Chapter 15 - A Sad, Incomplete Reunion (I)

Chapter 15 - A Sad, Incomplete Reunion (I)

When Maxmillan recalled what was displayed on the holographic screen in his vision, he couldn't help produce a frigid smile in his face.

"Difficulty level is eight over ten, right? Hmm. I guess they must be very powerful then, since even after my enhanced physical state and the powerful weapons I now have in my possession, they are still given a difficulty level of eight out of ten." Maxmillan said to himself with a certain gleam in his eyes.

"Well, there are still two months and three weeks before the mission will expire. Let me quickly return home to see everyone and put their minds at ease. They must be greatly worried by now. And I hope mom hasn't set out to look for me and endanger herself in the process." Maxmillan said and started to run in the direction of his home, such that he fully exerted himself so that he would arrive in his home before dawn.

As Max started to run at his peak speed of 90km/h, he suddenly got a system message.

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[Notice!]

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[New Mission Alert!]

[Mission Title: Homecoming]

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[Details: Since Host has caused great worry to his family and has chosen to return home to disperse their worries, Host must reach home in less than 3 hours for a journey that will take 8 hours!]

[Difficulty Level (Based on Host's current speed level and cardiovascular endurance): 9/10 - (Extremely Difficult) - ]

[Duration: 3 Hours]

[Completion Failure: None]

[Completion Reward: Ultra-High Velocity Traversal Speed Boots]

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[Accept Mission: /]

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As soon as Maxmillan saw the displayed message, he abruptly stopped to digest the content.

"Really? Like really, Supreme Battle-Technology System?" Maxmillan couldn't help but ask with his brows furrowed. But he got no response.

Seeing that he wouldn't hear from the Supreme Battle-Technology System, Maxmillan looked at the message again and made up his mind after exhaling a heavy breath. Of course, he couldn't lose the boots that will make his quest in battling and eliminating the Astra Mystralis-powered thugs much more easier.

"Yes!" He said with a determined look in his face.

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[System Notification!]

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[Mission has started!]

[Countdown to the end of mission has begun!]

[Failure to complete mission will not result in any punishment!]

[Success in completing mission will allow Host to be rewarded with the previously displayed item!]

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Immediately this information appeared in the holographic screen in Maxmillan's field of vision, he immediately took off at his peak speed and began to run once more in the direction of his home. His feet hit the ground so fast and loud that he conjured up a small dust storm behind him on the wide, dusty road path.

***

After running for an hour at his peak speed, he began to get tired. But of course, he wouldn't stop to rest!

Instead, he tried to increase his speed more that breathing became much more difficult for him.

'I want those damned boots!' He said with eyes gleaming with great determination.

Gbam! Gbam! Gbam!...

Like feet that were made out of solid steel which hit the ground so fast and caused the dusty road path to seemingly quake while conjuring up a large cloud of dust that floated right above his head, Maxmillan pushed himself beyond his limit with the absolute intention of securing the item that was displayed to him some moments ago.

He simply needed the boots and will definitely push himself far beyond his limit to get it. Besides, since this will be the first mission that he is taking on, sort of, he definitely wouldn't want to fail!

He looked at the holographic screen to see how many distance he had covered and couldn't help but be gladdened.

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[Warning Notice!]

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[Ongoing Mission Detail: Host has covered three-fifth of the journey and is left with 58 mins more to complete the mission.]

[Percentage Chance of Success: 60%]

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"I can do this! I have to! I definitely have to!!" Maxmillan said within himself, trying to muster boundless determination from within his being.

However, at the moment, his heart was burning and his legs were weak and tired. Also, he felt like his lungs were on fire. They were critically overworked. Furthermore, he was racked with a seriously aching pain that afflicted his whole body. His legs had gone numb and his feet had become incomparably painfully sore from the extreme-intensity, body limit-defying run that he resolutely engaged himself in.

***

About 56 mins later, after he had arrived in his usually peaceful town, Maxmillan could see the solid structural outline of his home from a distance. With a triumphant and joyous wide smile appearing in his face, he pushed himself further as he ran.

The joy of reaching home to see his parent and sweet siblings, made him briefly forget about the task at hand. He had even begun to imagine their faces and the great happiness that will bloom in their hearts for returning safely to them.

As he imagined the joy and happiness that will bloom in their gladdened faces, he was abruptly distracted by a message that appeared in the holographic screen in his vision once he arrived at a distance of 10 feet before the wooden gate of his home.

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[Mission Success Alert!]

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[Host has successfully completed mission titled: Homecoming]

[Host has been rewarded with the following item: Ultra-High Velocity Traversal Speed Boots!]

[Rewarded item {including hidden items for the Successful Completion of Homecoming Mission} can be found in Inventory]

[Congratulations, Host!]

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Once Maxmillan saw these, he exhaled a heavy breath of relief and suddenly collapsed to the ground, before beginning to pant heavily for breath. He was definitely going to check the inventory later for the hidden items that he was rewarded with.

Suddenly, he got a message again that popped up in the holographic screen.

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[System Alert!]

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[Energization + Pain Elimination + Tissue Regeneration of Host's body has been activated]

[Progress Level: 1%]

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Maxmillan saw this and produced a broad blissful smile in his face once again. Very soon, he would be up on his feet to go see his parent and siblings. He just couldn't wait to embrace them all in his arms.

A few seconds later, he started to feel great strength return to his body. Also, he could perceive that he was filled with more energy that caused him to be dazzled.

Immediately, while on the ground, he did a kip-up to get back on his feet. Whoosh! He immediately dashed to their house where he directly jumped over their eight-feet tall gate and ran to the door of their home with total excitement and happiness in his eyes. He just couldn't wait a few more seconds to embrace his family whom he greatly missed. But he didn't know that some other event had taken place!