"Adventure Quest: Verdant Hollow II"

Snake Calendar, Year 2025

31st Day of August, Sunday Early Morning

The Outside City of Nova Asta, Main Adventure Outpost

After completing his rank-up quest, Accel returned to the Main Adventure Outpost. The atmosphere was bustling, with participants rushing in and out, their expressions ranging from exhaustion to excitement. Around fifty adventurers had completed their tasks ahead of him, while the remaining two hundred were still battling through the slime-infested Verdant Hollow with about 12 hours left on the clock.

"That was a workout," Accel muttered, wiping sweat from his brow as he approached the counter. His leather armor bore a few scratches, and his shield had taken quite a beating. Despite this, a small smile played on his lips. He handed over the required proof — the shimmering, gel-like cores of the slain slimes. The clerk inspected them and gave a nod of approval.

"Congratulations, Accel Winchester," announced the Outpost Leader, a burly man with a booming voice. "You have officially advanced to the rank of Trainee Adventurer. With this rank, you'll gain access to more challenging quests, better rewards, and new equipment."

Accel's eyes lit up as the Outpost Leader handed over his rewards. First came a set of six-piece leather armor:

1) 2 Pieces: Increased DEF by 100.

2) 4 Pieces: Temporarily increased Vitality by 10 when all four pieces were equipped.

3) 6 Pieces: Temporarily increased Dexterity by 10 when all six pieces were equipped.

"This is incredible," Accel muttered, examining the sleek, reinforced armor.

Next came his upgraded weapons, a combination of stone and wood:

1) Sword: 20 Slash Damage for normal attacks, 25 AoE Damage within 0.5 meters for Hard Strikes.

2) Shield: Blocks 15-30 physical and ranged damage. Special Effect: 5%/7% chance to nullify physical attacks entirely.

Lastly, he received 50 Copper Marks. The reward was enough to cover his immediate needs and leave a decent sum for future expenses.

After resting for an hour in the public lounge, where he enjoyed a quick meal and tended to his equipment, Accel headed straight to the quest board. With his rank now upgraded, he had access to quests with difficulty options: Easy, Medium, and Hard. The harder the quest, the better the rewards.

"Medium it is," Accel said, tapping on a quest that tasked adventurers with killing five standard Slimes. Unlike Lesser Slimes, these creatures were larger, stronger, and capable of splitting into two Lesser Slimes upon death. The quest promised 50 Copper Marks, with a 1.5x reward multiplier for the chosen difficulty.

Armed and ready, Accel returned to the Verdant Hollow, the familiar forest alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant growls.

Somewhere at the Verdant Hollow, Late Morning

As the sun climbed higher, Accel entered a clearing where a glistening Slime oozed across the mossy ground. The creature's gelatinous body quivered as it sensed his presence.

"Time to get to work," Accel murmured, gripping his new sword tightly. He activated Kindle Spark, his palm igniting with a flicker of flame. With a swift motion, he hurled the spark at the Slime. The fiery projectile struck, dealing 10 damage and illuminating the area.

The Slime recoiled, its surface bubbling as it launched an acidic glob in retaliation. Accel raised his shield just in time, the impact causing him to slide back slightly.

"That's stronger than the Lesser Slimes," he muttered, his arm tingling from the force. Undeterred, he charged forward, slashing at the creature with his sword. Each strike dealt 20 damage, and after a few well-aimed hits, the Slime quivered violently before splitting into two smaller forms.

"Of course, you'd do that," Accel sighed. He dodged a coordinated attack from the Lesser Slimes, his agility enhanced by the new armor. Switching tactics, he etched a Rune of Protection onto the ground.

However, the glowing symbol fizzled out midway. "Failure again?" he groaned, dodging another acidic shot. On his second attempt, the rune activated, forming a faint barrier that absorbed the next attack.

Taking advantage of the opening, Accel unleashed a Hard Strike, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The attack landed with a resounding thud, dealing 25 damage to both Lesser Slimes and reducing them to quivering puddles. He quickly stabbed their cores to finish them off.

Breathing heavily, Accel leaned against a tree to recover. He gulped down a potion, feeling the soothing warmth as his health was restored. "That's two down, three to go."

Early Afternoon

By early afternoon, Accel had slain four Slimes, each battle testing his endurance and resourcefulness. He had suffered a few burns from their acidic attacks and failed another rune attempt, but his persistence paid off.

As twilight approached, he encountered his final target near a stream. The Slime glistened ominously under the fading light, its movements deliberate and predatory.

"Let's finish this," Accel said, his voice steady despite his fatigue. He activated Kindle Spark again, the flame illuminating the darkening forest. The Slime charged, launching a barrage of acidic globs. Accel dodged the first two and blocked the third with his shield, its durability holding strong.

With a deep breath, he etched another Rune of Protection, this time succeeding on the first try. The barrier absorbed the Slime's next attack, allowing Accel to close the distance. He struck with a flurry of slashes, his movements precise and relentless. The Slime's health dwindled rapidly, but just as it seemed defeated, it split into two Lesser Slimes.

"You've got to be kidding me," Accel muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. He dealt with the smaller creatures quickly, using another Hard Strike to finish them off before they could regroup.

Late Afternoon

With the final cores in hand, Accel sat by the stream, letting the cool water soothe his aching muscles. He glanced at the sun that was about to set out as the nightfall would begin shortly.

"Five Slimes down," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Time to head back and claim my reward."

As he made his way out of the Verdant Hollow, Accel went back to the Main Adventure Outpost to claim his rewards and head back home to the Inner City of Nova Asta, because school was about to reach the next month of September and the practical examination is in two weeks.