The developers of Ethereal had a unique vision: to seamlessly integrate the game into players' daily lives without disrupting their work or sleep schedules. As a result, the game's servers operated only from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
This clever time restriction ensured that no one had an unfair advantage by playing 24/7. Players started their in-game day simultaneously, creating a more balanced playing field. It also prevented professional farming studios from dominating the game economy, preserving the integrity of Ethereal's economic balance.
Eventually, Ethereal transcended being just a game. The developers connected its in-game currency directly to real-world economies, making it an integral part of everyday life.
From young children to elderly individuals, everyone could immerse themselves in the virtual world Ethereal provided. It became a global phenomenon. Within just a few years, the virtual economy's total spending exceeded the combined global expenditure in the real world by five times.
The rise of this "super consumer base" gave birth to countless new service industries inside Ethereal. For many, it became a perfect blend of work and leisure. Players could relax, hang out with friends, and relieve stress, all within the game. This system also allowed people with challenging financial situations to make money after their day jobs, becoming professional players and earning supplemental income.
For Ethan, the $180,000 he had just earned, It was the critical first step to solving his immediate survival concerns, ensuring food, safety, and stability in his new life.
With two hours left before the servers went offline, Ethan decided to tackle a key mission to unlock his Owl Form.
He made his way to an engineering shop in the city, spending 50 silver coins on a glider. He remembered overhearing a druid mention this as a vital tool for completing the mission, something that would significantly reduce its difficulty. Of course, no one would have dared to buy such an expensive item during the game's early days. Spending 50 silver coins was considered outrageous.
"Spirits of nature, drifting through the void, heed my call. Let me transcend the boundaries of space. Guide me to the cradle of life, Teleport: Forest of Nature."
Finding an isolated corner, Ethan chanted the spell.
[Teleport: Forest of Nature] was an innate skill granted to all druids upon character creation. It served as both a safe haven and a hub for druid-exclusive missions.
The spell transported players to the Forest of Nature, and when cast inside the forest, it would return them to the spot they'd originally teleported from. The casting time was ten seconds, easily disrupted by external interference.
Unlike the war-torn lands outside, the Forest of Nature was untouched, a serene sanctuary brimming with life. A powerful magic barrier, said to have been cast by the Lunar Goddess during the Ethereal Cataclysm, protected it. Only druids could enter the forest by using the teleportation spell.
Ethan's first glimpse of the forest left him awestruck. The lake at the center was vast, its surface shimmering like a sky full of stars reflected in the moonlight. Fittingly, it was called Lunar Lake, a name steeped in legend.
Behind him, the architecture of the druids' buildings blended harmoniously with the natural surroundings, exuding a quiet yet untamed energy.
[System Notification: You have discovered the Forest of Nature.]
The system's chime pulled Ethan out of his reverie. The beauty of this place was almost surreal, but there was no time to lose.
He steadied himself, scanning his surroundings. His eyes locked onto a distant campfire, where there was a large, lumbering figure.
In front of Ethan stood an NPC with a bizarre appearance, a creature with a large body covered in feathers, the head of an owl, and a single antler sprouting from its skull.
It swayed side to side, its plump body jiggling as it danced. Above its head floated a dark gold exclamation mark, signaling a quest.
Ethan froze, staring at the NPC's comically chubby and endearing figure.
"So… this is what my future form is supposed to look like?" he thought, suppressing a groan.
Cute? Sure. But with that much weight? It would agility even be possible?
With a sigh, he approached the dancing NPC. As he got closer, Ethan's feet paused with shock. The creature wasn't just dancing, it was singing. Infact the tone made it sound more like a rap.
"Curse those thieves, those Crowlings, who stole my feathers away, now even in dreams, the cold wind makes me sway. Brave adventurer from beyond this land, will you lend me a helping hand?"
Ethan blinked, staring at the NPC, his thoughts barely holding together. A plump looking hybrid-like owl was rapping? This game's developers had some wild imaginations.
"Uh… sure, I'll help!" he said reluctantly.
[Quest Accepted: The Night Owl's Request]
[Quest: The Night Owl's Request]
Objective: Retrieve the Night Owl's tail feather (0/1).
Location: Crowling Nest, atop the southern mountain in the Forest of Nature.
Description: The Night Owl once ventured beyond the sanctuary of the Forest of Nature, curious about the outside world. While listening to the whispers of countless souls, he noticed that some voices were impossible to understand. After many attempts to connect with these mysterious voices, he realized they belonged to the Crowlings.
At loss for words, Ethan began his trek southward. He skirted the edge of Lunar Lake and crossed a forest before reaching the barrier that marked the forest's boundary.
Through the shimmering barrier, he saw towering mountains rising in the distance. Passing through the magic shield, he noticed another barrier ahead. He knew that beyond it lay the Crowling Nest.
[System Notification: You have entered the Trial Grounds: Crowling God Anzu's Nest. All equipment enhancements are disabled.]
[Note: Monsters in the Trial Grounds adjust their stats to match the player's level, with a maximum level of 6.]
This was exactly why Ethan hadn't bothered to enhance his gear yet. He'd heard about this quest in his previous life, inside the Crowling Nest, all enhancements became useless.
The scenery shifted drastically. Unlike the vibrant Forest of Nature, the land here was steeped in darkness. The sky, ground, trees, and grass, all were shaded in varying hues of deep purple. The monotony strained Ethan's eyes.
Pressing forward, he soon spotted a lone Crowling Warrior patrolling the area. The Crowlings, true to their name, resembled humanoid crows. They walked upright, their skeletal limbs resembling the talons of chickens.
Ethan cast Basic Appraisal to gather information:
Skill: Frenzy (Increases attack speed by 200% upon activation).
Description: The bloodthirsty and frenzied followers of the Crow God, they attack anything in their sight, sparing only their own kind.
Keeping his movements quiet, Ethan crept closer to the Crowling Warrior, transforming into his panther form. When he was within striking range, he leapt into the air, aiming for the creature's head.
In Ethereal, headshots increase The chances of critical hits, dealing bonus damage. Ethan's attack landed cleanly, slashing across the Crowling's face.
It wasn't a critical hit, but the damage still knocked off nearly a third of the creature's health.
The Crowling let out a sharp screech, its claws glowing red as it activated Frenzy. Its movements became erratic and fast as it lunged at Ethan.
Ethan sidestepped just in time, narrowly avoiding the frenzied attack.
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