บท 18: Puppy
Extra chapter cuz i got a comment
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Upon concluding the Combat class lecture, Elias swiftly made his way to rejoin Aiden and Kara. With a hint of excitement in his voice, he asked, "Hey guys, do you want to raid a Gate?"
Arched brow indicating curiosity, Aiden responded, "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you didn't know? There's a section of the academy where Gates spawn continuously. Apparently, it seems like the [System] intended this place to be a learning experience."
Iris interjected, ^Before you ask, yes, I knew about it. You just didn't ask.^
Aiden turned to Kara, whose cold demeanor seemed to thaw for a moment, seeking her opinion. "Kara, what do you think?"
"Sorry, but I won't be able to join you guys. I have some matters to attend to."
"Well, that's a shame. So, Aiden, are you in?" Elias inquired.
"Sure."
Following Elias, Aiden arrived at a holographic board brimming with quests. Elias explained, "So, it works like this: you choose the Gate you want to conquer, conquer it, bring the rewards to the academy vendor, and you'll earn N-points."
"N-Points? You mean the academy's currency?"
"Yep. One N-Point is equivalent to 100 soulbits, if you're wondering."
Aiden's silence prompted Elias to continue, "Yeah, I know it sounds absurd. But you should've already known this. Didn't the guide tell you anything?"
Recalling his first day at the academy, Aiden realized that Jason hadn't informed him of this aspect. "No, am I missing something important?"
"Hell yeah! You can buy food only with N-Points, and the only way to obtain them is by completing school Gates, assisting instructors, winning rank battles, and participating in school events."
"Oh... well, I guess Jason wanted me to starve."
"Damn, bro. I can't understand why some people can be so mean sometimes. I'm pretty sure he did it just because you have more privileges than him."
"It should have happened to you too, then."
"I'm from the Godspeed family. If they mess with me, they mess with my family. As for you, you're a commoner, so you seem like an easy target."
Amid Elias's explanation of other rules, a girl approached Aiden, handing him a piece of paper with a cryptic smile. Elias teased, "Ladykiller."
Aiden smirked arrogantly. "Can't do anything about it. I'm just so handsome."
"However, I definitely won't accept her proposal."
"Why not? She was a good catch."
"She doesn't know me, and I don't know her. If I ever get into a relationship, I want it to be a serious one."
Instructing Iris to decline on his behalf, Aiden followed Elias to stand in front of a Gate.
"Okay, we've chosen the extermination type. What's your rank? I'm rank D."
"I'm rank D+."
"Man, stop bluffing."
Revealing his rank to Elias, Aiden smirked. "Wow, you'll continue to surprise, won't you? Well, aside from that, the monsters we'll face are around E rank, and the pay will be 14 N-points."
"Alright, let's go."
Stepping into the black Gate, Aiden and Elias found themselves within a dark cave. Aiden commented, "Well, I don't have a source of light. My fire doesn't emit light."
Elias reassured, "No problem, I have a skill for this: [Ball of Light]."
Muttering the skill's name, Elias illuminated the entire cave, revealing the lurking monsters.
[Exterminate 43 Slimes]
Aiden activated his bodysuit and channeled hellfire into his hands. Elias did the same with lightning. With a nod, they commenced a ruthless slaughter of the poor slimes, which had no chance to retaliate.
"Simple. Slimes are immune to blunt attacks, but they're very weak to heat-based attacks."
[Gate Cleared. Distributing Rewards.]
[Acidic Spit (E), Engulf (E)]
"WE GOT ENGULF?! OMG, WE'RE RICH, WE'RE RICH!"
Aiden and Elias were beyond excited. The Engulf skillbook was one of the rarest in the world, exclusively dropped from Slime Extermination Gates, with a 1 in 100 trillion chance of acquiring one. Furthermore, Engulf allowed the user to devour the corpses of defeated foes, granting nourishment and the potential to gain skills from consumed monsters, significantly boosting its value.
"Okay, let's split the profit."
"Of course, but we need to hurry."
Aiden and Elias presented the two skillbooks to the academy vendor, asking for secrecy. The vendor's disbelief was evident as he appraised the Engulf skillbook.
"We'll give you 2 N-Points for the Acidic Spit skillbook. As for the Engulf skillbook... 50,000,000 N-Points."
Without hesitation, the youths accepted the offer.
"Ahahah, we're billionaires!" Elias shouted, attracting the attention of passersby.
"What are you all staring at!? There's nothing to see here. Move along.Hey, Aiden, I'm going to the entertainment district to buy some games I've been wanting to play for a while. We'll catch up later."
"Sure, see ya."
As Aiden headed toward his dormitory, his [Divine Sense] went haywire. Glancing back, he noticed a sickly pup in a cage near the vendor. His [Divine Sense] urged him to get it.
{A sick pup? Well my Divine Sense never betrayed me so, why not give a try?}
"Hey can I get that pup?"
"Are you sure? It's cursed and abandoned by its mother. Nobody even bothered buying it. It's a Shadowolf pup, in case you're wondering."
{Betrayed by its family, huh?}
"Yes, I want it. How much?" Aiden's determination was evident.
"If you're so sure... 500 N-Points."
Paying for the pup, Aiden approached it, hoping to establish a connection.
Aiden approached the pup cautiously, his heart reaching out to the abandoned creature. The pup's fur was a faded shade of gray, almost blending with the shadows around it. Its large, melancholic eyes held a mix of fear and curiosity as it regarded Aiden with cautious interest. Its body seemed weak, its ribs visible beneath the thin layer of fur.
Kneeling beside the cage, Aiden extended his hand slowly, offering a reassuring gesture to the pup. He spoke to it in a soothing tone, "Hey there, little one. You don't have to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you."
The pup sniffed Aiden's outstretched hand tentatively before nuzzling against it, seeking comfort. Aiden's heart swelled with compassion as he gently scratched behind the pup's ears. It was as if a connection was forming between them, a silent understanding that transcended words.
"It looks like you've been through a lot," Aiden murmured. "But you're not alone anymore. I'll take care of you."
As the pup pressed closer to Aiden's hand, a warmth seemed to envelop them both. It was a feeling of unity, of two souls finding each other amidst the uncertainty of their worlds. Aiden's decision was made, his heart and his [Divine Sense] aligned.
"Keep your N-Points. This pup needs a home more than anything else."
Aiden stared at the Vendor in disbelief. "You're letting go of the N-Points? For a cursed pup?"
Thw vendor's smile was genuine as he responded, "Some things are worth more than currency."
With a nod of gratitude to the vendor, Aiden carefully opened the cage and scooped the pup into his arms. It nestled against his chest, a small tail wagging weakly as if expressing its newfound happiness.
As Aiden walked away from the vendor with the pup in his arms, he couldn't help but feel that this decision was just the beginning of a new chapter in his journey. He had gained more than a companion; he had found a friend who needed him.
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Weapon Sage Gift:
[Omniweapon proficiency] S-rank
The Omniweapon Proficiency is a rare and extraordinary Gift that grants its possessor unparalleled mastery over all forms of weaponry, extending even to the human body itself. This S-rank Gift transcends conventional combat skills, allowing the user to seamlessly wield any weapon with unmatched expertise and harness the full potential of their body as a deadly instrument.
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