Less than a minute later, Nova discovered another Green portal and stepped through, finding himself once again in the same white room shrouded in Green fog.
[Select a weapon]
[Mission starts in 05:00]
A prompt and notification echoed in his mind, but he dismissed them without a second thought. Standing in silence, he allowed the five minutes to pass. The chime of new notifications broke the stillness once more.
[Mission starts in 00:02]
[Mission starts in 00:01]
[Mission started]
[Mission: Solve the array]
Rewards:
1. Primary Reward:
· Gold: 8100
· EXP: 800
· Title: Rune Novice (You have embarked on the path of runes but are still at the start. Increases Wisdom and Intelligence by 10%)
2. Special Reward (Solve the array within three days.)
· Book Mana Basics
[72:00:00]
[71:59:59]
A booklet materialized before him, and Nova, still thinking about the Mana Basics book as his special reward, instinctively grabbed it. Only after several seconds did he snap out of his daze, murmuring to himself, “Finally, I’ve found a way to practice Mana.”
But as his gaze fell upon the booklet in his hand and the content of the mission, a wave of frustration hit him. He cursed under his breath.
“There’s no way this shitty author wrote every single book in the Universe” he muttered, his eye twitching uncontrollably. The title on the booklet mocked him: Array Basics.
Taking a deep breath, Nova opened the booklet and began reading with focused intensity. The mission had warned that death awaited him if he couldn’t solve the array, but the exact timeline for that wasn’t clear—only the timer for the special reward counted down.
After reading through the booklet several times, he ignored the same final line at the bottom of the first page. He gained a rough understanding of what an array was and the different types it could take.
“So, an array is a collection of runes—sort of like the universe’s alphabet—arranged in a determined sequence. Each rune serves a specific function, and when combined, they amplify each other, creating a formation…” Nova paused, his eyes scanning the pages to ensure he hadn’t missed anything. He shook his head and muttered “That’s about it.”
Lifting his gaze from the booklet, he finally took in his surroundings.
He stood in a cavern, a strange chill in the air. Behind him, the cold radiated from a place more frigid than anything he had ever felt. In front of him, a circle of intricate symbols shimmered in the dim light, a barrier blocking his path.
The array glowed before him, its geometric patterns etched in brilliant yellow and silver. Symbols pulsed rhythmically along its surface, radiating an energy Nova could sense but couldn’t quite place.
‘So, this is what an array looks like’ he thought, studying it carefully.
After a moment’s contemplation, Nova spoke aloud. “According to the booklet, this is a grade two trap array, indicated by the presence of 27 runes.” Without hesitation, he compared the runes listed in the booklet with those etched into the array, his sharp mind processing the information at a rapid pace.
Moments later, a sudden realization struck him. ‘The flow I’m feeling... it’s the energy coursing through the array’ Nova thought, flipping through the booklet once more. The runes were intricately linked in a closed system, connecting the four cardinal points—up, down, left, and right—to form an impenetrable barrier, preventing both entry and exit.
He paused, considering his options. ‘Two possible solutions’ He thought. ‘One, destroy the cavern’s structure to cut off the array’s energy source. Two, disrupt the runes and destabilize the array from within.’
Nova didn’t hesitate. He opted to test the first solution. With a swift motion, he thrust his spear at the cavern wall, channeling all his strength into the strike. Upon impact, a shockwave reverberated through his arm, and sparks flew from the collision. The wall remained unscathed.
[Spear Thrust proficiency increased]
“Option one is a failure. I can’t break anything here” Nova muttered under his breath. “That leaves me with option two—decipher the runes and disrupt the energy flow.”
With resolve hardening within him, Nova turned his focus entirely to the array.
He studied each rune with intense scrutiny, watching how they intertwined, each one amplifying the next, strengthening the barrier that stood before him. Though he grasped the array’s overall function, the subtle intricacies of how each rune contributed to the formation’s unyielding power still eluded him.
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Hours passed in a blur. Even with his rapid cognitive processing it still took him around two hours per rune to dissect their purpose and their connections. The cold, which had started as a mere chill, grew progressively unbearable. Soon, frost began to accumulate all around him, the temperature plummeting as if he were at the heart of an unrelenting arctic storm. What had once been a slight discomfort now felt like he was back in his frail, untrained state, surrounded by bone-chilling winds. His breath crystallized the moment it left his lips, and his teeth chattered uncontrollably.
‘Three days for the special reward, my ass. I've been here for two and a half days and I’m about to freeze to death’ he thought, the cold gnawing at his very bones. Yet, in the midst of it all a smile cracked across his face. ‘But I’ve finally deciphered all the runes.’
With great effort, Nova gripped his spear, his body wracked with pain as if every fiber of his being was on the verge of shattering. His bones groaned under the weight of the frigid air. It took him more than half a minute to finally steady himself, each movement slow and agonizing. But he was ready.
The time had come to deal with the cursed array.
‘The runes are arranged in concentric circles, each connected by a thread of energy’ Nova mused, his mind meticulously mapping the array. ‘The larger rune at the top right… that’s the core’. His gaze tracked the rune, studying its placement with focused intensity.
‘The flow is clockwise, swirling faster at the edges of the core rune, as though compensating for the lack of defense away from the core’ Nova observed, his eyes scanning the rest of the array. His attention shifted to a rune at the bottom. ‘That link rune is partially cracked… I just need to push it to its tipping point, and the whole structure will collapse.’
A smile tugged at the corners of Nova's lips. With a sudden burst of movement, he thrust his spear forward with every ounce of strength he could muster, aiming directly for the cracked link rune.
The spear's tip cut through the air with no resistance, impaling the rune effortlessly as it shattered upon contact.
[Spear Thrust proficiency increased]
The array shimmered one final time before its glow faded, dissipating as the energy dissipated back into the world. Without hesitation, Nova rushed forward, his legs stiff from the cold, each step a painful reminder of the freezing temperatures. His body protested, but his resolve was stronger.
Within moments, an exit materialized before him. As he crossed the threshold, a series of notifications echoed in his mind, signaling the completion of his task.
[Mission: Solve the array has been completed]
Rewards:
· Gold: 8100
· EXP: 800
· Title: Rune Novice (You have embarked on the path of runes but are still at the start. Increases Wisdom and Intelligence by 10%)
· Book Mana Basics
Shivering uncontrollably, Nova sank to the ground, taking deep breaths as another notification echoed in his ears.
[Portal will close in 10:00]
‘Status’ thought Nova.
[Status]
Rank: 0
Name: Nova Grey
Species: Human
Affiliation: None
Level: 6 (170/500)
Class: None
Titles: Goblin Exterminator, Kings Slayer, Survivor, Spear Novice, Troll Exterminator, Orc Exterminator, Rune Novice
Stat Points: 131
Attributes:
Strength: 127 (+157)
Vigor: 100 (+127)
Dexterity: 150 (+211)
Speed: 110 (+158)
Intelligence: 66 (+76)
Wisdom: 110 (+126)
Will: 9
Luck: 10
Skills
Active: Spear Thrust (15) (150/16384000), Spear Jab (15) (19/16384000), Spear Sweep (12) (687420/2048000), Spear Lunge (10) (789/512000), Spear Overhead Strike (10) (757/512000)
Passive: Regeneration (10) (154219/256000, Keen Reflexes (2) (1874/2000), Momentum Streak (9) (218415/256000), One with the Spear (MAX), One with the Footwork(MAX)
‘Shit, two more level-ups. If I don't figure out a way to outrun this I’ll never get past Blue.’ Nova’s mind raced as he refocused on his Stats.
‘But it isn't the worst trade for over 10% boosts to Wisdom and Intelligence, and I did get two books’ he thought, a grin spreading across his face. He pulled out the books—Mana Basics and Array Basics. ‘These are the real gains’ he mused, feeling a surge of excitement.
Taking a few moments to recover from the bone-chilling frost that had seeped into his body, Nova rose to his feet. Once he felt more grounded, he stepped through the portal. His vision swam for a moment before it cleared, revealing a familiar landscape.
“I’m back on the east side of Univara” he muttered, glancing around. "Since I’m here, might as well check on how my generals are doing."
Nova strolled toward the building complex at an easy pace, knowing he still had four days before the week’s deadline he had given.
As he walked through the city, however, he noticed something different. There was a lightness in the air—a subtle shift in the mood. People were out and about, laughing and talking, and the streets were busier than usual. He overheard snippets of conversations.
“The Federation’s finally doing something right for us” a woman said, walking beside what appeared to be her husband.
The man beside her nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. “The academy was a brilliant move. It’s really starting to pay off.”
“And the guards!” The woman continued, her eyes shining with excitement. “There hasn’t been a single crime in ages. It’s like the city’s finally safe again.”
Nova blocked out the noise, his steps faltering as he stood frozen in place, stunned by a single question echoing in his mind:
‘What happened? I’ve only been gone for three days.’
He snapped back to reality, the bewilderment still lingering. No longer in the mood to revel in the city’s newfound vibrance, he moved swiftly toward his business building. In mere seconds, he arrived, his pace unbroken.
Outside, a group of guards stood, conversing casually yet maintaining a watchful eye over the area. Their movements were sharp, precise—clear signs of rigorous training.
‘They must be Hector’s men’ Nova thought, his brow furrowing.
Approaching them, he didn't waste time. "Where’s Hector?" he asked, his voice sharp and direct.
The guards froze, momentarily stunned. They hadn’t expected anyone—least of all someone so fast. Not even their boss could move with such speed.
Realizing they couldn't risk offending someone with such an imposing presence, one of the guards hesitated before speaking. "Who are you, sir, and why are you looking for our boss?"
‘So Hector trained them this well’ Nova thought, his suspicion confirmed. He responded coolly, "Hector is my subordinate. Now, where is he?"
The guard blinked, visibly thrown off by the statement.
His companion, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes in disbelief. "You're claiming to be our boss' boss?" he sneered, his tone icy. "Our boss has no superior. Get lost before I make you."
Nova gave him a cold look, his voice unwavering. "The next time you speak out of turn, I'll cut off one of your limbs." He repeated, his tone heavy, "Where’s Hector?"
A nervous gulp echoed through the air. The guards could feel the weight of his words, the guy in front of them wasn't joking. Slowly, the first guard who spoke answered, his voice strained. "Hector’s inside, in a meeting with the other six higher-ups."
Nova nodded once, his gaze still sharp. Without another word, he strode past them, walking into the building. The sound of hushed whispers followed him, but he paid them no mind, his focus narrowed to the task ahead.
As he moved through the halls, his senses honed in on the voices of his generals, all gathered in the room he'd instructed them to meet in.
‘I wonder what’s going on’ Nova thought, arriving in front of the door. With a calm breath, he pushed it open and stepped inside.
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