I sat on the edge of my creaky bed, the moonlight filtering through the window and illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. My room felt smaller now, or perhaps I had simply outgrown it. With fifty thousand rupees in my bank account, I was no longer the starving student who had to choose between a bus ride and a meal.
"System," I whispered. "Open the Shop."
[System Shop (Basic) - Loading...]
[Available Credits: 700 Gold Coins]
A virtual catalog expanded before my eyes. It wasn't filled with ordinary items. There were glowing potions, strangely shaped daggers, and even skill books that promised to grant abilities beyond human imagination.
[Featured Items:]
Lesser Stamina Potion – 50 Gold Coins (Restores 20% energy)
Iron-Grade Dagger – 300 Gold Coins (A sharp blade for beginners)
Skill Book: 'Eagle Eye' – 500 Gold Coins (Passive skill: Increases vision and accuracy by 30%)
Random Mystery Box – 200 Gold Coins (Contains a random item from any grade)
I hesitated. Seven hundred gold coins was a lot, but I knew I couldn't survive the next encounter with the Association or any other high-rank players with just my bare fists.
"Buy the 'Eagle Eye' skill book and one Mystery Box," I commanded.
[Purchase Successful! Remaining Balance: 0 Gold Coins]
[Skill 'Eagle Eye' has been learned!]
[Opening Mystery Box...]
A bright gold light filled the room, so intense that I had to shield my eyes. When the light faded, a small, obsidian-colored pendant was floating in the air.
[Item Obtained: Heart of the Abyss (Broken)]
[Grade: Unknown]
[Description: An ancient artifact with a faint pulse. Its true power is locked, but it increases Mana recovery by 15%.]
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine as I touched the pendant. This wasn't a normal item. The System was giving me tools that felt almost... sentient.
"What are you planning for me?" I asked the empty air.
The blue screen flickered, but there was no reply. Only a new timer appeared at the bottom of my vision, counting down to the next major event.
[Time remaining until the First Gate opens: 47:59:59]