C7 Crystal Mission

After selecting manipulation mode, Matthew released both Tyler and Athena. Despite the lack of a binding effect, the quality was top-notch. Matthew soon realized that manipulation mode was more complex than he initially thought. Previously, with only Tyler as a hero, the experience was exhilarating. Now, managing two heroes proved to be somewhat challenging. Once he got the hang of it, Matthew took the opportunity to survey his surroundings. All he could see was an expanse of yellow sand, not a trace of anything else. He wondered where he could possibly find the crystal, internally voicing his frustration.

Matthew offered a sincere prayer to Buddha, who advised heading east. Contrarily, he steered the two heroes westward. Along the way, Matthew worked on mastering the art of multitasking. Eventually, he discovered a few tricks: focusing on controlling one hero while just keeping an eye on the other's positioning to avoid any pitfalls. He noted that even without his guidance, they would still use their skills, albeit clumsily and often inaccurately. He realized that he only needed to step in and take control at crucial moments.

After a lengthy trek without any sign of crystal stones, Matthew couldn't help but feel the system was playing a cruel joke, stranding them in a desert. The Hero Card's stamina was depleting rapidly. Much like humans, the Hero Card was susceptible to various negative states that hastened stamina loss. Thankfully, Buddha's blessings seemed to be with Matthew. After cycling through the Hero Card, he was relieved to finally spot some greenery ahead, signaling the end of the dreaded desert. He breathed a sigh of relief, having feared that the mission might end in failure amidst the sands.

The presence of greenery indicated a water source. Approaching the water's edge in the desert, Matthew watched as Tyler's dehydration status vanished without even seeing him drink—truly a wonder, as if absorbing moisture from the air. After a brief rest, Matthew pressed on, mindful of the mission's time constraints.

Continuing on, Matthew encountered an NPC. It was unmistakable—an NPC in a black cloak standing at attention on the desert's fringe. Approaching, Matthew discovered he could engage in conversation.

"Noble warrior, welcome to the Tamu Desert. You're about to face many perils. As a merchant, I offer a wealth of treasures at bargain prices. Might you be interested?" inquired the black-robed merchant, bowing slightly.

Matthew eagerly perused the black-robed merchant's wares. A detector? That was a must-buy. It seemed the system had a bit of a conscience after all. Truth be told, it wasn't really the system's fault. The teleportation destinations it provided were random, but if they turned out to be particularly harsh, the system would offer some form of compensation. This NPC was Matthew's compensation. After purchasing the detector, Matthew was left with just over 60 gold coins. There were plenty of tempting items, but they were out of his financial reach. Ultimately, he settled on a Hero Refining Pill, which, as the name implies, could enhance a card's quality; and a bottle of Experience Potion, which could only be used outside of the dungeon. The detector, however, was immediately usable, as its description read:

Name: Slightly Damaged Detector

Function: Treasure Detection

Type: Dungeon item, cannot be taken out of the dungeon, not for sale

Note: It may have other uses as well.

After fiddling with it for a bit, Matthew found it was quite straightforward to operate. He silently thought of the Flameheart Gem, "Scanning the land within a two-kilometer radius... No such item, no such item..." He was tempted to throw it away in frustration but reconsidered, thinking about the potential consequences of failing his mission.

Matthew, using manipulation mode, guided Tyler to press on through their journey. His last visit to the Dark Forest had been as an observer, and he hadn't scrutinized the surroundings as closely as he did now. This time, he noticed that the graphical quality seemed subpar. The nearby plants had a pixelated, rough texture, as if they had been hastily enlarged. It was as though the creator had sketched them with minimal effort. Once again, the game system's lack of finesse was evident. It was adept at deducting life points in a fantastical manner, but when it came to creating a dungeon, it seemed to cut corners. At least the characters on the cards were crafted with precision and care.

"Flameheart Gem detected 500 meters ahead," the detector announced. Tyler, spurred on by the message, dashed forward. "Approaching your destination; the Flameheart Gem is to your right." Without the reliable detector, Matthew would never have spotted the dark red stone almost perfectly camouflaged against the environment.

Name: Flameheart Gem

Function: Unknown

[Type: Mission Item]

[Remarks: A distinctive crystal from Tamu Star, rich in fire attribute energy. It is a warm stone.]

Matthew persevered in his exploration, managing to gather 11 Flameheart Gems just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

As the gentle night enveloped him, the moonlight often stirred homesickness in the hearts of wanderers. Yet Matthew, raised in an orphanage, had no memories of family to long for. Instead, his thoughts lingered on his ex-girlfriend, the one who stood by him during his toughest times. Despite their eventual breakup, he couldn't shake her from his mind. To the world, Matthew presented a facade of smiles, but the vulnerability within him was known to very few. If anything in the real world still tugged at his heartstrings, it was her.

Suddenly, several pairs of red eyes emerged before Matthew. It seemed the system, tired of his sentimentality, had sent a challenge: wolves, albeit unusually small. The presence of wolves here was a mystery, but then again, the game's system had long been known for its quirks. With his ex-girlfriend on his mind, Matthew engaged manipulation mode, directing Tyler into the fray and summoning Athena. As a blue card, Tyler now had access to two abilities. In the canyon, direct card usage was impossible, but unleashing an ultimate move was fair game. Athena, at two stars, also had two abilities at her disposal.

Observing the wolves' clumsy swipes, Matthew recognized them as the same creatures from the King of Fighters. Their awkward movements and the distinct sound of their attacks were all too familiar, yet they were surprisingly tough opponents. A single strike from Tyler barely scratched them, depleting only one-twentieth of their health, while a swipe from the wolves could take a thirtieth of Tyler's health. It might seem insignificant, but the sheer number of glowing eyes proved overwhelming. Matthew made a strategic retreat. Heroes could return to battle after a death cooldown, but if all the Heroes in his inventory perished, the mission would fail. This is where strategy came into play: with an abundance of cards, one could bide time until the main forces were fully restored. In such moments, even the seemingly useless cards held their value.

Matthew was determined not to let his mission be derailed by a pack of wolves. He quickly abandoned Tyler, as Athena, with her two-star rating, had a base movement speed that outpaced Tyler's. On top of that, she could activate her skill, Thoughtless Evil, which granted a 20% boost to her speed. It wasn't long before Tyler met his end. Without a dramatic "I'll be back" line, he was reduced to a Hero Card in Matthew's backpack, complete with a one-hour countdown. Matthew took a brief three-second moment of silence before he resumed his flight. After the first skill, he deployed the second, Pop, Pop, Pop. The skill proved incredibly handy, and at that moment, Matthew was utterly grateful to Athena's creator for such an effective escape tool. As he continued his escape, the wolves halted their pursuit. Matthew recalled Demeter facing similar situations when battling monsters. It seemed that the wild creatures had a defined territory they wouldn't venture beyond.