Chapter 9: Urgent Quests
How did he even begin to complete this kind of quest?
How could he possibly insult his mother just for strength? If he ever tried, he knew he would descend on the planet and beat her to death, shouting, "How can you insult your own mother for the sake of strength?"
Just imagining that sent a chill down his spine.
"I will never complete this quest," Ank muttered to himself.
And what about the quest related to gaining a fiancée? He had no intention of completing that one either.
To Ank, love was nothing but a waste of time. Power was the true purpose of his learning. The only love he ever carried was for his mother's creation, which he respected above all else, and for his father's protection, which he cherished and respected.
Anything beyond those two, he merely admired—or treated as competition. He had no life for love.
And an unknown quest by his mother—he knew she would definitely give him a quest like making a fiancée or something related.
While he was lost in thought, a new pop-up appeared before his eyes:
Urgent Quest:
Subquest 1: Make Arthur your master
Time Limit: 1 year
Location: Duskwild
Difficulty: ??????
Reward: Dragon Sword [Description: the sword that is made using dragon bone and capable of cutting anything]
Penalty: Your life becomes hell
Time until quest starts: None
Subquest 2: Reach level 30
Time Limit: 2 years
Location: Duskwild
Difficulty: ??????
Reward: ????
Penalty: Your life will become hell
Time until quest starts: 10 hours
System Note: This is an urgent quest that must be completed. It can only be issued by Protection and Destruction. (Creation is not included, as it provides you with easier missions.) Every three months, new missions will be added to all quests. You have the freedom to complete any quest you desire; no one can force you.
Hidden Message: Don't stress, my son. I will help you. Your mother will help you. I am searching for a way to aid you. Just wait. This hidden message can only be seen by you. I can send one message every three months, so wait for the next one.
After reading the message, Ank realized that his mom was searching for some way to help him.
And a Dragon Sword is a good reward. Wait a moment, this is my sword that I used in the past before becoming emperor.
The damn system! For my sword, I have to complete the quest.
"You damn system," he cursed.
And reaching level 30 had a hidden reward—interesting, he muttered to himself.
By watching all this, one thing he concluded: Urgent quests have less time than normal quests.
So he had to complete this urgent quest first.
But then—
BOOM!
The mountain roared. The sound split the air like something cutting through it. The ground quaked beneath his feet, and the air was filled with negative energy.
Ank bolted upright, heart hammering. "What now?!"
He rushed outside, his bare feet pounding against the earth. The village lay shrouded in unnatural darkness. The sun was gone, swallowed by an ocean of storm clouds. Lightning danced across the sky, tearing it into two.
The villagers screamed. Doors slammed. Mothers clutched their children, while men tried to shield their families with trembling arms. The once-peaceful village was nothing more than a cage under siege.
And then—another window appeared before Ank.
[New Urgent Quest Issued]
Subquest 3: Save Maya Silvertone
Time Limit: None
Location: Duskwild
Difficulty: Threat
Reward: Teleportation Card ×3 [Teleport to any location you have visited, without mana One-time use only.]
Penalty: Maya's death
Time until quest starts: 1 minute
"Maya…?" Ank's voice dropped to a whisper.
His chest tightened. The words carved themselves into his vision, glowing like a cruel brand: Penalty—Maya's death.
A death he could prevent. A death he must prevent.
The system had cornered him, leaving no room to breathe. It wasn't about power, or strength, or even ambition this time. This wasn't about him.
His blood roared in his ears, drowning out the storm. His jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached.
"So this is it, then," he muttered, staring at the distorted sky. "A quest… no. A choice."
Lightning flashed before his face. His irritation with the quests, his disdain for this cruelty—all of it coiled into a single flame.
"Fine," he growled, his eyes blazing with determination. "If saving Maya is the price… then I'll pay it."
Ank knew that he would not survive.
The countdown began.
60 seconds.
Ank steadied his breath, his mind sharpening like a blade. Every fiber of his being focused. The irritation was still there—gnawing, relentless—but beneath it now ran a current of something else. A determination as solid as iron.
He would not let the system toy with him. He would not let Maya die.
Not now.
Not ever.
The storm raged on, the darkness deepened, and the village trembled.
And Ank prepared to step into the storm, to save someone who was going to change his view about life—someone that plays an important role in his life.
This is the day. Everything is going to change for Ank, Maya, Old Man Arthur, the village, this continent, this planet.
And the real fight will begin.