"So, what's the plan?" Atlas asked from the boundary of her domain.
She was no longer in the beginner's outfit, now sporting a beige, oversized sweater dress paired with black, high-knee boots—the cost, 99 Crystal Shards. Nothing too feminine, she thought. Her Rusted Charm Pendant, now the Enchanted Charm of Fortune, hung beautifully on her chest after its repair.
---
Enchanted Charm of Fortune
Type: Rare Pendant
Stats:
+5 Luck, +3 Magic Resistance, +2 Dexterity
Description:
"Once a forgotten trinket, this charm now brims with magical energy, guiding its wearer to fortune and guarding them against dark magic."
Special Abilities:
• Greater Lucky Find — Significantly increases the chance of finding rare loot after battles. Improves rare item drops from bosses by 10%.
• Fortune's Favor — Small chance to avoid a critical hit, turning it into a regular hit.
• Magical Affinity — Enhances the wearer's magical resistance, reducing magic damage taken by 5%.
---
[Plan?]
"Yeah, won't you be taking shots of me as I vanquish the enemies?" she said dramatically.
[Just be yourself. Don't act reserved knowing you're on camera.]
"How do you even do that when you're two realms above?" Atlas asked, genuinely curious.
[If you look closely at the tree next to you, you'll see a little bug staring right at you. It's kinda my thing.]
"Wow, this one?" She spotted a black beetle in a tree hole. But the moment Kelsey confirmed, she smashed it with her fist.
[Why'd you do that!?]
"Ugh... I hate bugs," she mumbled, wiping her fist on one of her skeleton bodyguard's rags. "Move out!" She commanded, heading into the unclaimed forest with her five skeletal bodyguards in tow.
…
|[Chat]|
[ClassicDad: Did you guys hear that too!?]
[GOAT: What's going on?]
[JustFriends: Gamers! Let's educate them below.]
[BlingBling: @JustFriends It's an Airdrop! Supplies from the sky.]
[CrabKing: @JustFriends Once the 1hr countdown ends, supply crates will drop at various locations.]
[DaoistZilong: Dangerous event! We're lured out with supplies to fight over them! [Skull Emojis]
[CrabKing: Lol. I was an MMA fighter before this. Fear the bald dude with a scar on the eyebrows.]
[SalamanderLee: @CrabKing And I was a gangster in the Backwaters street! Fear the shirtless guy [Cool Emojis]
[PoisonIvy: @CrabKing If we're sharing jobs, I was a stripper. Good with whips and choking, if you know what I mean [Winking Emoji]
[LeaveMeAlone: I WANNA GO HOME~ I WANNA GO HOME~]
[LetHimCook: Pity those who'll meet GoblinQueen! [Laughing Emojis]
[PickyEater: GoblinQueen? What's the deal with her?]
[CrabKing: You haven't seen her compilation video? It went viral. She was having fun, doing poses, and showing off while surrounded by goblins.]
[Spin360: @CrabKing Yeah, she made those goblins look like her personal fan club. Didn't even break a sweat.]
[PickyEater: A beautiful girl playing with goblins? No wonder she's famous.]
[SalamanderLee: You know she's going to be hunting those Airdrops too. Better hope you're not in her path.]
[GOAT: So, what's the plan? Avoid her at all costs?]
[DaoistZilong: Not much you can do if you cross her. Just grab what you can and run.]
[Crabking: Or get stronger and fight. The best loot isn't going to fall into the hands of cowards.]
—
[NOTICE]: Esteemed Lords and Ladies, you have one hour to prepare your armies to claim the supply crates being dropped at the marked locations.
[Countdown | 00:59:59]
May the system forever be in your favor.
---
"What's that about?" Atlas asked, suspicious.
[Don't worry. You won't be dealing with old-time lords yet.]
[You have leveled up! | Level 15]
"Let's head back and get you ready for your first event."
"Sure." She recalled her skeletons, who had ganged up on a lone, wolf-like creature. They had minor scuffles on their way back, but nothing they couldn't handle. Her skeleton guards now ranged from levels 4-6, with some gaining skills based on their weapon usage: Slash, Parry, Fireball.
When they returned, Atlas was surprised to find her skeleton laborers—those gathering resources and digging—had also leveled up and unlocked similar skills.
[Am I permitted to ask where you'll be sleeping… or doing, um, 'girl stuff'?]
"Ew… what do you mean? I don't do that," Atlas said, wrinkling her nose. "And to answer your question, I have no idea."
[You'd better come up with something.]
"Yeah, I know. But as you mentioned the old-time lords would be on the lookouts after the barriers are down, I've actually made up my mind to build everything underground,"
[Wait, what?]
"Yeah, I'm going to build a powerful empire underground. My enemies won't be able to spy from above, not knowing I have a legion below."
[Okay... good luck with that. I'll support you as best I can, just… don't die on me.]
"I'm stronger than I look, ya know," Atlas boasted, flexing her non-existent muscles.
[Yeah, as a retired dude, I'm sure you are.]
"How'd you even know that? What'd you mean?" She blushed in embarrassment, "By the way, when do we get to meet?" She asked curiously.
[Is this you asking me out as a dude, or lady?]
"Stop that!" she turned beet red again.
[Relax, just joking. I can only visit the realm one tier above or below mine, if invited by a Lord.]
"So, that's tier two and four… Do you still have a domain, or are you homeless?"
[I… do. Haha.]
"What does that even mean?" she asked, growing annoyed.
[Let's just say I do.]
"F—k! You sound like a scammer who's really bad at their job!"
[What's a scammer?]
"If you still have your domain, shouldn't you be taking care of it, instead of chatting with me?"
[Let's just say, I'm the shot caller here.]
"And you still can't ascend to tier four, begging me for a job? How does that even make sense?"
[It's fine if you don't believe me.]
[NOTICE]: Airdrops on the way! Go forth and conquer!
Atlas took a deep breath to calm herself, watching as the first supply crate descended from the sky in the distance. She summoned her staff and sprinted into the forest. Her skeleton guards, now somewhat sentient, quickly followed with their weapons drawn.
There was no fear—this was the tutorial realm, as Kelsey had said. Even if a lord died here, they would respawn after 24 hours. And with the anger burning through her veins, Atlas was ready to tear apart everything that stood between her and the supply crates.