Although Li Ang hasn't read much game material, the main storyline was placed at the forefront of the setup draft, so it's the part he read most thoroughly.
The protagonist, originally controlled by players, would be swept into an event at the age of sixteen, thus commencing the adventure.
Since Li Ang has encountered the heroine, Zoe, the existence of a male protagonist in this world seems unlikely.
With Zoe as the true protagonist of this world, it makes sense that she possesses things far beyond what an ordinary young girl can have.
Tier Three Equipment is quite powerful at the beginning of the game, likely intended as a starter set, with the swordsman class highlighting the protagonist's uniqueness.
Li Ang recalls that she was left on the island by her parents.
Her parents said "they'd be back soon" and then vanished.
The setup draft simply stated that their "background was extraordinary," but due to the game's premature demise, even the script likely didn't know the specifics of this background. However, that Treasure Weapon and swordsman legacy were certainly left by them.
Just now, that kid… Li Ang looked out the window of the cottage in the direction she left. The cold island wind was ravaging the plains, heading towards the mountain woods and getting dispersed by the canopy.
She should have her own place; coming to his house was just because she wanted to stay here for the night.
Li Ang suddenly realized a problem.
He got the game system today, is it related to Zoe? Because she is starting her journey, the game has officially launched.
"Then what am I?"
Li Ang stroked his chin, pondering.
As a transmigrator, he definitely had the thought "I'm the protagonist."
But now, a true protagonist of the world has appeared before Li Ang.
"If there's some sort of will in this world," he mused, "am I the guide prepared for the protagonist?"
"Thinking about it carefully, now taking on the role of a novice guide seems quite fitting. With ten years of adventure experience at the peak, guiding a fledgling youngster should be a piece of cake."
Zoe is the destined protagonist of this world, and although Li Ang hasn't fully read the game materials and doesn't know her strengths, she's likely highly promising—how else could she be a protagonist?
He's planning to establish a Sky Cavalry; should he coax her into the team?
Li Ang was a bit hesitant.
He wants calm, steady, and capable teammates, ensuring the development and planning of the entire team aren't prone to accidents.
But teaming up with the destined protagonist...
Everyone knows that stories never like flat terrains. Authors will always create difficulties and obstacles to challenge the protagonist.
Though Li Ang hasn't seen the specific game plots, with any organ other than his brain, he knows Zoe will face numerous trials, and her adventure will certainly not be smooth.
"Gathering a calm and steady team, using my experience to control the situation, returning to the peak would be a clear path."
"If dragged into the events meant for the protagonist, the road ahead would be chaotic."
Li Ang massaged his temples, unable to decide.
Fatigue set in, and he decided to use a special skill of a legendary eSports player—ignore it.
Sleep first, deal with it later.
In the morning, Li Ang was awakened by birds singing in the woods. This familiar yet strange feeling was like nourishing parched vegetation with sweet rain, filling him with vigor.
After washing and having a simple breakfast, he went straight into the woods.
Today's plan was to test whether the system's profession panel was overpowered, and whether experience could automatically advance upon accumulation.
He threw a few punches, kicked a few times, yet the Warrior profession still showed 24/100 experience.
Since using witch magic increased experience, it seems Warrior experience also increases with the use of Warrior skills; ordinary exercises are ineffective.
In this world, the feature of entering a profession is learning a basic skill, which for a Warrior is the "Weapon Slash" on Li Ang's panel. Learning other skills requires practice and insight.
Perhaps only by performing a decent "Weapon Slash" could he gain experience.
The problem was, he had no weapon.
Not long after setting out, Li Ang found a long, straight branch. He played with it for a while and then began to whack the surrounding shrubs and trunks.
After a long time, no matter the effort, his Warrior experience didn't increase.
It seems the system's standard requires a formal weapon.
Before returning, knowing Satus Island was so impoverished that only poverty remained, without any danger, he came back without equipment.
Even if he wanted to wear it, he couldn't, as the highest tier items had been reclaimed by The Soul Apex.
Because high-tier equipment is extremely rare and can provide great combat power, teams capable of conquering ancient ruins to acquire powerful equipment generally do not distribute the equipment as personal assets of team members. Otherwise, if a member leaves the team, wouldn't the remaining members have worked for nothing?
The guild's set of regulations grants the Sky Cavalry the right to establish rules for interest protection, so many teams will require members to return high-tier equipment when they leave.
However, better teams will gradually allocate equipment to individuals based on their contributions.
The Soul Apex used to be like this, but after Rams took over as leader five years ago, he spent two or three years gradually adding interpretative terms, turning it into a situation where all equipment essentially became team assets, making personal ownership as hard as reaching the sky.
Therefore, most members of the team seek personal gains while equipped.
Li Ang also has his own accumulation. Though his main combat equipment isn't top-tier, it's still excellent. However, he stored it in the bank earlier, and Rams might have bribed the bank management, accusing Li Ang of embezzling team assets, so the bank temporarily froze it, initiating an investigation process.
Rams is different from some people in the team. He knows where Li Ang's capabilities lie, and this maneuver is to delay his re-emergence.
He only dares to go this far. Because while the guild protects team interests, it also protects personal interests. If anything happens to Li Ang after he leaves, everyone would know The Soul Apex couldn't hide its involvement. Such actions are mere psychological comfort to Rams and actually serve no real purpose.
Since he expected to return to Satus Island to rest, Li Ang wasn't in a hurry to solve the bank matter with friends. He disdained temporarily buying low-tier equipment, finding it troublesome to handle later, so he traveled lightly.
He didn't expect to encounter the system function, which piqued his interest, and now he needs to get a weapon.
Yesterday, he checked the panel again and discovered a subpage for equipment creation in the equipment panel.
[Profession: Equipment Creation]
[Tier: 1. Next Level: 0/100 Experience]
[Unlocked Blueprints: Basic Standard Weapons [All Categories], Basic Standard Armor [All Categories], Basic Magical Artifact [All Categories], Basic Magic Robe [All Categories]]
[Hint: More blueprints unlock with experience and tier upgrades]
After clicking open the blueprint, the information was detailed.
[Blueprint: Basic Standard Iron Sword]
[Tier: 1]
[Required Materials: Iron Ore]
[Required Tools: Workbench [Anvil, Forging Hammer, Forging Furnace]]
[Operation: Prepare the materials and equipment, and the system will assist in completing the creation]
Need iron ore, where to find it?
Satus Island should have minerals, to be precise, all Sky Islands contain minerals, which is a feature of this world.
Are the many Sky Islands that make up the Cloud World fragments of Earth or originally floating? The historical truth is unknown, but the interiors of each island are filled with various minerals, some of which contain powerful energy.
Researchers in the City of Magic believe it's the repulsion between the energy in these minerals and the crimson Earth beneath the clouds that allows the Sky Islands to float.
Throughout history, all intelligent races have used minerals to craft equipment, viewing the use of equipment as akin to Demons using their sharp claws.
As a rural small island, Satus Island probably lacks precious minerals which keeps it detached from worldly affairs, but iron ore is certainly present; Li Ang just doesn't know where it is.
Moreover, he would need to find an anvil and other tools later, and the villagers here have not fought for a long time, and he hadn't seen a weapon shop here ten years ago.
Wouldn't creating an Iron Sword require a boat trip off the island?
Just as he thought about this, the system seemed to respond to his need, popping up a panel with a detailed miniature map of Satus Island.
[Searching: Resource Points, Merchant Locations]
[Map: Satus Island]
[Exploration Rate: 84%. Conditions met, resource points and merchant locations unlocked; further exploration can unlock hidden locations]
What is this?
Li Ang marveled at the comprehensiveness of the system function.
However, considering that "Nebis Fantasy" intended to work on both mobile and web platforms, having some simplified guidance systems is normal.
It seems that merely increasing the exploration rate of an area would provide at least a radar-like miniature map and further exploration leads to hidden locations; he wondered what that meant.
The exploration rate shows 84%; Li Ang hadn't visited so many places, so the system likely included his past activities.
Following a flat area in the forest, he moved toward the nearest iron ore resource point on the map.
As he walked, he collected herbs and various materials in sight, useful as casting materials for a witch.
About halfway through the journey, he stepped out of the woodland, facing a vast meadow of tall grass with patches of purple, pale yellow, and white flowers.
The rustling sound that had been faintly present since the beginning became unmistakable footsteps due to the meadow.
He turned around, startling the young girl who had been quietly following him, causing her to jump behind a tree like a deer to hide.