Hello there, I hope you are having a wonderful day!
Just passing here to say that I have finally created a Ko-Fi. I'm still thinking about what to post there, so the page is really basic for now, sorry for the plainness.
I'm doing this novel more for fun and to better my writing, so if you want to help me, you could consider buying me a coffee and giving me your feedback.
Here is the link (remove the spaces):
https:// ko-fi.com/ kyle_kingsmaker
With this said, have a wonderful read! 🍷😎
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"Oho?" Looking at the screen before his eyes, Hai muttered in interest when he noticed the discrepancy between this current one to the previous one.
"System, care to explain?" He asked while inspecting everything carefully.
[As the host knows, previously the system was restricted to reward the host for completing the plot, and hence, was directly linked to the world's will's wishes. While it is an accurate way of measuring one's status and progress, the previous status screen was rather… tricky.]
"Tricky?" Hai repeated with curiosity in his eyes. While he didn't rely on or really trusted the system throughout his runs, he never entertained the possibility of the status screen having something hidden in it.
[Indeed. The previous statuses were something better described as "half-truth". Although they didn't lie, some of the "minor" or "not-so-relevant" things weren't listed on them. An example would be that although the host is far beyond a grandmaster in martial arts, it wasn't listed the medical knowledge you acquired from the martial arts. Nor was the poison resistance that the host built throughout the years of training.]
Hai calmly stood there, slowly taking in what the system was saying and after a few seconds, he nodded.
He noticed that after this update, the system seemed to become more "lax" or "relaxed" as it was now talking about things that Hai was sure it wouldn't before.
'It's a progress, I guess.'
"Into this topic, are the ranks still the same?" Although he saw that a few changed due to some skills raising in ranking, he wanted to be sure.
[Yes, host. The ranks are still mostly the same, there were some new things added, though. Starting from F rank and going up to D+ are the ones that are still within the "realm" of what normal people can do. Going from C to B+ is what can be classified as an expert; from the A to AAA+ rank is the realm of mastery; S to SS+ is where one can be considered a true grandmaster, and SSS rank is where one can be said to be peerless in that area. The EX rank that comes after SSS+, the rank of the excelled is the one where one has already gone beyond the point of simply being "peerless" and has started to advance toward something beyond.]
Hai silently listened to the system's explanation and felt a small nostalgia while remembering the first time he awakened the system and had listened to a similar explanation.
"And what about this "X" rank? The one which my "Mind" skill is?" He questioned while feeling like this one had something else to it.
[This one is… something that shouldn't be realistically possible.]
Hai nodded, prompting it to go on.
[Basically, the X rank, also known as the transcendent rank, is something that mortals shouldn't be able to achieve because it is literally, stepping into the realm of godhood and divinity.]
"…" Hai pursed his lips and maintained a calm face after hearing it.
He didn't know how to react to this.
The system, seeing that he was still digesting this information, waited for him to regain his composure before continuing.
After almost a minute, Hai released a sigh and shook his head.
"Please go on."
[Okay.]
[This skill "Mind" is literally, everything related to the host's mind. From brain's capacity, to cognitive abilities, to creativity, and so on. It normally should be able to rank up to the S+ rank in the rare cases of brilliant minds or for the people who got to know their "true selves", however, due to the host going through the punishments/ torture, psychological pressure, repeated failures, and the helplessness of being unable to "win" against the protagonist or the world's will, the host nevertheless remained firm and didn't succumb to insanity as most, if not all, would. The things that the host went through weren't supposed to be something that a human, or anyone from another mortal race, can go through and keep a sane mind. It wouldn't even be unexpected if one fell into a vegetative state after going through half of it. Hence, for this inhuman display of willpower, tenacity, and mentality, host's skill transcended, something which shouldn't be possible, realistically speaking.]
"…" Hai held his forehead while hearing the explanation, and the more he listened, the more he didn't know what to say.
It is true that his willpower has always been inhuman, as he noticed several times in his previous life that he sometimes committed himself to things that shouldn't even be that important or that would be hurtful in the long run, but he still did them and went to the very end, even if it wasn't a pleasurable one.
"And there we go again, the legendary bullshit…" He whispered to himself before taking in a deep breath.
'Maybe it has something to do with my new luck or whatever.' He decided to put it at the back of his mind for now.
"Leaving aside this surprising fact, what is there of new in the… new you?" Hai's voice took a strange tone at the end as he didn't know how to formulate it into words.
[There are 2 new functions. Missions, and shop.]
"Missions?"
[Yes. Missions are tasks that the host does and earn finite points in return, to then use in the shop.]
'Sounds like any other system.' He thought and waited for the system to continue.
[The missions are tasks that the host isn't obliged to follow or do, and is possible to decline them. However, the content of the missions follows the host's wishes, so no mission should be something that goes against the host in any way or form.]
"I see…" Hai muttered with a contemplative look.
"Do I have any mission available?"
[Yes, there are a few missions and a welcome gift.]
[Do you wish to retrieve the gift?]
Hai pursed his lips at this familiar line.
"Yes."
[*DING*]
[You have earned 1.000 finite points.]
After seeing this message, Hai waited for a bit but saw that no other notification came, so he concluded that the gift was just the points and nothing else.
However, before he could ask the system, another window popped up in front of him.
[Missions – Rank
{Our little garden} – E
{Cooking time} – E+
{Teacher Hai} – B
{Homecoming} – A
{Gotcha learn magic} – S
{Mah project} – SS+]
Looking at the entries on the window, Hai could briefly guess the last two, but he only had vague guesses about the others.
Raising his hand, he tapped on the {Our little garden} entry.
[{Our little garden} – E
Description: As an experienced womanizer, it is expected that you know the hobbies of your women and tries them at least once. Elena, the first and one of the most loyal women in your life has a hard time dealing with her anxiety due to being away from her charming prince, and sometimes she spends her time working or even taking care of plants to try to tone it down.
Goal: Make a garden (small or big) with Elena and spend time together.
Reward: 1.000 finite points; 1 random book from the Archaic Library.]
As Hai finished reading the description, he couldn't help but have a wry smile on his lips.
While he doesn't know the update's origins, this mission gave him some information about what kind of system the Ouroboros' System is.
[{Cooking time} – E+
Description: The secret to a lasting relationship is for both parties to know how to cook, and well. Otherwise, both would die from hunger.
Growing up in an oppressive place and being denied what little hobbies she had, Bing Qing grew up with the temper of an indifferent woman to most people. Now that she opened herself up a bit, it would be a crime to not get to know her, at least.
Goal: Chose a menu and cook at least three dishes together with Bing Qing. And don't forget to get to know more about her.
Reward: 2.000 finite points; 1 random artifact from Babylon's Treasury.]
"Huh…" Reading the description, Hai was even more sure of his conjecture.
Although he doesn't know the full reason behind it, for now at least, the system seems to give missions based on his everyday life and relationships in a way that he would probably already do on his own.
In short, the system was rewarding him for being himself. Or maybe not exactly, as some of them, he may not have done on his own, at least not anytime soon.
"Okay, system, can you show me the shop?" Instead of an answer, Hai received another window popping up as a response.
[Ouroboros shop
{Weaponry}
{Jewelry}
{Archaic Library}
{Miscellaneous}]
Seeing the entries, Hai's eyes were immediately drawn to the second last option.
Tapping on it, the screen changed from its usual dark purple to a suave brown with some wooden details in the background.
[Archaic Library
{Caliburn, the Arthurian Legend}
Price: 1.000.000.000 finite points
{Necronomicon}
Price: 100.000.000.000 finite points
…]
Just seeing the first two, his eyebrows twitched.
"System, could you please show something that is within the range of what I can afford now?" And in response, the screen changed once again.
[Archaic Library
{How to understand women 101}
Price: 1.000 finite points
{How to wash water - walkthrough}
Price: 500 finite points
{How to scare a ghost}
Price: 200 finite points
{How to not die to campers}
Price: 1.000 finite points
{Artifact's crafting – beginner}
Price: 1.000 finite points
…]
'What is this sorcery?' Hai immediately had this thought when he saw the first two choices. And the more he went down the options, the more awed he became.
To understand women? Even he can't say with 100% sure that he can do it.
But now, there is a book?
And the second one, "How to wash water". He didn't know what to think of this.
Going down the list and getting impressed by the wisdom(?) this shop had for sale, Hai's eyes finally paused on the "Artifact's crafting – beginner" option.
Tapping his finger on it, a short description popped up.
[{Artifact's crafting – beginner}
Description: An ancient book from a long-lost civilization that was a major authority in the field of artifact crafting. As this is just the beginner edition, there will be missing points and incomplete parts, and only the basics will be found in this book.
WARNING: All the books in the Archaic Library are in their respective languages as the library preserves their cultures that time tries to erase. Caution is advised as some books may or may not contain magic, runes, or languages that might cause an unwelcome reaction from the reader.
Price: 1.000 finite points.]
'Absolutely not ominous.' Hai mused about the warning part because while he is confident about learning a language that exists or existed on this planet, he can't say the same for those books whose origins are unknown to him.
'Should I buy one to see how it is?' He was always someone who liked to have more information to make a more solid guess, so he deliberated about picking a book to see how it is.
While he remembers that there were other entries aside from the library one, he is more interested in this library.
"Hum…" Narrowing his eyes while being deep in thought, Hai decided to do something he normally wouldn't.
"Hey, system. Do you have any recommendations about if I should pick a book or go for something else?" He decided to ask the system itself. As it was just a test, there wasn't much harm even if his points were to be wasted this time.
[While the host is free to do whatever he wants, I would personally recommend picking a book. Those books aren't limited to only this planet or universe, so the earlier the host learns how to deal with them, the better.]
"I see. Thanks for the insight." He decided to pick the one from before.
[Are you sure you wish to acquire {Artifact's crafting – beginner}?]
"Yes."
[*DING*]
[Inventory function has been unlocked.]
[{Artifact's crafting – beginner} has been delivered into the inventory.]
Hai raised an eyebrow at the notification but didn't pay much attention to it.
'Inventory.' Right when he chanted in his mind, a black panel with small cubes with white outlines appeared before his eyes.
'It really worked.'
Looking at the first cube at the left topmost part, Hai saw the image of a book with a brown cover, golden engravings and details, and something written on its cover.
Imagining the book appearing in his hands, he soon felt a weight in his hands.
Looking below, Hai saw that the book appeared in his hands without a problem.
'All right, let's see how this one is.' He thought while opening the book.
And right when he looked at the first page, he noticed something.
"…"
'I can't read.'
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A/N: Sorry for the lateness, here is today's chapter.
So, what do you guys think about this chapter? I will be inserting some more fantasy-like things, but don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the cyberpunk part and it should show itself soon.
Comment what you thought about this chapter. If you liked it or not, I want to read your opinions and interact more with you guys.
And if you could, please buy me a coffee.
Another thing: Please give your feedbacks. I want to know what you guys think, if there are things that could be better or if I could have done something in a simpler manner. If you could also leave a review, that would help me to understand what you think about the novel in general, so it would be really helpful.
Also, join our Discord community, there you can interact with other readers or with me in case you have questions or ideas about/ for the novel.
Discord server: https://discord.gg/NZV2EtdJY8
(The link is also on the novel's synopsis).
...….
Power Stones' rewards:
100 Power Stones = 1 bonus chapter;
200 power stones = 2 bonus chapters;
500 power stones = 3 bonus chapters.
...….
That is all for today, thank you all for reading! 🍷😎