Reward
It was currently nighttime and I was just about ready to doze off into dreamland.
Out of nowhere, a loud 'Ding' shook my eardrums.
[Ding!]
'Bro, calm down. I'm trying to sleep here.'
[System Notification: Actions have been evaluated]
[System Notification: Mission has been cleared]
[Received: 1850 merit points]
[Merit Points: 8574]
'Why am I getting the rewards now? It's been 2 days already. Also, aren't I supposed to receive 2000 merit points? What a troll.'
[System requires time to evaluate the actions used to accomplish the mission. Judging from the host's actions, host has done poorly so reward has been reduced]
I was quite busy these past few days so the idea of getting a reward slipped past my mind; it was now apparent that the system was as simple as a give and take process. Sure, I had done the mission. But in a professional setting, my work would have to be judged through quality and amount of dedication put forth.
'Can I see the evaluation?'
[Adhering to host's request]
[Mission Reward: 2000 merit points]
[Slain 3 goblins, +150 merit points]
[Tossed around like a piñata, -100]
[Saved by a friend, -150]
[Carried home pathetically by father, -50]
'...' This was truly an irrefutable evaluation.
Thinking back to the incident, I decided I would need a better weapon than just a training sword. Recalling the Epic Weapon Coupon and Weapon Evolution Coupon I received on my tenth birthday, I quickly opened the shop.
~~~~~~~~~~
Skills:
Dragon Skin(Legendary) - 1000 mp
Dragon Transformation(Mythical) - 15000 mp
...
Techniques:
Dragon Fist(Rare) - 50 mp
Swordsmanship(Common) - 10 mp
Marksmanship(Common) - 10 mp
Draconic Swordsmanship(Rare) - 50 mp
Draconic Martial Arts(Rare) - 60 mp
...
Items:
[Crafting]
[Potions]
[Books]
[Weapons]
[Armor]
[Relics]
...
Coupons:
Skill Upgrade Coupon - 1000 mp
Skill Evolution Coupon - 5000 mp
Weapon Upgrade Coupon - 2000 mp
System-Type Evolution Coupon - 50000 mp
~~~~~~~~~~
I pressed on every item tab.
~~~~~~~~~~
Crafting:
Dragon Heart(Mythical) - 10000 mp
True Dragon Heart(Godly) - 100000 mp
Dragon Iron(Rare) - 75 mp
Primordial Fire Essence(Epic) - 300 mp
Thick Earthen Vines(Epic) - 500 mp
~~~~~~~~~~
Potions:
Healing Potion(Common) - 100 mp
Mana Potion(Common) - 100 mp
Growth Potion(Rare) - 500 mp
~~~~~~~~~~
Books(refreshes weekly):
Bruce Lee's Secret Training Regimen(master the arts of Jeet Kune Do) - 10 mp
Introduction to Magic Theory: Even Donkeys Can Understand!(understand the basic principles behind spells) - 1000 mp
Diary of the Strongest Sword God: Vol.1(???) - 5000 mp
~~~~~~~~~~
Weapons(refreshes monthly):
Shaolin Staff(Common) - 30 mp
Glaive(Rare) - 100 mp
Sword of Sins(Epic) - 500 mp
Yu IlHan's One-Shot Pile Bunker(Supreme) - 8000 mp
~~~~~~~~~~
Armor(refreshes monthly):
Archaic Dragon Warrior Set(Legendary) - 9999 mp
Rustic Rogue Shoes(Common) - 40 mp
Majestic Magus Robes(Common) - 50 mp
~~~~~~~~~~
Relics(refreshes yearly):
Grimoire of Crimson - 10000 mp
Necklace of Infinity - 10000 mp
Magic Crystal Ring - 10000 mp
~~~~~~~~~~
I promptly used both coupons.
[System Notification: Weapon Coupon(Epic) has been consumed]
[Received: Sword of Sins(Epic)]
[System Notification: Weapon Evolution Coupon has been consumed]
[Sword of Sins(Epic) will now evolve into Seventh Star Sword(Epic)]
'Appraise Seventh Star Sword.'
~~~~~~~~~~
Seventh Star Sword(Epic):
The sword created with the core of the seventh star.
When equipped: Strength +12, Agility +3
1. Energy Blade: Creates an energy blade by slashing. Consumes 3 points of mana.
~~~~~~~~~~
I swiftly turned my attention to another item. It was the diary in the book tab. What drew my attention wasn't the title of 'Strongest,' but the question marks attached to it.
'Purchase Diary of the Strongest Sword God: Vol.1 and Introduction to Magic Theory: Even Donkeys Can Understand!'
[Received: Diary of the Strongest Sword God: Vol.1, Introduction to Magic Theory: Even Donkeys Can Understand!]
[Merit Points: 2574]
I lit a candle and started to read at my desk.
...
Diary of the Strongest Sword God: Vol.1
My name is irrelevant, what is important, is that I will become the strongest swordsman under the heavens. This is the start of my tale. Scrutinize my experiences closely, for one day, I will be passed off in history as a myth.
Day 1: I was sweeping the floor at the restaurant I worked at. All of a sudden, an epiphany struck me. What if I incorporated the sweeping motion used to sweep floors in my swordsmanship? What effect would it create? As these thoughts crossed my mind, I continued on sweeping.
Day 2: Today was my day off so I got ready to practice my swordsmanship. People may call me crazy if they saw what I was doing. That's right. I was sweeping my backyard with my sword. By utilizing the centrifugal force created from the pivoting of the wrist, it created enough force to blow the leaves away in one direction. The most important thing to maintain was the direction, flow, and placement of the sword. Lowering the sword too much would decrease the amount of force while keeping it too high would make it more of a slash. The perfect posture creates the perfect stance: slightly bent knees, straight back, left foot forward, right foot back, and toes pointing straight forward. By training and doing chores, I was ultimately killing two birds with one stone.
Day 3: Today, back at work, I had already mastered the posture for creating the greatest sweeping force with the least effort. There are still some things I am unfamiliar with so I'll continue working on it.
Day 4: A rather troubling customer was purposely throwing garbage on the floor and staining it when he saw me coming by. I got furious and swept the garbage straight at him. The surprising thing was that he was a Lvl.3 Knight Student(Beginner) yet he was easily swept away by the powerful force behind the sweep. I started to seriously reconsider my life choices. The boss heavily scolded me later.
Day 5: It was a holiday today so I had yet another day off from work. I decided to go out into the mountains to test my swordsmanship on some monsters.
Day 6: I had an unfortunate encounter with a Goblin Chief. Scared away by it, I tried to run but it was way faster than me. I had tripped on a pebble but somehow managed to move a couple meters forward by instinctively sweeping the air. I was now hiding in a cave.
Day 7: I had a sudden enlightenment when I was dreaming. What if I could emulate that technique of trip movement by sweeping my body forward using the sword? Of course, when I woke up and tried, it did not work.
Day 12: I had been stuck in the cave for a while now. Luckily, I had brought rations that could last for a month. I checked outside and the area seemed to finally be clear. I went outside and took a deep breath of fresh air in. The ground started to shake again and the goblin chief came straight for me. I crawled back into the cave hurriedly since the goblin chief was too big to pass through the entrance.
Day 20: I really had to find a way out. But how? The cave was a dead-end and the goblin chief was being as stubborn as ever, not moving away from the entrance at all.
Day 22: Today, I had tripped and unconsciously recreated the action. This time, I was more aware of my actions so I could somewhat understand what had happened. When the right foot had tripped, my left foot would immediately shift forward as if in a lunge position. Then, I would propel myself forward using as much force possible in my left foot and pushed my body forward through the air. The motion was similar to sweeping my body off the ground as if I were the garbage and my legs were the broom. Everything happened in the matter of milliseconds. Sadly, I had yet to figure out a way to incorporate this technique in other directions besides forward.
Day 35: After practicing everyday, I decided it was time for me to escape this damned filthy cave. The moment I came out onto broad daylight, the goblin chief started rushing at me. Having expected this, I immediately reenacted the technique and moved straight in between his legs. I then swept at his legs with my sword. This time, I focused on the flow of the air. I tried to make it into a single line, as if creating an energy blade except with the wind from nature. Surprisingly, the air condensed itself and became visible to the eye. The color of it was grey—probably due to the dust on the ground that was also swept into it. Just like that, the two sturdy and robust legs of the goblin chief were cleanly chopped off. With the legs cut off, I easily finished him off by applying a similar air compression technique as early. This time, I tried sweeping the air by stabbing/piercing forward. As I suspected, the flow of the air this time around condensed into one spot, forming an almost translucent needle that was also grey in color. It easily pierced through the head and skull of the goblin chief; it even left a visible gaping hole on the other side.
Day 37: I had finally returned home but there were already people inhabiting it. I went in and asked them what they were doing in my abode. They freaked out when they saw my blood-stained clothing and told me that they had just purchased this home and had just recently moved in. They then explained how the previous owner was supposedly dead which allowed them to purchase this place inexpensively. I informed them of my identity and inquired about who decided to sell my property without my consent. It turned out to be the owner of the restaurant I worked at.
Day 38: After washing up at a hotel yesterday, I headed straight towards the restaurant with my trusty sword in hand. The boss not expecting me to actually be alive started to explain why he had sold my property. He said something along the lines of "you weren't doing your job so I had suffered many losses." I ferociously swept the sword through the air. Now that I had grown accustomed to the way of sweeping, I could easily sweep the sword without being in a proper stance. The surrounding air condensed into a crescent and cut his body cleanly in half. He was now dead. People may question my humanity but it doesn't matter. I live for the sword and the sword lives for me.
Day 39: I had now become a fugitive. As I traversed through the crowded marketplace with a mask on, I could see numerous wanted posters with my information on it, as well as a poorly drawn image on me. How did they warp my profound handsomeness into this utterly perverted image of me?
Day 247: I had stumbled across a hidden domain today and found a manual for sword cultivation. Heaven Defying: Void Severing Scripture. That's what it was called. The moment I touched it, every bit of information about it went into my head and the manual itself vanished into thin air. The technique was true to its name. "First sword, splits a mountain in two. Second sword, pierce through the heavens. Third sword, severing space itself." The entirety of this technique only consisted of three moves, but only a single one of these moves were required to wipe out an army of a thousand. Overpoweringly domineering was the only way to describe it. One could not even begin to fathom where this manual came from.
Day 321: I had finally reached Stone Gate City, far away from where I had previously lived. I wonder if I could start anew here as a swords-master. I've heard they held yearly competitions here to determine who was the greatest swordsman of the year. I suppose my current goal shall be to dominate the competition.
...
By the time I had finished, the sun was already greeting people to a new day. The book had ended abruptly on Day 321. I had been enlightened about the flexibility of the sword after finishing the book. I was not tired from pulling an all-nighter, but rather motivated for sword training. After being inspired by the diary, I wanted to get out of the house and put some of my ideas to practice.
[Ding!]
[Learned: Air Manipulation - Sweeping(Mythical), Air Manipulation - Piercing(Mythical), Heaven Defying: Void Severing Scripture(???)]