Chapter 21: New Equipment
Year 0002, VI Month: The Imperium
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Mission Complete
The next day, the Emergency Mission was completed. August's wide grin stretched from ear to ear as the notification appeared.
[ SYSTEM: DING! MISSION COMPLETE. REWARDS WILL NOW BE GIVEN; NOVICE HUNTER CLOTHING AND WEAPONS SET WILL BE PLACED IN A WOODEN CHEST INSIDE THE HOUSE. ]
REWARDS: NOVICE HUNTER I (JOB)
A/N: Will be given automatically to host, jobs can be stacked.
+ 5 SPEED
+ 5 DEXTERITY
+ 5 AGILITY
+ 2% STEALTH
IT INCLUDES A SET OF CLASS V - NOVICE HUNTER CLOTHING SERIES:
• CLASS V - NOVICE HUNTER CLOTHING SET
~An armor set crafted and tailored to the host's current style.~
[STAT]
+ 25 DEFENSE × 6
+ 25 AGILITY × 6
+ 25 SPEED × 6
[SUB-STAT]
+ 10% STEALTH WHEN CAMOUFLAGED IN THE SURROUNDINGS
A/N: AVERAGE STAT/SUB STAT IN INDIVIDUAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
• CLASS V - NOVICE SET OF BOW, QUIVER AND ARROWS, SWORD AND SHIELD
~A well crafted novice equipment that fits the needs and combat style of the host. The raw items used are taken from the hosts storage~
[SUB-STAT]
+ 100 ATTACK × 3
+ 100 DEFENSE × 1
+ 10% CRITICAL DAMAGE
+ 10% CRITICAL CHANCE
+ 10% INCREASE IN ARROWS
+ 10% ARROW DAMAGE**
- 10% ARROW WEIGHT
*CRITICAL HIT MAY TRIGGER WHEN HOST IS IN COMPLETE STEALTH FROM ENEMY*
• ADDITIONAL SUB-STATS WILL BE GIVEN WHEN HOST WEARS THE FULL SET:
[SUB-STAT]
+ 100 ATTACK,
+ 100 DEFENSE
[STAT]
+ 25 AGILITY
+ 25 SPEED
ADDITIONAL REWARDS:
[A NEW ACTIVE SKILL HAS BEEN UNLOCKED:
(WIND BLADE LEVEL 1)
- Sends three sharp wind blades, 10 feet in front of the user; costs 15 mana, and each blade deals 20-30 damage to its target. ]
"YEEEEESSSSS! MY FIRST SKILL! WOOHOO!" August shouted, interrupting his daily routine.
Thankfully, the others were a lap behind him during their morning jog, so they hadn't heard his outburst. The group was inspecting the outside perimeter while checking the new wall surrounding their village. Since they could no longer jog around the entire village exterior, they only went back and forth a couple of times outside before finishing their run inside the perimeter.
As soon as he completed his morning routine perimeter wall check and exercise and confirmed that the wall was secure with nothing amiss, August had concluded it and hurried toward their community house, his excitement making each step quicker than the last.
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The Hidden Unique Feature: The Guardian Beast Panel
August wasn't one to consistently check his [Personal Panel]. It had been weeks since he last examined it properly. Consequently, he remained unaware of the many major and minor updates that had occurred to his status.
He had decided to wait until he reached Level 10—a milestone achievement—before thoroughly reviewing his progress. This self-imposed rule meant he hadn't even noticed he had already earned a new section in his [PERSONAL PANEL]the Guardian Beast section, a previously unique hidden feature that the host must activate in the world of Centuury, but who would have thought he would actually find one this early.
With recent events keeping him occupied, August had been too busy to bother with what he considered mundane tasks like self-inspection. The survival and protection of his new family took precedence over checking statistics and abilities.
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Ever so Excited
After finishing his morning exercise, August rushed inside the house with hurried steps, almost breaking into another jog. His excitement to check his rewards made waiting impossible.
In the corner of the house near his bed, he spotted something that hadn't been there before—a wooden chest! This must be the [Rewards Chest] given by the system.
He approached it eagerly, heart racing in anticipation.
[DING!] NOVICE HUNTER CLOTHING AND WEAPONS (COMMON) SET, REWARDS CHEST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO OPEN IT? {YES/NO}
Without hesitation, August selected {YES}.
The locked chest creaked open, revealing the treasures stored inside. For a moment, August stared in wonder, then a thought struck him—how had the chest even appeared? Who had delivered it? Previously, he had witnessed items materializing in the physical world, but the mechanics remained a mystery.
The system offered no explanation, remaining silent on the matter.
(Unbeknownst to August, the system utilized only resources available to him—the boarats and rabbiets he'd hunted, the wood he'd foraged, and similar materials. This Novice Hunter Clothing and Weapons Set was crafted from the Commander Rank Boarat he had recently slain, with arrow tips fashioned from Normal Rank Boarats he had also hunted.)
Though classified as "novice," the equipment far exceeded normal standards in this world. Most villagers or even town-dwellers could only dream of possessing such items. Only those in mid-tier towns might afford even a single piece from the set.
(The set also contained a hidden unique feature, locked until August reached Level 10 or had encountered the Guardian Beast himself in the world of Centuury or in his case discovered the truth about his Guardian Beast Aetherwing. Once unlocked, it would transform every armor into a Novice Hunter "Guardian" (Rare) Set, granting him limited daily access to one of Aetherwing's low-tier skill sets in his magic arsenal and allowing him to harness a fraction of (1-5%) of the beast's power when using such magic arsenal in the beast vast pool of skills.)
Upon future activation, August would possess something akin to a one-shot, one-kill ability against anything below Boss Rank and at least Expert Rarity. However, his proficiency with magic remained at the most basic level, limiting him to utilizing only 5% of the beast's maximum power. With further increase due to the Guardian Beasts favorability towards the host, and with each favorability giving him access of +5% more of the Guardian Beasts power.
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Equipping the New Armor/Clothing and Weapon Set
August now stood draped in his new equipment, admiring each piece as he fitted it. His head was covered with a beautiful leather hooded cape that extended to his waist. The hood was adorned with inch-long tusk-like protrusions on each side, resembling mini horns that gave him a formidable appearance.
His body armor, shoulder guards, gauntlets, gloves, pants, and boots followed a similar aesthetic. The thick hide and leather made from the Boarat's skin insulated his body from the cold, while strategically placed bones protected his vital areas. These refined bones, lighter and stronger than their original form, highlighted his clothing with their pale white color, creating a striking contrast against the dark, earthy tones of the leather.
From an outsider's perspective, the armor appeared heavy and cumbersome. However, it had been meticulously fitted to August's exact measurements, conforming perfectly to his body and current strength level. Most remarkably, the set possessed the ability to grow alongside him, adapting to his physical development and future equipment upgrade in the coming years.
His new bow was crafted from the strong yet flexible wood they had collected earlier, reinforced with refined Boarat bones. The bowstring, made from the Boarat's sinew, offered ten times the quality of his previous bows, speaking volumes about the overall craftsmanship.
The attention to detail extended to his quiver, carved with intricate patterns and secured with leather straps. It could now store forty arrows—five more than his previous quiver—and he possessed two of them! They hung comfortably on both sides of his body, designed to prevent the contents from falling out even during extreme movements.
The arrows themselves featured tips made from refined bones of common-type Boarats, with shafts fashioned from leftover wood. August now had approximately a thousand arrows at his disposal, ready for use.
Interestingly, the set also included two sharpened boar tusks—one nearly the length of a short sword and another the size of a dagger. The sword could be hidden horizontally across his lower back, while the dagger rested in an easily accessible sheath near his chest. A small wooden yet coated with bone shield completed the set, designed to hang on his back when not in use.
"But why would the system include these in my reward?" August wondered, puzzled.
He understood the practicality of the dagger, but the short sword and shield were unexpected additions. He hadn't used bladed weapons or shields in any of his hunting encounters thus far.
Then realization dawned—during his previous battle with the Commander Boarat, he had quickly exhausted his arrow supply, nearly resulting in his death. A secondary weapon would have been invaluable in that critical moment.
August smiled at the system's thoughtful foresight. He would definitely incorporate these new weapons into his training regimen going forward.
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In Awe and Shock
While August was still admiring his new outfit, the others returned from their training, looking thoroughly exhausted. Dirt and grime clung to their clothes, and sweat glistened on their skin.
As they entered the house, they were greeted by the sight of someone who appeared like a formidable yet stylish barbarian warrior. The two boys, Erik and Bren, stood awestruck, their eyes wide with admiration. Meanwhile, the girls, Gel and Betty, focused on August's face, which somehow looked more handsome framed by the hood. A subtle blush crept across their cheeks.
August finally noticed their presence and turned to face his audience, immediately recognizing their exhausted yet admiring expressions.
"Oh? You're all back!"
"Woah! Gus, where did you get this?" Erik asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. Bren wore an identical expression of wonder.
"You look so cool right now, big bro!" Bren added enthusiastically.
The two girls, more reserved in their reactions, offered simpler acknowledgments.
"Looks good on you," Gel commented, while Betty simply nodded in agreement.
August pondered how to respond. "Oh, this? Hmmm... I dunno, it's really hard to explain really...."
He scratched the side of his head as his mind wandered momentarily. The realization struck him that he hadn't yet explained his powers to the other children. Initially, he had intended to keep his abilities secret, but how could he hide them from those who were constantly with him? He couldn't lie to them either, and the system seemed to have given the others hints of its presence. Perhaps it wanted them to grow alongside him?
[ . . . . ]
"As cold and silent as always, huh? Oh, by the way, thank you for this gift and for before... I think?" August addressed the system.
[ .... YOU'RE WELCOME, MASTER.... ]
A mixture of voices responded, *it's not as cold toward me now as it was before,* August thought. *Something must have happened when I was knocked unconscious during the battle.*
[ .... I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! HMMMPF .... ]
"Wait, so something did happen!?" August exclaimed.
(If only he knew that Manager Dorothy had tears in her eyes during the incident.)
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An Unsatisfactory Answer
August snapped back to reality, realizing he had just been standing there with a wandering gaze, again, staring distantly into nothingness while the others waited expectantly for an explanation.
"Right, I don't know how to explain this, but this is part of my power...." he said with a smile, then proceeded to the kitchen to prepare breakfast without elaborating further.
The others stood dumbstruck, clearly disappointed with his vague answer. They could only sigh in unison, their expressions deflating.
"-_-"
Left with nothing substantial to work with, they eventually dispersed to attend to their daily tasks. Yet for the rest of the day, they couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious power that their friend and protector possessed—a power that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day in this dangerous new world.
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Info Panel
[ INFO PANEL: EQUIPMENT GRADE AND RARITY ]
GRADE: THE GRADE OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT DEPENDS ON THE MASTERY OF THE CRAFTSMAN, ARTISAN, BLACKSMITH, OR WEAPONS MAKER WHO CREATED THE EQUIPMENT.
° NOVICE GRADE
° ADVANCED GRADE
° EXPERT GRADE
° MASTER GRADE
° LEGENDARY GRADE
° MYTHICAL GRADE
RARITY: THE NUMBER OF FINISHED PRODUCTS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, DETERMINED BY DIFFICULTY, RESOURCE SCARCITY, SKILL, AND PROFICIENCY OF THE CRAFTSMAN, ARTISAN, BLACKSMITH, ARMORER, OR WEAPONS MAKER.
° COMMON: 100,000—MORE
° RARE: 100-1,000
° UNIQUE: 10
° LEGENDARY: 1-5
° MYTHICAL: ONLY 1 BUILT IN EXISTENCE, CREATED BY A BEING BLESSED WITH DIVINITY BY THE DEITY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP.