Chapter 21 Is this a Hidden Plot? (Please Vote for Recommendation!)
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It has been three Earth days since the internal test for "Elf Kingdom" started, and twelve days have passed in the Segis Continent.
As time went on, more and more players among the three hundred advanced to level 10.
The same was true for Demacia.
He had already become a level 10 power-based player a day earlier.
However, the experience required to advance from level 10 to 11 was much higher than the players had anticipated, a total of 10,000 points.
While advancing from level 9 to level 10 only required 3,000 points.
Over these days, players had almost figured out all the methods to gain experience in "Elf Kingdom."
Currently, there were essentially two summarised methods: either doing quests or killing monsters to level up, just like in other games.
Unlike other games, the special effects after killing monsters in this game were incredibly realistic, and the degree of gore made one wonder how this game passed the review. At first, many players were not used to it, but over time, they became numb to it...
After all, it is known as the most realistic virtual game! Anyway, if they couldn't stand it, they could choose to mosaic the gore from their field of vision in the game system.
After advancing to level 9, the players split into two camps regarding the issue of leveling up.
A relatively conservative group of players, such as the cooing birds, chose to stay at the camp, planning to continue leveling up by completing quests.
While another group of more aggressive players eager for adventure chose to leave the ten-kilometer safety zone to try their luck outside.
Cutting trees or killing monsters would gain some experience, but the creatures within the safety zone were too weak and the experience gained was pitiful, not as good as completing quests.
So, some players suggested trying their luck outside the safety zone when their strength was on par; perhaps they would find powerful monsters that could offer substantial amounts of experience.
And some players chose to leave the safe zone after reaching level 9 to explore the dark zones and take a chance on finding those wild monsters that could provide experience.
As it turned out, their choice was not wrong, as a player named "Boxed Meal" led a team to encounter a level 9 Forest Python outside the safety zone, killing it together for a generous amount of experience.
This news caused quite a stir in the camp when it spread, enticing many players.
Even some players who had originally planned to advance to level 11 through quests joined those daring pioneers.
However, the vast majority still chose to follow the system's beginner's guide and level up safely through tasks.
After all, as the levels get higher, the game's death penalty becomes more severe. No one wanted to risk falling back to zero and starting over.
In fact, this Heavenly Gods-difficulty resurrection mechanism had already caused resentment among some players, who didn't know how many times they had complained about it on the official forums... Eve was also considering making improvements.
Moreover, even with the gore mosaiced, the bloody scenes of monster slaying made some players uncomfortable. Therefore, those who ultimately chose to venture out were still a minority, and mostly male.
Demacia, on the other hand, became interested in exploration; he had died a few times before level 5 and struggled to make it back, and now, Li Mu and the cooing birds were already on their way to Iron rank!
He didn't want to fall too far behind Brother Mu, and finally chose to take the risk, joining up with three other level 10 male players who were willing to try their luck.
All four of them, three power-based players and one spellcaster, decided to leave the safety zone together and head to the dark zones to explore.
...
As they left the safety zone, the vegetation in the Elf Forest became denser and the journey grew more difficult.
Demacia's group made their way through the forest, cutting a path with their weapons and keeping a vigilant watch for any potential monsters.
"These plants are way too dense, aren't they? It's hard to walk."
"Well, it is a primeval forest after all."
"Brother Demacia, is your information reliable? Are there really Forest Pythons here?"
"Don't worry! There definitely are! I got the information from 'Boxed Meal' in exchange for a Sun Spruce; he's seen them with his own eyes."
Listening to his teammate's question, Demacia patted his chest confidently as he guaranteed.
Currently, supplies were not abundant, so the currency system in Elf Kingdom was not established yet, and players could only barter. However, Eve had already designed a contribution system to replace currency, which would officially start after players reached level 11.
"I see!"
After listening to Demacia's explanation, the players felt much more at ease.
The group continued onward.
And a few hundred meters away from Demacia and his group, a pair of bright, piercing eyes were observing everything.
It was the Oak Guardian, Berserker.
Berserker was hidden among ancient tree gaps, watching the players, while in his hand, he held a trembling Goblin...
This Goblin was caught by Berserker on the edge of the Feilengcui Ruins, a level 10 creature but beaten half to death by him.
While holding the Goblin as easily as a chick, Berserker kept an eye on the movements of the various players.
Demacia and company were oblivious to the surveillance; they chatted quietly and continued their journey.
"How far have we gone?"
"We're almost seven kilometers out of the safety zone."
"Shh, keep it down. It's not the safety zone here; if we encounter a monster of Black Iron rank, we're done for."
Suddenly, Demacia, leading at the front, frowned, his pointed ears twitched.
He held up a hand to signal silence, then whispered to his teammates:
"Quiet! I think I heard something!"
His tone was subdued with a hint of excitement.
The team immediately silenced, and every one of them tensed up, crouched down, and held their breath, eyes wide as they observed their surroundings.
"Yah yah yah yah!!!"
A sharp, miserable scream suddenly came from ahead, startling a flock of birds.
The players' hearts tightened, and they quickly drew their weapons.
"Yah yah yah—!"
The screaming got closer and closer, bringing with it a tinge of madness.
Everyone tensed up, ready in combat positions, their hearts pounding wildly.
"It's coming from ahead..."
Demacia said gravely.
As his voice fell, they saw the bushes in front of them suddenly rustle, and a scrawny green-skinned creature burst out.
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This creature, clad in ragged clothes with a ferocious expression and bloodshot eyes, charged at the group with a mad desperation.
"G... Goblin?!"
They exclaimed almost in unison.
The only spellcaster cast an identification spell, and his eyes lit up:
"Level 10! But it seems to be injured!"
"It has no weapons!"
"It's so... so fierce! Isn't it afraid of us?"
Excitement flashed in the eyes of Demacia as he swung his greatsword, exclaiming with elation:
"Who cares! It's free experience! Let's do this!"
"Take it down!"
"Don't let it get away!"
The others shouted as well.
And with that, the group brandishing their wooden swords began hacking at the goblin.
However, to their surprise, the goblin didn't evade and charged head-on, bleeding profusely, and met its end amidst the flurry of blades...
In its final moment, a sense of relief flashed in its eyes.
A hidden war sacrifice slowly triggered; the goblin's body aged rapidly and turned into ash in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, a notification of experience points received popped up in the system for the four players.
But at that moment, the group of players were somewhat stunned.
"Why... why didn't it dodge?"
"It's almost as if it was seeking death..."
"I thought so too, like it was being chased by someone..."
"Ugh... Give me a hand, I'm a bit queasy with blood..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Wait, what's this?"
Suddenly, one of the players crouched down and rummaged out a shiny crystal from the ashes of the goblin.
It was an irregular pale green gemstone that seemed to contain a mysterious power.
"Hm? Loot?"
"Could it be some kind of gemstone?"
"Let me identify it... Huh? It can't be identified. Could it be some kind of quest item?"
The players felt a mix of excitement and confusion.
Just then, the bushes ahead rustled, and a giant figure cast its shadow over the group.
Berserker emerged from the forest, approaching them.
Seeing the sudden appearance of the thirty-meter-tall Oak Guardian, the players gulped nervously...
"Holy shit! What's this?"
"Tree-man?"
"So... so big..."
Demacia thought for a moment, then his eyes shone with realization:
"It's the Oak Guardian! We've encountered the Oak Guardian!"
"The Oak Guardian? The rare NPC that Brother Mu mentioned?"
"That's right! It must be him! I've seen screenshots of him!"
With that, realization dawned upon Demacia:
"No wonder the goblin was running for its life, it must have been chased by the Oak Guardian..."
As he spoke, he paused...
Wait...
Did our group just kill the Oak Guardian's prey?
The other players also came to this realization, they looked at each other, and then cautiously looked up, ready to run at a moment's notice.
They knew that NPCs in this game could not be judged by the standards of other games; these NPCs had their emotions, and although the Oak Guardian was also a natural ally, they had never interacted with it...
What if it had a temper...
Anyway, looking at the thirty-meter tall behemoth and its ferocious appearance, everyone felt a bit timid.
This hulking figure didn't seem like one to be trifled with...
However, what the Oak Guardian did next took them by surprise.
The colossal thirty-meter Tree-man halted, bowed slightly towards the players, drawing a symbol of nature on his chest with his hand, and spoke with the gravity of an old gentleman:
"Noble Chosen Ones, thank you for eliminating this vile thief for me. To express my gratitude, I am willing to fulfill one appropriate request for you."
The players looked at each other in disbelief, still trying to grasp the Oak Guardian's words.
"Thief?"
"Could it be referring to that gemstone?"
"One request?"
Suddenly, Demacia's spirits lifted, as he seemed to understand something.
He slapped his thigh and exclaimed:
"Are you guys dense...! It must be a hidden quest! We've definitely stumbled upon a hidden storyline!"