The Hero System - Chapter 16

“Morning, Miss Yan!” Jonah said as he walked over.

“Morning.”

“Oh does the weaponry shop sell needles?” Jonah asked.

“There are very few things they don’t sell. I think they do.” Yan found it weird but answered.

Jonah nodded. He then made breakfast and ate before walking out. He knew Leo would also cultivate today so he decided to hunt again. Even though he no longer has the quest to give him upgrade points, he can still level up and gain them.

At first, Jonah wanted to use bullets instead of needles. However, he then decided to go for the needles. He didn’t know if the bullets had a better durability or not, but bullets were more visible. Jonah wanted to use the needles so that the opponent would find it hard to spot.

Luckily, Jonah did find some needles! Furthermore, they can penetrate a Sixth Level Energy Condensing Stage monster!

Jonah has already done some testing at home. He realized that he can control as many objects as long that the total weight was less than the limit!

With his current skill level, he can control up to five needles. Thus, he only bought five. The five of them cost him 50 credit points. Apparently, each needle was durable but small. That’s why it had a low price even though it can kill a sixth level monster. Thus, Jonah now had 61 credit points.

‘Well, I can hunt more today.’ Jonah thought as he ordered a vehicle.

5 minutes later, Jonah reached the forest. He was astonished at his speed! Furthermore, he didn’t even sweat! The results of his power up were obvious.

He took out his spear out of its bag. This bag was given with the spear and Jonah can just carry it around. Jonah held up the spear ready for another day of hunting. However, the system notification came.

[Ding! New Side-Quests.]

[Side-Quest: Save the elf child from the spider’s nest. Reward: Elf Language skill. Due: Three hours. Difficulty: Medium. Penalty: Stats decrease upon failure.]

[Side-Quest: Send the elf child home. Reward: Rare item. Due: 3 days. Difficulty: Medium. Penalty: Stats decrease upon failure.]

‘Elf?’ Jonah remembered those fictional species when he heard this. However, he realized that it wasn’t fiction, but a depiction of reality! Somehow, a cultivator writer introduced the elves as fictional species in his world. However, who would have thought that the elves would be real!

Even if Jonah knew it would be dangerous to go, he still needs to go! Now that he knew a child was being attacked, how can he stand idly? Furthermore, the system would give him a penalty by decreasing his stats!

Jonah felt that it was weird that the system would give penalties all of sudden. But when he remembered his earlier quests, they didn’t involve someone’s life! The beggar would only be hurt at best, the lab would only heavily injure someone, and the monster can be killed by someone else!

If Jonah was someone who would walk away from saving others, how can he be worthy of the system?

However, even if the penalty didn’t exist, he would still go and save him!

“System, can you show me the way?” Jonah asked.

[Yes. Distance: 4900 meters. Direction: 9 O’clock.]

With this, Jonah sprinted! He realized that the spider nest wasn’t in the trainee forest. This means that the spider is most likely a Second Level Energy Condensing Stage or higher!

After running for 8 minutes, Jonah looked at the panel. He was only 100 meters away. He looked around and saw a mountain. He walked toward the mountain and started to circle it. He concluded that the spider nest is inside the mountain when he saw the distance remained around 100 meters.

“System, show me a map!” Jonah realized that the system has a full observation of the surrounding 5 km.

[Map function has been generated.]

A panel appeared in front of Jonah. It had a thick shape that looked like a (>). Jonah realized that the starting point was Zoras city. Then, the map showed his way to the Trainee Forest. At last, it showed his current location. The system actually records the places he’s been to!

Jonah could see a grey object near him. It was probably the mountain. He can see himself in the middle of the circle when he tried to zoom in. He can see that he was represented by a blue dot. And there were two dots in the mountain!

One of the dots was a dark green. And the other was bright red! Jonah realized that the child must be unconscious.

Using the map, he headed toward a cave in the mountain. When he reached there, Jonah could smell a foul stench coming out of the cave.

Jonah started to make his way into the cave. He can barely see anything in the cave. Luckily, he always had a flashlight in his survival bag. He took out the flashlight and continued advancing.

After walking for three minutes, the cave finally widened. Jonah could barely see. He glanced at the map and the two dots were just ahead.

Jonah spread his Spiritual Sense to detect the spider’s location. Jonah could feel a small body lying on the ground not far away. And above it, there was a gigantic spider! The spider was doing something to the small body!

However, when the spider noticed the foreign energy, it ceased its actions and turned around. Then, it madly sprinted toward Jonah!

‘Holy shit! What the fuck is this?’ Jonah almost panicked when he saw the spider. It was definitely a spider, but it had so many legs and arms! He estimated them to be around a hundred at least!

Jonah threw the flashlight to the side and spread his spiritual energy. With the dim light coming from the flashlight and his energy, he can fight with no problems!

The spider was already in front of Jonah and it attacked with six of its arms! Luckily, Evade showed its ability and Jonah was barely able to dodge! Jonah rolled over and stood up immediately.

When the spider attacked earlier, it used its spiritual energy to kill Jonah. Thus, Jonah figured out its cultivation!

‘Third Level Energy Condensing Stage’ Jonah took a deep breath. Even though it was only one level, but it was huge!

Jonah only broke through. Thus, his body was still weaker than an average cultivator at his level. Jonah knew he was in for a difficult fight. However, he can still manage! The system wouldn’t have given him the quest if he didn’t have a good chance!

The reason for this was quite simple. His rare level skill! Jonah surfaced through the Life Network Forum after he received this skill. He realized that this skill wasn’t easy to get!

Only people who were at the peak of the Energy Condensing Stage can slightly affect objects around them. People like Jonah who were only at the Second Level Energy Condensing Stage and got this skill were ultra-rare!

However, people can still train their spiritual energy to get it. But it would take a lot of time. This was a Spirit Skill that not anyone can obtain.

Jonah used his energy and the needles floated next to him. He didn’t let the spider take the initiative and held his spear and dashed. The needles also followed along and surrounded Jonah.

Before the spider can react, Jonah thrust his spear and pierced the spider’s hard shell. The spider gave a high pitched cry and started to madly attack Jonah.

Using Spiritual Sense and Evade, Jonah could barely manage to dodge the attacks. However, a shallow wound would appear on his body every time he dodged.

Jonah knew he can’t last for long. Thus, he halted his steps and held his spear in both hands in front of him. The spider attacked again and Jonah blocked it with his spear. Jonah was sent flying and crashed into the cave’s walls.

The spider seemed overjoyed that it got another meal. It decided to also cover it with its threads and wait for the body to decompose. It ran quickly to the unconscious Jonah.

The spider was right over Jonah and threads started appearing from two of its arms. It was ready to cover Jonah with it.

Whooooooshh Peng!!!

Five needles penetrated the spider’s skull from the back and started digging their way through! The spider went on a rampage and was about attack Jonah.

However, a spear pierced through its mouth. The spider tried to struggle but the needles have already penetrated deeply into his brain. Then, it fell. Dead!

“Damn that hurts” Jonah said as he rubbed his back. He tried to fool the spider into letting his guard down so that he can attack. He couldn’t attack its head without getting closer than 3 meters to it. However, the spider wouldn’t let its guard down if Jonah wasn’t unconscious.

[Ding! Monster killed. +8 experience points.]

[Ding! Since the user has killed a higher cultivation monster, the user received a reward. The reward is a skill from the monster. Would you like to receive it?”]

[Ding! Quest completed. Elf Language skill has been rewarded.]