Exiting the complex, Nova’s thoughts turned to his gear. ‘I should clear a Green portal or two. My spear and light armor are falling behind my progress’. His decision made, he sprinted toward the nearest Green light on the horizon. In less than three minutes, he stood before the swirling portal.
He eyed the gateway, its edges rippling with faint energy. “Let’s hope this one’s quick. Don’t fail me now, luck.” With a final deep breath, he stepped forward.
This time, the usual nauseating lurch didn’t come. Instead, there was only stillness. A small smile tugged at his lips. ‘I’m stronger now.’
A heartbeat later, he stood in a familiar white room filled with swirling Green fog. The atmosphere thickened as a prompt and notification echoed through the space simultaneously, signaling the start of the trial.
[Select a weapon]
[Mission starts in 05:00]
Ignoring the familiar barrage of notifications, he stood still, eyes closed, calmly regulating his breath.
Five minutes passed in a blur, the constant chime of alerts ringing in his mind, but he remained undisturbed, his focus unwavering.
[Mission starts in 00:02]
[Mission starts in 00:01]
[Mission started]
[Mission: Kill the Orc King.]
Rewards:
1. Primary Reward;
· Gold: 6200
· EXP: 770
· Title: Orc Exterminator (This title enhances your reputation in towns and cities, increasing rewards for future quests involving monster extermination.)
2. Special Reward (Finish the mission within 5 hours):
· Book Footwork Basics
[05:00:00]
[04:59:59]
A timer materialized in his mind as the fog around him slowly dissipated. Nova barely registered it—his focus was consumed by the book that had been granted as a Special reward. ‘Footwork Basics’, he thought, rolling his eyes. ‘Is this from that same damn author? There’s no way this is a coincidence. Who in their right mind would name a book like that?’
With a sharp shake of his head, he refocused and looked ahead.
Before him lay a graveyard, its eerie silence broken only by the oppressive weight of the atmosphere. In the distance, a towering figure knelt amidst the gravestones. The figure was an imposing 8 feet tall, with muscular, scarred, dark green skin. His face was a mask of fierce determination, with amber-red eyes burning like coals, a broad jaw, and tusks that jutted from his mouth like sharpened spears.
Long, black dreadlocks, streaked with strands of gray, hung around his face, partially hidden beneath a spiked, black iron crown. His armor, heavy and blackened with age, was etched with intricate war designs, each telling a tale of conquest. Spikes and beast trophies adorned his shoulders, and a tattered, fur-lined cloak draped over his broad back. Resting near him was a massive war axe, its blade glinting in the dim light, while an aura of pure dread and absolute authority radiated from him.
Above the figure’s head, written in blood-red letters, hung a name:
[Orc King]
‘First a Goblin King, then a Troll King, and now an Orc King. All three share similarities. If the civilizations in the Green portals are all like this, then they must be the lower-tier ones.’ Nova’s mind raced as he studied the Orc King’s form. ‘I need more information. Hopefully, this orc can shed some light on things…’
He shifted his attention to the Orc King’s Status, eager to learn more.
[Orc King]
Rank: 0
Name: Drokhan
Species: Orc
Affiliation: None
Level: 5
Class: None
Attributes:
Strength: 204
Vigor:227
Dexterity: 153
Speed: 149
Intelligence: 79
Wisdom: 87
Will: 1
Luck: 0
‘Pretty strong. This is what I get for leveling up twice in the last Green portal…’ Nova thought as he closed the distance. Drokhan still knelt, his head bowed low.
When Nova was close enough, he spoke up, “Hey, I have some questions.”
At those words, Drokhan’s amber eyes flickered open, and his voice growled from the side, “Keep your doubts. Bring them to your grave.”
With a slow, deliberate motion, Drokhan began to rise. Nova’s lips curled into a grin. “I’ll just ask the next king I see.”
Not wasting another second, Nova took a step. In a blur of motion, he dashed toward the orc king, who was preparing for battle. In the blink of an eye, Nova was upon him, thrusting his spear with his left hand, the movement sharp and precise.
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Drokhan’s eyes widened in shock. The spear’s thrust held a concept he didn’t believe this human could have mastered. He was too slow to react, and before he could move, the spear had already entered and exited his body multiple times.
Dark red blood spilled from the wounds in his chest, staining his armor. Nova watched with a satisfied smirk. “With that strength, you probably wouldn’t even know the answers to my questions anyway.”
Drokhan’s body trembled as it fought to stem the flow of blood. The concept behind Nova’s thrusts was interfering with his healing, and the wounds were too numerous to recover from swiftly. His face twisted with rage as he gritted his teeth, bloodshot eyes locking onto Nova. He charged forward, raising his war axe in an attempt to deliver a horizontal slash.
Nova shook his head in disappointment. With a single fluid step, he harnessed the momentum he’d built, performing a sweeping strike that flowed effortlessly into a devastating counter.
The spear struck true, severing Drokhan’s arm clean off. The war axe, still gripped in his dismembered hand, clattered to the ground. Drokhan howled in pain, clutching the stump of his right shoulder where his arm had been only moments before. His gaze locked onto Nova, his mind finally catching up with the gravity of the situation.
Nova’s voice cut through the air, calm and cold. “Answer one question, and I’ll make your death swift.”
Drokhan gritted his teeth, fury boiling within him, but he knew deep down that he stood no chance against the human before him. Internal conflict raged as he struggled to accept his impending demise. The pain was unbearable, and he knew there was no escape.
After a long, strained silence, Drokhan exhaled a heavy breath. “Ask.”
Nova nodded, his eyes steady. “Do the Green portals house the lowest of the civilizations that have joined the wider Universe?”
Drokhan’s response was simple but final. “Yes.”
“Alright, thanks.” Nova’s confirmation left no room for argument. Slowly, he walked towards Drokhan, the final steps echoing in the eerie silence of the graveyard. Standing before the orc king, he asked, “Any last words?”
“None” Drokhan muttered, his gaze dropping to the ground, ready to meet his end.
Nova nodded, his tone unyielding. “Then I’ll send you off.”
With a swift motion, he performed a lethal sweep, severing Drokhan’s head from his body in a single, clean strike.
[Spear Sweep proficiency increased]
[Received 1,400,000 Stat EXP]
‘This was quicker than I anticipated, lucky.’ Nova smiled as notifications rang in his mind.
[Mission: Kill the Orc King has been completed]
Rewards:
· Gold: 6200
· EXP: 770
· Title: Orc Exterminator (This title enhances your reputation in towns and cities, increasing rewards for future quests involving monster extermination.)
· Book Footwork Basics
‘I should be able to buy some pieces with all this gold’. Nova thought, before quickly accessing his Status.
[Status]
Rank: 0
Name: Nova Grey
Species: Human
Affiliation: None
Level: 4 (370/500)
Class: None
Titles: Goblin Exterminator, Kings Slayer, Survivor, Spear Novice, Troll Exterminator, Orc Exterminator
Stat Points: 131
Attributes:
Strength: 117 (+134)
Vigor: 90 (+103)
Dexterity: 140 (+163)
Speed: 100 (+122)
Intelligence: 56 (+59)
Wisdom: 100 (+105)
Will: 9
Luck: 10
Skills
Active: Spear Thrust (15) (146/16384000), Spear Jab (15) (19/16384000), Spear Sweep (12) (687420/2048000), Spear Lunge (10) (789/512000), Spear Overhead Strike (10) (757/512000)
Passive: Regeneration (9) (6749/128000), Keen Reflexes (2) (1874/2000), Momentum Streak (9) (218415/256000), One with the Spear (MAX)
‘Level 4...’ He thought before checking his Gold coins.
Gold: 15,091.
“This should be enough for something useful” he muttered just as a notification sounded.
[Portal will close in 10:00]
He stepped through, not wasting any more time and it took a moment for his surroundings to come into focus. He wasn’t where he had entered the portal but instead found himself in a different part of the city. ‘Why is it that every time I exit a portal, I end up somewhere else?’ he wondered.
Not feeling the need to backtrack immediately, he called out mentally, ‘Store.’
‘I should pick up some gloves, boots, and pants. I’m missing out on too many stats without them.’
As he scrolled through the store, his eyes scanned for items that not only fit his needs but could also boost his stats. It didn’t take long before he found three suitable candidates.
[Ash Gloves]
· Strength: 13
· Dexterity: 17
Price: 5000
[Ash Breeches]
· Vigor: 8
· Dexterity: 6
· Speed: 12
Price: 5000
[Ash Boots]
· Vigor: 4
· Dexterity: 15
· Speed: 14
Price: 5000
[Are you sure?]
‘Yes’
Three ash-colored pieces of gear materialized in his inventory. Nova quickly removed his current pants and shoes before donning the new gloves, breeches, and boots. As the gear settled into place, he could immediately feel the shift in his strength. Without hesitation, he called out in his mind, ‘Status.’
[Status]
Rank: 0
Name: Nova Grey
Species: Human
Affiliation: None
Level: 4 (370/500)
Class: None
Titles: Goblin Exterminator, Kings Slayer, Survivor, Spear Novice, Troll Exterminator, Orc Exterminator
Stat Points: 131
Attributes:
Strength: 117 (+147)
Vigor: 90 (+115)
Dexterity: 140 (+201)
Speed: 100 (+148)
Intelligence: 56 (+59)
Wisdom: 100 (+105)
Will: 9
Luck: 10
Skills
Active: Spear Thrust (15) (146/16384000), Spear Jab (15) (19/16384000), Spear Sweep (12) (687420/2048000), Spear Lunge (10) (789/512000), Spear Overhead Strike (10) (757/512000)
Passive: Regeneration (9) (6749/128000), Keen Reflexes (2) (1874/2000), Momentum Streak (9) (218415/256000), One with the Spear (MAX)
“At least I should be able to easily clear a Green portal again. I’m not sure about a Blue one.” Nova muttered to himself as he pulled out the new book, Footwork Basics.
Noticing the absence of an author’s name, he confirmed his previous thought. ‘This is from the same author as the Spear Basics book’. And sure enough, on the first page, right at the end, the same message awaited him:
Reach this stage within five years, and you’re a genius. Ten years, you’re average. Anything beyond that? Don’t bother trying.
‘So, you’re still stuck on the same tired lines with no imagination’, Nova mused, shaking his head. He skimmed through the first page before focusing on the content.
‘It’s basically the same as ‘One with the Spear,’ just applied to footwork. Shouldn’t take long to master.’
With that, Nova started running, and less than five minutes later…
[Skill: One with the Footwork has been learned]
“What?” Nova exclaimed taken aback.
Without hesitation he quickly checked its effect.
Skill: One with the Footwork
(Your movement is on its way towards going beyond mortal limits. +100% Dexterity and Speed.)
‘No way.’ Thought Nova before calling ‘Status’ wanting to confirm it.
[Status]
Rank: 0
Name: Nova Grey
Species: Human
Affiliation: None
Level: 4 (370/500)
Class: None
Titles: Goblin Exterminator, Kings Slayer, Survivor, Spear Novice, Troll Exterminator, Orc Exterminator
Stat Points: 131
Attributes:
Strength: 117 (+147)
Vigor: 90 (+115)
Dexterity: 140 (+201)
Speed: 100 (+148)
Intelligence: 56 (+59)
Wisdom: 100 (+105)
Will: 9
Luck: 10
Skills
Active: Spear Thrust (15) (146/16384000), Spear Jab (15) (19/16384000), Spear Sweep (12) (687420/2048000), Spear Lunge (10) (789/512000), Spear Overhead Strike (10) (757/512000)
Passive: Regeneration (9) (6978/128000), Keen Reflexes (2) (1874/2000), Momentum Streak (9) (218415/256000), One with the Spear (MAX), One with the Footwork (MAX)
“But my stats haven’t changed at all…” Nova muttered, releasing his grip on the spear and checking once more.
Sure enough, his stats returned to normal, except for his Dexterity and Speed.
‘So, this means my Speed and Dexterity are permanently doubled. It’s not exactly what I hoped for, but it’s still an improvement’. He thought for a moment before tightening his grip on the spear and shooting toward the next Green portal.
I wonder who killed all the other orcs.
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