Time ticked by quickly and hours blurred into three fleeting days since Jax and King forged their uneasy alliance.
And right now...
Whistle. Whistle. Whistle.
Jax lounged on the grass beneath the canopy of a towering tree as his hands clasped behind his head. He lay there in relaxed abandon, whistling a lively tune as he idly passed the time.
Upon closer inspection, one would notice a single notable change to Jax's attire. A pristine white leather quiver was now wrapped snugly around his waist.
The quiver resembled a vertical pouch, complete with a small triangular lid that covered its opening, showcasing only the snowy white bolts peeking out from the corners. Its design also featured smaller pockets, hinting at its versatility and ability to carry a variety of items beyond just bolts.
It seemed like Jax got a loot drop that he liked during the past few days he was grinding fishes.
In any case, Jax was currently savoring a rare moment of relaxation. Normally, he would be frantically hunting monsters around this time, driven by his mission and leaving him almost no room to breathe.
But right now, a sense of relief washed over him, as the weight of responsibility had been lifted from his shoulders. Thanks to a certain individual, the task was being taken care of, and Jax was poised to reap a substantial reward without exposing himself to any danger.
Even till now, Jax still struggled to wrap his head around the fact that he had stumbled upon a haven in a place notorious for its unforgiving environment.
''Scroll. Lord's Quest.'' As Jax lounged lazily, he summoned the Scroll to see his progress. He intended to review his progress and to recalculate how much progress he would get further ahead at the end of this mission.
_____________________
[Mission]
• Slay fishes and collect 100 souls or more within the time limit of 30 days.
(Souls collected: 1,834/100)
(Remaining time: 16D)
_____________________
A broad, thrilled grin spread across his face. If things continued to unfold like this, he might just hit the remarkable milestone of 10,000 souls collected by the time he completed the mission.
"Ke ke, too bad... once King gets lazy, he vanishes without a word and neglects his duties..." Jax let out a wistful sigh, then added after a pause, "I would've collected many more souls if he hadn't been so idle."
"But maybe I shouldn't get too greedy... King is still human, after all... he still has his limits," Jax murmured to himself, reminding himself to keep things in perspective. He knew his boundaries and recognized the fine line that shouldn't be crossed.
He shouldn't force King to do all the work too much, while he was just there waiting leisurely for King to finish all the job.
"Right, I shouldn't cross the line," Jax said with a wry, sarcastic smile, his tone implying that he was already toeing that line.
That could have caused him his life.
The reason why he was still alive and kicking was that King still needed him. And it was largely due to King's lingering interest in him. King never forgot to keep an eye on him, seeking to unravel the mysteries surrounding this peculiar Outlander.
That being said, although Jax only took his time leisurely, he didn't forget to remain cautious of that ticking time bomb. He was acutely aware that, to King, their alliance was likely a matter of convenience, and that he could be discarded at any moment if he outlived his usefulness.
Fortunately, Jax was aware that King still had a use for him, and was deliberately keeping him alive. He seized this opportunity and made the most of it to ensure his own survival.
For Jax, it was impossible to escape King's grasp anymore. However, his encounter with the Scroll had revealed a glimmer of hope.
His only viable strategy was to maintain a facade of carefree manner around King, lulling him into a false sense of security, and waiting for the perfect moment to make a move when King's guard was lowered.
Over the past few days, Jax had taken a decidedly hands-off approach, allowing King to take the lead in hunting monsters while he stood idly by, observing from the sidelines and engaging in frivolous behavior.
Of course, monsters would sometimes come to attack him. But King would always come to his rescue as if a knight who was trying to save a damsel in distress.
In the end, Jax was starting to feel it. He was starting to realize that he was gradually becoming redundant, relegated to the role of a mere background character, devoid of any real agency or purpose.
The analogy struck a chord within him, and Jax couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of dread. He was starting to see himself as nothing more than a pampered pig, fed and cared for by King, only to be slaughtered later at the right time, much like the pig's fate was sealed from the start.
Then again, he already knew that from the start. However, thinking about the bleak likelyhood of changing that fact was a different matter. He couldn't help but feel a chill running down his spine at the mere thought of it.
For the past few days he had known King, he was definitely someone too strong. And treating him like a pig to be fattened and slaughtered at his convenience was nothing but a mere piece of cake for him.
''No, I shouldn't overthink too much.'' Jax muttered to himself, shaking his head vigorously to dispel the unsettling thoughts. He sat up, his eyes blazing with determination, and clenched his fist in front of him, ''I still have a way. Only when I get stronger will King see me as a person. I should let him know that I am someone...''
''What are you yapping about?''
Jax was just about to finish his words when a sudden, gruff voice sounded behind him. He hadn't even had a chance to turn around and face the one who had spoken when the voice sounded again.
''I took care of all those insects. I'm off today, so take your time doing your own business.''
Jax smiled brightly. He rose to his feet and turned around to face that person. Of course, it was King. Who else could be there other than him?
"You're the best, Brother!" Jax exclaimed, giving King a enthusiastic thumbs-up. Having witnessed King's impressive abilities firsthand, Jax had wisely decided to adopt a more deferential tone, addressing him as "Brother". He figured it would be great to curry favor with someone as powerful as King, and maybe even forge a beneficial friendship.
"Don't be ridiculous," King said bluntly, his voice devoid of warmth. "We're not Brothers, and we'll never be good friends."
He made sure to let the other party know that there was a vast chasm between them and he should do well to stop fantasizing about bridging it.
"Ha ha, you're too kind. Don't you know tha... Ha ha ha..." Jax's attempt at flattery was cut short as King vanished into thin air once again. A dry, mirthless laugh escaped Jax's lips, and he forced a bitter smile onto his face. That guy was surely impatient.
''Well, I should start working too,'' Jax decided as he walked forward at a leisure pace.
Not too far away, Jax's gaze fell upon a gruesome yet impressive sight. Countless dying monster fish, mortally wounded and struggling to survive, littered the ground, piled high in a lifeless heap. In the past, such a spectacle would have sent his excitement soaring, but now...
''Damn, there's really a whole lot of them...'' Jax sighed, King really made sure to give him so much that he would wish that there was nothing more.
The monotony of repetitive work over the past few days had drilled a valuable lesson into Jax. Doing the same thing over and over was mind-numbingly dull.
Thankfully, his perseverance had finally paid off, and he felt a sense of accomplishment at having leveled up his Skill: Soul Steal after putting in so much effort.
As Jax collected a thousand soul, he sensed a sudden, profound shift within himself. He discovered that his Skill: Soul Steal had reached a new milestone, its proficiency level now upgraded to Beginner.
This breakthrough confirmed his suspicions. That the more he utilized his skill, the more its proficiency would increase, paving the way for further growth and mastery.
As it turned out, Jax's diligence had yielded a double reward. Not only had he leveled up his Skill: Soul Steal, but he had also made progress with another skill.
During his downtime, Jax would often find a secure spot to lie down, focus his mind, and release his soul from his physical body. In his Soul Form, he would explore the surrounding area, observe his surroundings, or even watch King at work, fascinated by the other's skills and techniques.
Jax's excitement grew as he realized that even his playful explorations in Soul Form were contributing to his skill growth.
Now, his goal was clear.
He needed to raise two of his skills to Beginner-level, and the last skill to Intermediate-level. Achieving this milestone would finally grant him access to the unlock requirements for Phase 4 of his ability, bringing him one step closer to unlocking its full potential.
He was eager to see what kind of skill he would unlock this time.
Soon, Jax finished collecting all the souls. But as soon as he was done, a sudden thought crept into his mind.
Jax stood up straight and, with a swift, decisive motion, swept his hand to the side. In an instant, a majestic two-handed white crossbow materialized. Its sleek, elongated body stretched as long as Jax's arms, its presence radiating an air of quiet power.
The crossbow's design was a haunting symphony of darkness and beauty, its Gothic essence woven into every macabre detail. The bow strings, a deep, crimson hue, seemed to throb with a malevolent energy, as if they were veins pulsing with an otherworldly hunger.
The limbs, sculpted to resemble the skeletal wings of a mythical albino beast, stretched out like bony fingers, their delicate framework belied by the deadly tension coiled within. Each limb was strung with dual bow strings attached at both ends, while a third string, a gleaming arterial thread, connected the two, forming a complex matrix of power and precision.
Two glittering gems, reminiscent of a predatory eagle's piercing gaze, were embedded in each limb. Their fierce, unblinking stare seeming to scan the surroundings for the next unsuspecting quarry.
As the light danced across the crossbow's frame, its entire body appeared to transform into a mesmerizing, otherworldly entity, exuding an aura of awe-inspiring majesty and unsettling intimidation. The gems, like two sets of cold, calculating eyes, appeared to be the crossbow's very soul, imbuing it with a hunger for destruction and a thirst for the hunt.
Jax grasped the crossbow firmly with both hands, his eyes fixed on the scope as he searched for a random target to test its accuracy.
As he focused on a distant object, he was amazed once again by the scope's incredible ability to zoom in and out with just his thoughts. The seamless mental connection between Jax and the crossbow's scope left him speechless, the ancient magic that forged this weapon seemingly defying explanation.
A sly smile surfaced on Jax's lips as he considered loading an arrow and taking aim. The temptation to test the crossbow's power was strong, but he resisted, wisely deciding to restrain himself. With a hint of self-control, he gently set the crossbow down, pushing aside the urge to unleash its deadly precision.
''Maybe, I should open them too.'' Jax's face lit up with an excited smile as he contemplated opening the remaining two Weapon Mystery Boxes. ''I want to see what kind of surprise it will bring me this time.''
The crossbow was, of course, a weapon that emerged from the Weapon Mystery Box he received as a reward from the Lord's Quest. It was only a day ago that he opened the mystery box and gave him the crossbow.
Initially, Jax had felt a pang of disappointment, having hoped for a melee weapon to add to his arsenal. But as he took the crossbow for a test run, his disappointment gave way to exhilaration, and he found himself thoroughly enjoying the unique thrill of wielding this ranged weapon.
By then, he realized how that weapon could help him a lot.