บท 7: Magic Stone!
Jason, momentarily stunned by the notification that floated before his eyes, couldn't help but feel a rush of exhilaration. "Achievements for exploring? This is incredible!" he marveled, realizing the potential advantages this brought. With his perception and intuition in unfamiliar environments now doubled, hidden dangers would reveal themselves more readily, a boon not just for avoiding peril but also in direct confrontations.
"It's like turning the tables in my favor—absolutely fantastic!" Jason mused, the thrill of this revelation buoying his spirits. "With this, my chances of survival in these treacherous Undead Mountains have just skyrocketed."
As the excitement of his discovery began to settle, Jason noted the encroaching dusk. Fortunate to have charted his explorations on the map, the fear of losing his way was abated. "Retracing my steps should be a breeze now," he thought, appreciating the map's delineation of monster territories which inadvertently carved out a safer path for his return.
Jason couldn't help but reflect on the uniqueness and precision of his map. "Even seasoned mercenaries wouldn't have a guide as detailed as this," he considered with a sense of pride. "Sure, the panel assisted, but it was my own daring that charted these lands!"
With a careful glance at the map and a watchful eye on the red dot marking his position, Jason made his way back to his cave. He noticed an immediate enhancement in his senses; dangers that would have slipped by unnoticed before now caught his attention well in advance.
Navigating through the peripheries of various monstrous domains, Jason managed to return to his cave without further incident, just as the last light of day began to fade.
Settling down, he took a moment to reflect on the day's endeavors. Though he hadn't engaged in combat, his exploration had expanded the map by four territories, discovered a viable safe path through the mountains, and unlocked the valuable "Explorer" achievement. Moreover, the advancement to level 4 and the boost in agility were not insignificant gains.
Feeling a deep sense of accomplishment, Jason rested for the night, his mind already on the morrow's journey. With the dawn, armed and ready, he ventured forth once more, navigating the territories of the undead with newfound ease. In just a couple of hours, he ventured into uncharted lands, where fate seemed to smile upon him.
There, amidst the underbrush, a solitary skeleton monster roamed—a foe within his capability to confront. Jason's heart surged with anticipation. "At last, an adversary I can face," he thought, his fists clenching in readiness for the encounter ahead.
Jason, observing the skeleton monster before him, deduced it hadn't been wandering the Undead Mountains for long. Its attire, though weathered, clung to its frame with more dignity than most, suggesting a recent transition to the undead. "Ah, you poor lost soul, let me grant you the peace you deserve," he murmured, a mix of resolve and sympathy in his heart as he emerged from the underbrush, meteor hammer in hand.
With a battle cry of "Take this!" Jason swung the spear with precision and strength, connecting squarely with the skeleton's skull. The impact was immediate and definitive; the skeleton collapsed in a heap, its existence quietly extinguished.
[Kill 1/30, experience +2]
"First blood! And in mere seconds—how's that for efficiency?" Jason couldn't help but boast inwardly, adding a touch of flair to his internal monologue. Life as a monster hadn't dulled his sense of humor or his need for a bit of self-dramatization. "What's the point of sanity in a place like this?" he thought, chuckling to himself.
His victory was short-lived, however, as a new threat lumbered into view. A rotting zombie, clothed in the remnants of its past life, oozing putrid fluids from countless decayed wounds, emerged with a guttural roar.
Jason, albeit grateful for his lack of olfactory senses, steeled himself for the encounter. The zombie's movements were alarmingly swift, a stark contrast to the skeletal adversary he had just dispatched.
"As if I'd let you lay a finger on me," Jason muttered, his training kicking in. He gripped his spear with both hands and lunged, driving the weapon deep into the zombie's chest. Despite the creature's attempts to retaliate, the spear's tip found its mark, pinning the zombie in place.
"With life and death between us, you won't be crossing over today," Jason quipped, extracting his spear only to strike again with lethal precision. This time, the spearhead plunged into the zombie's eye socket, ensuring its immediate downfall.
"Double kill!" Jason couldn't resist the triumphant declaration, even if there was no one around to hear it. He retreated tactically, readying himself for whatever else the mountains had in store.
[Kill 2/30, experience +5, agility +0.1]
Smiling with a sense of pride and a growing confidence in his abilities, Jason knew that each victory, each step taken on these cursed grounds, brought him closer to understanding and mastering the harsh realities of his new existence.
As Jason observed the incremental rise in his attributes, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. The encounter with the more formidable zombie not only offered a higher yield of experience and agility but also marked a significant milestone in his evolution within the Undead Mountains.
[Strength: 1.2]
[Agility: 0.7]
[Physique: 0.7]
[Danger Index: 4 (A newly recognized low-level monster, exhibiting quicker reflexes, a sturdy form, and remarkable strength. Capable of overpowering several lesser goblins. A stern warning: Children, steer clear; elders, approach with caution.)]
"I've transcended beyond a mere plaything for children," Jason thought, a hint of pride in his realization. His growth was tangible, mirrored by the expansion of his territory on the map, now marking the territories of both the Skeleton Monster and the Rotten Corpse.
[Explore map area × 1, experience +5]
[Experience value: 27/40]
Then came the moment Jason had grown to anticipate with a blend of excitement and curiosity—the search for loot among the defeated. Squatting down beside his vanquished foes, he discovered a small, light blue crystal within the skull of the skeleton monster. This soul fire crystallization, a coveted item among mercenaries for its monetary value, hinted at the deeper intricacies of the world's magical economy.
The decayed corpse yielded a magic stone of its own, nestled within its heart—a milky white pebble adorned with light red, vein-like patterns. Such stones, Jason knew, were the foundation of a vibrant magical civilization, utilized by forest elves, elemental magicians, and the affluent in society to craft wondrous magical artifacts.
Holding the two magic stones, Jason mused over their potential utility to him, a skeleton devoid of digestive faculties. "Could I possibly 'eat' these?" he joked to himself, bemused by the thought.
But before he could further contemplate their use, the stones vanished from his grasp, leaving Jason bewildered until a notification appeared, illuminating a new aspect of his existence:
[Storage and recycling functions are turned on]
[Storage items: Soul Crystal × 1, Carrion Demonic Stone × 1]
[Soul Crystal: Valuation: 2 copper coins, available for Recycling]
[Carrion Magic Stone: Valuation: 5 copper coins, recyclable]
This revelation, the ability to store and potentially recycle items of value, opened a new realm of possibilities for Jason. Not only could he collect these magical remnants, but he also had the means to harness their worth, albeit in ways yet to be discovered. With a newfound understanding of his capabilities and the world around him, Jason tucked away this knowledge, eager to explore the depths of his newfound powers and the mysteries that lay ahead in the Undead Mountains.
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