Chương 7: Chapter 7: Task Completed

Having fully absorbed the slime, Arata continued his exploration, looking for more monsters to defeat.

Over the course of the next hour, he encountered three more slimes, each meeting their end quickly at his hands.

With a combination of stealth, ambush tactics, and the aid of his Scavenge ability, Arata dispatched them effortlessly, inching closer to completing his mission with each victory.

✤ ────⚌+++:-: ۞ :-:+++⚌──── ✤

[ Mission ]

Task 1: Defeat 5 Grade F - Monsters

— Progress: 4/5

— Reward: Access to Inventory, 1 Simulation Ticket

Task 2: Explore the Area

Status: In Progress

Reward: 1 Simulation Ticket

✤ ────⚌+++:-: ۞ :-:+++⚌──── ✤

"Just one more and I'll finish the first task." he muttered to himself, stealing a glance at his mission status.

"But as for the second task... I'm not sure how far I need to explore to fulfill it."

Pushing aside thoughts of the second task, for now, Arata focused on his immediate goal. He knew that as he continued to travel through the forest, he would naturally make progress towards completing the second task.

Arata's current goal was clear: to complete the first task. If he managed to finish the second task within the same day, it would be a welcomed bonus.

Thirty minutes had slipped by since he dealt with the fourth slime, yet he hadn't crossed paths with any other creatures. The forest was gradually dimming as night crept in, casting elongated shadows across the landscape.

Despite the growing darkness, Arata resolved to press on. He weighed the option of finding a safe spot to hide and rest for the night but ultimately decided to take the risk and continue his exploration to fulfill his mission.

Just as he was on the brink of giving up hope, a sudden rustling sound nearby shattered the silence. Arata's senses went on high alert as he turned towards the source of the noise.

Out of the shadows emerged a rabbit-like creature, its brown fur illuminated faintly by the fading light.

Its size was comparable to Arata's, but what caught his attention were its large, menacingly sharp teeth glinting in the dimming sunlight.

Without hesitation, the creature lunged at Arata, its jaws snapping dangerously close to him. Through reflexes and sheer luck, Arata managed to dodge the attack at the precise moment, narrowly avoiding the creature's bite.

Arata knew he had to be cautious. While the rabbit's bite might not instantly kill him, it could still inflict serious damage.

This was his first direct confrontation with a monster, unlike the slimes he had defeated before through stealth and surprise attacks with his water blast.

As Arata faced the rabbit, its eyes glimmered hungrily, and droplets of saliva dripped from its open mouth.

"This guy is set on killing and devouring me." Arata thought, feeling a shiver run down his spine.

Arata focused on the creature, preparing to defend himself. But he also wanted to know more about what he was up against. So, he quickly asked the system for any info on this fierce rabbit.

[ "Answer." ]

[ "Host, the creature you're facing is a Terror Rabbit. It's also classified as an F - grade monster, much like the slimes you've encountered. The Terror Rabbit relies on its speed and sharp teeth to hunt and attack its prey." ]

[ "When hungry, it becomes relentless, persisting in its pursuit until satisfied, even at the cost of its own life. Despite the danger, host, you have the advantage. Maintain your composure, as the rabbit's hunger impairs its intelligence, providing you with an upper hand in the fight." ]

Arata nodded, absorbing the information provided by the system. Stepping back cautiously, he took in the weaknesses of the Terror Rabbit, understanding what he needed to do next.

As he backed away, the Terror Rabbit pounced forward once more, but Arata was prepared. With a sidestep to the left, he dodged the creature's attack, exploiting the gap in its defenses to create some much-needed distance.

This action by the Terror Rabbit confirmed the system's response. The rabbit didn't seem to think much. It just kept trying to attack. Arata noticed this and started planning his next move.

While Arata continued to evade the Terror Rabbit's attacks, his focus remained unwavering. With each dodge, he studied the creature's movements, noting its lack of strategy and reliance on brute force.

Spotting an opportunity, Arata seized it. With a burst of water from his mouth, he unleashed a Water Blast toward the Terror Rabbit, who was in mid-air from its failed pounce.

‧ ⋯ - ☰ Water Blast. ☰ - ⋯ ‧

As the Water Blast struck the Terror Rabbit, a sharp thud sounded through the air, followed by a pained squeal from the creature.The force of the attack sent it stumbling backward, fur matted and dripping with blood.

The close-range attack intensified the damage, leaving the rabbit visibly wounded. Blood trickled from its wound, staining the ground beneath it. Despite its agony, the creature showed no signs of backing down.

With a defiant cry, the Terror Rabbit regained its balance and launched another attack at Arata. However, its movements were much slower now, making it easy for Arata to dodge the creature's feeble attempts to strike back.

Capitalizing on the rabbit's weakened state, Arata struck once more. He released another well-aimed Water Blast, delivering the final blow that sent the rabbit collapsing to the ground, defeated and motionless.

[ You have killed Grade F - Terror Rabbit. ]

[ Mission Completed ]

Task 1: Defeat 5 Grade F - Monsters

— Progress: 5/5

[ You have received 1 Simulation Ticket. ]

[ You now have access to the "Inventory Section". ]

"Phew." Arata sighed.

"That was quite the battle. But it's all worth it now that I've finished the first task." he grinned, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him.

Arata's smile widened as he surveyed the lifeless body of the Terror Rabbit in front of him.

However, his satisfaction was short-lived as he realized that the sun was nearly set, casting an orange glow over the forest.

Hastily, he approached the fallen creature and turned to the system for guidance.

"System, how do I use my inventory? I want to store this rabbit."

[ "Host, accessing your inventory is quite simple. You just need to focus on the object you wish to store, and with a thought, it will be safely tucked away. However, there are a few limitations to keep in mind. ]

[ Currently, your inventory can only hold inanimate objects. Unfortunately, no living creatures can be stored. Additionally, you have a limited number of slots available, and at present, you've been allocated 10 slots. ]

[ Each item you store will occupy one slot, but you can stack identical items. This means that if you store multiple Terror Rabbits, they will only consume one slot in your inventory, regardless of the quantity. ]

Arata's eyes widened in astonishment. "Even thousands?"

[ Yes, host. There's no limit to the quantity of identical items you can stack in your inventory." ]

"Damn, isn't that too good to be true?"

"The effort put into completing the task truly paid off."