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Frank walked out of the bathroom, already dressed up and ready to communicate the news he got from Zero about the Extermination Quest regarding the Goblin Champion and the Goblin King that had spawned within the Goblin Dungeon.
"Rank 2 monsters with the possibility of one of them being Rank 3?! That's… a bit much…" said Cathyl.
"Rank 2 Monsters are not so hard to kill, and with the help of Frank's System, it shouldn't be even hard… Yet, if a Rank 3 monster shows up… Hm, well, with the Skills and our level-ups, it should be doable! I think… Well, I hope," said Vheslia.
"I am rather confident, as long as others such as Zero, Nezhit, Ruby, Ginseng, and Zhulong join us as well… Although it would be hard to explain how Frank tamed three monsters and also to explain the strange appearances of Zero and Nezhit, that can be left after we deal with such a threat…" said Gwendolyn.
"Hmmm… Well, this could be a good way for us to get some more fame! Maybe Frank will get pretty popular after this!" said Cathyl.
"Although we could also get popular if we were to share that we hunt so many monsters per day… But that would cause a lot of suspiciousness, so we better not do that," said Gwendolyn.
"Y-Yeah… Well, we need to prepare, we have leveled quite a lot, so as long as we can work all together…" said Kamei.
"But even then, let's be extra cautious. I will use my Overseeing Light Eye to see the entire battlefield from behind, and then communicate to you what to do through Telepathy, so you can move in time," said Frank.
"Alright, we count on you, but we'll also move around together," said Cathyl.
"Indeed, we can do this, we have practiced before, fighting Boss Monsters from the Hunting Domains and all!" said Asterion.
"Yes, this is only a small challenge in the long path ahead of us!" said Hilvera.
"Very true, though make sure to watch our backs!" said Annabelle.
"I will. And about growing stronger, we had been accumulating Mana Cores for some days now, it should be time to distribute them and let you absorb them so you can gain some power, perhaps some of you might even increase in the cultivation rank or stage straight away…" said Frank, opening his Inventory and taking out sacks after sacks of Mana Cores.
"Oh right! Time to finally get to use them!" said Cathyl.
"Please, give them to them instead of us, we are already Rank 2, so I don't think we would benefit as much as the ones at Rank 1," said Gwendolyn.
"Ngh…! I still wanted to absorb some! But fine, Gwen is right…" said Vheslia.
"I think the same. I am also Rank 2, it would be better if you guys absorbed them instead of us," said Frank.
"R-Really?" asked Cathyl.
"Onii-sama…" said Kamei with admiration.
"Okay then!" said Annabelle.
"W-Woah… Imagine the amount of power we'll get…" said Asterion.
"Let's dig in then!" said Hilvera.
Frank taught Cathyl, Kamei, Hilvera, Annabelle, and Asterion how to absorb Mana Cores first, and then finally distributed it around everyone.
The amount of F-Rank Mana Cores (which were the majority) were around 300, so the distribution was made evenly amongst everyone that was going to consume them.
Frank had also saved Mana Cores separately from these, which he went to feed to his tamed monsters and Undead, although Zero did not have a Death Core yet, so only Nezhit, Ruby, Zhulong, and Ginseng benefited from this.
Nonetheless, everyone ended up quite strong, Cathyl, Hilvera, Asterion, and Kamei reached the Peak Stage in Rank 1, only needing some more to reach Rank 2, meanwhile, Ruby reached Rank 2 alongside Zhulong and Ginseng, while Nezhit reached Peak Stage as well, it was a fruitful harvest that brought a lot of new power to everyone.
Gwendolyn and Vheslia were in shock, seeing them rise through Cultivation Stages that took them years in seconds!
After a bit, the five of them ended quite dizzy, as increasing Ranks increased their overall stats and gave too much energy to take and adapt to straight away.
But thankfully, Frank used Gift of Life to heal the dizziness and make everyone feel more relaxed, being able to finally channel their new strength correctly.
"W-Woah… my stats increased more than I expected, I guess cultivating the Mana Core does not only give an increase in magic or mana…" said Asterion.
[Name: Asterion.
[Race: Minotaur.
[Titles: Apprentice, Rookie Warrior.
[Gender: Male
[Mana Core Cultivation: Rank 1 (Peak Stage)
[Job: Great Minotaur Axe Warrior.
[Job History: Warrior.
[Level: 13
[Health Points: 315/315
[Mana Points: 135/135
[Strength: 240
[Defense: 220
[Magic: 130
[Resistance: 145
[Agility: 175
[Passive Skills: [Minotaur's Strength (Innate): Level 8], [Mana Core (Emerald Green): Level 1], [Mana Control: Level 4], [Physical Damage Resistance: Level 6], [Magic Damage Resistance: Level 2], [Status Effect Resistance: Level 3]
[Active Skills: [Axe Technique: Level 7], [Gust: Level 8], [Wind Attribute Magic (Innate): Level 4], [Charge: Level 5], [Shield Technique: Level 6], [Armor Technique: Level 6], [Bronze Skin: Level 7], [Body Aura: Level 5], [Unarmed Fighting Techniques: Level 4], [War Cry: Level 3], [Fiery Steps: Level 4], [Blazing Claws: Level 2]
"Eh? My Mana and Magic increased some more too! Since I got my Mana Core that I had pretty low stats on it, I guess I wasn't well-fitted for Magic, well, not like it matters much, my other stats are rather good," said Cathyl.
[Name: Cathyl
[Race: Minotaur.
[Titles: Apprentice, Beautiful Axe Warrioress.
[Gender: Female.
[Mana Core Cultivation: Rank 1 (Peak Stage)
[Job: Great Minotaur Axe Queen.
[Job History: Great Warrior.
[Level: 13
[Health Points: 355/355
[Mana Points: 85/85
[Strength: 280
[Defense: 260
[Magic: 75
[Resistance: 125
[Agility: 145
[Passive Skills: [Minotaur's Strength (Innate): Level 9], [Mana Core (Emerald Green): Level 1], [Mana Control: Level 2], [Overprotective Mother: Level 6], [Physical Damage Resistance: Level 8], [Magic Damage Resistance: Level 4], [Status Effect Resistance: Level 6],
[Active Skills: [Axe Technique: Level 9], [Gust: Level 4], [Wind Attribute Magic (Innate): Level 2], [Charge: Level 7], [Shield Technique: Level 8], [Armor Technique: Level 8], [Bronze Skin: Level 9], [Body Aura: Level 8], [Unarmed Fighting Techniques: Level 5], [Minotaur's Berserk Mode: Level 5], [War Cry: Level 4], [Fiery Steps: Level 3], [Blazing Claws: Level 2]
"Even some of my Magic Skills increased their levels, that's quite convenient!" said Hilvera.
[Name: Hilvera.
[Race: Minotaur.
[Titles: Apprentice, Talented Hunter.
[Gender: Female.
[Mana Core Cultivation: Rank 1 (Peak Stage)
[Job: Storm Knife Hunter.
[Job History: Hunter.
[Level: 3
[Health Points: 170/170
[Mana Points: 285/285
[Strength: 190
[Defense: 115
[Magic: 170
[Resistance: 130
[Agility: 235
[Passive Skills: [Minotaur's Strength (Innate): Level 5], [Mana Core (Emerald Green): Level 1], [Mana Control: Level 5], [Physical Damage Resistance: Level 2], [Magic Damage Resistance: Level 2], [Status Effect Resistance: Level 2], [Increased Magic Circle Creation Speed: Level 1], [Lesser Mana Recovery: Level 6], [Concentration: Level 4], [Magic Mass: Level 1]
[Active Skills: [Knife Technique: Level 8], [Gust: Level 9], [Wind Attribute Magic (Innate): Level 6], [Archery: Level 5], [Throwing Technique: Level 7], [Armor Technique: Level 3], [Shield Technique: Level 2], [Stealth: Level 5], [Camouflage: Level 4], [Silence: Level 3], [Windy Steps: Level 4], [Shadow Manipulation: Level 2]
"Indeed, I do feel the changes… It truly feels good to be even better at magic now! I am going to surpass you in no time, mommy!" said Annabelle rather boldly.
[Name: Annabelle.
[Race: Fox-kin beast-girl.
[Titles: Apprentice, Blazing Magician Girl.
[Gender: Female.
[Mana Core Cultivation: Rank 1 (Peak Stage)
[Job: Blazing Fox Witch Princess.
[Job History: Fire Mage.
[Level: 13
[Health Points: 135/135
[Mana Points: 350/350
[Strength: 63
[Defense: 72
[Magic: 275
[Resistance: 228
[Agility: 195
[Passive Skills: [Mana Core (Red): Level 1], [Mana Control: Level 6], [Increased Magic Circle Creation Speed: Level 3], [Lesser Mana Recovery: Level 9], [Magic Mass: Level 3], [Concentration: Level 5], [Blazing Fox Guardian: Level 2]
[Active Skills: [Fire Attribute Magic (Innate): Level 6], [Flame Arrows: Level 8], [Gust: Level 5], [Staff Technique: Level 5], [Armor Technique: Level 3], [Whip Technique: Level 5], [Bronze Skin: Level 5], [Body Aura: Level 6], [Fiery Steps: Level 4], [Blazing Claw: Level 3], [Shadow Ball: Level 3]
"Nii-sama, now I am a bit stronger! I will make sure to maintain the party healed whenever you cannot heal us!" said Kamei.
[Name: Kamei Kimiko.
[Race: Human (Earth).
[Titles: Apprentice, Zenith of Humility, Zenith of Charity, Magician of Light and Earth.
[Gender: Female.
[Mana Core Cultivation: Rank 1 (Peak Stage)
[Job: Holy Light Priestess Princess.
[Job History: Earth and Light Magician.
[Level: 12
[Health Points: 130/130
[Mana Points: 340/340
[Strength: 54
[Defense: 67
[Magic: 375
[Resistance: 260
[Agility: 180
[Passive Skills: [Heavenly Blessing: Level -], [Humility: Level 4], [Charity: Level 4], [Mana Control: Level 7], [Guardian Shield: Level 4], [Mana Core (Brown): Level 1], [Increased Magic Circle Creation Speed: Level 2], [Lesser Mana Recovery: Level 7], [Magic Mass: Level 1], [Concentration: Level 4], [Physical Damage Resistance: Level 1], [Magic Damage Resistance: Level 3]
[Active Skills: [Miracle Magic: Level 6], [Holy Light Magic: Level 6], [Earth Attribute Magic: Level 5], [Staff Technique: Level 4], [Armor Technique: Level 2], [Shield Technique: Level 3], [Bronze Skin: Level 3], [Body Aura: Level 3], [Light Ray: Level 6]
Frank glanced at each person's Status and found out that they had grown a lot since they first acquired the System, even if it has been almost two weeks since then.
"Impressive, all of you have grown a lot… But let's not rely on stats alone, let's work together and use all the experience we have gathered to survive through this," said Frank.
After having packed lunch and many other items, Ruby, Zhulong, Nezhit, Ginseng, and Zero hopped inside of Frank's shadow, and the rest of the party finally made their way to town and the Adventurer Guild.
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