[A-celeratioed] whispered Adrian that now was exactly 5 p.m. He did not expect to be this early after walking that much and then having to wait for an hour at the guild. Time messed people’s perception, and [Celeratio] more so, even if he did have a mind clock at all times.
“Do we need to do something to complete the quest?” Dale asked meanwhile the party was searching for their preys.
“Apart from harvesting their left scythes,” told Adrian as if the mantises were nothing more than crops. “I only have to deliver the quest paper at the guild desk and that’s all.”
“So, killing is what we need?” Dale said.
“Yes.” Adrian replied. “Was that a reference?” Adrian asked him as Dale’s wording and tone sounded weird.
“Perhaps.” Dale responded vaguely.
The group continued marching, trying to complete the quest by this evening. After they had killed the first group of three mantises, Dale had asked if they should separate to cover more terrain.
“Horrendous idea.” Explained Aby. “Axel and Adrian may be well alone, but us? I can defend myself, but I doubt your or Mike and Kayle, for that matter, can. We do need a solid vanguard.”
“She’s right.” Added Adrian. “And also, I am beat, I have no energies to fight alone.” Adrian said as he sighed.
“Must be tough to be melee.” Mike said.
“Sure.” Replied Axel. “But I am more though.” Axel joked about his [Constituta].
“I hate you.” Adrian told Axel.
“The squishy guy is grumpy.” Axel continued joking.
“Beware, this squishy might bite.” Adrian continued Axel’s game.
“Oh, I am trembling.” Axel said. “What will I do…”
Adrian, Axel and later Dale continued joking until they found another [Archimantis Homicida]. That one was alone, so Adrian insta-killed it before they were detected. And then Adrian proceeded to cut out the mantis left scythe.
“Argh, gross.” Commented Aby as she seemed to puke any moment now.
“You have to get used to it.” Adrian said while swinging his dagger to wipe the ichor from the creature. “Also, because we need to carry twenty scythes and we don’t any bags you will have to carry at least some of them.
“Argh- “Aby grunted even louder at the notion of grabbing those monsters’ arms. “Do I have to?” She asked as she was a kid.
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“Yes, you do.” Responded Kayle. “If one has to carry those things, everyone will.”
When Kayle stopped speaking, Dale changed the topic. “How many exp do you need to level up, sis?”
“Uhu,” she made a funny sound and looked at the [Status] window. “About 3 mantises and I will level up to 4.”
“Is everyone lower than level 3?” Adrian asked once the party started the hunt again. No one said anything. “Right.” Adrian told them. “I am close to the magical level 5.”
“Do you think we will gain classes?” Dale asked Adrian.
“It’s probable.” Adrian answered. “The people at the guild knew the existence of the [Status] and treated like everyday stuff.” Adrian told Dale while remembering the various cases of adventurers looking at nothing, reading the air, when he was at the accelerated time perception. “It is sure that we will obtain classes, if it is at level five, that’s another thing.”
The party continued the hunt, searching and killing the mantises systematically. In one hour, they achieved half of the quest. It was different avoiding fighting that seeking it, and they noticed the number of encounters in doing so. Even if they had killed six more mantises since Kayle said she only needed three to level up, it was obvious that she referred to the hypothetical case that she had received the full amount of experience instead of a participation rate. Because Axel and Adrian had the higher participation rate, while Aby the lowest (as her accuracy aura was a bit useless because the mantises didn’t tend to dodge). The difference between highest contribution and lowest ended up almost with a level differential.
“It would be nice if we got more [Tarot] cards.” Mike commented as he was recovering his shot arrows. Six dead [Archimantis Homicida] laid on the ground, only three had arrows on their bodies. A large group had succumbed this time.
“Yeah.” Said Dale who was also recovering his darts. “Imagine If my [Skill] could save various people from death.”
“How does your [Skill] even work?” Kayle asked. She was leaning her head on her staff.
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to try it.” Dale told her honestly.
“Yeah, it would be better if we stayed alive.” Axel said while helping Adrian cutting the mantises. “Here.” He said while giving Kayle four mantis scythes.
“Eugh.” Kayle complained but took obediently the monsters’ arms.
“Lasts four are four you!” Axel shout to Aby.
“Don’t remind it to me!” Aby cried, it was easy to see she had a severe entomophobia.
As they only needed four more mantises to finish their quest, the party gave their all with one last sprint. They started looking menacingly for those monsters so they could finally buy food after a day or more without eating in some cases.
After wandering like starved predators, the group found a group of six mantises, they did not care if there were two more than they needed, they party only wanted their left arms.
Even thought they wanted to end this quest once for all, they did not charge without a plan. Instead they wanted to try a need strategy. Aby and Kayle buffed Mike and Dale, who were skulking in the shadows, waiting for a clear shot. Axel defended them in case things went south. While Mike and Dale were aiming to insta-kill them, Adrian was hiding until they detected them. Adrian kept hiding until the enemies noticed Axel and the rest, so he could spam [Assassinate].
At the end of the skirmish, Adrian managed to kill two mantises without getting noticed and the party from Earth completed their first quest.
“Oh, you gotta to be shitting me!” Adrian cried out loud.
“What, what happened? Are we under attack?” Kayle jumped out at Adrian’s voice, clearly scared.
Adrian didn’t say anything and just looked at his [Status].
Status
Name: Adrian Dewitt
Race: Homo Sapiens Hestia
Affiliation: Copper Guild Adventurer
Class: -
Level: 4
Experience: 699/700
Now Adrian hated with all his might the contribution experience distribution.