Chapter 15 - A Sad, Incomplete Reunion (I)
When Maxmillan recalled what was displayed on the holographic screen in his vision, he couldn't help produce a frigid smile in his face.
"Difficulty level is eight over ten, right? Hmm. I guess they must be very powerful then, since even after my enhanced physical state and the powerful weapons I now have in my possession, they are still given a difficulty level of eight out of ten." Maxmillan said to himself with a certain gleam in his eyes.
"Well, there are still two months and three weeks before the mission will expire. Let me quickly return home to see everyone and put their minds at ease. They must be greatly worried by now. And I hope mom hasn't set out to look for me and endanger herself. Or, I wouldn't ever forgive myself." Maxmillan said and started to run in the direction of his home. And he fully exerted himself so that he would arrive in his home before dawn.
As Max started to run at his peak speed of 90km/h, he suddenly got a system message.
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[Notice!]
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[New Mission Alert!]
[Mission Title: Homecoming]
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[Details: Since Host has caused great worry to his family and has chosen to return home to disperse their worries, Host must reach home in less than 3 hours for a journey that will take 8 hours!]
[Difficulty Level (Based on Host's current speed level and cardiovascular endurance threshold): 9/10 - (Extremely Difficult) - ]
[Duration: 3 Hours]
[Completion Failure: None]
[Completion Reward: Ultra-High Velocity Traversal Speed Boots]
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[Accept Mission:
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As soon as Maxmillan saw the displayed message, he abruptly stopped to digest the content.
"Really? Like really, Transmigrator Survival System?" Maxmillan couldn't help but ask with his brows furrowed.
But he got no response from the aloof and indifferent, emotion-devoid voice.
Seeing that he wouldn't hear from the Transmigrator Survival System, Maxmillan looked at the message again and made up his mind after exhaling a heavy breath. Of course, he couldn't lose the boots that will make his quest in battling and eliminating the Astra Mystralis-powered thugs much more easier.
"Yes!" He said determinedly.
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[System Notification!]
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Immediately these strings of messages appeared in Maxmillan's vision, he immediately took off at his peak speed and began to once more run in the direction of his home.
And his feet hit the ground so fast and loud that he conjured up a small dust storm behind him on the wide, dusty road path.
***
After running for an hour at his peak speed, he began to get tired. But of course, he wouldn't stop to rest!
Instead, he tried to increase his speed more that breathing became much more difficult for him.
'I want those damned boots!' He said with a fully determined scream within himself.
Gbam! Gbam! Gbam!...
Like feet that were made out of steel and hit the ground so fast, and caused the dusty road path to seemingly quake while conjuring up a large cloud of dust that floated right above his head, Maxmillan pushed himself beyond his limit as he had the absolute intention of securing the item that was displayed to him some moments ago.
He simply needed the boots and will definitely push himself far beyond his limit to get it. Besides, since this will be the first mission that he is taking on, sort of, he definitely wouldn't want to fail!
He looked at the holographic screen to see how many distance he had covered and couldn't help but be gladdened.
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[Warning Notice!]
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[Ongoing Mission Detail: Host has covered three-fifth of the journey by running and is left with 58 mins more to complete the mission.]
[Percentage Chance of Success: 60%]
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"I can do this! I have to! I definitely have to!!" Maxmillan said within himself.
However, at the moment, his heart was burning and his legs were weak and tired. Also, he felt like his lungs were on fire. They were being critically overloaded. Furthermore, he was racked with a seriously aching pain that afflicted his whole body. His legs had gone numb and his feet, incomparably painfully sore from the extreme-intensity, body limit-defying run that he resolutely engaged himself in.
***
About 56 mins later, after he had arrived in his usually peaceful town, Maxmillan could see the solid structural outline of his home from a distance. Then with a triumphant and joyous wide smile appearing in his face, he pushed himself further as he ran.
The joy of reaching home to see his parent and sweet siblings, made him briefly forget about the task at hand. He had even begun to imagine their faces and the great happiness that will bloom in their hearts for returning safely to them.
As he imagined the joy and happiness that will bloom in their gladdened faces for returning to them, he was fully distracted by a message that abruptly popped up in his head once he arrived at a distance of 10 feet before their wooden gate.
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[Mission Success Alert!]
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[Host has successfully completed mission titled: {Homecoming}]
[Host has been rewarded with the following item: Ultra-High Velocity Traversal Speed Boots!]
[Rewarded item {including hidden items for the Successful Completion of Homecoming Mission} can be found in Inventory]
[Congratulations Host!]
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Once Maxmillan saw these, he exhaled a heavy breath of relief and suddenly collapsed to the ground, before beginning to pant heavily for breath. He was definitely going to check the inventory later for the hidden items that he was rewarded with.
Suddenly, he got a message again that popped up in his vision.
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[System Alert!]
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[Rejuvenation + Energization + Tissue Regeneration of Host's body has been activated]
[Progress Level: 1%]
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Maxmillan saw these and produced a broad blissful smile in his face once again.
So, very soon, he should be up on his feet to go see his parent and siblings. He just couldn't wait to embrace them all in his arms and cry happily and euphorically at his reunion with them.
A few seconds later, he could feel great strength return to his body. Also, he could perceive that he was filled with more energy that caused him to be dazzled.
Then immediately, while on the ground, he did a kip-up to get back on his feet. He then immediately dashed to their house where he directly jumped over their eight-feet tall gate and ran to the door of their home with total excitement and happiness in his eyes. He just couldn't wait a few more seconds in embracing his family whom he had greatly missed and longed for during his self-banishment for failing the Floating Lotus Academy's admissive exam!