Unknown Island Arc -- Chapter 4

Early the next morning, the sun had risen in the sky and it shone on the beach.

The crystal clear water and the crystal-like towering pillars around, sparkled

as the sunshine hits them. It would have been perfect if not for a screaming

youth, running for his life.

"AHHHHHH!! Hey! I apologized to you, stop chasing me!"

Arren screamed while being chased by a much bigger crab, yes, much bigger,

well, only double the size of the ones he killed yesterday.

Yesterday, after Arrens one-sided massacre of the groups of crabs from a far

distance, he then decided to call it a day seeing that he already had enough to

buy the skill. After having a meal together with his fishie friends, he dug on the

soil outside the forest and borrowed himself deep.

Waking up fully refreshed the next morning, he did some warm-ups and thought

of a regular workout routine to enhance his fitness.

"If I remembered correctly, someone became strong by doing 100 push-ups,

100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and 10 KM running. Yup, I'll double it, that way I'll be

2x stronger than that guy, hahahaha."

After having breakfast with the fishies that is now staying at a rocky area where

he made a small pond-like circle enclosed with the rocks around, Arren went back

to the shore and bought the skill. Holding the skillbook, his face scrunched 

remembering the 1st time he used one.

"Damn, I hope it's not like the 1st time."

Opening it, he then like the 1st time, felt the forceful invasion of knowledge being

imprinted into his brain. Moments later, Arren opened his eyes and threw the book

away as hard as he could.

"F*ck! Damn, this bro felt so violated. My innocence, my innocence is gone.

I hope this thing won't turn this bro gay."

Having learned the Spearmanship Beginner Manual, Arren practiced for a few

minutes. After the practice, he decided to test out the spear moves imprinted in

his mind on a live target so he went back to where he killed many crabs before

hoping to find 1 or few wandering around.

As he got to the said location, Arren did not find a single one from before which

were all red carapace, instead, he found one that is with a single darker red stripe

in the middle of its carapace, buried itself in the sands tens of meters away from

him. 

Thinking that it was the same one, not bothering to check its name, Arren dashed

at it and with all his might, swung down as hard as he could aiming for a 1 hit kill.

Bang! A loud boom sounded out and sands flew up in the air which quickly went

back down. Having used all his strength behind the attack, his hand went numb

after the spear and the shell clashed.

"F*ck my hand."

After the dust settled, the crab which he hit hard slowly stood up and made an

eye contact with him. On the carapace between its antenna, one could see a

dent being made from the impact.

When he saw the crab which was much bigger from before and that his attack 

only made a small dent after using all his strength, inching slowly back when the

crab got up, not bothering again to check its name, Arren said.

"Oh, um, hey neighbor, sorry about that, ahaha. I mistook you for someone else

so, um ahaha. Don't worry about my hand, it's not your fault big bro, goodbye."

Arren, turned tail and bolted towards the opposite direction of the crab. And that is

how he got in his present situation. Although the crab madly chased after him, it did

not last long. Seeing the human that attacked it was very fast and was very far from

it already, it raised both its pincers, and snapped it many times while screeching.

After running almost 100 meters away from the crab, Arren sat his butt on the sand

and panted. While panting for air, he did not forget to complain.

"Hey Sys, you sold me a fake skill right?"

[Host, it's a weapon skill, not an attack skill.]

" What do you mean by attack skill? So the spearmanship does not count?"

[Host, the Spearmanship Beginner Manual teaches the host the proper way to

handle spears, techniques on how to fight using it and the correct stance.

And as for attack skills, host will be able to use one at level 10.]

Hearing Sys, Arren rolled his eyes while he took more deep breaths. Getting

himself some rest, he stood up and walked back to where to crab was.

"Damn, this bros hands are numb. You better hide crabby."

While mumbling to himself, Arren took out the crossbow and kept the spear. He 

wanted to test how tough that crab was and at the same time, test out the real

strength of the crossbow.

Getting back at the site where the crab buried itself in the sands, Arren, from the

distance could see that it buried itself again. Arriving at a 5 meter tall boulder,

he climbed up using the other smaller ones around it. Positioning himself at the

top, he kneeled on a good spot, aiming at the crab in the distance.

Aiming slightly above the its eyes, taking a deep breath to stabilize his aim, Arren,

after a few moments of aiming, pulled the trigger. Twang! The vibrating sound of the 

string came accompanied by the whistling sound of the bolt flying at a high-speed.

While the ringing sound of the string was slowly decreasing and the whistle stopped,

a new sound came after from afar. Being hit, the crab screeched loudly and dug

itself out of it hole. Seeing this scene, Arren was surprised by its defence.

"Damn, its tougher than the ones yesterday. The bolt could only manage to wound

it deep and not destroy a part of its body or make a big hole on it."

Since it did not go down from a single shot, Arren pulled the lever of the

crossbow to latch its string and then, he loaded another bolt for the next shot.

After reloading another bolt, he aimed at the crab again.

While Arren was reloading another bolt, the crab that got wounded from an

unknown source, looked around trying to spot where the attack that hurt it cane

from. When it saw Arren at the distance aiming at it, the crab dashed towards 

Arren at a fast speed. Seeing this scene, Arrens eyes widened at the speed of

the crab.

"Holy f*ck, it's fast!"

As the crabs speed was very fast, Arren panicked as he could not get a clear

shot. Although it chased him before, since he did not know how fast he could 

run now, he was totally scared seeing the crab running so fast. In just a few

seconds, the crab was able to reach where he was and jumped up.

"F*ck!"

Seeing it flying towards him after it jumped and swinging downward its claw at

him, Arren kicked hard to the left to dodge the incoming attack. While being 

airborne, he aimed the crossbow at the crabs body and pulled the trigger not

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caring if it would hit or not. Letting go of the crossbow, he turned around to look

where he was going to fall.

Luckily, there were no rocks on where he would be landing. Using both hands

bracing for impact, Arren was able to cut the force when his face hit the sands.

Face planted on the ground, not minding the little dizziness he felt after falling

from such height, Arren quickly stood up and shouted.

"Sys give me the spear." 

A spear instantly appeared in front, Arren quickly held it with both hand taking a

fighting stance. Looking back, he could see the flipped over crab squirming that

fell meters away from him, probably hurt from getting hit by the shot he took.

Seeing this he quickly turned around, shouted again and dashed away.

"Sys store the crossbow."

But before he could get far, a quest window suddenly popped-up in front of him

and at the same time, he heard Sys telling him about it.

Quest 1st System Enforced Quest: Kill the Giant Red Crab(Elite) in a melee combat Difficulty Average Reward/s

(Experience Points,  Gear Points,  Life Points,  Skill Points, Item Points) X10

Healing Potion X10, Strength Potion X10, Agility Potion X10

Penalty 1 month denied access to all System functions upon failure.

Closing the quest window while keeping an eye on the crab, after he listened

to Sys notice, Arren could not help but howl.

"What do you mean by failure? Sys, I would be dead! Do you think your so

called failure still have a meaning?"

Not giving a care about the penalty that he would receive, Arren ran away as

fast as he could. Stopping tens of meters away from where he and the crab fell,

Arren who hid behind a large rock, took out the crossbow from the inventory

intending to finish the crab.

[Access denied. Only melee weapons are available for the host to use.]

Hearing Sys, Arrens face turned red and he howled at her again.

"What? Sys, are you trying to kill me?! You do know that it's stronger than me

right? Forget it! I'll just leave."

But before he could get far, just like the first time, another quest window suddenly

popped-up in front of him and at the same time, he heard Sys telling him about it.

Quest 1st System Enforced Quest: Kill the Giant Red Crab(Elite) in a melee combat Difficulty Average Reward/s

(Experience Points,  Gear Points,  Life Points,  Skill Points, Item Points) X10

Healing Potion X10, Strength Potion X10, Agility Potion X10

Swordsmanship Beginner Manual, Tier 1 - Magic Sword

Archery Beginner Manual, Tier 1 - Magic Bow

random Attack Manual, random Defense Manual

random Movement Manual, random Support Manual

Penalty

1 month denied access to all System functions upon failure.

Abandoning the quest will result to System removal from the host.

 Hearing that he would lose the System if he abandoned the quest, Arrens entire

body shook from anger. He gritted his teeth, held the spear tightly and just stood

there in place.

"If I lose the system I'm good as dead here in who knows where island. If I go back

and fight that thing, although it got hurt badly, my chance is still slim and I'm still good

as dead. F*ck! Huuuu.."

Exhaling deeply, Arren closed his eyes, inhaled and exhaled deeply a few times.

Opening his eyes again, coming to a decision, Arren mumbled while walking back

to the crab. 

"You better not have a physical body or something like that Sys, or else I'm gonna

do crazy things on you. Eheheh, ehe, hehehe."

Since Sys have a female voice, he thought that Sys would have a female body as

well, if ever one existed. Going to a life and death fight where it was not certain if he

would survive, it made him went nuts and thought of weird things. He even ignored

that he had more rewards now than the first time the quest was given to him.

After he made his way around the rocks, the crab which was screeching loudly and

turning left then right trying to find him, after spotting him squealed even louder and

rushed towards him as fast as it could while raising its claws ready to attack.

Seeing this, Arren stood his ground and roared back at it.

"Come on, it's either you or me! Lets see who lives!"

After his roar, both he and the crab clashed. While Arren was in a life and death

battle, inside a house carved from a gigantic tree near a lake deep within the

valley, surrounded by thousands of meters high mountains, a spectral old man 

and a middle-aged man could be seen drinking tea.

This specter of an old man is a spiritual projection of someone powerful. Using a

wisp of his soul, he embedded it inside a small statue that looked like some buffed

person making a pose standing in one corner of the house. Small as in its only

human height and not tall as a mountain.

With this, he would be able to communicate with others from any corner of the

world or, when he dies, he could transfer information into it so that he could

leave his legacy to someone fated. Don't worry, he's still alive. Although I said

that he's old, technically speaking, he's the one that goes "this old man" this

and "this old man" that. 

Having the looks that of a middle-aged man, a buffed, six packed middle-aged man

with long white ponytail hair and a goatee to go with it, he still had the air of a

wise and powerful person around him. Wearing only pants, his well-built body that

looked like a beast was fully revealed. Sitting on one side of the table, he sipped

on his tea with a relaxed look.  

Sitting opposite to him is a middle-aged man and just like the old guy, still looked

very young. Well-built body, long copper brown hair, ponytail as well, blue eyes,

a face that looks the same as Arren, Arren has green eyes by the way, his

eyebrows twitched. 

"Master could you please wear something."

Said the middle-aged man that looked like Arren, respectfully to the old man.

Naturally, this guy is Arrens father, Rynard Cyne. Hearing him, the old man or

rather the bear judging from how he looks, took another sip, glanced at him

then said.

"Ohoho, are you the master or am I?"

Rynards left eye twitched after hearing his master, he then said respectfully to

the old man.

"Master it's not like that, I'm only worried that someone might see you like that

and it might ruin your image to others."

"Relax a little kid, no one else is here. Look at you, you already looked older

than me. As for my reputation, you already know how it is, hahaha."

While the old man was heartily laughing, opposite to him, Rynard who had a

stiff smile could not help his whole face to twitch.

"Master, why not change a little so that.."

But before he could finish what he wanted to say, the old man cut him off.

"We've been master-disciple for a few years now and yet you're still so stiff.

Well, I know you didn't call me just to talk about my reputation so tell me, what

do you want?"

Seeing that his master wanted to go straight to the matter, Rynard took out a

paper crane and placed it on the table in front of his master. After that, he took

out a life crystal which had no light glowing inside it and placed it on the table 

as well.

"Master, a few days ago, my son went missing and on this paper crane, the

information about what had transpired are all recorded by a trusted subordinate

of mine. I hope master could look at it and shed a light to what truly had

happened."

"That's it? And here I thought you were in trouble. Well, I guess this counts as

being in trouble. Alright, let me see."

"Thank you master."

Rynard then bowed his head and thanked his master, while his master waved

his hand at him telling him it's not that big of a deal. After taking another sip of

the tea, the old man stretched his left hand and held the both paper crane and

the life crystal together.

He then sent a wisp of his soul to directly absorb the content in the letter while

probing the life crystal for any changes. Closing his eyes to digest all of the

information, after a few seconds later, the old man opened both his eyes and

looked deeply at his disciple.

"You father and son truly have dogsh*t luck you know that."

Seeing that his disciple looked confused, he turned away and continued to

enjoy the tea that he was drinking. Rynards, who was waiting for an answer

could not help his face from twitching uncontrollably. After a few minutes,

Rynard who could not wait anymore, respectfully asked.

"Master, may I know what you meant about both of us, father and son having

dogsh*t luck."

"Dogsh*t luck is dogsh*t luck, what else is there?"

"Master, could you please clearly explain what you meant."

Giving a side glance at his disciple, the old man took another sip of the tea and

asked.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes master, please."

Rynard stood up and walked in front of his master to bow down his head. But

before he could do it, he almost stumbled hearing what the old man said.

"Not telling."

Rynard who was standing, felt his face burning hot from having to deal with too

much bull from the old man. If you look at him, his face is already deep red. The

old man sitting took a peek at him. Seeing him shaking and his face turning red,

he said to Rynard teasingly.

"Ohoho, angry now are we? Wanna attack this old man? Go ahead, its only a

spiritual projection anyway, hahaha."

Rynard on the side who was at his limits already, when he heard what the old

man said, took out a sword and swung it down as hard as he could. Seeing

Rynard taking out a sword, the old man got shocked then he shouted.

"F*cking hell kid! Are you crazy?! Stop, stop it already, you'll damage the house!

Alright, alright I get it, I'll say it!"

Looking behind him, the old man saw a big hole from that attack and everything

was a mess. Turning around the old man wanted to scold his disciple but upon

seeing Rynards eyes, all red looking at him waiting, the old man sighed and did

not bother anymore.

"I know that you're worried about your son but, hah, well I'll just tell you. Like you,

your son must have found someone elses inheritance or rather, from what had

happened, he was taken by someone or something to inherit that persons legacy.

Right now, he should be inside a small world owned by that person, so there."

Rynard who had returned to normal, looked surprised then he frowned as he 

asked.

"Small world? Master, is that the same as this place where I am at right now?"

"Not even close. The space you are in now is still connected to our world. It still

depends on the world to keep itself stable. If we find the source of energy the

space gathers from, we would be able to destroy it and if you have enemies

inside, none of them will survive.

On the other hand, where your son is now is an independent small world where

it could sustain itself. Not only that, both beasts and humans should have a faster

growth inside one, which is why you should start thinking more of yourself and less

of others. A few years from now, your son should surpass you."

Again Rynard was surprised. He thought that he was lucky but his son was even

luckier than him. But after hearing his masters last lines, he frowned again and

asked.

"But master, my son could not cultivate that's why he got kicked out of the clan

to test him and see from his actions outside the clan if he would be given another

chance to return. Why would someone want my son who can't cultivate?"

The old man who was sitting, poured another cup of tea and sipped on it before

he said.

"Still too stiff. Kid, although this master of yours could not change your sons

inability to cultivate, did you really think that others could not? The world is bigger

than you think, kid. I might be called a powerhouse from where I am now but to

those other places, I am but a mere ant in the eyes of those people. You want

this master to change and yet, you're the one that needs it.

Alright, this old man has told you what you want to know so lets end it here.

Remember, your son will surpass you a few years from now, better get busy

kid or you might get you ass kicked by your own son, hahaha."

After laughing heartily, the old man vanished without a trace leaving the standing

Rynard alone. Some time later, Rynard shook then laughed heartily while wiping

the tears from his eyes.

"Hahaha, that punk could now cultivate, perfect. Hmph, master says you'd be

surpassing me after a few year? Lets see who beats up whom."

Looking around, Rynard scratched his head as the entire place was a total

mess.

"Right, before I start training, I should clean this place first."

Looking at the cleaning Rynard, you could see a wide smile on his lips indicating

that he was very happy after what his master told him. Instead of worrying about 

his son, his fighting spirit burned wanting to compete with the kid whom he knew

that will be stronger after a few years.