The Mysterious Old Lady by the Riverside

"Hah," Karsha exclaimed as he settled down, prepared to absorb the beast cores he had amassed. It had been a week since unlocking the [Red Eye Tiger] Skill, during which he had hunted Tier 1 to Tier 3 monsters relentlessly.

Unbeknownst to him, the system remained silent regarding his kills ever since the blood from the Mutant beasts merged with Karsha. Nevertheless, he could still access his status window, which indicated he was almost at the crossroads of breaking into the next stage, the Grandmaster stage, upon absorbing the gathered beast cores.

"It seems I'll need to seek out stronger monsters, as the weaker ones are slowing my progress," he remarked, noting the gradual decrease in his leveling speed. Initially, slaying even the weakest of foes had provided significant Attributes and Exp points. Now, he had to dispatch several before advancing to a single level.

And it worsened whenever he ascended a level. Despite slaying close to 70 beasts over the past week, Karsha had only managed to ascend to Level 7. With each level gained, he could sense his strength increasing, compelling him to exploit this unique situation. Yet, he found himself only encountering cannon fodder to kill.

He planned to find his way to the nearest human settlement after breaking through, so he spent all day hunting and amassing monster cores to aid his breakthrough. Now littered before him is a mountain of monster core ready to be devoured by him

"< Does the host wish to absorb the beast cores >"

-- Yes

-- No

The system, as always, inquired, and without hesitation, Karsha selected Yes. The cores promptly dissipated into thin air. However, a new window materialized before Karsha after the absorption of the beast cores.

< Congratulations on ascending to Level 8. 10 points added to be distributed freely >

< Congratulations on ascending to Level 9. 10 points added to be distributed freely >

Karsha sensed that a breakthrough was within reach with just the slightest movement, yet despite his efforts, no message signaling his ascension to the Grandmaster stage appeared. He couldn't conceal his disappointment at this new development, but he understood it was beyond his control.

Encounters like this were inevitable. He recalled hearing his son, Michael, once talk about pills designed to aid cultivators who had reached a bottleneck in their progression to break through.

"I still have much to discover about this world. Perhaps Michael was onto something; technology does have its merits," Karsha murmured, casting his gaze skyward to mask his inner turmoil. Michael was his eldest child, and back on Earth, they often engaged in debates about the impact of technology on society.

Naturally, Karsha leaned towards skepticism while his son embraced technology. These debates were among the many activities they used to bond over, given Karsha's frequent absences.

With a sigh, he resolved to press on for now. However, just as he prepared to rise, another window materialized, prompting him to settle back down and started to read.

===========

< Unique Quest >

Quest Category: Single Quest

Quest Name: Breakthrough Quest

-- You have reached a bottleneck in your cultivation; to break through, you must complete a certain quest, which will be evaluated based on your performance.

< Quest >

-- Kill Six Tier 5 Monsters and One Tier 6 Monster.

-- Absorb their core

< Reward for quest completion >

-- The reward will be based on the final evaluation. The grade for evaluation is as follows: S, SS, SSS, SSS+. SSE

The system will enter version 2.0, which will include some added benefits.

Note: The rewards are hidden until the quest is completed successfully.

Note: The quest will officially start once the bloodline absorption and Class have been activated. Time Remaining: 48 days.

Note: To start the quest, say 'Start Breakthrough Quest' and 'Stop Breakthrough Quest' to stop.

============

Karsha continued to read through the messages with a solemn expression. While the immediate issue troubling him had been resolved, he couldn't shake the nagging thought of whether he could complete the quest with a high rating. Confronting a Tier 5 monster had been a struggle enough; he pondered how he would fare against a Tier 6 adversary.

"No need to dwell on that now; I still have 48 days to prepare," Karsha muttered as he rose to his feet and began searching for a path forward. "I suppose I should start by finding a river. Mom always used to say, 'If you're lost in the woods, look for a river and follow it downstream. It'll lead you home.'"

He traversed the forest for another three hours, devoid of any sense of direction. Lost in the wilderness, Karsha found it hard to believe his current predicament.

"I can't believe I escaped a pit only to become ensnared in the woods," he mused, taking a gulp of water. "I suppose I'll continue moving in that direction," he resolved, preparing to head southwest. However, as he took three steps, a breeze carrying the scent of grilled fish wafted past his nose.

His attention immediately shifted in a certain direction. Not only were his vision and hearing heightened, but his sense of smell had also received a boost. Capitalizing on this, he decided to move southeast instead.

"I hope the person grilling the fish can help me find the nearest town," Karsha remarked as he pressed on toward the tantalizing aroma. With each step, the scent intensified, causing his mouth to subconsciously water.

After a few minutes, he reached the riverbank, where he beheld a scene of pure tranquility: a river flowing with crystal-clear blue waters, from which white smoke gently billowed.

"Excuse me, could you please tell me the direction to the nearest town?" Karsha inquired, approaching a lady whose back was turned to him as she diligently seasoned two sizable tilapia over an open flame.

"You look like someone who could use a decent meal. Why not come and join this granny for some nicely grilled fish?" A warm, welcoming voice spoke out to Karsha.

Expecting a young woman based on the voice, Karsha was taken aback when the figure turned around. Instead of a youthful maiden, he was met with the sight of an elderly lady, resembling someone's grandmother.

"I don't want to intrude on your perfect afternoon picnic, Grandma," Karsha hastily replied, concealing the surprise that flashed across his face. However, his attempt to decline was swiftly rebutted by the old lady's next words.

"I'll tell you the location once we're finished eating," she replied, her smile revealing only five remaining teeth. Karsha couldn't help but wonder which teeth she planned to use to chew the perfectly grilled fish.

"Hah," he sighed, resigned to his fate as he approached the old lady. "I'll eat, but besides the directions, I also want the recipe for this delicious grill," Karsha quipped, attempting to lighten the mood. Instantly, the atmosphere around them shifted.

Sensing no ill intent from the old lady, Karsha surmised she was either genuinely kind-hearted or attempting to manipulate him for her own benefit. With no way to discern the truth, Karsha took his seat and eagerly began devouring his portion of fish.

"Young man, what's your name, and why are you in this part of the forest? Don't you know it's forbidden to wander around the 'Ancestral Burial Site'?" the old lady inquired, her question nearly causing Karsha to choke.

"What do you mean by forbidden? I didn't see any sign," he replied, feigning innocence as he glanced at the old woman. Karsha would be lying if he said he wasn't panicking at the very moment. While he isn't aware of such a place, the fact that he hunted there means he defiled the place and if anybody finds out, they will surely make a big deal out of it.

"Hah, it seems you're not aware of the rules," the old woman sighed. "Since no harm is done, I suppose there's no need for further explanation. Just make sure to avoid this place in the future. If caught, you won't find it easy," she warned before taking a sip of her wine.

"And before you ask, understand that I am a guardian, exempt from such rules. Nevertheless, I still adhere to them and ensure no harm comes to this place," she added, preempting any questions Karsha might have had.

"Thank you for the information. I'll certainly remember never to stop here again," Karsha replied, resuming his meal. She offered only a slight nod before delving into her own fish.

Twenty minutes later, Karsha wiped his mouth with his hand and took a swig of water from his bottle. He felt thoroughly satisfied with the grilled fish he had just enjoyed. In fact, he wouldn't be exaggerating if he declared it the best he had ever tasted in his entire life.

"Congratulations for accepting the legacy of the Divine Alchemist; use your gifts well and make sure to follow the instructions left behind by 'Master Trinity'," The old woman spoke prompting Karsha to ask what she was on about. 

"What legacy are..." Before Karsha could finish his sentence, the old lady touched his forehead, instantly sending him into a deep sleep. "Sorry for forcing this upon you, but I can't live a day longer, and the legacy of Master Trinity shouldn't be lost with me. I hope you'll understand when you wake up," were the last words Karsha heard before succumbing to unconsciousness.

============

"Congratulations on accepting my legacy," A voice spoke, snapping Karsha awake. "Where am I?" He asks as he notices his surroundings have changed.