David stepped out of the mansion, his gaze sweeping across the eerily silent surroundings. The crumbling walls and decayed remnants of what had once been a grand estate exuded an air of ancient desolation. Amidst the gloom, something caught his eye—a soft, pulsating glow emanating from the courtyard's center.
Driven by curiosity, he approached the source of the light: a large, glowing orb perched atop a shattered fountain. Its luminescence starkly contrasted with the surrounding decay, casting an unnatural glow over the area. David's instinct was to reach out and touch it, but he hesitated. This world had already proven to be full of surprises—some dangerous.As he neared the orb, the "System Assistance" skill activated, its familiar voice resonating in his mind."This object is worth 1,000 points."David blinked in surprise. That was a substantial amount, far more than he had accumulated so far. His fingers twitched with the urge to claim the points, but something held him back—a gnawing sense that this might be too good to be true. The orb seemed to be more than a mere treasure. He decided to leave it alone for now, marking its location for future reference.He circled the fountain, keeping a safe distance from the orb, and continued his exploration of the mansion's exterior. As he approached the gate, he noticed something unusual. The gate, partially ajar, seemed to shimmer faintly, and the air around it felt thicker than usual. Hesitant but resolute, David extended his hand and passed it through the gate.It felt like plunging his hand into a thick, gelatinous substance—an odd sensation that made his skin tingle. He pulled back instinctively, then steeled himself and stepped through. The sensation was like moving through a membrane of water or jelly, sending shivers down his spine. Once on the other side, the world transformed drastically.The orb's brightness faded into oppressive darkness. He found himself in a large, gloomy forest, its dense canopy barely letting any light through. The trees stood like silent sentinels, their twisted forms casting eerie shadows. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the air felt heavier, more stifling. The shadows seemed to shift, almost alive.As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he noticed a large shadowy figure at the edge of the clearing. The creature was crouched low, gnawing on something indistinct. Its form blended into the darkness so well that he could only discern its rough outline—a hulking, bestial shape with a menacing presence.His heart raced as he quickly retreated back through the gate, the same strange sensation washing over him as he re-entered the mansion grounds. The stark contrast between the oppressive darkness of the forest and the relative safety of the mansion was jarring, and David's mind raced to piece together what he had just witnessed.A realization struck him: the shimmering barrier at the gate must be keeping those creatures at bay. It might be the only thing protecting the mansion from whatever lurked in that dark forest. And perhaps, that glowing orb was powering the barrier. The thought sent a chill down his spine. If the orb was removed or destroyed, the mansion would likely be overrun in no time.Determined to explore further, David continued his circuit around the property, searching for anything useful. As he neared the side of the gate, his system assistance chimed in again, alerting him to something he had overlooked—a small patch of flowers growing in the shadow of a crumbling wall.Intrigued, David approached the flowers. One was fully matured, while the others were still growing. He quickly exchanged the matured flower for points, watching his balance increase. The Appraisal (Basic) provided immediate details:"Millennial Nightshade: A flower that thrives in areas rich with dark energy. It takes approximately 1,000 years to reach full maturity. Stages include Centennial (100 years) and Decade-Flower (10 years). Grants resistance to dark energy and enhances affinity with death and dark magic. Exchange rate: 250 points."David's eyes widened as he took in the information. The fully matured flower was worth 250 points, and once the other six matured, they would yield the same. The potential to gain over 1,500 points from this patch alone was enticing.But the system wasn't finished."The remaining flowers are close to maturity. Exchange rate will increase upon full maturation."David considered his options. The system didn't specify how long it would take for the remaining flowers to mature, and upgrading the appraisal feature to get more precise information would cost points he didn't have. Deciding to be patient, he left the flowers for now, noting their location for future harvesting.With a sense of accomplishment, David mentally prepared to venture back outside the gate. The thought of facing the shadowy creature in the forest was daunting, but he knew he couldn't stay in the mansion forever. He needed resources, and that meant taking risks.Gripping the jagged sword he had crafted earlier, David steeled himself. The blade, though far from perfect, was better than nothing. He could feel its weight in his hand, and though it wasn't the most elegant weapon, its jagged edges might help tear through the thick hides of any creatures he encountered.Taking a deep breath, David pushed through the gate once more, feeling the familiar sensation of the barrier as he stepped into the dark forest. The oppressive atmosphere hit him like a wall, but he pressed on, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead. His eyes darted around, trying to pierce through the gloom. The shadowy creature remained at the edge of the clearing, still gnawing on its prey, oblivious to David's presence.This time, he wouldn't retreat. With his sword at the ready, David moved forward, every muscle tensed in anticipation of the inevitable confrontation.