Zack spent some time browsing through the game's quest database, something he hadn't done much before, since his focus had always been on grinding EXP and farming first clears.
To his surprise, he found that several quests actually offered decent HP bonuses as rewards. He quickly made a note to complete them the next time he logged in.
By the time he was done researching, Zack had a better grasp of the system, even quests could serve as a steady source of stat gains.
He began marking every quest that was repeatable and may give reputation points, though his eyes were on unique quest that could only be cleared once and had better chances to give stats.
After checking that he hadn't forgotten anything, Zack made himself a quick breakfast. Once the dishes were cleaned and the garbage taken out, he finished the rest of his morning routine before diving back into the game.
Just as Zack was about to log back in, a new notification blinked in front of his eyes.
[System Update – Patch Notes 1.0.3 Released]
He tapped it open, eyes scanning through the scrolling text.
— Major Feature Unlocks Coming Soon —
On the 7th day of server launch, the Raid function will officially open.
Where Players can team up in large-scale raid to clear Field Bosses with up to 30 members per raid.
Note: Raids are not optimized for leveling; experience will be reduced and shared among all participants.
P.S : recommended for gear farming, boss hunting, PvP and end-tier material gathering.
Zack's brow lifted slightly. "Thirty people in one raid…."
He scrolled further.
Guild System — will also be activated on the seventh day.
Players can form guilds, recruit up to 100 members and register their banners in the Guild Hall.
(Guilds can compete in Guild Wars, earn ranking rewards and claim territory bonuses after tutorial is over)
Zack stood on the sleek white surface of the VR link chamber, a vast digital void that existed between the real world and the game.
Soft blue light pulsed beneath his feet, orbiting him like broken glass suspended in gravity.
His reflection shimmered faintly, contemplating the pros and cons of the patch.
After a moment, he exhaled and shook his head.
It worked both for him and against him.
He was a Priest, he wouldn't fall behind easily.
But everyone else got the same advantage, which meant PvP was about to get a lot messier.
After this patch, he couldn't just go around starting a killing spree…
not unless he wanted every guild on the server hunting him down.
The world of Immortal Conflicts was expanding faster than anyone could keep up with and Zack could already imagine what the seventh day would bring.
The alliances, betrayals and scramble for first clears would make the current "discovery phase" look tame in comparison.
***
The first thing Zack did after logging in, was take on a variety of quests from different NPCs.
He moved from one NPC to another; accept, confirm, next. Some were mundane errands:
Deliver this crate to Froale.
Carry the old scroll to the alchemist in town.
Others demanded blood and grind: Slay ten Frostfang Wolves in the northern ridge.
Or the collector type: Bring three Crystal Blooms from the marshlands.
Zack shifted through them carefully, prioritizing those that offered experience or permanent stat bonuses upon completion.
Time was tight, once the two-day grace period ended, major guilds would start forming and they will begin monopolizing key resource zones. Before that happened, he planned to clear as many quests as he possibly could.
{ System Notice: Quest Limit — 12/15 Active }
He marked three that overlapped in the northern outskirts:
Quest: "Frostfang Cull" — Slay 10 Frostfang Wolves (0/10)
Quest: "Herbalist's Worry" — Collect 5 Frost Petals (0/5)
Quest: "Lost Courier" — Retrieve the Missing Satchel
All three sat within the same zone radius. The moment he stepped beyond the City's edge, the world shifted.
The cold bit deeper, the wind carrying flakes like silver dust and the pines stood half-buried in snow, guarding the narrow, frozen path ahead.
Frostfang Wolves prowled between the trees, their cries resonating like far-off alarms
"Alright, let's make this quick" Zack muttered, staff tilting forward.
—Ice Lance!
The spell burst from his fingertips, a streak of pale blue that impaled the first wolf mid-pounce. Two more followed, drawn by the sound. His chain-cast rhythm kicked in: freeze, reposition, finish with a clean sweep.
System: Frostfang Wolf defeated (3/10)
He crouched briefly to pluck pale-blue flowers from under the snow — Frost Petals, their stems still shimmering from the cold.
The Herbalist's Quest tracker ticked upward as he moved between kills.
By the time the last wolf fell, Zack's inventory was full of both pelts and petals, checking his map. The "Lost Courier" marker blinked faintly to the northwest, behind a frozen creek.
It took a few minutes to reach the wreck site, a toppled sled, half-buried in frost.
He brushed aside the ice to reveal a small leather satchel, still intact. Inside was a letter sealed with wax and an unfinished potion recipe.
Quest Updated: Deliver the Satchel to Herbalist Lira in Frostvale
"One stone, three birds" he muttered, glancing at the completed notifications lined up on his screen, three quests cleared in a single run.
He teleported back to town, dropping the materials at the quest boards in quick succession.
Frostfang Cull — Completed: +400 EXP
Herbalist's Worry — Completed: +400 EXP
Lost Courier (Chain Complete) — Bonus: +800 EXP, Alchemy Recipe: Frost Balm
His EXP bar pulsed, a gentle glow running along the edge of the interface but he didn't slow down. More quests unfolded across his menu, branching neatly from his recent completions.
He smiled to himself as he noticed a well-known NPC marker.
Another quest in the same series had appeared, one that seemed promising, offering the chance for good experience points and possibly some extra stats.
Chain Quest Activated: "Herbalist's Trial" — Create a Frost Balm utilizing Frost Petals and Wolf Essence"
Zack proceeded to the alchemy workshop, where the robust aroma of herbs hung in the air.
Benches were lined with bubbling flasks and NPC apprentices hurried about with trays filled with powders and roots.
The workshop supervisor, Lira, greeted him with a courteous nod.
"Ah, you've located my courier's satchel. And these petals… quite fresh. You work quickly."
Zack handed her the items. "That's how you get ahead."
She gave a slight smile, then motioned toward the cauldron.
"If you're that speedy, why not attempt the Frost Balm yourself? It's a delicate concoction; one slip-up and it curdles."
Quest Accepted: Herbalist's Trial — Create a Frost Balm
He opened the crafting interface, adding the ingredients one at a time:
5 Frost Petals.
2 Wolf Essences.
1 Glass Vial.
—Start Crafting.
Blue mist spiraled upward, glimmering as the two essences fused. For a brief moment, the progress bar wavered perilously close to failure, then shifted to success.
Item Created: Frost Balm
Quest Completed: Herbalist's Trial
Reward: +500 EXP | +1 INT or +1 WIS |
Zack let out a soft exhale, accepting the +1 INT, which might seem insignificant now but could accumulate over time.
His alchemy proficiency has finally increased by 0.1% (Apprentice).
A new tab appeared on his HUD — Alchemy Proficiency: 0.1%. Below it, a subtle prompt became visible:
Tip: Mastering the alchemy recipes can reveal hidden formulas.
He tucked the Frost Balm into his inventory and turned to exit but hesitated at the sound of nearby player conversation near the workshop door.
Two players— a robed mage and a dual-blade assassin, were quietly debating.
"I'm telling you, the fastest way to stack stats is through quests and professions," the mage insisted.
"Yeah, and it's also mind-numbingly boring," the dual-bladed assassin quipped.
Zack looked back toward the door, intrigue piquing.
"Looks like this one, gotta hold onto it for a bit"
[Chain Quest Route Unlocked: Frostpeak Expedition]
The Adventure Inn buzzed with the usual evening rush, players trading stories and the faint sound of dice rolling somewhere in the back.
Zack slipped through the crowd, heading straight for the quest counter.
Behind it stood Ena Crest, the Adventure inn's quest manager, flipping through a stack of parchment notices. She didn't recognize him right away, just another hooded player among dozens.
But as he stepped closer, her eyes narrowed slightly, as if something clicked.
"You're… Zack, right?" she asked, comment half-curious, half-measured.
He paused. "Seems my rep's higher than I thought" he noted.
"The one who has multiple first clears?" she continued, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Word's been floating around the city"
Zack exhaled softly, not denying it. "Just happened to clear it first, that's all"
Ena nodded once, then pushed a few quest sheets across the counter. "Then these should be easy work for someone like you"
[Quest Accepted: Lost Hunter's Badge]
Retrieve a badge lost in the eastern training field.
Reward: 80 EXP
[Quest Accepted: Local Pest Problem]
Cull 10 Ember Rats near the grain warehouse.
Reward: 120 EXP
[Quest Accepted: Inn Supplies]
Deliver fresh herbs from the market stall to the kitchen.
Reward: 50 EXP
[Quest Accepted: A Friendly Game]
Defeat a traveling adventurer named Rik in a friendly spar behind the inn.
Reward: 150 EXP,
He accepted them all without hesitation. Zack figured a few of these might branch into something worthwhile, maybe even a chain that offered real stat gains.
As he moved from one task to another, notifications trickled in:
[Quest Complete: Lost Hunter's Badge]
[Quest Complete: Local Pest Problem ]
[Quest Complete: Inn Supplies ]
[Quest Complete: A Friendly Game →+10 HP or +1 Str ]
+10 HP gained
By the time he returned, dusk had painted the inn's windows gold. Ena was still at the counter when Zack set the finished parchments on the counter; her eyebrows arched, a small, impressed smile flickering across her face.
"Guess the rumors weren't exaggerated after all" she said, sliding a sealed scroll across the counter. "Not everyone gets this one."
[New Chain Quest Unlocked: The Adventure Inn's Ledger]
Quest Type: Unique
Objective: Find hints of missing ledger from the city's lower district.
Reward: +1 Stat | +50 EXP | ?
Zack accepted without a word, the system window fading in a shimmer of blue.
[Quest Accepted!]
→ Location: Lower District
He adjusted his cloak, stepping out into the evening streets as faint rain began to fall. The quest marker blinked faintly at the city's edge where the safe zones ended.
The rain slicked the cobblestones as Zack moved through the dim Lower District. His quest marker pulsed faintly between rows of shuttered stalls and lamps sputtering with weak light.
[Entering: Unmonitored Zone — PvE/PvP Accessible]
[Objective: Find hints of Missing Ledger]
A faint glint caught his eye, movement behind stacked crates. Three silhouettes slipped out from the shadows, blades drawn.
[Street Thug ×3 | Lv.6 | HP: 2,400]
Zack didn't hesitate. His staff pulsed faintly beneath the rain, runes coming alive with blue light.
[Skill: Arcane Surge Lv.1]
Magic Attack +25% (30 sec)
[Skill: Divine Barrier Lv.1]
Absorbs 230 Damage (10 sec) (Equipment Bonus +15%)
A shimmering dome of light rippled outward, deflecting the first thug's slash with a bright crack.
[Skill: Ice Lance Lv.1]
120% Magic Damage
−538 HP (Thug #1)
Frost burst across the stones, the first thug froze solid mid-stride, shattering a moment later.
[Skill: Ice Lance Lv.1]
−568 HP (Thug #2)
[Skill: Chain Lightning Lv.1]
−714 HP (Thug #3)
−700 HP (Thug #1)
−703 HP (Thug #2)
The air crackled, blue arcs chained between the thugs, their HP bars plunging as lightning scorched the narrow alley.
[Cooldown Active — Chain Lightning: 10s ]
[Skill: Adrenaline Rush Lv.1]
+20% Attack/Move Speed (10s)
CD: 120s
Zack moved, his cloak sweeping by like a whisper of darkness.
[Skill Ready: Ice Lance Lv.1]
−628 HP (Thug #1)
[Momentum Shift Activated]
Cooldown Reset — Chain Lightning
CD: 90s
[Skill: Chain Lightning Lv.1]
−763 HP (Thug #3)
−756 HP (Thug #1)
−762 HP (Thug #2)
The first thug's health hit zero, Zack lifted his staff again, calm and steady.
[Skill: Judgment Ray Lv.1]
180% Magic Damage
−853 HP (Thug #2)
A holy beam pierced the rain, a single strike that erased the second thug where he stood. The last collapsed moments later as residual lightning burned through the air.
A few players passing through the district stopped, eyes fixed on the now-empty alley.
"Wait… did mobs just spawn here?" — a fighter with a rusted pauldron, squinted at the wet cobblestones.
"Stop dreaming" a bow user, snorted. "You've been grinding too long, now you're seeing monsters everywhere"
"Or…" the third of their trio, eyes narrowing. "Probably a hidden quest trigger. Look, the ground's still crackling"
The faint static arcs still danced where Zack had fought moments earlier before fading entirely into the rain-soaked stones.
[Enemies Defeated → +80 EXP]
[Bonus: No HP Loss → +25 EXP]
[Quest Item Acquired: The Hint of Missing Ledger]
[Objective Complete → Return to Ena]
Their voices followed him as he passed whispers chasing the faint blue glow fading from his staff.
[Quest Complete: The Innkeeper's Ledger]
Rewards: +1 Stat | +100 EXP | Chain Continued → "The Ledger's Shadow"
Another hidden chain uncovered, pulling him deeper into whatever this storyline was cooking up. And honestly? The free stat points were the real plot he cared about.
The next marker flashed near the city's docks.
He moved towards it without hesitation.