The missions that Klane gave me are basically gathering missions, but with a deadly twist.
There were plenty of reports in the past where low ranked adventurers somehow encountered a monster, be it high ranked or even middle ranked. And of course, not all Red ranked adventurers have the ability to combat. Some may have gotten lucky and escaped with their lives, while some unlucky ones died.
And sometimes, when a high ranked adventurer came to the spot to investigate, the monster was already gone.
On paper, my mission is gathering a bunch of rocks. But my true mission is to find the threats that previously have attacked the gatherers. A Red ranked adventurer mostly gathers as their main mission, and most of them can't even wield a sword properly. Only those who have experience can kill a monster. And in this case, I'm all right.
I'm basically like a false ranker at this point. Even though it was only two days ago when I became a Red ranked, my abilities should already be at the level of either Purple rank or Green rank, which is two and three ranks above me.
Am I cheating? Klane did say that my magic points growth was a little too irregular. No one in history ever racked up over 100 magic points in a day, which means my ability to quickly raise magic points is somewhat abnormal.
My plan for today is to gather the wanted item, and then look around for the mentioned monster. My main focus is to find the one that attacks the gatherers instead of gathering the item, but I still have to do that gathering mission for some extra cash.
Because this mission will not be just issued once. Issuing an item gathering could happen at least every day, with a single day having at least two or three requesters. One single mission offered by the Office can actually have two or three customers at once. I have to do the mission, or the Office will receive some backlash.
After walking to the place for an hour, I only felt slightly tired. I guess having 100 more magic points makes so much difference. It is twice the amount I had yesterday, so it's understandable that I could hold out walking even further without feeling tired.
I wonder how those people who have reached a thousand magic points felt. They probably don't feel tired at all. Surely, there are people who reached a thousand out there, like those White ranked adventurers.
I don't know how many magic points that everyone has, but I can tell for sure. Being a White rank means having the most points out of everyone.
But is that worth it? I mean, I really don't feel like becoming a White rank, even though I probably could if I trained enough. Having that big of a responsibility feels like a burden instead of bringing profit, and there's already a few White ranked adventurers already, so I don't really see why I need to become one.
After walking around for fifteen minutes, I finally found the cave where the stones I'm supposed to gather are residing. I guess I'm grabbing the stones first.
After walking inside the cave, I began thinking deeply. Klane said that the monster I am hunting is a demonized wolf. Or, wolves, since they always move in packs.
For Red ranked adventurers who can't even kill a single regular beast, a pack of demon wolves are the last thing they wanted to meet. Klane mentioned that the previous Red ranked adventurers who took this mission spotted over three demonized wolves, and they were very lucky to be able to escape.
To fight against multiple demonized wolves at once… can I do it?
For this gathering mission, I have to obtain thirty two 'Clune Stones', for the payment of 70 Jules. That's a ton compared to yesterday's flower mission. For almost the same amount, the difference is already 50 Jules. That's how insane the prize rose, thanks to the existence of those demon wolves.
After looking around, I realized that finding the stones weren't very difficult, because they do stand out more than a normal stone.
The inside of the cave is pretty dark. Klane gave me a stone that can produce light, and I thought for sure that she gave that stone to me so I can see in the dark. But it was actually an example of the very stones I'm going to find.
That's right, the Clune stones are able to emit light. And the one Klane gave me is one of them.
Now I know why the price for this item rose. Having a shining stone like this is like you no longer have to use light bulbs. In fact, these light crystals were used on all the houses. There was a huge mine for these stones, but to buy it from the miners is very expensive. The easiest and cheapest way to get them is to just ask an adventurer to grab them in random caves.
As I'm picking the stones one by one and putting them away, I can feel it.
Outside, there's a hint of blood lust pointed straight at me.
Somehow having more magic points gave me more access to my senses. It's like all of my five senses have become sharper, and I also have grown a sixth sense. A magic sense, and with this magic sense, I was able to tell the immense hunger and blood lust right outside of the cave.
I guess I will have a good time when I come out of the cave.
After collecting all thirty two light crystals, I finally walked outside of the cave. The closer I got to the cave entrance, the more I felt the painful pressure of the blood lust. Compared to the bear, the wolves give even more pressure.
Probably because they are stronger, and there's definitely more than one.
I slowly could see the entrance, but I couldn't see the wolves anywhere. As I walked outside, I stood in the middle of a wide area right in front of the cave, as if challenging myself to be attacked by the wolves.
I looked around and searched for the wolves. They were hiding, but thanks to my new and sharp senses, I can see where they are just fine. One on top of the cave's entrance, at the rocks, while another three are hiding behind the trees.
A total... four huh?
Then, you must be their leader?
I turned towards the wolf that is at the top of the cave entrance, and the demon wolf noticed that it had been spotted.
FWOOSSHH!!!!!
It immediately leaped forward, straight towards me with its mouth open. I noticed that it was quite fast, but I am much faster than it is, so I dodged to the right.
TAP!!
The wolf landed on the ground, and I was able to study its appearance very clearly.
This guy… is huge.
I watched a ton of wildlife documentaries using TV back in the day. There was an episode about the largest wolf in the world, with a length of around 2.5 meters and the height is 1.3 meters. For a wolf, that's definitely huge.
But, the one I'm facing is a demon wolf. The size alone is almost twice of the biggest wolf I saw on the TV that day. The fur on its body is also quite thick, and I can tell those fur aren't just there for warmth.
Not to mention how scary it is…
"GRRR!!"
Fuck man, its scary.
It's at least 4 meters long and 2 meters tall. The fur on the tail is all standing, the sign of an angry animal.
The other three wolves came out of the shadows of the trees around the cave's entrance, very slowly as they kept an eye on me. They all had the same appearance as the one in front of me, but they seem to be a little bit smaller compared to it.
They are getting closer, surrounding me from the trees. Meanwhile, I'm just standing still, wondering what I need to do to get out of this situation.
Damn… I don't have any choice, do I?
The wolf in front of me took no more time and began rushing head first. It dashed forward with both of its fangs open, and with a single leap, it can reach my position faster than a blink.
But by the time it arrived at my position, I was already five meters in the air.
SRINGG!!!
In the air, I unsheath my sword at high speed, creating a loud screeching sound of metal. My eyes are looking downwards, studying my prey below me like an eagle.
All the wolves on the ground are slowly approaching my position, but the wolf on the left side of the cave has leaped towards me at high speed.
Wow, it could jump!
But before the fangs reached me, I swung my sword and sliced the head in two, just like the bear.
Oh no, blood. Blood!!
I dodged just right in time when the blood spurted out from his sliced head. I really don't want to dirty my new clothes, and they look really sick, so I don't want to get them dirty at all.
I landed on my foot while the wolf that died landed on its still intact body with a disgusting sound. Blood is now puddling on the ground, and I watched as it slowly covered the area where the wolf's body landed.
Clearly, I never really liked looking at blood. Looking at them gives me a really heavy urge to puke. And perhaps, I'm going to puke so much after this fight ends.
Assuming I'm still alive, that is.
Tips on killing a demonized beast: They can regenerate quickly, so aim for the head. They will die instantly if their head was sliced, but that would mean I have to get close to its face before slicing it, so I have to be careful.
The wolves didn't care for its fallen comrade and began rushing for me.
The first to arrive was the one on the most right. It uses its claws this time, and those claws looked as long and sharp as a knife.
As it rushed forward towards me, I jumped backwards to dodge the claws. My feet landed on the ground after dodging, but I pushed it forward again to jump forward.
I leaped forward at the speed of faster than the wolf did, and I jumped above the wolf's body. As my body flew above the wolf's neck, I swung the sword and sliced its head off the body.
The chopped head fell forward, and a fountain of blood was flowing out of its body.
I ignored the feeling of slicing its neck because it was too disgusting, and I didn't bother looking at the puddling blood. I don't want to puke in the middle of a fight for my life, so I kept on moving.
The long skirt of the adventurer set is now slightly tainted in blood. Luckily it's black, so I can't really see the blood. But it absorbs the blood, and it will definitely smell very soon.
Guess I'm buying a new skirt... Maybe I'll ask Klane on another date.
I landed on my two legs, and I turned towards the other two wolves that are now already rushing towards me. I swung my sword to get rid of the blood, and I formed a defensive stance.
Come!!
The third and fourth wolf rushed at the same time. The third wolf aimed low for my leg, so I just simply jumped upwards. Unfortunately, the fourth wolf is smarter. It is already in the air, opening its fangs at me as if it was already expecting me to jump up.
What beautiful teamwork.
As the fourth wolf gradually approached me in the air, I swung my leg this time, and kicked it to the left. It was a quick move in the air, and I was very surprised that I could kick that hard while being in the air.
That wolf got thrown off quite far, and I can see a huge kick mark on its angered face.
The wolf below me also has not given up. It stopped right below where I jumped, and also leaped upwards with its mouth open.
I held the sword with both my hands and pointed the blade down. The tip of my sword landed first on the mouth of the wolf, and I thrust it deep into the wolf's throat using gravity.
After my body landed on the ground, I noticed that the wolf had died. Weirdly enough, the blood of the dead wolf doesn't spurt too much because the sword was buried on its head.
I pulled the sword out carefully while keeping a distance from it, and I did it in huge disgust while the blood slowly came out from the wound.
The fourth wolf is already approaching me, but it doesn't seem to be rushing. It probably noticed that I am not a simple opponent, so it began to react calmly. Demonized beasts are… intelligent, after all.
Seeing every single one of its friends slaughtered just like that, it finally turned serious.
"AUUUU!!!!!"
The demon wolf howled loudly, and I had to cover my ears from how loud it was.
Damn, do all demonized beasts have such a loud voice…?
But while I was busy covering my ears, a change began to happen with the demonized wolf. A dim purple light appeared around its body as it howled insanely loud, and changes can be seen all round the wolf.
I can barely recognize it, but the wolf has already stopped howling. By the time I regained my focus, it was already rushing at me.
"Khhh!!!"
I had to use every bit of my muscle and focus on my legs to leap really high to dodge the wolf. The wolf flew past me and landed behind, and it watched me as I landed back on the ground.
That dipshit... it became faster.
Body enhancement, huh? Interesting. I read that only a few demon beasts can use its demonized powers like that.
But using the demonized powers is like selling your soul for power. It lost control over its emotions, and was taken over by rage. If this thing were to let loose, it could go on a large rampage and kill anyone it sees. It also doesn't get tired, and it can hunt down anything night and day, not to mention how much more powerful it has become.
I landed a few meters away from it, and I studied its appearance. The demon mode demonized wolf (long name, I know) is growling at me loudly, and I can tell that it is very different than before.
Damn it… this guy became even scarier.
That thing has four eyes now, and the cheeks on its mouth is like forcibly stripped open. Now it has larger teeth and a larger mouth. Not only that, the claws are shining purple, like a sharp purple blade. I guess this thing has to like purple since even the god damn fur turned streaks of purple.
And to add to all of that, the demon mode adds its strength. Its danger level rose by one, and the body enhancing element makes it so much more powerful than before.
It is faster, stronger, and even more dangerous than before.
But, is it enough to defeat me?
It rushed again, but I'm ready this time. I held my blade horizontally to my right, I moved my body towards the left at the perfect time. I swung my sword forward at high speed horizontally when the wolf arrived on my right.
BREEESHH!!!
The sound of my sword cutting the wolf in half can be heard, along with the blood spurting out. The cut goes all the way from its jaw to its legs, and I completely sliced the wolf in half cleanly.
Actually… I shouldn't use the word clean so easily.
I noticed that my right hand was fully soaked in blood, and so was the right side of my body. I turned my gaze to the wolf that was cleanly cut in half horizontally, and my biology knowledge came to surface.
Are those... the stomach? Is that the heart? Hey, what's that yellow liquid? Oh that's my puke.
Instantly, I puked on the spot.