Cherreads

Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: The Grind Begins

Kael and Riven stood at the Tier I board, eyes scanning the job list like seasoned adventurers now. No flashy dragons. No collapsing mines. Just simple, steady work—the kind that builds experience, coin, and survival skills.

[HUNT: Grumblepuff Nest – Tier I]

Small ground beasts, harmless in ones—but territorial in packs. Drop edible meat and tough hide.

Location: Mossbark Glade

Rewards: 50 EXP / 10 Arcshine / 3x Grumblepuff Meat

[GATHER: Glowcap Mushrooms – Tier I]

Glowing caps used for potions and food. Watch for Slimes.

Location: Myco Hollow

Rewards: 60 EXP / 1 Rare Ingredient

[HUNT: Breezehoppers – Tier I]

Tiny wind-elemental creatures, fast but fragile. Can be cooked or sold.

Location: Cliffmeadow Ridge

Rewards: 45 EXP / Wind Essence / Breezehopper Meat

[DELIVERY: Fresh Provisions to East Market]

Non-combat job. Fast coin, no risk.

Rewards: 25 EXP / 20 Arcshine

They took all three hunting quests and set out—determined to reach level 12 before climbing into Tier II.

Mini Montage – The Hunt Loop

• Mossbark Glade: Kael swept through a pack of bouncing, fluffy Grumblepuffs, using Blade Rush to slice through the herd. Riven trailed behind, picking off stragglers and grabbing the dropped meat.

+50 EXP

Grumblepuff Meat x6 / Hide x4

• Myco Hollow: Mushrooms glowed in the dim mist. Slimes dropped from above—Kael cut them midair, and Riven used Silent Strike to finish the ones that regenerated. The caps pulsed with faint magic.

+60 EXP

Glowcap x7 / Slime Core x2

• Cliffmeadow Ridge: Breezehoppers zipped through the wind, tiny but annoying. Riven got creative—using a crosswind scroll to force them downward while Kael batted them out of the air like bugs.

+45 EXP

Breezehopper Meat x5 / Wind Essence x3

They camped out at a small rest shrine just outside the city—fire crackling, meat cooking, soft music from a passing bard drifting on the wind. Kael's menu popped up:

[KAEL] – LEVEL 11

EXP to next level: 210

Inventory:

– Grumblepuff Meat x12

– Glowcap x7

– Wind Essence x3

– Cooked Rations x5

[RIVEN] – LEVEL 11

EXP to next level: 175

New Passive: Quick Draw (Dagger attacks initiate faster in combat)

New Recipe: Cooked Breezehopper + Glowcap Stew (Restores HP & Boosts Speed)

Riven stirred the pot. "One more solid round of these, and we hit level 12."

Kael bit into some grilled puff meat. "Better than eating mystery jerky from mine tunnels."

They laughed, the firelight flickering in their eyes.

The grind was real—but so was the progress.

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