Chapter 310: Status and rewards
Early the next morning, Luke found himself awake despite expecting to sleep well into the day.
He lay there for a few quiet moments, staring at the ceiling before turning to his left. Monica was still asleep beside him, her eyes gently closed, lips slightly parted, and her breathing slow and steady.
It was unusual for her to sleep this late, but after everything they had endured the previous day, both their bodies and minds had been pushed to their limits.
Careful not to disturb anyone, Luke silently activated his skill before easing himself off the mattress. His first concern was Thea.
She was breathing peacefully, and the faint pallor that had lingered on her face was finally gone, replaced by a healthy flush.
Laila seemed to be doing just fine as well. She had somehow ended up with one leg draped over Thea, her shirt riding up enough to leave her stomach exposed as she slept without a care in the world.
Luke smiled faintly before gently pulling Laila’s shirt back down. Only then did he turn his attention to Roxanne.
Fortunately, she had finally managed to fall asleep sometime after midnight despite staying awake for hours.
She had refused to close her eyes until she was certain everyone else was asleep. Luke knew because he had been awake the entire time.
He could only imagine the storm raging inside her. The betrayal she had suffered, the memories she was forced to relive, and the truth she had been made to face in a single night.
His thoughts drifted to Roxanne’s mother.
Regardless of everything that had happened, the woman had given her life trying to protect her daughter. That alone was enough for Luke to hope she received a proper burial.
Before going to sleep, he had quietly asked one of the guards stationed outside the room to see that it was taken care of. The guard had assured him that everything would be handled.
Naturally, Luke had made sure Roxanne never overheard that conversation. Hearing it in her current state would have only reopened a wound that had barely begun to close.
Approaching the window, Luke let out a slow breath and gazed at the village basking in the morning light.
The sun had already risen. Villagers were stepping out of their homes, some opening their shops while others made their way toward the fields. Laughter drifted through the streets, blending with the distant sounds of carts and livestock to create a scene of quiet normalcy.
For the first time since arriving here, Luke found himself appreciating the village’s simple beauty. There was no constant anxiety of hidden eyes following his every move, nor the lingering expectation that an attack could come at any moment.
’I should talk to Rel as well,’ he decided before closing the window.
Stretching his arms, he directed a question at the system.
’Tell me something. What exactly happened last night? I clearly pushed past my own limits, didn’t I?’
[Indeed, you did, Host. You expanded your domain to a level where tracking someone whose entire skill set revolved around fleeing and disappearing became well within your capabilities. The full moon’s light also played a significant role in amplifying your senses.]
Luke nodded in understanding.
Before this, he had failed to track Manbaru even while in his Warden state. It had happened twice, far too many times to dismiss as coincidence.
Yet the moment Mila created an opening and the hunt truly began, everything changed.
From that point onward, Manbaru never escaped his perception again. Luke had been so certain of his trail that even if he had waited several more minutes before giving chase, he knew he would still have caught up to him.
The same held true while he hunted Manbaru’s men throughout the forest. Even then, a portion of his awareness had remained fixed on Monica and the others at all times.
How he had managed to split his perception so flawlessly was something he still couldn’t comprehend.
In truth, almost everything about the previous night defied explanation.
[Host, beneath the full moon you cast aside the limitations that normally bound you and became the Warden you were always meant to be. A guardian whose sole purpose is to protect the place you call home and everyone within it. Your emotions reached a level so profound that they forced open a path to power your conscious mind would likely never have discovered on its own.]
Luke smiled faintly.
Illogical as it sounded, the explanation felt strangely convincing.
’Emotions, huh? I certainly experienced more than enough of those yesterday.’
Shaking the thought aside, he opened his status screen.
He had slaughtered countless enemies the previous night. By his estimate, the number had easily crossed a hundred and fifty.
[Level: 3]
[Strength: 40 -> 42.5]
[Speed: 33.5 -> 36]
[Defense: 42 -> 43.5]
[Intelligence: 26 -> 30.5]
[Gamma: 12,500 -> 18,000 / 18,000]
[GP: 1,100 + 600 -> 1,700]
[Attribute Points: 0]
[GP Required for Level Up: 2,000]
[Gamma Required for POD Level Up: 19,000 / 10,000]
[Abilities]
1. Echolocation: Level 1 -> 2 | 30/200 EXP
2. Concentrated Burst: Level 2 | 120/200 EXP
3. Enhanced Perception: Level 2 | 190/200 EXP
4. Shadow Walk: Level 2 | 100/200 EXP
5. Death Scare: Level 1 -> 2 | 10/200 EXP
Luke stared at the screen, a satisfied smile slowly spreading across his face.
The previous night’s battle had rewarded him handsomely. Every risk he had taken, every enemy he had brought down, had translated into tangible growth. His attributes had risen across the board, two of his abilities had advanced, and he now stood only a step away from his next breakthrough.
What truly caught Luke off guard was the sudden jump in his Gamma Points.
’Did I complete a quest or something?’
[Indeed, Host.]
[Quest: Defeat a Tier 2 opponent without taking a single hit]
[Reward: 200 GP]
[Quest: Achieve a one hundred kill streak without taking any damage]
[Reward: 300 GP]
[Quest: Use fifty potions]
[Reward: 100 GP]
Luke frowned.
’Gorrem was Tier 2?’
He had never bothered to assess the man during the battle, making the revelation genuinely unexpected.
[Indeed, Host. Target Gorrem possessed a Tier 2 Gamma Pod. You defeated him without receiving a single hit.]
Luke nodded thoughtfully.
Looking back, it made sense why he had overlooked it. Throughout the fight, he had never once judged his actions by his opponents’ strength. His only concern had been uncovering their plans and cornering Gorrem before the man had a chance to create a larger disturbance.
Everything else had been secondary.
’Truthfully, they had planned everything to perfection.’
Unfortunately for them, they had crossed paths with Luke.
Shaking the thought aside, he cast one last glance at his sleeping family before quietly stepping outside.
"Ah!"
Caira let out a small yelp of surprise the moment she saw him.
Luke gave a questioning hum.
"Did you need something?"
From the way she had been lingering outside the room, it was obvious she had been waiting for someone to come out.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"If it’s alright with you, would you mind coming downstairs with me?"
Luke’s brows drew together.
"Is something wrong?"
She quickly shook her head.
"No, nothing like that. The Head Chief has arrived, and he wishes to meet you."
"!!!"
Luke’s eyes widened.
The Head Chief was already here?
More importantly...
’How did I not sense him at all?’
That alone was startling. Even stranger was the fact that the man had specifically come looking for him.
Luke quickly concluded it had to be related to everything that had happened the previous night.
Without wasting another moment, he quietly closed the door behind him.
"Lead the way."
Caira nodded, and the two made their way downstairs.
Luke had heard countless stories about the Head Chief.
The man governed over more than fifty villages and was acknowledged by every magician Luke had encountered as the strongest warrior in the region.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
’Let’s see what kind of beast he really is.’