Mysteries and a Surprise

"So, what's the deal with this Mystery Potion, System?"

[I'm… not exactly certain. I can sense the Chaos Energy you used to create them is still present but it's not behaving how I expected it to. It is incredibly tranquil. Usually, Chaos Energy behaves almost like an antsy, sentient gas, actively pushing at any and all barriers, striving ceaselessly to escape. The Chaos Energy in these potions, for lack of a better description, feels "content."]

"Hmm…" Glancing around and seeing no approaching monsters, not from a ground level and not from the trees, Alesha considered just chugging it down.

Right now, she was in a virtual space. Rogork had told her that whatever rewards she received in here would translate to real life, but what if she drank a potion inside? Would the effects of the potion cross over? Alesha theorized that if the effect was purely physical, then probably not. She had a different "body" here than in reality, as evidenced by the fact that her current species was "Dark Elf." If, however, the effect was mental in nature, it would likely translate to the real world.

[An excellent theory. Also, I will add that odds are that the Mystery Potion's effect is unlikely to be mental.]

"Is it likely to be beneficial?"

[If I tell you that it is, you'll just be suspicious of me. What I will say is that I don't think it will be harmful and that I recommend you try it.]

Alesha put all of the bottles into her inventory, then stood up and dusted herself off.

[Wait, what are you doing?]

"I'm making sure I'm ready for when the mother Cragulok gets here. I've leveled up and released the Chaos Energy so I don't explode or whatever, but I'm not going to risk falling into a vulnerable state because of drinking an unknown potion. I'll try it out after killing the boss," Alesha explained as she looked around. 

Daylight was beginning to fade. A little ways off was the area in which she'd fought the Cragulok swarm, where by now, all of the corpses had completely disappeared, as had any remnants of the battle. The dimming light caused the shadows to deepen, which sent shivers down Alesha's spine. Waiting to be ambushed by a boss monster in a rapidly-darkening forest, where a good portion of the trees were covered with some very unfriendly giant-thorned vines, was not her idea of a good time.

[... you forgot about your Darkvision skill, didn't you? You really don't need to be afraid of the dark anymore.]

"Mmmmm shut up," she said, completely disregarding the System's (admittedly quite valid) remark.

She pulled up the settings tab and checked her mailbox again to see if Dennis had sent another message. He had.

"Alesha, I stopped by the mother Cragulok's den but shes not there, did you kill the babies!? I told you not to! Wherever you are STAY PUT so I can find you! Once im close enough ill be able to see your location on my minimap since youre in my characters family. Well if you --"

About two thirds through her brother's message, a massive amount of pain erupted from her left ankle as a vicelike force clamped down upon it. She frantically swiped the screen away, looked down, and saw a giant turtle-like head the size of a watermelon biting into her leg. As she looked down, a pair of auxiliary external fangs shot out from their "sheathed" position and pierced her leg. Alesha screamed in pain.

[-13 HP]

[Status effect: poisoned has been inflicted. Host will be knocked unconscious from the venom in approximately 5 minutes.]

[10/23 HP remaining]

[Ding! New Monster Encountered!]

[Ding! New Quest Available …]

Gritting her teeth and whimpering, Alesha crouched, seized the creature's jaws and attempted to pry them open. They didn't budge. Instead, the beast met her gaze and glared, legs skittering impatiently, its beady orange eyes alight with … intelligence? Upon glancing at the rest of the large monster, she realized it must be the mother Cragulok. Apparently, she came equipped with at least one weapon her brood had lacked. These fangs seriously hurt!

She switched tactics, snatching her daggers from their sheathes at her belt and striking down. The mother Cragulok quickly released her and retreated before they struck their marks. Above its main body, a purple box proclaimed, [Mother Cragulok lv. 8], and right below that was its HP bar, labeled [56/56].

"You've got to be kidding me."