the Shopping and Survival
"Open Inventory," Tanuj commanded, eager to see what resources he had accumulated.
**[INVENTORY LEVEL 1 | SPACE: 2/10]**
**[1000 EXP Card * 1, Low Rank Power Stones * 600]**
Tanuj nodded, impressed by his modest stash. "600 Power Stones, huh? That should be enough to get me started. Let's go shopping."
The bustling marketplace was a sensory overload—stalls packed with exotic goods, vendors shouting their wares, and the mingling scents of spices, fresh bread, and leather. Tanuj wandered through the labyrinth of stalls, marveling at the variety of items for sale. He passed by booths selling shimmering potions, strange glowing crystals, and weapons of every shape and size.
"Wow, this market is huge," Tanuj murmured to himself, weaving through the crowd. After about ten minutes of aimless wandering, he finally spotted a shop that seemed to be focused on what he was after—equipment.
The shop's sign, etched with a sword and shield, swung gently in the breeze. Tanuj grinned as he approached, feeling a surge of confidence. "Hehe, I've got cheat skills, I'm going to take the best equipment they have. Shopkeeper! Show me your finest armor and swords. I've got 'money.'"
The shop owner, a burly man with a thick beard and a no-nonsense expression, raised an eyebrow at Tanuj's enthusiasm but nodded. "Sure thing. Here are some of the finest pieces we have."
The shopkeeper brought out a selection of gleaming swords and sturdy armor, each piece looking more impressive than the last. Tanuj's eyes widened as he admired the craftsmanship. The swords had intricate engravings along their blades, and the armor shone with a polish that spoke of quality.
"These are incredible," Tanuj breathed, reaching out to examine a particularly sleek sword. "Let's see what they can do. 'Forgotten Eyes!'"
He waited for the skill to activate, expecting a detailed readout of each item's stats.
**[Unable to identify. Host level is too low.]**
**[Unable to identify. Host level is too low.]**
**[Unable to identify. Host level is too low.]**
**[Unable to identify. Host level is too low.]**
Tanuj's heart sank as the same message repeated over and over. "What the hell…? They're all high-rank equipment. I've hit the jackpot, but I can't even see their stats. This has to be some sort of cruel joke."
His excitement waned as he turned to the shopkeeper. "Uh, how much for this sword?"
The shopkeeper eyed the sword and then Tanuj. "Only 9,999 High Rank Power Stones."
Tanuj nearly choked. "9… 9999 High Rank Power Stones?! What about this one?"
The shopkeeper's expression didn't change. "Special offer, just for you: 49,999 High Rank Power Stones."
Tanuj broke into a nervous sweat. "Cough, cough… I'm fine, I'm fine. Just, uh… these don't really suit me. Let me, uh, take another look."
He scanned the display with growing desperation until his system suddenly chimed.
*DING*
**[Detected a Level 2 Item.]**
Tanuj's eyes lit up, and he quickly spotted a small, unimpressive object among the gleaming weapons—a simple wooden stick. His heart sank again, but at least this was something he could afford.
"Finally, something I can identify." He pointed at the stick, trying to keep his voice steady. "Shopkeeper, I'll take that one."
The shopkeeper blinked in surprise. "But… that's just a stick."
Tanuj laughed awkwardly, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Haha… yeah, I know, but I feel a… connection with it."
The shopkeeper shrugged. "If you say so. That'll be 100 Low Rank Power Stones."
Tanuj hesitated, swallowing his pride. "100? Ahem, I mean… okay, I'll take it."
The shopkeeper handed him the stick, and Tanuj quickly paid, eager to leave before his embarrassment could deepen. "Thanks for the purchase! Come again!"
"Yeah, sure, I'll definitely come again," Tanuj muttered, stuffing the stick into his inventory and bolting out of the shop.
Once he was safely out of sight, he leaned against a wall, catching his breath. "Huff, huff… that was beyond embarrassing. What was I thinking? I need to seriously level up before I can afford anything decent."
He looked down at his hands, still clutching the small stick. "Well, it's better than nothing, I guess. Now, I've got to focus on earning more power stones. It's time to go hunting."
With renewed determination, Tanuj straightened up and started making his way toward the outskirts of the city. He had a long way to go before he could afford the kind of gear he wanted, but the path to power had to start somewhere. And right now, that somewhere was the wilderness.