"Ding! Select the task to complete and reward 3% completion of the Garp template."
As the system chimed, Jason immediately felt a surge of energy flood into his body. His total completion of the Garp template now reached 33%.
Though his power was growing, it was still a distance from mastering another part of the Navy's Six Powers. Yet, with Jack and the others leveling up to 30, a 10% boost was within reach.
Jason, in a good mood, glanced at Jack and the others, who were shouting in excitement.
He understood their need to vent. After all, over the past six days, they had endured grueling training that would break most people. Their nerves had been pushed to the limit, but the experience brought great rewards.
This victory meant more to them than just triumph—it proved something.
It proved their hard work had paid off, that they were no longer their weaker selves.
Now, they'd walk forward with newfound confidence, ready to face any enemy, no matter how strong, with the belief that they could overcome.
Jason turned and retrieved an umbrella from the carriage. Opening it, he stepped out into the pouring rain and slowly walked over to Ren. "Are you convinced?" he asked, his voice calm.
Hearing Jason's voice, Ren snapped out of the despair he'd fallen into.
"How could I not be?" Ren said with a bitter smile. "Not only can I not defeat you, but even Raphtalia standing beside you... I'm not her match anymore. Even if she did catch me off guard, I can tell that in a one-on-one fight, she'd still beat me. Her sword is so much faster than mine."
Despite his frustrations, Ren had the admirable quality of being able to face the truth.
Jason nodded slightly. "You're right, you're no match for Raphtalia. After all, I trained her. Here, take some medicine so you don't die."
Jason tossed Ren a red bottle. He still needed Ren for future tasks, so letting him die wasn't an option.
Ren caught the bottle, looking at Jason in surprise. It wasn't that he hadn't expected Jason to save him—it was the way Jason was looking at him. The gaze was... like how someone would look at a hen that could lay golden eggs.
Still, Ren gratefully gulped down the potion, restoring his health, a perk of being a hero in this world.
Jason ignored Ren and walked over to Jack and the others.
Seeing him approach, they stopped their shouts, knelt on one knee, and said in unison, "Master Shield Hero, we've completed the task!"
Despite their bodies being covered in wounds, their eyes were filled with excitement, and smiles of accomplishment played at the corners of their lips.
"Are you proud of yourselves for defeating an opponent stronger than you? Happy with your sense of achievement?"
Jason's indifferent gaze made their smiles falter, and they slowly lowered their heads.
"Look at you. You're all injured, and you've left your opponents in shambles too…"
He casually grabbed a near-dead adventurer from the ground, pointing at the torn equipment. "See this? His armor is ripped to shreds by you, and now it's worthless. Even if you took it off, you couldn't sell it for much."
"If you're strong enough, cut off your enemy's head cleanly. That way, they're dead, and the spoils remain intact."
"If you're not, go for their eyes, throat, or anywhere unprotected by armor. Kick them below the belt if you have to."
Jason gestured toward the adventurer as he spoke, his tone a mix of annoyance and instruction.
Jack and the others nodded quickly, scribbling down notes despite the rain-soaked paper. When their arms couldn't hold more ink, they started writing on each other's backs.
From a distance, Ren shuddered, hearing the ruthless instructions and seeing the intensity with which Jack and the others recorded every word. They were so eager to learn that they ignored the pain from their wounds. If Jason's training continued at this pace, their team wouldn't just become powerful—they would be terrifying, like a group of demons.
"Alright, that's enough for today's lesson. Did you all get that?"
Jason tossed the adventurer aside carelessly.
"Got it!" Jack and the others responded in unison.
"Good. Despite your mistakes and lack of experience, you did well overall. Congratulations, you've taken a huge step forward."
Hearing this praise, smiles of satisfaction spread across their faces.
"Did you hear that? Master Shield Hero praised me!"
"No way, he was clearly talking about me!"
"Enough, stop arguing! He was praising all of us."
For them, there was no greater joy than receiving praise from Jason.
"Alright, treat your wounds and gather anything worth taking."
Jason smiled slightly as he handed out more medicine to the group. Despite their squabbling, he appreciated their progress.
Just then, a loud thudding sound broke through the air.
Though the battle had ended, Jason turned toward the noise and saw Filo beating up Ren's dragon mount in the corner.
"Filo really has it out for dragons," Jason muttered to himself.
"Filo, that's enough. The dragon rider is already in bad shape thanks to you."
"Okay!" Filo chirped, skipping over to Jason. After a few steps, though, she seemed to remember something, turned back, and gave the dragon a few more kicks before heading back, her head held high with pride.
Jason chuckled.
Once Jack and the others had patched themselves up, they began the real operation.
Jason's rule was simple: take everything you can. If you can't take it now, come back for it later.
Of course, Jack and the others had fully embraced Jason's principles. With two carriages at their disposal, they had no fear of running out of space for their loot.
So, Ren and the adventurers had everything of value taken from them—dragon materials, medicines, and even the tattered equipment the adventurers had on them. Nothing was spared.
Even if the gear couldn't be used, it could still be sold as scrap.
By the end, aside from the holy sword still clutched in Ren's hand, they were stripped down to nothing, like newborns.
Looking at Ren and the adventurers, Jason suddenly had a thought—if they encountered monsters in this desolate mountain, they might die before reaching safety. With a slight smirk, he tossed some medicine their way. "Don't give me that look. I'm actually a kind person. Take these medicines, use them however you want, and no need to thank me."
"Thanks!" Ren blurted out instinctively. But after a moment, he realized something was off. The medicine was actually what he had brought with him originally.
"Wait a minute!"
Ren suddenly called out.
"What is it?" Jason turned, expecting Ren to lash out and call him shameless.
"Can you tell me how to become stronger?"
Ren's words caught Jason completely off guard. He had never expected Ren to lower himself and ask for help.
Jason was genuinely surprised, but was he the type to offer guidance so freely?
Of course not.
"You want to learn? Kneel down and beg me," Jason said, a sly grin creeping across his face.