Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 349. Weird breakthrough requirements

"I need to hit 100 consecutive targets, and every single one of them has to be accurate. Along with that, there’s another requirement I can complete both in the gate and also in the real world," Clara explained before continuing.

"Defeat 20 Rare-grade beasts of at least Level 10 by specifically puncturing their ’Vitals’ using only throwing daggers," she said, emphasizing the word vitals.

Theo nodded. "These are doable; what about the last one?"

"It’s the only tricky one, young master." She said and looked at her status again and recited it word for word.

"Create 10 pieces of ’Master Rank Healing Gear’ using materials you personally harvested from beasts at least 3 levels higher than yourself."

Her words made Theo burst into a light laugh.

"So that means you need to make good-quality products from the silk I will provide you," Theo muttered.

Then a realization struck him.

"Wait... not just that. The silkworms themselves have to be Level 13?" Theo thought in surprise as he reread the sentence again in his mind.

Clara nodded with an awkward chuckle. She was about to explain further when the baron interrupted her.

"And that ’Master Rank Healing Gear’... do you all even understand what that means?" the baron asked, a judging frown forming on his face.

Theo maintained an oblivious yet curious face, while Clara and Elias shook their heads, making the baron sigh deeply.

"I guess the academy is really important to attend, whether one likes it or not," the baron spoke with another sigh. "No offense, Theo."

"None taken."

"In any trade skill, Master Rank is the second-highest ranking in terms of quality. It takes years of training for one to just reach that degree of mastery... and she has to make ten of them? That’s pure madness."

Now it was Theo’s turn to be dumbfounded. He truly hadn’t grasped what was going on at all.

Clara, too, was at a loss for words.

"But for you to get such a mission... I guess the benevolent artifact truly believes in your potential. That would explain such a tough requirement for leveling up," the baron muttered, a newfound light flashing in his eyes as he looked at Clara, who had a poker face, clearly not knowing how to react.

"And if she is able to complete these requirements and truly craft something of Master Rank, forget about keeping her by your side, Theo. She will be helping the entire barony by making gears," the baron spoke.

Theo turned to Clara and smiled brightly.

The baron blinked in surprise at the genuine reaction. He had expected Theo to fall silent or something after what he had just revealed.

"You have to complete this requirement as soon as possible, Clara," Theo said, patting Clara’s shoulder.

She accepted the gesture with a bright smile. "I will do my best."

"Alright, she is done. What about you?" the baron asked, turning to Elias, who, despite the cool and windy day, had sweat falling off his forehead.

"Well..." he muttered as he opened his status, only to fall silent for several long minutes.

"What is it, Elias?" Theo asked, a bad feeling creeping into him seeing how the guy was reacting.

"They are... a bit tricky, I would say..."

"JUST REVEAL THEM!" the baron shouted.

Startled, Elias immediately began blurting them out.

"Maintain a ’Hidden’ status for 12 consecutive hours in a Level 10+ beast’s territory while your beasts eliminate at least 20 beasts. You must not be directly targeted by a beast even once during this period."

While the others were still trying to process what the man had just said, he hit them with another requirement.

"Establish and maintain a Grade-A Fortified Camp in a high-hostility zone for seven days. This includes personally harvesting, butchering, and smoking 100 kg of Rare-grade meat."

"What is it with both your requirements?" Theo asked, not knowing whether he should laugh or cry.

He turned to his father while laughing, only to see him completely serious as he looked at Elias.

"That last requirement..." the baron began. "If you can pull off this requirement, which I know you can, it’s plain simple in theory, but not easy by any means," he said before continuing. "Then you can possibly become the best supportive member in Theo’s group... preferably in the barony as well."

Just like Clara before, Elias felt as if he was at a loss for words.

"Both my requirements are quite weird in comparison to what I have heard people receive, my lord. But I will do my best," Elias said, bowing slightly, first to the baron, then to Theo.

"Oh, don’t worry about weird," the baron replied. "Level 10 is always the beginning of some of the most unbelievable breakthrough requirements."

"And the annoying part is that they are not exactly all that hard to complete," he added. "Just very different. And weird, just like you said."

His words prompted a nod from everyone present.

"What about the rewards?" Theo asked. "Anything good?"

Both Clara and Elias stared at him, speechless. Even the baron simply looked at him as if he had said something outrageous.

"You do realize you are one of the only people who actually gets rewards for breaking through, right, young master?" Elias asked with an awkward chuckle.

Theo just looked at the guy and couldn’t help but say, "Huh..."

"The only reward we get for completing the requirements is the ability to break through and start leveling up again, young master," Clara explained, making Theo nod slowly. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He put up his poker face, something everyone seemed to have noticed but politely ignored.

"Like I said," the baron spoke mysteriously, a grin forming on the corner of his lips, "my instincts never lie to me, boy."

Theo nodded again.

"So... we have come to the conclusion that both of you have long-term requirements which may take some time. It’s the same for me..." Theo said and paused, thinking for a moment.

He looked at his father with that same contemplative gaze and muttered, "I think we should go back to the real world, Father. I think it’s time."

Just like that, the plan to leave the gate was set in motion and everybody seemed to be on board...

Except for the mantis, who clearly didn’t have any intentions of leaving such a jackpot behind and wanted to keep eating like a glutton.