Episode 9
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The items received at the end of an event in each creative abyss vary according to the contribution of each participant.
However, if a participant significantly exceeds the expected contribution, the rewards will be even greater, reaching a point where the creator will not be able to compensate the contribution.
If he is unable to deliver the reward, the creator will go bankrupt, as the system takes away the valuable objects to give them to the participant. At that point, the creator is ruined.
Of course, there are several ways to make a creator go bankrupt, but Freddy knew the most efficient one:
Make a contribution so extraordinary that the creator cannot reward it. In this way, the creator goes bankrupt and the rewards are doubled, including the possibility of receiving an extra reward.
Extra rewards are given when the participant in the creative abyss achieves something truly exceptional.
Bankrupting a creator for the first time is considered a unique achievement, which grants an extra reward of a higher level.
These rewards were extremely attractive.
In the past, those who obtained extra rewards usually received the best items.
Although it was rare to get skills, there was a 0.09% chance of creating a unique skill that no one else possessed.
However, this time something unheard of happened.
"Easter Egg".
A never-before-seen reward appeared out of nowhere.
Never heard of such a thing as an "Easter Egg" among the extra rewards.
If it's an extra reward, then it must be something extremely valuable, impossible to get by ordinary or even difficult means.
Dry sound!
A colorful egg appeared floating in the air, and Freddy quickly caught it while checking the object's information.
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-Easter Egg (001)
-Type: Object
-Range: Eternal
-Description: An unidentified egg. It is said to be given to those who achieve a special goal. Could it bring you good luck if you possess it?
-(1). If you possess it, you will get good luck every time you level up. The level of the "Easter Egg (001)" will increase every 20 levels its owner reaches. As the egg levels up, the luck increases.
Rumor has it that something amazing will happen when the final grade is reached.
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As expected, this meant that with every level Freddy went up, the luck would increase immediately.
For example, if a reward has a value of 1, the "Easter Egg" would increase the luck, raising the value to 3. Also, the higher the level of the egg, the higher the luck.
This implied something else:
"Future rewards will have a higher value once you use the Easter Egg."
However, Freddy's level had not yet increased, as he had just obtained the egg.
Even if his level had gone up earlier, the egg would not have taken effect, as the rewards must be received before the level is increased.
Now, with each level up, the luck will kick in, and the value of the rewards will be significantly higher than the original.
"....."
It was absurd.
If anyone had seen this, they would have fainted.
Increasing the value of the extra rewards meant obtaining items of extremely high value or even priceless skills. The higher the reward, the greater the chances of getting something extraordinary.
There were cases where people obtained truly incredible items.
Among them was the holy relic, which was said to contain divine power, although it could never be confirmed.
Because it emanated an extremely strange energy, it was dubbed "Divine" for lack of a better description. Moreover, it was as powerful as it was difficult to use.
The holy relic was a high-ranked item.
In the abyss, each item is divided into five ranks: common, rare, eternal, legendary, and primordial.
The higher the rank of an item, the greater its power.
The holy relic had a legendary rank. However, it was rumored that it actually belonged to the primordial rank.
There were debates about a higher rank than the primordial one, called "Zero" rank, but no evidence was ever found to confirm its existence.
Eventually, that topic was considered absurd and was forgotten.
"The Easter Egg is of eternal rank."
It was a considerably high rank, but not the highest.
What would happen if the Easter Egg's rank increased?
Actually, there was yet another secret.
"Easter Egg (001)."
That meant there were other Easter Eggs. Freddy realized this detail upon a second look at the object's information.
An item with a series was something extremely rare.
Because, if the object is part of a series, it would mean that Easter eggs (002) or (003) could be of even higher ranks.
Of course, there was the detail that for every two series, the rank increased by one level only.
If Freddy was right, then it was possible that there was an Easter egg higher than even the primordial rank.
Would it be that "Zero" rank that no one knew anything about, not even in the future that he knew of?
He realized this thought and began to laugh.
The Easter Egg exceeded all his expectations as an extra reward. It was an unparalleled treasure that had never been heard of in the abyss: a serial item.
How amazing would the next set be?
It would bring good luck to level up faster.
Freddy was excited, so much so that his body trembled at the possible rewards associated with the Easter Egg.
Instinctively, he wanted to try the luck of the "Easter Egg".
For every level, he would get luck; if he went up two levels, he would get double luck.
It was like a multi-purpose item, with no limits, simply by leveling up.
But it had a limit.
"For each level, luck increases, but the higher the level, the harder it is to advance. So, luck won't always be there."
It was a problem he only just realized.
Even though the item was amazing, every time he received rewards, he wouldn't always be lucky, as he wouldn't always be able to level up.
"I guess happiness ends here."
He said to himself, but at that moment a message appeared in front of his eyes:
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⟨⟨== Andariel's Creative Abyss will be erased in 30 seconds. All participants must leave before the set time ===⟩⟩
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***
Freddy looked at the death knight, split in two from chest to head.
There was a question.
"What is it like to steal statistics?"
From the beginning, his curiosity about that special feature of his class was what caught his attention.
Of course, stealing stats definitely referred to a being, although it could also apply to something else, perhaps an object.
Even if it was an object, living or dead being, stealing stats was his greatest desire at the moment.
It was time to try it out.
Missing this opportunity to use a feature that absolutely no one knew about would be a step backwards in his goal of regaining, and even surpassing, the amount of magical power he had before his regression.
Over 100,000 points in the Magic Power statistic had been roughly calculated in the past.
That meant that Freddy's magic power back then was superior, tens of times greater than that of hundreds of level 99 Awakened Ones.
It was also the reason for Arhat's curiosity before he died: a human who broke the magic power limit by being an "Unawakened".
As an "Unawakened", the amount of magic power was extremely limited by the weak ability of an unawakened body.
Freddy touched the death knight's body.
"Although I don't know how it works, I should at least touch the body."
Not that it was something cliché, but maybe that was the case: touching the body to steal the stats.
However, Freddy wondered how many stats he would steal and if it would be all of them (strength, stamina, agility and magic power) or just one.
With that doubt, he touched the death knight's body.
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⟨⟨== He steals stat of Strength +10 ==⟩⟩
⟨⟨== Stamina stat +9 is stolen ==⟩⟩⟩
⟨⟨⟨== Draw Magic Power stat +15 ==⟩⟩⟩
⟨⟨⟨== Agility stat +7 ===⟩⟩
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"....."
It was to be expected.
At the same time, Freddy's body felt strangely incredible. A sensation ran through his whole body, but it quickly disappeared after a second.
Freddy looked down at his fists and clenched them, feeling how his strength had increased dramatically.
An increase of "1 or 2" points in strength, stamina, or any other stat was more than enough to become twice as strong as before.
That meant that, with more stats, his strength would increase impressively, perhaps even double.
"This is... cool."
He had just discovered a new way to become stronger much faster.
***
It was nighttime.
"I should find a place to sleep."
After coming out of the abyss, everything collapsed and was wiped out.
He reached the nearest city, but it was still far from the Abyss Management Department, where he needed to get the license to enter the abyss.
He was able to enter the previous abyss because it was not guarded by agents of the Department of Abyss Management, and the creative abyss was freely accessible.
However, for the next abyss, which will also be new and will appear in two days, the department will arrive so quickly that access could be complicated.
The streets were empty, and he soon arrived at a hotel.
"Fortunately, James gave me some money."
Perhaps that was what he was referring to before he left the Verdance house.
After all, Freddy had no money. Being someone strong but without resources, or just a bum, would be problematic.
Although he knew the future, he had no idea where to spend the night.
"I need a room for one night," he said.
The receptionist stared at him.
Freddy's clothes were in tatters.
Due to the combat with the death knight, his body had suffered injuries, and his clothes had torn so badly that he now looked like a hobo.
The hotel boasted five stars on its facade, and ever since Freddy had entered, people had looked at him strangely. It wasn't until that moment that he realized what he looked like.
However, this was no time to worry about that.
"Sir, can you pay for a room? The cost is $5,000 per night."
"Is it that expensive?"
"If you can't pay, leave or I'll call security."
The receptionist snapped her fingers.
At that moment, Freddy pulled out a wad of bills, each $5000.
James had given him so much money that each wad equaled that amount, and there were more than a dozen of them.
Being from a wealthy family had its advantages, though it also meant problems.
The receptionist's eyes widened and she eyed Freddy suspiciously.
"This bum must have stolen that money," she thought.
"I'm not a bum. I'm an awakened one who came out of an abyss a few hours ago and I need the room," Freddy said firmly.
"Can I see your awakened ID?"
"....."
"No need, the clothes are proof enough."
"....."
The receptionist frowned, but before she could say anything, Freddy handed her three wads of bills, a total of $15,000.
She looked at him again, and a smile appeared on her face.
"So, sir, your room is 505."
Money, at the end of the day, is still the best way to persuade anyone.