9. Mount Keili

As I walked out of the mansion I thought about the plan that I made up 3 years ago, it was actually a quite simple.

First of all, I'll play the role of a good person but behind the scene will control everything in my favor as I have no choice but to be the villain since I have to steal the protagonist's chances even if they could save lives.

I'll just play the good guy, help people and things like that but I'll kill everyone that knows too much or could get in my way.

And the second part of my plan will be to get all the hidden pieces I can while travelling around the Empire. I will also go to the dwarves kingdom as I need to recruit someone from it.

That's simple, yes. But now I have to organise what I'll dot the first year before meeting the dwarf I want to recruit.

During the first 2 months I'll go to Mount Keili located near the Lighthaven archduchy, actually it could have taken me 1 week to finish the hidden dungeon located there but I have to be careful of the people of the duchy and also the way to the top of the mountain is quite arduous and I'll take me some time. From there I'll get the item that will help me start getting more hidden pieces.

After that I have to get that legacy… I'll be hard even for me who has overpowered stats but I'll probably manage it. This alone will take me four months. And after that I'll got to the dwarves kingdom.

After thinking about my plans I started heading south to the Lighthaven's territory.

~ 1 month later ~

It took me 1 month to arrive in the duchy as I journeyed without a carriage or horse as it's too suspicious for a 4 years old boy to have a horse and carriage and I also have to be careful of the Lighthavens.

~ 2 weeks later ~

I settled myself in an inn and bought all I needed to climb the mountain and get what I want. I also started killing F Ranked monster it was easy and finally today was the day.

There will be no one near the mountain. This mountain is after all the place where the Lighthaven family hunts monsters. But today is a special day during two weeks they will be a festival where the Lighthaven's people celebrate the battle their ancestor won against an SSS Rank monster. It lasts two weeks like the battle so I'll have time to finish the dungeon and then go down the moutain without being noticed.

I prepared myself and passed by the market which was crowded fortunately no one noticed me and I safely approached the mountain.

I walked stealthy along the border of the mountain and enter it. It's normally guarded but today there is no one so I can relax a little bit. I start climbing the mountain.

An hour after climbing the mountain I encounter a monster it was a rabbit-like beast, its fur matted was stained with the blood of its victims. Its eyes were crimson-red. Razor-sharp claws protruded from its massive paws, capable of shredding through flesh and bone with ease. Its teeth are jagged and stained, dripping with the saliva of its last meal. I recognise it as it's one of the most dangerous C Rank beast and even I am not certain of winning as I can't use my abilities to their fullest. As I was looking at it and finding a way to counter it a system message appeared.

[ Shiva the destroyer, says kill it and I'll reward you. It's good practice as all the F Ranked monster that you killed were easy to overpower. You have to get into a life and death situation to improve and fighting strong opponent makes you improve ]

[ Do you want to accept Shiva's quest? ]

[ Yes] [ No]

I accepted it because if I want to go to that dungeon I have to be prepared and I can't cower in front of hardships like this.

As soon as it saw me the monstrous rabbit bounded toward me, its massive frame filling my vision. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I welcomed the challenge, a grin spreading across my face. And I realised I was excited as it's been a long time since I fought a worthy opponent.

With a swift movement, I drew my sword, the familiar weight of it comforting in my hand. The rabbit's claws flashed towards me, but I danced out of reach, eager for the fray.

As the creature circled, I matched its movements, my senses sharp, every muscle poised for action. With lightning reflexes, I parried its strikes, the clash of metal against claw filling the air.

Each blow fueled my excitement, the thrill of battle coursing through me. I could feel the rhythm of the fight, the ebb and flow of combat, and I relished every moment of it.

With calculated precision, I waited for the perfect opportunity. And when it came, I seized it, driving my sword deep into the rabbit's side.

It wasn't as hard as I thought but it still was a good fight.

[ Shiva the destroyer, says I am impressed and am going to reward you accordingly as it's been a long time since someone fought equally with someone two ranks above ]

[ Shiva the destroyer, rewards you a ring as a reward ]

I look at the ring and inspect its stats.

[ Rudrakasha Ring Rare (C) (Growth Type):

A ring symbolising Shiva, it grows with the wearer but the condition for upgrades aren't known yet.

Effects:

1. Immune to curses

2. (Locked)

3. (Locked)

4. (Locked)

5. (Locked)

6. (Locked)

7. (Locked) ]

The effects were good for a C rank ring and it was a growth type artifact which was extremely rare. As I had to find a thing to block curses it was extremely helpful because their is a lot of sorcerer that uses curses and being immune to it is like already winning the fight against them. I put on the ring and looked at my stats window. I gained a lot of exp and am E Rank, I couldn't rank up because monster lower ranked than you can't give you exp.

I start walking towards the top of the mountain and after a day of hiking I settle down. It'll probably take me 3 days to reach the top of the mountains so I bought a spacial ring where I put a camping set and food to keep me alive. It was one of the necessities to take before leaving the Silvercrest duchy where it costs cheaper than here.

~ 2 days later ~

I am finally before the dungeon during those two days I encountered some monsters but I managed to defeat them as the higher ranked one don't show up that easily.

I enter the dungeon.