Faced with the choice of battling an unknown guardian beast or spending 1,000 Courage Points to unlock a Mystery Chest, Broken found himself deep in contemplation.
"If I go for the first option," he mused, "I'll likely face monsters with a minimum level of 150, as this domain is meant for players at that level or higher. On the flip side, if I choose the second option, I risk losing my Courage Points and potentially being expelled from the domain."
He stood in silence for a moment before stepping back carefully and sitting cross-legged before the two stones. "Both options demand bravery and resilience," he reflected aloud, "but the second option seems like a gamble. I have no clue what's in the mystery chest- could be anything from treasures to more monsters."
He carefully analyzed the situation, searching for any possible advantages he could leverage with his current resources and abilities. "Might the Bountiful Harvest affect this Mystery Chest?" he wondered aloud.
[Bountiful Harvest (Passive Skill)]
[Grants the user bonus rewards from defeating his opponents, increasing the likelihood of obtaining rare rewards or even doubling them.]
[A high probability of raising the reward grade by one level.]
[A small probability of raising the reward grade by two levels.]
[A minuscule probability of getting the reward twice.]
"Bountiful Harvest primarily mentions rewards from slaying monsters," he pondered, "but I also have a Luck stat that might provide extra benefits."
After pondering for some time, he finally stood up and drew his sword, feeling confident in his decision.
"I'm more terrified of the second option than the first-ironically." With that, he surged forward and struck the second boulder with his blade.
The rock shattered instantly, revealing a wooden chest adorned with golden carvings. He grinned and approached the chest, heart pounding. As the lid creaked open, he held his breath.
[You decided to go with the second option, costing you 1,000 Courage Points.]
As the chest opened, a string of objects shot out and flew directly toward him.
[You earned 500 Courage Points.]
[You earned 200 Courage Points.]
[You earned 500 Courage Points.]
[You earned 200 Courage Points.]
[You received 1/10 of the Lone Survivor of a Forgone Era tale sheet]
[The first obstacle has been conquered.]
[Your Courage Points have been doubled as a reward.]
[Name: Broken]
[Courage Points: 2,800]
Broken couldn't help but smile when he realized his gamble had paid off. The rewards from the Mystery Chest offered a glimmer of hope, giving him a sense of satisfaction despite knowing that this was merely the beginning of a much larger challenge.
"The first option might have been unpredictable and grueling, but fighting monsters is a risk I can anticipate," he thought. "Meanwhile, the second option felt more like a trap, yet it seems my choice has paid off handsomely this time." He exhaled a sigh of relief, glad that the outcome aligned with his expectations.
Among the items in the chest, he noticed an old, weathered piece of paper with writing on it.
[1/10 - The Lone Survivor of a Forgone Era]
[She was the hope. The chosen one.]
"What is this?" Broken murmured, reading the message slowly. "The Lone Survivor of a Forgone Era?"
The game Immortal Legacy is known for its vast, intricate timeline, spanning thousands of years leading up to its release, allowing players to step into a world rich with history. This complex narrative is made possible by advanced AI technology that simulates centuries of history within a much shorter time frame.
Crossing his arms, he pondered aloud, "I wonder if this is linked to the game's lore. Given that this is a high-level domain, it's likely connected to the main plot."
Yunatea, the world of Immortal Legacy, is filled with countless stories and legends, with each place, faction, and race having its own unique saga. From the six continents to the sprawling empires, various races, and numerous deities, the lore is vast and intricate. Only those who dedicate themselves to the study of Yunatea's lore can hope to remember it all.
"She was the hope and the chosen one?" Broken frowned, contemplating the message's meaning. "Could this be about Princess Alora? It seems unlikely. Given the title, 'Forgone Era,' Princess Alora seems too young to be involved in such ancient lore."
His mind raced with possibilities, but one thing was certain: the mystery was far from solved.
He carefully placed all the newly acquired items into his Inventory, planning to discuss them with Freya once he logged out. Freya seemed to know more about the game than he did. Additionally, he realized that in order to fully grasp the storyline, which appeared to be divided into ten parts, he would need to complete all ten challenges to see the full picture.
"Alright, let's head to the next island," he declared, making his way to the edge of the floating isle. A powerful gust of wind caused the bridge connecting this island to the next to sway violently.
He gulped, contemplating the potential fall if he were to misstep. With a grave expression, he looked down. Despite knowing it was a game, it felt real to him, and the peril was palpable. The realism of the game made such experiences thoroughly challenging, and the fragile- looking, swaying wooden bridge heightened the sense of danger. If he slipped, he would definitely fall!
"If I fall, I surely won't be able to complete this domain, right?" he thought apprehensively. "Master..." A voice broke his concentration. He turned to see Polly appear nearby.
"Polly?"
"I heard your call. Did you need something, Master?"
"I didn't summon you, did I?" Broken responded, surprise tinging his voice.
As he eyed Polly, an idea took shape. His gaze shifted to the long, precarious bridge, shrouded
in clouds, stretching at least twice the length of a football field.
"Can you help me cross this bridge?" he asked, hoping to entrust the task to Polly, who was
far more agile.
Polly immediately transformed into a larger form. "Master, I can do this."
Broken quickly got onto Polly's back. "Alright, Polly, make sure we get to the next island safely. It's really important for us to complete this challenge, okay?"
"Yes, Master."
The transformed three-tailed fox bounded towards the wooden bridge with a determined thud. Clinging tightly to her, Broken kept his eyes open, displaying his courage. Polly leaped across the bridge with impressive agility, navigating over the gaps and cracks. The wind whipped around them, causing the bridge to sway and creak under the strain, yet
she pressed on without faltering.
Polly's presence really gave him an incredible advantage, as crossing the bridge turned out to be no easy task. The bridge swayed wildly, especially when they reached the middle, but Polly dashed forward even as strong winds tossed the bridge around, nearly flipping it over. Broken held on tightly to Polly as the three-tailed fox sped across.
Even though the journey took less than a minute, it felt much longer. In under a minute, they reached the end of the bridge. As Broken stepped onto the island, a message appeared before
his eyes, surprising him.
[The second challenge has been conquered.]
"What?!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Are you sure?!"