When it came to den-preventing missions, Enigma always kept an eye out regarding it. It seemed as if it was common knowledge or developing knowledge in this world that the gathering of creatures in mass, regardless of type or species, increases the potential of a den being made. This was probably due to the fact that it made the area more attractive and suitable for the creatures to live and thrive in. With the creatures in question being spiders, Enigma wondered about an experiment that he could possibly do with Sebastian. He was curious about the possibility of using Sebastian's command over spiders to prevent the formation of dens. Perhaps there was some sort of secret requirement for Sebastian to take control of the den itself that Enigma was not aware of.

"At least it would be treated as a territory instead of a place of potential elimination if a player can manage it." He thought to himself. Enigma believed that if a player could manage to take control of the den, it would be better for the creatures and for the players. The den would be treated as a territory and not a place of potential elimination.

He liked Sebastian and trusted him, maybe this would be a conversation for the next time he met. Enigma realized that he needed to learn more about Sebastian's abilities and work with him to prevent the formation of dens.

"What's this noise? " Enigma heard some music playing in the background as he went to the mission area, with it being more clearly heard as he continued. He was invisible at the time, and with the shoes that Enigma was wearing, not even the sound or appearance of his footsteps would show. Standing a few feet away from the male with the guitar, Enigma observed them and wondered just how new of a player they were. He came across new players from time to time, and one of the ways that he liked to keep up with the times is to know of anything useful in regards to a person that he can relay for a fee. Of course, people will be more cautious than usual, so he considered that as well. Enigma was always on the lookout for new information and opportunities to make some extra money.

"Hey, are you trying to clear this den as well?" Enigma said this while being five feet away from Cyrus. He was curious about Cyrus and wondered if he had any useful information that he could share with him.

cyrus

Core

"Me? I'm Enigma," he said with a smirk. Enigma then proceeded to turn off his stealth, revealing his appearance to Cyrus. Though the stealth wasn't as effective when he was too close to a target, it was enough to give Cyrus a better look at him. After all, if they were going to work together, Enigma knew he needed to build trust with this person first.

"We just so happened to be taking the mission at the same time," Enigma explained. "However, I don't see any downside to us working together. We'll both receive completion rewards after the mission is finished, and with the party system, even if you don't lift a finger to defeat one, it will still count as 'group kills' towards your tally. If your powers can make this mission easier and quicker, then I don't see any reason why we shouldn't work together."

Enigma then sent a party join request to Cyrus before leading the way to the mouth of the spider den. As they walked, he continued the conversation.

"So, when did you load in? Have you been playing for a while, or did you just finish the tutorial?" Enigma asked, hoping to get to know Cyrus better. "Personally, I've been playing for a few months now. For some, this new world is seen as pretty addicting game, isn't it? I mean, who doesn't love the thrill of the hunt for valuables? Surviving these instances only solidifies your place in this life. 
He paused for a moment before adding, "By the way, have you heard about the rumors of the legendary rare item that's hidden in this spider den? Apparently, it's been eluding players for weeks, but I have a feeling we might just be the lucky ones to find it."

cyrus

I'm not too sure," Enigma said, pausing to think. "I do investigations like this often. I've been on the hunt for secret mission prompts, hidden treasures, and even rumors of secret areas. For things that aren't worth taking for me, I usually sell that information instead because it's more useful to make coins since the currency of the world had no conversion to points. But you never know what you might find."

Enigma's eyes scanned the area, taking in the scenery around him. Not everyone had adjusted to the new way of life, and the displacement of individuals who didn't want to risk playing the field for points was a bit overwhelming. Enigma knew how to be inconspicuous and avoid rioting crowds, but even the groups with the best of intentions would be taken advantage of by those who weren't willing to pull their weight for their survival.

"You can't always rely on the kindness of others," Enigma continued. "Having something to offer is the best form of negotiation. I deal with information and minor mercenary work, but it's not too late to start thinking of a niche for yourself. As a matter of fact, you're the second musician that I've met. The first was a pop star, a Japanese native, who goes by Hana."

As they entered the cave, Enigma pulled out his staff and sent out a wave of whimsical shapes at the skittering spiders. They were the size of large dogs, multilegged creatures that had venomous fangs. However, Enigma had a 30-foot range with his attack and never extended his reach. They were pretty much safe for the time being.

"Maybe we should take a closer look at the walls?" Enigma suggested, his eyes scanning the cave for any signs of danger. "Do you see anything out of the ordinary? Deeper in the cave is the incubation section of the spider eggs, unless you think it could be there?" Enigma knew that they needed to be careful. They were in unknown territory and the dangers were all around them. But with his skills and knowledge, he was confident that they would be able to find what they were looking for and make it out alive.

used

"That's the prompt, yes. Usually, when a mission is cleared, the first instinct is to vacate the area, right? Since the only thing that you have to do after clearing a mission is to turn it into one of the NPCs, you have no reason to be around the den. However, I would like to add that it is always a good idea to explore the area a bit more, because you might come across something that you missed before. Who knows, maybe you would find the queen and shut this place down for good, or maybe not? But the point is that it is always beneficial to be thorough and not leave any stones unturned."

As Enigma walked in further, he saw a series of spider eggs. Some were motionless and some were wiggling, showing signs of hatching shortly as they brimmed with life. It was fascinating to see how the eggs were in different stages of development. Enigma couldn't help but wonder about the process of spawning and how the spiders were able to reproduce so quickly.

"I guess this is how the respawn process works. As soon as we leave, days later, all of these eggs will hatch. But that's not the only thing that's interesting about these eggs," Enigma said as he looked around. Suddenly, he noticed a green egg that was different in color from the rest. It was smaller in size and seemed to be a little bit premature compared to the others.

"Premature, the hub when you focus on it doesn't acknowledge the egg as an enemy either. It's not red, it's a material," Enigma said as he examined the green egg. He couldn't help but wonder if this was the treasure that he had been searching for all along. Perhaps certain spider eggs were being used as a material instead of hatching? This was definitely worth investigating further.

"I guess this is the secret - you would either get the defected eggs as a material or if you're really lucky, an egg as a potential pet. Oh, and by the way, mats are used for the forge if you didn't know. You can combine different things to make an entirely new item," Enigma said as he continued to ponder the possibilities.

cyrus

"I am, there is a poison that I have an eye on buying at the Ender Island merchant. The poison is said to be made from rare ingredients that are known to have potent effects. However, before you try to look for the merchant, you might want to complete the first assignment. This assignment is the first part of the questline, and it is a requirement to be able to access the merchant's wares. Without completing this assignment, the merchant is invisible to players. Nonetheless, if you have an interest in surviving, it's all the more beneficial to you to check out the merchant's items. His inventory includes items that could greatly enhance your chances of survival. For example, these eggs can be used in the forge to create powerful weapons and tools. Having the right combination of materials is crucial to the success of the forging process, as it directly affects what you end up making."

Enigma then stood back up after examining the materials a bit more. Instead of taking them, he left them where they were. He realized that the risk of the materials not responding for a while was too high. If Cyrus didn't take the materials for himself, Enigma would rather tip off someone who held this information in high value. This person could either be a ranker that uses animals or an actual assassin.

"I don't spare my disposition too much thought. An assassin? Is that what I look like to you? I guess it explains your body posture around me, the uneasiness. I understand, if everything is treated like a game to survive, people are more willing to betray each other for the sake of safeguarding their own lives. However, let us not forget that we are still human, and we maintain the same flaws of fear as everyone else. So do you. There is no need to be ashamed if that time ever comes. Acting like a hero isn't always the best option."

In regards to the spiders, Enigma pulled up the map of the den and showed it to Cyrus. He explained that while they had completed the mission, the skull and crossbones symbol on top of the area icon should disappear entirely to indicate that the den was cleared out. However, Enigma noticed that there was no queen in the den, so the only trigger he could see for the dungeon reset was these eggs.

"If you want to do the honors, you can close it for good if you want. This way, we can ensure that the den will not be repopulated by spiders, and we can prevent another cycle of hunting them down. Besides, knowing that you played a significant role in eliminating the den would be a great accomplishment for you. It would also earn you a reputation among other players as someone who is reliable and efficient when it comes to completing missions. So, what do you say?"

cyrus

"It's not here, it didn't drop," Enigma said with disappointment evident in his voice. He had been searching for the elusive spider queen egg - a rare item that would hatch into a pet spider queen capable of generating more spiders to serve as a hive and protect it. The egg was the key to furthering their survival out here, and without it, they were at a disadvantage.

Enigma sighed, glancing at the poison-based materials in front of him. He began gathering them, his mind racing with thoughts of how to use them to their advantage. "These would make for some good poison bombs," he mused, "I'll gather about three of them for now." But as for anything else, he turned to his companion and said, "I'll trust your judgment."

As they continued their search, Enigma suddenly recalled something he had heard about gaining skills from treasure chests. "I don't know anything about growing skills," he admitted, "but I do know that treasure chests don't just drop items, they can drop skills too." He paused for a moment, before adding, "But be warned, the skills are nontradeable and are instantly assigned to you once dropped."

The conversation then turned to the topic of the ender island, a place that was shrouded in mystery and danger. "Following the rules of the game, there is no waypoint to teleport there until you complete the first mission," Enigma explained. "That means we have to find a boat to take us there instead, and risk being attacked by underwater creatures like I did." The thought of facing such dangers made Enigma uneasy, but he knew that they had to push forward if they wanted to survive.

cyrus

"Remember when I mentioned that points were a universal resource? It's also the key to your level-up. Currency from how we knew of it and used it is eliminated, the only thing left of value is points that dictate everything. Your way of life, food, pleasure, all of it. So you need to be mindful of how you spend it and what you spend it on."

This is because points have become the new currency in this world, replacing traditional forms of money. This system has its advantages, as it ensures that everyone has access to resources and that no one is left behind. However, it also means that people have to be careful about how they use their points, as they are now the only way to obtain goods and services.

After gathering everything that he needed, Tommy motioned Cyrus to the exit.

"No, that's it. Let's get out of here. As for Ender Island, you should have that experience for yourself. Once you get there, you'll understand what I am talking about. In the meantime, feel free to send me a friend request. I'll forward your information to the freelance forums, and help for hire. You have a unique support skill, it can prevent a lot of deaths, and save lives if you're into that sort of thing. "

Tommy's words were a reminder of the importance of networking in this world. It is crucial to make connections and build relationships with others who can help you achieve your goals. In this case, Tommy was offering to introduce Cyrus to potential job opportunities and help him make a name for himself in the freelance community.

Afterward, Tommy led the way to the exit so that they could gain the mission clear.

-Finished 

cyrus