Having the form of a Cockatrice had many benefits but it still had a flaw.
It was the main reason why Jim Kirk was so excited to see for his own amusement.
[You have an uncontrollable urge to collect shiny objects]
Even if a rock was polished David couldn't resist and picked it up.
"Why is this even a thing!? Now I know what it's like to be those brainless chickens!"
It truly was unbelievable and quite embarrassing if it was ever know but at least his nose could detect nearby treasure like a bloodhound.
[You have Opened a Wooden chest]
[You have found 18 Gold
[You have Opened a Steel box]
[You have found 302 Gold]
[You have found 1 Ancient Stone]
[You have Opened a Wooden chest]
[You have found 11 Gold]
[You have Opened a Wooden chest]
[You have found 23 Gold]
David had found 4 Wooden Chests and a Steel box and while normally only thieves could unlock them David's talons did the job just fine.
David had expected at least some weapons to sell but all he got was a stone and some gold.
[Ancient Stone(Consumable)(One Time use)]
[A Dark power is sealed within the stone]
[Unknown effects]
Although David was tempted to use it he put it away and continued while Jim Kirk fell onto his knees.
'Impossible! How lucky is this kid?! If he consumes that stone there will be nothing that can stop him!'
The item David had just collected looked insignificant without seeing its description but Jim knew it's true value.
"Sir!? What's wrong?!"
"We need to speed up Quest#00006! How long till its completion?!"
"S-Sir even if we rush it to be completed as soon as possible it will still take at least a Month."
Jim remained calm for the moment as he still remembered David hadn't used the stone yet.
But he was still overwhelmed with despair at the very thin line he was walking across.
'The Mark of Evolution… why did that boy have to find one in a random Steel box.'
David was now a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
Yet at that moment David had just killed another player who attacked him.
[You have Killed Player FlamingOgre72]
[You have picked up 6,101 Gold]
[You have picked up 2 Bloody Axe's]
'Another 6,000 gold and a set pair of axes… maybe Player hunting is more profitable than I thought.'
Item sets were greatly valued in the player market but what David found is that some people were already looking to buy a pair for unbelievable prices.
[Seeking (Unique)Bloody Axe Set for 42,000 Gold]
[Seeking (Unique)Bloody Axe Set for 37,500 Gold]
[Seeking (Unique)Bloody Axe Set for 40,950 Gold]
[(Unique)Bloody Axe(Set Item 2/2)]
[Attack Power:245~321]
[Durability:198/200]
[Requirements:Level 120, Novic Butcher Skill, 1,200 Strength]
[Skill(Butchers Harvest):+20% Drop chance against monsters]
[Set Bonus(2/2): Upon equipping Two Bloody Axes all party members Loot drop chance will increase by 10%]
Increase in drop chance to not just the user but also party members? Now David knew why these items despite their preformence were sold for such prices.
Yet the thought alone selling them was tempting. However they would come in handy later.
'Once I gain a humaniod form and meet the requirements then these will come in handy.'
Most players need to farm the rarest materials that had atrocious drop rates but now this pair of items would greatly help him.
But if he needed gold then he could just sell them to the highest bidder.
But yet even though killing players could give decent amounts of Gold David was getting tired of being immediately attacked on sight.
"It's too fast! AHH!"
[You have Killed Player GoldenLion0001]
"Protect the Mages! Hold the-"
[You have Killed Player LionVanguard]
"I can't even track its movements! Retreat! Fall back!"
[You have Killed Player HunterOgre09]
Every group that attacked David got larger and larger and yet they were no match for his power. Even Jim and the Developer team were jaw dropped.
"Has he already adjusted to the body of a Cockatrice?"
"It looks like it but how is he so strong? I get that he's essentially over Level.100 because of his titles but this is a little much."
"Don't forget that he got a Pair of Bloody Axes that have a 0.02 percent chance each for dropping in the Blood Moon Raid."
But at least there was an upside to David's mass killing spree as all the players David had killed were known PK Hunters.
But Jim looked lifeless in his face for another reason.
'He is already this powerful at the beginning stages of his Class?! I made the Second form be a Cockatrice to disoriented the user to slowly adjust them to having the body of a beast. but he's already adjusted this much!?'
It was truly frightening for Jim to see as David continued fending off his attackers without taking so much as a scratch.
Were it in a Player Hunt competition the David would be First place by a lot.
[Your Inventory is Full]
[Please make room in your inventory or sell your items]
'I guess it's Time I leave after selling the Common and Uncommon items. I guess I can hold onto the potions.'
Although David had the body of a Cockatrice he was still a player so he could still use consumables such as potions.
[You have Consumed a Novice Healing potion]
[You have restored 100 Health]
[Some of your fatigue has gone away]
The mere sight of a Cockatrice using a potion was hilarious to see.
"Whoa what are you?"
David hadn't realized until another player had walked up to him and ran her fingers into his feathers.
'This girl isn't even Level 20 yet she snuck up on me? Is she using an artifact to conceal her Level?'
A snake always waits for the perfect moment to strike.
David felt no hostility from this girl ruffling through his feathers but was still cautious.
"Can you let go?"
At first the girl thought someone was behind her before David sat on top of her causing her to fall to the ground.
"A talking chicken? Whoa… I can understand why those poachers were trying to kill you."
"Okay for starters I'm a Cockatrice not a chicken. Next what do you want? I'm busy"
David could crush the life out of this girl but she hadn't attacked him yet so David waited to see what she'd do.
"I heard that there was something going on around this area when I saw those guys attacking Mr.Chicken. But Mr.Chicken beat them all up so I wanted to see that you were alright."
Yet again this girl called him a chicken and while he was the size of a chicken he was a Cockatrice in form while being a player.
There was no hostility towards him from the girl and her words seem truthful.
"My name is Tiamat. Not Mr.Chicken so don't call me that."
The girl pouted as David hopped onto a nearby rock.
"But Mr.Chicken isn't a bad guy! I need Mr.Chickens help with a quest."
NPC's can give quests if the conditions are right but most can be done solo.
David couldn't figure out if it was her lack of strength or something else that held her back.
"Okay fine show Mr.Chicken your quest."
"Okay! Here it is Mr.Chicken!"
[Player NoemiHunt has shared details of a Quest]
[(Unique)Relics of the Old World]
[As an Ancient Warrior shrouded in darkness you must first find your ancestors Legacy]
[Find and use an Ancient Stone]
[Rewards:(Unique)Class Change book, 1 Ancient Ruins Map]
[Requirements:Level.10, Ancient Kings acknowledgement]
"I've been looking for an Ancient Stone for the past 2 years. Can Mr.Chicken help me?"
'2… years… that's just a few months after Heaven's Wrath's release date. She's had this quest since then?!'
Had David been late to find that steel box it would have likely been found by this girl as she did look to have an Assassin Class. But to have this quest for over two years meant that finding an ancient stone was impossible or near to it.
Although David had found it first he was very conflicted about wether or not it was okay to give it to her.
'She's been looking for two years… but even if I give it to her I don't know what will happen.'
Jim and the Development Team were at the edges of their seats in anticipation for what David would do next.
"Can Mr.Chicken help me? I was told by the old man in the tower that I could find one near the riverside in the Elemental Kingdom or in the Blumin Kingdom."
Information was valuable to a player but David didn't know if he could trust this girl's intel.
The item's effects were unknown but there was no doubt that it was an important item.
"First tell me who is this old man you speak of and where did you first get this quest?"
"Okay Mr.Chicken!"