Work Smarter, Not Harder (Part 1)

Ethan woke at daybreak to the muffled sounds of the city waking up outside his window. The inn he had chosen, The Gateway, was a modest place that somehow was both rundown and cozy. Ethan groaned along with the aged beams over his head. 'Damn, this bed could be better.' Still, it was a welcome comfort after yesterday's events.

He rubbed his eyes and stretched, his arms still sore from swinging the cudgel repeatedly yesterday. The memory of his struggle against the strange creatures made him wince. He wouldn't survive long in this world if he kept trying to brute-force his way through every problem. It was time to use his head. And the system.

After washing up in the small basin by the window, Ethan sat on the edge of the bed and activated his Otherworld Free Market skill. A familiar hum filled the air as he suddenly found himself back in that strange place. He quickly scanned the closest vending machines, where various items were displayed, each with a short description and price tag.

'Let's see...' Ethan thought as he glanced at the options. 'There must be something in one of these I can use.'

As he moved deeper into the market, he discovered other potions, weapons, and armor. However, they all cost far more AEC than he currently had. Eventually, something caught his eye: Blightbane Pellets.

According to the description, they were designed to attract creatures like the Blight. Once eaten, the magic within the pellets would activate, causing the creatures to perish shortly after.

"Perfect," Ethan muttered to himself. He purchased several batches of the pellets, wincing slightly at the cost. They weren't cheap, but if they worked as advertised, they'd save him a lot of trouble. The pellets materialized in front of him as he exited the marketplace, and he quickly tore open the packaging before stuffing them into the pouches on his belt.

Of course, they didn't all fit. So Ethan had to pack a few boxes into his bag. Feeling satisfied with his purchase, Ethan gathered his belongings and headed downstairs. The innkeeper, an older woman with gray-streaked hair and a stern demeanor, was wiping down the bar.

"Good morning," she greeted, her eyes flicking up from her work. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," Ethan replied faintly. He hesitated momentarily before adding, "The bed is a bit rough, but it's better than sleeping in the streets."

The innkeeper snorted. "You got that right. The Gateway may not be fancy, but it'll keep the rain off your head. What brings you to the city, anyway? You don't look like the usual folk we get around here."

Ethan considered his reply and decided on a half-truth. "I'm here on business, dealing with a pest problem outside the city."

Berta, the innkeeper, raised an eyebrow. "Pests, eh? You mean the Blight? Nasty little things, those. Heard they've been causing all sorts of trouble lately. You be careful out there, lad. They might not look it, but they're dangerous in numbers."

"I'll try to keep that in mind," Ethan said, nodding. "Thanks for the advice."

She waved him off. "Just don't go getting yourself killed. It's bad for business."

With that, Ethan left the inn and made his way through the early morning streets of the city. The sky was grey, and the sun, which was still low, cast long shadows. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It was subtle, like the prickling of hairs on his neck, but he chalked it up to nerves.

Unknown to Ethan, a figure in a dark, hooded cloak had been watching him from the moment he stepped out of the inn. The figure trailed behind him at a distance, moving with a practiced stealth that kept them from being noticed. Their eyes never left Ethan, taking in every movement and action with a keen interest.

Once outside the city gates, Ethan followed the same road he had taken the day before, leading him back to the area corrupted by the Blights. The landscape grew desolate and grim as he approached the dead land again. The air was heavy with the foul stench of decay, and the ground beneath his feet seemed lifeless.

Ethan paused at the edge of the area and surveyed it. The Blight were already active, scurrying about and feeding on whatever remnants of life they could find. With a thoughtful expression, he reached into his pouch and retrieved a handful of the Blightbane Pellets. They were small and seemingly unremarkable.

"Let's see if this works," Ethan muttered as he tossed the pellets towards a group of Blights.

The moment they hit the ground, the Blight reacted. Drawn by an unseen force, they swarmed towards the pellets and began to devour them greedily. Ethan watched on with bated breath, waiting to see if they would have the desired effect.

At first, nothing happened. The Blight continued to feed, their bodies wriggling and twitching as they consumed the pellets. But then, one by one, they began to shudder. Their movements became strange, and within moments, they collapsed. Soon, their bodies dissolved into a foul-smelling sludge.

Ethan let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. 'The Blightbane Pellets worked!' Relief washed over him as he figured he might actually have a chance at completing this mission after all.

He spent the following hour testing the pellets on different groups of Blight, refining his strategy as he went. The pellets were effective, but he quickly realized they had a limited range of attraction for the Blight. 'I need to be smart about this.' Ethan frowned as he eyed the Blights he could see. 'I should target the large groups of Blight to maximize the pellets impact.'

As he worked, the hooded figure watched from the shadows of a nearby withered tree, their eyes narrowing with interest. They noted Ethan's movements, use of the pellets, and the subtle way he adjusted his tactics. It was clear to them that Ethan was just a novice fumbling through a mission. However, they could see a sharp mind was at work here, and they were intrigued by what they saw.

The figure slipped away when Ethan finally decided to call it a day and headed back towards the city. Disappearing like a shadow without a sound. They had seen enough for now. There would be more opportunities to observe and to act when the time was right.