The Player's System

Exaza

Twelfth quest

The new quest opened up in front of them. Team members found themselves in the middle of the forest. The forest was not in good condition.

At the side some of the trees were thrown on the ground uprooted. Team members looked around to survey the new quest area. Clark adjusted his hammer on the shoulder. His eyes were no more curious.

The nearly destroyed forest could not capture his attention. "The forest already faced worst. It is not that we could be late. This path in the middle of the forest has some fresh signs.." He pointed at the path.

The dry dust gave impressions as if the creatures were in hurry for something. "Near and far the forest is fairly ruined. Who could have done this?" Albert walked toward the broken trunk of the tree. It was near the path where they were standing currently.

Jake spotted the fur of some creature at the other side of the path. "It must be part of skin. But how ended up here?" Jake spoke. Orin was standing near him. He looked up at his words.

There was fur skin hanging at the corner of the sharp edge bough. "I guess creatures must have brawled here some time ago. But the question is simple. Where are the signs of blood battle?" Orin constricted his eyes to look for the blood splattered however it was nowhere.

He could not deny that things were confusing. Well for him most of time things were confusing. His thick head worry about the enemies and how to capture them in the minimum time.

Orin rarely planned anything, he did not like to invest time in thinking how to do the quest perfect in fact he wished to go all out everywhere and see what had been away from them in the quest.

"If not battle then perhaps chase. It can be chase for sure." Jake thought for a while and spoke again. "Your words gave some point. See those wild steps at the path and then they lead ahead from here to north, not sure if it is north…" Jake commented as if trying his best to conclud his theory.

His words got attention and Orin fairly followed his pointed location. He held his thorny mace and stabbed at the ground. "The upper surface of the ground is normal while the under surface is strangely in the small rocks however they are uneven. Guess if the chase was done on the surface and there were few creatures madly running then the ground should have turned smooth." This was the first ever that Orin used his brain like detective.

Clark happened to hear his comment. He was ready to talk with Junan however he changed his mind and walked toward Jake and Orin. "Bruh your conclusion is compelling. I was thinking the same because my feet did not feel the smooth ground at first." Clark commented walking near them.

He was bulky in stature and since the portal provided virtual experience it was not hard to feel the difference in the ground.

Jake noticed how Orin got invested to check for the ground. "According to your theory the creatures or the monsters belong underground?" Jake asked.

He was interested to know the particulars of the quest. "I guess I should ask book of detection first." Orin suggested.

Jake nodded. It was most easy way to get the clue so they could go along. "Let's walk toward the team head first." Jake spoke.

The team head has all rights to listen the clue from the book of detection and give orders according to it. In fact he was responsible to make proper decision in the limited available time for the quest.

They walked toward Junan and Albert. Sashi and Ahram were already there. Standing in the ruined forest brought several questions about the quest that which they wanted to know the answers.

Junan was about to call detective of the team. It was the last day of the portal and the three cards were missing. Time was precious for them.

"I will open the book of detection." Orin spoke and clicked. The book of detection did not open as it usually open up. Orin twitched. From some quests the book of detection was taking Exp as the price of the clue but now it was reluctant to open up.

Orin checked stat to see any changes. It was all same nothing unusual appeared. "The book of detection is not responding." Orin shrugged his shoulders.

He was worried because even single clue could help them understanding the situation in the quest however at this moment the book of detection refused to open up.

"What's wrong?" Junan asked. He saw Orin turned silent. "The time limit is coming to its end soon. We need proper clue." Team head urged Orin to speak something.

"I can't do anything when the book of detection is not responding. I have required exp but the options turned grey." Orin replied.

Team members heard. They got worried because it could potentially ruin their plans for the completion of the level. "Ah I should have remembered this portal and the gutsy developers." Clark commented. He could no more keep his anger.

Junan looked at Albert then Jake. Jake always found ways to proceed in the quest without the clue of the book of detection. "Perhaps they locked the easy option in the profession. For us it will be blind destination again." Jake spoke.

It was time to get the assistance from the task panel. Before Jake could ask task panel for clue they heard scream. It was oddly odd.

A monster was running at the rough path. It was the same where they were standing and discussing.

The monster snarled to see the humans in the Exaza land. However it did not bring any furious expressions instead got pleased. There was something shining on its head.

"The monster wanted to take this usual path we should walk aside." Orin suggested. None of them sensed any intent from the monster. It was madly rushing in their direction.

"I am not sure if the monster has nothing to do with us." Junan walked aside and gestured others. They emptied out the path however the monster came and stopped in front of Junan.

The monster pulled out the shining pearl from the forehead. As soon as the monster pulled out pearl from the forehead, it shifted its form. Four feet tall and week human looked at Junan having the pearl in the skinny hands.

"This is Exaza Land, you should complete the quest at your own risk." The skinny man handed the pearl. Junan stood speechless. He was curious why this human gave this pearl. Also the transformation simply shattered imagination from the core.

How come a monster that looked quite powerful turn out skinny four feet human without pearl? What was with the pearl and why he wanted to give it to him?

Most important of all he was giving warning. Well one could say it was direct warning. "I should leave now." The four feet did not speak further instead hurried to leave.

"Wait. Who are you?" Junan shouted however the four feet skinny man walked away. They could have stopped him however at some distance he started digging the ground and entered inside.

Team members took deep breath to see oddity of the situation. They were quite shocked how the human was acting monster again.

"He said complete the quest at your own risk. Perhaps he does not know we have been through risks in all quest?" Orin chuckled. He was could not help but let go the tension his heart suffered to see the skinny human.

Junan looked at the pearl and spoke, "If the npc is here to warn then there must be something risky. You can see the book of detection is not responding."

Jake critically observed the situation then looked at the digital clock. Time was ticking forward.

He walked toward team head and asked, "Can I take a look at the pearl?" Jake wanted to observe the pearl. By picking in the hand he could easily ask the task panel about the characteristics.

"Sure take a look." Junan handed him the pearl. Jake held and silently asked the task panel.

The screen appeared with all the information about the pearl.

[The pearl of Exaza Land]

[The host could use it for the direction in the forest. Only one direct thou]

[It would lead toward the Mangora monster. The monster is waiting for this pearl]

[Warning: The monster is cannibal. It survive at the flesh of the humans]

[Warning: The pearl should necessarily reach the mangora monster or else it would start eating the small colony of the humans in the mangora hill.]

[Warning: The pearl could make the monster fell asleep for six months then the pearl would destroy. During this time the host could solve the riddle of the Exaza Land]