16 Quest Upload

Elliot couldn't believe his eyes.

'Level requirements do not meet.'

His lips pursed as he reread the message. So, why could he equip the other pieces and not this one?

Elliot was about to go back to Francoise's shop when another message popped up. There was a black circle in his console and a name under it.

'Francoise Fitch calling.'

"Answer?"

After saying 'answer', Francoise's face appeared on the circle. His eyes widen.

What is this communicating system now?

"Hey, kid," Francoise greeted. "I'm sorry but I forgot to tell you that you need a Level Suppressing Gem to equip that cloak. I'm already out so you have to go to a gem collector and buy one."

"You can Suppress Equipment with a gem?" Elliot asked in disbelief. "Why can't we just use it for the valorium sword?"

Francoise nodded, "First of all, a Level Suppressing Gem is rare. And second of all, it only works if you suppress the next level tier. If you're still in the Fine-tier, you can't skip to the Godly tier just like that. Crimson Phantom Set is Rare, so it shouldn't be a problem."

After hunting and crafting, Elliot would sell the leftovers of the beasts he hunted. Since he had killed a lot, he also earned a lot. He wasn't as broke as he once was and now he wasn't afraid of buying.

Elliot was silent. He didn't know what to do. Should he talk? Will Francoise instantly read what was in his mind?

"Talk, kid!"

Elliot was woken up from his thoughts. "Oh. You forget a lot of things," he joked that made the old man roll his eyes.

"I know someone we can trust."

Francoise told Elliot about a friend of his. She was a gem collector but like Francoise, she'd rather keep her identity hidden.

The gem collector was Isabelle. A middle-aged woman that built her shop with magic. Outside was a run-down shop with a broken sign but inside was four times bigger.

After entering the store, Elliot could only gape at what he was seeing. There were more gems in Isabelle's shop than the small island in the middle of Gray Lake. It was organized too. From Weapon Gems, Equipment Gems, Item Gems, and Skill gems.

Skill Gems were used by Adventurers to learn a skill outside their Class. Although they were very rare, expensive, and can only be used ones, Skill Gems were still in high demand. And there is a catch to it. There is an order among classes. A Fighter could not learn a healing spell with the use of a Skill Gem.

Instead, the Skill Gem they need should be within the skill of the class next to theirs. The class order goes, Fighter, Stealth Knight, Ranger, Healer, then Acolyte. An Acolyte can use a skill of a Fighter, but not of a Stealth Knight.

"Welcome!" a woman greeted Elliot. Her hair was mostly grayed out, but her skin wasn't as wrinkly. In fact, she was still beautiful for her age.

"Ah, I'm here for a Level Suppressing Gem?" Elliot asked. "Francoise knows me."

Isabelle's expression instantly changed from warm to dark.

"That old man?!" she yelled which made Elliot flinch. "You're acquainted with that old man?! Do you know how many gems that man owes me?"

Elliot shook his head. "No, ma'am."

"He owes me 50 Weapon Gems, 50 Item Gems, and 100 Suppressing Gems!" Isabelle exclaimed in pure anger.

"Wait, you have Suppressing Gems?"

Isabelle nodded.

"Then why did I have to go to the Forest of Gray Lake?!"

The two had a non-verbal agreement to interrogate Francoise when they see him.

"But that's for another time," Isabelle said after calming down. "What do you need, kid?"

"Oh, I'm here to buy a Level Suppressing Gem," Elliot replied as he looked around the rows and rows of shelves that had gems in it.

Isabelle shook her head, "Kid, you don't 'buy' from me. You 'earn' it."

When the boy was clueless about what she meant, she added, "I will give you a quest that's difficulty is equal to the gem you need. Completing the quest will earn you the gem.'

Elliot thought about it for a moment. If he accepts the task, then he doesn't have to spend his money. He could also hunt beasts, craft, and level up as he goes. It was like killing a flock of birds with one stone.

"Deal."

Isabelle waved her hand and two pieces of paper appeared from nowhere. One was the quest details and the other was a contract.

"Read the quest details before you sign," she said and handed Elliot the papers.

When Elliot's hand touched the quest details, a message popped up.

'Feature Unlocked.'

< Quest Upload >

'Upload quest?'

A grin made its way to Elliot's lips. Apart from the quests in the Manual – which he still hasn't finished – he could also upload external quests to his Console?

"Yes."

Isabelle heard it and narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry."

'Quest uploaded.'

[ Silver Mantis Hunt!

// Hunt 4 Silver Mantises and bring them back to Isabelle the Gem Collector. ]

Seems easy enough. Elliot thought. He waved goodbye to Isabelle and went to the forest to start his hunt, making sure to stop by his house first to research. He bought a book about beasts a few days before so he would at least know what he'll face in the wild.

Silver Mantises are 2-feet tall bugs that can slice a good chunk of a tree instantly. Their levels would vary from 15-30, but each possesses great slicing power.

The thought of being cut in half was making Elliot shiver. He had to be careful.

Of all beasts, bug-types were usually the worst kind. Their skin was hard, making it almost impossible for swords to break through. Their senses are problematic as well. One move and they'd know where you are.

And the worst part. No bug would travel alone in the wild.

Elliot walked towards the forest and into the spot the book told him. The Silver Mantises has the weakest perception among all the bug-type beasts. The silver in their body hinders their senses, making it an advantage for Adventurers.

He spotted three Silver Mantises drinking on the river. It was obvious that they were agile. The jitter-like movements from the beasts were a testament to that.

He crawled over to a nearby bush to plan his attack. The sound of the gushing river helped him hide his presence. Now, the Silver Mantises were vulnerable. It was a chance.

Slowly unsheathing his sword, Elliot prepared to dash forward and eliminate the three. A rapid attack and a swift slice on the neck should do the trick. A drawback of having a silver shell was that they had to leave joints unshelled. The necks were the biggest opening, and that's what Elliot is targeting.

Elliot was about to attack when two more came in. He was grinning at what he was seeing. If he could successfully assassinate all of them, he could also keep one for himself. The silver on the beasts should come in handy.

'Balon's Haste Potion taken. All stats are temporarily increased by 50%.'

Balon's Haste Potion was a concoction Elliot saw in The Manual. He had all the recipes, so he brewed the potion for future use. And the time is now.

Adventurers and beasts do not have the same capabilities. Even when a Level 10 Adventurer faces a Level 25 beast, he could still win. One thing beasts do not have was critical thinking and humanity.

In an instant, he appeared between the beasts. It was too late for them to react for Elliot had already sliced three necks.

'Silver Mantis killed. 500XP gained.'

'New recipes unlocked.'

'Silver Mantis killed. 500XP gained.'

'Silver Mantis killed. 500XP gained.'

When he was distracted, one mantis was going to attack Elliot, leaping and swinging its sharp arms towards the boy. Elliot ducked and sliced the mantis' neck from below.

He noticed that there were green symbols on the mantis's chests, like the ones on the Midnight Pheasants he hunted before. A message did not appear, making it Elliot wonder.

What could those symbols be? He thought.

'Silver Mantis killed. 500XP gained.'

Looking around, it seemed like the other one got away. It felt the terror from Elliot that it could only run.

Elliot remembered a message he got after killing the first mantis. It said that new recipes were unlocked.

Does this mean that I get new recipes after killing beasts?

Putting the mantises in his inventory, he felt a surge of killing intent coming his way. He knew what it was, and he didn't bother finding out if his hunch was right or not.

Elliot ran away as dozens of Silver Mantises chased after him. The escapee didn't just escape but it came back with its friends.

He killed the four because they weren't expecting it, but if they were put in an arena, Elliot's head would be sliced in moments.

After he got out of the forest, he was panting for air when he noticed something.

"Aw, man!"

He exited on the wrong side of the forest.