Chapter 62: Gearing up for a raid! (1)
Chapter 62
"Hey guys." The figure greeted with a warm smile as he waved at them.
"Ze...Zen?!" Zarin muttered in shock.
"What? Why are you guys staring like you just saw a ghost or something?" Zen asked with a low chuckle as he stretched out and grabbed an apple before biting into it, his sharp gaze sweeping over the table.
"Yo...you...you look." Zarin kept stuttering as he stared at Zen over and over again, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Hot." Erin didn’t even realize when the word slipped out of her mouth. Her eyes widened slightly as she quickly cleared her throat. "I mean... why does this place feel so hot all of a sudden?"
"So it’s safe to say that you locked yourself away for two weeks just to achieve this?" Jace asked with a raised brow. His eyes kept roaming Zen’s frame as if trying to make sure this wasn’t some illusion.
Amongst the others, Jace had always been considered the most handsome. But now, Zen’s transformation gave him an edge that placed him dangerously close, his presence exuding confidence that matched his new look.
"I just felt like I was looking too frail, like I could be broken apart by beasts at any moment. So I made some changes." Zen replied mid-bite before scanning around the hall. His eyes narrowed slightly. "I can’t find Thorne anywhere."
"He must have gone out to get something." Kael replied. He had been staring at Zen at first, but quickly turned back to his meal, shoving a forkful into his mouth as if pretending it wasn’t a big deal.
"Oh." Zen simply nodded, his expression unreadable. He grabbed another apple and tucked it into his pocket.
"Anyway, I’m off. I want to take on a quest. I’ll see you all around later." He waved casually before turning to leave, his back straight and broad as he approached the quest board.
"Are we sure that was Zen we just saw? Or someone else entirely?" Zarin whispered, still staring at Zen’s departing figure. His back seemed different, carrying a weight and confidence that hadn’t been there before.
"Erin, you good?" Jace asked as he noticed Erin rooted in place, her eyes fixed on Zen like she had seen something she couldn’t process.
"Yeah. I’m fine." She replied curtly before turning away, her steps brisk as she left the table behind.
__
Meanwhile, Zen stood before the massive quest board, its surface covered with countless pamphlets layered on top of each other, edges curled and corners torn from constant use. Voices of other Reavers echoed in the hall behind him, but his focus remained sharp as his eyes scanned over the sheets.
The board was separated by rank: F, E, D, and C. Each rank’s section had its own pile of requests. The F, E, and D rank slots were cluttered with dozens upon dozens of papers, some overlapping, almost begging to be taken. The C rank section, however, looked barren in comparison.
If the others had around thirty quests each, the C rank only had fifteen in total. Fewer jobs, but more dangerous ones.
Zen traced his finger across the board, lips moving as he read through the quests. "Let’s see... a strange beast is ravaging a town up north. Hmm. Requirements: four C ranked Reavers." He shook his head and moved on.
He kept encountering quests that demanded teamwork. Escort missions, exterminations in groups, or exploration jobs that required multiple people.
But Zen wanted to go solo, to test his strength and perhaps even prove something to himself. Each time he rejected one, his frown deepened until his finger stopped on a particular sheet.
«Mission: C rank Dungeon which has appeared in the middle of a forest.»
«Quest: A Reaver is needed to explore the dungeon and defeat all the beasts so it won’t result in a dungeon break.»
«Requirements: A C ranked Reaver who has an Essence Veil.»
«Rewards: +70 MP and 5 D ranked beasts’ cores.»
"Wow. Finally found my calling. How convenient." Zen grinned, his gray eyes glinting with excitement. "I actually fit the bill for this quest since I technically have a Veil, even though I don’t know what it is." He let out a chuckle before ripping the pamphlet off the board and carefully tucking it into his pocket.
Straightening his back, Zen walked out of the clan hall, the grin still plastered on his face. The rewards lingered in his mind, but more than that, he felt an itch.
A craving to test himself, to see whether his training and transformation meant something. The world outside awaited him, and for once, he was eager to meet it head-on.
__
An hour later, Zen could be seen walking through a forest. His walk to where the dungeon had appeared was both stressful and boring, but thanks to his increase in stats, it was nothing compared to what it could have been.
Oh! The system had decided to be generous to Zen during his two-week break. It began rewarding him at random for the completion of his physical exercises, which came as a pleasant surprise.
And now, his new stats were as follows:
---
{Status}
{Name: Zenixx}
{XP: 400/800}
{Level: 9}
{HP: 65/65} {STR: 42}
{AGI: 35} {INT: 38}
{NP: 180}
---
Not much of an increase, but at least every single stat point meant something, and Zen deeply appreciated it.
"Uhm, let’s see. I would need a new weapon before I go in since my dagger broke during that gate raid," Zen mumbled as he kept walking through the forest. The chirping noise of birds and the constant hum of crickets filled his ears while he slowly took a bite of his apple.
"Shop tab," he called out.
And immediately, his shop tab opened up in front of him as he navigated to the weapons section.
---
{WEAPONS TAB}
(Weapons are divided by TYPE – Tap to Preview)
(Currently accessible: E, D, and C Rank Gear. Higher ranks greyed out.)
---
<Ash-Iron Short Sword – C Rank – 85 NP>
Forged with iron tempered in ashflame. Balanced for offense and speed.
[+3 STR] [+3 AGI] [Ash Burn: Chance to cause minor burn on slash]
Good for both swift combos and agile duels. Especially effective in tight corridors.
Durability: High | Essence Cost: Low
---
<Gale Wind Katana – C Rank – 100 NP>
A long, curved blade forged from Windsteel.
[+4 AGI] [Wind Slash: Sends a wind arc for mid-range slicing]
Designed for high-mobility users. Excels in open areas and hit-and-run tactics.
Durability: High | Essence Cost: Moderate per skill use
---
<Bonecleaver Long Sword – C Rank – 95 NP>
A long blade crafted from beast bones and metal alloy.
[+6 STR] [Staggering Slash: Small chance to knock enemy off balance]
Heavy but deadly. Ideal for brute-force combatants and tankier foes.
Durability: Very High | Essence Cost: Moderate
---
These were the weapons currently available for Zen as he carefully read through their details.
"Uhm, let’s see," he muttered as his eyes moved across the names and descriptions. "Short swords? Nah... I’m sure it will feel more like a dagger and it won’t cover a long range.
Hmm... a longsword? That feels too long and expensive too. Yikes! The katana is also very expensive. But that’s what I’m used to. Besides, it gives a +4 to my AGI stat.
Currently, my Strength is far greater than my Agility, so this would be a way to balance it out, I guess. So, I think I’ll go with the katana."
---
{Are you sure you want to purchase <Gale Wind Katana – C Rank – for 100 NP?>}
{Yes/ No}
"Yes," Zen replied casually, taking another bite of his apple. The system screen instantly changed.
{Congratulations! Gale Wind Katana purchased for 100 NP. Available NP left: 80}
"Great. Now my katana is stored in my inventory and I’ll test it out in the dungeon. But now, what else can I purchase for 80 NP?" Zen muttered as he navigated toward his gear tab.
"I hope I can get something good before this dungeon raid. By my calculations, I should have about thirty minutes left to reach the dungeon, right?" he asked himself as he quickly fumbled through his pockets, pulled out a paper map, and nodded after checking his location. He then folded it neatly before slipping it back.
"Let’s see what the Gear Tab has in store for me," he grinned widely, eyes shining with excitement.