Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge

"Ethan, do you need a break?" David asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Ethan Walker, who was adjusting his trousers, paused to look at the young man speaking to him. " David, is it?" Ethan seldom paid much attention to his peers, relying mostly on himself, but he recalled David's name after a moment's thought. "Yes," David replied, his shyness apparent. It was clear he held Ethan in high esteem to initiate a conversation despite his introverted nature.

Ethan shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I'm not tired." His words rang true; he found boundless energy within the virtual world of the instance, a stark contrast to the weariness he often felt in reality. Thus, he was keen to re-enter the instance as soon as possible.

"Ethan," Alex Johnson approached, his tone carrying a hint of leadership, "any insights on what's happening?"

Faced with Alex, Ethan was slightly more forthcoming. "This instance isn't particularly challenging. The real difficulty lies in triggering that hidden side quest," Ethan spoke frankly. "I'm genuinely curious which one of your team last time was so unlucky to lead everyone astray."

Ethan had reviewed the video footage of Avalon Guild's second team during their instance run but couldn't determine which action had triggered the side quest. He speculated about a mechanism hidden on the rooftop, perhaps a specific tile that, when stepped on, would lead to the corridor. Despite multiple trials in simulations, he couldn't find any consistent pattern.

"It's perplexing," Ethan mused. "Such hidden quests usually have specific triggers. It feels like some force is preventing me from discovering it, almost like a protective mechanism to prevent players from entering more dangerous scenarios. Now, this 'protection' has ironically become the biggest hindrance."

"I might need to attempt it multiple times," Ethan told the group. "You don't need to wait here for me. Feel free to leave if you have other matters to attend to." "How can we just leave you here?" Emily Johnson expressed her concern. "At the very least, one of us should stay with you."

"There's no need," Ethan replied, shaking his head dismissively. "It's pointless. The team member who triggered the side quest before isn't here anymore. If they were, it might have improved our efficiency, but now, I can only try on my own." After speaking, Ethan looked towards Alex, the only one who could decide in this situation.

Alex pondered for a moment. "Having you solo the instance is already asking a lot. Leaving you alone in the tower doesn't seem right, both morally and practically."

Alex understood that Ethan's approach could benefit Avalon Guild, but leaving a new member alone in the tower could leave a negative impression on other guilds and tarnish Avalon Guild's reputation. As the deputy leader, these were factors Alex had to consider.

"Ethan, don't worry about us. We're here to help you if you need anything," Alex reassured him.

"Alright," Ethan conceded, not wanting to argue further. "I'll go back in then."

Ethan started with a good mindset. His extensive experience with repetitive instance runs had prepared him well, and he wasn't daunted by the prospect of multiple attempts. However, he underestimated the challenge ahead. In the simulation, Ethan had triggered the side quest on his tenth attempt, but in the actual instance, it remained elusive, frustratingly so after twenty-nine attempts.

Confronted with this inexplicable situation, Ethan realized that the challenge was greater than he had anticipated, and the hidden side quest seemed to be guarded by an unseen force, making his quest all the more daunting.

Alex Johnson was aware that Ethan Walker's method was advantageous for their Avalon Guild team. However, leaving a newcomer like Ethan to face the White Tower alone could potentially create a negative impression of Avalon Guild among other guilds, damaging the guild's reputation. As the deputy leader, Alex had to consider these factors.

"Ethan, don't worry about us," Alex assured him. "If there's anything you need, we're here and can assist immediately."

"Alright," Ethan agreed, preferring not to waste time on further discussion. He was ready to re-enter the instance.

Ethan's initial mindset was positive. As a player with extensive experience in repeatedly running instances, even a thousand trials had not worn him down. He didn't expect the current attempts, whether a dozen or several dozens, to be any different.

However, he underestimated the challenge. In simulation, Ethan triggered the side quest on his tenth try but failed due to the strength of the hidden boss. It took about twenty more attempts to encounter the hidden line again. By the third occurrence, he could nearly defeat the hidden boss, but he rigorously tested himself twenty more times to thoroughly understand the boss's fighting style before stopping the simulation.

In reality, however, the hidden quest line stubbornly refused to appear, even after twenty-nine tries. This defied logic.

Commentators in the streaming chat expressed amazement at Ethan's patience and persistence, noting his calm demeanor despite the repeated failures.

After the fifty-sixth attempt without triggering the hidden boss, Ethan did not immediately start another run. Instead, he sat in a corner of the first floor of the White Tower, now filled with a pile of gold coins rewarded from the instance. Alex approached Ethan with energy drinks and food. "How are you holding up?" he asked, concerned.

Ethan didn't respond with either a nod or a shake of his head. His eyes observed up close by Alex, were moving slightly as if rapidly processing thoughts. He seemed like a high-speed machine focused solely on the task at hand. Even when Alex handed him an energy bar, he bit off a piece and held it in his mouth without chewing.

"Ethan?" Alex called out to him again.

Finally reconnecting with the outside world, Ethan focused his eyes, took a big bite of the energy bar, and pounded the floor in frustration. The gold coins behind him cascaded down, creating a small mountain.

The streaming audience laughed at this display of frustration, joking about Ethan's wealth yet unhappiness.

Alex and the others were more concerned about Ethan's state. They gathered around him, wondering if they should take over.

"Is something wrong? Do you need us to step in?" Emily Johnson asked, bending down to speak with him.

"Why don't we try?" Alexander Bennett suggested. "Maybe changing the player might trigger the side quest."

Ethan was adamant in his refusal. "Even if it's triggered, you won't be able to handle the 35 side quest," he stated bluntly.

Emily started to object but stopped upon seeing Ethan's sincere expression.

"What do you think the problem is?" Alex asked, maintaining a calm demeanor.

"There seems to be a force obstructing me," Ethan said, massaging his temples. "Logically, I've met the requirements for triggering the quest line. Whether it's an NPC or the boss that's hindering me, I don't know, nor do I understand its purpose."

"Why would such a situation arise?" Alexander wondered aloud. "It doesn't align with the White Tower instance settings, which shouldn't deliberately impede players' progress."

Ethan also felt frustrated. "Could it be one of the NPCs?" Alex pondered. "Mr. Johnson and Jane don't attack players. Mr. Davis Frank, and Olivia Parker are bosses, but the identity of the hidden boss is unclear. These are all the NPCs in the instance."

"I've tried everything with them," Ethan explained. "Talking, threatening, even eliminating them makes no difference in triggering the hidden line. I haven't touched Olivia since she's the boss of the third scene. Once she's defeated, the instance permanently closes."

Lost in thought, they all felt trapped in a massive enigma with no clear way forward.

Eventually, Ethan came up with a plan. "Let's try incorporating some of your suggestions. From the next run, I'll take one of you with me each time. If the hidden line is triggered, remember to protect yourselves."

Ethan openly discussed the risks involved. "I can only ensure the boss's defeat, but whether or not you get killed by the boss, I can't guarantee. Think it over before deciding to join."