Kai settled into his new life at the Hunter Association. He and his sisters were given a small but comfortable apartment on the Association grounds, providing a safe haven from the chaos and uncertainty of the outside world.
He quickly learned the ins and outs of his support role, assisting seasoned Hunters with identifying items recovered from dungeons. His Item Identification ability proved to be surprisingly useful, helping Hunters determine the value and potential of rare artifacts, identify the weaknesses of monsters, and even discover hidden passages within dungeons.
Through his interactions with the Hunters, Kai began to understand the complex hierarchy of the Hunter world.
"Alright newbie," One of the veteran Hunters, a grizzled man named Captain Reyes chuckled one day. "Let's get you up to speed on the basics. First things first, Dungeon Ranks. Think of them like difficulty levels. F-Rank is a cakewalk, soloable by almost anyone. Then it goes up from there: E, D, C, B, A, and finally S-Rank – the big leagues, capable of wiping out entire cities if they break."
"Each rank corresponds to the difficulty of the monsters inside, the value of the resources, and the level of threat posed to the outside world," another Hunter added.
"As for Hunter Ranks, it's the same idea," Captain Reyes continued, puffing out his chest. "Based on your skill, experience, and the power of your awakened ability. You start as an E-Rank, and climb your way up to S-Rank. The higher your rank, the more responsibility you have, the bigger the rewards, and the tougher the monsters you have to face."
Kai absorbed the information, realizing just how much he had to learn. He was still unranked, essentially a novice.
One afternoon, Maria, the Association representative, summoned Kai to her office. "Kai," she said, her expression serious, "I think it's time we talked about your potential as a Hunter. You've shown remarkable progress with your Item Identification ability, but that's just one aspect of being a Hunter. You need to develop your combat skills, your strategic thinking, and your overall understanding of the Hunter world."
"I've been looking into some advanced training programs that could help you unlock your full potential. Have you heard of the Skill System?"
Kai shook his head.
"The Skill System is a framework that allows Hunters to learn and master new abilities and techniques," Maria explained. "As you gain experience and complete specific tasks, you can acquire new skills that enhance your combat prowess, your support abilities, and your overall effectiveness in dungeons."
"How do I acquire skills?" Kai asked, intrigued.
"It varies," Maria replied. "Some skills are learned through formal training, while others are acquired through experience in dungeons. Some skills are even inherited or discovered through unique circumstances. It all depends on the individual Hunter and their abilities."
"But the most important thing is the Status Window," Maria said. "Every Hunter who successfully Awakens gains access to their Status Window. It's a personal interface that displays all your vital information: your rank, your stats, your skills, and your overall progress. It's like a roadmap to becoming a stronger Hunter."
"How do I access my Status Window?" Kai asked, his curiosity piqued.
Maria smiled. "Just focus your mind and say the words 'Status Window'. It should appear before your eyes."
Kai took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused his thoughts. He repeated the words in his mind: Status Window.
Suddenly, a translucent blue screen popped into his vision, filled with text and numbers. He gasped in surprise, his eyes widening.There it was. His Status Window. His path to becoming a true Hunter.
Kai stared at the translucent blue screen floating before him, his eyes scanning the lines of text and numbers. This was his Status Window, his personal guide to becoming a Hunter.
The first line displayed his name:
Name: Kai Alonzo
The next line showed his current rank:
Rank: Unranked
He frowned. Unranked. He knew that was his starting point, but seeing it there in black and white made him feel insignificant, powerless.
The next section listed his stats:
Stats:
- Strength: 5
- Agility: 7
- Stamina: 6
- Intelligence: 15
- Luck: 8
Kai blinked in confusion. What did these numbers even mean?
"Those are your base stats," Maria explained, noticing his puzzled expression. "They represent your physical and mental capabilities. Strength affects your physical power, agility affects your speed and reflexes, stamina affects your endurance, intelligence affects your mental capacity and skill learning, and luck... well, luck is luck."
Kai nodded slowly, trying to make sense of it all. His intelligence was the highest, which made sense given his Item Identification ability. But his strength and stamina were abysmal.
The next section listed his skills:
Skills:
- Item Identification (Level 1)
That was it? Just one skill?
"Item Identification is your awakened ability," Maria explained. "As you use it and gain experience, it will level up, becoming more powerful and versatile."
"But what about other skills?" Kai asked. "How do I learn them?"
"That's where the training programs come in," Maria replied. "The Association offers a variety of skill courses tailored to different combat styles and abilities. You can also learn skills through experience in dungeons, by completing quests, or even by discovering ancient tomes or artifacts."
Kai scrolled through the Status Window, searching for something, anything, that would give him an edge. But there was nothing else. Just the stark reality of his current weakness.
He sighed, dismissing the Status Window with a flick of his wrist. The blue screen vanished, leaving him back in Maria's office.
"It seems like I have a long way to go," he said, his voice a mixture of determination and resignation.
Maria nodded, her expression sympathetic. "Everyone starts somewhere, Kai. The key is to keep learning, keep growing, and never give up. And Kai, before I forget..." Maria leaned in conspiratorially. "Never show your Status Window to anyone unless you absolutely trust them with your life. It's considered highly personal information, and in the wrong hands, it could be used against you. There are abilities that can copy or even steal skills if they see your Status Window. Keep it secret, okay?"
Kai's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I didn't know that."
"Now you do," Maria said, her voice firm. "Consider it a valuable piece of advice from someone who wants to see you succeed."
Kai nodded, his mind already processing the implications of this new information. The Hunter world was even more dangerous and complex than he had imagined.
"Oh, and one more thing," Maria added, snapping her fingers. "Every time you level up, you'll receive 5 status points that you can allocate to any of your stats. Think carefully about how you want to distribute them, as they can significantly impact your build and combat style. It's a good idea to plan ahead and consider what kind of Hunter you want to become."
Kai's eyes lit up. "So, I can actually improve my stats?"
"Exactly!" Maria said with a smile. "Leveling up is the key to growth. Train hard, complete quests, and explore dungeons. The more experience you gain, the faster you'll level up and the stronger you'll become."
(End Chapter 4)