5 5- Unveiling Bonuses: Jon's Journey to the Lunar Stone
As Jon made his way towards the lunar stone, located about an hour's walk from the village, he constantly sought to hit improvised targets such as trees or small animals that crossed his path. Despite his determination, his initial attempts hadn't yielded the desired results. The arrow missed the mark, and a friendly voice beside him echoed with a touch of teasing, "Seems like hunting isn't your strong suit, Jon."
Gwen, the young redhead, rushed to retrieve the arrow, offering words of encouragement mixed with a playful tone. Even though Jon had initially tried to avoid her company, it became clear she wasn't willing to leave him alone. He had accepted the inevitability of the situation, though he soon realized this might not have been a wise choice. Gwen became a playful shadow, mocking his every failure.
"Alright, 'Miss Perfection,' now it's your turn," Jon finally conceded, handing the bow over to Gwen. What was a mistake became evident as he had underestimated her abilities. With a single shot, she hit a rabbit, instantly killing it. For Jon, the scene was unsettling and disturbing, a mixture of triumph and horror. Gwen, however, seemed unfazed. She picked up the catch with a satisfied smile and directed a teasing laugh at Jon.
Jon realized he had completely underestimated Gwen. What was once a series of failed attempts had now turned into a humbling lesson. He could feel a mix of emotions within him – frustration, admiration, and a hint of resentment.
After a considerable period, with the lunar stone finally in sight, Jon let out a sigh of relief. The journey that unfolded after being constantly humiliated by an 8-year-old girl seemed to have stretched into infinity. Jon had shot over a hundred arrows, and yet, only ten of them had hit the target.
Out of those ten, all had been shot with Gwen's assistance, who stood by his side, helping him correct his posture. Deep down, Jon had to admit the process hadn't been as grueling as he had imagined, especially for a reclusive otaku like him. But he decided to conceal this revelation, feigning a disdain manufactured for every moment of the situation. Ultimately, his pride was wounded, even if it was a self-inflicted blow.
When they reached the lunar stone, Jon reached out to touch it, filled with anticipation. Almost instantly, a message appeared in the Menu. The notification stated that he had gained a 50% increase in experience to accumulate over the next week, along with a 50% boost in the effectiveness of his archery training. The lunar stone was offering him unexpected yet profoundly valuable rewards.
"What's wrong, Jon? Didn't it work?" Observing Jon's reflective expression, Gwen felt a pang of concern. "Actually, it exceeded my expectations. And you, Gwen? What did the lunar stone grant you?"
Jon was intrigued. He shouldn't have received any additional bonuses, as he had installed a mod that made the game more challenging, altering the benefits of lunar stones.
"For a week, I'll have a 50% increase in acquired experience. And you?" Gwen's response quickened Jon's heart. It seemed the lunar stones still held surprises for him, while for others, the benefits were more limited. "The same for me," Jon replied, deciding to keep the true extent of his bonus a secret.
"We should head back," Jon said, looking at the noon-approaching sky. "Lunchtime is coming soon, and my mom will be furious if she finds out I ventured this far without telling her."
On the way back, Gwen showcased her remarkable archery skill, hitting nearly all of her shots. Jon, on the other hand, displayed impressive improvement. The girl, who had initially doubted his abilities, now watched, albeit reluctantly admitting, Jon's remarkable progress. He, who could barely handle a bow before, now hit moving small animals with increasing accuracy.
As they arrived in the village, Jon noticed that his previous aversion to seeing slaughtered animals had considerably diminished. A genuine smile graced his face, and in his inventory, he carried the bodies of over a dozen small animals, from wild rabbits to tiny birds.
Gwen, by his side, spoke with a triumphant tone, "You really did incredibly well learning to use the bow in such a short time." Though it sounded like a compliment to the listeners, in reality, the girl was boasting. She continued, "Too bad that in the presence of a top-notch genius like me, you still have a long way to go. That last rabbit was my thirtieth catch." The lovely red-haired girl finished with a touch of pride, which slightly annoyed Jon.
"Bring a prize or a medal for the village's Miss Perfection!" Jon mocked, with a provocative tone, as they walked towards the village's central market. His intention was to take some of the shine off the little arrogant redhead. Gwen grumbled in response, visibly displeased. "Huff... Sore loser!" she huffed, following closely behind Jon. "It was never a real competition!" Jon reminded her, a hint of amusement in his voice.
During lunch, in the exclusive company of his mother, Jon displayed a radiant smile. There were several reasons for his joy. Firstly, he had managed to acquire 4 Tils in just half a day of hunting. While it was a modest amount, especially compared to the 200 Tils his father earned daily, it exceeded his own expectations. He had estimated a gain of only 2 Tils for the entire day.
Furthermore, Jon discovered that he had acquired the archer ability right after his first successful bow hunt. And with just ten kills, he had already elevated this skill to level 2. But the icing on the cake was his overall progression: in ten days, he had advanced from level 7 to level 8. When he shared his achievement with Gwen, she mentioned that he still had a long way to go before reaching level 9.
Jon reflected on the peculiarities of his condition. He possessed two racial passives, an inheritance from his both elven and human lineage. Additionally, the bonus from the Riverwood Moonstone granted him advantages that few possessed. Having a racial passive wasn't common; such a feature was reserved for those of pure lineage. Gwen, upon discovering this rarity, was fascinated. Jon, realizing the importance of keeping this information a secret, asked her not to share it with anyone.
Another peculiarity was the inability to form groups without a specific mission from the system. With growing anticipation, Jon was eager to resume his hunts. He accessed his game menu, reviewing his attributes and skills, and decided to allocate the extra 5 points to constitution, as he felt very tired after a simple walk/hunt of less than 3 hours.
**[GAME MENU]**
---
**Name:** Jon Woodmoon
**Level:** 8
**EXP:** 0/750
---
**[STATISTICS]**
- **HP (Health Points):** 130
- **MP (Mana Points):** 120
- **Strength:** 15
- **Agility:** 20
- **Constitution:** 16
- **Intelligence:** 25
- **Luck:** 10
— **Points:** 5
**[ABILITIES]**
- **Active:** None
- **Passive:**
- **Elven Heritage:** Increases affinity and mana manipulation capability.
- **Human Heritage:** Additional 50% EXP gain due to inherent adaptability.
- **Riverwood Moonstone:** 50% bonus to EXP and hunter class skills.
- **Apprentice Archer: Level 2
—
**[QUESTS]**
- **Active:** None
