After completing each mission, the reward is determined based on the mission's score rankings, ranging from E to A, as indicated by the system window. These rankings serve as the Old Continent's expectations for warriors, with higher A ranks considered the pinnacle of mission achievements.
Even Luke, the most exceptional warrior in the Old Continent, and his clan consistently dominated the rankings, achieved the coveted A rank just 16 times in the entire story.
However, what if someone surpasses the system's expectations and accomplishes what was deemed impossible? In the entire novel, this extraordinary feat occurred only once by accident, challenging the widely held belief that certain achievements were impossible to replicate.
....
Fray, Elisa, Adam, and Casper stood together on the massive branch of an ancient tree, their surroundings smothered in an oppressive mist that curled and twisted like living smoke. The silence was thick, broken only by the rustle of distant movement.
Casper, his eyes shut, tilted his head slightly. "There are tens of thousands of monsters ahead," he said, his voice edged with urgency. "It's impossible to push through. This must be where the Boss is."
Fray nodded without hesitation. "Good. Let's move."
From each of their armors, mechanical wings burst forth, unfolding with a resonant shh. In perfect unison, the four launched into the sky, gliding low through the dense forest canopy, the wings beating rhythmically as they dodged the gnarled branches and thick vines.
But the calm didn't last.
From the mist, swarms of white, insect-like monsters shot toward them with terrifying speed.
"Protect Adam!" Fray barked.
He and Elisa surged forward. Fray's shield cleaved through the air with crushing precision, smashing into the creatures, while Elisa danced through the sky with lethal grace, her dark blade slicing cleanly through the swarm.
Casper, focused and composed, guided them from behind, his spiritual sense cutting through the fog, warning of incoming attacks and blind spots. Adam remained shielded in the rear, guarded on all sides as he gathered energy.
Though they could fly higher, the group remained just above the treetops, bound by the rules to stay in the mist domain. Ascending too far would mean forfeiting the challenge.
"The aura's getting stronger!" Casper suddenly called out. "We're close. We should land!"
Descending through the mist, the team touched down in silence. The fog around them thickened, visibility dropping to mere feet. Then—without warning—a chorus of screeches rang out. Thousands of monsters surged toward them like a tidal wave.
"The Boss is right ahead," Casper confirmed.
Without wasting a second, they split up. Elisa and Casper formed a defensive line, cutting through the charging horde, their coordinated strikes creating a temporary wall of defense.
Fray and Adam sprinted through the chaos. Fray's shield absorbed the brunt of the attacks as he bulldozed a path forward, keeping Adam close behind.
Suddenly, the mist parted—and there it was.
A grotesque abomination loomed ahead: a bloated mass of flesh encased in chaotic white armor, dotted with twitching insect-like eyes. Its body bulged outward, tentacles dragging along the earth. Around it lay thousands of eggs, pulsating with sickening rhythm.
It stood over two meters tall and three wide, its presence alone enough to freeze the air.
Fray and Adam stopped.
The creature emitted a guttural, high-pitched screech—"Krrrrr!"—that pierced the mist like a dagger.
Despite its size, the creature seemed almost immobile, a malformed titan anchored by its own grotesque mass. But the aura it radiated was suffocating.
"Hurry! I can't hold them off much longer!" Fray shouted, barely keeping the line as the swarm thickened.
Adam nodded, already channeling energy, his body enveloped in a glowing aura. He whispered incantations under his breath, faster and faster, his hands weaving through complex motions.
Just then, the creature moved—violently.
With shocking speed, it lunged forward, its tentacles lashing out.
CLASH!
Fray raised his shield in time, blocking the attack, but the force sent him skidding back through the dirt, boots digging trenches into the ground.
It's like hitting iron, Fray thought, jaw clenched. In normal circumstances, I could punch straight through... but here... we're weaker. Slower. Powerless.
Still, he pushed forward again, keeping the creature and its endless minions at bay.
Three minutes dragged on like hours. Fray's breath came in ragged bursts, his movements slowing.
"Adam, are you ready?!" he yelled over the screeches.
"Yes!" Adam called back. "Fall back!"
Fray immediately rolled away, dodging a lashing tentacle as he retreated behind Adam.
With a deep breath, Adam placed his palm against the earth.
A dark ripple spread outward like ink in water. The ground beneath the Boss shimmered, then warped—twisting open into a swirling vortex of black energy.
The creature shrieked in panic. "Krrrrr!!" It thrashed, tentacles clawing at the soil, trying to anchor itself—but it was too heavy, too slow.
"KRRRRAHH!!" the monster screamed one last time as it was dragged into the dimensional rift. Its cries echoed through the mist… and then, silence.
Only the echo remained.
....
On the other side of the portal, the monstrous creature emerged into a cavernous expanse, suspended mid-air.
"Krr" It let out a scream, disoriented by the abrupt transition. As it plummeted to the ground, dozens of sharp wooden traps hidden beneath it were triggered, slicing through its grotesque form.
"Krrrr!!" Another agonized scream echoed through the cave as the creature, now wounded and struggling, attempted to move.
Bzzz!
Suddenly, it became aware of a buzzing sound from above. Raising its deformed eyes, it beheld hundreds of dark insects— the Cemetery army, now fully charged after a week of absorbing energy.
Boom!!
The insects swarmed the creature, enveloping it before unleashing a deafening explosion that engulfed the entire cave. The resounding blast echoed through the cavern, effectively tearing the cave's grasp on the monstrous intruder into fragments.
.....
Fray, Elisa, Casper, and Adam stood atop a colossal branch, gazing at the several windows materializing in the air, announcing the culmination of their venture.
[ The Merciless Clan has slain the Boss of the Misty Forest. ]
[ The Curse of the Misty Fog has been lifted. ]
[ The Misty Forest has regained its original name: The Woods of Peace. ]
[ The Merciless Clan has achieved unexpected feats. ]
[ The Merciless Clan has attained the hidden Score: S rank. ]
[ The Merciless Clan has earned the respect of the original inhabitants of the Woods of Peace. ]
[ The Woods of Peace has acknowledged the Merciless Clan as its favored benefactor. ]
[ The Merciless Clan has been awarded the S rank reward: 15,000 exp points, a Golden Treasure Box, and four Silver Treasure Boxes. ]
"Wow! We did it!" Casper exclaimed with joy, his voice echoing through the peaceful woods.
"Haha, this was fun. I'm looking forward to what this forest will look like after the annoying fog clears out," Adam remarked, surveying the mist that was gradually dissipating.
Elisa, with a smile on her face, pondered, 'As soon as this fog disappears, the remaining monsters will perish, and this place will become truly peaceful. I can't deny that this is exciting.'
Meanwhile, Fray's attention was drawn to two specific announcements.
[ The Merciless Clan has gained the respect of the original inhabitants of the Woods of Peace. ]
[ The Woods of Peace has recognized the Merciless Clan as its favored benefactor. ]
"What does that mean?" Fray wondered, his eyes narrowing. He could feel there was something deeper behind these announcements—a purpose—but the original novel never explained the meaning behind the S-rank score. It remained one of its many untold mysteries, leaving him uncertain about the true value or consequence of such recognition.
[The Merciless Clan has accumulated 21,345 experience points, securing the top rank on the fourth path.]
[The Merciless Clan holds the leading rank across all seven paths.]
[ You have 3 hours left before your visit time concludes; kindly depart before the timer expires. ]