After the meeting with the guild master ended, I went and traded in all the materials I got from the dungeon to the guild for gold. I got a total of 45 for them. It wasn't much but, it was still money. I would take it. After that the three of us went home. Once we got back, they immediately sat me down and I got a stern talking to about taking stupid, reckless, and dangerous risks. i didn't make an excuse for it. I knew they were worried and what I did was exactly what hey said it was. All I could do was apologize for that and tricking them and not saying what I was going to do. As a punishment and to atone for it, they would train me harder and longer. I also had to complete my daily missions by doing five times the required amount in 2 hours. If i didn't, I would have to do them again. After that, they calmed down a bit and my mother prepared lunch. We ate and the told me to go and rest. We would start training in a few hours and I better be prepared for the increased pressure.
Once in my room, instead of going to sleep, I opened my window, pulled up a chair to in front of it and sat down. I was going to cultivate. Right now, I was level 7 and my elements were only level 1. i had to improve them by 6. This was going to take hours to do. Might as well get started. For the next few hours, I had my eyes closed and cultivated and finished fire, wind, and light. i didn't continue the rest as I did not have time and I was about to head down to train with my parents. Finished with this session I looked at my results.
Cultivation finished. results:
Wind: Level 7: +6 AGI, +6 INT
Fire: Level 7: +6 STR, +6 INT
Light: Level 7: +6 AGI, +6 STA
Total Cultivation gains: +12 AGI, +12 INT, +6 STA
These three hours of cultivation boosted my CP by a massive 50 points. It stood now at 274. It was quite the harvest. It would have increased even more if I could cultivate the other elements, darkness, star, and earth. I had majority of the elements I wanted except for lightning. Water was a bit lame in my opinion, but i would still get it for the attributes. Clearing the screen away, I got up and headed downstairs. My parents were down there at the table chatting. my mother saw me first and looked at me with a neutral expression.
Mom: "Have a good rest?"
I nodded. i didn't bother telling them what i actually did. I just wanted to get this show on the road.
Dad: "OK. Start on your daily missions. Remember, do 5 times the amount required. You got two hours. Go."
My father everybody. Strict as always. I didn't dilly dally. I went outside and got to work. I pulled up my daily missions for the day and took a look.
Daily Mission VII:
1. Complete 70 pushups
2. Complete 7 minute of planks
3. Run 7 miles
4. Defend against 7 attacks from an opponent at least 1 rank higher.
Reward: +3 Strength, Stamina, Agility, and Defense
Note: completing extra of each exercise will increase reward by a certain amount.
I couldn't help but gasp and think HOLY SHIT FUCK GOD DAMN! This was not too bad, but I had to do 5 times this amount meaning over 300 push ups and 35 miles. The pushups i could definitely do, but the miles, there was a chance I could not do it in 2 hours. however, I had to try. Not only because of the punishment should I fail, but to grow my power. I grunted, and started running around the perimeter of the yard.
I did the first 6 miles in 20 minutes. At this pace, I would not get this done in time as i would sill need to do the other exercises as well as the defend mission. I had to speed up during the next round. i started doing push ups. 60 of them later, I moved onto the planks. 6 minutes later, I went back to running. Thank god for my improved stamina. After the first round of 6, I wasn't breathing heavy. I was still full of energy.
I sped up a bit during the second round. I managed to finish the 6 miles in 15 minutes. I was breathing a bit heavier from that. despite that I continued on to the other exercises. Whenever I finished a round, I immediately started the next. I did not waste any time, as I needed any minute of the 2 hour limit. The last round was the most brutal. The 5th round made my body completely sore. I could hardly move. However, I had to push on. My body was groaning in pain and was soaked in sweat as I went through the exercises. The time limit approached rapidly. by the time I finished, I only had 6 minutes to spare. i dragged my beat up body too the house. With a ragged voice I called to my dad.
Me: "Dad, I need you or mom to help with the last mission. I have to defend against 7 attacks, well 35 now, from someone who is at least 1 rank higher."
There was silence for a few moments, before I heard foot steps approaching the door. My father appeared and saw my haggard appearance. Like usual, his expression didn't change.
Dad: "Hmm. When I heard you ask for help to defend against attacks, I initially wanted to wait so you would fail my limit. I wanted you to fail so you would learn that you will fail sometimes and learn how to overcome those failures. However, now that I look at you, i changed my mind. it seemed like you worked hard. So, I will help you. i will attack with d-rank strength. If you fall down, I will not attack until you get back up. you have 5 minutes left now, so whether you pass or fail is up to you and your will. Now, prepare, I'm attacking."
He dashed forward and threw a punch. this punch was too fast, it was a blur. i could only lift my arms to block. His fist landed on them and I was pushed back 10 feet, but I remained standing. My arms throbbed with pain. half my health dropped even though I blocked. I had no choice but to try and dodge from now on, I couldn't take that attack again. before I stopped, my father attacked again, except this time he summoned a baseball sized piece of earth and hurled it at me. I hurriedly cast bullet and blasted it to pieces. Seeing that, he dashed toward me again throwing another punch, this one toward my, but this one was slower. I ducked just in time while simultaneously bullet a bullet with darkness and blasting it at his chest. we were too close and he could not doge. It landed solidly on his midsection. he backed up from the force but was not hurt. However, the darkness proved useful one again for me. It caused a de-buff on him, weakening all of his attributes by 10% for 1 minute. Sensing that he was weakened a bit, he nodded at me and gave a slight smile of approval before starting to launch pieces of rock at me. I used bullet to destroy them. He threw more and more getting faster with each one. He threw so many, I lost count. A few minutes later, he suddenly stopped. i was confused and he saw it.
Dad: "That's it. that was 35 attacks. i was going to attack with melee attacks, but I could tell you would pass out if i did so, I just used my element and went with range. Now, show me that the missions were completed. after that stunt you pulled today, I can't trust you right now."
The last part he said hurt me a bit, but I did deserve that. I still deceived them even though I didn't lie. With a frown, I pulled up the completion screen and shared it with him.
Daily mission VII: Complete
1. Complete 70 pushups (350)
2. Complete 7 minute of planks (35)
3. Run 7 mile (35)
4. defend against 7 attacks from an opponent at least 1 rank higher (35)
Reward: +8 Strength, stamina, agility, and defense.
Seeing that, he nodded in approval.
Dad: "Nice job. To be honest, in regards to this five times the requirement thing, I just wanted to vent my frustration with you for a bit. Today, you were reckless and took too much of a risk. On top of that, you did not trust us enough to tell us before you did. If you didn't tell us because you thought we would not agree, you would be right. We are your parents Aug. If you cannot trust us enough to tell the complete truth, how do you expect us to trust you? Now, we will not train tonight. I'll let you off. just, don't be so reckless again. Go on and clean up. Get some sleep and rest. We will have dinner in a couple hours."
What he said hit me like a damn truck. trust goes both ways. i fucked up. I decided at that moment that I would never disappoint them again like this. I would make them proud. after he finished, he stood to the side to let me pass.
Me: "I am sorry dad. it will not happen again. I promise."
After saying my peace, I dragged my sorry excuse of a body inside and upstairs. I dragged it to the shower and cleaned myself from all the sweat and grime. I stayed under the cold as hell water for a half hour before i exited the bathroom and hit the sack. I was asleep within seconds.
The next time I woke up, it was dark outside and my parents were yelling from downstairs. it took me moment to wake up enough to hear what they were saying clearly. It was time for dinner. Expecting to still be sore from the intense training earlier, i slowly got off the bed. surprisingly, though, my body felt great. This instantly raised my mood. I got dressed in a gray shirt and shorts and made my way downstairs. My parents were already there so I joined them. before my mother could speak, I apologized to her.
Me: "Mom, I am sorry that I deceived you two. It will not happen again. I swear."
My words brought tears to her eyes.
Mom: "Auggie.....I was just so scared by what you did. If you scare me like that again, I will put you on a leash and keep you next to me for a month. HE HE! Of course, that was a joke, but seriously, do not ever do that again, you hear?"
I nodded. She grinned and chuckled.
Mom: "Alright, let's eat. it's been a stressful day."
For the next hour, we relaxed, and joke around while we ate. it felt great after such an eventful day like this. Afterwards, I helped them cleanup and then went out side to complete the last three elements, earth, star, and darkness, and get them up to maximum. 3 hours later, I was done and looked at the fruits of my labor.
Cultivation results:
Darkness: Level 7: +6 AGI, +6 INT
Star: Level 7: +6 AGI, +6 WIS, +6 STR, +6 INT, +6 STA
Earth: level 7: +6 DEF, +6 STR, +6STA
Total Increases: +12 AGI, +12 INT, +6 WIS, +12 STR, +12 STA, DEF +6
Name: Aug Ulrich
Combat Power: 426
Rank: E-rank
Race: Low Tier 1 Human
Bloodlines: None
Elemental Affinities: All
Class: None
Level: 7 (110/700 XP)
Stat Points: 0
System Points: 914
Stats:
HP: (STA x 2): 88
Mana: (WIS x 2): 72
Strength: 40
Intelligence: 55
Agility: 50
Defense: 24
Wisdom: 36
Stamina: 44
Mind: 2
Phy. Att (STR x 2): 80
Mag. Att (INT x 2): 110
Dam. Red. (DEF x 1): 24
Rec. / min
(STA x .1): 4.4 HP / min
(WIS x .1): 3.6 Mana / min