Vol.01: Ch.02: From Pain to Victory: Darell's Plan Unfolds

Darell slowly stirred from his slumber as the faint chirping of birds outside his window gradually roused him from his deep sleep. With a deep yawn and stretch, he cracked open his eyes, squinting against the bright rays of early morning sunlight that streamed into his room. As he gazed around the space, he couldn't help but groan inwardly at the unwelcome intrusion of the sun's warmth into his peaceful rest.

"Ugh..." he muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes and dragging himself out of bed. "Too much sunlight," he grumbled as he began to prepare himself for the day ahead.

As Darell made his way towards the bathroom, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was different. Upon opening the door and stepping in front of the mirror, his initial shock quickly turned into disbelief and awe.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief as he took in his reflection. "Did the system enhance my looks?"

Gone were his once-dark locks, replaced by an almost unreal shade of black that flowed effortlessly down to his shoulders. His azure eyes had taken on a golden hue, making them seem almost otherworldly.

But that wasn't all. As he surveyed his body, Darell couldn't believe what he was seeing. His muscles had become more defined and chiseled, as if they had been sculpted to perfection. His once-lean frame had filled out, giving him a more imposing presence. Even his height had increased by a few inches, now towering at an impressive 1.85 meters.

"DAMN!" he exclaimed, flexing his newly acquired muscles and grinning inwardly. He couldn't wait to see what else the system had in store for him.

After a refreshing morning bath and a change of clothes, Darell wasted no time in getting ready for his quest. With a quick glance at the clock on the wall, he noted that it was only 6 in the morning, giving him plenty of time to complete his mission in secret.

"I can finish the quest quietly without anybody knowing about it," he thought to himself, a sense of excitement and anticipation building within him.

Darell knew that he had to be careful if he wanted to avoid raising any suspicion. With a sense of urgency and caution, he made his way out of his family's mansion, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew that the success of his mission depended on his ability to remain undetected.

Sneaking past the guards posted at the gate, Darell quickly made his way to one of the carriages parked outside the mansion. With a skilled hand, he opened the door and slipped inside, careful not to make a sound that might alert anyone to his presence.

As he settled in, Darell felt a sense of thrill and excitement. He knew that what he was about to do was risky, but he also knew that it was necessary if he wanted to succeed. With a sense of determination, he prepared himself for the challenges that lay ahead, ready to face whatever obstacles came his way.

As Darell's carriage made its way towards the town of Xena, he felt a sense of nervous anticipation building within him. He knew that he had to be careful if he wanted to avoid drawing any unwanted attention. After what seemed like an eternity, the carriage finally came to a stop, and Darell quickly hopped out, his heart racing with excitement.

With practiced ease, he donned a mask, concealing his identity from prying eyes. He knew that this was an important precaution if he wanted to succeed in his mission. With the mask securely in place, Darell made his way towards the only guild in town, Thunderthorn.

The guild was renowned throughout the land for its platinum-ranked adventurer, who was also its guild master.

In the kingdom of Gavaria, adventurers came from all walks of life, but they were mostly from common families. It was a rare sight to see a noble family produce an adventurer. Despite their humble origins, adventurers were highly respected and held in high esteem by the people.

Adventurers were ranked based on their skill and experience, with the highest tiers being the most coveted. The ranking system consisted of Metal, Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Red Diamond, Pink Diamond, and Blue Diamond, with Metal being the lowest and Blue Diamond being the highest.

In the entire kingdom, there was only one Blue Diamond adventurer, and he happened to be the King's brother. This made him one of the most powerful and influential individuals in the land. To be in the same league as the King's brother was an achievement that only a few adventurers could boast of, and Darell was determined to prove himself worthy of such a lofty position.

Darell entered the guild hall which was filled with adventurers of all shapes and sizes, each one boasting impressive skills and experience. Darell knew that he had to be careful if he wanted to avoid drawing unwanted attention to himself.

He made his way towards the receptionist, a beautiful woman with a warm smile and a welcoming demeanor. Despite the slight wrinkles on her face, she exuded a youthful energy that seemed to attract people to her.

The receptionist's curious gaze lingered on Darell as he approached, taking in his masked appearance from top to bottom. Darell could sense her scrutiny but remained silent, knowing that it was best to maintain his anonymity for as long as possible.

The receptionist greeted Darell respectfully and inquired about the reason for his visit to the guild hall. Darell cleared his throat and spoke in a hoarse voice, "I want to register as an adventurer."

The lady immediately pulled out a form and a crystal ball from underneath the desk. Darell took the form and handed over a bag of coins, but he refused to disclose his abilities. The receptionist nodded in understanding and accepted the bag of coins. It was a common practice among adventurers to pay a certain amount to the guild if they wished to keep their abilities secret.

Darell filled out the form and paid the required amount. The receptionist handed him a token and said, "This is your token as a Metal-ranked adventurer." Darell felt a surge of pride as he took the token, knowing that it was the first step in his journey towards becoming a legendary figure. With a nod of thanks, he turned to leave and explore the guild hall.

After thoroughly exploring the guild hall, Darell stepped out of the building and began his search for a carriage headed towards the forest of Fyn. He scanned the area until he spotted one and stealthily boarded it, concealing himself from the other passengers.

As the carriage traveled for hours, Darell remained hidden until he finally arrived at the edge of the forest. Without any hesitation, he jumped out of the carriage and dashed towards the outer area of the forest, ready to embark on his quest.

As Darell entered the forest of Fyn, he couldn't help but notice the dense vegetation surrounding him. The air was thick with the scent of nature and the sound of chirping birds echoed in the distance. He knew that the forest was divided into three areas based on the ranking of the beasts inhabiting them.

The outer area of the forest, where Darell was now, was known to be inhabited by beasts ranked between 01 and 04. The beasts in this area were relatively weaker compared to those in the inner area in which beasts ranked between rank 05 and rank 07 lived or core area which was inhabited by beasts of ranks 08 to rank 10 but Darell didn't let his guard down. He remained alert, constantly scanning his surroundings and listening for any unusual sounds.

After searching for several minutes, Darell stumbled upon a bear that was devouring a lifeless animal. Seizing the opportunity, Darell charged towards the bear in an attempt to surprise it with a punch to the back of its head. However, the bear proved to be a formidable opponent as its skin began to radiate a light brown aura, covered with a layer of rock-like protrusions. The bear quickly spun around, letting out a menacing growl in Darell's direction. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Darell swiftly jumped back, only to examine his bruised hands in frustration and bewilderment.

Darell cursed under his breath as he realized his mistake. "I knew it! I can't fight a rockbear with just my fists," he thought, feeling a surge of regret. But before he could react, the bear pounced towards him, its massive body propelled by brute force. Darell had no time to dodge, so he raised his hands in a desperate attempt to defend himself. The bear's sharp claws tore through his flesh, causing him to cry out in pain.

* BOOM *

With a violent swipe, the bear flung him across the forest, and he crashed into a tree.

Darell gasped as he tried to stand up, but his legs gave out and he stumbled to the ground. Blood dripped from his mouth as he panted heavily. "This bear... its strength has increased," he thought to himself, regretting not attacking it before its transformation. He frantically searched for something to protect himself, and just as he was about to give up hope, a memory surfaced in his mind: the system's words. With renewed determination, he formulated a plan.

A smile spread across Darell's face as he dodged the bear's attack and made a run for it, heading towards a familiar hunting ground from his childhood days. Memories of accompanying his father on hunting trips flooded his mind, and he knew that the terrain and the surroundings could give him an advantage over the beast that was hot on his heels. He sprinted as fast as he could, with the bear relentlessly chasing him, its growls echoing through the forest.

As Darell sprinted through the forest, adrenaline pumping through his veins, he heard the bear's heavy footsteps thundering behind him. He chanced a look over his shoulder and saw the enraged bear furiously pursuing him. A devious smile spread across his face as he abruptly stopped and spun around to face the bear. With a cocky gesture, he taunted the bear to come at him. The bear roared and charged, but it was too late. Darell had led the bear right into a hidden trap that he knew well from his hunts with his father.

* BOOM *

The bear was sent flying to the side by a massive log of wood that had been strategically placed as a trap.

Darell approached the bear's mangled body, which let out pitiful whimpers as it tried to get up. He felt a rush of adrenaline as he triumphantly stood over the defeated beast. With a furious shout, he pressed his boot onto the bear's face, growling, "This is natural selection, you pathetic beast! You no longer have the strength to kill me, so accept your miserable fate."

He delivered blow after blow to the bear's already battered face until it lay motionless, its broken teeth and crushed skull protruding grotesquely. Darell stood over the lifeless body, panting heavily as he bellowed in triumph, "YES! I've done it!"

[DING]

[Quest 01 - Completed]

[Reward - 10 XP]

The notification rang out, signaling the completion of Darell's first quest. He couldn't help but grin with satisfaction at his progress. The reward of 10 XP was a small victory, but it was still a step forward in his journey.

As Darell searched the bear's remains for a valuable trophy, he came across a light brown colored orb located beside it's heart. As he picked it up, he felt its energy coursing through his fingers. However, just as he was about to absorb it, a message from the system interrupted him.

[Host does not need to absorb beast cores. The host can increase his mana by leveling up.]

Darell's heart sank as he realized that the core was of no use to him. Despite this, he couldn't resist the temptation of pocketing it as a token of his victory over the formidable beast.

[DING]

[Quest 02 - Kill three rank 01 beasts]

[Reward - 40 XP]

With a confident smile on his face, Darell set out to find more rank 01 beasts. His eyes scanned the surrounding area as he walked, searching for any signs of movement or activity. Suddenly, he spotted a group of beasts in the distance and he knew that he had found his next target.

As he approached the group, he could feel his heart racing with anticipation. He prepared himself for battle and launched his attack with fierce determination. After a long and grueling battle, he emerged victorious.

Breathing heavily, Darell wiped the sweat from his brow and was about to move on when he heard a familiar sound. It was the notification from the system, letting him know that he had completed another quest.

[DING]

[TOTAL XP FULL]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEVEL UP]

[Y/N]

Darell's heart leaped with joy and he exclaimed, "Yes!" His body, however, was wracked with pain that lasted only for a fleeting moment before disappearing without a trace.

With his mind racing, Darell couldn't help but wonder about the changes to his stats.

[Name - Darell Rogers]

[Race - ***]

[Level - 02]

[XP - 00/30]

[HP - 125/125]

[MP - 75/75]

[Strength - 20]

[Agility - 20]

[Stamina - 20]

[Vitality - 20]

[Defense - 20]

[Intellect - 20]

[Ability - Space]

[Skills - Space Arsenal]

[Special Skills - None]

A smile spread across Darell's face as he felt the surge of power coursing through his veins. It seemed that his stats had doubled, a clear indication of his progress. Eager to test out his newfound strength, he set out to hunt down another rank 01 beast. But as he was about to take his first step, a notification from the system caught his attention.

[DING]

[Quest 03 - Reach Level 05]

[Reward - System points (unlock), Special skill - Inspect]

Excitement coursed through Darell's body as he realized that he was being offered a rare opportunity to unlock system points and a special skill - Inspect. He knew that this was an opportunity that he could not afford to miss

"What are these system points?", he asked.

[System points can be used to unlock special skills early without completing any quest.], the system replied.

Darell's eyes widened in amazement as he read the notification about the system points. "So, I can unlock special skills without completing any quest?" he muttered to himself in excitement. A wide grin spread across his face as he quickly made his way towards the hunting grounds to search for the beasts. The thought of unlocking new abilities filled him with a sense of adventure and determination.

After hours of relentless fighting, Darell collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. His hands were battered and bruised, and his face was a mess of scratches and scars. But despite the pain, he felt a newfound strength coursing through his body. He lay there for a few moments, catching his breath, before finally rising to his feet with a triumphant shout of "Yes!"

[DING]

[Quest 03 - Completed]

[Total XP - FULL]

[YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 05]

The sound of the notification echoed through Darell's mind as he looked at the message with anticipation. His hard work had paid off as he completed the third quest and gained a full amount of XP.

[CONGRATULATIONS]

[YOU HAVE UNLOCKED A SPECIAL SKILL - INSPECT]

[Description - This skill allows the host to see the stats of anyone]

The message displayed that he had reached Level 05 and unlocked a special skill, "Inspect." Darell's eyes widened as he read the skill's description, realizing its immense potential. With this ability, he could now see the stats of anyone he encountered.

Darell closed his eyes and whispered, "Stats." Suddenly, a notification sound chimed in his head and he saw a list of numbers and words floating in front of him.

[DING]

[Name - Darell Rogers]

[Race - ***]

[Level - 05]

[XP - 00/100]

[HP - 225/225]

[MP - 175/175]

[Strength - 50]

[Agility - 50]

[Stamina - 50]

[Vitality - 50]

[Defense - 50]

[Intellect - 50]

[Ability - Space]

[Skills - Space Arsenal]

[Special Skills - Inspect]

[System Points - 05]

[System Shop - Unlocked]

Darell was amazed by the information displayed in front of him. He could see his own name, race, level, and experience points. He felt satisfied with his health points and mana. He felt even stronger when he saw his strength, agility, stamina, vitality, defense, and intellect were all set at 50. He even had a special skill called "Inspect" that allowed him to see the stats of anyone he encountered.

Glancing at the sky, he realized that evening was fast approaching, and it was time to call it a day.

With a swift hand gesture, Darell used his skill Space Arsenal and began to collect the beast cores he had collected from his kills, stashing them away in his inventory. He made his way out of the forest, taking one last look around.

As Darell walked towards the outermost edge of the forest, he felt a strange sensation of healing. To his amazement, most of his bruises and wounds had vanished, including the scar on his cheek. He wondered if the system had granted him some sort of regeneration ability.

"System, do I have any regeneration ability?" he asked.

To his surprise, the system responded, [You have a passive regeneration ability.]

"But why doesn't it show up on my skills tab?" Darell inquired.

The system replied, [If you want to know more, you have to level up.]

Darell let out a sigh of frustration. It seemed like the system was always in a hurry, asking him to level up every time he had a question.

Darell hurriedly made his way out of the forest, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the new skills and abilities he had acquired. He scanned the surrounding area, looking for a suitable way to make his escape unnoticed. His eyes locked onto a nearby carriage, and without hesitation, he made a dash for it. He waited for the perfect moment to jump into the carriage when the driver wasn't looking. Once he was inside, hid behind a stack of crates, hoping not to be noticed.

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