C2 Tina's Help
In the eastern part of the city, there was a spot reminiscent of a bar, but it was stripped of music and light, giving it a rather plain and rustic vibe. Matthew found himself wandering into this place after Arthur had vanished, his expression broadcasting despair. He would occasionally glance at his panel; aside from being at level 1, everything else was a flat zero.
"Hey there, good-looking, why the long face? Did someone break your heart?" A striking woman of mixed heritage tapped Matthew on the shoulder, her ample bosom threatening to escape her neckline, revealing a glimpse of creamy skin. Matthew gulped, the woman seemingly oblivious to the allure she effortlessly exuded, offering him a languid smile. "You're new here, aren't you? Need a card?" Just as Matthew was daydreaming about future possibilities, she dropped this bombshell.
"For me?" Matthew was visibly anxious. He was somewhat lascivious by nature, but definitely the type to lack the courage to act on his desires. He couldn't believe his luck.
Seeing Matthew's virginal awkwardness amused her, and she adopted a more relaxed tone. "I'll lend it to you, but there's interest involved."
With a laugh, she produced a golden card, giving it a little wave before handing it over to Matthew.
Card Name: Demeter
Card Type: Warrior/Assassin
Quality: White
Usage: Summon Hero Demeter
Note: Dionysos, at your service! Charge forth with vigor!
"This card combines two attributes and has a combat power of 35. It should help you achieve an A rating. When you do, you'll owe me either two rare cards or three common ones." Noticing Matthew's bewildered look, she expressed her surprise, "You're not aware of the dungeon aspect, are you?"
Scratching his head sheepishly, Matthew mumbled, "I haven't gotten around to it yet."
The woman, still in high spirits, decided to enlighten him. "Well, let me do my good deed for the day and fill you in."
"We're currently in the game's outer area. Once you hit level 20, you can move on to the inner area," she said wistfully, then continued, "This is also known as the newbie protection zone because the system safeguards everyone's life here. Periodically, the system assigns you a dungeon mission. Complete it, and you'll earn card packs or even items to enhance your abilities. Though, those aren't necessary in the newbie zone where your own strength isn't a big deal. Plus, your first dungeon run yields extra rewards—a little perk for beginners."
Matthew nodded, understanding that it wasn't unusual for games to offer some initial perks.
"But if you fail, you'll lose 10 years of your HP!" Tina's voice took on a grave tone.
"What? Is this some kind of fantasy? A game that can cost you your life?" Matthew was starting to regret his decision to play.
"Additionally, the system's missions come with a time limit. Sure, you can extend it with gold coins, but that will cost you a pretty penny. If your HP runs out, you'll... die!" There's a shop on the west side of town where you can check your remaining lifespan. A lot of people go crazy when they realize they don't have much time left. The system prohibits private fighting, so there's a rumor that women have a natural advantage in this game." Tina's voice dropped, hinting at unpleasant memories.
Matthew picked up on her mood and wisely chose not to probe further.
The air grew tense until Tina, sensing the discomfort, inhaled deeply and said, "Well, do you want to go see how many years you have left?"
"Is death in the game for real?" Matthew was clearly out of sync with the conversation.
"I've seen someone run out of HP and die right before my eyes. And afterwards, the body just disappeared, as if they had never existed." Tina's even tone sent chills down Matthew's spine.
"Then... then... Nana, let's head to the west side of the city," Matthew said, managing a smile despite his inner fear.
"You're braver than I thought. I'll fill you in on a few more things to watch out for. Let's walk and talk." Tina got up and headed out, with Matthew quickly on her heels.
"After we check your remaining lifespan, you should explore the city. Some shops offer life-related quests where you can earn gold coins. When you're ready for an instance dungeon quest, just let me know. Oh, and we should add each other as friends first."
"Player 'Tina' has sent you a friend request. Do you accept?" Matthew didn't hesitate to click 'Yes.'
"Do you see that horn next to me? You can use it to talk to me, but just so you know, I'm usually pretty busy." They had arrived at the place to check HP.
Before them stood a shop that closely resembled the card shop. It was easy to miss the difference unless you looked closely. Inside, it was a different story—a massive blue crystal ball stood at the center, its glow illuminating the room. No NPCs were present. Tina explained that such crucial shops were directly managed by the system, hence no NPCs and no quests. "Just place your palm on the crystal ball to see your remaining HP." Matthew steadied his trembling hand and pressed it against the crystal ball.
Ding - Scanning in progress...
Name: Matthew
HP: 26/92
Physical Condition: Weak
"Little brother, how much longer do you have?" Tina approached with a teasing tone.
"I've got about 66 years left, I reckon. But what does 'weak physical condition' mean?" Matthew pondered the question.
"Quite the lifespan you've got there. Your physical condition indicates that if your body is in good shape, your HP cap would be higher. In dungeon quests, you can acquire items to bolster your physique, but from what I've heard, even after using a Strengthening Potion, the most you can add to your lifespan is two years. However, these items can be sold to black-robed merchants in exchange for a premium card, so most people opt for the card trade."
"Why? Isn't living an extra two years beneficial?" Matthew was perplexed.
Tina chuckled. "Do you really think the quests are a walk in the park? Without top-tier cards, you won't stand a chance. The initial stages are crucial. As for the later stages, they're far from simple. Fail once, and you might find yourself on a losing streak until..."
"Okay, little brother, I've got to run. You should look into what to watch out for in the dungeon quests," she said, leaving Matthew with a glimpse of her departing figure.
Over the following days, Matthew swiftly got the hang of this new world. Heeding Tina's advice, he sought out NPC shops, took on several quests to make some cash, and discovered that in dungeon quests, he could direct heroes in battle or even take direct control. Additionally, every three levels gained allowed for multiple heroes to enter the fray simultaneously, enabling various strategic combinations like the Shield Thrust or the 6 Magician's Ambush. Yet, for the time being, these strategies seemed out of his reach.
Half a month later, a notification chimed, "Ding! You have new mail. Please check it promptly..."
Matthew opened the mail to find the details...
Mission Name: Shadow Civet Eradication
Mission Location: Dark Forest
Mission Content: Eliminate 20 Shadow Civets
Number of Participants: 1
Mission Deadline: 5 days
Note: Abandoning or failing the mission will result in a 10-year deduction from your HP. You have 24 hours to proceed to the Dark Forest and complete the mission. Successful completion will yield a substantial reward...
Please select to forfeit or accept.
"It's finally here..." Matthew took a deep breath to steady himself, then immediately clicked to call Tina. He had come to the realization that navigating this game without a seasoned player was damn tough.
*Beep! Beep! Beep!*
"Hmm? Is that the mission? Meet me at the bar we were at last time," Tina said decisively.
"Got it!" Being able to make a remote call without a phone wasn't too shabby. With that thought, Matthew hurried off to the bar they had visited previously.