Reading through the description of the blueprint, John formulated a plan of what he needed to do. The arrowheads could be obtained from Steel heart, but he would have to gather the wood himself. The blueprint provided detailed information on the type of wood and how to distinguish usable wood. For glue A quick check on the forums showed it priced at 1 copper for 10 units, with each unit creating 2 arrows. He knew he would only need to spend a few coppers. His main concern was finding the feathers.
Checking the auction house and the market yielded no results, so he would have to hunt down the feathers himself. Consulting the list of usable feather types, he came across a post while searching through the forums for clues:
"Warning: Mutated ducks. Avoid the woodlands north of Elderville. These Lv4 mutated ducks are highly aggressive and territorial with sharp beaks. I was pecked to death by 3 of them."
This was exactly what he needed. Using the map, he identified the area where these ducks were - Lv2. He wondered if he and Tommy could handle it. He decided to check with Tommy and started heading back. However, when he arrived, Tommy was nowhere to be seen. John sat down on the edge of a fountain by the gate to wait. Something else was still bothering him - the name Steel Heart. It tickled his memories, so while he was waiting, he searched Google for the name. He clicked on the first news report and finally remembered why the name seemed familiar.
**________________________________**
Breaking News: Legendary Sword Unveiled in Divide of Retribution, Creator Remains a Mystery
Yesterday, in the virtual world of Divide of Retribution, an unknown blacksmith revealed a legendary longsword of unparalleled craftsmanship. This extraordinary creation instantly skyrocketed to the top of the weapon leaderboard, sparking immense interest among gamers and enthusiasts worldwide.
The legendary longsword, boasting exceptional stats and impeccable design, swiftly caught the attention of avid collectors and virtual reality enthusiasts. In just two weeks' time, this extraordinary weapon will be put up for auction, with industry experts estimating the sale price to exceed a staggering £10 million. If it reaches this mark, it will undoubtedly secure its position as the highest-selling item in virtual reality history.
Despite the overwhelming positive response to this masterpiece, the identity of its creator remains shrouded in mystery. The blacksmith responsible for this legendary longsword has no known previous works. The name Steel Heart is all that is known, leaving gamers and experts curious about their origins and capabilities. The virtual reality community is buzzing with rumors, theories, and speculations, all in an attempt to uncover the mastermind behind this incredible creation.
Adding fuel to the fire, renowned player Ragnarok from Valhalla has allegedly approached the elusive blacksmith, offering them an elder position within his guild. Additionally, reliable sources suggest that the offer includes an impressive salary of £1 million per year, further highlighting the extraordinary talent and value associated with this unseen blacksmith.
As the anticipation continues to build, eager gamers, collectors, and enthusiasts are desperately seeking any information that could lead them to the enigmatic creator of this legendary longsword. Virtual reality forums and online communities have become hotbeds of discussion, with theories and clues being exchanged in the hopes of solving the mystery.
The unprecedented craftsmanship and sheer rarity of this legendary longsword have ignited a frenzy within the gaming world. As the countdown to the auction begins, all eyes are now focused on Divide of Retribution, eagerly awaiting the appearance of the blacksmith behind this groundbreaking creation.
Only time will tell if this legendary longsword will live up to its anticipated sale price and if the blacksmith Steel Heart will step forward to claim its well-deserved recognition. Until then, the virtual reality community remains captivated, eagerly awaiting the auction that could potentially redefine the virtual reality market as we know it.
**________________________________**
John remembered this. It was around 6 months ago when the sword sold for £12.1 million, setting a record fee. Steel Heart was never heard from again. They appeared, shocked the world, and disappeared. If this was the same Steel Heart, it would be a good decision to get to know him. Someone that skilled would surely be a benefit to him. At that moment, Tommy appeared.
"John, I got some information. I went to the combat training center to look at some skills, and an NPC told me about class trainers. Apparently, there are experts around the world who can train you in special skills. The person I spoke to did not know of any locations, but it's worth looking into. Oh, I also picked up a lifestyle skill called Butchery. It means I can get skins and meat from the beasts we kill. Do you think it will make any money?"
John was taken aback by Tommy's foresight to earn money, realizing that he was maturing. John assured him of the benefits, saying, "If you combine it with cooking, you could earn money by cooking high-quality meals that raise temporary stats, health, mana, and have all sorts of beneficial effects. Cooking is always a solid lifestyle money-maker in VR gaming. Alternatively, with Leatherworking, you can use the skins to create armor. There are also necromancers in this game, so maybe the bones will be of value. It's a good skill to have. What class quest did it give you? We can get it done next."
Tommy shared the quest with John, who once again was shocked by Tommy's contribution.
**________________________________**
Class quest: E-Ranked
Harvest 10 duck livers and return them to Old Man Trever.
Rewards:
- Butchery class skill at beginner level.
- Old Man Trever becomes your instructor.
**________________________________**
"Tommy, this probably just solved my class quest. I need duck feathers for it. I assumed I would get them as drops, but I think your skill is needed to obtain the feathers. I also know where to find the ducks. I was going to check with you if we can face them. They are Lv4," said John, showing Tommy the forum post.
Tommy felt that if they were careful, it was worth a try. They each had some potions, and with John's improving archery, it was doable. With their minds made up, they headed off on a duck hunt.
As they passed through a small wooded area, John found plenty of sticks suitable for making arrows, putting them in his inventory. While stocking up, John examined a strange bit of wood when suddenly, there was a loud Quack. Rushing towards them was a duck the size of an ostrich. Tommy, who was already vigilant, quickly stood in front with his shield raised, ready to face this giant duck head-on. The duck's razor-sharp beak aimed at Tommy, who raised his shield to block the attack. [Damage 20] showed up above Tommy, the force making his arm vibrate, and forcing him to take a step back.
Without skipping a beat, Tommy swung his ax, hitting the duck on the neck for a critical hit. [Damage 17] "This thing hits like a truck, but its defense is poor. We can do this Fixing
Raising his shield again, ready to face the next attack, John, who was slower to respond, had just drawn an arrow and took aim. Letting loose the arrow, it flew just as Tommy was responding to another attack with shield bash, knocking the duck's head back into the air right into the path of John's arrow. Big damage numbers appeared above the duck's head: [Damage 9] [Damage 9] [Damage 9] [Critical Damage 27]. The duck quacked in pain.
Tommy took the opportunity to drink a health potion [+10HP] and rebalance himself, but before he had a chance to fully regain his stance, the mutated duck launched a skill [wind slash] [Damage 30]. The duck hit back with a high attack. Tommy was in real trouble now, as he was left with 10 HP. If he had not drunk the potion, he would already be dead. Things were critical.
Another arrow hit it at that point, and a stun icon appeared above the duck's head. John's trick shot timing was perfect. John watched Tommy back away and drink a potion as another arrow landed [Damage 20]. Not stopping, John quickly launched another arrow [Damage 20] as Tommy used "True Grit," his life-saving skill. For the next 10 minutes, he would gain 100% defense. A light shimmer surrounded him as he raised his shield, ready to face off again with the mutated duck, which became active again after the stun effect had worn off. Its beak once again collided with Tommy's shield, but this time a pitiful [Damage 7] appeared. Tommy responded back with "Inciting Strikes" [Damage 25]. The mutated duck looked rage-filled at Tommy, but before it could do anything about its rage, an arrow landed right between its eyes [Damage 21]. The duck fell limply to the ground, finally dead.
The two did not drop their guard. John walked over to Tommy, watching his surroundings as he approached. Tommy looked down at the corpse and never looked back up. Curious about what had Tommy so captivated, John walked up beside him, also looking down at the corpse. He stopped mid-step, almost stumbling.