The old trickster pointed to the world around them. "As you can see, this place isn't Earth. It's an entirely new realm I call the Dreamscape. And I... I am the creator of this world. You may call me the Creator God."
The Creator God?
Arlo eyed him warily. "You're claiming to be the Creator God?"
"Indeed, I am." The old man stroked his white beard with a self-satisfied smile. "Remember that ring I sold you? That ring is the medium of the Dreamscape. To put it simply, you're now inside the ring's space. Consider yourself lucky, kid—you're the first outsider to set foot in the Dreamscape."
Seeing Arlo's puzzled expression, the old man coughed lightly. "It seems you still don't trust me, so let me get to the point. The reason you're here is because I selected you as the human with the greatest combat potential in the world. This realm, in essence, functions like an MMORPG. There are monsters here, and you can level up by defeating them. You can even loot equipment from them. You might not believe me now, but you soon will."
With a wave of his whisk broom, the old man unleashed a surge of energy that invaded Arlo's body. Before Arlo could react, a yellowish mist enveloped him. The sensation was indescribable—like drinking a cold beer on a scorching summer day, the comfort ran through him from head to toe.
Within moments, the yellow mist merged into his body, and an unfamiliar screen-like interface appeared in his mind.
Character: Arlo
Level: 0
Strength: 10
Constitution: 10
Agility: 10
Spirit: 10
Luck: 10
Comprehension: 10
Health: 100
Mana: 100
Attack: 20
Magic Attack: 20
Defense: 10
Accuracy: 10
Evasion: 10
Attack Speed: Normal
Movement Speed: Fast
Reaction: 50
Pet: None
Mount: None
Fire Resistance: 0%, Water Resistance: 0%, Wind Resistance: 0%, Thunder Resistance: 0%, Earth Resistance: 0%, Light Resistance: 0%, Dark Resistance: 0%.
"What... what is this?" Arlo was stunned.
The old man chuckled. "From now on, you can slay monsters and level up in this world. And there's a bonus: anything you loot here, you can bring back to the real world. How's that? Excited?"
"Wait—what did you just say?" Arlo's eyes lit up with joy. "You mean I can go back?"
"Of course!" The old man flicked his earwax with a finger. "As I said, this is the internal space of the ring. And since you've bonded with it through a blood contract, you're now its master. You can freely travel between Earth and the Dreamscape."
"Really?" Arlo ran over and hugged the old man's leg. "Sir, you're like a second father to me! A living saint! My admiration for you is as boundless as the rivers flowing to the sea..."
The old man basked in the flattery, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction. "Not bad, kid. At least you know how to appreciate greatness. You've even managed to spot my hidden brilliance."
Arlo spent a good half-hour showering the old man with compliments before looking up with a worshipful expression. "So, as the first outsider in this world, do I get any rewards?"
"Rewards? None!" The old man kicked Arlo away and resumed his air of celestial dignity. "I'm a deity, boy. You think a bit of flattery can make me hand over divine artifacts?"
"Ouch! Damn it!" Arlo landed hard, clutching his bruised rear. "I thought you were a benevolent benefactor, but you're just heartless!"
The old man chuckled. "Don't think you can take advantage of me. At my age, you're not even qualified to call me great-great-great-grandpa." With a sweep of his whisk broom, he produced a necklace. Smirking, he said, "Still, since your flattery was moderately enjoyable, I'll give you a chance. If you do something for me, I'll give you this reincarnation necklace—a divine artifact."
Arlo's eyes sparkled as he grinned obsequiously, rubbing his hands together. "Sir, just say the word. Not just one task—ten, a hundred! Whatever you need!"
"Oh? A hundred, you say?" The old man's smirk deepened.
"Uh..." Arlo smacked himself mentally and quickly backtracked. "I meant, uh, I'm not very strong yet, so one task would be best. Just tell me what you need, sir!"
The old man stroked his beard. "Hmm, your shamelessness reminds me of my younger days. Very well, one task it is. I want you, at level 100, to slay the Dreamscape's ultimate boss—the level 100 Dark Demon Dragon—and retrieve an item."
"No problem!" Arlo thumped his chest. "Just tell me what you need me to get."
"My personal treasure: the Purple Sash Celestial Robe!"
"Purple Sash Celestial Robe?" Arlo frowned. "Sounds familiar..."
"Ahem!" The old man cleared his throat. "No need to overthink it. Just agree to my terms, and the reincarnation necklace is yours."