NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Scavenger
The next day, as Ares had planned, he woke up early. When he looked outside, it was still dark—only 5 AM. Without wasting time, he went straight to the kitchen to prepare food for Lily.
He cracked four eggs into a bowl and mixed them to make scrambled eggs. While stirring, he added some salt and chopped tomatoes to enhance the flavor. After mixing well, he poured the eggs into a cooking pot. A few minutes later, the eggs were cooked. He placed them on the table and covered the dish to keep it warm. After that, he quickly went to the bathroom to clean himself before heading out.
...
A few minutes later, he was fresh and ready. Before leaving, he left a note on the fridge to inform his sister that he would be out.
[I'm heading out early. I cooked food for you—check it out yourself. Good luck with your studies.—Brother Ares]
Before leaving the room, he summoned his status screen to check his current stats.
[System Status Window]
- Name: Ares Langley
- Title: Shadow of the God
- Level: 32 [50%]
- HP: 100
- MP: 500/500
- Strength: 35
- Agility: 15
- Sense: 16
- Intelligence: 25
- Fatigue: 0
- Skill(s): [Void Manipulation] [Phantom Skill]
- Summon Space: 52/52
----
- EXP: 1000/40000
- Remaining pts: 0
Ares thought of another way to get stronger. After seeing his Summon Space, he realized that if he could fully utilize it, he might become even stronger. However, before that, he needed to expand his MP.
After a few minutes of thinking, an idea formed in his mind, though he couldn't guarantee that it would work, With that in mind, Ares left the house and headed for Brassgate District.
After twenty minutes, Ares arrived outside the B-rank dungeon. The party members were already there, and he was the only one they were waiting for.
Even though he arrived on time, guilt crept over him. He felt embarrassed for making them wait. Without hesitation, he quickly approached the team and apologized.
"Sorry, guys, I kept you waiting," Ares said, scratching his head.
"Don't worry, we just arrived too," said the man holding a shield.
"By the way, I'm in charge of this raid. My name is Dong Seok," he continued.
Dong Seok is a tall and muscular man with a rugged appearance, reflecting his experience as a hunter. He has short, dark hair and a rough, intimidating expression that matches his personality.
His eyes carry a menacing glare, making anyone around him doubt his actions.
Status:
Rank: C
Strength: Above average for a C-rank Hunter
Agility: Moderate
Intelligence: 8
Skills: Likely basic combat abilities, possibly specializing in brute force rather than magic, since he is a tank.
Standing to his left is Conan Vexley, a tall man with short black hair and sharp brown eyes. He wears a long black sleeve with a high collar, giving him a suspicious and intimidating look.
Status:
Rank: C
Class: Warrior/Fighter
Strength: 20
Agility: 10
Sense: 12
Intelligence: 5
The third member is Felix Drayden, a slim young man with short, messy blond hair and light green eyes. He wears a dark brown jacket with a hood, along with lightweight boots that help him move quickly.
His face often has a nervous but determined look, showing his inexperience yet strong will to survive.
Status:
Rank: D
These three form the core trio of this party, led by Dong Seok.
"Is this guy really an E-rank? He doesn't seem like the weaklings we usually recruit. Well, whatever... we should just drag him inside along with the other one," Dong Seok thought, shifting his gaze to Ares and the other hunters.
"They're so kind, hehe," Ares thought, smiling at them.
After a few seconds, Dong Seok immediately shouted, "We're entering the dungeon now! Don't worry about what's inside—we'll do everything we can to protect you. Just stay behind us, and you'll be safe!"
One after another, the hunters stepped into the blue portal, which swallowed their bodies as they entered.
The entire cave was bathed in a purple light. The ceiling and walls were covered with mana crystals, their sizes much larger than normal.
"Wow! Look! We're going to be billionaires!" one of the newly recruited hunters cheered with joy, his face lighting up as they walked further inside.
Ares immediately approached Dong Seok in a friendly manner and asked for some information.
"Hey, you're a veteran hunter, right?" Ares said, keeping his tone polite. "I'm looking for some advice on dungeon work."
Dong Seok raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ares with mild interest. "Advice? Kid, if you need tips, you're already behind." He smirked, crossing his arms. "But fine, I'll humor you. What do you want to know?".
Ares maintained a calm expression, ignoring the condescension in Dong Seok's voice. "I want to know which dungeons are best for someone like me—E-Rank, but capable."
Dong Seok chuckled. "Capable? You've got confidence; I'll give you that." He scratched his chin, pretending to think. "Well, there are a few low-tier dungeons that pay decently, but the real money's in C-Rank and above. Too bad an E-Rank like you wouldn't survive in those."
"But don't worry, kid. We'll protect you. Just stay with us, and you'll earn money—just like a gamble, but a guaranteed win," Dong Seok added, trying to persuade Ares to believe his words.
Dong Seok smirked as if thinking Ares was just a fool. And just as Ares seemed to believe him, their enemies suddenly appeared.
The other members grew noisy as they approached the monster.
"Be prepared!""The monster is already here!"
They immediately drew their swords.
"They're coming!"
A scream echoed through the depths of the cave as a group of Level 25 goblins charged at them, roaring. And they started to cross each other.
Slash! Splat!
Ares remained calm, standing behind them, watching the battle unfold.
"Whoa… another low-level monster again," Ares sighed, feeling disappointed once more.
While they battled, putting their lives on the line with every swing of their swords, Ares discreetly killed the enemies in an instant—as if they were mere minions he was toying with.
For a moment, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.