[Mission: Kill 4 shadow salamanders]
[Reward: 5 free characteristic points]
So the system has more than just perverse missions.
Came to my mind before I focused on my opponents.
About 15 salamanders came out from behind the nearest trees, beginning to surround us.
They had dark, rough bodies covered in sharp growths, sharp claws on each of their four paws, and a long tail with a sharp tip dangled from the back.
As they approached us, their eyes changed color from black to bright red, giving them a ferocious look.
Nodding to Kelly, I looked at the group of salamanders to my right. Apparently because I was considered easier prey, there were only four of them.
__________________________
[Name: ---]
[Age: 5] [Race: Shadow Salamander]
[Rank: 1 star]
[Agility: 12]
[Strength: 8]
[Stamina: 10]
[Mana: 5]
[Intelligence: 2]
[Talent: ---]
[Weaknesses: Low defense on belly and neck, Vulnerability to light.]
__________________________
I couldn't help but think that finally my cheat is starting to live up to its name.
While their stats were mediocre, they made up for it with their numbers. Before I was finally surrounded, I pulled my sword from its sheath and rushed to the nearest salamander.
Caught off guard by the sudden change in its victim's behavior, the monster did not react in time and was pierced by the sword. Seeing the bloody blade sticking out of one of the kin's throats, the remaining salamanders rushed at me at once.
Thanks to my high agility, I was able to dodge the first two, and block the claws of the remaining one with my sword.
Kicking it hard in the stomach and freeing my blade, I swung at one of the salamanders that had missed me earlier. With a cry of pain, it bounced away with a wounded neck.
The nearest salamander swung its jaws, trying to sink into my flesh. I lunged in response, aiming for its neck.
I managed to pierce it, but because it was in motion, the blade went in at a bad angle, getting stuck in it.
"Eden!"
When I heard Kelly scream, I turned around and saw the claws of the salamander I'd previously tossed aside. It had recovered from my blow surprisingly quickly and was ready to continue the fight.
I instinctively put my hands out in front of me for protection. The next moment I felt a searing pain in my forearms.
The light armor that covered them was torn to shreds. While it didn't restrict movement, allowing me to engage in speed-oriented combat, it had little protection.
After recovering from the shock, I rushed to the salamander where my sword was stuck, and stepping on it with my foot, yanked the blade with force.
Fortunately, I was able to pull out my sword right away. I turned around and slashed the remaining monster's neck with one strong swing.
Wiping the blood from my face with my hand, I noticed how the girl knight easily killed the monsters one by one. During this time, she had already killed all of the monsters that had come and was busy with those who were still hiding in the shadows.
Her sword was covered in a faint blue aura that made the blade go through monsters like a knife through butter.
I knew that this faint blue aura was a manifestation of mana. It allowed the weapon's qualities to improve manifold, allowing it to do previously impossible things.
Perhaps if she had used Mana to spar with me, I would have died faster than I realized it.
Unfortunately, I didn't have such abilities available to me at the moment. At the level of one star, people could only strengthen their bodies with mana. Only after reaching two stars could I learn to control my mana and embody it in the form of an aura.
I was about to open a system window and check my mission when there was a loud sound in my head.
[Warning! Danger!]
Without realizing what was happening, I reflexively jumped aside.
A second later, four furrows appeared on the ground where I had just stood. Along with it, I saw my attacker.
It was a monster that was outwardly similar to the previous ones, but several times larger.
Without delay, I immediately looked at its status.
_________________________
[Name: King of the Grove]
[Age: 13] [Race: Shadow Salamanders]
[Rank: 2 star]
[Agility: 58]
[Strength: 25]
[Stamina: 20]
[Mana: 15]
[Intelligence: 4]
[Talent(D): Shadow Walk]
[Allows you to hide your presence in the shadows.]
[Weaknesses: Low neck defense, Vulnerability to light.]
__________________________
Realizing that its prey had escaped its attack, the enraged monster swung at me. Although its speed was still slower than Kelly's, it was impossible for the current me to keep up.
With a violent jolt, I felt myself flying towards a tree before crashing into it.
It felt like I'd been hit by a truck at full speed. As I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I noticed the clawed monster approaching.
Realizing that this blow could cleave me in half, I defended myself with my sword.
*Crackle*
The sword could not withstand the clash with the hardened claws of the large salamander and with a loud crack the blade split in two.
Then I saw the monster's open mouth and two rows of razor-sharp teeth in front of me. I pulled my body back as far as I could, aiming my broken sword at the burning red eye.
With all the strength I could muster, I plunged it into its eye to the hilt. An unbearably loud scream erupted from the monster's mouth, making my ears bleed.
Blinded in one eye, the salamander turned its head violently, trying to throw me off.
I realized that because the sword had broken, it wasn't long enough to finish the monster off at once. After taking a few hits on the ground, still disoriented by its loud screaming, I fumbled for the broken part of the sword on the ground. Squeezing it, I drove it into the monster's second eye.
Continuing to squeeze it until my palm began to bleed, I drove it in as deep as I could.
After hitting the ground a couple more times, the monster's movements became sluggish until it finally stopped.
At that moment, Kelly ran up to me, yelling something desperately. I couldn't make out what she was saying because of my condition.
Digging through her bag, she pulled out several vials of potions and hurriedly poured them into my mouth.
Feeling the heat spreading through my body, repairing the damaged parts, I let out a sigh of relief.
At least I'm alive.
After waiting a couple minutes for my senses to return to me, I opened my eyes and watched Kelly cut open the monster's corpse. Soon she pulled out a small core of murky green color.
"Just as I thought, the 2 star level beast."
The girl muttered, examining the object in her hand.
When Kelly saw me open my eyes, she immediately ran up to me.
"Eden! Are you okay?!"
"I'll live."
With a bloody smile I replied.
Bowing slightly she said guiltily.
"Sorry, I got too carried away and didn't react in time."
"It's not your fault."
I was the one who was too careless after defeating a few weak monsters. Especially from the appearance of the large salamander to the moment of its death, no more than 10 seconds had passed, preventing Kelly from intervening in the fight in time.
Kelly realized it too, but she was still gnawing with guilt. When she lowered her head, she noticed the murky green core in her hand, and remembering something, she turned to me
"Look! That's the core of the second star's monster."
Bringing the object up to me, she spun it around.
"Eden, you killed a monster a level higher than yours by yourself! You're amazing!"
"I just got lucky."
Indeed, if it weren't for the system's warning and the monster's carelessness, I'd be dead right now.
But I did enjoy the feeling of defeating such a strong opponent. My joy increased even more when I received a notification from the system.
[Mission Successfully Completed.]
[Killed: Four 1-star Shadow Salamanders, One 2-star Shadow Salamander.]
[Awards are being counted...]
[You received 5 free characteristic points and a Ring of Limenna.]
Surprised by this generosity, I asked.
'System, aren't the rewards fixed?'
[No, host. While missions are given out based on the situation, they are never fixed. The more you achieve, the more you get.]
It gives a lot of opportunities.
I thought before I shifted my gaze to the item I had just received.
***
Thanks for reading, everyone.