Quality: Gray (Inferior)
Effect: Slowly restores 10 HP over the course of 10 minutes
Note: Smells bad, tastes bad—what do you expect? Just shut up and eat if you don’t want to starve!
Alex is grateful to receive a recovery item. It’s far from effective, but in a dangerous world like this, any form of healing is welcome. The note’s snarky tone reminds him of his own system, FR-1337. Was that just a coincidence?
Deciding not to dwell on it, he hands one portion of jerky to Thato, and they make their first successful trade. To his relief, the system provides a notification to confirm the trade, ensuring there’s no chance for scams, a welcome feature that brings back memories of World of Warcraft and RuneScape.
With a few minutes left before they have to return to the village elder, Alex and Thato decide to visit the village store. Inside, they find an assortment of weapons, armor, supplies, and even a few rare items.
Alex’s eyes are immediately drawn to several items:
[Hidden Secret Village Medicine]
Quality: Light Blue
Permanently increases PHY by 1 point. Can only be used if PHY is lower than 15.
Cost: 10,000 contribution points.
Note: A rare medicine created from countless rare plants growing on the cliffs of Navalia. Only a few potions can be made each year.
Stock: 1/1
[Quality Hunting Bow]
Quality: White
Durability: 25/25
Damage: 10-15
Cost: 1,500 contribution points.
Note: A well-made hunting bow, suitable for hunting beasts and humans alike.
Required stats: STR - 4, PHY - 3, SNS - 5
[Quality Arrow]
Quality: White
Durability: 3/3
Damage: 3-5
Cost: 10 contribution points.
Note: A quality arrow with a sharp, bone-made arrowhead.
[Quality Hunting Knife]
Quality: White
Durability: 25/25
Damage: 5-10
Cost: 1,000 contribution points.
Note: Made from durable beast bone, as there are no metal veins on Navalia.
Required stats: STR - 3
[Quality Fur Armor]
Quality: White
Durability: 30/30
Cost: 800 contribution points.
…..
[Quality Fur Boots]
[Quality Fur Gauntlets]
…..
Alex scans the available stock. Most of the items are of "White" quality, which seems to indicate standard, decent equipment. Compared to the "Gray" quality axe he’s been given, these items are clearly much better. Alex is especially interested in the [Quality Hunting Knife] and [Quality Hunting Bow], decent weapons that can be taken out of the mission and used in future scenarios.
Unfortunately, with only 130 contribution points, he can’t afford anything. These items are valuable beginner gear, and Alex makes a mental note to redeem any points he can after the mission. Survival might depend on having the right equipment.
As Alex lingers over the items, his eyes keep drifting back to the [Hidden Secret Village Medicine]. A rare potion that could increase his PHY by 1 point, it’s almost too tempting. With just that one bottle, he could raise his PHY to nearly match Thato’s.
However, Alex knows his [Statistical OCD] skill would prevent him from fully benefiting from the potion. Any stat point gained would simply be converted into a regular stat point, which could then only be used to raise all his stats equally. In essence, he’d gain double the value, but only later, when he has the necessary points to spread across all his stats.
Still, the potion costs an astronomical 10,000 contribution points, and Alex can’t trade for it. Should he aim for the long-term benefit of the medicine or focus on more affordable, practical items that could help him survive now?
Before he can make up his mind, Thato interrupts his thoughts, reminding him that it’s time to return to the village elder.
They make their way back to the village center, where they notice that the rest of the group has already returned as well.
Main mission starting now.