Chapter Three: The Forest of Shadows

As the details of the assessment were announced, the sightseeing vehicle arrived at its final destination—“Manor No. 1,” a low-slung villa standing at the edge of the forest. The sunflower driver scanned his face, and under the watchful eyes of the pea guards, the sightseeing car slowly came to a halt in the clearing before the villa. No sooner had the car stopped than the pitcher plant guide impatiently jumped off, waving its vine arms and beckoning the players toward the villa.

“The Farmer already knows why you’re here, so he’s agreed to open up this forest you’re all so interested in,” the pitcher plant guide licked its lips, shaking its head as it spoke into a loudspeaker. “But you’re all destined to busy yourselves in vain. Those people behind you are just being paranoid—what they’re after doesn’t even exist. We, the corporeal derivatives living in the manor, are attuned to every little change—nothing escapes us. How could outsiders like you possibly know something even we don’t?”

“What’s the point of all this chatter?” The sunflower driver sounded impatient, glancing at his withered reflection in the rearview mirror and snapping, “Just get them inside and get it over with! I’ve been having trouble sleeping for no reason lately. I want to ask the gardener if it’s a psychological issue.”

The pitcher plant guide waved dismissively, then opened the villa doors and ushered the players inside. Returning to the sightseeing car, it gazed out at the lush forest and suddenly sighed, “Hey, have you noticed? The Dark Veil Forest seems darker than before.”

The sunflower driver shot it an odd look. “Are you getting paranoid now too? Fine, let’s both go see the gardener and talk about our psychological problems.”

With a sputter, the sightseeing car started up again and drove away from the villa, winding off into the distance.

...

The moment the players entered the villa, they immediately noticed a difference from the two trial runs: player names now appeared automatically, floating above each person’s head.

Ember was accompanied by three players: “Little Bean,” “Moonlit Waters,” and “Not a Sword Sage.” Notably, “Not a Sword Sage” had a silver-bordered nameplate, indicating their status as a veteran player. From previous conversations, Ember knew that this player, together with “Highhand” and another veteran, formed the well-known “Not the Jianghu” trio in the game “Titan.”

Clearly, Not a Sword Sage had also been briefed about Ember by Highhand, but now was not the time for conversation. The two only exchanged a glance and a nod.

Clap, clap, clap! From the shadowy corridor deep within the villa came the sound of either applause or footsteps. The four players held their breath, watching as an elderly man with striking white hair and a mechanical arm slowly emerged.

“Let me introduce myself. I am the Farmer, owner of this manor.” The old man’s left eye swept over the players, a data stream flickering in his pupils as he instantly confirmed their identities.

“I don’t care what those old fools behind you have discovered. Since they’re so curious, I’ll indulge them.” The Farmer tapped his mechanical right arm against his temple. “But remember, this is my manor, and I won’t tolerate anyone defying my will.”

The Farmer’s appearance was so different from what the players expected, and the manor itself so strange, that they hurriedly nodded in agreement.

The old man snorted, his expression unchanged, and turned to lead them down the corridor, gesturing for the players to follow. The passage was dimly lit; dense black forest pressed in outside the windows, and the utter silence of the woods lent the corridor an unnerving chill.

“Though I don’t particularly welcome uninvited guests like you poking around the Dark Veil Forest, what’s done is done. Recently, the forest has seen an influx of those damned bugs. If you don’t want to return empty-handed and be punished, you might as well clear out some of the insects for a reward. After all, the results of this sightseeing trip will be included in your assessment records.”

[Prompt: Do you accept the quest “Pest Control”?]

...

Quest Name: [Pest Control]
Objective: Kill Shadow-Eater Bugs
Reward: Credit Points
Description: The Dark Veil Forest lies at the heart of the manor. Though this forest does not breed powerful corporeal derivatives, its shrouding darkness protects the flora and fauna from major threats. However, the thick veil frequently spawns Shadow-Eater Bugs that damage vegetation and must be culled regularly to protect the forest’s ecology. Now, you and your companions have the chance to earn some extra rewards.

[Prompt: This is a repeatable quest. For every ten Shadow-Eater Bugs cleared, you can exchange them for credit points at the starting location or forest supply post.]
[Prompt: Shadow-Eater Bugs are insect derivatives spawned by the dark veil, not a specific species.]

...

Accepted!

Since he was here on assignment, with a chance to earn extra cash on the side, Ember saw no reason to refuse. The other players felt the same.

Seeing the players agree, the Farmer’s expression softened slightly. He led them through the ever-darkening corridor to a pitch-black iron door.

Creak...

As the door opened, the players saw that night had fallen.

“That corridor just now passed through the edge of the Dark Veil Forest. What you see now is the forest’s interior,” the Farmer explained, pointing to the dense trees beside the door. “The forest is nearly sealed off by the trees. To leave this half of the zone, you have to go through this corridor. It cost me a lot of effort to carve it out.”

The players looked around, feeling a suffocating oppression. Visibility was no more than ten meters. The gloom reminded Ember of the endless staircase ordeal. Fortunately, there were no pools of corrosive black liquid, and the darkness was not as intense.

“Since you weren’t invited by me, I won’t be offering free help,” the Farmer said, stamping his foot. The metallic clang revealed that his left leg was mechanical as well. At his motion, a tree beside the door suddenly yawned, its two sleepy eyes gazing dully at the group.

“Wake up. Time to work,” the Farmer barked, then turned to the players. “Although most of the forest’s corporeal derivatives are in their juvenile state, with your current strength, you’re still at risk. If you have any credit points left, you can buy some plant companions here. There are also supply posts deeper in the forest where you can purchase other items.”

With that, the Farmer turned to leave, but before crossing the threshold, he added, “Almost forgot—this manor isn’t entirely mine. If you venture too deep, you might run into people from the Shepherd’s side. Be careful. Though we’re currently cooperating with the Foundation, you represent the Foundation’s reputation. If you lose badly in the rookie competition, you’ll disgrace not just yourselves, but all of us.”

With the Farmer gone, the players exchanged glances, only now realizing that they were not the only participants in this assessment.

Surprise aside, everyone promptly gathered before the tree to see what was for sale, eager to spend their newly acquired credit points.

[Prompt: The Eerie Tree Shop is now open. You may spend Foundation credit points here.]

Eager, Ember checked the purchase list, only to hear an exclamation nearby: “So expensive! A level-three Peashooter costs two thousand credit points, and with pots, fertilizer, and everything else, it’s nearly three thousand! I only got sixteen hundred points from my last run—what about you guys?”

The speaker was “Little Bean,” a young player.

But no one replied. Not a Sword Sage and Highhand remained aloof, while Moonlit Waters was engrossed in the list. Ember considered revealing his own haul of thirty-two hundred points, but decided against it, focusing instead on the items for sale.

...

[Basic Peashooter]: Fires one pea every three seconds. Minimal attack, extremely long range. Growth time: ten minutes. Price: 500 credit points.
[Intermediate Peashooter]: Fires two peas every three seconds. Minimal attack, extremely long range. Growth time: twenty minutes. Price: 1,000 credit points.
[Advanced Peashooter]: Fires four peas every three seconds. Minimal attack, extremely long range. Growth time: forty minutes. Price: 2,000 credit points.
[Peashooter Incubator]: Essential for cultivating Peashooters. Level one: 100 credit points; level two: 200; level three: 300.
[Sunlight, Water, Fertilizer Batteries]: Key ingredients for Peashooter growth. Each battery cuts growth time by a tenth and ensures healthy development. Insert into the incubator to use. Level one: 100 credit points; level two: 150; level three: 200.

...

Only one type of plant companion and its modules were available, divided into three tiers.

By Ember’s calculation, his thirty-two hundred credit points were more than enough for a top-tier Peashooter. However, the forty-minute growth period was daunting; he could face immense pressure, or even be eliminated before it matured.

With this in mind, Ember took a different approach and spent nine hundred points on a basic Peashooter and its starter kit, only to be greeted by a message that made his teeth ache:

[Prompt: You have purchased the plant derivative “Basic Peashooter” seedling. This plant is symbiotic with the Dark Veil Forest and cannot be taken out of the assessment zone.]

I spent all that, and I can’t even take it with me?

What a scam!

If his thirty-two hundred credit points disappeared without a trace, he’d have nowhere to cry.

But then again, what if he invested every last point?

Could he make a real splash?