(Jake's POV)
Well, I hunted almost every free minute I got after scheduling some time for eating, rest and other miscellaneous daily activities. After spending so much time like that I finally reached level 20 and that means it's time to rank up.
[Detected that the player has reached level 20.]
[Issuing Rank-1 quest...]
[Rank-1 Quest: Hunt 10 Earth Bears and 10 Fire Tigers, whose levels are no less than level 18. There is no restriction on the max level. The higher the monsters are, the better the rewards will be.]
Right on time.
The system naturally detects when one reaches the threshold to rank up and gives a quest for them to complete. Only by completing the quest would I be able to reach the next levels. Until then, I am stuck at level 20.
Of course that doesn't mean that everything I do would go to waste. No the EXP I gain before the quest is completed will be saved until I rank up and would be utilised after I complete the quest to rank up.
Level-ups are very important as they are one of the most common ways that people in this digitalized age can improve their stats. So no matter what, the Rank-up quests are of the highest priority.
The good thing was that I had already completed the quests here and could return to the New Bastion to submit the monster materials and collect the reward. Once that is done, I can proceed to complete the rank-up quest.
I was stuck in this valley for some time because of those two quests. Vale Rats are very good at hiding. If not for the [Earth Sense], I would have trouble locating them in the first place. Even with this skill, it was not so easy.
Earth Sense can be very useful for finding what is on Earth not underground. It was quite difficult but there are a few slight tremors that happen when they burrow. Using that, I hunted the number I wanted for the quest to complete.
Vale Apes on the other hand are always visible but very nimble and agile. I could never catch up to them.
I had to use my bow and my [Marksmanship] skill which is my highest ranked skill, may be the highest one in existence. Anyway, I didn't think I would have to use that this early.
Well, I could have completed the quest without the use of the skill but that would have consumed a lot of my time. So, the best way to use everything that I have in my quiver. I need to understand everything I have now when no one has set their eyes on me.
It's the best time to check everything that I can and can't do. Once I entered the academy, there would be too many eyes on me. I can't forever keep my player avatar a secret and once I reach level 60, the stats and skills would start to sync with my body.
One can easily associate me with my avatar.
Yes, there are many professions and many would seem similar to each other with similar skills but that doesn't keep it secret from someone with keen eyes or skills that can discern what is what.
I can't use X-rank skills when others are in my sight. The power of those skills would definitely alert them.
Though I am not a mage, the profession that is known for its flashy skills, hiding skills like these is not easy. Anyone can easily determine that my skills are not of a lower rung if they see me using them.
So it's never a good thing to show off before you have the strength to protect yourself.
It makes this period the best time to check anything extraordinary. So I did. Not just the [Marksmanship] but also the [Spectral Eye]. Using the second one gave me a headache, so I deactivated it within seconds of activating it.
I believe that my body is not strong enough to understand whatever the skill can show. Though I didn't keep that active for long, I did get a glimpse of various colours clearly flowing. I have no idea what it was exactly showing, though my skill description said that with the skill I can see all energies out there.
Anyway, that was a debate for another day when I could use the skill properly.
For now, I am returning to New Bastion.
---
Once I handed over the quest materials and got the reward, I exited Yaros to rest for a while. I have been hunting for a while now. Until I reach level 60, and my body starts to sync with the player avatar, I am a normal mortal, who gets hungry, tired and stiff if I stay in a position for too long.
So I need to take a few breaks every now and then.
Moreover, I need to be in optimal shape as once I log back in, I will complete my Rank-up quest and also any quests that may be available in regions where the monsters I have to hunt are present.
Earth Bears and Fire Tigers, definitely two different regions.
Why though?
Normally any quest for Rank-Up would be in the same region. Why was mine different?
Is this because of my blessings?
I have no idea but I think I will soon be able to find everything about this and what made that bastard want to get his hands on the artifact so much so that he killed my parents.
Everything will be clear soon, I hope so.