A Fork In Quest

Having killed six Dire Sewer Rats, and one large version, Arthur's experience bar had risen to the 45% mark.

"At this rate, I might just level up before I even cover half of the sewer." Arthur estimated as he chopped the tails of the Dire Sewer rats and stored them in his bag for later.

Though at the same time, he got a bad feeling about it.

'I don't think the rats were supposed to appear this early on.' Arthur recalled the information from guides, finding it to be a bit incorrect.

It was impossible for him to tell if it was an inaccuracy due to his own memory or perhaps some change in the sewer dungeon itself.

'But it's still possible in Morpheus… The AI will change the dungeons and other areas according to how the players progress.' Arthur thought.

With the scale of Morpheus Online, the only way to run it was through the control of AI. Several other VRMMORPGs were also controlled by AIs, though their capabilities also varied.

It could be said that Morpheus Online had set a new standard in game AI's too as its Main AI was realms apart from all others. But that wasn't all as Morpheus Online didn't just have one AI, but rather several.

Each of these AIs were focused on different tasks of the game but could also switch between them if needed. After all, with the complexity that Morpheus Online brought and the variable that the players were, it was close to impossible to simulate how things could go.

Because of this, only an AI could manage everything.

Even the developers of the game were unable to interfere too much in the game. This was also why the game had managed to become as popular as it had in the past.

Drip~ Drip~ Drip~

While Arthur was thinking all this though, the faint sound of water could be heard from the distance.

"Guess I should be close to the sluice gate." Arthur moved the torch around, getting an idea of the area.

And sure enough, he saw a flat metal gate blocking a channel at the side. Arthur himself stood on a small bridge, under which the channel passed. Though right now this channel seemed to be empty, with only a little water at the bottom.

Looking at the left side, Arthur saw the source of the sound.

It was actually the wall of the tunnel. There was water leaking out from the bricks that were attached to the side of the sluice gate. Fine cracks could also be seen on it and moss was growing on them, further weakening the bricks.

>Quest Updated!<

——

Quest: 1. Investigate the sewers.

2. Inform the village head about it or release the Sluice gate.

Info: 1. You have chanced upon the sewers of the Kestrel Village. Search and see what secrets it hides, but also beware of the dangers that lurk within it.

2. You have discovered that the sluice gate has been closed for a long time and has become damaged. If it is left as it is, there is a great chance that the sewers might flood during the next rain.

Inform the village head about it or open it to release the pressure.

Grade: Uncommon

Difficulty: Intermediate

Reward:???

——

"There it is, the quest fork." Arthur was waiting for this.

From here, he had two options to complete the quest. The first was to take the easy route and inform the village head about the situation. This would finish the quest immediately and one would also get a reward that was decent for the start of the game.

'But that will be a waste.' Arthur had another thing on his mind.

After all, he knew the full extent of this quest and the different rewards it had depending on what one did. With that in mind, Arthur moved forward and reached a four-way split. From here, he turned to the left, intending to head to a specific location.

"They should be right here…" Arthur was ready for an ambush.

SQUEAK!

And just on time, he heard several cries of the Dire Sewer Rats. Using the torch, Arthur spotted about five of the Dire Sewer Rats approaching him.

"No large ones this time." Arthur wasn't too disappointed, as he knew he'd have many more opportunities.

Whoosh!

He directly threw the torch in the middle of the rats, forcing them to split up. The torch was half burnt already and Arthur knew it wouldn't last that long, so this was a better way of utilizing it.

[-5% HP]

[-5% HP]

[-5% HP]

Several damage notifications popped up as the torch burned the Dire Sewer Rats. Arthur rushed to the two rats that had spread to the right. With a few attacks and efficient dodges, he killed both of them.

>Dire Sewer Rat has been killed!<

>Dire Sewer Rat has been killed!<

>Experience obtained: 10%<

But in the time that he had taken to kill the two rats, the other three had also rushed him.

Arthur was bitten twice, losing 10% of his HP again. Though when the third Rat was about to bite him, he simply kicked it away.

SQUEE!

This caused the rat to be knocked into the burning torch, causing more damage to it.

[Dire Sewer Rat Has been ignited!]

[-15% Hp]

[-12% Hp]

Arthur's luck seemed to have played in and one of the rats was now inflicted with a damaging debuff. It also caused the rat to run around in pain, giving Arthur time to kill the other two.

>Experience obtained: 10%<

And once the two were killed, he turned his attention to the burning rat. The burning debuff had already drained more than 70% of the rat's HP anyways.

~CRACK~

With a stomp, Arthur ended its life, giving him more exp.

>Experience obtained: 5%<

With his experience bar at 70%, Arthur only needed six more Dire Sewer Rats to level up.

But before that, he had another task at hand.

"There's the release mechanism for the Sluice Gate." Arthur spotted a lever that controlled the gears that locked the sluice gate in place.