["To further differentiate the story from its original inspiration, the game and the world will now be called Eryndor. Additionally, the title will be changed accordingly. Thank you for your understanding, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."]
The ring vibrated softly in his hand, as if responding to his touch. "This isn't an ordinary ring..." Su Bai thought, curiosity growing within him. The glow seemed to intensify as he approached the village chief's house.
"I need to know more," he decided, and began to walk around the house. The light from the ring grew brighter with every step he took toward the door.
However, despite his eagerness to discover its secrets, the house was locked. The windows were covered with thick paper, and when Su Bai pressed against them, he realized they were remarkably sturdy.
"Is this real? I can't break it?" he thought, applying more pressure with his fingers.
"This is strange," he murmured to himself, frowning. "Is this a limitation of the game? Is something preventing me from interacting with the NPCs?"
Before he could ponder further, a loud buzzing sound echoed from inside the house. Su Bai jumped back, his heart racing. Through the window, he saw flashes of bright light, as if something extraordinary was happening inside.
"There must be something valuable in there!" he exclaimed. "It's impossible for a village like this to hold such treasures. This must be some kind of hidden quest."
Determined, he searched for a way inside, checking other houses in the village for possible interactions. However, all attempts failed. The materials of the houses were unbreakable.
"This is... really strange," Su Bai muttered in frustration.
Returning to the village chief's house, he decided to wait. His patience was soon rewarded when the village chief returned, still in a hurry.
"Warrior! Warrior!" called the village chief's grandmother as she approached. Su Bai noticed the urgency in her voice.
"Do you need something else?" he asked, trying to remain calm, though his mind was still on the ring.
"Yes, I've found a new task that might interest you. Would you be willing to help me?"
"Sure," Su Bai said, feeling that his luck had changed. "What's the task?"
The grandmother explained the mission, which required collecting two types of venom from coral snakes.
[Collect 2 Coral Serpent Gallbladders]
Difficulty: E
Requirements: Collect 1 Elite Coral Serpent Gallbladder and 100 common Coral Serpent Gallbladders.
Progress: 0/1, 0/100
Reward: 1000 experience points, 5 silver coins, snake-hide armor, snake-hide belt.
(Accept/Decline)
Su Bai was surprised. "A series quest? This is incredible!"
"Thank you, warrior. You are very valuable to our village," said the grandmother, smiling before disappearing back into her house.
As she left, Su Bai felt a wave of excitement. The reward was generous, and it would help him upgrade his gear.
"Wait a minute..." Su Bai suddenly remembered the ring, which was still softly glowing in his hand. "Maybe it's related to this quest."
Examining the ring again, he noticed its vibration had lessened. "It might be connected to the coral serpent gallbladders I need to collect," he thought.
Feeling inspired, he decided to explore further. If the ring was connected to some hidden aspect of the world, it might help him with his quest.
Su Bai prepared to buy some potions before heading back to the outskirts of the village to continue hunting monsters. He went to the marketplace, where the scents of various herbs and the hustle of vendors filled the air.
Su Bai decided to buy: 10 bottles of life potions (low grade, common), 10 bottles of energy potions (low grade, common), and 10 bottles of life potions (mid grade, uncommon). While checking his wallet, he remembered that he didn't need Mid-Grade Energy Potions (Uncommon) for now, as he only had one active skill.
Life Potion
• Quality: Uncommon
• Grade: Mid
• Category: Consumable
• Recovery Time: 13 seconds
• Effect: Restores 200 HP over 10 seconds.
• Description: A finely crafted potion made from a blend of herbs and rare healing essences. Due to its uncommon quality and mid-grade level, this potion is significantly more potent than standard low-grade potions. It gradually restores health, making it ideal for more intense, prolonged battles.
[Note: In Eryndor, items are classified by quality: common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, and the enigmatic hidden quality. Each quality represents its rarity and power, but don't be fooled: quality isn't everything. Each level of quality is divided into grades: low, mid, and high. So even two items of the same quality can have significant differences in effectiveness.]
Su Bai prepared to buy a few potions before heading back to the outskirts of the village to continue hunting monsters. Due to its superior effectiveness, the mid-grade health potion requires a minimum level of 5 to safely unlock its full potential. Su Bai, aware of the power difference between low- and mid-grade potions, purchased it in advance, knowing he would level up soon. While he couldn't use it immediately, he saw it as a necessary investment for the tougher fights ahead.
Su Bai was ready to leave the village, his mind divided between the new mission and the mysterious ring.
A gentle breeze brushed against his face as he entered the jungle. On the edge of the forest, towering vegetation loomed, filled with shadows and distant whispers. In the depths, Su Bai could hear the sounds of unseen creatures and the occasional chirping of birds.
"I have to stay alert," he reminded himself, knowing that danger could be lurking around every corner.
With determination, Su Bai ventured into the dense jungle, his mind occupied both by the quest and the mystery of the ring. He knew he had to find the coral serpent gallbladders, but he was also determined to uncover the truth behind the strange, glowing artifact in his hand.