[Name: Ivan Golborne
Title: The Creator
Player Level: 19
Class: Game Developer
Game Developer Level: 3
Lives Used: 0/1
XP: 2860 (5270)
HP: 100
SP: 3
Stats:
- STR: 44
- AGI: 36
- INT: 16
- DEF: 30
- MAN: 15/15
Skills:
- Sword Mastery: D
- Eye of the Creator: C
- Master Craftsman: D
- Skill Developer: D
- Iron Rain: D
- Stat override: D
Inventory:
- Mana Potion: [Rank: F] x3
- Health Potion x2
- Bow
- Orc Slayer
- Rustless
Quest Log:
- Complete the Tutorial: Halted]
"So, I retained all my stats," Ivan thought to himself, grinning as he stared at his status window.
"What are you doing?" Iris asked, watching Ivan as he stared blankly into space.
"Oh, don't worry about it. What were you saying?" Ivan said, snapping out of his reverie and dropping the last of the groceries on the shelf.
"I'm saying that since you don't have a guild, I have one you can join," Iris offered, moving the empty boxes into storage.
"Really?" Ivan responded, his voice lacking enthusiasm.
"Yes, come here," Iris gestured, leading Ivan behind the counter.
"When a customer comes, you simply scan what they bought, and the price will show up. When they pay, you put it in the register. Understand?" Iris explained the job.
"Yes, wait, how much am I getting paid?" Ivan asked, realizing he had forgotten to inquire about his wage until now.
"Fifteen quid an hour," Iris replied.
"What the hell, am I a slave?" Ivan exclaimed.
"Have you worked before? This is the normal pay in these times for such jobs," Iris clarified.
"No, this must be illegal somehow," Ivan protested.
"I don't know how you've been surviving until now, but this is the real world. You take it or starve," Iris said with a shrug.
Ivan sat on one of the seats behind the counter, letting out a long sigh, as he contemplated his options.
"At this rate, I'll never buy a new one," Ivan muttered to himself, expressing his frustration.
"However, like I said, you can join my guild, and you can make way more," Iris offered.
"Way more? We're both working at this grocery store. I don't think you're making 'way more'," Ivan replied skeptically.
"Huh, I only work here to help my dad out, and he can't know I'm an Awakened or he's going to have a heart attack. So, remember not to blurt that out again," Iris cautioned.
"Well, I can't join your guild anyway," Ivan explained.
Since the previous night, Ivan had considered joining a guild. He knew it was the fastest way to make money, but to join a guild, he needed to be a registered player with Oasis Corp.
Oasis Corp was the only entity capable of scanning and retrieving an Awakened individual's information, including their level, stats, skills, and title – essentially, all that was normally displayed on a status screen. After this process, the Awakened would be given an official level and rank as a registered Awakened, allowing them to join a guild.
For Ivan, this would mean entering the building owned by his enemy, Leonard, and taking a test that would expose his game developer class, providing Leonard with all his information.
There was no way he could do that. Instead, he would rather beg on the streets than risk Leonard and his treacherous alliance seeing him coming, he needed to become way stronger before that happens.
"Look, I appreciate the offer, but I don't intend to register as an Awakened," Ivan declined.
"Not wanting to register, knowing my level, and sensing Awakened – you're quite a mysterious individual," Iris remarked.
"Well, I hope to keep it that way," Ivan responded.
"Then how about this? Why don't you sign with my guild as a mercenary? No registration needed. You'll get a percentage of every cleared dungeon. The only condition is you can't enter the tower under our guild," Iris explained further.
"And I won't need to give any information?" Ivan inquired.
"Yes, you'll only join raids as a party member, and no player ID will be needed," Iris clarified.
Ivan remained quiet for a moment, carefully considering the offer, just as a customer approached the counter.
.....
The sun began its descent over Ivory City, casting an ethereal glow upon the streets. Ivan stood just outside the convenience store, captivated by the city lights that painted a canvas of dreams with the cluster of skyscrapers in the distance.
The street was calmer than it was during the bustling day, yet it remained busy, with every passerby unknowingly sharing snippets of conversation, leaving Ivan with only fragments of stories that would never reach their conclusions.
The gentle night winds brushed through the air, adding a touch of serenity to the urban landscape.
Iris, whom Ivan had been waiting for, finally finished locking up the store after Ivan had completed his shift. Her silver hair fluttered lightly in the breeze as she approached him.
"Let's go," she said, and they began walking together.
"Where is this meeting happening?" Ivan asked as they strolled side by side.
"At headquarters," Iris responded.
"I see," Ivan replied.
They continued their journey in silence until they arrived at the same coffee shop they had visited the day before. Ivan didn't comprehend the purpose behind returning there, but he decided not to question it just yet.
Entering the coffee shop, Ivan noticed the same two men and one woman from yesterday, all of them Awakened. The lady who served him the poisoned coffee was also there, but Ivan didn't see anything above her head, so he assumed she wasn't one.
"So, I'm guessing these are members of your guild?" Ivan inquired.
"Yes, that is correct," Iris confirmed.
"Well, then this must be awkward, considering you all had tried to kill me just yesterday," Ivan said.
"Threatened, not tried..." Iris corrected.
"Ah yes, my mistake. So, I thought we were going to your headquarters?" Ivan asked.
"Yeah, about that..." Iris began, hesitating.
"No way, a coffee shop? Is this some kind of joke?" Ivan exclaimed.
"Well, this is what we have to work with until I find something better," Iris explained.
"Don't tell me you own the guild," Ivan speculated.
"Listen, none of that matters to you. The guild is growing, and we are still getting members. Just become a mercenary, and you'll get the money you want," Iris assured him.
"You're right, you're right. The money is all I care about," Ivan replied, willing to put aside his reservations.
"Good, Laura, bring the documents for him to sign," Iris instructed.
As Iris spoke, her voice became lower to Ivan, almost drowned out by distant whispers that seemed to grow louder by the second.
"So you came here..."
"Where is this..."
"We are not finished, irregular..."
"I will follow you to the end of the universe if I have to..."
Every Awakened present in the coffee shop sensed it—an aura of magic that made them go silent and heightened their alertness. Their eyes darted around, but nothing definitive was visible.
However, a notification suddenly popped up in front of Ivan's vision.
[Malachi, The Arcane Archmage Lvl(??) is Present]
[Boss Battle Has Begun]
"No, this isn't supposed to be possible," Ivan muttered in disbelief as the darkness outside was illuminated by a magic circle.
"Get down!" Ivan exclaimed, realizing the danger. Immediately following his words, a blue beam struck the coffee shop, destroying it in an instant.