NOVEL NEXT Chapter 115: New x Examiner - Chest & Status
Alex awakes as the airship begins to lift off the ground, thinking, 6 AM already? Guess the next exam will begin as soon as we reach our destination.
He decides to use his free time until the airship arrives at its new destination to take stock of his current items, skills, and stats.
First, Alex remembers that he obtained a white-quality chest from the examinee who tried to assault Eirini and Patricia during the last exam.
Guess I should open that. Though it's unlikely, it could be something useful that helps me right now. I gave away the ramen to Menchi and lost a healing item. One more couldn't hurt, Alex thinks.
[Chest]
World: Hunter x Hunter
Quality: White
Level: 3
Note: Dropped by Examinee 764 - Can't be traded
You received 1000 FC
You received Heavy Mace
Heavy Mace]
World: Hunter x Hunter
Quality: Light Green
Type: Mace
Required Stats: STR - 12, PHY - 10
Durability: 50/50
Damage: 14-22
Effect: Heavy Impact – Increases the chance to stun and knockback your enemy by 5%.
Note: A heavy mace, surprisingly well made and effective. Who would use a mace in a world with firearms, though?
Alex examines the [Heavy Mace], quite happy with it. Seems like a useful weapon! It also has pretty high stat requirements, and considering it came out of a white chest, I can't expect anything better. Come to think of it, that's the exact weapon he was using in his fight against me. Now that he's dead, the system turned his normal weapon into a system-recognized item with drastically enhanced attributes. Maybe the theory that a chest is a victim's soul manifested into an item is true after all.
Let's take a look at my new status… Alex pauses, thinking, I have a shitload of FC I managed to extort… I mean scam… no, that isn't it either… fairly acquire from the other players. Come to think of it, they're all gone aside from Eirini, Patricia, Emma, and me. Turns out the item I got from the goblin is, in fact, a death trap after all. Out of 28 people, only 4 made it to this point. If stronger players had intentionally bought this item, the number would be higher, but still… this is obviously an extremely dangerous world. Way too dangerous for low-level players like us! Alex reflects on his experiences and gains in this world.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 3
HP: 220/220, MP: 180/180
STR: 12 (+3), AGI: 12 (+3), PHY: 12 (+2), SNS: 12 (+2), CHA: 12 (+5), MNA: 12, INT: 12 SPR: 12 (+5), LUK: 12 (+1)
Available Stat Points: 0
Innate Skills: Genius Conjurer lvl 3, Statistical OCD lvl MAX
Free Skill Slots: 0/3, Free Basic Skill Slots: 0/8
Basic skills: Basic Close Combat Prowess lvl 3, Basic Footwork lvl 3, Basic Endurance lvl 3, Basic Long-Range Combat Prowess lvl 3, Basic Eloquence lvl 3, Basic Concentration lvl 3, Basic Meditation lvl 3, Basic Mana Control lvl 3
Passive Skills: Pistol Proficiency lvl 3, Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship lvl 3
Active Skills: Annihilation Grenade lvl 3, Sealions Icewing Embrace lvl 3, Black Magic (Fire-Blizzard-Thunder-Series) lvl 3, Sword Magic lvl 3, Mustrano's Malice Mauler lvl 3 (Claw Proficiency/Poison Resistance) / Toxic Breakthrough lvl 3
Fantasy Coins: 198,000 Soul Crystals: Small x8
Current Weapons: Mr. 5's Revolver (Deep Blue), Sword of Pluto (Deep Blue)
Current Equipment: Commander Shepard's Dog Tag (Deep Blue), Sealion's Might (Deep Blue), Shield of Pluto (Deep Blue), Armor of Pluto (Blue), Visor of Pluto (Blue), Cuisses of Pluto (Blue), Gauntlets of Pluto (Blue), Sabatons of Pluto (Blue), Nimbus Cloak (Light Purple), Champion Belt (Blue), Cave Spider's Essence Ring (Light Blue), Destiny Watch (Light Purple), Sacred Emerald Copper Earring (Purple)
Recovery Items: Navalia Wolf Jerky x2 (Gray), Healing Potion x3 (White), Lurkwort x2 (Deep Green), EP Charge (Green), Tribaio Village Healing Liquid (Green), Diluted Gel's Panacure x10 (Light Blue)
Miscellaneous Items: Jack's Spare Silvery Mask (Light Green), Frost Essence (Green), Bloating Square Mushroom (Damaged) (White), Kunai (White), Two Headed Black Eel Poisonous Blood x10 (Light Green), Heavy Mace (Light Green)
Special Items: Pluto's Ceremonial Blessing (Deep Purple), Baroque Works Invitation (Purple), Player Contract (Tereza Řezník), Destiny Supporter Token (Purple), Bloody chests x9
He takes stock of his new status and inventory. [285th Hunter Exam Application] and [Navigator's Ticket] are redundant at this point and removed from his updated status. His [Energy Bars], [Lucky Miracle Clover], and [Miso Ramen with Extra Pork] were consumed. He received 10,000 FC and 1 Soul Crystal from Emma earlier, and an additional 1,000 FC from the chest he just opened. He also has 10 vials of [Two Headed Black Eel Poisonous Blood], 10 portions of [Diluted Gel's Panacure], and the [Heavy Mace], which will likely be sold later.
Alex smiles, reviewing his finances. Nearly 200,000 FC and 8 Soul Crystals… and if I sell the poison, the mace, the panacure, and the kunai, I'll get even more! Looks like I not only made it through this hellish mission but earned quite a lot of FC already! Not to mention the 9 [Bloody Chest] I have yet to open. From now on, it's not about survival but about obtaining as much as I possibly can from this world. Even if I fail, I'll lose nothing aside from receiving a mediocre mission rating.
The airship continues flying steadily through the clouds. Alex checks his [Destiny Watch] and notices they're surprisingly heading back toward the capital. Is the fourth task back where we started? That can't be… right? Alex wonders, confused.
Taking a walk around the airship, Alex spots Linus, Eirini, Patricia, and Shalnark sitting at a table, drinking coffee and tea. They immediately spot him and wave. Alex, despite being antisocial and reluctant to join, feels like he has little choice and relents.
"Good morning," he greets, sitting down.
"Slept well?" Linus asks. "I'm glad you made it out alive after what happened last night. Good job surviving that."
"Thanks, I guess… I won't stay up much longer. I'll lie down again since today we probably won't be doing anything," Alex responds.
"You already figured out where we're headed?" Shalnark asks.
"My bet is the bunker on the outskirts of the capital. Judging by our flight direction, I think so at least," Alex replies.
"I liked the underground carnival!" Eirini says, adding, "I couldn't enjoy it because I was so worried about passing, but I'd love to visit again under different circumstances."
"I fear the next task won't be as relaxed, if what Menchi said is true," Patricia adds.
Alex sighs. They continue to discuss and speculate as the day passes. Later, they hear a message: "Examinees, we will reach our target tonight. You will leave the airship at 6 AM tomorrow and will be escorted to your next exam site."
They talk a bit more before deciding to sleep early.
At 6 AM, the 50 remaining examinees leave the airship. They soon realize they are back in front of the bunker where their first exam took place.
They walk slowly back inside, descending into the bunker's massive depths. Finally, they reach the same hall where the underground carnival was held. To their surprise, no trace of it remains. Instead, Alex vaguely makes out five large structures hastily assembled from metal containers or modular parts.
"Oh no… this will suck, I bet," Alex mutters under his breath.
Suddenly, a man approaches the group. He wears a long white trench coat, gloves, and a police cap decorated with a flame motif.
As soon as he arrives, Alex curses inwardly. It's that damn Blacklist Hunter Bushidora….
"Hunter examinees! I am Bushidora Ambitious, a Single-Star Blacklist Hunter! It is my duty to judge whether you qualify to become hunters! Hunters are not just special individuals; they carry heavy responsibilities. It is their duty to uphold morality and help the common people! I will test myself whether you are ready to shoulder that responsibility."
Fuck off, Alex thinks. He may act all moral, but his entire group of wannabe justice reformists was wiped out by Hisoka alone. What a total clown!
Bushidora clears his throat and loudly declares: "Now the theme for the fourth exam is: DEMOCRACY!"
"..." Everyone is staring at him with a blank expression.
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