Eva and Ariel followed the Crimson Vanguard deeper into the lush, blocky forest, still adjusting to the world around them. Each step felt surreal, as if they'd truly entered another dimension. The sound of their footsteps, the rustle of blocky leaves, and the faint animal sounds all heightened the illusion.
As they moved through the landscape, Garrick gestured to the trees and shrubs around them. "See these? You can use your tools to gather materials from them. It's how you'll build everything you need."
Eva tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "But how exactly? I mean, I'm holding this wooden pickaxe, but how do I even start using it?"
"Watch me," Lyra said. She walked up to a tree, swinging her pickaxe in a rhythm until pieces of wood began to fall. "See? Now you try it."
Eva hesitated but took a few tentative swings. Her movements were awkward at first, but soon enough, a few blocks of wood popped out, floating until she picked them up. Ariel followed suit, beaming when he managed to break his first block.
"Not bad!" Garrick laughed, giving them an approving nod. "You're both naturals. Now that you've got some wood, you can use it to make planks, which will help you build basic tools."
Ariel looked puzzled, glancing at the scattered pieces of wood in his inventory. "Wait… I just hit a tree with a pickaxe, and now it's supposed to be a building material?"
Cedric chuckled and showed Ariel his inventory screen. "It's part of the magic of this world. Here, we craft items by arranging materials in certain ways. Once you get the hang of it, you'll see the possibilities are endless."
They continued to gather wood and other materials, Cedric and Lyra guiding Eva and Ariel through crafting their first tools. Eva found herself holding a wooden sword, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment as she marveled at her handiwork. "It's so basic, yet… I made it. I feel like a real adventurer!"
Lyra smiled. "Just wait until you've made armor or a full set of stone tools. You'll be a force to reckon with!"
As they moved through the forest, the group encountered their first creature—a small green blob with a strange, sad face.
Ariel pointed at it, raising his wooden sword defensively. "What… what is that thing?"
"That's a slime," Ronan explained. "Harmless, but annoying. Try attacking it!"
Ariel swung at the creature, watching as it split into smaller slimes that bounced around harmlessly. He gave a triumphant grin. "This isn't so bad!"
"Don't get too cocky," Cedric warned with a grin. "Wait until night falls—then you'll see the real threats."
Eva and Ariel exchanged a nervous glance. They were both eager yet slightly apprehensive, but Cedric and the others reassured them, teaching them everything from building simple shelters to crafting armor from leather.
As the hours passed, Gelian observed the group from the counter, his heart swelling with satisfaction. He was deeply grateful that the Crimson Vanguard had brought new friends—watching the cafe fill up with laughter and excitement made all the hard work worthwhile.
Then, a small chime alerted him to a new notification from the Phantom Internet Cafe System:
Task Complete: Full Capacity Reached. Reward: Additional Portals Unlocked in Celestra.
A thrill rushed through him. Full capacity! He had only dreamed of this, and now it was a reality. The reward of additional portals opening in Celestra meant that his cafe could reach even further, possibly attracting adventurers from all corners of the kingdom. His dream of creating a space where different worlds could connect was starting to come true.
Just as he was basking in the joy of this accomplishment, another notification popped up:
New Task Issued: Sell 20 Koke and 20 Cup Noodles. Progress: 1/20 Koke, 1/20 Cup Noodles. Reward: 13 Additional Virtual Helmets.
Gelian's smile grew wider. Thirteen more helmets would allow him to accommodate even more adventurers, maybe even entire groups from other worlds. So far, he had only sold one of each item, but he felt hopeful. The more time the adventurers spent in the cafe, the more likely they would try the snacks—especially once they started building up an appetite from all the action in Minecraft.
With renewed determination, Gelian resolved to encourage his customers subtly, hoping they'd take an interest in the strange new treats from his world. He could hardly wait to see where the next portal would lead, or who might step into his cafe next.
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