"This is a basic skill," Wayne replied kindly. "Once you reach Level 10 and leave the Newbie Village, the Village Chief will teach you."
So that was it. A basic skill. Marcus instantly dialed back the flattery.
"This 'Gathering' skill is very difficult to train," Wayne continued. "I have been practicing for more than forty years and only reached Advanced last year. Otherwise, I would not have been able to harvest this Millennium Bear Gall today."
Marcus realized how tightly he had been clutching the item, suddenly aware that he probably should have returned it. Just as he prepared to hand it back, Wayne raised his hand.
"You defeated this evil Black Bear, restored our sacred spring, and cleared our shame. This Millennium Bear Gall belongs to you. Since you landed the killing blow, it is your rightful reward."
Marcus blinked in surprise. Hunter Wayne's straightforwardness left him a little stunned, and then incredibly grateful.
"Stonehaven," Wayne added, "this Millennium Bear Gall is not easy to obtain. If your potion-making skill ever reaches Advanced, you can use it to brew potions with far greater results."
"Understood," Marcus nodded quickly. "Thank you for the guidance, Hunter Wayne. I will remember your words."
Wayne looked him over thoughtfully. "Stonehaven, when I first met you, I thought you were special, and your performance today has proven it. You are destined to become a legendary hero who will defeat the demons and save the Dreamland Continent. After helping us solve this crisis, I would like to share some insights about the 'Gathering' skill. Are you willing to listen?"
Benefits. That was the first word in Marcus's mind.
"I have always admired your 'Gathering' skill, Hunter Wayne," he said politely. "I would be honored to receive your teachings."
At that moment, the system chimed.
"Stonehaven, Hunter Wayne is about to teach you Intermediate 'Gathering' skill. Do you accept?"
Intermediate already? That was better than expected.
"Accept," he responded immediately.
Only a fool would refuse.
"Ding! Congratulations, player Stonehaven, for learning Intermediate 'Gathering' skill."
Gathering: Auxiliary Skill, Intermediate 0/50000.
Marcus winced slightly. An auxiliary skill with a steep experience requirement. Basic forging and potion-making required only ten thousand points to reach intermediate, and thirty thousand more to reach advanced. This would take effort.
"Alright, Stonehaven," Wayne said again, "I need to process this Black Bear's corpse and set up formations around the spring to prevent other dark creatures from occupying it again. You should hurry back to the Village Chief with the Sacred Spring Water and deliver the good news."
Marcus shook his head lightly. "Hunter Wayne, no rush, let me help you."
Truthfully, he had another plan. He wanted to use his newly learned Wanderlust skill to establish a teleportation point here. He could then return occasionally to see if the spring ever replenished itself, and perhaps quietly borrow another jar or two. The bonus from this water was simply too powerful to ignore.
Marcus hesitated when Hunter Wayne waved him off.
"No need," Hunter Wayne said calmly. "The formation I am setting up is extremely intricate. You would not understand it, and you could not help, even if you tried. It is better if you hurry back to the Newbie Village and deliver the good news to the Village Chief and the others. They have been waiting for this moment for a long time."
'Damn it', Marcus thought, feeling a stab of frustration. Hunter Wayne was not giving him even the slightest chance to mark the area for a teleportation point, and Marcus definitely could not risk doing it right under the hunter's nose.
What is not yours, you will never obtain, even if you chase it. What is yours, you will never lose, even if you try to run. The old saying surfaced in his mind, unexpectedly comforting.
He exhaled softly. Maybe it was true. A game was supposed to be fun. Getting greedy, obsessing over every advantage, that would only ruin the experience and bend him away from his own path, both in the game and outside of it.
He reached for a Return Scroll, preparing to leave, but Hunter Wayne noticed him lingering and spoke again, unaware of the thoughts running through Marcus's head.
"Stonehaven, this formation is called Crimson Blaze Gale Kill. It is one of the ten secret formations of the Dreamland Continent, and its setup is very particular. You truly cannot assist."
Hunter Wayne paused, seeming to steel himself, then said with firm sincerity, "Stonehaven, I see extraordinary potential in you. At first, I wanted to teach you my own ultimate techniques, but my abilities are not high. I feared I would only limit you. So I chose not to."
Marcus blinked, surprised by the honesty in his voice.
"However," Hunter Wayne continued, "I have a friend named Liam Windrunner, known as the King of the Mountains. He is a remarkable master who once came from our very own Newbie Village. Now he is famous throughout the Dreamland Continent."
As he spoke, admiration filled his eyes, along with a hint of pride.
"But Liam is arrogant and not fond of company. He travels constantly, seeking challenges, rarely seen, like a dragon that shows neither its head nor its tail. He appears and disappears as he pleases, and finding him is incredibly difficult."
It sounded like Liam Windrunner was far stronger than Marcus imagined.
"Back when he stayed in the Newbie Village, Liam and I were good friends," Hunter Wayne explained. "Because of that, I might still have some influence. I have a token here. If you ever cross paths with him out there on the Dreamland Continent, show him this. Out of respect for me, he should be willing to teach you something of real worth."
Hunter Wayne reached into his belongings and handed Marcus a golden, badge-like object.
Marcus accepted it carefully. It was a medal engraved with the image of a soaring eagle.
Eagle's Crest: A testament to friendship. Effects unknown. Quest item. Cannot be traded. Cannot be dropped.
A soft chime echoed in Marcus's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations, Stonehaven, for accepting the Hidden Quest: Eagle's Crest. Quest requirement: Find the King of the Mountains, Liam Windrunner. Quest restrictions: None."
A Hidden Quest. Marcus almost burst into laughter. What incredible luck.
"Hunter Wayne, thank you," he said sincerely. "Thank you for everything."
This time, there was no ulterior motive behind his words. He truly felt grateful. Dominion's realism created emotions deeper than any game Marcus had ever played.
Hunter Wayne grinned. "Stonehaven, you must work hard. Do not let me down. Strive for greatness. And when you find Liam Windrunner, remember to give him my regards."
He turned toward Black Bear Charla's massive corpse, already preparing to process it for the Crimson Blaze Gale Kill formation. He waved over his shoulder.
"Goodbye, Stonehaven. Head back now."
"Goodbye, Hunter Wayne. I will do my best," Marcus replied. Emotion swelled in his chest. He could not linger any longer. He removed his Fluffy Rabbit's Mask, activated the Return Scroll, and a glowing formation sprang up beneath his feet. Light flared, and the world blurred.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived back in the Newbie Village.
The place was chaos in motion. Players flooded every corner, shouting over each other, hawking goods, arguing, and spamming the chat like a storm.
[Global Chat]
TradeWithTom: "Level 5 gear, dirt cheap! Don't miss out, first come, first served!"
LonleyBear: "CheeksClapper, you absolute clown! You KS'd my boss, then your squad ganked me right after! You think I won't find you? I will find you!"
CupidShot: "Looking for a long-term in-game girlfriend. Must have mic, sense of humor, and decent armor. Serious inquiries only."
LootGoblin: "Anyone selling low-level mana potions? I'm broke and dying."
SparkKnight: "Bro, I just saw a guy solo a Level 5 elite with a stick. A STICK."
LootGoblin: "That was probably me, except I died."
Vera_Jade: "Why are there so many people named 'xXDragonSlayerXx'? This is a Newbie Village, not a middle school."
xXDragonSlayerXx: "Watch your mouth, Vera_Jade. I'll duel you right now."
System: "Player 'xXDragonSlayerXx' has challenged Player Vera_Jade to a duel."
Vera_Jade: "LMAO okay, let's dance."
Merchants haggled. Players argued. Others flirted. The Newbie Village was alive, and Dominion clearly had no shortage of fans.
"Village Chief, I am back. I completed your quest," Marcus said, hurrying over.
"Really?" The Village Chief peered at him skeptically. "Stonehaven, have you truly completed it?"
Marcus stared, offended. Did the old man still doubt him?
"Here, Village Chief, see for yourself." Marcus presented the nine jars of Sacred Spring Water.
The Village Chief's eyes widened. "Stonehaven, I knew you were extraordinary. No wonder I have been dreaming of the mighty gods descending from the heavens these last few nights. It must be an omen. A hero is about to rise from our Newbie Village."
He grew more animated by the second, waving his arms as he spoke.
"You are not only the savior of our Newbie Village, you are destined to become a hero of the Dreamland Continent. Your name will be known throughout the world…"
Marcus was momentarily speechless. Since when did the Village Chief learn to flatter like this? He knew the exaggerated praise did not actually mean much, but hearing it still made him grin, unable to help himself.
"Haha, Village Chief, you flatter me. I am a member of the Newbie Village, so its affairs are my affairs. Naturally, I should contribute however I can."
"Good, good," the Village Chief said happily. "Stonehaven, to achieve such success while remaining humble and composed is truly rare. In that case, I must trouble you a little more. Take two jars of Sacred Spring Water and deliver them to the Blacksmith and the Herbalist. When Sacred Spring Water is added during forging and potion brewing, ultimate weapons and medicines can be created. Also, tell the Blacksmith that I need to borrow his Orb of Fiery Essence, and tell the Herbalist that I need to borrow his Orb of Chilling Mist. They are required to purify the Sacred Spring Water."
Purify the Sacred Spring Water? Marcus blinked at the jars in his hands. It sounded complicated. Still, the Village Chief had not yet handed over any reward for retrieving the Sacred Spring Water, so Marcus figured it was in his best interest to stay cooperative. A bit more running around was a small price to pay.
"Alright, Village Chief. I will deliver them right away."
Marcus hurried off, clutching the jars, weaving through the crowded village streets toward the Blacksmith's forge.
"Blacksmith, the Village Chief asked me to bring you a jar of Sacred Spring Water," Marcus announced as he stepped inside.
The Blacksmith turned sharply. When he saw the faint glow of the liquid, his eyes widened. "Sacred Spring Water. Is that truly Sacred Spring Water? You actually brought it back. Stonehaven, did you kill that vile Black Bear?"
"Yes. It took a lot of effort, but I finally killed it."
The Blacksmith exhaled a long breath, his shoulders relaxing. "Good, very good. Stonehaven, you have done our Newbie Village a great service. We owe you our thanks."
Thank him? Marcus's thoughts rushed ahead. Was this a reward trigger?
A soft chime echoed, confirming it.
"Ding! Stonehaven, the Blacksmith wishes to improve your skills. Do you accept?"
Skill improvement? Marcus's pulse quickened. He had never seen a reward like this.
"Accept."
"Ding! Congratulations, Stonehaven, for receiving guidance from the Blacksmith. Your Mining skill has advanced to Intermediate."
"Ding! Congratulations, Stonehaven, for receiving guidance from the Blacksmith. Your Forging skill has advanced to Intermediate."
The Blacksmith clapped Marcus on the shoulder. "Stonehaven, I have spent my entire life at the forge. I cannot offer much, only some basic knowledge. I hope it serves you well."
"Thank you very much, Blacksmith," Marcus said, bowing gratefully. The reward was outstanding. Auxiliary skills were notoriously difficult to level, and he had just skipped hours, even days, of grinding. With Intermediate proficiency, he could now gather better materials and forge stronger equipment. It was priceless.
He could barely contain his excitement.