And the only way to achieve all of this was within the dungeon.
I arrived at a two-story building made of concrete and limestone. The entrance was a wide, revolving door with tinted glass panels.
A signboard hung above the entrance.
There were nine dungeons. Each dungeon was explicitly created for a Path. The dungeon for the first-year students is tasked with training students and sharpening their skills.
It was more challenging than those for second-year students and higher, requiring joint efforts from across Paths as they became accustomed to learning about each other’s abilities.
This one was for the Magical Swordsman Path First Year students.
I walked through the revolving doors and noticed that the interiors were as sparse as always.
There were only a few students seated in the waiting area, which was lined with tables. They were probably waiting for their teammates or were resting before taking their leave.
A slight distance from there was the perimeter of the seven receptionist desks at the front. A staircase leading to the top floor was at its edge.
As I stepped forward, they paused and looked at me. I sensed the brief recognition in their eyes, and their expression turned into a mixture of disgust, ridicule, and hostility.
I presumed that they were from Class One or Two, as I didn’t recognise their faces.
Although I didn’t know everyone in Class Three, as I usually kept to myself and they also avoided me, I could still remember their faces if I saw them.
I paid no attention and walked by them.
I was still a descendant of the Zahara Clan, so they wouldn’t take any direct actions against me.
I walked up to a receptionist’s desk.
At the desk was a robot, dressed in a black tuxedo only on its torso, with a smooth synthetic visor over its face displaying expressive LED eyes.
"Welcome back, student Ezekiel," the robot greeted.
"How may I help you?" It asked, as it bobbed its head from side to side.
"I want to take a task."
"Request accepted. You are eligible for the following task," the robot replied.
It waved its right robotic hand over its desk.
Instantly, a holographic list appeared out of thin air.
1. Eliminate five or more Goblins: 30 merit points. Additional merit points will be awarded for each additional Goblin eliminated.
2. Eliminate a Forest Gnome: 30 merit points.
3. Capture a Riverfire Tick plant: 30 merit points. Additional merit points will be awarded for each additional Riverfire Tick plant captured.
4. Eliminate a Hobgoblin: 40 merit points.
5. Eliminate a Horned Wasp: 40 merit points. Additional merit points will be awarded for each additional Horned Wasp eliminated.
6. Collect 3 litres of a Horned Wasp’s nectar: 50 merit points.
I scrolled through the list.
The list contained a total of 50 quests. The first 20 are lower-tier quests for early-stage First Rank awakeners, the next 15 are mid-tier quests for mid-stage First Rank awakeners, and the last 15 quests are high-tier quests for late-stage First Rank awakeners.
The quests with higher merit points were much dangerous than those with lower merit points.
A student could only pick four tasks a day. This was to ensure that they don’t overextend themselves, causing injuries that might lead to death.
40. Collect 3 litres of a Silver-tongued Serpent’s venom: 210 merit points. Additional merit points will be awarded for each extra 3 litres.
41, Eliminate a Silver-tongued Serpent: 225 merit points. Additional merit points will be awarded for each additional horned wasp eliminated.
42. Collect a tusk of a Woodland Boar. 230 merit points.
43, Eliminate a Woodland Boar. 250 merit points...
Despite being a late-stage First Rank awakener, I never took on late-tier tasks. Because magical creatures at such a level were more powerful than a late-stage first rank awakener. Those with potent bloodlines and talents were even more powerful and would need more awakeners of the same rank to eliminate them.
They would be crushed if pitted against such an opponent. This also included a mid-tier task. So, a team of two or three were needed for such tasks.
It was the reason I kept returning from the dungeon severely injured multiple times.
While some tasks could be completed continually, others required a few days or a week to refresh. Numbers 40 and 41 were the ones that were available every four days. 42 and 43 once a week.
I picked the four of them.
They were enough to test my current combat prowess. With Felix’s protection, I didn’t need to worry about encountering any danger when completing them.
After my selection, the robot responded, "It’s recommended to have a team of 2, 3 or more when selecting a task higher than 35. You risk encountering great danger or injuries, and worst case, death by going in alone. Would you like to reconsider, student Ezekeil?"
I was used to this kind of warning.
"I don’t have a team, so I’m going in alone," I responded.
Then, it would reply, "Do you want me to leave your name on the chosen quest, and notify when the recommended party number is fulfilled?"
Even if the merit points were divided among the team members, thereby reducing the reward, it was the best approach for those without connections, as it enabled them to pair up with others to easily accomplish the task.
I initially tried that approach, but whenever they discovered my identity, they swiftly refused to collaborate with me and instead teamed up with another person.
Due to the recommendation, they were mostly the ones who took the tasks for themselves.
"The academy would not be held responsible for any life-threatening challenges you encounter while completing this mission," the robot responded.
Finally, it would say, "Student ID for confirmation."
I brought out my student ID from the storage bag, hanging around my waist, and placed it above the counter.
The holographic list vanished, and the list flashed from below it.
"Scan completed. I wish you good luck on your adventure, student Ezekiel."