[AETHERIA ONLINE – Veridian Gate]
[Player: Max Thorne – Level 9 Soulbinder]
[Time: 9:47 PM (Real World)]
Max walked through the gates of Veridian Gate, the city's lights now fully illuminated in the night sky. The atmosphere had changed since afternoon—the crowds had thinned somewhat as players logged off for dinner or sleep, but the city remained vibrant and alive.
Street lamps cast warm golden light across the cobblestone streets, and NPCs went about their evening routines—tavern workers serving dinner, merchants closing up shop, guards changing shifts. The level of detail was still staggering, even after hours of playtime.
Max's first priority was converting his farmed materials into gold. He pulled up his inventory:
[Void Essence] x 43
[Watcher's Eye] x 17
[Corrupted Essence] x 10
[Various vendor trash] x 28
The Void Essences alone should be worth a decent amount—they were crafting materials needed for various professions. The Corrupted Essences from the dungeon boss were even rarer.
Max navigated to the market district, following the mini-map. The area was bustling even at this hour, with player-run stalls competing with NPC merchants. Some players had already figured out profitable trade routes and were advertising in zone chat:
[Trade: Veridian Gate]
CraftMaster99: WTB bulk iron ore, paying 15s per stack!
MerchantQueen: Selling level 10 rare daggers, 50g each!
ResourceKing: LF leatherworker to craft custom armor, will provide mats + tip!
Max found an NPC merchant—an older man with a thick beard, wearing an appron covered in various stains. The nameplate read:
[Merchant Grendal – General Goods].
"Welcome, traveler," Grendal said, his voice warm and genuine. "Looking to sell, or perhaps buy?"
Max opened the trade interface. "Selling."
He placed all his farmed materials into the trade window, excluding any quest items. The merchant examined each item, and prices appeared:
[Void Essence] x 43 – 25 silver each = 10 gold, 75 silver
[Watcher's Eye] x 17 – 40 silver each = 6 gold, 80 silver
[Corrupted Essence] x 10 – 1 gold each = 10 gold
[Vendor Trash] – Total: 1 gold, 45 silver
[TOTAL: 29 gold]
"That's quite the haul," Grendal commented. "You've been busy in the Fractured Abyss, I see. Dangerous place for most, but you seem capable."
Max accepted the trade. His gold counter jumped: 34 gold, 80 silver (including what he'd earned from dungeon runs and mob kills throughout the day).
That was actually significant money for a level 9 player. Most people at his level probably had 5-10 gold at most. The market hadn't stabilized yet—early-game materials were still valuable.
"Is there a blacksmith nearby?" Max asked. "I need to upgrade my weapon."
"Aye, Forgemaster Kenna runs the smithy two streets north. Tell her Grendal sent you—she might give you a fair price." The NPC winked.
Max thanked him and headed north. The smithy was easy to find—the sound of hammering echoed through the street, and the building glowed from fires.
Inside, the heat was palpable. Max could actually feel the temperature change as he entered. A female NPC worked at the forge—a tall, muscular woman with her dark hair tied back, wearing a leather apron. Sweat glistened on her arms as she hammered a piece of glowing metal.
[Forgemaster Kenna – Master Blacksmith]
She looked up as Max entered. "Customer or gawker?"
"Customer. I need a better weapon. One-handed sword."
Kenna set down her hammer and wiped her hands on a cloth. "Let me see what you're working with."
Max showed her his rusty shortsword. She took it, examined it briefly, then snorted. "Starter trash. You've gotten this far with this? Either you're skilled or lucky."
"Bit of both," Max admitted.
"I like honest customers." Kenna turned to a rack of weapons on the wall. "What's your budget?"
"Around 30 gold."
Her eyebrow raised. "Not bad for a level... what are you, 8? 9?"
"Nine."
"Right. For 30 gold, I can offer you a few options." She pulled three swords from the rack:
[Steel Longsword] – 25 gold
[Attack +38, Durability: High]
"Solid, reliable. Nothing fancy, but it'll serve you well for the next ten levels"
[Shadowsteel Blade] – 32 gold
Attack +42, Agility +4, Critical Chance +5%
"Lighter, faster. Popular with rogues and dex builds. The shadowsteel is rare—absorbs less light, makes it harder for enemies to track."
[Voidtouched Saber] – 35 gold
Attack +40, Intelligence +6, Corruption Resistance +10%
"This one's unusual. Forged with void essence—fits your... aura." She looked at him knowingly. "Voidborn, aren't you? This blade will resonate with your nature."
Max examined each weapon. The Shadowsteel Blade had the best raw stats, but the Voidtouched Saber's corruption resistance was tempting, especially since his class seemed to involve corruption mechanics.
But 35 gold would leave him with almost nothing.
"Can I test the balance?" Max asked, pointing to the Shadowsteel Blade.
"Go ahead." Kenna handed it to him.
Max took a few practice swings. The weapon was beautifully balanced—much lighter than his rusty shortsword, but the blade didn't feel fragile. The critical chance bonus would synergize well with his agility build.
"I'll take the Shadowsteel Blade," Max decided.
"Good choice." Kenna wrapped the blade in cloth. "That'll be 32 gold."
Max completed the transaction, his gold dropping to 2 gold, 80 silver. Nearly broke again, but worth it.
[Equipment Updated]
Shadowsteel Blade equipped
Attack Power increased by 37
Agility +4
Critical Chance +5%
His damage output had jumped significantly. Combined with the Shadow Echo's attacks, his effective DPS was probably competitive with much higher-level players.
"Come back when you're ready for enchantments," Kenna said. "Once you hit level 15, I can add some serious modifications to that blade."
"Will do. Thanks."
Max left the smithy, checking his real-world time: 10:23 PM. He had been playing for nearly eight hours straight, with only a short break for food earlier.
His mother would be waking up soon for her night shift at the hospital. He should log off, check in with her, maybe eat something more sustaining than instant ramen.
But first, he wanted to check one more thing.
Max navigated to a quieter corner of the city—a small park with benches and decorative trees. He sat on a bench, and pulled up his quest log.
[CHAINS OF ETERNITY – PART 2: BONDS BEYOND MORTALITY]
Status: AVAILABLE
Objective: Your first contract has awakened to its true potential. To unlock the next stage of the Soulbinder's path, you must prove the depth of your bond. Defeat 100 enemies alongside your contracted spirit without allowing it to be destroyed.
Progress: 67/100
Reward: ???