The next morning, nothing had changed.
Phew.
I exhaled deeply.
It had been a while since I quit smoking, but the urge hit me like it did back when my party was wiped out on the 80th floor, blowing all my money.
I accepted it.
No more fooling around. This was the world of Pick Me Up, and I was summoned as a 1-star hero.
My stats were pathetic compared to Shay's.
A Novice class with nothing to show for it.
No skills. That was me.
I washed up and made instant ramen. Yesterday's pot still sat there. I did the dishes while the water boiled.
Scrubbing the pot, I wondered.
What was Pick Me Up?
How could someone survive being summoned as a hero with its rules?
Two ways to go.
Die in battle or vanish through synthesis.
And I was just a 1-star.
What did that mean in Pick Me Up?
Most masters consider a 1-star character to be disposable. They are the weakest and have low stats and growth rate. They are easily debuffed and their combat power decreases.
This is the case in other mobile games as well.
Even characters obtained from free draws are treated the same way.
I felt a lump in my throat.
Suddenly, I found a piece of paper and a pen in my hand. They were in the drawer next to the bed. I didn't know why they were there, but if I could use them, I would make the most of it.
Objective.
I quickly wrote the word on the paper.
For now, this is my objective. It doesn't have to be fancy. Just survive in this world.
And I need to set specific goals.
If this happened in another mobile game, I would have given up. The characters' growth rate and skills are predetermined. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't change my fate.
But Pick Me Up is different.
Depending on how you nurture them and their unique abilities, even a 1-star character can become a hero that surpasses a 5-star.
It's because of the special potential each hero has. Besides the visible stats, there are other abilities that exist. They can't be measured numerically and must be understood by the master through observing battles.
Even if they start with the same star and abilities, completely different heroes are born.
That's why to become a master of Pick Me Up, you need a discerning eye to choose the promising characters.
I continued to write with the pen.
Goal. Becoming stronger.
I have to get stronger.
Survival, revenge, going back—none of it happens if I stay weak.
Not just muscles, but my mind needs a makeover too.
The Earth-me's laid-back attitude won't cut it here.
If I keep being shocked and reckless like yesterday, I'm dead.
No way around it.
Adapt or die.
Change or get eaten alive.
Been there, done that.
Sure, I'm just a regular guy, but it was different back then.
I remember the orphanage director's glare from childhood. I had nothing—no folks, no kin, no pals. It was me against the world.
Climbed up from rock bottom, treated life like a battlefield just to live like everyone else.
It's fine.
I'm used to crazy.
The key's to chill, assess, and deal with it.
Like, falling into the game I used to love. Nutty, right?
In this mess, I can't trust anyone.
Only myself.
Ramen done, I hit the square.
"Iselle, you around?"
I called.
A bit later, a tiny fairy floated in.
"Why you keep bugging me! I'm busy!" She griped but showed up anyway.
"Nope, not spilling the beans. Wanna know? Climb the tower. Top's got the scoop. Though a trash-tier 1-star like you won't even get close! Kyahaha!"
Iselle cackled, clutching her sides.
I stayed calm. Today, with a clear head, I noticed something about this little one's level.
[Iselle Lv.257]
At level 257, she's like a boss on the 80th floor.
I had a question.
[I won't tell you.]
Is this status window just for me?
[Status window?]
Iselle flitted around.
"The level 257 above your head."
[Ha, you can see it too? It's not even public info. Annoying, so annoying.]
So, only I see the game messages.
[Maybe our worlds got mixed up? Anyway, that person did something really annoying, Mom! What am I saying! I shouldn't say this!]
Iselle glanced around and zipped off.
Our worlds mixed up? Whatever.
Equipment check!
[Han Israt ()]
[Main Weapon: None]
[Sub Weapon: None]
[Armor: None]
[Accessory: None]
Just as I thought.
The iron sword from the tutorial was a handout for weaponless heroes. Shay had basic gear as a 4-star.
Alright.
I clenched my fist.
Despite being a 1-star, I got a special perk others don't. I can see my status from the Master's viewpoint. Super handy.
I won't lose. Not a chance.
But...
What if the Master stops logging in?
Yesterday wasn't a regular goof-up.
He mashed a 4-star with a 1-star. Odds of getting a 4-star from paid summons? About 1%.
Poor guy blew it with one slip-up, a 1-in-a-hundred mistake.
Since Pick Me Up's linked to the phone, no restarts.
Forget the negative.
Handle it if it happens.
No point stressing.
I locked myself in, scribbling away. Notebooks and pens overflowed from the drawer. If I needed something, it'd appear, even if it wasn't there before.
I'm crafting a guide, jotting down all I know about Pick Me Up. So, I won't forget, no matter how much time passes.
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