Kill The Old Ones!

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”Have I mentioned how much I hate orcs and their swamps?”

”Like about a hundred times just these past two days, Jen,” Kaycee deadpanned.

”Oh, good. At least you remember.”

”Thank god, it’s over, though. I don’t want to deal with orcs and their swamps anytime soon again.” Jules sighed as he wiped himself clean.

The Green Tea Party just returned from clearing stage 15, meaning that they’re done with the orcs and their swamps for now.

Dealing with elites, lords, and boss orcs was challenging, even for those who had been here before. Jen never stopped complaining about how she hates the swamp biome; she sounds like a broken record by now.

Kaycee was the only one who didn’t mind since she mostly just stayed above the trees sniping down at orcs. She doesn’t need to wade through the swamp like the others.

Derek also hated that place because it felt like the swamp would swallow him if he stood still even for a second. Even with the all-terrain boots and pants, he still felt like the swamp was pulling and slowing him down.

It’s worse for Jules. As the team’s defense specialist, he not only had to fight against the pull of the swamp, but he also had to endure the relentless beating of the orcs. This includes him being drenched in swamp waters.

Ren had never heard shy and humble Jules curse so much until they went in the swamp. Because as it turns out, Jules had a vendetta against insects—mosquitoes, worms, centipedes, slugs, leeches...you name it, and the swamp probably has them.

Jules nearly begged Jen to set him on fire when leeches latched onto his skin when he got splashed by the swamp waters, courtesy of the orcs beating down on him. He even nearly fainted on the spot.

Fortunately, Ren was more prepared. He made an ointment that repels insects and could be applied like lotion. It doesn’t have a scent, and it’s waterproof.

Ren could’ve given them some ahead of time, but he honestly forgot about it. He also thought they already had some, so he didn’t think to offer.

Jules nearly wept tears of gratitude when Ren slathered the ointment all over him, including his armor, sword, and shield. From that point on, no insect dared to latch on to him even after he got splashed by more swamp water.

Still, that’s behind them now. The orcs and their swamps won’t appear again anytime soon, and they’re very glad about that.

With the conclusion of stage 15, Ren’s initial agreement with the Green Tea Party also concluded.

From here on out, he has to decide whether to move on with this party or to join another one. But let’s be honest, Ren had no reason to leave.

Their start might’ve been rocky, but things worked out in the end. Ren wouldn’t dare say that this will be his permanent party, but at the very least, he’s confident that he’ll stay for a while.

That’s why there was no tension even though everybody knew about it. Ren didn’t hide the fact that he intended to extend his contract, this time, up to stage 30.

And as soon as they returned to the Rosewater Inn, Ren immediately went to Sir Justin’s office to negotiate again. About half an hour later, they shook hands, and Ren’s contract was formally extended.

Sir Justin actually insisted on Ren’s contract extending up to Stage 45, but Ren didn’t agree. The party manager didn’t force the issue, though. He tried to convince Ren, but seeing Ren’s firm refusal, Sir Justin relented.

It’s no big deal, though. Everything was fine.

The relationship between Sir Justin and the Green Tea Party had been mended, and things are going smoothly again. Ren was definitely one of the main reasons why, so how could Sir Justin do something to leave him feeling sour?

After the orcs, kobolds were next. They occupy stages 16 to 20. They’re smaller than orcs, but definitely no weaker. At the very least though, their preferred biomes aren’t as disgusting as the swamps. But that doesn’t mean that it’d be easier for the team.

Once his contract had been officially extended, Ren spent some time hanging out with the team, who took him to the more popular places in Q-city. After that, he returned home and relaxed for a bit.

’It’s been a little bit over a month since I joined the Green Tea Party,’ Ren mused to himself.

This month had been busy and hectic. He always had somewhere to be, and there was always something to do.

It’s bizzare, because even though his schedule became so packed, Ren was genuinely having a good time.

Furthermore, his practice speed hasn’t slowed down at all.

Although he’s still far from another breakthrough, Ren wasn’t blind to the growth of his chakra network.

His chakra seed sprouted more roots that reached his bones, allowing him to cleanse and infuse those bones with chakra.

Ren’s daily training had been cut short because of his schedule, but his progress hasn’t slowed down at all. Actually, it’s because he’s this busy that it’s keeping up.

He could guarantee that if he returned to his solitude training before, his progress would definitely slow down.

Exploring and clearing dungeons is what made this possible. Martial artists and the dungeons are practically attracted to each other for a reason. And Ren had no reason to stop anytime soon.

It would probably take another month and a half before he makes another progress. Two months and half in total for him to have a small breakthrough at his current progress speed.

That’s not bad. Really, not bad at all. In fact, it’s quite fast, especially considering his actual talent level.

This speed is nearly equivalent to someone with a rare grade martial physique who’s practicing with techniques that are perfectly aligned to their talent. And with supplements involved.

Ren doesn’t use supplements. No, monster meat doesn’t count as a supplement. Potions and supplements are what he’s referring to.

He just doesn’t see the need for it now. Besides, his progress was already quick compared to usual standards, and his profile was already causing some eyebrows to rise; he doesn’t need more suspicion right now.

But at the same time, he’s also thinking that he’d probably use some soon.

Raymond should clear him very soon to make supplementary potions. Ren would, of course, make the ones he’d consume on his own. He trusts the ones he made himself more, after all.

He wouldn’t consume so much to the point of an overdose, though. That’s practically suicide for him. Besides, that will affect his foundation, and he has to maintain its perfection to retain the Limitless Martial Physique.

The supplementary potions gave Ren some ideas, but for now, he can’t deploy them just yet. He still needs more time to polish it.

**

Done with his musings, Ren shook his head and ate his dinner. As usual, his diet requires a lot of meat, monster meat to be exact.

This dinner before him costs at least 15,000 to 20,000 credits depending on where it’s bought. Everything here would be enough to feed a family of five for a month, provided that none of them were martial artists. But for Ren, it’s just his dinner.

While he could still consume ’normal’ or ’common’ food, he’d need so much more to satiate him. Such are the requirements of martial artists after all. And it’ll only get more expensive from here on out.

Fortunately, as expensive as a martial artist’s expenses were, they are just as capable of earning more, provided that they’re not being lazy. The dungeons are the way to go, obviously.

After finishing his meal, Ren idled for a bit. He entertained himself with social media, and once it was time for bed, he hopped into his VR cabin.

He and his party won’t be fighting team matches for now, so Ren was on his own.

But that’s not something he had to worry about. Because as soon as he got online, he immediately received a duel invitation coming from The Challenger’s Rise world.

It’s from Cherry Anne—Lily Heartveil of the real world.

Ren didn’t know when it became a routine, but it did. Every night, rain or shine, it’s either he or she who will invite the other for a duel.

In these duels, they rarely spoke. Sometimes, it’s just an exchange of greetings, sometimes it’s light teasing, or a few instructions here and there—this one mostly comes from Ren, by the way.

Ren doesn’t get it. Lily never won against him.

She always goes all out right at the start, and he could tell that she was using everything she could to defeat him, but the most she ever did was to wound him, not even fatally at that.

Yet even after beating her again and again, every night, without fail. She will still come online the night after and will send or accept his duel invitation.

Ren never thought of her to be a sore loser. It doesn’t seem to fall into her character. He also knew she wasn’t a masochist, so why?

Why does she still challenge him?