Chapter 95: A High Risk Mission (2)
Chapter 95
"I will do it." Lyra and Tom shouted in unison before quickly turning around to stare at each other.
"Great! I’m glad that you are both eager." Master Zuki grinned at the duo, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
’I won’t ever grow if I limit myself. I’m a B ranked Reaver right now, and I need more challenges to allow me grow. If Zen is right and there’s an in-controller in the game, then it means he controls the laws and physics of the game.
The only way to beat him would be to grow so strong that no matter how he changes the game, I would always be on top.’ Jace thought as he clenched his hands tightly, causing his rank to shimmer faintly and display the glowing letter ’B’.
Sigh!
"Master Zuki." Jace called out as he stood up, his eyes firm. "Allow me to tag along for this mission too."
"Are you sure? You just became a B ranked Reaver today. Can you handle this?" Master Zuki asked with a raised brow, his tone testing.
"If I can’t handle this, then why am I a B ranked Reaver?" Jace asked with a small smile tugging at his lips.
’These kids... they don’t ever back down from challenges, huh? That’s why I love them all. Always brave and standing strong. Kek! After all, they are my children.’ Master Zuki thought with an inward chuckle.
"Sure, no problem. So for the team to be complete, we need three C ranked Reavers to tag along." Tom said as he turned around to face the other lower ranked Reavers, but no one looked at him. Instead, they all lowered their gazes and pretended to be interested in the floor.
"To be clear, why do we need to take three more C rankers? We could actually just deal with the beast alone, just the three of us." Lyra asked, her tone steady as she turned her sharp eyes on the master.
"Well, you can’t split yourselves in two, right? I mean, we technically have two threats and issues to face: the beasts and also the awakened. So while you three are investigating the reason an A ranked beast is roaming the town, the three C rankers will be neutralising the awakened." Master Zuki replied calmly.
"In that case," Vynn said as he pushed his chair back and rose with a confident smirk on his face. "I’m all in then."
"I will go too." Zen raised his hand with a sigh and a sly grin stretching across his face.
"Why? I know the others, but who are you?" Lyra asked as she tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she examined him from head to toe.
"Trust me, you don’t want to find out." Zen replied with a low chuckle as he casually stood up from his seat, his relaxed posture making her scowl deepen.
"Oh! Reaver Zen. That’s even perfect. If you hadn’t volunteered yourself, I would have called you out myself because you will be very helpful in neutralising them." Master Zuki said with an ear-to-ear grin that made several of the others exchange confused glances.
"Huh? Is he that powerful? I haven’t heard of him before." Lyra muttered, still staring at Zen as if trying to read his secrets.
"You managed to know what your Veil is?" Tom asked, his gaze sharp but his lips curved in a faint smile.
"Yup." Zen nodded, his voice casual. A smile immediately crossed Tom’s face in return.
"Then welcome aboard, I guess." Tom chuckled, shaking his head at Zen’s ever-confident tone.
"I think you guys will also need support. I’m now a C ranked Archer, and I feel like this is the best opportunity to upgrade my weapons." Aria added as she shot out of her seat and strode forward with determination written all over her face.
’If Zen is going, I’m going too.’ she thought fiercely, clenching her fists at her side.
"Master." Lyra called out, her crimson hair shifting slightly as she turned, her eyes locking onto the old man with a look of complaint.
"Oh! A beauty!" Master Zuki’s eyes gleamed, practically shining like a star as he stared at Aria. "Yup! You are welcome aboard."
"Sheesh!" Lyra facepalmed herself with a weary sigh. "He will never change," she mumbled beneath her breath, shaking her head at the old man’s antics.
"Okay then, the groups are ready and you all leave tomorrow. Go get some rest, get your gear ready, and do whatever you want to. You leave tomorrow." Master Zuki said as he glanced up at the staircases above with a knowing smile. "Mind you, do this mission well, and you get awarded a few MP. Bye now!"
He vanished from view the next moment, his form dissolving into thin air as though he had never been there in the first place.
"I’m looking to see what you all bring to the table tomorrow." Lyra scoffed before turning to leave, her crimson hair swaying behind her.
The rest of the Reavers slowly dispersed as well, some heading straight back to their tables to resume their bickering and heavy drinking, while others strode toward the quest board to pick out a mission or two before the night ended. The atmosphere returned to its usual rowdy state, as though nothing important had just happened.
’I guess I can calmly check out what that loot box has for me.’ Zen thought, breaking away from the group with his hands casually tucked behind him. He made his way to a quieter corner of the room and pulled out a chair before dropping onto it with a faint thud.
Lowering his head onto the table, he slid both hands beneath the wooden surface. A shimmering light flickered around his palms, and in an instant, a small loot box materialised, glowing faintly in his grip.
Without hesitation, Zen unwrapped the box. The moment he was done, the wrappings dissolved into thin air, leaving behind a single item resting in his palm. His eyes widened slightly.
"Huh? The hell is this?" he muttered under his breath, staring at the strange key that pulsed rhythmically with energy, almost as though it were alive.
And right on cue, a crisp ding rang out inside his head, followed by the familiar appearance of a system screen.
{Host has acquired a dungeon key}
"Dungeon key? The hell is that?" Zen frowned, eyes darting across the glowing text as he quietly read through it.
{Taking the key to a secluded, forestry area, Host can use the key to open up a portal which will transport him into a dungeon.
Inside the dungeon, Host is expected to clear it of every beast, including the boss. Upon completion, rewards will be granted by the system, and Host can safely exit the dungeon.}
Zen blinked a few times, lips twitching. ’Huh? A key that drags me into some dungeon? Sheesh! If I know this damned system correctly, it won’t be something easy. Most likely, it will throw me into a nightmare where I’ll barely scrape out alive.
Tch! And I don’t even know what kind of rewards I’d be gambling for. The risk isn’t worth it... not yet at least.’
He finally lifted his head, shaking it with a quiet laugh, and slipped the glowing key into his inventory.
’Let me grow stronger first. Only then will I risk clearing a dungeon like that. For now, rest comes first, because tomorrow is another long day filled with blood, sweat, and chaos.’
With that thought lingering in his mind, Zen leaned back against his chair, his grin faint but sharp.