Chapter 3: The Rise of a Hero
Life in Barrio Tandang settled into a grueling rhythm for Ginger. Over the past five days, he'd hunted monsters in Tandang Forest, completing missions for the God Creation System. His mana had soared to 500/15, a far cry from his early days in Lurra. But as he rested beneath an acacia tree near his hut, a nagging concern gnawed at him: his mana capacity remained stubbornly fixed at **15**, despite the surplus mana from his missions.
"Why's it like this?" he muttered, studying the holographic interface floating before him. "I've got all this mana, but my capacity's still stuck at 15. What am I missing?"
Frustrated, he addressed the system directly. "Hey, system! Why isn't my mana capacity increasing? I've been slaying monsters for days, and I'm still capped at 15!"
The God Creation System's robotic voice responded, calm yet authoritative. **"Ding! Mana capacity does not increase automatically through mission completion. To enhance your stats, you must upgrade your base attributes using mana in the Stats Menu."**
"Stats Menu?" Ginger frowned. Despite his isekai webnovel expertise, he'd overlooked this feature. He opened the interface, and a new button glowed: **Stats Menu**. Tapping it revealed a list of upgradeable attributes:
Beginner stats
- Attack: 10
- Magic: 5
- Mana Capacity: 15
- Strength: 10
- **Agility**: 10
- Defense: 10
- Luck: 5
Below, a note read: *"Use mana to increase stats. Cost: 1 point = 1 mana."*
A grin spread across Ginger's face. "So that's it! I can upgrade myself!" With 500/15 mana, he had to spend wisely. After careful thought, he focused on Mana Capacity. "If I boost my capacity, I can do more with the system," he whispered.
He spent 300 mana to raise his Mana Capacity from 15 to 315. A warm energy surged through him, as if a new vitality enveloped his spirit. The interface updated:
Mana Capacity 315
Mana 200/315
*"Ding! Due to increased Mana Capacity, your mana regeneration has improved. Mana now restores at 10% of capacity per hour (31.5 mana/hour)."*
"31.5 mana per hour? That's practically a cheat code!" Ginger exclaimed, thrilled. But when he tried to push his Mana Capacity beyond 315, the system resisted. "System, why can't I upgrade further? Is there a limit?"
**"Ding! A Level 1 Host is capped at 300 for all stats. To exceed this limit, you must upgrade your Host Level. The Upgrade Button unlocks for 100 mana."**
"Level 1 Host? This really is like an RPG," Ginger murmured, growing accustomed to Lurra's mechanics. He opened the interface, spotting the glowing **Upgrade Button**. Without hesitation, he spent 100 mana to activate it.
A brilliant light engulfed him, and a new notification chimed: **"Ding! Host upgraded to Level 2! Hero Stats unlocked. Stats can now be enhanced with Hero Points. Maximum stat limit: 600. Medium-Level Quests unlocked."**
"Hero Stats? Hero Points?" Ginger's excitement was palpable. The interface updated, displaying a new currency beside his mana: Hero Points: 0 His stats remained unchanged, but the cap had doubled to **600**.
**"Hero Points are earned through Medium-Level Quests or defeating stronger monsters. They are used to upgrade Hero Stats, which are more powerful than base stats. Medium-Level Quests are riskier but offer greater rewards."**
Ginger pondered. "Riskier quests, bigger rewards? Let's do this!" Despite his nerves, his isekai-savvy mind urged him to push forward. Becoming a Level 2 Hero felt like the start of a new chapter, and he was eager to see how far he could go.
**"Ding! New Medium-Level Quest: Defeat the Alpha Scale-Wolf in Tandang Forest within three days. Reward: 200 Hero Points, 150 mana, Random Item."**
"Alpha Scale-Wolf? Are you serious?" Ginger swallowed hard. A regular Scale-Wolf had nearly killed him, and now he faced its alpha? Yet the 200 Hero Points were too tempting. "Alright, game on."
The next day, Ginger prepared meticulously, knowing the Alpha Scale-Wolf was no ordinary foe. His Basic Trap Mastery knowledge indicated that alpha monsters were larger, faster, and more resistant to traps. He needed a solid plan.
With 315/315 mana, he opened **Create Item** and Basic Skill Creation to review his options:
- Mana-Enhanced Spear(15 mana): Sturdier than a standard spear, capable of piercing tough hides.
- Minor Healing Potion (10 mana): Heals minor wounds in 10 seconds.
- Basic Magic Bolt (20 mana): A simple magical attack dealing minor damage.
- Enhanced Trap (12 mana): A stronger trap capable of capturing Level 2 monsters.
He selected a Mana-Enhanced Spear (15 mana), a Minor Healing Potion (10 mana), and two Enhanced Traps (24 mana), leaving him with 251/315 mana. The spear gleamed with a sharp metal tip, the potion glowed faintly in a small vial, and the traps were heavier, with sturdier mechanisms.
In Basic Skill Creation, he added Basic Strength Boost (10 mana) to his existing Basic Agility Boost and Basic Trap Mastery. His mana dropped to 241/315, but he felt more prepared than ever.
Before leaving, he bid farewell to Aling Nida. "Nay, I'm heading to the forest again. Take care of things here."
"Ginger, be careful!" Aling Nida warned, her eyes brimming with concern. "Alpha wolves aren't just animals. Some say they wield traces of magic. If you can, don't go."
"Thanks, Nay, but I have to," Ginger replied, touching the amulet around his neck. Refusing a mission wasn't an option—the God Creation System's penalties for failure left no room for retreat.
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The deeper reaches of Tandang Forest were shrouded in shadow. Towering trees blocked most sunlight, their leaves casting a heavy gloom, and the air felt thick with an ominous weight. Ginger's Mana Sense allowed him to detect traces of mana in the environment—from plants, animals, and a potent presence in one direction.
"It's close," he whispered, moving cautiously with his spear and traps. He set the two enhanced traps in a narrow path near a stream, a spot his Trap Mastery suggested was a frequent route for alpha wolves. He placed a piece of mana-created meat as bait in the trap's center.
As he waited, the forest fell into that familiar, eerie silence. His Mana Sense flared, warning of a powerful mana signature approaching. **"Ding! Detected: Alpha Scale-Wolf. Danger: Level 3. Recommendation: Use multiple traps and magic-based attacks."**
"Level 3?!" Ginger cursed under his breath. A regular Scale-Wolf was Level 1, and the Horned Boar was Level 2. Level 3 was a massive leap.
Before he could strategize, a massive shadow emerged from the trees. The Alpha Scale-Wolf was nearly the size of a horse, its iron-like scales glinting, its eyes blazing like twin red stars. Each step sent faint tremors through the ground.
**"Ding! Warning: The Alpha Scale-Wolf is resistant to standard traps and weapons. Use Mana-Enhanced equipment or magic."**
"Magic? I don't have any!" Ginger panicked, then remembered the Basic Magic Bolt option. In his desperation, he opened Basic Skill Creation and spent 20 mana to acquire it. A spark of light danced in his hand, and he felt a new energy coursing through his fingers.
"Basic Magic Bolt, activate!" he whispered, conjuring a small orb of blue light. He aimed at the charging Alpha Scale-Wolf, and the bolt struck its shoulder, sparking a minor explosion. The wolf howled but didn't slow—it only grew angrier.
"That was weak!" Ginger groaned. But his trap worked—the wolf triggered the first enhanced trap, its legs ensnared by sturdy metal. Yet it wasn't enough; the beast thrashed, nearly breaking free.
In a surge of adrenaline, Ginger activated Basic Agility Boost and Basic Strength Boost . His body felt lighter and stronger. Gripping the Mana-Enhanced Spear, he leaped toward the wolf, driving the spear into its neck. The sharp tip pierced its scales, and the beast roared in pain before collapsing.
But the fight wasn't over. The wolf emitted a shimmering aura, its scales glowing. **"Ding! Warning: The Alpha Scale-Wolf is activating a Mana Shield. Use a stronger attack!"**
"Mana Shield? Now what?!" Ginger shouted. His Mana Sense detected the powerful energy enveloping the wolf. With no time to think, he fired another Basic Magic Bolt and struck again with the spear. The Mana Shield shattered, and the wolf fell, bloodied and still.
**"Ding! Medium-Level Quest complete! Reward: 200 Hero Points, 150 mana, Random Item: Mana-Infused Cloak."**
Panting, Ginger collapsed, his mana down to 91/315. The Mana-Infused Cloak appeared in his hands—a lightweight cape with a faint glow, offering added protection against magic. His Hero Points reached 200 and his mana climbed to 241/315.
"That nearly killed me," he whispered, but a triumphant smile curved his lips. Becoming a Level 2 Hero fueled his confidence, and the Hero Points opened new possibilities.
Back in Barrio Tandang, Ginger sold the Alpha Scale-Wolf's hide at the market for 5,000 pesos, stunning the villagers. The alpha was a rare sight, and his feat elevated his reputation. People began calling him "Ginger, the Monster Hunter."
In his hut, he opened the **Stats Menu** to spend his **200 Hero Points**:
- Hero Attack, 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Magic: 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Mana Capacity: 0 (1 point = 3 Hero Points)
- Hero Strength: 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Agility: 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Defense: 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
He allocated 150 Hero Points to boost Hero Mana Capacity by 50 (from 0 to 50) and 50 Hero Points to increase Hero Agility by 25. His stats updated:
Mana Capacity 315 + 50 (Hero) = 365
Agility: 10 + 25 (Hero) = 35
His mana regeneration rose to 36.5 mana/hour and his enhanced speed was noticeable. He felt a surge of strength, like a true isekai hero from the novels he loved.
As he rested, the system chimed again. **"Ding! New Medium-Level Quest: Defeat two Shadow Vipers and one Horned Boar King in Tandang Forest within five days. Reward: 300 Hero Points, 200 mana, Random Skill."**
"Two Shadow Vipers and a Horned Boar King? System, don't you have a chill mode?" Ginger grumbled, but his curiosity outweighed his fear. The 300 Hero Points were a massive step toward stronger stats, and a random skill could unlock new power.
The next day, he returned to the forest, equipped with his Mana-Enhanced Spear, Mana-Infused Cloak, and three Enhanced Traps . His Mana Sense , now sharper, traced the mana signatures of his targets. In a shadowy grove, he found the two Shadow Vipers slithering among the trees.
With his Hero Agility, he moved swiftly, placing traps strategically. The first viper fell into an Enhanced Trap, its venomous body restrained. The second was faster, lashing with its whip-like tail. Ginger activated Basic Magic Bolt, slowing it, and finished it with a precise spear thrust.
**"Ding! Two Shadow Vipers defeated! Mission progress: 2/3."**
The Horned Boar King was harder to track. His Mana Sense led him to the forest's deepest, forbidden reaches, a place even veteran hunters avoided. Massive hoofprints and the scent of blood guided him to an open clearing, where he faced the Horned Boar King—a colossal beast with twin horns and stone-like hide.
**"Ding! Detected: Horned Boar King. Danger: Level 4. Recommendation: Use multiple traps and coordinated attacks."**
"Level 4?!" Ginger's heart raced, but his upgraded stats bolstered his resolve. He set three traps around the clearing, using Basic Trap Mastery to conceal them. Activating Basic Strength Boost and Basic Agility Boost, he braced himself.
The boar charged, its horns gleaming under the moonlight. The first trap snared one leg, but the beast's strength nearly broke it. Using his Hero Agility, Ginger circled behind and stabbed its flank with the spear. The Mana-Infused Cloak shielded him from a horn strike.
In a fierce battle, Ginger fired a Basic Magic Bolt at the boar's eyes, slowing it. The second trap caught another leg, and with a final, powerful spear thrust to the neck, the beast fell.
**"Ding! Medium-Level Quest complete! Reward: 300 Hero Points, 200 mana, Random Skill: Mana Shield."**
The Mana Shield skill allowed him to create a temporary barrier against attacks. His mana rose to 355/365, and his Hero Points reached 300
Back in Barrio Tandang, Ginger's reputation soared. Villagers now called him "Ginger, the Hero of Tandang," and even Aling Nida marveled at his feats. But he knew he was only beginning. Tandang Forest was a mere sliver of Lurra, with greater monsters and dangers awaiting beyond the village.
In his hut, he spent 300 Hero Points to upgrade Hero Defense (100 points) and Hero Magic (100 points), leaving **100 Hero Points**. His stats updated:
Defense: 10 + 50 (Hero) = 60
Magic: 5 + 50 (Hero) = 55
With his new **Mana Shield** and enhanced stats, Ginger felt the true potential of the God Creation System. Yet his **Mana Sense** detected a powerful mana signature—not in the forest, but toward Lurra's capital.
"There's something massive out there," he whispered, a determined smile on his lips. As a Level 2 Hero, he was ready to face Lurra's greater challenges, wielding his power as the God of Creation.
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End of Chapter