DK's focus was entirely consumed by the glowing blue interface hovering in his vision. The system's response to his query had left him intrigued and slightly apprehensive. As he selected the Structured Path: Quest-Based Progression option, a new screen appeared.
—
SYSTEM
QUEST: USER'S INITIATION
Objective: Slay 100 enemies within 3 hours.Reward: +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, Basic Combat Technique (Tier 1).Timer: 3:00:00Countdown begins as soon as you accept the quest. Failure to finish 100 enemies will restart the quest again.
DK's brows furrowed, and his pulse quickened. One hundred enemies in three hours? That's insane. He reread the quest, his eyes narrowing at the lack of specificity. It didn't mention what kind of enemies or their level of strength—just that they needed to be slain. A spark of an idea lit in his mind, and he glanced at Lucy, who was still watching the scenery pass by.
His gaze drifted toward Lucy, who was still scanning the surrounding countryside with her usual vigilance. A plan began to form in his mind. If he could find a place teeming with manageable creatures, he might be able to complete the quest without risking too much. Turning to her, he said, "Hey, Lucy. Do you know any places nearby where creatures gather in large numbers?"
Lucy gave him a sidelong glance, one eyebrow raised. "Why? Feeling like stretching your legs?"
DK shrugged nonchalantly. "Something like that. It'd be good practice."
She paused, clearly considering his question. "There's a place not far from here," she said slowly. "Prickly Grove. It's infested with these creatures called cactolus. They're basically walking cactus-like pests, covered in spiky hairs and sharp teeth. They're more of a nuisance than a threat—they can't run fast or attack well, but their spikes make them unpleasant to deal with. If you're looking for a lot of targets, that's the place."
"Perfect," DK said, his smirk betraying a mix of confidence and relief. "Let's take a quick detour."
Lucy narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure about this? Those things might be weak, but they're annoying to fight. Their spikes can still hurt if you're not careful."
"I'll be fine," DK replied, waving off her concern. "This is just what I need."
Lucy gave him a long look before relenting. "Fine. The grove isn't far off the main road. We'll lose a bit of time, but if you're set on it, let's go."
The carriage pulled to a stop at the edge of a trench-like ravine, its walls steep and lined with jagged rocks. Below, DK could see the dense infestation of cactolus creatures. They clung to the walls and clustered along the bottom, their bodies unmoving but bristling with sharp, spiky hairs. From above, they resembled an army of tiny, hostile plants.
Lucy hopped down from the carriage, pulling her cloak tightly around her as she surveyed the area. "This is it. Prickly Grove." She pointed to the ravine floor. "The cactolus cluster down there. It's like a nest. You can probably take out a bunch at once, but don't underestimate them. They might look small, but if you're not careful, they'll tear up your boots—and your legs."
DK followed her down, his boots crunching against the dry soil as he approached the edge. The sheer number of creatures was staggering, their spiky forms stretching out as far as the eye could see. He turned to Lucy, his tone firm. "Stay back. I need to handle this on my own."
Lucy blinked, surprised. "Are you serious? These things might be weak, but they're still a hazard in numbers. You don't even know how to fight them yet."
"That's the point," DK said, his gaze fixed on the writhing creatures below. "If I don't figure out how to handle a new enemy by myself, I'll never get stronger."
Lucy hesitated, clearly torn, before nodding reluctantly. "Fine. But don't do anything stupid. I'll stay close in case you need backup."
DK gave her a brief smile before stepping forward. As he descended into the ravine, the air grew warmer and the faint, earthy smell of vegetation filled his nose. The cactolus began to stir, their tiny, dark eyes glinting as they turned toward him. He could see the sharp teeth lining their small mouths and the way their spiked hairs seemed to bristle in anticipation.
The creatures didn't move immediately, seemingly content to wait for him to come closer. DK gripped the hilt of his blade, the weight of it reassuring in his hand. He took a deep breath, the timer in his vision ticking down steadily.
2:28:37
" Wow, I just have 2 and a half hours to kill 100 enemies. Let's see what you've got," he muttered, stepping into the fray.
The first cactolus lunged clumsily toward him, its spiky body barely off the ground. DK sidestepped easily, slashing downward with his blade. The creature let out a faint screech before collapsing, its spines shattering on impact.
ENEMIES DEFEATED: 1/100
"One down," DK said to himself, his confidence growing. But as he moved to attack the next, he quickly realized the challenge wasn't in their strength—it was in their numbers.
The creatures began to swarm, their small bodies moving faster than he'd anticipated. DK found himself surrounded, their spikes grazing his boots and slicing shallow cuts into his legs as he moved. He gritted his teeth, focusing on their patterns. They weren't intelligent, but their sheer numbers made them difficult to predict.
He swung his blade in a wide arc, cutting down three at once. The system interface flashed briefly in his vision.
ENEMIES DEFEATED: 4/100
DK's breath came faster as he continued to fight, his movements growing more fluid with each strike. The cactolus were persistent but predictable, and he began to exploit their weaknesses. A precise thrust here, a sweeping slash there—his blade worked tirelessly, cutting through the swarm.
Next, a swarm of 20 creatures started coming towards him and began to circle him as they got near to him. And suddenly without any warning they ejected the spikes out of their body at high speeds. As DK tried to dodge away from a few of them, especially the ones aimed towards his eyes, several others latched on to his clothes and exposed skin. And then after a few seconds, the spikes all burst into flames causing mild burns on the clothes and skin which took DK by surprise.