[Pixel Buford has died!]
[Rewards being distributed!]
[9000 XP, 4000$, [Mana Lance(B) Skill book, 4 Unallocated Stat Points]
[You have leveled up!]
"Cha-ching, baby. That's what I like to see, and a skill book too. Sounds badass."
I allocate all of my stat points into strength, bringing my new total strength to 30.
Finally hearing the doorbell ring, almost having forgotten about the pizza I ordered with all that happened, I stand up and call out my status window to view as I fetch my dinner.
"Status."
[Name: Ford]
[Race: Human] [-] [+]
[Level: 10] [-] [+]
[HP: 14400]
[XP: 8000/10000] [-] [+]
[Age: 15/120] [-] [+]
[Class: Gamer(D-Tier)] [-] [+]
[System: Idle Game System] [-] [+]
[Stamina: 42] [-] [+]
[Agility: 14] [-] [+]
[Strength: 30] [-] [+]
[Intelligence: 60] [-] [+]
[Wisdom: 60] [-] [+]
[Unallocated Stat Points: 0] [-] [+]
[Energy: 0/14400]
[Mana: 0/24000]
'The system recognizes me as my own person, how accommodating of it.' I chuckle, gazing down at my abilities, and noticing that my class' skills that were still below D-Tier went up to D-Tier.'
"Oh shit, that fool's been wasting his resources on leveling the class skills!" I say, taking a bite of my pizza and sending another message to Julia.
TheGamer: So, Awakened are required to report their Awakeneing within 6 weeks, yeah? Is there a requirement to report a Reawakening? And if so what's the time limit?
GuardianGrace: I don't think there's a policy set for that. Any awakened is free to get retested by scheduling an appointment though, if you think you may have reawakened I can set that up for you.
TheGamer: Oh, no no, no need, thank you. I don't think I reawakened or anything, I just wanted to be prepared so I don't get caught off guard again like I did last time.
I message, cringing a little as I remember Buford's carelessness.
'Speaking of Buford's carelessness...'
"System Shop."
[System Shop]
[Active Abilities] / [Passive Abilities] / [Stats] / [Gear] / [Reagents] / [Misc.]
Browsing through the passive abilities, I look at the costs. Most of the good abilities cost 500-1000 Rubies. Some of them would make our progress go significantly faster, an example being one of the B-Tier Passive Abilities that makes our Mana resource 20% more effective.
A lot of the Passive Abilities in the system shop are focused around the system itself, making it a treasure trove that we've been completely missing out on.
I set the [Idle Dungeoning] currency to Rubies and send Pixel Buford back to work, though even though I'm still calling him "Pixel Buford" his stance and demeanor have changed to match my own, so I guess this one is Pixel Ford.
I watch as Pixel Ford, signature manic grin plastered across his face, heads towards the dungeon door, his eagerness for battle practically palpable.
"That's my boy, go get 'em tiger." I say.
After sending Pixel Ford out, I think back to what Buford told me.
'Live my own life, huh? Well may as well make it interesting.' I think to myself, looking for another Gate to enter.
While browsing the Awakened Platform, I see an ad posted that fits my desires quite perfectly.
[Listing: Help Needed! D-Tier Gate Clearing!]
[Description: LF one mage-type Awakened for a D-Tier gate! must be at least E-Tier, must be at least level 10! Contact GigaChadTank for more details!]
Shooting this 'GigaChadTank' fellow a message, I don't have to wait long before receiving a response.
TheGamer: Hey, C-Tier Mage here, level 10
GigaChadTank: Perfect, bro! We're planning the dive today, can you get to New Cleveland in an hour?
TheGamer: I can be there in 15.
I respond, rushing out of the house and eating my pizza on the way, my excitement for combat oozing from my every pore, frightening the taxi driver I hailed.
Arriving at the designated site, I make my way over to the obvious leader of the group, the one I spoke to on the Awakened Platform.
The man is decked out in heavy armor, a massive bastard sword plastered across his towering back.
"Hey! You must be GigaChadTank, I'm TheGamer, you can call me Ford." I say with my signature glint and predatory smile, going for a hearty handshake.
"Sah, dude! Name's Justin! You're, like, hella young, bro, you sure you're good for it? I honestly don't mind just carrying you for some XP lil bro, we mostly needed an extra to fill out the required party member minimum for Gate Clearing!" The man, Justin, responds, grasping my hand firmly and shaking it with enthusiasm.
"Justin, do you see the look in that kid's eyes? He's probably killed more monsters than we have!" An assassin-type awakened comments, thought from his tone I can tell it's not mocking or fear, it's respect.
"Don't you worry about me, I may be a mage but I like to fight with my hands, will that be a problem for the formation?" I reply, adding a question I probably should have asked before showing up, but my eagerness had gotten the better of me.
"Haha! Not at all, lil bro! Go ham!" Justin says, before his playful demeanor shifts entirely as he addresses the group.
"Jokes aside, if things go wrong, know that I, as the tank, will throw myself in front of any attack for each and every one of you. Some of us may not have met before today, but when we're in there, we're a team, we're brothers and sisters, and I won't let a single casualty happen under my watch."
With his rather touching speech out of the way we head towards the entrance and take our first steps into the D-Tier gate.