Salt Mine & Salt Snakes- VIII

Saad turned his attention to the remaining options in the virtual shop. He knew that the salt mine was an unpredictable place, and having the right items at the right time could be a matter of life and death, especially with the salt snake around.

It was day 2 and he knew by now that the difficulty rose here every day. He needed to thin out the Salt critter population and get more of those passive skill cards.

His fingers danced across the shop's interface, bringing up the section that contained various potions and consumables. Each item had its own unique description, outlining its potential benefits and uses. Saad knew he had to choose wisely; his remaining salt crystals were a valuable resource, and he couldn't afford to waste them. But because of the ever present threat of being running into the salt snake was also something that he needed to keep in mind.

He considered the possibilities. Health potions were a staple, capable of instantly restoring his vitality in the heat of battle. Mana potions would be vital to replenish his magical energy if he decided to rely on arcane skills. Stamina potions could provide a crucial boost when his physical energy waned. Antidote potions might be a lifesaver if he encountered venomous foes or traps.

[Health Potion]

Price: 60 Salt crystals

Effect: Restores a portion of the player's health.

Healing Amount: 50 health points.

Usage: Instantly restores health when consumed.

[Mana Potion]

Price: 60 Salt crystals

Effect: Restores a portion of the player's mana or magical energy.

Mana Restoration: 30 mana points.

Usage: Instantly replenishes mana when consumed.

[Stamina Potion]

Price: 60 Salt crystals

Effect: Restores a portion of the player's stamina or energy.

Stamina Restoration: 50 stamina points.

Usage: Quickly replenishes stamina when consumed.

[Antidote Potion]

Price: 60 Salt crystals

Effect: Cures the player of poison or toxic effects.

Usage: Removes poison status and provides temporary resistance to poison.

As Saad took his time reading the effects, he also spotted elixirs that temporarily enhanced his physical strength and defenses. These elixirs could turn the tide in a tough fight, giving him an edge against formidable foes. They offered the promise of not just survival, but victory.

[Elixir of Strength]

Price: 60 Salt crystals

Effect: Temporarily increases the player's physical strength.

Duration: 2 minutes.

Strength Boost: Increases physical damage by 10%.

[Elixir of Protection]

Price: 60 Salt crystals

Effect: Temporarily enhances the player's defenses.

Duration: 2 minutes.

Defense Boost: Increases damage resistance by 15%.

As he carefully reviewed each option, he couldn't help but think of the salt snake and the numerous other dangers lurking in the salt mine. He knew that his journey was far from over, and that the challenges would only grow more formidable.

In the end he ended up buy 5 of each and that left him with merely 80 salt crystals but he had no complaints. He almost felt like he had a second life line with these potions on his hands. After feeling like he had prepared enough, Saad finally left the safety of the safe zone to go back to the salt critters spawning point.

------------------------------------------

With a sense of urgency and determination, Saad left the safety of the safe zone, his every step filled with caution. The memory of his previous encounter with the salt snake still lingered in his mind, and he knew that he had to tread carefully. The salt mine was an unpredictable place, and danger could lurk around any corner.

As he ventured deeper into the salt mine, his virtual surroundings began to shift. The salty, rocky terrain stretched out before him, illuminated by the eerie glow of the salt crystals embedded in the walls. The constant hum of the virtual world enveloped him, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.

Saad's gaze scanned the environment, searching for any sign of movement. He knew that the salt critters could appear at any moment, and he needed to be ready. The ever-present threat of the salt snake weighed on him, urging him to remain vigilant.

Eventually, he arrived at the respawn point for the salt critters. It was a desolate pit surrounded by craggy cliffs, and from his vantage point above, Saad could see that the population of salt critters had not diminished. This observation led him to a crucial realization: unless he eliminated them all within a set period of time right here, they would continue to respawn.

It was both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, this loophole allowed him to gain unlimited experience points without the need to venture deeper into the dangerous mine. On the other hand, failure to clear this hurdle today could result in an overwhelming horde of critters that would be nearly impossible to handle.

Saad took a moment to assess the situation. He couldn't afford to waste any time. With a determined nod, he decided to repeat the process that had served him well the day before. He knew he had to lure the salt critters out of their pit and dispatch them swiftly.

Saad descended the rocky cliffs with practiced agility, his virtual muscles working in harmony with his movements. As he approached the pit, he could already see the curious, crystalline eyes of the salt critters gazing up at him. Their bizarre, insect-like forms scuttled about, their movements twitchy and unpredictable.

With a flick of his wrist, Saad summoned his enhanced whip, the result of his earlier enchantment. The whip gleamed with a reddish hue, its power amplified. It crackled with arcane energy, ready to strike. Saad felt a surge of confidence as he brandished his weapon.

The salt critters, initially hesitant, began to gather around him. They moved in a chaotic frenzy, their tiny, translucent bodies reflecting the ambient salt light. Saad knew that he needed to act quickly.

He launched into action, as he started to run back to the safe zone. For now, he had a clear objective in mind. Increase his level to get enough status points to increase his arcane points to 50.

Once the horde of critters had followed him, he started using his whip with newfound precision and agility. The whip lashed out like a serpent, striking the salt critters with a series of rapid blows. Each strike was imbued with arcane energy, and the critters could hardly react before succumbing to his attacks.

The damage he inflicted was substantial, far greater than his previous encounters. Saad's enhanced whip was a formidable weapon, dealing blows that were 40 points of physical damage unlike before even while he wasn't using his active skills.

As he continued to dispatch the critters with ruthless efficiency, he noticed a change in his combat style. There was a grace to his movements, a fluidity that came from hours of practice and dedication. The whip crackled with arcane energy, and Saad's strikes became a deadly dance.

The battle was intense, the air filled with the sounds of whipping and the shattering of salt crystals. Saad's focus was unwavering, his determination unbreakable. He knew that every critter he defeated brought him closer to his goal.

After three grueling hours of relentless combat, Saad finally took a moment to catch his breath. His stamina was depleted, and he felt the exhaustion in his virtual body. However, the rewards were worth it. He had eliminated a significant number of salt critters, thinning out their population and had also gained substantial amount of experience points as well.

But the experience points were still disappointingly scarce. It felt like a cruel joke. Despite the sheer number of critters he had defeated, he had only managed to level up to 11. It was a reminder that progress in the salt mine was hard-earned and unforgiving. He decided not to think too much since he knew that part of it was because he had chosen the hard mode.

With a sense of determination, Saad quickly left the safe zone once again. He wasn't stopping until he had achieved his goal.

  ------------------------------------------------

Saad had been on a relentless journey within the virtual world, pushing himself to the limits for twelve in-game hours. His movements had become like a well-oiled machine, his combat skills honed through countless battles. And finally, his determination had paid off. With a sense of accomplishment, he reached the coveted level 15.

As he stared at the character window in front of him. This was so important for him. He had been struggling to raise his level in front of the terrifying monstrous salt snakes.  But now he had enough stats points to finally invest in his arcane points.

He considered his options carefully, knowing that each point could make a crucial difference in the battles to come. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to invest his points in Arcane, the attribute that fueled his magical skills. With a few taps on the interface, he increased his Arcane points to 50.

The moment he confirmed his allocation, a thrilling message appeared before him.

[Skill Soulrend is now available]

[Skill Whip Tornado is now available]

A surge of excitement coursed through Saad. He had been waiting for far too long to finally use these skills. Especially soulrend!