32. Monster Hunting For Beginners

After leaving a walled town, Rufus leads the team off-road to a noticeboard-listed target and assigns the hunt to Jason. The monster is a giant desert maw spider. Jason fights alone, takes heavy injuries, and finishes it, using blood harvest to partially heal before looting gems and receiving rewards.

Farrah produces crystal wash to clean Jason, leading to brief banter about his floral scent and outworlder oddities. They resume travel, stop at a village with a small aperture, and Rufus demonstrates copying notices using his Adventure Society badge.

Rufus selects a lesser earth elemental for a second test. As anticipated, Jason’s curses and necrotic damage fail, and the elemental self-repairs. Under heavy blows, Jason improvises: he lifts the creature off the ground, preventing replenishment from the earth, and stabs persistently until it collapses.

Jason refuses a healing potion, insisting on recovering via his familiar to strengthen that ability. He loots materials, quintessence, a core, and coins, then staggers back toward the road. Rufus admits Jason taught him about determination and paying the price for victory, while Gary notes Jason’s tactical insight and potential as an adventurer.