From the day he advanced in rank, Cassiel began to count the days and measure the time.
He was coldly calculating how much time was left to start moving, and it had already been a month and a half since that day. Cassiel was growing every day, and the missions kept coming.
[Mission activated. Type: Hunting (FF-)]
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>>Eliminate 50 tree gazelles.<<
Progress: 43/50
Reward (only one):
>Random skill of the tree gazelles: 40 % chance.
>40 coins (usable in the system store)
>Improved mission rank
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The quests were not just against the golden lions; there were quests for all the races he faced.
Cassiel had completed three so far, and twice he chose the first option. Unfortunately, he didn't get any skills, as the probability was only twenty percent.
He thought the coins were too few, since when he checked the store, the cheapest thing cost 100 coins, not to mention that he understood he would be docked his debt as soon as he got something.
The third time he completed a mission, he chose the third option. This quintupled the requirements, but improved the rewards and, moreover, it looked like he could keep improving them even more.
Luckily, tree gazelles were relatively common beasts that researchers brought in almost every day, and in increasing numbers. Thanks to that, Cassiel was already close to completing the mission.
In addition, he realized that there were different types of missions other than hunting. Exploring what seemed to be the mission section of the system, he found all the half-completed missions and one in particular that really caught his attention.
[Mission activated. Type: Destination (DDD+)]
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>>Research Facility Escape.<<
>>>Eliminate all humans<<<
>>>Release at least 30% of beasts and monsters.<<<
Reward:(will be based on the completion percentage of the quests)
>>Skill (rank C-)
>>1200 coins
>>Fusion gem (D)
>>tiket +80% (D)
>> tiket +1 range skill(D)
>>Rencompense scroll+1 rank (E-F) (one week)
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That was what the mission said, and the most interesting thing was that, unlike the hunting missions, he didn't seem to be limited to choosing only one reward although he didn't know what he would get if he didn't complete all three or if he didn't do it completely.
By this point, Cassiel had already opened the store and understood the cost and uses of most of the items available.
Luckily, they had descriptions explaining their functions, and he understood that the mission rewards were valuable.
Most importantly, this mission fit in with his escape plans, making it an extra profit, which would aid his return to the pinnacle of power.
However, what really intrigued him was the rank of the mission. As far as he understood, standard hunting missions were always of a rank above the average range of the beasts the mission called for hunting.
This mission, on the other hand, seemed a different type and allowed him to estimate how difficult it would be to escape from that place compared to hunting missions.
When he saw the mission, he decided to wait a little longer. He wanted to reach a higher rank before acting.
Right now, he was at rank F+. The scientists kept bringing in progressively stronger prey to stimulate his growth.
But it wasn't just that.
Cassiel had grown so fast that he had even surpassed the bear, which led him to realize that him accelerated rise in rank was not only due to daily hunting.
But also to the influence of the "9 Art of Primordial Fire", the technique he had created in her past life, apparently he could become strong with metods from him previous life as well.
It was a technique designed to strengthen the body by accumulating mana in every fiber of his body, in addition to just the heart which was the standard, all by circulating fire mana through his body.
Cassiel had never wanted to be trapped in the mage archetype and, finding the traditional methods of warriors ineffective and cumbersome, he devised his own alternative.
This resulted in the creation of this art, An innovation that broke with the previously established ways. which the system now turned into a skill of unknown rank, with the same name with which he baptized it in his previous life.
It also possessed unique methods of attack. In fact, his last blast in his past life, the one that allowed him to self-destruct even though his skill as a mage had been sealed, was thanks to this very technique.
Perhaps he did not yet know how to use it properly, but the simple fact of practicing it seemed to have accelerated his growth compared to the other beasts.
He felt how clearly the mana was not only in his heart like the vonventional mages and even beasts, but it was dispersed throughout his body and that was probably also reflected in his rank.
Cassiel was growing stronger at an alarming rate, so much so that it had become a recurring theme among the researchers.
If it weren't for the punishments, the situation would be perfect.
All the beasts had been promoted to F rank.
Cassiel, for his part, understood the functions of the system better and better and remembered how Amaryllis could sense people's power.
At first, he thought it was an Skill, but he discovered that it was actually due to the Clarity Authority.
Whenever he looked at someone and wanted to know their strength, the system would instinctively show him the information:
He didn't even have to extend his senses. The information simply appeared in his mind.
He still didn't fully understand what exactly "Confer" and "Protection" were, but thanks to a rabbit that had been stuck at G+ rank for a week, Cassiel accidentally discovered the Guide function.
The result was that the rabbit evolved.
It was the only creature that showed a physical change after evolving: its size increased, its claws became sharper, and it now had less difficulty hunting other species.
The scientists, witnessing the transformation, immediately took him away.
Cassiel assumed that, thanks to him, the rabbit would suffer a tragic fate and that he would never see him again.
However, five days later, he was returned intact.
He still had more tests to run, but there was one thing he couldn't quite figure out: what exactly was the difference between Authorities and Abilities?
The more he analyzed everything, the more skeptical he became.
This system... it was too good to be true.
He hadn't found any real disadvantages so far.
And that only made him more doubtful.
He knew better. There was nothing more expensive than free.
He felt like he was missing something, but neither in his interactions with Amaryllis nor in the stories of past demon kings did he find clues that would help him clear up the mystery.
Still, it wasn't as if he could do anything about it right now. The system didn't even have a physical form.
Therefore, Cassiel decided to take the bull by the horns and take advantage of this power.
As much as he disliked relying on something so uncertain, he had to exploit every opportunity that came his way.
..
.
'well today is the day'
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Status:
Name: Cassiel
Race: Dark wolf
Rarity: Common
Job: Fire Mage (Common)
Rank: E-
Area: Level 3
Affinities: Fire, Darkness
Authorities:
>Guide
>Confer
>Clarity
>Protection
>Codex of the Eternal Flame
Skills:
Rank (A):
> Anthropomorphosis
Rank(E)
>Dark Thorn
>Impulse
Rank (F):
> Dark Claw
>Dark Fang
Rank (????)
>9 Primordial Fire Arts
>&%/#$
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Another half month passed and Cassiel had moved up in rank yesterday. He only gained two Skill: one that gave him a temporary speed boost and another that, similar to what he understood as magic, allowed him to create a dark thorn and attack.
It did not cause physical damage, but on impact it weakened the part hit, as if it caused cramps or paralysis. The skill he gained during his first ascension did something similar, but required contact from his fangs or claws.
However, for Cassiel this was secondary. What was important was that as he ascended in rank, his mana not only increased in quantity, but also in quality. He was ready to begin his escape.
He already had everything planned. Cassiel knew that, even if he was put in what looked like an empty, isolated room to sleep in, he was being watched through that magic circle on the ceiling of this room.
That was why he had not used or practiced anything to do with fire. However, he was certain that he could handle it with precision, for he could feel it moving inside his body quite naturally.
Since reaching rank (F), he had been stealthily using his mana to gather information. During the nights he pretended to sleep, when in reality he controlled his mana imbued with his senses, spreading it cautiously.
Cassiel took advantage of the fact that this facility seemed to have a network of internal connections for multiple purposes.
He began by infiltrating from the device that watched over him and gradually moved deeper into the system with his mana control.
Slowly, he mapped the entire structure.
Those connections allowed him to go even further than should be possible.
He even learned to connect with the surveillance devices, deciphering the logic of their operation.
Although this was a complex and complex type of magic, not to mention completely unknown to him, his experience and natural talent allowed him to quickly understand it and use it to his advantage.
Each day, with the gradual increase of his mana, he expanded his range of action further without being detected.
He observed the researchers, analyzed their behaviors and learned how the facilities and all the magical and non-magical devices worked, he was learning everything he could and analyzing it daily.
There were areas his senses could not reach, but he made sure he understood the structure of the place and its mechanisms before even considering an escape attempt.
It had been two months since he began his exploration until he finally found his way out, and with his increase in rank, he felt he was finally ready.
Although he was unable to access the "authority of clarity" through this method, his previous life experience allowed him to gauge the strength of everyone present quite accurately.
There were approximately two hundred normal humans.
Fifty possessed a modicum of mana; Cassiel estimated them to be of approximately rank (F).
Twenty individuals stood out as having a similar or even higher presence and mana reserve than he did.
Four were at least one rank higher than him.
And then there was that one... One whose very existence warned him of danger.
It was better to stay away.
The problem was that there was only one way out.
And the strongest of them all spent most of the day patrolling that area.
Moreover, he discovered that they were located underground, which meant that there was no other option but to force his way through the only available exit.
Still, Cassiel decided to take a chance.
A few days ago, he had overheard researchers talking about how powerful nobles were beginning to take an interest in this project.
Another thing he had realized was that, as advanced and fascinating as this research was, it didn't seem to be a major project or have significant funding.
Perhaps that was why there weren't many strong people in place.
But if what they were saying was true, and influential figures were starting to get involved, that meant that soon much more powerful people might be coming here.
That would make everything even more difficult.
He couldn't wait any longer.
He couldn't afford to get stronger until he was completely sure, plus he was tired of the daily torture.
He had to act.
'Now all that's left is to get rid of this curse on my head.'