Chapter 2: Heaven's Child
[ QUEST 2 : ACCEPT THE REQUEST AND BECOME A DEMON HUNTER ]
"Even the system wants me to become a demon hunter?"
Kaiser took a deep breath, closed his eyes and thought for a second. Then he answered Kuroiichi.
"If there is an evil that wants to kill innocent people, then I want to stop that evil. I'll accept your request and become a demon hunter"
...
From the high peak of the mountain, they made their way down to the forest.
As the fog faded away and the sun came up, the true liveliness and greenness of the forest began to show itself. Birds, rabbits, deer, they roamed the forest in harmony, and no violence was taking place.
"This forest, it's so calm and peaceful" Said Kaiser.
"You can thank Thror Mountain for that. The mountain releases a certain mana that is repulsive to meet eating animals, so it's a paradise for those that eats green."
Kaiser looked around, "If I am not wrong, Mana is like the water of life right? You used it to cast magic and all sorts of things."
"That's right"
Kaiser was surprised that he had already known the concept of Mana and its fundamentals. His memory was still a mystery to him.
"I think you have immense talent, Kaiser. From one glance I could tell your physical stats are not normal, and your mana is extraordinary as well."
Kuroiichi looked at the far distance, "I am going to go ahead and pluck a few fruits and water, make yourself comfortable" Kuroiichi left.
And as soon as he did: "CLING!"
The system window appeared again:
[ QUEST 1 REWARD HAS BEEN AWARDED, NEW ATTRIBUTE UNLOCKED ]
[ CHECK PROFILE FOR DETAILS ]
"Reward? And what do it mean check profile?"
"CLING!"
[ STATUS ]
NAME: Kaiser
STATE: Earth-0
AGE: 13
ATTRIBUTES:
- Enhanced Stamina Lv. 1
- Enhanced Strength Lv. 1
- Water Affinity
SKILLS: (NONE)
"Hm, water affinity wasn't there before, so it must be the reward. But what exactly does it even do?"
Kaiser rubbed his chin trying to figure out.
"Wait, when I said check profile, my status window appeared. So that must mean the system can listen to my voice.
Okay…show me the description for water affinity."
"CLING!"
"It worked"
[ Water Affinity : Mana affinity for water is high, allowing you to learn and use complex water-based techniques at a high level ]
"So this means I can use water magic, this is kind of incredible." Kaiser closed the status window.
He wandered around the green forest by himself. "There's not much to do here, but the animals seem friendly"
He patted the rabbits and deer in the area, and talked with them about all sorts of things. Kaiser was happy talking with the animals as if they were humans.
A few minutes later, Kuroiichi returned with a number of fruits in his hand.
"I am back. I see you have made yourself comfortable with the animals—" Kuroiichi immediately noticed the change in Kaiser.
"Hmm? There's something different about you Kaiser. Your mana property has changed completely. What happened to you when I was gone?"
"Nothing? I was just playing with the animals here."
Kuroiichi stared at him, "I see… Anyway, it looks like you have a great affinity for water now. And luckily this make things easier"
"Easier?" Asked Kaiser.
"You had no affinity for any of the natural elements before, so you had no potential to learn any water, fire, earth or wind magic. But now that you are chosen by water, you have much more potential than even before"
"So that means I'll get to use magic?"
"That's right"
"So then when do we start?" Kaiser asked with a light of ambition on his face, his excitement was clear as the sky.
"I know you're excited to use magic Kaiser, but you'll have to do something else first?"
"What is it?"
A faint smile spread across Kuroiichi's face, "You'll run around Thror Mountain, climb to the peak and come back down all in a single day. Once you complete that we'll start practicing magic"
"Climb the mountain and come back down in a single day?"
"Yes"
Kaiser did not know what to say, he stood still like a statue as he thought the task was impossible.
Kuroiichi revealed the fruits he plucked, "You'll take these fruits and water with you, and if you fail to complete it you'll keep doing it. From sunrise to sunset, that's the time limit"
Kaiser took a deep breath and clenched his fist tightly, he was determined to complete the training, "Okay, I'll do it. I'll start right now"
He took the waterskin and took the fruits in a leather bag, he rushed ahead with no wasted second.
Kuroiichi looked at the sprinting boy, "He got the spirit and the will, he's sure to become a great demon hunter. You'll be an important figure for the war ahead, Kaiser"
…
Thror Mountain was a large, 4000 meter tall body. It was rocky and rough, yet there were trees and grass enveloping the mountain. It became extremely wet during dusk and early morning, making it harder to climb before noon.
"Okay, that's the first part!" He said, out of breath.
Kaiser finished running around the mountain, but now he had to begin the real challenge; that is to climb the 4000 meter tall mountain.
Kaiser ran up the rocky and slippery terrain; he slipped, he climbed, he was doing his absolute best without much rest. And as noon passed and evening arrived he was getting close to the peak.
The evening sun gleamed through the mountain in golden glow, the side of the mountain was literally shining in gold. It was a beautiful sight that could pull anyone into a state of amazement.
He stared down below his feet, "I could see everything so clearly from here, it's like looking at a little map with details."
Below the clouds, the forest and rivers could be seen. And Kaiser felt as if he was flying among the clouds.
A couple hours later, Kaiser failed the trial. And only finished at midnight when the moon shone silver.
He returned with a tired expression, all that energy from the morning blew away into thin air.
"I failed…" He reached the forest where Kuroiichi was sitting beside the bonfire.
Kuroiichi looked at him, "As you should. This is your training Kaiser, it would be pointless if you had completed it on the first try now wouldn't it?" They sat around the bonfire, and Kuroiichi gave him some water.
"I have my own mission to attend to, so a month is all we got. You're more talented than any other kid I've seen, so make the best out of this month Kaiser. Do your best to become stronger" He encouraged Kaiser as best as he could
The next day came, and Kaiser became even more determined to complete it this time. But determination does not bend reality.
He failed, and again and again he failed the series of days that came. Many near death experiences he went through and survived, but it was still not enough.
***5 Days Later***
"I'll complete it, today I'll complete it" Kaiser sat on a large boulder, his eyes frowned in seriousness.
"Open profile…"
"CLING!"
During the past five days, Kaiser might've failed to complete the trail Kuroiichi gave him. But his stats were not the same as they were before. He improved significantly.
[ STATUS ]
NAME: Kaiser
STATE: Earth-0
AGE: 13
ATTRIBUTES:
- Enhanced Stamina Lv. 5
- Enhanced Strength Lv. 2
- Enhanced Speed Lv. 2
- Mana Retention Lv. 1
- Water Affinity
SKILLS: (NONE)
"I unlocked enhanced speed on the third day, and I became a lot faster.
My stamina and strength level went up, I can't waste anymore time. I have to do it today" Kaiser stood up straight and took a deeeep breath.
"Let's go" He lunged forward like a falcon.
Kuroiichi stared at Kaiser from the back, he was eating his morning fruits.
"His potential is not normal, it's unbelievable how much he has grown in the past few days." He took a bite out of the apple.
"Its almost like he's cheating. His strength, stamina and speed have grown faster than anyone I've ever seen, his growth is almost at my level.
If this keeps up, Kaiser could go head to head with the upper demon hunters in a few years. When he joined the Academy, I wonder how surprised his fellow students would be." He sat back down on the tree branch, and wrote something on a piece of paper.
***At the height of Thror Mountain***
"If I can…just climb this part quickly" He panted, "Then I have a chance to pass the trial. I can do this"
Kaiser was close to the peak of the mountain, but it was extremely dangerous climbing the uneven, rock strewn slope.
His fingers were shaking with tiredness, and strong wind made it even harder to climb. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that every moment could end with his death.
A couple minutes passed, and he was moments away from the peak. "Just…a few more pulls!" He grabbed the last rock, and pulled himself up with all his strength, "Aaaahhh!!" He groaned out.
He finally reached the peak of the mountain, and it was still only noon.
A smile spread across his face for the first time.
"I did it, I did it" He caught his breath with satisfaction, it was his best time in the past five days.
"Now I just have to go back down and pass this trial.
But before that…open profile"
"CLING!"
He read down the attributes, "My levels are not going up, they're still all the same…
Wait, what's this?" He saw something new on his profile, a new attribute had appeared.
He read it, "Mana retention? That wasn't there before...
Show me the description of mana retention"
"CLING!"
[ Mana Retention : Prevents leakage of mana ]
Kaiser titled his head to the side, "Prevents leakage of mana, that's it?" He looked a bit disappointed at the description.
"Anyway I don't have time, I have to hurry up and finish the trial"
The terrain of Thror Mountain had already been engraved into his mind like a map. His past failures were turned into his present fortune, showing that what seemed like a wasted effort will indeed help him in achieving his desired goal sooner or later.
A cold breeze passed along the field of flowers and grass. Beautiful birds and butterflies, rabbits and deer roamed the forest under the golden brown of the evening sun.
And finally, after relentlessly tiring himself in the rough, rocky mountain. Kaiser walked over to Kuroiichi with the sun glowing behind his back.
"You did it" Kuroiichi congratulated with a smile. "You exceeded my expectations Kaiser, you're nothing short of amazing"
With a tired voice, "Thank you, Big Brother Kuroiichi. I finally did it" Kaiser fell to sleep immediately, he was beyond his limit.
***The next day***
"Good morning Kaiser"
"Yes, good morning Big Brother Kuroiichi"
Under the thick mist, they sat on top of a large boulder planted right beside the river. The roar and splash of water filled the area, fish leaping in and out of the rushing river.
Kuroiichi pulled out a beautiful sapphire blue sword from his cloak, and handed it to Kaiser.
He asked, "Now, are you ready to learn magic and become a demon hunter?"
End of chapter 2.