It’s been hours since Riley has been hunting. “Geez… it’s been a few hours already. So why the hell am I still level 9?!” Riley killed dozens of goblins, but he can’t pass to level 10. “Open system!” Riley declared as he clutched the goblin’s dagger.
System:
Name: Riley Whitlock
[Level: 9 (13/100)]
Title: [True Awakened]
[Strength: 19.5]
[Speed: 24.5]
[Magic: 0]
[Vitality: 118/118]
Skills: [One Slash, One Life], [The Threads of Life], [Hack n Slash], [Pierce]
Passives: [The Mad Swordsman]
Items: [Goblin’s Dagger: Equipped], [33 E-Rank Mana Cores]
Riley’s eyes widened; his experience was so low. He massacred dozens of goblins, but he still had a long way to go. He heard some rustling in the bushes; a goblin jumped out and rushed at Riley with its dagger.
[Pierce]
You have defeated a [E-rank Goblin]!
[Level: 9 (14/100)]
Riley’s jaw dropped; he had been so engrossed in killing goblins that he didn’t realize that every goblin accounts as 1-exp. He decided to head home; he discarded the dagger on the floor. After a few minutes of walking, he had arrived at the portal. It was the evening; he stepped out of the portal. The agency should be opened at this time; he started to walk towards it. He realized that he couldn’t waltz in there and magically transport ‘Mana Cores’ out of his inventory. It would raise suspicion.
Riley looked around the area; people were walking through the streets. He spots a small store; he enters. He looked around for a satchel or backpack. He finds a beautiful leather satchel; he looks at the price tag. It was $130 for the satchel. Riley winced at the price; his eyes landed on a backpack. He placed the satchel back in its original spot. He picked up the backpack; it was $40. He grabbed the backpack and placed it on the counter. The clerk scanned the price.
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“$40 for the bag,” the clerk said in a monotone voice. Riley gave him a $20 note; he grabbed the backpack and ripped the tags out. Riley walked out of the store. He went to a secluded area. Riley opened his system and took out some cores. He placed it inside the bag till it was full. Riley slung the backpack on the shoulder and continued his journey to the agency.
Riley arrived at the agency; he pushed the glass door open. Riley walked up to the front desk. “I would like to sell these cores,” Riley told the lady. Riley placed his backpack on the desk; the lady opened the backpack. She grabbed it and dumped it on a machine. The machine started to count the cores and their grades. “Would you like to enroll in our bank? It’s perfect for hunters,” the lady asked. “You’ll gain many benefits: you get paid monthly for your rank, your money is safe, and you’ll still get paid after you retire,” the lady said as she pushed her glasses.
Riley pondered on her question for a few seconds. He nodded and gave her personal information. After a few minutes of the lady typing the information, she looked at him. “Alright, you’re all set. I’ll get your money for the cores,” the lady said. “Would you like the money to be transferred?” The lady asked. Riley nodded. “It’s 33 E-rank cores. It’s $7 per core, so it should account for $231. I’ll be sending the money shortly,” the lady said. Riley nodded and exited the building. 2 hours of work to be only paid $231 wasn’t bad, but it was tiring.
It was getting late; Riley stopped in his tracks. He had nowhere to go; his apartment was destroyed. He walked towards a local park; the sun had finally set. He sat down on the bench; he needed an apartment—fast. Riley lay on the bench. It was a bit uncomfortable, but what else could he do? He closed his eyes; he opened them. He looked at his backpack that he set on the ground.
Would you like to add [Backpack] to your inventory?
Riley tapped the ‘yes’ button. He finally closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. The sun beamed at Riley’s face. Riley sat straight up and looked around. “Mommy? What’s that homeless woman doing?” A kid asked their mother; the mother didn’t answer and quickly pulled the kid away. A vein crept on Riley’s neck; not only did this kid call him a woman, but he was also called homeless. Riley desperately wanted an apartment; he could find one or wait till the landlord fixed the apartment. Riley decided to earn more money. He needed to level up faster.
Riley decided to go to a D-rank portal. Riley walked to the portal. After a few minutes of walking, Riley has finally reached the portal. The soldiers stopped him. “Hunter license, please,” Riley gave the soldier his license, and he inspected it. “An E-rank? This is very dangerous; you can die. We do not hold any responsibility, so you should turn back. However, I will not stop you, sir,” the soldier gave Riley his license back. Riley walked past the guards; he looked at the giant portal.
Riley entered the portal; he was in a cave. Riley took note of his surroundings. He walked through the cave; he heard water drip on the rocks. He heard bones rattle in the distance. Out of instinct, his body dodged the incoming arrow. He looked around and saw skeletons swarming the area. They had swords and bows.
There were dozens of skeletons; Riley is fucked. He has no sword or anything on him. He couldn’t afford to buy a sword since it was expensive. Skeletons were D-rank monsters; they’re fairly weak but like goblins. They can overwhelm a hunter. However, skeletons possess regenerative skills so the only way to kill a skeleton was to pierce its ‘Mana Core.’ The skeleton swordsman rushed at Riley; Riley rolled away from its swing. He delivered a powerful blow causing the skeleton to break apart. Riley quickly picked up the sword that the skeleton dropped.
[Old-worn Sword] Equipped!
Riley dodged the incoming arrow; the skeleton started to construct itself again. Riley stabbed the skeleton’s core; the core shattered. Riley pointed the sword at the other skeletons. “Bring it.”