Chapter 3: A Poisonous Mishap

Oliver's exploration of Eden Online continued, but even in the midst of his enchantment with the virtual world, accidents were bound to happen. And so it was, one fateful day, that Oliver found himself in a rather precarious situation.

With his basket in hand, Oliver ventured near the edge of a dense forest, lured by the vibrant colors that dotted the landscape. In his enthusiasm, he failed to exercise the caution he had learned through his previous studies. It was then that his eyes fell upon a peculiar flower, its petals a mesmerizing shade of purple.

Unaware of its nature, Oliver reached out to pluck the alluring blossom, only to recoil in shock as a notification flashed before his eyes:

Poisoned! HP-1!

Poisoned! HP-1!

A wave of panic washed over the player as the realization of his mistake sunk in. He had inadvertently picked a poisonous flower, and its effects quickly took hold, draining his health points rapidly. Oliver knew he had to act swiftly to counteract the poison's effects.

Recalling the healing properties of dandelions, he rummaged through his inventory and retrieved the precious dandelion tea he had brewed earlier. With trembling hands, he consumed the tea, its soothing qualities gradually neutralizing the poison within his system.

But the tea alone was not enough. Oliver realized he needed more restorative aid, and so he took out handfuls of dandelion flowers from his basket, quickly stuffing them in his mouth. Their medicinal properties immediately started to work in conjunction with the tea, slowly restoring his health points.

HP+1

HP+1

HP+1

Seeing his health bar slowly return to normal, Oliver gave a relived sigh. As he recovered, Oliver pondered the poisonous effects of the flower he had just picked, and wondered if it could be used to his advantage. He would get his answer sooner than expected though, for a horned rabbit suddenly appeared from within the nearby bushes. Having dropped the flower in his earlier panic, it landed conveniently in the rabbit's path. The unsuspecting creature, mistaking the flower for a delectable treat, gobbled it up in a single bite… After a moment of awkward silence, to Oliver's astonishment, the rabbit's demeanor dramatically changed. It began hopping uncontrollably, its movements becoming increasingly erratic. In a comical twist of fate, the poisonous flower had turned into an unexpected weapon, rendering the rabbit incapacitated with its peculiar effects.

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Shocked by the turn of events, Oliver could only watch as the rabbit hopped around in a frenzy, its confusion providing no openings for help. Suddenly the rabbit changed directions suddenly aiming at Oliver. Having seen the sharp horn zeroing in on his face, the forager reflexivly batted the small monster away, causing it to crash into a rock causing the final blow. Inadvertently the pacifist ended up defeating his first monster, a horned rabbit, in an unconventional and hilarious manner. Holding his face in mock pain, the herbalist was completely stunned by the series of events. A small ding brought forth a message.

You’ve leveled up! Congratulations on becoming level 2!

You’ve earned the title “Pest Control!”

Normally the messages alone would of brought joy to the new gamer, However, as the rabbit's lifeless body still lay on the ground, Oliver's mirth turned in to a peculiar mix of emotions. He couldn't help but feel a sense of remorse, even for his accidental victory. Tears welled up in his eyes as he muttered an apology to the fallen creature.

As if sensing Oliver's innocence and purity, Eden Online's systems intervened, quickly censoring the rabbit's body from view. The rabbit’s death had left it’s dead body mangled and stuck at such an odd angle that the game felt the need to intervene. A sight that would be too harsh for someone like Oliver to see was thus censored, shielding him from the grim reality.

Still sniffling, Oliver wiped away his tears and opened his trusty flower book. With a determined gaze, he searched for information on the poisonous flower he had encountered, wanting to avoid a similar mishap in the future.

The book revealed the flower's identity as the Enigma Bloom. Known for its toxic properties, it was a cautionary tale for any aspiring foragers, causing a medley of status affects at a mere touch. Who knew such an unsuspecting flower could be so dangerous. Armed with this knowledge, Oliver vowed to be more vigilant in his quest from now on, ensuring that his innocence would never again lead to unintended consequences.

And so, Oliver continued his journey, heart brimming with remorse, as he traveled in this enchanting virtual world...RIP. Horned Rabbit.