After leaving the books on his bedside table, Evan couldn't maintain his excitement. He is finally allowed a little bit of a leeway. In addition to his Simulation Zone usage, he could go deeper inside the stone hill cave than he usually would be able to because of his new found ability he had just accepted.
He knows he should still be careful. It still costs one of his precious mana points per use. But the fact that if he does get injured, he wouldn't outright die. And that is more than enough.
Evan knew that he needs to catch up and try to see if there is an ability he could get soon that he can use to get in Stardust Academy.
Every children only has one power, which is something everyone knows about, usually inherited from either parent or a mixture of what the parents had. Evan is a different case. Since the watch was the origin of his abilities, Evan technically didn't inherit anything from either of his parents.
He would have to find out if there is anyone that has two powers given to them. They must be at least a handful, right? Even if they're a rarity?
Then again, maybe they just don't exist. That is also a possibility he is not afraid nor hesitant to agree with if true.
Soon enough, Evan found himself in the same, familiar corridor once again. He has done his entry countless times by now, that he felt like he had skipped the reading that he had to do for the words to open the entrance.
The branching paths show up after a bit more of walking. He had already tried to examine both. While it would take so much time, Evan is willing to finish what he had started on the left. He felt as if it would be a lot shorter, and he wants to have some progress done before calling it a day.
Just before he entered though, he remembers he could use his detect ability. Sensing nothing to be wrong about that and just wondering if it'll work, he ought to give it a try.
"Detect."
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Ability Detect used!
Name: Stone Hill Cave's Branching Paths
Description: Two different paths that branches to many different sections for dead ends. Only one on each side will soon meet in the middle.
Special:
- Left path: The Confusing Corridors' Tests of Willpower, of Intellect and of Perseverance (Currently explored: 1 of 13)
- Right path: The Spinning Hallways' Tests of Speed, of Strength and of Courage. (Currently explored: 1 of 25)
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Evan stares at the numbers he saw so far. He noticed that the paths on the left were close to doubled for the one on the right. Not to mention that there is only one path that connects the one to the other side.
It would mean that he could get lost quickly if he is not going to be aware of his surroundings. Sure, most of the paths on either side will lead to dead ends, but what if he managed to pick a path that continuously goes on without an end in sight?
Evan remembers he had Iva. It seems to know a lot of things about this cave. Iva might not be saying much, but he is using the basis of the language on the smooth stone that unlocked the cave in the first place. Iva knew about it.
Maybe Iva can find out if there is some sort of a map for this place? That would make exploring much faster.
Before he can ask Iva for the possibility of a map existing for the paths, multiple panels began showing up in front of his very eyes.
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Quests tab unlocked!
Access to Quest tab in Status panel
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Evan furrowed his eyebrows at seeing that. Shouldn't he already have a quest tab before? Most of the gaming books he saw had quests before and he didn't have it. He thought his was an exemption.
Apparently, he needed to do something to unlock it.
He closed that panel and another pops up.
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Main Quests side tab and Side Quests side tab unlocked!
Proceed to Quest tab for more details on Quests accepted.
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Evan hums and closed that too.
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Main quest unlocked!
Main quest title: Overcoming the Stone Cave Hill!
Description: Survive waves of beings made by mana. Conquer every possible areas.
Status: Accepted, in progress
Current progress:
- Slime Corridor ✓
- Twisting Hall of Certain Dead End ✓
- Left branching path (In progress 1/17)
- Right branching path (In progress 1/25)
Duration: 7d: 10hr: 12min: 4sec
Rewards: Not Applicable
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Evan nods his head at reading this particular panel. He finally has a checklist even if he didn't really need it. There's progress count on it, and that is still helpful.
If he had used detect from way back, he would probably have this quest tab already. There's is also a duration. His eyes squints at the sight. He did a bit of counting and realized that the timer is until three days before the Entrance Exams for Stardust Academy. There isn't even any rewards for it.
Looks like the only rewards he could get would be if he does level up. The levelling up also happens a little quicker when he does went to destroy beings made by mana as the panel calls them as. That means defeating those huge jumper frogs, and who knows what else?
That made him sigh tiredly.
From now on, he'll make it a habit to inspect things first using his Detect ability. It really didn't hurt him and even helped him too.
Finally, two last panels appear before him. Evan stared at the first one.
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Side Quest Offer! (1/2)
Side quest title: Connecting The Confusing Corridors' Tests of Willpower, of Intellect and of Perseverance and The Spinning Hallways' Tests of Speed, of Strength and of Courage!
Description: Find the only path that connects to the other side. Starting path may be from either side but exiting on the same hallway where the branching paths begins, from the other path. Make sure to have a writing equipment that will make continuous, uninterrupted line from start to end.
Duration: Unavailable
Rewards: Eyes to the Seer for Seeking the All-Seeing
Do you accept Side Quest?
[Yes] [No]
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