Tyler stared at the system screen displaying his rewards:Quest Rewards:+2 stat points to each stat.Armor Recipe: 2 Medium Copper Ores, 15 Medium Silver Ores → Shine ArmorWeapon Recipe: 1 Medium Silver Ore, 12 Medium Iron Ores → 2-Handed AxeAccessory Recipe: 500ml Holy Water, 1 Small Copper Ore, Level 30+ Slime Core → Necklace of GrowthAlchemy Recipe: 1 Venom Bloom, 200ml Slither Blood, 5 Brunish Tree Leaves → Poison Blend (For User)"More recipes," Tyler muttered, "I'll look at them later." The system panel vanished, only to be replaced by another:Quest Rewards:+2 stat points to each stat.Armor Recipe: 1 Hexhorn Hide → Leather GlovesWeapon Recipe: 3 Adas Tree Branches, 1 Drain String → Wood BowAccessory Recipe: 7 Slime Cores, 2 Small Iron Ores → Necklace of DurabilityAlchemy Recipe: 20 Vital Flowers, 500ml Water, 10 Sunleaf Plant Leafs → Light Healing Potion"Another one, huh?" Tyler said, continuing his walk as the system panel disappeared. "This accessory crafting abilit

The midday sun, fractured into a thousand shimmering shards by the dense canopy, barely pierced the gloom of the forest. The air, thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, held the tension of Rebecca's desperate flight. Her breath came in short, controlled gasps as she ran, the rough bark of trees a fleeting touch against her arms. Behind her, the relentless pursuit of the Gloomfang dogs echoed through the trees – a chilling symphony of snarls and snapping jaws.One, a monstrous canine silhouette of rippling blue fur and razor-sharp teeth, launched itself from the pack, its Rush skill a blur of motion. But Rebecca was ready. With the practiced fluidity of a seasoned hunter, she spun, her body a coiled spring releasing its deadly energy. Her bow, a familiar extension of her will, sang as she loosed a Wind Arrow. The arrow, a shaft of polished wood imbued with potent wind magic, screamed through the air, a living thing of emerald light and howling wind. It struck the charg

Lisa looked at Tyler's confused face and said, "Three. She's three years old. Why did you ask?""You become an F-rank when you reach level 10, right?" Tyler asked."Yes," Lisa answered."Well... it's just, Heather has reached level nine." Lisa's eyes widened in surprise. "Level nine? Why do you say that? She can't be level nine" she asked, a concerned expression on her face."Oh, you might not know this, but I have the Uncover skill, and I can read people's levels. Your level is... 141!?" Tyler exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise. "What's going on? How are you this high level?"Lisa sat down, holding Heather. Heather, in Lisa's arms, began chewing on the fabric of Lisa's shirt. Heather's low, unintelligible babbling was the only sound.Lisa sighed, covering her mouth. "I didn't think anyone would see through the spell. I just… I can't tell you about it yet."Tyler knelt in front of them. "You can tell me anything. I'm willing to help, no matter what the problem is."Lisa hesitate

Tyler was surprised. "What? You are one of them?"Grone nodded. "Yes, I am. I know what you're thinking. I don't look anything like a hero's descendant, am I right?"Tyler looked up at Grone, considering. "No. I mean, I've never met one before, so I wouldn't know."Grone chuckled, a low, bitter sound. "I bet you would know if you met one. They're entitled bastards, every one of them," he said, a hint of anger coloring his voice.Tyler looked at him with a confused expression. Grone said, his voice softening slightly, "I know this sounds confusing, with everything I've told you. I told you the hero's descendants were strong, that they all had high levels, that they leveled up faster than normal people. But you'd ask yourself, 'Why am I so weak, yet I claim to be a hero's descendant?'"He paused, studying Tyler's face. "If you really want to know, you'll have to listen to a very long story, and it's going to get dark pretty soon. Are you willing to hear it?"Tyler nodded, his curiosity

James's hands trembled as he gripped the sword with both hands. Ariel unsheathed her own sword; the polished steel gleamed. James instinctively took a step back, his feet crunching on the broken stones. John watched, his expression grim. The thought crossed his mind: *Young master definitely isn't ready for this.*"Young master," John called out, his voice low and urgent, "this is definitely unwise. You shouldn't face her." James shook his head, a stubborn refusal evident in the slight jerk of his head. He muttered a defiant "No," and charged forward.Ariel met his attack with a chilling smile. "Pathetic," she said, the word a low, almost contemptuous whisper. With a swift, practiced movement, she kicked a loose rock from the nearby pile of rubble. The rock, propelled with surprising force, flew through the air, a small, deadly missile. It struck James's right leg with a sickening thud, tearing through his flesh and leaving a ragged wound. A sharp cry of pain escaped James's lips as h