After a long and arduous journey, Broken and the other three finally arrived at the summit of the mountain just as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. Rays of orange sunlight lit up the foggy peak, and in all directions, they were surrounded by a vast sea of clouds. The wind was even more intense at the top, whipping through their hair and clothes.
"Yeah!" RememberMe shouted loudly. "Finally, we're here. Ha ha ha..."
PussyCat, having removed her conical hat, ran with her blond hair streaming behind her. "This game is so beautiful," she said, her voice filled with awe. "If it wasn't for this game, I'd only be able to dream of something like this - climbing a mountain and taking in the beauty of the peak." She then fell silent, smiling as she watched the setting sun, the golden light reflecting in her eyes.
Forev walked towards PussyCat and stood by her right, silently taking in the breathtaking view.
The three of them had their own distinct characteristics, and even though they were very different from each other, they seemed to blend perfectly. RememberMe was bold and daring, often acting without thought and craving exciting experiences. He was always ready to dive headfirst into any challenge, his fearless attitude pushing the group to take risks. PussyCat, on the other hand, was kind and caring, making an effort to find the good in people and generating laughter with her positive remarks. Her gentle nature brought warmth and joy to the group, balancing out RememberMe's impulsive tendencies. Forev, meanwhile, was a reliable and intelligent figure who could be trusted to complete tasks with precision. Her analytical mind and calm demeanor provided stability and strategic insight, ensuring that the group stayed on track.
"Let's set up camp and get some rest," Broken suggested, looking at them.
He felt a special bond with the three of them, and it was the first time in the game that he truly felt connected to people who had suddenly come into his life, offering him kindness that he rarely experienced outside of the game. It warmed his heart and gave him a sense of belonging.
RememberMe stepped closer to him and said, "PussyCat can only use a wheelchair out there, so that's why she is so happy to climb the mountain. Just keep quiet, okay?" though his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Broken raised his eyebrows and swiveled his head towards RememberMe in surprise. "Are you sure you should be telling me that?"
"RememberMe!" PussyCat turned and called out, her tone a mix of irritation and amusement. "Did you think I didn't hear your voice? You just revealed my biggest secret in front of Broken, you know?"
"Oops... sorry...." RememberMe apologized sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't mean to."
"We should be prepared for situations like this after deciding to befriend this idiot," Forev added.
Broken thought that everyone has their own problems, but ultimately, it's up to them to decide how they will respond to their problems. He admired PussyCat's courage and positive attitude despite her challenges. She always managed to find joy and laughter in their adventures. He then turned his head to PussyCat, who was busy kicking RememberMe's leg in playful retaliation.
"I'll be mining, probably for the next few days," he announced, breaking the light-hearted moment.
Everyone was taken aback by his statement, their expressions shifting from amusement to surprise.
"Wait, wait, I didn't think to ask before, but you came here to mine, Broken?" RememberMe inquired.
PussyCat chuckled and remarked, "You must be looking for something worth more than gold, right?"
"You sure are full of surprises!" Forev exclaimed.
***
Broken had been awaiting the night to come, as the information he had received told him that the Moonstone would only become visible after darkness descended.
After waiting for several hours, however, it seemed that what he was searching for had yet to appear. "Should I stay until midnight?" he pondered aloud, his patience wearing thin.
By the time the moon was perfectly centered in the sky, the clock had just struck 11 PM, and he noticed faint, shimmering lights appearing in various places around him. The lights gradually revealed a rock that glowed brighter than the others, emitting a soft, ethereal glow.
The atmosphere at the summit of the mountains was incredibly dark, the only light coming from the millions of stars in the sky and the crescent moon. But around him, a few faint sparkles began to appear. He walked up to one of them and, tentatively, ran his hands over the stones.
"This must be the Moonstone," he whispered.
His eyes lit up with excitement as he pulled out his pickaxe. "There are a lot of them! I'm going to finish this quest right away!" he declared, his voice filled with determination.
RememberMe, PussyCat, and Forev were standing near their tents, watching Broken from a distance.
"See, it seems he has found what he was looking for." RememberMe raised his head and squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look at Broken in the distance.
"He really is so mysterious," PussyCat replied with a chuckle. "I'm really curious as to what he's looking for in a place like this, in the middle of the night."
"He said he wanted to mine something," Forev added. "It seems that thing is quite rare since to mine it he has to come to this place and wait until midnight."
RememberMe then smiled broadly, standing up with determination. "I'll approach him, just in case he needs some help," he declared, taking a step forward.
"But couldn't we just respect his privacy a bit, RememberMe?" PussyCat interjected. "He clearly said he would do this himself."
"You sure will be a pain for him if you try to help out!" Forev added.
RememberMe let out an exasperated "Tsk!" before heaving a sigh. "Alright, then I'll just watch from afar, hahaha," he conceded, sitting back down with a grin.
Broken grabbed the pickaxe with both hands and, after taking a deep breath, began to strike the shining rocks. He repeated this several times until he heard a crack, and a notification suddenly appeared in front of him.
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
"Huh?" Broken was taken aback as he saw the notification that had unexpectedly appeared before him.
"Who would have thought that chipping away at this rock wouldn't be as simple as mining iron ores?" he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards into a barely visible smile.
He swiftly moved to another rock and repeated his actions, striking his pickaxe against it in the hopes of reaching the ore deep inside. Yet the same result occurred.
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
"Wait!" Broken trembled as he failed to mine the object he thought was Moonstone despite his numerous attempts.
"Are there any special requirements I need to fulfill before I can mine this thing? Like, do I need to increase my Mining Technique to increase my chances of success?"
There were still a few moonstones left. He could still keep trying!
If you’re rooting for Broken to crack this mystery (or the rocks), drop a Power Stone to keep the momentum going!
Join Discord tinyurl.com/galanteodiscord
Broken had expected that mining the Moonstones wouldn't be as easy as he thought, but upgrading his Mining Technique skill would be no small feat. He would have to mine tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times to improve the skill, and he knew he wouldn't be able to do so in just one night. But he had the time to do it. It was a battle of endurance: either he persevered until he successfully mined those Moonstones, or the Moonstones would disappear from Yunatea!
He decided, "I will do my best tonight, until I try all the Moonstones in this place. Gia said the Moonstone will appear every two days, and I can try again in two more days if I don't succeed tonight."
He continued to mine with great precision, moving from one rock to another each time he failed. After several hours of unsuccessful attempts, the sparkling rocks were no longer visible.
[You failed to mine an unidentified mineral.]
"It seems that the rocks only appear in the middle of the night," Broken said, exhaling deeply.
He dropped to the ground and threw his pickaxe aside, trying to calm himself, although his hands were still trembling with frustration.
"I can't afford to waste any more time," he declared, standing up and firmly gripping his pickaxe as he approached the others.
"I'm gonna head to a nearby cave to mine some iron ores," he said, but all he got in response were confused faces.
"Wait, you did manage to get those sparkling things, didn't you?" PussyCat asked with a curious expression.
"Sadly…." Broken sighed. "I didn't manage to obtain any of them."
"I think that the thing you are mining is a very valuable one, so it must be only natural that it is not easy to get it," Forev suggested, trying to encourage him.
"Hahaha, don't worry, Master." RememberMe chuckled. "We'll accompany you until you successfully mine those sparkling things, or if you're still having trouble, I can buy you the stones from the auction! Hahahah…."
"You dumbass, money can't buy everything," Forev scolded RememberMe. "Do you think everything in Yunatea can be found at an auction?"
Broken continued, "I'll be here for, I don't know, a week, a month. I think you can leave anytime if you feel like accompanying me here would be a waste of time."
RememberMe leaped to his feet with a broad grin on his face. "We said we'd stay with you until your quest is complete, right?"
"No need to worry, Broken, we see this as a vacation. We're having fun," PussyCat said. "Do your thing, and we can also hunt monsters to level up. It's a win-win situation."
Broken nodded, feeling a warm sense of gratitude towards them. "Thanks, I'll be back here after finishing my mining." He then turned and started walking towards the nearby cave.
After Broken disappeared into the darkness, RememberMe turned to his two friends with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"I know he was only testing us on our loyalty," he chuckled. "Trying to pull a fast one by mining iron ore to trick us, hahaha! But he should know better that I never give up! I'll show him my loyalty until he opens up to us about his biggest secret, hahaha."
"I don't think so..." PussyCat replied, a smile playing on her lips. "Broken may be secretive, but he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would take advantage of others. So, you better keep your imagination to yourself."
"I think there's something seriously wrong with the inside of his head," Forev chimed in, smirking.
After his initial failure to acquire any Moonstones, Broken established a regular pattern. He would venture out in the middle of the night to attempt to mine Moonstone. When the sun rose, he'd head to the closest cave to level up his Mining Technique by collecting iron ore. During the daytime, he joined the others in hunting monsters. Although he was more passive and let Polly handle most of the battle, he needed to keep the Self Transcendence blessing active to progress.
[Self Transcendence Blessing Activation Progress: 43%]
Each night, Broken carefully timed his attempts, waiting for the Moonstones to appear. He knew it was a test of patience and perseverance, two qualities that he was determined to prove he possessed. The nights were long and often cold, but he found solace in the rhythmic sound of his pickaxe striking the rocks.
During the day, the group worked seamlessly together, their teamwork improving with each hunt.
Unbeknownst to him, Broken had been following the same routine for three weeks of Yunatea time already, yet he still hadn't managed to obtain a single Moonstone.
[Name: Broken
Level: 31
Classes: Unique Super Novice
Health: 980 Mana: 948
Strength: 120 Agility: 80 Intelligence: 90 Constitution: 98 Stamina: 90
Charisma: 50 Luck: 25 Dexterity: 0 Survival: 0 Perception: 0
Available Stat Points: 0
Weight: 369/720]
However, one thing that made him quite happy was that his level was slowly starting to rise, and he had also spent every stats he had accordingly.
One night, as they rested near the tent, PussyCat walked towards him, carrying a plate of freshly grilled meat. The warm aroma of the food wafted through the air. She smiled at Broken, who had just thrown his pickaxe to the ground in frustration.
"You must be hungry, right?" she said, offering him the plate.
Broken nodded in appreciation and accepted the plate. "Thanks," he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
PussyCat chuckled, her blonde hair lifting in the wind that blew over the mountains. "I think you are the most determined person I've ever met," she said.
"But…" Broken replied slowly, taking a bite of the meat. "I don't think that determination alone is enough to achieve what I'm looking for. I've come to this place, done my best, but still, success eludes me. I have a feeling this won't change anytime soon."
"I think you need to take a break and give your mind a rest," she suggested gently. "We often push ourselves too hard and forget that our minds need to recuperate too."
Broken paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement. He had been focusing on the game so intensely over the past few days. Although he enjoyed it, he realized that he did need a little break.
"I guess you're right," he replied. "I'm going to log out for a while." He smiled at her.
"Take care," she responded with a warm smile.
With that, he promptly logged out of the game.
***
"He managed to upgrade his Mining Technique to level 4 within one week?!" Marco, the CEO of Golden Age Company, said emphatically as he gazed at the large screen in front of him.
The other people in the room were equally astonished by the feat they had witnessed.
"He is really dangerous!" Marco continued, his face expressing both surprise and delight. "Imagine what he could accomplish if he applied this level of persistence. Added to the blessing of sloth he has, he is so dangerous."
Marco paused, allowing the magnitude of the situation to sink in. The room fell silent as everyone contemplated the implications of Broken's achievement.
"Is the balance of this game about to be shattered due to his persistent mentality?" he asked, looking around at his colleagues.
Three weeks of Yunatea time, and Broken still hasn't cracked a single Moonstone. If persistence was a skill, he'd be max level by now!
Join Discord tinyurl.com/galanteodiscord
Komentar Paragraf
Fitur komentar paragraf sekarang ada di Web! Arahkan kursor ke atas paragraf apa pun dan klik ikon untuk menambahkan komentar Anda.
Selain itu, Anda selalu dapat menonaktifkannya atau mengaktifkannya di Pengaturan.
MENGERTI