Ares sighed again. "Well, that's what happens," he said.
Then, as he tested his new power, his face lit up, and his eyes shimmered with amusement. But suddenly, his head felt heavy again, and pain surged through it from the battle.
"It hurts," Ares said, feeling dizzy.
As he was holding his head in pain, he took a look at the screen to buy a potion that could restore his stamina in the meantime.
"Let's see about this cool store," Ares murmured, swiping his finger across the screen. As he did, various texts appeared on the screen:
[Congratulations, You have killed a challenging foe all by yourself. You are rewarded 10,000 GP for defeating the Midgard Serpent alone at your current level.]
[You have reached Level 16!]
[Gold Points Store]
Ares's eyes sparkled as he saw the GP he received. It was the perfect time for him to shop in his system, and he couldn't believe what he had earned—this GP was huge for him. He immediately went to the store, and different categories appeared on the screen.
[Basic Gear Set]
Standard clothes or armor set, offering minimal protection but suited for low-level players.
[Battle Armor set]
Heavy armor is designed for high defense. Ideal for tanky characters who need to take hits.
[Robe of the Mage]
A robe that enhances magical power, reducing mana costs and increasing the potency of spells.
[Windstride Boots]
Lightweight boots that increase speed and agility.
[Elemental Resistance Gear]
A set of clothing that provides resistance to one or more elements (Fire, Ice, Electric, etc.).
[Healing Potions]
Restores health instantly or over time, depending on the type.
There were so many items that he could buy, but Ares prioritized the potion first because his head was in pain; it felt like it was about to explode at any moment. "Damn, I need to quickly buy a potion," he muttered. Then he tapped on the healing potions in the store category and found a Vital Surge Elixir. After seeing its effect, he immediately purchased it.
[Vital Surge Elixir]
Effect: - Health Restoration: Restores 100% of the user's total health.
After buying it in the store, the healing potion instantly appeared in his hand. It was still warm, a green emerald potion contained in a small cylindrical glass with silver etching wrapping around it.
He immediately gulped it down; the taste was normal, like vitamins. After a few seconds, his body glowed for an instant, and afterward, he felt his body light again.
"Wow, cool! This system store is really useful for me. I hope in the future you can still help me," Ares muttered, smiling at the screen.
After that, he tried his new skill, Void Manipulation, on the serpent. He focused and raised his hand slowly, and his hand started to coat with black energy.
"Fly," Ares muttered, trying to lift the serpent's body into the air while controlling it from a distance.
After a few seconds of concentration, the serpent started to float slowly in the air, moving at Ares' will. "Damn, this skill is cool!" Ares said in amusement; he couldn't believe the power he had.
Then, Ares got a ridiculous idea. He decided to try lifting another object using the Void. Focusing again, he raised his hand, and after a few seconds, the dagger lit up.
Then he tested it on other objects to measure how wide the Void's control was. After a minute of puzzling, he discovered that the radius of his control with this skill was 10 meters away. This meant he could control anything within that distance, and with this skill, he could be invincible.
The next day, his sister, who was standing in front of him, noticed something about Ares; his height had grown quite a bit, and she couldn't recognize him at first glance. Lily couldn't help but gaze at Ares.
"Brother, you look different! Did you just drink some vitamins that made you grow taller?" Lily asked, her voice filled with confusion.
Hearing this, Ares was dumbfounded. "Huh? Vitamins? So, the system's been secretly feeding me growth vitamins?" Ares thought.
But immediately, he shook his head and walked over to Lily. "I'm not, you fool," Ares muttered as he patted Lily's head.
Lily was puzzled by what had happened to her brother and couldn't help but stare at him.
And Ares left home, while Lily's mind was still racing with curiosity. "Maybe it was just because some boys grow taller with work," she thought with a smile before heading back to her room.
On the other hand, while Ares was walking inside the dungeon, he thought it was time for him to join in the hunting. He wanted to ask Jayce if he knew anyone who could help him.
Ares continued to walk, his mind racing with anxiety as he neared Jayce. He inhaled deeply, gathering his courage, and immediately spoke up, "Sir, do you know anyone who could help me join a hunting team?"
Hearing this, Jayce's eyes widened in surprise. "Yeah, why do you ask?" His face filled with curiosity as he inquired about Ares's intentions.
"I want to join the hunting team," Ares said, his eyes burning with desire.
Jayce gazed at him, studying Ares with a thoughtful expression. He sighed, realizing he couldn't ignore the determination in Ares's eyes. "Well, I'll give it a shot, brat. But don't get your hopes up; I'll just see if my friends have a slot on their team."
After Jayce walked away, Ares turned his head and clenched his fist. "Finally!" His face was full of excitement, and couldn't wait for it.
After an hour of waiting, Jayce approached Ares and informed him about the details of the hunting team's raid.
"I'll contact my friends. The raid is tomorrow," Jayce said, his voice serious and laced with worry. "The hunting team has accepted you as a temporary member because one of their comrades got injured in battle. They're giving you a slot, so you're lucky to have it. This is your chance."
After hearing this, Ares grinned with excitement and immediately nodded.
Jayce patted Ares on the shoulder. "Be careful, kid. These hunts have been getting more dangerous lately. Stick to the team and don't act recklessly."
"Got it. I'll make sure of it," Ares replied confidently.
Jayce couldn't help but take a deep breath, feeling a mix of pride and concern. He decided to let Ares rest for the day, knowing that tomorrow would be a significant challenge.
The next day, The outside was still silent, and the morning air was chilly. Except for the other guild members, no people were outside. Ares looked around toward the dungeon gate, where Jayce had given him directions and some information.
After Ares arrived at his destination, the hunting team was already there. Their different hunter suits gleamed under the sunlight.
[GIDEON]
the tank, was a towering man with a muscular build, short-cropped black hair, and a thick beard. His massive Titan's Bulwark armor shone brilliantly under the morning light.
[ELARA]
the mage of the guild, was a slender woman with long, flowing silver hair and sharp violet eyes. Her Celestial Weave robe, an epic-grade garment, shimmered faintly with arcane energy as if woven from the stars.
One of the fighters of the guild was Darius, a lean yet well-built man with wild black hair in a V-shape and a cocky grin. His Crimson Fang battle gear, an epic-grade set, fit snugly against his frame, designed for both speed and strength.
The hunting team had a total of ten members, with Ares being the last and newest addition. He stood slightly shorter than Gideon but carried a cold gaze. Compared to the others, his appearance seemed plain, yet his skill was on another level.
Darius was the leader of the hunting team for today, holding an A-rank title. Three others were also B-rank, while the two tanks matched their strength at the same level. The mage and support team were above C-rank, leaving Ares as the last and lowest-ranked member at E-rank.
As Ares neared the hunting team guild, the hunters started to whisper to the side.
"That's the newcomer?"
"Is he really joining the raid?."
"He looks too young."
"He looks weak; he might just burden us inside the dungeon. Why did the boss let that kid in?"
"Yeah, that kid really doesn't have any strength, and I heard he's an E-rank."
After hearing it, Ares just covered his ears.
Because that's how they treated those below them; being an E rank always received unfair treatment from others, forcing them to adjust in any situation.