Chapter 4: The First Battle on Shield Mountain
The days in Barrio Tandang had settled into an exhausting cycle of hunting and fulfilling the God Creation System's missions. Over the past ten days, Ginger tirelessly completed Medium-Level Quests, amassing enough **Hero Points** to max out his base attributes—Strength, Agility, Defense, and Luck—at 600 each. His mana had soared to **1000/600**, a testament to his relentless drive to grow stronger.
As he sat on a wooden bench outside his hut, watching the sunset paint the fields of Barrio Tandang in shades of orange, a sense of accomplishment mingled with lingering unease.
"This is straight out of an RPG," he murmured, reflecting on his journey from a humble soap-seller to the village's renowned monster hunter. Yet, despite his strength, a nagging feeling persisted—Lurra held far greater challenges beyond their small village, challenges he wasn't sure he was ready to face.
Staring at the floating system interface, he noticed the Upgrade Button pulsing with light. Without hesitation, he spent 200 mana to activate it. A radiant glow enveloped him, and the system's authoritative robotic voice echoed in his mind.
**"Ding! Host upgraded to Level 3! Maximum stat limit increased to 1200. Hard-Level Quests unlocked. Free Special Skill received: Appraisal."**
Ginger's eyes widened, sparkling with curiosity and excitement. "Level 3? Hard-Level Quests? And *Appraisal*?"
In the isekai webnovels he loved, *Appraisal* was a coveted skill, allowing the user to analyze objects, people, or monsters—revealing stats, weaknesses, and more. He immediately tested it on an acacia tree nearby.
Appraisal Activated: Acacia Tree
- Type: Ordinary Plant
- Description: A common tree in Barrio Tandang, its wood is used for tools, and its leaves for traditional medicine.
- Durability: 50/50
- Special Properties. None
"This is like a real-life cheat sheet!" Ginger exclaimed, thrilled. *Appraisal* would give him a critical edge in battles, especially for the dangerous missions ahead. But before he could plan further, a new menu appeared on the interface: Magic Skill Menu.
He opened it, revealing a list of magic skills divided into seven elemental categories: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Light, and Darkness. Selecting Fire, he saw five sub-categories based on magic level:
- Level 1 Fire Magic: 100 Magic Points
- Level 2 Fire Magic: 300 Magic Points
- Level 3 Fire Magic: 600 Magic Points
- Level 4 Fire Magic: 1500 Magic Points
- Level 5 Fire Magic: 2000 Magic Points
The system explained: **"Magic Points are earned through Hard-Level Quests or defeating high-level monsters. Magic Skills grant elemental-based powers, stronger than Basic Skills. As a starter bonus, you have been granted 100 Magic Points to acquire your first Magic Skill."**
Eager to test it, Ginger chose Level 1 Fire Magic: Fireball (100 Magic Points). A warm energy surged through his hands, and he felt the power to conjure a small orb of flame. He aimed at a dry leaf on the ground, and the leaf ignited in a tiny burst of fire. "This is awesome!" he exclaimed, though he knew he had to wield it carefully.
Moments later, a new notification flashed: **"Ding! Hard-Level Quest: Defeat the Goblin King on Shield Mountain within five days. Reward: 500 Hero Points, 600 Magic Points, Random High-Level Item. Penalty for Failure: All stats reset to 0."**
"Goblin King?!" Ginger's throat tightened. The penalty was brutal—resetting his stats would erase all his progress, a fate he couldn't accept. According to the system, the Goblin King was a Level 5 monster dwelling on Shield Mountain, miles from Barrio Tandang, commanding a horde of goblin warriors skilled in ambushes and wielding crude weapons.
"How am I supposed to fight that? It's got an army!" he muttered, his heart racing. Despite his Level 3 status and maxed-out base stats (600), his only magic skill was *Fireball*—hardly enough for such a foe. "I just need to be smart," he told himself, steeling his resolve.
The next morning, Ginger prepared early. Shield Mountain was a day's journey from Barrio Tandang, and he knew he faced a grueling fight. With **1000/1200 mana** (updated after his Level 3 upgrade), he opened **Create Item** and **Magic Skill Menu** to review his options:
- Mana-Infused Sword (25 mana): A sword capable of piercing thick armor.
- Major Healing Potion(20 mana): Heals moderate wounds in 5 seconds. - Enhanced Fire Trap(15 mana): A trap that releases flames when triggered.
- Mana Shield Upgrade (30 mana): Enhances Mana Shield, offering stronger protection.
He selected a Mana-Infused Sword , two Major Healing Potions (40 mana), three Enhanced Fire Traps (45 mana), and the **Mana Shield Upgrade** (30 mana), leaving 860/1200 mana. The sword was light yet razor-sharp, glowing faintly with mana. The potions shimmered in sleek vials, and the traps pulsed with red light when primed. His upgraded Mana Shield could now withstand stronger attacks.
In Basic Skill Creation, he added **Basic Combat Mastery to enhance his swordsmanship, reducing his mana to 840/1200. His Appraisal skill would be crucial for identifying the Goblin King's weaknesses.
Before departing, he said goodbye to Aling Nida. "Nay, I'll be gone a few days. Take care of things here."
"Ginger, be careful!" Aling Nida urged, her voice heavy with worry. "The creatures on Shield Mountain are dangerous. Come back safe."
He nodded, adjusting the Mana-Infused Cloak draped over his shoulders. The system's harsh penalties left no room for refusal.
The journey to Shield Mountain was arduous. The path was narrow and steep, flanked by jagged rocks and leafless trees. After nearly six hours, the air grew colder, tinged with a foul, decayed scent—a sign of goblin presence. Ginger's **Mana Sense** detected faint mana signatures from animals and occasional goblin scouts lurking in the shadows.
Reaching the mountain's base, Shield Mountain loomed like a fortress of jagged stone teeth, surrounded by a dark forest. As he approached, the sounds of combat echoed—shouts, clanging metal, and goblin snarls.
"A battle?" Ginger whispered, creeping closer. From a high rock, he saw a group of adventurers—three men and a woman, clad in armor and wielding weapons—fighting a swarm of goblin warriors. The goblins brandished crude spears and axes, their numbers overwhelming despite their weakness.
Using Appraisal Ginger assessed the scene:
Enemy: Goblin Warrior
- Level: 2
- Description: Minions of the Goblin King, weak but fast and skilled in group tactics.
- Weakness: Thin armor on their backs, vulnerable to fire.
Enemy: Goblin King (Not Present)**
- Level: 5
- Description: Leader of the goblin horde, capable of primitive magic and immense physical strength.
- Weakness: Not yet detected.
The adventurers were struggling. The goblins attacked from the shadows, and one adventurer—a swordsman—was bloodied and faltering. Ginger didn't hesitate. The Goblin King was nearby, and aiding the adventurers could give him an edge.
Moving swiftly with **Hero Agility**, he approached the battle, placing three Enhanced Fire Traps among the grass and rocks around the goblin hideout. His Basic Combat Mastery bolstered his confidence with the Mana-Infused Sword, and his upgraded Mana Shield was ready for surprises.
Spotting a goblin sneaking behind the female adventurer, Ginger activated Fireball. A small orb of flame shot from his hand, igniting the goblin in a burst of fire, allowing the adventurer to escape.
"Who are you?!" the woman shouted, her bow drawn, eyes wide with surprise and gratitude.
"Ginger, from Barrio Tandang!" he replied, slashing at another goblin. "I'll help you, but we need to find the Goblin King!"
The adventurers nodded, and together they fought. Ginger's Fireball was effective against the goblins' fire weakness, and his Appraisal pinpointed their vulnerable spots. The Mana-Infused Sword sliced through their armor, and the fire traps triggered, sowing chaos among the goblins and giving the adventurers a chance to regroup.
But the real challenge emerged when the Goblin King burst from a cave in the hideout's center. The beast towered nearly four meters, its stone-like skin glinting, wielding a massive iron axe. Its green eyes glowed, and each step shook the earth.
**"Ding! Detected: Goblin King. Danger: Level 5. Weakness: Vulnerable to coordinated magic attacks and strong physical strikes to its back."**
"Coordinated magic attacks? I've only got one!" Ginger muttered, but he stayed focused. Activating Basic Strength Boost and Basic Agility Boost, his body surged with power and speed. He shouted to the adventurers, "Its weakness is its back! Let's work together!"
The adventurers, startled by Ginger's command, quickly complied. The archer woman fired arrows at the Goblin King's legs, slowing it. Two male adventurers—one with a shield and sword—distracted it from the front, while Ginger used Hero Agility to flank the beast.
The Goblin King roared, a green aura enveloping it—a primitive magic shield protecting it from attacks. Ginger's Fireball struck the aura but failed to break it. "My Fireball's too weak for this!" he grumbled, but his **Mana Sense** detected a weak point in the aura—the center of the king's chest.
"Its chest!" Ginger yelled. With the Mana-Infused Sword, he leaped and struck the chest, while the archer fired a glowing magic arrow. Their combined assault shattered the aura, and the Goblin King staggered to its knees, but it wasn't done.
With a furious roar, the beast swung its axe, nearly hitting Ginger. His Mana Shield absorbed the blow, but the force nearly knocked him flat. In desperation, he used Appraisal again:
Goblin King Health: 20%
- Status: Weakened, but capable of a final devastating attack.
"It's almost down! Don't give up!" Ginger shouted. Using Basic Combat Mastery, he repositioned and fired another Fireball (10 mana) at the king's face to disorient it. Then, with a precise thrust of the Mana-Infused Sword, he struck the beast's back, hitting its weak point. The adventurers, inspired by his courage, pressed their attack. Their combined efforts brought the Goblin King crashing down, motionless.
**"Ding! Hard-Level Quest complete! Reward: 500 Hero Points, 300 Magic Points, Random High-Level Item: Ring of Mana Regeneration."**
Gasping for breath, Ginger sank to his knees, his mana at 590/1200. A **Ring of Mana Regeneration** appeared on his finger—a simple band with a soft blue glow, boosting mana regeneration by 50 per hour. His **Hero Points** rose to 500, and his Magic Points reached 300.
The adventurers approached, their faces filled with awe. "You're incredible!" said the archer, introducing herself Liya, a guild member from the capital. "Without you, that Goblin King would've wiped us out."
"Just doing my job," Ginger replied, shy under their praise. He didn't want fame—his goal was survival and growth, driven by the God Creation System. "I've gotta go," he added, declining their offer to join their group.
"Wait, what's your name?" Liya called as he turned away.
"Ginger!" he shouted back, hurrying off. With night falling, he found a nearby cave to rest. Using **Create Item**, he crafted a Comfortable Bedroll and a Mana-Created Feast—a spread of adobo, sinigang, and steaming rice that reminded him of Manila.
The flavors mirrored his mother's cooking on Earth, and for the first time in Lurra, a pang of homesickness hit him. As he ate, he opened the **Stats Menu** to allocate his 500 Hero Points
- Hero Attack: 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Magic: 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Mana Capacity: 50 (1 point = 3 Hero Points)
- Hero Strength: 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Agility* 25 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Defense 0 (1 point = 2 Hero Points)
- Hero Luck: 0
He spent 300 Hero Points to boost Hero Mana Capacity by 100 (to 150) and 200 Hero Points to increase Hero Attack by 100. His stats updated:
Mana Capacity: 1200 + 150 (Hero) = 1350
Attack 600 + 100 (Hero) = 700
His mana regeneration jumped to **135 mana/hour**, plus the ring's bonus. His Hero Attack enhanced the impact of his strikes, especially with the Mana-Infused Sword.
In the Magic Skill Menu, he used 300 Magic Points to unlock Level 2 Fire Magic: Flame Burst (300 Magic Points). A stronger version of Fireball, it dealt area damage. Testing it on a cave rock, the explosion left a scorched mark. "Way stronger than Fireball!" he said, grinning.
As he rested, the system chimed: **"Ding! New Hard-Level Quest: Defeat the Troll Warlord on Shield Mountain within seven days. Reward: 700 Hero Points, 500 Magic Points, Random High-Level Skill."**
"Troll Warlord? System, don't you ever take a break?" Ginger groaned, but his eyes burned with determination. His victory over the Goblin King fueled his confidence to face greater foes. His Mana Sense detected a powerful mana signature higher up the mountain, signaling the Troll Warlord's danger.
"Looks like I'm not going home yet," he muttered, lying on the bedroll. "I'll figure out how to take it down tomorrow. Today's been exhausting, and I just want to rest."
Clutching a medallion from Aling Nida—his adoptive mother figure in Lurra—he sank into deep thought. What was this world he'd been thrust into? What lay beyond their small village? The weight of his responsibilities pressed on him, but so did his resolve to rise as the God of Creation.
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End of Chapter