Seems like it's colder indoors than outside.
The icy coldness caused my skin to prickle, leading me to brush off the snow on my shoulders and head. I put on some warm indoor slippers and glanced at the couch where I had left a delicious hamburger lunch box and a soda from the nearby 7-Eleven. I turned on the heater with a remote control and then sank onto the sofa gracefully.
I grabbed the battery from the charging stand and switched it into my phone. After turning it on, I accessed the digital world through the Windows interface. I tapped on the mobile game I was looking for.
Fast forward to the present, Pick Me Up had become a sensation with nearly a billion downloads worldwide.
After a quick loading screen, I found myself on the main interface.
[Welcome to Pick Me Up!]
[T O U C H!]
I tapped the screen and was immediately immersed in the familiar waiting room ambiance.
In the waiting room, a blonde female knight sat with grace.
Seris, the grand leader of our main strategy party and the first and last 4-star hero I ever summoned, was there. She was considered super rare, with her golden hair flowing elegantly around her emerald eyes.
As I made contact with Seriss' image, a stunningly crafted depiction of her materialized on the screen, emanating a profound sense of pride and elation within me. Despite not being a highly sought-after 5-star hero by birth, she had evolved into an unstoppable force, surpassing even the majority of 6-star characters.
I closed the image by tapping the X in the top-right corner and redirected my focus towards the other heroes shimmering in the waiting rooms facilities.
Firstly, there were the heroes diligently honing their skills in the training center. Most of them were 1- or 2-star heroes acquired through complimentary draws. Among them, there existed a rare opportunity, albeit extremely slim, to obtain a jackpot surpassing that of a natural-born 5-star hero. However, in most cases, it resulted in disappointment. I could empathize—I had undergone the same experience.
In the expansive realm of mobile gaming, a clear distinction prevailed between those who possessed and those who lacked.
Heroes below 3 stars simply vanished as mere fusion materials for their higher-ranked counterparts. With a tear welling up in my eye, I focused on nurturing 4-star heroes and above, but they remained scarce overall.
Next, there were the heroes who had successfully completed their training. While not ideal for missions requiring fewer than 5 members, they proved more than capable when it came to large-scale parties or special missions.
Lastly, my cherished main force—the heroes I had meticulously chosen and assembled from the countless options available. They had all attained the pinnacle of 6-star excellence, recently conquering the 88th floor and becoming the first party in Korea to do so. They were invincible heroes, impervious to defeat no matter where they were deployed.
The game wasnt simply a matter of rolling dice based on stat sheets or visible skills.
My mind drifted back to the hardships I endured to secure my place as the 5th-ranked player globally.
I must have been out of my mind.
Truly, it was utterly absurd.
Pick Me Ups subtitle was Hyper Roguelike Summon RPG, in other words, a Loglike game.
In Korean slang, it meant a cursed game, where luck played a prominent role.
Luck determined the outcome of the draws, luck influenced the heroes abilities, and luck even dictated the outcome of battles.
While I could provide basic guidance, battles unfolded with heroes valiantly fighting on their own. They knew when and how to unleash their skills, or at least, they were supposed to. Yet, there were countless inexplicable moments where heroes became utterly useless.
As memories resurfaced, I could feel the strength coursing through the hand clutching my phone.
But its all in the past.
It was just a distant memory of a time when I knew nothing about Pick Me Up.
Certain aspects were undoubtedly influenced by strategy and operational know-how.
I had been a witness to it all.
And I was a guy with incredibly bad luck.
I had spun the wheel of fortune countless times, yet a 5-star hero had never graced my presence, not even once, a privilege seemingly reserved for those ranked below 100. My collection mainly consisted of 4-star heroes, with Seris being the exception. Despite the slim odds of obtaining a 5-star hero at 0.1% and 4-star heroes at less than 1%, the situation felt unjust.
If Pick Me Up solely relied on star ratings and luck, my ranking would never have been achieved. Skill triumphed over chance. My ability to defy fate through skill was a major factor that immersed me in the world of Pick Me Up.
Today marked Friday. I checked the status of the waiting room, giving orders to the heroes. Managing the numerous heroes had become nearly impossible.
Turning my focus to the announcements:
Pick Me Up Surpasses 100 Million Downloads!
Thanks to the support from players worldwide, Pick Me Up had reached over 100 million downloads! To celebrate this milestone, a special event was launched. Details were provided below.
Surpassing the 100 million mark had gone unnoticed by me.
Unlock the Advent Dungeon!
While gems and gold were valuable, they were easily obtained. At this point in the game, they were abundant. Summoning tickets no longer sparked excitement. Pulling rarely yielded anything worthwhile.
What I truly desired were heroes for awakening!
The event presented an opportunity to acquire heroes with the coveted seven-star rating, known as dream-grade heroes!
My heart raced as I read through the event details.
I couldn't contain my excitement when I saw the Advent Dungeon listed under the "Advent Dungeon: Difficulty Supreme" category. It had been a while since I last challenged myself in this intense dungeon, and now it was finally back. I knew I had to prepare myself for the ultimate test of strength and strategy. With determination in my heart, I embarked on this grand adventure to climb the tower and save the world.
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