt like an outsider, even within his own family.
Later that night, as Max lay in bed, he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. He had abandoned his own family, and now he was seeking comfort from Grimgar's. He knew he needed to face his own problems head-on, but he didn't know if he had the strength to do it.
The following morning, Max woke up early, unable to shake off the feeling of guilt that had been weighing heavily on him. He knew he needed to face his problems, but he didn't know where to start. As he walked down the stairs, he could hear the sounds of Grimgar's family bustling about in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Max!" Grimgar's mother greeted him warmly as he entered the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?"
Max forced a smile. "Yes, thank you."
As they sat down to eat breakfast, Max's thoughts were consumed by the dark plot that had been slowly unraveling in his mind. He had been given a power that allowed him to level up by hunting monsters and humans alike. At first, he had used this power to survive, but now he was beginning to see it as a way to exact revenge on those who had abandoned him.
He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help the feelings of anger and betrayal that were festering inside him. He was tired of being the outcast, the one who was always looked down upon. He wanted to prove himself to the world, and if that meant taking down those who had wronged him, then so be it.
As Max finished his breakfast, he excused himself from the table, claiming that he needed some fresh air. In truth, he needed to clear his mind and figure out what he was going to do. He walked aimlessly through the city, lost in thought.
As he wandered, he came across a group of people gathered in a circle, watching something in the center. Curiosity getting the better of him, Max approached the group, trying to get a better look at what was happening.
What he saw made his blood run cold. In the center of the circle was a man, tied up and beaten beyond recognition. Max could see the fear in the man's eyes as the crowd jeered and taunted him.
He wanted to turn away, to pretend he hadn't seen anything, but he couldn't. Something inside him snapped, and he felt a surge of power coursing through his veins. Before he knew what he was doing, he had pushed his way to the front of the crowd and was staring down at the beaten man.
The man looked up at him, his eyes pleading for mercy. Max knew he should stop what was happening, but he couldn't. He felt a dark energy coursing through him, urging him on.
With a sickening feeling in his gut, Max realized that he was enjoying this. He was enjoying the power he had over this helpless man. And he knew that this was only the beginning.
Max knew that he had to be careful. He had heard rumors about the dangers of accepting quests from the Level Up System's owner. But he also knew that he couldn't ignore such a tempting offer.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. As he opened his eyes, he saw a message from the owner of the Level Up System appear in front of him:
[HUNT DOWN THE STRONGEST MONSTER IN THE WORLD]
[SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION WILL GRANT YOU UNIMAGINABLE POWER]
[FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE COLLAPSE OF YOUR UNIVERSE]
Max's heart raced as he read the message. He knew that the stakes were incredibly high, but the promise of gaining unimaginable power was too great to resist.