"And so, my cousin stabbed the monster right in the eye and, when he pulled the sword out, the eye came with it. Blood just kept spurting from the socket. It was like a gusher ..."
"Oh, look, we're here!" Fenix excitedly yelled, trying to interrupt the boy's story.
As Fenix gazed upon the General Store, he understood why it was often overlooked by players. The exterior was unassuming, with weathered wooden walls and a patched-up thatched roof. It looked like a rundown building, similar to those in his old neighborhood.
Upon entering the store, Fenix was amazed by the assortment of items. He knew that after leaving the beginner town he wouldn't be able to see all these items together in one place again.
Rows of musical instruments lined one wall—violins, cellos, guitars, drums, pianos, and even handheld microphones. Another wall displayed score scrolls and art canvases in various stages of completion. Fenix couldn't resist picking up a canvas to admire the detailed painting before placing it back carefully.
As Fenix wandered further into the store, he spotted various items for sale, such as tailoring tools, pet training kits, and something that caught his eye immediately: an Automat kit. The Automat was like a vending machine that players could leave around town to sell their goods.
When someone purchased an item from an Automat, the coins would automatically go to the owner. The best part was that the owner could restock it from anywhere. Despite its convenience, not many people used them due to their limited capacity for small items like food, potions, knives, or shoes.
Fenix's eyes scanned the shelves, but ChibiSlacker's booming voice pulled his attention away. He was animatedly discussing the low prices of the pet training materials, causing several nearby customers to turn their heads in curiosity.
"Chaotic Nexus, look! They're selling these items at such a low price. My cousin sent me a message earlier saying these exact items cost around 50 silver each and I should save my money, but here, they're only 15 bronze coins. Wait until I tell my brother—he's going to be so jealous," ChibiSlacker exclaimed, grabbing all the items he could.
Fenix chuckled. "I bet you're glad you didn't make it to level ten when your brother did."
"I sure am," the boy replied, eyes gleaming as he clutched his newfound treasures.
Shaking his head at ChibiSlacker's excitement, Fenix continued exploring the store. After a few minutes of searching, he found the cooking equipment. He carefully inspected each item, from the freshly sharpened knives to the gleaming pots and pans. Although the quality was low, as was everything in the store, it would suffice until he earned enough coins to buy better ones.
Surveying the items, he realized they wouldn't all fit into his spatial inventory. He needed a larger one. After scouring the shop and not finding any, he approached the owner.
"Excuse me, sir. Can you help me?" Fenix asked the elderly gentleman behind the counter.
"Hello there, young whippersnapper. What can I do for you?"
"I've been looking for a spatial ring, but I can't find any. Do you sell them here?" Fenix inquired politely.
The old man scratched his chin. "Well, we do, but we've run out of material to make them. The young man who used to gather it stopped out of fear."
[System: Quest Triggered!]
"Say, could you lend an old-timer a hand and gather some materials for me? In return, I'll give you a special jewelry set. Does that sound like a deal?" the old man asked.
Fenix eagerly replied, "I'd be happy to help. What do you need me to do?"
"There is a cave not far from here that holds precious Lapis stones. They are deep blue and emit a magical glow. However, they only grow on the vines inside the cave, which is also home to the fearsome Gem Spider. This creature is known for its deadly venom and has killed many brave men who have attempted to gather the stones. But with your skills, I believe you may be able to handle it. You can even bring someone along to share the task with you."
Fenix weighed the pros and cons before accepting the quest. He had never heard about this quest in his past life, but the old man did say the stones grow on plants, and he did have the harvest skill. He thought that might be the reason he had gotten the quest.
Plus, he could always ask ChibiSlacker to help him with it. He was feeling quite glad that he had saved the kid's life now.
"Yes, I'll do it," Fenix confirmed.
The old man's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, my dear boy. I knew I could count on you."
[System: A quest has been created!]
Harvesting Gems
Quest Description: The general store owner needs your help to gather 20 Lapis stones and eliminate the Gem Spider lurking in Lazuli Cave. The Gem Spider, known for its deadly venom, has claimed the lives of many brave adventurers. Exercise caution and bring along a companion if needed. The quest can be shared.
Reward:
20 bronze coins
1000 EXP
Spatial jewelry set
After leaving the old man, Fenix searched for ChibiSlacker, whom he had left ogling the items in the store. He found the boy in a section filled with random trinkets and tapped him on the shoulder.
Startled, ChibiSlacker let out a yelp and spun around, almost dropping the items he was holding to see Fenix standing behind him. "Oh, it's you," Are you ready to go?" he asked.
Fenix shook his head. "Actually, I just received a quest from the general store owner. I can bring one person along with me. Interested?"
ChibiSlacker's eyes lit up with curiosity as he asked, "What kind of quest is it?"
"It involves killing a giant spider," Fenix replied.
The excitement was evident on ChibiSlacker's face as he exclaimed, "Hell yeah, count me in!"
"Great. We'll start at sunrise tomorrow," Fenix said with a small smile.
"But what do we do until then?" ChibiSlacker asked.
After some thought, Fenix checked his energy bar and suggested, "Let's head to the pond outside of town. I need to replenish my energy."
Confused, ChibiSlacker asked, "Replenish your energy?"
"Yes, I need to wet my feet," Fenix told him. "They look a little dry."
Remembering the weakness of Dryads, understanding dawned on ChibiSlacker's face. "Okay, let's go."
YOU ARE READING
Haven Online: Brewing Chaos
FantasíaFenix Brooks' life was forever altered when a freak accident destroyed his chance of becoming a chef. It was only before he died that he learned that the person he thought of as a sister in everything but blood orchestrated everything. Luckily, he w...
