Chapter 17: Hidden Quest 2

[Tactical Mirage: A]

[- Creates a 30m radius zone where user is aware all movement. Simulate possible movements the user can take react according.

- Creates Holographic clones and illusions within this space. Dependant on current level.

- Search for small targets and track movement with this zone giving user a mental marker for each target.

- 5% all-round stat boost.

- Weak force field.

- Light attribute]

"It was worth it to merge all those skills from the slimes," Jett thought, smiling as he checked his skill's new attributes.

They walked for about 5 minutes before reaching the cave's depths. It was empty and enclosed, with moss-covered walls and overgrown bushes. As they went deeper, dim light revealed four firefly-like statues and a humanoid firefly monster statue with a spear.

"Do you have a weapon?" Jett asked, looking at the statues.

"Yeah, I got a spear," Finn said, showing a fancy-looking weapon from his storage space.

"Use appraisal. It's common skill for Merchant Class right?," Jett advised, unimpressed by the spear. "You'll need one with a stat boost, preferably strength, and maybe a special attribute."

Finn read the weapon's description. "Just perception boost," he noted, looking for more options.

"That won't do. I can't afford to get you killed here, so check among the weapons you bought," Jett urged, scanning the surroundings as Finn brings everything out of his storage space and sifts through weapons on the ground. "What about that one?" Jett pointed to an old, rusty spear with a gleaming blade.

Finn wondered if Jett was messing with him. "This? It looks useless, but alright," he said, deciding to appraise it. To his surprise, the results were impressive. "A special-grade weapon with a 20-point increase in strength, perception, and speed. It also has a triple damage attribute for 5 seconds, with a cooldown duration of 2 minutes."

"What a score, and it fits your Merchant/Warrior class too," Jett said, relieved with a smile. "Alright, now for the game plan." His smile turned mischievous as he began to outline their strategy.

"What's with that look? You're not going to make me do anything crazy, right?" Finn's expression showed growing worry.

"Yours is the easy part. You see that big guy over there?" Jett pointed at the humanoid firefly statue.

"Yeah? What about it?" Finn asked, apprehension creeping into his voice.

"You'll fight him alone. Just watch out for the spear and sharp wings," Jett instructed calmly.

"Are you crazy?" Finn exclaimed, disbelief evident in his tone.

Jett smiled as he retrieved a decent-looking sword and two rings from the pile of items on the floor. "The moment I turn off the lights, those statues are going to come alive, and thousands of deadly fireflies will follow suit. But the good thing is, they won't go near the big guy." He showed them to Finn to appraise.

Finn read out the description. "Um, special grade, 20 stats in strength with 10 in perception and intelligence. It also has mana conductivity, which means 10% added damage for magical attacks. So, what will you be doing?" he asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.

Jett inspected the sword again. "Lucky me, no cooldowns. I'll be completing the quest do don't worry, how about the rings?," Jett explained, pointing at the rings he had given Finn.

Finn took a closer look. "Hmm, common grade. One has a 10 stat increase in HP with 0.5 auto-regen every 10 seconds, and the other, 5 in MP." He had nothing else to say; still unsure of what was happening.

"Take the HP ring. I'll use the one for MP," Jett suggested, gesturing for Finn to toss him the MP ring.

"You know, your calmness in this situation scares me," Finn confessed with a defeated smile as he watched Jett don the ring.

"I just happen to have a plan, that's all," Jett replied, his demeanor unwavering as he prepared for the challenge ahead.

"A plan, you seem to have a lot of those too," Finn continued, his tone a mixture of skepticism and admiration.

"I just got lucky," Jett replied, trying to downplay his strategic prowess.

"Yeah, right," Finn muttered, taking a deep breath. "I'm really jealous of you. You always act like you're a step ahead of everyone else and not fazed by anything." He stretched his arms, a hint of frustration in his movements. "I don't want to believe that trusting you is the only way out of this, since you're the reason I'm in this mess. But just this once," Finn extended his hand towards Jett for a handshake, "I'll trust you."

"That's quite an assumption when we haven't known each other for that long," Jett teased, accepting the handshake. For a brief moment, it felt like the tension between them slowly dissipated.

As Finn put on the ring and got into a battle stance with his spear, curiosity got the better of him. "You seemed really happy when you got items to increase magic and MP. What class did you get?"

"My class? Oh, right, I'm an Anom###" Jett's voice faltered, and a glitch interrupted his speech when he tried to say "ANOMALY."

"What was that?" Finn asked, perplexed by the strange interruption.

"An... #no##ly," Jett tried again, but the glitch persisted.

"Huh?" Finn furrowed his brow, struggling to understand.

Jett pondered for a moment, realizing that maybe the system wouldn't let him reveal the truth to Finn. "My class? Magic Swordsman," he said finally, flashing a goofy smile.

"That's a super rare class. It almost explains the whole beast core matter," Finn chuckled, not feeling too surprised by Jett's answer.

"You ready?" Jett asked Finn one last time, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"All set. Let's get this over with. I still have plans for today," Finn replied, determination evident in his tone.

"Alright, I'm deactivating the light," Jett announced, switching off the Light attribute of their Tactical Mirage. Darkness enveloped the cave, but his [Tactical Mirage] still provided them with some clarity.

As they stood back to back, they began to hear cracking sounds emanating from the direction of the statues. Glowing figures emerged where the statues once stood, accompanied by thousands of fireflies emerging from the bushes, their luminous bodies lighting up the cave.

"That's them. Get ready," Jett informed Finn, who was already poised for action.

"I'm ready," Finn replied confidently, his senses heightened in the darkness.

"Don't rush in. Use your increased perception to your advantage," Jett advised, but Finn was eager to engage and interrupted him, "Enough talk. Let's do this."

With determination, they both took off in opposite directions. Finn headed straight for the humanoid monster, the largest source of light in the cave. As he approached, the number of fireflies decreased, allowing him to focus on his target. He lunged his spear towards the monster, but it skillfully parried his attack. Their battle ensued, with Finn narrowly dodging the creature's strikes. Despite some grazing blows, Finn's ring provided him with auto-regeneration, ensuring he remained in the fight. However, the lack of visibility added to his challenges, forcing him to rely on his instincts and increased perception.

Meanwhile, Jett was in his element, effortlessly slicing through swarms of fireflies to reach the four larger ones they seemed to be protecting. He pressed forward, his movements fluid and precise, but the sheer number of enemies overwhelmed him. Taking a step back, he paused to gather his breath.

"I haven't had the chance to use some of my skills or spells. Let's see how well I do," Jett thought to himself, determination gleaming in his eyes as he prepared to unleash his full potential.

As Finn battled the humanoid monster with his spear, Jett remained focused, his mind delving deep into the depths of his magical abilities. Though he had learned magic diligently from his mother, he had rarely used it in this world. Now, faced with the swarm of fireflies, he had to rely on his mastery of the arcane arts.

His breath steady, Jett closed his eyes, visualizing mana coalescing into flames. He pictured a roaring inferno, fierce and powerful, rising to form a towering pillar of fire. With precision, he added just the right amount of mana, careful not to overwhelm the spell. Finn watched in amazement as Jett remained perfectly still, his concentration unbroken amidst the chaos.

"What are you doing, moron? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Finn's voice cut through the tension, but Jett remained undeterred.

Then, with a sudden surge of energy, Jett completed his spell. Stretching out his hand towards the swarm of fireflies, he called out the incantation, "{Hell Fire}!" In an instant, a pillar of flame erupted from the ground, engulfing the swarm in a blaze of heat and light. The fire roared ferociously, creating a path through the throng of insects and providing Jett with an opportunity to advance.

*

*

*

Didn't take long for Finn to grasp the situation.

What did he mean by plans though?

I guess we'll find out soon.

And take no heed the weapon grading for now

It'll be explained in due time. ( ◜‿◝ )♡