Kieran, clutching his newly acquired Fireball crystal, made his way to the mission board. It was a massive holographic display covering an entire wall, constantly updating with various assignments. Hunters, both new and old, stood before it, some discussing strategies, others simply scrolling through the endless list.
He tapped the screen, filtering for 'Bronze Rank Missions'. A new list populated the display, each entry showing a mission type, a brief description, and a 'Reward:' section. His eyes immediately snagged on the reward values. They ranged from 1 to 5 points.
Points? Kieran frowned. But my loan for Fireball is 10 Bronze Rank Missions. What's the deal with these points? Do I need to earn 10 points, or complete 10 missions regardless of points? The discrepancy confused him.
"Hello, young brother, you seem confused."
Kieran turned to see a middle-aged man standing beside him. He was impeccably dressed in a sharp, dark suit, carrying a sleek briefcase. He looked more like a corporate executive than a Hunter, lacking the rugged gear or confident swagger Kieran had come to associate with the awakened.
Kieran gave a polite nod. "Good morning, sir. My name is Kieran. I'm a newly awakened Hunter, and yes, I am a bit confused about the mission rewards." He gestured towards the screen. "It says 'points,' but my loan for a skill crystal mentioned '10 Bronze Rank Missions.' Are they the same thing?"
The man smiled, a practiced, genial expression. "Ah, a common query for new blood. My name is Kris. Don't worry, it's simpler than it looks." He gestured to the board. "Bronze Rank missions are indeed those suitable for Novice Hunters like yourself. The points awarded, ranging from 1 to 5, depend on the difficulty and inherent risk of the mission. A 1-point mission might be a simple clean-up, while a 5-point mission could involve a tougher creature or a more dangerous Gate."
"These points," Kris continued, "can be exchanged for various resources here at the Association – mana potions, basic gear, even some low-tier skill crystals if you save up enough. They're a separate reward system for your efforts."
Kieran's brow furrowed. "So, the 10 Bronze Rank Missions for my loan... that's just a count, not a point total?"
"Exactly!" Kris affirmed. "You'll still earn points for completing those missions, regardless of your loan. The purpose of the 'mission completion' requirement for loans is simply to encourage Hunters to stay active, to keep venturing into the Gates, and to contribute to humanity's defense. It's a way to ensure new Hunters gain experience and don't just take a skill and disappear."
Kieran felt a wave of relief. That made much more sense. He thanked Kris for the clarification. "Thank you, sir. That clears things up a lot."
Kris nodded, his smile widening. "It's my job, young man. I'm a recruiter for the 'Crimson Dawn' guild. We're always looking for promising new talent." He pulled a sleek, black card from his jacket pocket and handed it to Kieran. It had a stylized crimson sun logo and a phone number. "If you ever think about joining a guild, give me a call. We offer excellent benefits, training, and a supportive team environment." He gave Kieran a final, appraising look, then turned, clearly spotting another potential recruit, and smoothly moved away.
Kieran slipped the card into his pocket. A guild, huh? Maybe someday, but for now, he needed to keep his unique System a secret. He couldn't risk anyone discovering the truth about his abilities or the System's modifications.
With his doubts cleared, Kieran turned back to the mission board, now with a clearer understanding of what he was looking for. He needed 10 Bronze Rank missions for his loan, and he needed to kill 10 creatures for his daily quest. The mission he chose would primarily serve as his entry pass into a Gate, where he could then focus on accumulating the necessary kills for his System.
He scrolled down, seeing the first available mission:
Extermination Mission
Description: Hunt 10 otherworld creatures at the Gate located at City J.
Completion Criteria: Bring back 10 left ears of the hunted creatures.
Reward: 3 points
"System," Kieran thought, "this mission directly overlaps with my daily quest. It's like hitting two birds with one stone."
"Indeed," the System replied. "It is an efficient use of your time, providing both a mission completion and a direct path to your daily quest kills."
"But City J is quite far," Kieran countered. "I'm in City H right now. I'd have to cross City I to get there. That would be incredibly time-consuming, and I don't even know how I'd travel that distance safely as a Novice Hunter. It would eat into my 24-hour time limit for the daily quest."
He scrolled further, looking at other mission types.
Reconnaissance Mission
Description: Enter the Gate at the abandoned warehouse district in City A and map its internal layout. Avoid combat if possible.
Reward: 2 points
"System, this one sounds low-combat, which is good for my physical stats," Kieran thought. "But it doesn't help with my 'kill 10' daily quest directly, as it asks to avoid combat. And 'avoid combat if possible' sounds like it could still go wrong. Plus, I don't want to travel all the way to City A for just 2 points and no guaranteed kills."
"A reconnaissance mission carries inherent risks of unexpected encounters," the System affirmed. "And it does not guarantee the kills you require for your daily quest. While stealth could be an option, your current Agility stat does not favor it, and traversing to City A would be an unnecessary expenditure of time and resources."
Hunting Specific Otherworld Creature
Description: Hunt 5 'Goblins' at the Gate near the old factory in City H.
Completion Criteria: Bring back 5 Goblin ears.
Reward: 2 points
"This one is interesting," Kieran mused. "Five Goblins... I'd need to complete this mission twice, or combine it with just hunting more creatures inside the Gate, to hit my 10 kills for the daily quest. But if Goblins are common and weak, it could be efficient. What about their strength, System? And is the Gate in City H close by?"
"Goblins are typically low-tier creatures, often found in groups of 3-5," the System informed him. "They are agile but have low durability. Your Fireball's AoE and knock-back would be highly effective against them, especially if they try to swarm you. The Gate near the old factory in City H is also relatively close, within City H's outskirts, making travel minimal. Accepting this mission would grant you an entry pass to that specific Gate, allowing you to hunt for your daily quest kills, whether they are Goblins or other low-tier creatures you encounter inside."
This sounded very promising. A specific, known-weak target in a nearby location, and his Fireball skill would be perfect for them. The primary benefit was the entry pass to a local Gate, where he could then focus on his personal kill count while also working towards the mission objective. His main concern inside the Gate would be avoiding other Hunters who might be there.
He continued scrolling.
Raid Mission
Description: Join a party to clear a Class 1 Gate that has shown signs of a potential Dungeon Break in City B.
Reward: 5 points
"Absolutely not," Kieran thought immediately, a shiver running down his spine. "A Class 1 Gate? And a Dungeon Break risk? That's for experienced Hunters, not a Novice like me. Even with Fireball, I'd be torn to shreds. And it's a 'Raid Mission' which implies a large group. I need to stay solo for now, keep my System a secret. Traveling to City B for this would also be a waste."
"Your assessment is accurate," the System agreed. "Participating in a Raid Mission at your current power level would be exceptionally reckless. Furthermore, your unique abilities would almost certainly be exposed in a large group setting. Avoid City B for now."
Treasure Hunt Mission
Description: Locate and retrieve a lost artifact within the 'Whispering Caves' Gate in City C.
Reward: 5 points
"Treasure Hunt sounds exciting, but also incredibly dangerous," Kieran thought. "It's probably full of traps, puzzles, or powerful guardians protecting the 'treasure'. And it doesn't involve killing a specific number of creatures for my daily quest. Plus, City C is another distant travel."
"Treasure Hunt missions are unpredictable," the System warned. "They often lead to encounters with higher-tier creatures or complex environmental hazards that are not conducive to a direct combat approach, nor do they guarantee the kills you require. The travel to City C would also be inefficient."
Group Mission
Description: Assist a Novice Hunter party in clearing a small Gate in the residential district of City D.
Reward: 2 points
"Another group mission," Kieran sighed. "No. I need to go solo. I can't risk anyone seeing me glow like a flashlight when I absorb Fireball, or noticing the lack of cooldowns later. Plus, relying on other novices might be more dangerous than going alone, and City D is not where I want to be."
"Maintaining your secrecy is paramount at this stage," the System concurred. "A group setting, especially with other inexperienced Hunters, would present too many variables for concealment. And the reward for traveling to City D is too low for the risk."
Kieran scrolled back up to the "Hunting Specific Otherworld Creature" mission. Five Goblins, low-tier, often in groups, Fireball effective, nearby Gate in City H. This seemed like the most sensible option. It allowed him to gain entry to a local Gate, where he could then focus on getting his 10 kills for the daily quest, and the 5 Goblin ears for the mission itself. His primary concern would be to avoid other Hunters already inside the Gate.
He took a deep breath, a surge of adrenaline mixing with his determination. This was it. His first real mission.
"Alright, I've decided for my first mission," Kieran said, his mental voice firm and resolute. "I choose Hunting Specific Otherworld Creature: Goblins."