The Penalty
I glance at the phone Sakura-nee gave me after we landed in Kyoto this afternoon.
It's already almost midnight. And I really need to get some sleep. Everyone talked for hours after dinner and I suppose it's safe to assume that everybody's getting along. Klint seems to be a little awkward with Shizu but I have a feeling it's because he's a teenage boy while Shizu is a beautiful teenage girl.
Yeah. It's probably that.
Hmm… What else?
I still can't get the feeling that I forgot something but I can't put my hands on it.
[Notice. You only have 2 minutes left to perform [Daily Mission].]
The [Daily Mission]? Aaah… Right I-
AAAAAHHHH!!!!
THE [DAILY MISSION]!
I haven't done it yet!
What do I do?
What can I achieve in two minutes? You have got to be kidding me!
Slayer! Tell me about it beforehand!
[Would you like the [Slayer System] to give you a notice for [Daily Mission]?]
YES!
But it's too late…
10
Shit! There's a countdown?
9
Ugh! The countdown is just making me more anxious!
8
7
I seriously jinxed myself for saying I have never failed to perform the [Daily Mission] before.
6
5
I'm doomed.
4
Just accept it April.
3
2
"One." I grumble helplessly.
[Notice. Host has failed to perform [Daily Mission]. You will now be transported to the [Penalty Zone].]
Damn. Even the name sounds ominous.
A bright light blinds me and I freeze.
I open my eyes and I see myself standing on a beach. The crystal blue sea glistens in front of me with a seemingly endless horizon and behind me is a jungle. Both obviously have unknown creatures lurking in it.
[Penalty is now starting. Survive the incoming monster attack in the next three hours.]
[Rewards will be generated after time limit is up.]
[Good luck!]
Good luck my ass!
*ROAR!*
Damn it!
From the jungle, a huge creature resembling a gorilla emerges. Behind it is a gigantic snake and there's even a giant boar with crystals all over its body. I activate <Appraisal> and look at their names.
Name: Island Gorilla
Level: 15
HP: 1800/1800
Name: Basilisk
Level: 17
HP: 2200/2200
Name: Crystal Boar
Level: 13
HP: 1500/1500
Err… It's safe to assume that the [Slayer System] does not have a naming sense.
Wait…
Aren't the monsters way above my level?!
Hey! [Slayer System]! What the hell is this?!
[Answer. Survive the incoming monster attack in the next three hours.]
You don't have to repeat it!
I have to somehow do something! I obviously can't fight them due to the difference in our levels!
I'm only bloody level ten!
Should I go to the sea? They don't look like they can swim.
Oh never mind. A sea serpent with a level 20 mark and an HP of 2800 just emerged from the water.
AAAAAHHHH!!!!!
Run April! Run!
At this point, I can only run if I want to survive. Slayer never said anything about fighting them or killing them. She, yeah I'm going to stick with feminine pronouns for Slayer, only said about surviving.
The [Penalty Zone] is an island so I can only run around it until the three hours are up. I don't think it's a good idea to enter the jungle or go swimming. There are probably more dangerous monsters in it.
Just hang in there me. I can survive this.
Wait… Will I die in real life if I die here?
[Affirmative.]
Damn it!
I guess I will just really have to focus on running around until-
Oof!
Something just emerged from the sand!
<Appraisal>!
Name: Sand Devourer
Level: 17
HP: 2200/2200
Oh? The other monsters are distancing themselves while the sea serpent is just watching in the waters. Are they warry of the sand devourer? And I guess the sea serpent can't come in shallow waters?
Never mind that, I have more pressing matters to think.
AAAACKK! It's coming after me! I have to dodge!
*BOOM!*
Oh my gods. I barely dodged it. The spot where I was just a while ago is nothing but a gaping crater now!
Looks like I have no other choice but to fight it head on.
Slayer! Open [Item Box]!
[Negative. Host is not allowed to use the functions of the [Slayer System] while in the [Penalty Zone].]
HAAAA?!
Doesn't that mean I'm doomed?!
I dodge yet another attack from the sand devourer and I literally ate dust. Well sand in my case.
If I can't use the weapons I have in [Item Box] then I can only deal with it using my skills. Am I right Slayer?
[Affirmative.]
Oh now you're agreeing with me. But I guess I don't really have a choice.
Let's start with using some spells, shall we?
"Ice Magic: Geyser!"
A light blue magic circle appears in front me, a sign that I'm using ice magic. A geyser, only made of ice shoots out to where the sand devourer is and it roars.
"Lightning Magic: Lightning Bolt!"
A bluish-white magic circle appears and from the sky, a bolt of lightning strikes the monster which starts screeching.
"Earth Magic: Earth Prison!"
A yellow magic circle appears and pillars shoot out from the ground and starts trapping the sand devourer.
"If I'm not allowed to run away, then I guess I don't have a choice but to fight."
I glance at the window visible just at the edge of my vision and see that I still have two hours until the penalty time is up.
Will I even make it? I only have a thousand HP left while my opponent still has one thousand five hundred. But my HP is recovering because of my <Auto-Healing> skill so I guess I shouldn't lose hope.
Let's just focus on surviving then.
I charge at the sound devourer with a flaming fist and hit it in its head. I manage to break one of its horns.
Oh yeah! Take that weird looking sand monster!
"Fire Magic: Fire Balls!"
Orbs of fire continuously shoot out from the red magic circle in front of me and hit the monster which starts wailing. I continue my barrage of attacks and I'm happy to see my enemy's HP steadily go down.
Usually, some monsters, especially high-level ones like the one I'm currently facing takes a hard time to damage especially attacks from someone that has a lower level than it. But because of my [Slayer Magic], which merges with my other magic skills, it makes it my attacks more deadly to my opponents. After all, its goal is to slay my enemies.
Basically, [Slayer Magic] changes the properties of my attacks automatically so it can be more effective against my opponents.
And I'm so glad I have it! I only need a few more attacks and I can finally defeat a level seventeen monster!
Maybe the [Penalty Zone] is not such a bad place.
Okay, I take that back. Another sand devourer just showed up and this one's bigger and looks meaner.
Name: Sand Devourer
Level: 20
HP: 3000/3000
A level twenty? And it has more HP than the sea serpent to boot!
You have got to be sh- I mean, kidding me! Is the one I have been fighting the female one all this time? And since I managed to deal some damage towards it its male counterpart is coming to its rescue?
[Affirmative.]
Screw that!
Uh oh. They're preparing for an attack, a breath attack to be exact.
Sand starts gathering in the mouth of the bigger one and it slowly grows bigger and bigger. It's suddenly coming my way and I have no other choice but to defend myself.
"Ice Magic: Ice Shield!"
Thick ice shield appears and stops the attack from making an April kebab. But I know the shield won't last long. After all, the attack is from a level twenty monster.
*BOOM!*
My shield cracks and I'm thrown into the sea. Thankfully, the sea serpent did not immediately think of how much of a delicious food I would make. It stayed where it was and I slowly make my way back to the beach.
I glance at the timer and see that I only have ten minutes left.
I have decided. I want to at least kill the female one.
Name: Sand Devourer
Level: 17
HP: 480/2200
"I really don't like the aftereffects of doing this attack, but it's my best shot."
Calm down April. Gather your power in your palm and raise it above your head. Contain it and… RELEASE!
"Lightning Fire Magic: Dragon's Breath!"
A laser like attack emerges from the bluish-white and red magic circles that are overlapping each other. The attack is actually a fire attack with lightning surrounding it. It's one of my best and most powerful attacks at the moment. I call it Dragon's Breath because it looks like it.
The attack hit the bigger sand devourer but it only took out a small portion of its side. Still though, I can't hide my smile as the attack hit the smaller one and took out its entire head.
The male sand devourer screeches in anger but…
[Congratulations! You have slayed a Level 17 Sand Devourer!]
[Generating rewards…]
[Penalty now over. Host will be transported out of [Penalty Zone].]
Yes! I survived!
I find myself back to my room in Plum Blossom Mansion.
*SIGH*
I've returned!
[Rewards for slaying the Sand Devourer.]
[1000EXPs]
[50SPs]
[20APs]
[3000LPs]
[1 Monster Core]
[2 Fangs of Sand Devourer]
[10 Scales of Sand Devourer]
Wow. I never thought I'd see such numbers.
*DING!*
[Rewards for surviving [Penalty Zone].]
There's more?
[200EXPs]
[20SPs]
[10APs]
[1000LPs]
I actually got a lot from being thrown into the [Penalty Zone]!
[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]
[<Super Growth> Activated!]
[You have leveled up!]
Name: April Frost
Age: 13 (20)
Level: 12
Experience Points: 2150/2200
HP: 2100/2100
MP: 2800/2800
Authority Level: 6
Authority Points: 0/60
Life Points: 7000
Stats:
>Strength: 560
>Intelligence: 590
>Agility: 680
>Stamina: 780
>Defense: 795
Allocated Stat Points: 70
I actually leveled up with such ridiculous numbers! So slaying stronger enemies will let me gain more values to level up?
[Affirmative.]
I'm now Level 12! And My Authority Level has increased too! I can finally access [Store] and see what kind of stuff the system is selling!
But maybe I should do that tomorrow. As for the core, fangs and scales, I just have to put them in my item box.
[<Super Growth> is activated.]
[Congratulations! <Ice Magic> is now at Level 6.]
[Congratulations! <Appraisal> is now at Level 5.]
[Congratulations! <Slayer Magic> is now at Level 6.]
[Congratulations! <Fire Magic> is now at Level 4.]
[Congratulations! <Earth Magic> is now at Level 5.]
[Congratulations! <Lightning Magic> is now at Level 5.]
[Congratulations! <Flash Step> is now at Level 6.]
Okay… It's official. Again. Ending up in the [Penalty Zone] is awesome! But I probably shouldn't do it often. I have a feeling stronger monsters are lurking in that place.
Hmm… I-
"April?"
Hmm? Sakura-nee's voice?
"Can I come in?"
"Uhm. Yeah sure."
The door opens and the woman with flowing crimson hair.
"Oh my gosh April! What happened to you?"
"What are you talking about?"
I catch a glimpse of a mirror.
Is that me? Why do I look like I just got out from a warzone?
Ugh.
Maybe because I did?
"What have you been doing? Go take a bath and clean yourself!"
Yeah. I probably should.