Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Hidden Quest 4

"Kill your ally? What kind of mission is that?" Finn grumbled, his eyes fixed on the screen before turning to meet Jett's expressionless face. A surge of apprehension coursed through Finn as he tried to gauge Jett's thoughts. "He's not seriously considering killing me, right?" Finn thought, taking a cautious step back.

"This objective seems... too straightforward," Jett mused, his gaze still locked on the mission details. He noted the incomplete sentence and frowned as the screen displayed, leaving the rest hanging.

[Quest Objective: Kill your ally...]

[Reward: Force Contract Knowledge]

Jett spoke without turning to Finn, his attention fully on the mission at hand. "The objective isn't complete," he pointed out, his voice devoid of emotion.

"What does that mean? I've never encountered an incomplete quest in WAR BOUND before," Finn admitted, a hint of unease creeping into his tone.

"That's because you've rarely ventured beyond trading and you also tend to avoid all events, am I wrong?" Jett replied, still fixated on the mission. Internally, he mulled over the implications. 'The usual objective involves finding a way to commit suicide and survive. But this... this demands one of us to die, with the survivor left to complete the mission.'

Finn's wariness of Jett deepened. "How do you know that? I didn't provide you with such specific information," he remarked, suspicion coloring his words.

Ignoring Finn's question, Jett sighed, his mind already racing with contingency plans. "If that's the case, my original plan of relying on poison resistance to fake my death is now futile but..." He turned to Finn, his expression unreadable. "Do you have any poison with you?"

"P-poison?" Finn stammered, his heart pounding with fear. "What do you need poison for?" he asked, unable to shake off the sense of impending danger.

"Bring it out, if you have any," Jett urged, his tone tolerating no delay.

"Huh…? Are you planning on poisoning me here?" Finn pointed at Jett concluding that he was going to kill him if gave him the poison.

But Jett's expression hadn't changed the whole time as he watched Finn over react at the slight chance that he was going to get poisoned by him.

"C'mon do you really think I need poison to kill you?" Jett asked as he moved closer to Finn. "Just give it here, none of us will be dying today."

"I sure hope I don't regret this." Finn sighs as he brings out a small transparent bottle with a black substance inside and throws it at Jett who instinctively catches it with ease, "Its Lyk poison, I got it as a reward for the previous quest."

"Hmm, who do you think should drink it?" Jett asked as he opened the bottle.

"I don't know… Nobody? What do you think?" he redirects the question back to Jett.

"Here's what I think," he sits down on the ground. "The mission only states that one of us has to die but now we know that it's not enough to clear the quest, and for us to know what to do next, one of us needs to be out cold." He strokes his chin as though he was thinking deeply.

"I understood that much, so…?" Finn felt restless waiting to hear what Jett was planning.

"The person left standing should be someone with a higher chance of survival, so I nominate myself." Jett continues with a goofy smile.

"All that build up was just a reason to kill me? Dude!" Finn was scared and in shock.

Jett couldn't hold the laughter anymore as Finn was lost on what to do next as he kept creating distance between them. "Hold on I wasn't finished." He beckoned Finn to come closer but Finn wasn't about to risk it.

"Say it, I'm fine here," Finn replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I know a way to ensure you don't die for real but for it to work, you need to drink this poison. You just have to trust me on this one," Jett insisted, gesturing towards the vial of poison in his hand.

"How?" Finn's curiosity overpowered his apprehension as he pondered the possibility of cheating death.

Jett proceeded to explain the plan meticulously, ensuring Finn understood every detail. He described how he would utilize the Sacred Ring Option he had obtained as a reward from a previous mission.

By imbuing the ring with the soul attribute and then drinking the poison, Finn would be able to automatically trigger a process that guaranteed his safety. "It's a foolproof method, but it'll take 30 minutes to bring you back to life. During that time, no matter what happens, I'll protect you," Jett reassured Finn.

*****

Back when Jett was immersed in his previous life as a gamer, one integral aspect of all the games he had played, including WAR BOUND, was the Forum. It served as a hub for sharing information, teaching others new secrets, and delving deeper into the intricacies of the game.

Throughout his gaming journey, Jett and his sister had delved into numerous experiments within the game, exploring various scenarios to uncover secrets, hidden quests, or items. They sought out the fastest ways to clear dungeons or quests, as well as gathering miscellaneous activities and information.

Their dedication led to a remarkable achievement: approximately 90% of the tips shared on the Forum hailed from either Jett or his sister. Their contributions not only helped themselves but also countless other players seeking to enhance their gameplay experience. Their extensive knowledge and insights were instrumental in Jett's rapid progression and discovery of hidden quests within WAR BOUND.

Now, armed with his vast knowledge accumulated from years of gaming, Jett stood on the brink of using his expertise in WAR BOUND to navigate real-life challenges.

*****

Finn followed Jett's instructions diligently, but he still had a lingering uncertainty about drinking the poison. "I'm having second thoughts about this," he confessed, hesitating with the bottle poised near his lips.

"Give it here," Jett demanded, snatching the bottle from Finn's grasp. In one swift motion, he swept Finn off his feet with his sword, causing Finn to land forcefully on the ground. Before Finn could react, Jett overpowered him, compelling him to drink the entirety of the bottle's contents.

"Ack... Bitter... Bastard!" Finn exclaimed, clutching at Jett's collar as if ready to throttle him. "Why would you do that?"

Jett, undeterred by Finn's protest, effortlessly shoved him aside. "Trust me, we'll laugh about this someday," he reassured, his tone unwavering.

But Finn wasn't inclined to find humor in the situation. He had just been poisoned, and the perpetrator showed no remorse. With a surge of anger, Finn sprinted towards Jett, intent on landing a blow. However, as he closed the distance, he noticed his speed dwindling by the second. His limbs grew numb, and before long, his body ceased to obey him. "W... What's going on?" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper.

Jett watched as Finn collapsed to the ground, lifeless. Approaching cautiously, he checked Finn's pulse, only to find it nonexistent. "Just leave the rest to me," he muttered, his expression determined.

Moments later, a translucent screen materialized once again.

[Updating Quest Objective...]

[Quest Objective: The undead have come for the corpse of your comrade. Protect him for 1 hour.]

[Reward: Force Contract Knowledge, Resurrection Rune Stone]

[Time Remaining: 00:59:50]

The ground erupted with violent tremors, signaling the arrival of the undead. Skeleton warriors emerged from the earth, their bony forms advancing steadily toward Jett and Finn.

Jett's earlier assumption proved surprisingly accurate, though the additional reward caught him off guard. "I suppose the Rune Stone was intended to resurrect Finn," he mused to himself, a smirk playing on his lips. "Whether it's extreme luck or something else, I might just have found a way to cheat this mission and get an extra item."

Their surroundings offered no refuge—just an endless expanse of barren land devoid of trees or hiding spots. With the horde of undead closing in, Jett realized he couldn't fight them off while also protecting Finn. He hoisted Finn's lifeless body onto his shoulders and bolted, the weight of his comrade slowing him down with each step.

As exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him, Jett paused to catch his breath. "I'm so tired, pretty sure I've been running for 15 minute... Huh?" he gasped, checking the timer on the screen. To his dismay, not even a fraction of the allotted time had elapsed. "Just five minutes gone..." he muttered, his heart sinking as the undead drew nearer.

With renewed determination, Jett resumed his frantic pace, carrying Finn as he sprinted across the desolate landscape. Eventually, he reached a cliff edge, the precipice plunging into an unseen abyss below. Escape was impossible, and Jett found himself trapped with no way out.

Unable to abandon Finn without failing the quest, Jett faced a grim reality: he had to confront the undead head-on.

Though the odds were stacked against him, he squared his shoulders and addressed the approaching horde. "Come on, you rotting corpses! Is this the best the afterlife has to offer?" he taunted, steeling himself for the inevitable battle, uncertain if he would emerge victorious or meet his demise.