As Eric stepped out of the bustling adventurer's guild, his heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and apprehension. He had finally taken the first step towards his dreams, and the weight of the quest paper in his hands felt like a promise of new horizons.
As the carriage rattled along the uneven road, Eric couldn't help but feel a pang of concern as the driver requested 3 bronze. He checked his pocket, only to find 6 Bronze, a mere fraction of the required amount. "I should save from now on," he thought, feeling the weight of the adventurer's life on his young shoulders.
An hour passed, and the carriage brought him to the eastern outskirts of the ninth district. The air felt different here, heavy with an aura of mystery and danger. Eric paid the driver the coins he had, hoping it would be enough, and alighted from the carriage.
Before him stood a sign with stern warnings: "Restricted area. Only bronze adventurers and those with a pass card may enter." The words triggered a flutter of anxiety within Eric, but he pushed forward, determined to prove himself.
As he approached the entrance, a loud shout stopped him in his tracks. A guard posted on the right demanded identification. Eric nervously handed over his ID, feeling the scrutiny of the guard's eyes. The guard inspected the document and hesitated for a moment before finally allowing him to pass into the dense forest.
As Eric plunged into the dense forest, his fingers instinctively reached for the adventurer's handbook, which contained valuable guidance for his quest:
"Hello Beauties and Gentle Beauties, so you seek the Cardinal Flower and the elusive Lunarian Flower. Fear not, for I, Nyx, shall be your guiding light. The Cardinal Flower awaits in the caves to the East, while the Lunarian Flower hides within the depths of this dense forest. Be cautious, for this quest is a rare pursuit even among adventurers."
With the handbook safely stored, Eric set out to locate the Cardinal Flower first.
In the eerie depths of the cave, Eric's lantern cast flickering shadows upon decaying remains and scattered bones, intensifying the air of unease surrounding him. Among the shadows, a grim sight caught his eye—a wooden stick adorned with a skull and a red hood, a foreboding sign of lurking danger.
As he ventured further, the cave's narrow passages seemed to tighten around him. In a sudden flash, an arrow hurtled towards him, launched by a lurking goblin. Reacting with reflexes honed through training, Eric raised his iron-clad hand, expertly deflecting the projectile.
Amidst the gloom, Eric found himself confronted by three menacing goblins in front and three more approaching from behind. Fear crept through him, yet determination kept him strangely calm. He brandished his sword, and its sharp clang echoed through the rocky cavern as one of the goblins, a sinister grin on its face, lunged towards him with malicious intent. As he swung, his sword got hit by the roof in the cave bouncing away.Though fear gripped his heart, Eric mustered his courage and skillfully kicked the charging goblin away. However, his momentary distraction allowed another goblin to exploit a weakness in his armour, inflicting a painful stab.
"UGH, you!" Eric grunted, thrusting his sword at the goblin that had wounded him, successfully dispatching the creature.
"One down, five to go," Eric muttered, steeling himself for the relentless battle ahead.
As another goblin readied its arrow, preparing to launch a deadly shot, Eric swiftly hurled a knife from his backpack, impaling the goblin's forehead. Taking advantage of the chaos, Eric lunged at another goblin, and in a moment of entangled struggle, he skillfully dealt a fatal blow.
Yet, amidst the skirmish, one of the remaining goblins gripped Eric's face, attempting to blind him, while the other raised a broken knife, ready to strike.
Eric, his vision obscured by the goblin's grasp on his head, could only rely on his other senses. Fear surged within him, but he mustered all his courage and focused on the situation at hand.
With swift and precise movements, Eric managed to slice the goblin that stood in front of him, attempting to stab him. The creature fell, lifeless, but the struggle was far from over.
The goblin clinging to Eric's head refused to give up its hold. Eric felt his sword slipping from his grasp as he fought to free himself. Summoning all his strength, he suddenly dropped his weight, catching the goblin by surprise. The creature's grip loosened, , momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, Eric exerted his strength, snapping the goblin's neck with a resolute squeeze, ending its threat.
Though his sight remained shrouded in red, Eric instinctively reached for his sword, which had fallen nearby. He gripped it tightly, using the weapon to steady himself as he prepared for his next move.
Walking with a newfound sense of purpose, he approached the unconscious goblin that he had previously kicked. In a swift and decisive action, Eric delivered a final strike, ensuring the goblin would pose no further threat.
But suddenly, a swift strick of a club he Eric as he black out for a moment