Nightclown looked at what he discovered. His toon eyes could somehow penetrate the ground. Just for this instance.
Four vibrant, orange-red carrots. Pushing their green leafy tops out of the dark earth. They weren't just ordinary carrots. They practically pulsed with an inner glow. Ripe to perfection. In almost cartoonish way.
Nightclown's eyes widened. His pupils dilating into spirals for a moment. Before snapping back.
"Well, hello there, Beauties!" He chirped. His voice was taking on a slightly higher, more excited pitch.
He knelt down. Carefully grasping the leafy tops. And with a series of satisfying POP! sounds, he pulled each carrot from the ground.
They were plump. Unblemished, and surprisingly heavy for their size. As the fourth one emerged, another system chime sang.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Growth Carrot (x4)]
[Inventory > Main EXP] updated.
Nightclown opened his inventory again. Navigating to the newly populated 'Main EXP' tab. He tapped on the icons of orange carrot.
[Growth Carrot]: A wild super-charged root vegetable. One of the primary ways to increase the experience points required to level up. Higher levels require more Growth Carrots to advance.
"Experience points, eh?" Nightclown mused. Taking one out of the inventory. And holding it up to his eye. Examining it like a precious jewel.
"This is like finding cheat codes, but in edible form."
He remembered that in most games, leveling up would unlock new abilities. Or enhance existing ones. He was still Level 1. This was a direct path to power.
He didn't hesitate. If they were for levelling up, there was no point hoarding them. Not when there was exploration to be done. And a world to understand.
Nightclown took a deep, theatrical breath. Then bit into the first Growth Carrot with an audible CRUNCH!
A flash of light. Too bright for reality, erupted around him. Accompanied by a sound like a tiny, celebratory firework. The carrot vanished. Leaving only a faint, sweet aftertaste.
[Experience Gained: +500 XP!]
[You have gained a Level!]
[Current Level: 2]
He blinked, a spiral passing through his eyes again. "Well, that was efficient."
He felt... very slightly stronger, very slightly faster. Not that significant improvement.
But there was a distinct mental shift. Like a fog clearing. Or a new piece of his internal machinery clicking into place. He felt like he had more capacity. More potential.
He picked up the second Growth Carrot. "And for an encore!" Another dramatic bite. Another blinding flash. Another satisfying CRUNCH!
[Experience Gained: +500 XP!]
[You have gained a Level!]
[Current Level: 3]
This time, the shift was more pronounced. A subtle hum resonated through his toon body. His movements felt a fraction smoother. His senses a touch sharper.
He might still look like the same small hare. But he felt like a more capable version of himself. He checked his status panel briefly.
No attribute was improved. Nor did he see any attribute point options to do so. It seemed levels in Toonworld were more about unlocking potential. Rather than direct stat increases right off the bat.
"Level 3." Nightclown said. A wide, confident grin splitting his face. "Not bad for the first day in the woods. These carrots are truly... growth-tacular!" He chuckled at his own dry pun. Pleased.
He still had two Growth Carrots left. But he was full. He kept them in his inventory for future use. But for now, his level-up was complete. And his required materials were secured.
Nightclown spent another fifteen minutes combing the immediate area. He checked under roots. Peered into hollows. Use [Stretch!] to climb to the top of the trees. And even gave a few more ironwood trees a hopeful knock.
He found nothing else of notable value. No more glowing carrots. No treasure chest. No forgotten toon gadgets. Just more metallic-barked trees. Ordinary moss. And the occasional startled, generic toon-like forest critter that scurried away at his approach.
"Well, can't win them all." He shrugged. Deciding not to push his luck. He had what he came for. And then some.
It was time to return back to the village. And then, heading west. The West Mine awaited.
Nightclown trotted back through the Ironwood Zone. His ears twitched. Scanning for any last-minute discoveries. But the forest remained stubbornly ordinary.
The Mushroom Bomb Field was just as unsettling on the way out. Small new colorful caps of mushrooms had already sprouted. Over the exploding ones. Seemingly vibrating with latent energy.
He gave them a wide berth. And soon reached the Naughty Fairies Area. He could see the Naughty Fairies zipped past. Their tiny giggles were echoing through the trees. Intent on their unseen mischief.
Nightclown moved past the area quickly. Reaching the site where the trees were dancing. The Waltzing Trees were still dancing. But, this time, they swayed in a slow, hypnotic rhythm. Their leafy crowns brushing against each other like ancient partners.
He was making good progress. The familiar path back to the Toon Forest Village was coming into view. The first few colorful roofs and whimsical signposts were just visible on the horizon.
He estimated another five minutes. Tops. Before he would be back in the bustling town square. Ready to head to the West Mine.
Then, a sudden, weird sensation appeared. The vibrant colors of Toonworld flickered. Pixelated for a split second. The air shimmered. Not with cartoon magic. But with an abrupt, unnatural static.
Nightclown blinked. The forest dissolved around him. The cheerful soundscape replaced by an unnerving silence. His vision blurred. Then sharpened.
He was no longer seeing the sprawling Toon Forest. But the familiar darkness. And the ceilings and wallpaper of his own bedroom.
He was back.
Jester lay on his back. Staring up at his ceiling. The faint scent of citrus freshener was a stark contrast. To the sweet, earthy smell of the Toon Forest.
He was in his own bed. Exactly as he had been before entering the Toonworld. His Soulheart Gear, the Toonworld Watch felt heavy and solid on his palm.
An hour had passed. He confirmed it by glancing at the alarm clock on his bedside table. He had slipped into Toonworld around 10 PM. It was now an hour before midnight.
One hour in Toonworld. One hour in Sherra. The conversion was direct. This was a critical piece of information.
His mind whirred. What happened to him while Nightclown was cavorting through a cartoon forest? Did his body simply vanish? Did he fall unconscious? Was it like a deep, waking dream?
The implications were significant. If his body simply went unconscious, it could be dangerous. He couldn't risk leaving his physical self vulnerable for an hour at a time. Especially with the world outside growing more perilous by the day.
"Need to figure this out." Jester muttered to the empty room.
Recording seemed the obvious answer. Set up a camera, observe. But then, reality intruded. Sherra wasn't technologically advanced enough for casual recording devices to be commonplace.
It was an early Information Age world. Akin to Earth in the early 1990s. Cellphones existed. But they were bulky, expensive, and few had recording capabilities. Let alone video.
A dedicated video camera recorder would be an extravagant purchase. Requiring a significant chunk of his savings.
He sighed. Running a hand through his hair. "Great. More expenditures."
He would have to save up. Or, he could simply ask Vale. Vale was his best friend and co-conspirator. He trusted Vale almost implicitly. Having Vale observe him. Confirm his state during the Toonworld excursion, would be a simpler, immediate solution.
But it would also reveal the full extent of his Soulheart Gear's ability. Something he intended to keep under wraps for a while longer. He needed to think about this more carefully.
For now, the decision would have to wait. His body felt tired. Not from physical exertion. But from the mental strain of discovery and abrupt transition.
He adjusted his pillow. Sleep. He needed sleep before he could find a better plan to tackle the mysteries of his new reality.
The next morning, Jester's internal clock roused him before his alarm clock did.
It was Sunday, a day of rest for most. But Jester had always maintained a rigorous personal routine. He slipped out of bed. Donned a simple T-shirt and shorts. And headed out to his small, enclosed backyard.
He started with his usual warm-up stretches. A series of dynamic movements he had refined over years of self-training. As he lunged and twisted, his new fluidity surprised him.
His muscles felt more limber. His joints more responsive. Then came the calisthenics. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats. Pull-ups. Here, the difference was even more stark.
He breezed through his usual reps. Feeling barely winded. He pushed harder. Adding extra sets. And he still felt like he had more in the tank. His strength and endurance had clearly improved overnight.
This wasn't normal. He usually felt a satisfying burn, a challenge. Today, it was effortless.
A thought sparked. He closed his eyes for a moment. Focusing, picturing the holographic interface he'd seen in Toonworld. The Status Panel,
When he opened them, there it was. Shimmering faintly in the air before him. Hopefully, visible only to him.
===[STATUS PANEL]===
[Name: Jester Eventide]
[Soulheart Gear: Toonworld Watch]
[Codename: Nightclown]
[Level: 03]
[Class: -]
[Profession: -]
[Power: ✪]
[Speed: ✪✪]
[Vigor: ✪]
[Sense: ✪✪]
[Magic: ✪]
[Drive: ✪]
[Charm: ✪]
[Personality: Jolly Prankster]
[Personality: Smartass Comedian]
[Passive Traits: Toon Physique]
[Active Traits: Stretch!]
[Ranged Weapon: -]
[Melee Weapon: -]
[Combat Tool: -]
[Utility Tool: -]
[Costume: -]
[==Consumables==]
[ o Coins: -]
[ o Main EXP: Growth Carrots (x2)]
[ o Permanent: -]
[ o Temporary: -]
[ o Healing: -]
[ o Raw Material: Ironwood Branches (x6)]