infinite dominion

Chapter 6: The World Unfolds

The dawn of a new day in Eternal Dominion brought with it a flurry of system notifications. Liam sat cross-legged in his inn room at Greenleaf Village, watching as multiple screens popped up in rapid succession. The game world was evolving, its features expanding as more players progressed past the starter villages.

[System Announcement: Global Rankings Unlocked!]

• Level Rankings: Track the highest-leveled players in the game.

• Gold Rankings: Display the wealthiest players based on in-game currency.

• Equipment Rankings: Showcase players with the rarest and strongest gear.

[System Announcement: Marketplace and Auction House Now Open!]

• The Marketplace allows players to buy and sell goods directly.

• The Auction House offers a platform for bidding on rare items.

The notifications ended with a soft chime, leaving Liam to digest the flood of information.

"This is going to change everything," he muttered.

The rankings were more than just a display of power—they were a symbol of prestige, and for players in Eternal Dominion, prestige meant influence. The opening of the marketplace and auction house would also revolutionize trade, allowing players to obtain rare items without relying on drops or NPC shops.

Liam closed the notifications and opened his game panel, navigating to the new Rankings tab.

Level Rankings

1. Nightfall (Level 14)

2. CrimsonBlade (Level 13)

3. AzureSky (Level 13)

4. SilentArrow (Level 12)

5. ShadowReaper (Level 12)

6. Liam (Level 11)

Gold Rankings

1. GoldenWolf (10 Gold, 500 Silver)

2. TraderKing (9 Gold, 750 Silver)

3. LadyLuxe (8 Gold, 200 Silver)

Equipment Rankings

1. Divine Blade of Inferno (Rank S)

2. Arcane Robes of Eternity (Rank S)

3. Titanium Guardian Shield (Rank SS)

Liam stared at the rankings, his name on the Level Rankings standing out like a beacon. Sixth place, despite having started with significant disadvantages in real life.

"Not bad," he said with a smirk. His Primordial Sovereign class and its absurd multipliers were paying off, but the gap between him and the top players wasn't insurmountable.

Next, he checked his inventory. His battles with the bandits had left him with a decent haul of silver coins, and the quest rewards had added to his growing wealth.

Inventory:

• Silver Coins: 30

• Bronze Coins: 150

• Bandit Leader's Pendant (Uncommon, Quest Item)

• Skill Book: Shadow Cloak (Rank B)

• Talent Scroll: Arcane Precision (Rank C)

The skill book and talent scroll were valuable, but he didn't plan to use them just yet. The marketplace and auction house offered an opportunity to sell these items for gold, which he could reinvest into better equipment.

Liam decided to explore these new systems. Leaving the inn, he made his way to the center of Greenleaf Village, where a new Marketplace icon hovered over an NPC vendor's stall.

[Marketplace Interface]

• Buy: Browse items for sale by other players and NPCs.

• Sell: List your items for a fixed price.

Liam tapped on the Sell tab and listed his Talent Scroll: Arcane Precision for 15 Silver and the Skill Book: Shadow Cloak for 50 Silver. Prices were based on similar listings already visible in the marketplace, but Liam priced his items slightly lower to ensure they sold quickly.

"Let's see how long it takes," he muttered, leaving the stall.

From there, he headed toward a large building at the edge of the village marked by a glowing blue icon—the Auction House. Inside, players bustled about, examining holographic screens displaying ongoing auctions.

[Auction House Interface]

• Current Bids: Display items with active auctions.

• List Item: Create an auction for your goods.

• Bidding History: Track items you've bid on.

Liam was impressed by the variety of items already listed. Rare potions, crafting materials, and even low-level equipment with A and S ranks were up for auction. He considered bidding on a pair of boots with high agility stats but decided to wait. The prices were already climbing, and he needed to save his resources for more significant upgrades.

Instead, he listed the Bandit Leader's Pendant, which he suspected was part of a questline, with a starting bid of 10 Silver. It wasn't long before the first bid appeared on the screen.

Current Bids:

Bandit Leader's Pendant - 15 Silver (4 bids)

Liam grinned. The auction house was a goldmine for savvy players.

A World Beyond Greenleaf

With his marketplace and auction activities set in motion, Liam decided to explore beyond Greenleaf Village. The notification about the global rankings had included a hint about a nearby city, Ironshade, which served as a hub for trade and quests.

The road to Ironshade was longer and more dangerous than the paths Liam had traveled before. Monsters lurked in the shadows, their glowing eyes visible even in daylight.

As he walked, Liam encountered a Rare Forest Wolf, a sleek, predatory creature with shimmering silver fur.

[Rare Forest Wolf]

• Level: 12

• Type: Rare Monster

• HP: 1,800

"Time to test my new skills," Liam said, drawing his Moonlit Fang and Crimson Dagger.

The wolf snarled and lunged, its claws swiping through the air. Liam sidestepped, activating Phantom Strike to split into three identical clones. The wolf growled in confusion as the three Liams surrounded it, their blades flashing in unison.

The battle was short but intense. The wolf's movements were quick and unpredictable, but Liam's superior stats and skills gave him the edge.

[You have defeated a Rare Forest Wolf.]

EXP gained: 500 (x1000 multiplier applied: 500,000 EXP)

Item drop: Wolf Fang (Rare Material)

Liam picked up the glowing fang, examining its stats. It was a crafting material, likely valuable in the marketplace.

By the time he reached Ironshade, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the sprawling city. Massive stone walls surrounded the city, and the streets bustled with players and NPCs alike. Shops lined the main thoroughfare, their signs advertising everything from potions to enchanted gear.

Liam's first stop was the adventurers' guild, where a towering NPC in steel armor handed him a registration form.

[Guild Registration Complete]

New quests available!

The guild's quest board was filled with opportunities, from hunting local monsters to escorting caravans. Liam selected a quest to gather rare herbs from a nearby swamp, noting that the rewards included a Skill Book: Elemental Resistance (Rank C).

As he prepared to leave, his game panel buzzed.

[Marketplace Update]

• Talent Scroll: Arcane Precision sold for 15 Silver.

• Skill Book: Shadow Cloak sold for 50 Silver.

[Auction House Update]

• Bandit Leader's Pendant final bid: 25 Silver.

Liam grinned. His total wealth now stood at over 1 Gold. It wasn't enough to make the Gold Rankings, but it was a solid start.

He opened the rankings tab again, noting that his name had climbed to fourth place on the Level Rankings after defeating the wolf.

"Just a little more," he thought.

The road ahead was long, but Liam was ready to rise. The world of Eternal Dominion was vast and full of challenges, but he had no intention of stopping until he stood at the very top.