"Alright, I've decided for my first skill," Kieran said, his mental voice firm and resolute. "I choose Fireball."
He clicked the 'Apply for Loan' button next to Fireball on the screen. A confirmation prompt appeared, detailing the repayment terms: 10 Bronze Rank Missions. He quickly accepted.
"Application submitted successfully!" a message flashed on the screen. "You will be notified of your approval shortly. If approved, please proceed to the Hunters Admin office on the ground floor to receive your skill crystal."
"A wise choice, Host," the System chimed in, its voice devoid of its usual petulance, sounding genuinely approving. "But I am curious. Why Fireball? Magic Missile offered precision and control, and was cheaper to repay."
Kieran mentally chuckled. "Well, System, it came down to efficiency and survival. My physical stats are a joke. Getting into melee is out. So I need to keep distance. Both Magic Missile and Fireball offer that. But my daily quest is to kill 10 creatures. If I encounter a horde of weaker monsters, Fireball's AoE and knock-back will clear them out much faster than picking them off one by one with Magic Missile, even with perfect accuracy."
"The knock-back is also a huge defensive bonus for someone like me," he continued. "It creates space, pushes enemies away, and that's critical when I can't take a hit. The burning damage is just icing on the cake for sustained DPS. Yes, it needs aiming, and it costs more mana, but my mana capacity and regeneration, combined with your storage and the Release State, mean I can sustain it. For a solo Novice Hunter, dealing with multiple threats is the immediate, most dangerous problem. Fireball gives me the best chance to survive and complete my quest efficiently."
"A logical assessment," the System conceded, a hint of respect in its tone. "You considered your limitations and optimized for threat management and quest completion. Commendable."
"See?" Kieran thought, a playful jab in his mental voice. "I told you I was smart. You can trust me with the big decisions, even if you can't be trusted with small stuff."
"Hey!" the System protested, its voice rising in indignation. "I can be trusted with small stuff! I just... prioritize! And you were being mean!"
Kieran ignored its indignant whine. Just then, a new notification flashed on the screen, accompanied by a soft chime. "Loan Approved! Please proceed to the Releasing Section on the ground floor to claim your Skill Crystal."
Kieran's heart leaped. Approved! That was fast! He quickly logged out of the terminal and practically bounded towards the "Releasing Section." It was a counter located near the back of the bustling lounge, where Hunters collected their mission rewards, resources, and now, apparently, skill crystals.
A short line had formed in front of the counter. At its helm was a burly, bald man with a thick neck and arms like tree trunks. He had a gruff demeanor, but his movements were efficient as he handed out various items to the Hunters in line. Kieran joined the queue, eagerly anticipating his turn.
When he finally reached the front, he offered his best polite smile. "Good morning, sir. I would like to receive the skill crystal that I loaned."
The bald man, whose nameplate read 'Andrei', looked him up and down, his eyes, surprisingly sharp, taking in Kieran's still somewhat pale complexion and relatively lean build. A faint, almost imperceptible sniff escaped him. "So, you're a newly awakened Hunter, huh?" he grunted, his voice a low rumble.
Kieran was taken aback. "How... how did you know?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. He thought he'd blended in well enough.
Andrei let out a short, humorless chuckle. "Your presence is so... lame. It's clear as day you haven't seen blood in your life. You reek of fresh awakening, boy. No offense, but you look like you'd faint at the sight of a goblin's toenail."
Kieran felt a flush creep up his neck, but he bit back a retort. Andrei wasn't wrong. He hadn't seen blood, not in a fight anyway. He'd been confined to his apartment, rotting away.
Andrei's expression softened, just slightly. "Let me tell you something, kid. You need to harden your resolve if you want to survive as a Hunter. This ain't no game. Out there, in the Gates, it's kill or be killed. And the monsters don't care if you're 'freshly awakened' or 'lame'."
Kieran took a deep breath, letting the words sink in. They were harsh, but he knew they were true. "Thank you for the advice, sir," he said, genuinely grateful. "My name is Kieran. What should I call you?"
"Andrei," the man replied, a flicker of something akin to approval in his eyes. He pushed a piece of paper across the counter. "Sign here. This is your loan agreement for the Fireball skill crystal. Ten Bronze Rank Missions, as agreed."
Kieran quickly scrawled his signature, his hand trembling slightly with excitement. As soon as he finished, Andrei reached under the counter and produced a small, translucent crystal, glowing faintly with an orange hue. It was roughly the size of his thumb, smooth and warm to the touch.
"Here you go," Andrei said, placing the crystal in Kieran's outstretched palm. "Now, you can proceed to the mission board over there," he gestured with a thick thumb towards a large digital display on the far wall, "to find suitable missions if you want to clear your debt to the Association."
"Thank you, Andrei!" Kieran exclaimed, clutching the Fireball crystal. He felt a surge of power just holding it.
"System," Kieran thought, his mental voice urgent, "what happens during the absorption process? How do I use this?"
"Ah, the fun part!" the System chirped, its earlier indignation forgotten in its excitement to explain. "When you absorb a skill crystal, it will first begin to slowly crack. The essence within it, which contains the knowledge of the skill, will then flow towards you, integrating with your mana pathways. This part is usually quite subtle."
The System's voice grew quieter, almost conspiratorial. "But then... then my modification process begins. Because I am directly imbuing the skill with no cooldown and additional effects, there will be a significant mana surge. You will feel a rush of energy, and externally, you will begin to glow. Quite brightly, in fact like a flashlight "
Kieran's eyes widened. Glow like a flashlight? In the middle of the Hunters Association lobby? That would definitely draw unwanted attention. He sneered mentally at the System. See? This is exactly why I can't trust you with the 'small stuff'! You almost had me glowing like a beacon in public!
"Hey! It's not my fault you didn't ask sooner!" the System retorted, sounding genuinely offended this time. "And it's a necessary part of the process for optimal integration!"
Kieran ignored its protests. A new, more cautious plan formed in his mind. No, it'll be better if I apply for a mission first. That way, I can head straight into a Gate, absorb the crystal there, and finish the mission right away. I need to be absolutely sure I'm alone when that happens.
He couldn't wait. He felt a thrill he hadn't experienced in years, a genuine, undeniable excitement. He was finally going to start his first hunt.