First Instance (3)
*>+31 Copper*
*>+31 Copper*
...
With the newfound ability, the bat monsters were no longer of concern. For several minutes, these were the only monsters that showed up. Their density began to increase, but it wasn't anything Jisha couldn't handle.
Before long, the cave surfaces slowly began to transform.
Until now, the floor was as smooth as a footpath. But now, the dreaded stalagmites began to show up. Though they were fairly small, they still would have spelled trouble for a completely blind person.
*This ability really was as convenient as it could possibly be.*
Jisha would have been in serious trouble without that lucky drop. She was confident that she could handle anything the early game threw at her, but a Tier 0 physique was far worse than she remembered...
*And this is a dungeon I can't just leave. Seriously, why is there a level 31 dungeon in a level 10 area?*
As Jisha made excuses in her head, she noticed something above her.
One of the pulses of ultrasound reflected back a crack in the ceiling.
*Classic.*
It was obviously a trap.
*RUMBLE*
The cave began to shake. Not even a second later, the cracks in the ceiling began to expand, and a section of the cave crumbled inwards.
With a couple of casual steps backwards, Jisha easily avoided the cave-in that would have lethally crushed any Tier 0 player.
She continued as if nothing happened.
*Well... I guess this trap would have been a bit difficult to spot with traditional vision methods.*
In Jisha's eyes, this large imperfection in the ceiling was as blatant as a gigantic literal red flag. However, what if it were a normal party using a dim light source such as a lantern or a torch?
When the light of a lantern dimmed as it spread outwards, the ceiling would be a bit difficult to see.
The cave ceiling was quite high. Though Jisha had definitely descended at least 100 metron downwards, the cave ceiling had remained relatively parallel to the ground. In other words, the ceiling was nearly 100 metron high...
But even then.
Most Northeasterners didn't have the luxury of travel. For a normal person, this would be their first time setting foot in a cave like this. And since Synergy was realistic, they would truly feel like they were there.
Imagine an environment you visited for the first time. It would be impossible to discern every flaw about the place while fending off monsters you had never seen before. However, Jisha had seen everything. Nearly nothing could escape her eyes...
*Please forget about my overestimation of the Tier 0 physique... But... having seen so much of the world... is that a blessing or a curse?*
Jisha continued slaughtering mobs at a breakneck speed. She continued as if it were an ordinary jog.
Monsters? Obstacles? Traps? None of them needed more than a quick glance.
*Haha...*
She didn't know what to feel in this moment.
"Exploring" the game in this second life was not as magical as it was the first time around.
Of course, it hadn't been long since this second life even started, but...
*I'm going to be here for a long time... Will I ever feel that sense of wonder again?*
---
"Woooooooow! Jish, look! What's that?"
"Uh... A hole in a rock?"
Two girls were wandering through a forest when they came across a cave. Though they were both in the upper class of the Northeast, they still hadn't seen a variety of landscapes in person. Though they had travelled a bit, the monotonous landscape that was their continent wasn't all that interesting...
And for better or for worse, the Northeastern continent was separated from the rest of the world by a large ocean's distance. While the rest of the human population was on several landmasses separated only by relatively smaller oceans, the Northeast might as well have been its own planet.
All of the interesting sights were almost literally a world away.
But with VR, a new world was brought directly to them.
Lush green forests.
Towering red and sand-colored rock formations.
And now, a cave system.
It was a stark contrast to their snow-white reality.
The two girls spent a long time marveling at their surroundings.
The sun was warm. The sky was crystal blue.
But then, a quick draft of cold air emanated from a nearby cave.
"Pfft, *obviously* it's a hole in a rock. It's called a cave. We gotta check it out!"
"Uh..."
The avatar labeled Synycal jumped up and down in excitement while the avatar labeled Fae Sol simply stood there with an indiscernible expression.
"Jish, you're such an airhead. What is even happening in that head of yours?"
"I could say the same about you, Syn."
One had a flaming passion while the other had a cool temperament. Their personalities couldn't be more different, but they were best friends.
"Well, whatever. Let's go!"
Synycal began forcefully dragging Fae Sol towards the cave.
"W-w-w-w-w-waaaait I never said I wanted-"
"Too late! I already forgot about your fear of the dark! Just like you forgot to meet me in the Erian Hamlet! This is what you get for making me wait *days* to meet up with you!"
...
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAHT GET ME OUT OF HEEEERE!!!!!!"
Almost as quickly as they went in, they ran out of the cave screaming.
Scary monsters!
Scary noises!
The dark!
All of these new things were overwhelming for the two girls. And as much as Synycal didn't want to admit... she was also a bit afraid of the dark.
"Haaa... Haaa..."
"Whyyyyy...."
The two of them collapsed in the grass... safe from harm.
They hadn't even run for very long, but the adrenaline of the spooky situation left them trembling.
"... Let's go again!"
"Whaaaaaaaaaat?"
---
*Am I crying?*
Jisha wiped a tear from her eye as she continued through the dungeon. She remembered something from seemingly countless years ago.
Fear. Excitement. Wonder.
None of those emotions existed in her anymore.
When you knew everything, there was nothing left to discover.
The only thing left was to go through the motions.
"Haha..."
Was this truly living? Did she have any emotions that differed from a dead person?