Food Dilemma

The next day felt like a new life had been born within him due to yesterday's adventure. Still in a daze from the village, waterfall, and adventure, Ashen quickly sprang into action, following his usual morning routine of exercising, showering, and having breakfast. He had a lot to do on today's schedule, obviously playing and progressing on his planet in KOU, as there seemed to be nothing more serious or practical to engage in his life.

After completing his daily routine, Ashen swiftly settled into his chair and powered up his PC, diving straight into his favorite game. Following his conversation with Kaid the day before, Ashen had an epiphany—he lagged significantly behind his friends in the game. While Kaid had already soared to level 26, his other friends comfortably held levels above 10. However, progression and experience gain hinged heavily on the chosen planet for rulership. Unfortunately, Ashen found himself stuck at a mere level 3.

Determined to bridge this gap and catch up with his companions, Ashen made a resolute decision: he would intensively grind to escalate his level to 10 before his next VR mode session. 

This strategic choice allowed him to maximize his summoning capabilities, granting him the opportunity to summon a total of 13 entities. This consisted of 10 summons earned through leveling up, two weekly summons, and an additional summon granted upon reaching level 10.

The developers of KOU had subtly hinted at the introduction of a cooperative or massively multiplayer online (MMO) mode once a specific number of players reached level 40. This news further fueled Ashen's motivation to advance swiftly within the game.

Upon starting the game, Ashen's first course of action was to review his stats and current level. He meticulously perused the details displayed on the screen:

Name: GreyGhost

Race: Human

Title: Lord

Planet Name: Midnight Bay

Level: 3 Experience: 93/100

Status:

· Health Points (HP): 100/100

· Mana Points (MP): 50/50

· Stamina Points (SP): 75/75

· Condition: Normal

Attributes:

· Strength: 9

· Intelligence: 11

· Wisdom: 13

· Charisma: 10

· Dexterity: 10 

Skills:

· Iron Phalanx (level 1) 

Inventory:

· [No items in inventory] 

Civilization Window: Locked (Requires Level 5)

As he surveyed his status, the reality struck him. Although Ashen had efficiently risen to level 3 in just two days of gameplay, achieving the significant milestone of level 10 within 7 to 8 days seemed daunting. Unlike other games that provided system missions to facilitate leveling, this particular game demanded players to create and fulfill their self-made missions for progression, making it significantly harder to advance.

Determined to optimize his progress, Ashen promptly sought out his trusted butler, Dominic. He navigated to Dominic's location and activated the interaction interface by selecting the green dot above Dominic's avatar. In a quick message, Ashen inquired, "What's going on, Dominic? Everything okay?"

In response to Ashen's message, Dominic acknowledged Ashen's presence with a bow in the air, offering a respectful greeting, "Welcome back, my lord. Everything is proceeding smoothly." After a brief pause, Ashen inquired about the ongoing developments during his absence.

Dominic, after collecting his thoughts, responded, "As per your instructions, approximately half of the debris remains to be gathered. However, due to excessive work, there has been a significant increase in food consumption, resulting in a shortage. Despite the merman's efforts in gathering food and hunting fish, there's a noticeable lack of manpower in these tasks."

Continuing his report, Dominic added, "On a positive note, the palace has been meticulously organized, thanks to Kayla's diligent efforts. Additionally, Ethan has been successfully motivating and managing the team during this process. Rahil has been instrumental in training individuals for self-protection and hunting, contributing significantly to the overall progress."

Ashen, upon learning this information, felt a sense of satisfaction, but the revelation of a food shortage posed a significant concern. He promptly inquired of Dominic about the food reserves available for everyone. Dominic's response was disheartening, indicating that there were only enough provisions for a mere 2-3 days. 

This presented a pressing issue, especially considering Ashen's impending VR mode session, which was scheduled three days from the current moment. The meager supply of food seemed barely sufficient for this short span, rendering the situation more precarious than anticipated.

As Ashen contemplated the impending shortage, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by synchronous shouts and cries emanating from a distance. 

Intrigued and concerned, Ashen followed the tumultuous sounds, leading him to the training ground, where he was astounded to find 7-8 mermen and sea dragons engaged in rigorous training under the tutelage of Rahil himself.

Upon approaching the training ground, Ashen directed his inquiry to Rahil, seeking an explanation for the unexpected training session. Rahil, acknowledging Ashen's presence, bowed respectfully before responding, "The training is progressing well, my lord. Moreover, I've identified some talented individuals among them. They'll prove to be invaluable assets for our cause."

Ashen was pleasantly surprised by the report. "Well done, Rahil. In light of the food shortage, we may need to send some individuals to fish in the area," he suggested, contemplating the situation. 

Rahil nodded in agreement, affirming, "Indeed, my lord. I've already dispatched some of our people for that task. However, they've reported an unusual scarcity of fish in the region. It's rather perplexing. Hence, I've sent additional scouts to investigate the area."

This revelation left Ashen puzzled. He couldn't fathom why there would be a sudden absence of fish, especially in an area where his initial hunting experiences with Rahil had been abundant. 

As he mulled over this unexpected turn of events, Rahil, noticing the prolonged silence, expressed concern, "Do not fret, my lord. I've enlisted skilled individuals and instructed them to observe any anomalies and, if possible, engage with any potential threats or immediately retreat and report back."

Despite the reassurance, Ashen couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that arose from the abnormal scarcity of fish in a previously fruitful hunting ground. He hoped Rahil's scouts would shed light on this mystery soon.

After a considerable amount of time, the scouts dispatched by Rahil finally returned, causing a frenzied rush and panic among the inhabitants of the settlement. Their demeanor suggested that they had witnessed something beyond the realm of their understanding—something resembling a ghost or, to be more precise, a being that they believed existed solely within the confines of legends and stories.

The group of scouts, comprising mermen and sea dragons, returned bearing both injuries and a curious cargo. The body they carried seemed to belong to a young girl, her appearance strikingly distinct and otherworldly. 

Her long, flowing hair bore the hue of the deep sea, appearing as if the entire ocean had taken residence within those locks. Her eyes mirrored the profound depths of the ocean, captivating observers with their shades of blue. Her skin held an ethereal quality, an intricate blend of white and grey reminiscent of the moon's delicate radiance. 

Yet, what intrigued onlookers the most were the veins visible beneath her skin, emanating a brilliant blue luminescence from her abdomen.

The residents were at a loss, grappling with the surreal nature of this discovery. They had encountered a being whose existence they had deemed mythical, relegated to the realms of folklore and bedtime stories. Yet, here before them lay tangible evidence that shattered their preconceived notions, a living embodiment of the enigmatic tales they had grown up hearing.