Chop chop, Bowen cut the 2500th piece of wood for the day. He had also completed his running and mana depletion tasks.

Ting* Congratulations, host, for completing the side mission: "Esteemed Host Will Not Rely on the System."

Task 1) Cut 50,000 wooden logs of standard length, 16 inches each - duration: 20 days - completed. Reward: +1 strength for 2500 logs cut (total +20 strength) - Given.

Task 2) Run 50 kilometers every day - duration: 20 days - completed. Reward: +1 agility for every day if the 50 km target is met (total +20 agility) - Given.

Task 3) Go into mana depletion 3 times a day - duration: 20 days - completed. Reward: +1 vitality every day if 3 times mana depletion is met (total +20 vitality) - Given.

Congratulations, host, for 100% completion of all three tasks within the given duration.

Absolute reward: Host can choose one divine weapon out of the three options.

1. Bougers Wand - (Normal rank divine weapon) Bougers was the 2000th disciple of Heaven's wizard Merlin. This wand was used by Bougers when he was a student at the age of 10. It is said that a small part of Bougers' soul still resides in the wand, and hence, one needs acknowledgement from his soul to activate the wand. On equipping: +5 strength and agility One random elemental attribute awakening.

2.Blade of Bones - (Normal rank divine weapon) Dagger made of the spine of a Gori demon, the secondary pet of Hell King Duran. On equipping: +8 agility 50 percent chance of summoning a regressed version of the Gori demon.

3.Solar Glaive - (Normal rank divine weapon) A spear tempered in the lava of the 27th hell, imbued with the fire attribute. On equipping: +15 strength, +5 vitality

"It's great that I can make a choice, but weapons from hell? How are they categorized as divine weapons?" asked Bowen.

"Anything related to gods is considered divine, host. Hells do contain gods of their own," replied the system.

"Wow, this is new information. Now, what do I choose? Among all, the wand seems powerful, but if I don't get the acknowledgment of the soul, it will become a waste. I also don't have any spear skills now, so it's also a no-go. Then, the dagger it is. There is still the Viper's Fang Blade Art from Solaris that I haven't practiced because I didn't have any suitable short blade or knife. Now, this will do. I will choose the dagger," said Bowen.

Ting Congratulations, host, on choosing the divine weapon Blade of Bones.

With a flash of light, a short dagger of 9 inches in length levitated in the air. The dagger was plain, consisting of an old wooden handle, and in the place of the blade, there was a thick triangular bone. The tip of the bone blade seemed too blunt that Bowen wondered if it could pierce through anything.

"System, what rank is this weapon in the world of Grimesphere?" Bowen asked.

"This normal rank divine weapon will be considered an epic rank weapon in this world," replied the system.

Note: Weapon rank = Normal — Rare — Unique — Epic — Legendary — Mystic rank.

"So it is one rank above Grace Family Sword, huh? Good." Bowen was admiring his new weapon, then...

"Come out!" Bowen heard a shout outside his door.

"COME OUT, I SAID!" The voice became louder.

Outside, Bowen saw a group of people standing behind Dale and Renault.

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"What is this? Did Renault bring his father to force me to be his slave? Did he go back on his words?" Bowen thought.

"Did you beat up my son?" asked Dale immediately upon seeing Bowen.

"Dad, I said no. It's just that I lost the game. I will surely win next time," Renault tried to explain but was interrupted by Dale.

"You shut up. How could you lose to a commoner?" Dale's temper put Renault back down.

"Kid, I was so generous in giving you the position of personal slave to my son. You not only rejected it but also injured my son. A nobody like you should have been put in your place ages ago."

The people who gathered by the commotion started to voice their opinions upon hearing Dale.

"What? Bowen rejected Young Master Renault?"

"Does this orphan even know what a noble is?"

"Kid, you must thank Lord Dale and Young Master Renault for this opportunity."

"Yes, yes, you must not forget your father's sacrifice."

"This kid doesn't know how to use his luck. I will immediately send my child to be the young master's slave if I got a chance."

"See, kiddo? Being a slave of nobility is an honor. Immediately apologize to Mr. Dale and Young Master right now."

"Sir Dale, don't be furious. He doesn't have his parents to teach him good or bad."

"Yes, Lord Dale, please show your magnanimity for the sake of his father, Theodore."

"HA, forgive him?" scoffed Dale. "Only if he kowtows 100 times under my son's legs and pleads to take him in. And also, he will get 25 whiplashes on his bare body for humiliating his future master, my son."

"Dad, please, you don't have to do this... if I win..." Dale caught Renault by his collar and started shouting, "Did I tell you to speak? Is this how I have taught you to treat these lowlives? You are a nobility for God's sake, Renault. A nobility. Do you hear me?"

Bowen wanted to slap Dale left and right for being a destructive father to Renault. He must not let Dale influence his dear disciple in the future.

"Choose now. You will be executed for the crime of hurting a noble, or do you obediently accept your punishment and become a crime slave?"

Gasp! Martha, who came that way, let out a shocked gasp. "Bo... Bowen... what have you done? Is this true?" Bowen simply nodded.

"You... you... why? Didn't I tell you many times not to pick fights with Young Master Renault? He will be the future chief of the village. Sir... Sir Dale, I am really, really sorry. I will teach this foolish kid well. If you want to punish, please give it to me for not teaching him well."

"You are not his parent. Don't get involved with this. And you, kid, what is your answer?"

"NO," said Bowen with a stubborn face, which shocked everyone gathered there, including Dale and Renault.

Martha started crying. "Bowen... please don't... please apologize. They can kill you, baby. It's a law. The punishment for going against nobility is... Bowen, please... for Felina's sake... You can't die."

'YOU DARE!' shouted Dale and immediately reached Bowen, grabbing him by the hair and throwing him to the floor. This happened before Bowen could even activate Quick Dash.

"Please, noo... nooo..." Martha ran and caught Dale by his legs, pleading with him.

"Damn vermin, how dare you touch me!" He quickly kicked Martha in the stomach. Martha started bleeding from her mouth; after all, a ranker's kick is too much for a commoner to bear.

"Aunty!" shouted Bowen and ran to Martha. He didn't expect Martha to go to such lengths for his sake. Bowen became furious upon seeing Martha's sorry state and ran towards Dale. He used his Scarlet Palm Blaze and struck Dale in the chest. Woosh... to Bowen's surprise, Dale blocked his palm by covering his body with mana.

"HA HA... now I can see why you are so daring. Awakened, are you?" said Dale, looking at Bowen who stood a few feet away from him.

"What? Bowen is awakened?" Martha and everyone had the same question in mind: "How?" Normally, awakening needs a master's guidance or a cultivation procedure as aid. But how could an orphan like Bowen afford it?

Bowen didn't wait for others to come out of their surprise, nor did he answer Dale. He conjured a mana lance and threw it at Dale. Dale covered his hands with lightning and deflected the mana lance. However, there was still a slight scratch on his hands.

[This boy really hid well. Even my own son was never able to touch me in a fight. My son's reputation will be tarnished if it's known that he was defeated by a commoner. No, I can't let this slide. I should at least make him unable to cultivate in the future] thought Dale.

He quickly ran towards Bowen to deliver a punch to the stomach. Bowen did not have any elemental attribute, hence couldn't activate his Shield of Aegis. At the same time, Dale was faster than him, even though Bowen had an agility of 33 points; he could not escape Dale. Now Bowen understood the difference between an official ranker who is E-rank and someone who recently awakened (F-rank). Bowen lay on the ground in pain, unable to get up from his spot.

"I will break your cultivation root and two of your limbs today. Consider it a mercy for your father, Theodore," said Dale and created a lightning ball the size of a basketball. He threw it with rage towards Bowen. The system gave warning alarms again and again in his mind, but he lay there, unable to move an inch, looking at the mana ball that would very well doom his future.