Island Survival: Starts by chopping a tree-Chapter 35

[This Chapter is quite long, about 3,100 words. I hadn’t planned to split it into two Chapters, so you can spend less.]

"Finally, I level up, and a sequential mission? There’s actually such a thing! If I only knew that, I should have focused on killing rather than gathering experience points," Jeff exclaimed with a sigh.

Well, it already happened, so he had to forget since now he knows. "System, show me my status."

Status

Level: 2 (0/200)

Name: Jeff Anzon

Age: 18

Points: 60

Free points: 2

Attributes:

Str: 11 | Spd: 14 | Dex: 12 | Con: 10 | Int: 10 | End: 10 | Agi: 14

Skills: Woodcutter[1]

Techniques: Wing Chun[1]

Each of his attributes increased by one, except for intelligence. Seeing that he also had two free points for allocation, he decided to just let them stay there for future use.

[Congratulations for reaching level 2, Sequential mission has been unlocked]

"System, care to explain what’s a sequential mission?" Jeff asked.

He knew what it meant, but fully knowing its functions would help him to understand it more.

[Sequential Missions are tasks that you complete one after another. Upon completing a mission, you will receive the next one in a sequence. Each mission is designed to build upon your skills, increase your knowledge, and enhance your survival capabilities. The completion of each mission not only brings rewards but also ensures continuous progress and growth for the user.]

[Sequential Mission:

Mission: Permanent Shelter

Description: Since the Host has planned to only build a temporary shelter, the purpose of this mission is to motivate the Host to work harder and find his own permanent shelter.

Rewards: Experience Capsule (0) | 2 Levels | Lucky Spin

Expiration: 10 days]

Jeff, seeing the mission, was pretty much motivated. He couldn’t wait to complete it.

But there was one of the rewards that caught his eye: the ’Experience Capsule’.

"System, care to explain what an Experience Capsule is?" Jeff asked, not knowing what its function was.

[Item: Experience Capsule

Description: Experience Capsule, it will instantly fill the remaining experience points needed to unlock a new skill or upgrade a skill. This item had its limit depending on their grade level.]

"Could you clarify what ’grade level’ means for this capsule?" Jeff inquired, puzzled.

Subsequently, the system provided an answer by displaying the explanation.

Experience Capsule Grades:

Grade 0 (Beginner’s Capsule):

Description: This capsule is designed for beginners who are just starting to gather experience points.

Effect: Using this capsule will instantly fill the remaining points needed to reach the next level from the starting point.

Example: If your progress bar currently shows 45/100 exp to level up, using this capsule will fulfill the remaining exp needed.

Grade 1 (Level 1 Experience Capsule):

Description: This capsule is meant for those who are at Level 1 in a particular skill.

Effect: Using this capsule will instantly fill the remaining experience points needed to advance to the next level within that skill.

Example: If your progress bar currently shows 45/1000 exp to level up, using this capsule will fulfill the remaining exp needed.

Grade 2 (Level 2 Experience Capsule):

Description: Similar to the other grades but targeted at Level 2 skills.

Effect: Using this capsule will instantly fill the remaining experience points needed to advance to the next level from Level 2.

Example: If your progress bar currently shows 45/10,000 exp to level up, using this capsule will fulfill the remaining exp needed.

Grade 3 (Level 3 Experience Capsule):

...

As more and more explanations, which had the same function but in different levels, showed in the panel, Jeff asked yet again for clarifications.

"So, you mean is that if I use this, I can instantly fill the remaining exp and unlock a new skill?" But what he received was.

[Are you dumb?]

[Don’t make me repeat twice!]

The system scolded him, making him frown. He just wanted to clarify something, but what he received was this.

The system then showed a panel with an easy explanation.

Item usage:

Capsule (0): Use when you’re just starting out.

Capsule (1): Use when you’re already at Level 1 in a skill and need to fill the remaining exp.

Capsule (2): Use when you’re at Level 2 and need to fill the remaining exp to advance further.

[Understood?]

The system bellowed, showing a panel of sentences, which he just nodded his head, feeling speechless by this.

But he didn’t delve on it further since it was just an AI that was scolding him. A smile curved in his face. He couldn’t wait to complete the mission.

"First, I must gain experience and master the skill of archery. Then, I’ll move on understanding the way of the spear," Jeff mused, as he had no intention of using the capsule for either skill.

His plan was to apply the item to complete the progress bar get a skill related to medicine. By doing so, he would protect not only himself from illnesses but also those around him.

"I have ten days. I think practicing nonstop for one day will awaken me a skill," Jeff philosophically ejaculated in his magnificent handsome mouth.

After that mumbling and stuff, he looked at the fish on the ground. He caught five fish in total. Since he didn’t spot any fish anymore, they were likely scared off by him.

Even if he was careful, they still had some self-awareness, "I should make a fish trap so I don’t need to catch fish barehanded. But if I do that, then what about the progress bar for catching fish?" he said, looking at the progress bar.

[30/100 exp. Remains to unlock a skill]

If he caught 14 fish, then he could unlock this skill. He wondered what kind of skill it would turn out to be. Carrying the fish, he then walked back towards his shelter.

In a faraway place, far, far from the island. In a big mansion, inside a dining room, the room is greatly furnished with elegant tables and chairs.

There are three seats, but one is unoccupied. The atmosphere was solemn as the food on the table was not touched.

"Honey, are there any results?" a mature woman murmured softly. Her voice was hollow, as if a piece of her soul had been torn away.

The man, who was sitting across her was filled with self-blame hearing her inquiries.

His face was heavy with guilt. Since their son had gone missing, his wife had plunged into a deep depression, and her health had deteriorated severely.

She barely ate anymore, and the vibrant smile that once lit her face was gone. Most days, she sat by the window, staring blankly at the scenery outside, lost in thought.

The sight of her like this made his heart ache, as though it were being pierced by thousands of needles.

"Honey, I’m sorry," he said, his voice trembling with emotion.

"But I promise, we’ll find him. Please, you need to eat. You haven’t eaten in days, and this is only making you weaker."

With a sigh, he stood and walked toward her. Gently, he picked up a spoonful of rice and vegetables, holding it out to her as if coaxing a child.

But she didn’t respond. Her gaze remained distant, locked in a daze, as though she hadn’t even heard him.

The thought weighed heavily on him—it felt like he was on the verge of losing another person he deeply cared about.

His son was still missing at sea, and no one knew if he was dead or alive.

His people had scoured the world for any trace of the wreckage from the plane crash, survivors, anything.

But they found nothing. The absence of evidence gnawed at him, planting the dreadful thought that his son might truly be gone.

Yet, he couldn’t accept it. Even if there was just a 1% chance his son was alive, he would cling to that sliver of hope.

It was the sole thing preventing his breakdown. That, along with his wife. The thought of leaving her alone to find his son, even briefly, filled him with terror.

He was haunted by the fear that something irreversible would occur if he were absent.

"Honey, why don’t you eat? Look, the food is getting cold. You don’t want that, right?" he said gently, squatting down in front of her, waiting for her to respond.

"I’m not hungry," Rose replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

She didn’t even look at him, her expression was distant away.

She had lost so much weight, her face was pale, and hollow compared to that five days ago. His heart ached as he tried again, his tone soft yet firm.

"You still want to see our son, right, honey? What would he think if he came back and saw you like this? Is that what you want?" He paused, his voice trembling as he added, "Our son wouldn’t want this."

Rose’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of light at his words. Though hesitant at first, she couldn’t bear the thought of her son worrying about her if he returned and saw her like this.

Slowly, she took the spoon of food from in front of her and began to eat.

Evan sighed in relief. Why hadn’t he thought of this approach sooner?

As he watched Rose eat, a sudden image of an old man flashed in his mind. He frowned and tried to push it away, but the thought lingered stubbornly.

Rose paused mid-bite and glanced at him, "Why don’t we ask Dad for help?" she suggested, her voice quiet but filled with hope. Her gaze was fixed on him, full of expectation.

Evan stiffened. Hearing her mention his father, especially when the old man had just crossed his mind, left him in a difficult position.

Of course, he missed his father. How could he not? But memories of the old man’s relentless insistence to pass on the title of family head to him resurfaced, reopening old wounds.

It was the reason Evan had refused to meet him and why he had run away from home, spending years evading the people his father sent to bring him back. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Now, he found himself caught between pride and desperation.

That was when Evan met Rose. He had stumbled upon her in mountain village while running away, exhausted and disheveled from escaping.

She was graceful, beautiful, and, above all, kind the qualities that captivated his heart and tied it in a knot.

Months of persistent courting finally won her over, and after years of dating, they got married.

During that time, Evan also began building his own force, though he knew it was nothing compared to his father. His power was like a fragile needle trying to challenge a blade.

But still, if compared to normal people, his power and influence are not something that can be offended by anyone.

The happiest moment of his life came when Rose announced she was pregnant.

He was overjoyed, feeling like the luckiest man in the world is him. When she gave birth, his heart swelled with pride and happiness.

But their bliss was short-lived. Only a day after the birth, while they were relaxing in the living room, the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang.

Startled, Evan turned toward the source of the commotion. His heart sank when he saw the figure standing in the doorway—it was none other than his father.

"Did you really think I wouldn’t have spies watching you?" the old man barked, his voice thunderous with rage.

"Where is my grandson? The child this woman has given birth to?"

His words sent a chill through Evan. Rose, cradling the baby in her arms, trembled at the sight of the imposing man who had barged into their home.

But amidst her fear, she caught onto his words—grandson.

Realization dawned on her. This old man barging in had to be Evan’s father—the man her husband never spoke about, which made him a mystery to her.

"Why are you standing there frozen like an idiot? Am I not welcome here?" the old man snorted, his long white hair swaying in the breeze from the open door.

His sharp, piercing eyes revealed that he was no ordinary old man clinging to the edge of life.

On the contrary, he radiated vitality, like someone who could easily live another hundred years.

"Not welcome? Dad, what are you saying? Of course, you’re welcome!" Evan replied, clasping his hands together nervously, a strained smile plastered on his face.

Internally, however, he was cursing. ’Why is this old devil here?!’ But he dared not show his frustration, terrified of getting scolded or the worst thing getting beat up.

The old man ignored Evan’s feeble attempt to please him. His gaze shifted to the woman beside him.

With a sudden gust of wind, he vanished from the doorway and reappeared directly in front of Rose.

Startled, Rose froze, her heart racing as though she had just seen a ghost. But within moments, she calmed herself. The man standing before her wasn’t an enemy; he was family.

The old man’s attention fell on the baby cradled in her arms. His sharp expression softened slightly as his gaze lingered on the child.

After a moment, he looked at Rose and asked, "What’s his name?"

Rose was taken aback by the sudden question but quickly recovered, offering a warm smile.

"Jeff Anzon, the child’s name is Jeff Anzon" she answered softly, a beautiful smile was blooming on her face.

The old man stroked his white beard thoughtfully, his eyes drifting toward the ceiling.

"That’s a good name," he said, inwardly he was filled with delight and happiness.

His gaze then turned sharp as he looked at Evan, "Since you’re already so old, I decided to pass it to him." he said seriously.

Evan couldn’t bring himself to agree with his father’s words, even as he feared his son might one day reject the path set before him.

But then, the old man’s gaze softened unexpectedly, and he spoke in a calm, almost weary tone.

"I’m already old, Evan. You’re the only child I have. As for our bloodline, I don’t think I need to explain it right," the old man said with a sigh, his voice heavy with unspoken weight.

Evan fell silent, his inner conflict written all over his face. Rose, on the other hand, looked puzzled.

"What bloodline is your father talking about?" she asked, her confusion was evident.

The question caused both men to pause. The old man glanced at Evan before speaking with a faint smirk.

"Do I really need to explain it to her?"

Evan shook his head, taking it upon himself to explain everything to Rose.

He spoke carefully, revealing truths about their family, their lineage, and the power and responsibilities that came with it.

Rose listened attentively, her expression shifting from confusion to sadness. Yet, despite the revelations, she managed a bittersweet smile.

She felt both overwhelmed and grateful, grateful that she had birth to a child, even in the face of these daunting truths.

Evan continued, explaining not only their bloodline but also his true identity and that of his father. The more she listened, the more surreal it felt, as though she were living in a fairy tale.

The old man’s voice broke the silence again, "I will return in 20 years," he said firmly.

"When that time comes, I’ll take my grandson to be trained so he can inherit what you rejected. Please understand, Evan. You don’t want to be the one to break our family’s traditions—rules that have been passed down for generations right." the old man said seriously.

Evan hesitated, the weight of his father’s words pressing on him. But hearing the almost pleading tone in his father’s voice, he couldn’t refuse. In the end, he accepted.

Rose, too, accepted the decision. After hearing the full story of why her husband had run from his past and ended up in her small village, she couldn’t bring herself to protest.

Though it pained her, Rose respected their family traditions. She knew that after her son left with the old man, she can still visit him, so she had nothing to worry about.

She already accepted it as part of the life she had chosen by marrying Evan.

After delivering his decision, the old man stayed for a while to enjoy a rare family reunion and celebrate the birth of his grandson.

Despite his stern demeanor, he seemed genuinely happy to welcome the newest member of the family his grandson.

Before leaving, the old man told them, "If you ever encounter problems, don’t hesitate to come to me."

"Heh, why would I need your help? You should know that I’m powerful enough on my own now," Evan said with a smirk, clearly trying to assert his independence.

The old man just snorted in disdain, his eyes narrowing. "You insolent kid! You’re only powerful compared to ordinary people. Don’t get too arrogant."

Evan remained unfazed, "Don’t worry, I can handle myself. If I ever need your help, I’ll strip away my identity and return to live with you," he said confidently.

The old man, hearing this, felt that he wasn’t in the losing end, so he smiled and agreed.

"I will be going now. Take care of my grandson. If I ever see that he’s hurt one bit, I’ll beat you up," he said, full of threat.

The old man then glanced at Rose and smiled softly as he bid his farewell, which Rose replied with a farewell as well, filled with reluctance, seeing that he actually wasn’t so bad from her expectations.

Back in the current time, Evan simply nodded from her, though inwardly, he was still reluctant to visit his father since their bet was still active.

But now, things were different. The current situation left Evan with no other choice. He needed his father’s help.

"Sure," Evan finally said.

"We’ll leave tomorrow. It’ll take at least a week to get there—it’s a very long journey." he said.

Rose’s face lit up at his response. She had long wanted to suggest in seeking his father in law’s help earlier but had refrained out of respect for Evan’s feelings.

Now that he had agreed, her spirits lifted, and a renewed energy flowed through her.

"Thank you," she said softly, her smile bright and full of hope as he kissed him in the lips.

It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and for the first time in days, she felt truly optimistic about the findings.