[System Notification] Welcome to VIP System.
Bingo! Leo's eyes jumped across the screen checking out the details. Below the welcome message, three options began to show.
VIP Perks
Item Shop
Exclusive Quests
His heart raced as he hovered over VIP Perks.
Will this power come with a catch? he thought. His finger wavered before he eventually tapped the message.
The screen blinked and revealed a new page listing several benefits.
Daily Rewards
VIP Services
Discount Madness, and more.
Leo noticed a section in the screen: VIP Level 0.
His excitement grew.
"If there were levels," he tapped both his hands on his legs—the wooden staircase vibrated gently, "it means I can progress and unlock more feature!" though his voice quieter, his hands kept trembling in excitement.
He exhaled slowly before turning back to the floating screen.
Receive daily rewards, the screen read, items that might help him jumpstart his adventures. Leo's breath quickened. "These potions could be lifesavers," he muttered.
VIP Protection: Your perks stay hidden from prying eyes—crucial in a world full of unknown dangers.
I really wanted to share this to Amanda, he paused, But it also means the possibility of telling her everything, the thought made him shiver.
I'm afraid for her response, if she knew that she was taking care of a different 'Leo', he sighed scratching his head.
"Not now—"
He set his worries aside and continued to explore further where his eyes landed on Discount Madness,
Haggle your way to discounts, you have 10% to 50% chance to lower prices during a bargain—a potential goldmine if used wisely!
He idea of using it to earn coins without drawing attention played in his mind.
Let's do buy and sell then! he thought.
I'll try asking her again to live in the capital, he nodded.
But it was the Share the Pain perk that made him think deeply. The description was clear—he can sync with another's experiences, absorbing their skills and abilities. With an additional stats bonus upon successful sync, What if the sync failed then? he thought as he continued to read, Death?!
Cold sweat trickled down his cheeks as he swallowed.
He then tapped the Targets list button. Another window opened, revealing a long list of names. Leo's eyes skimmed over the lengthy entries, where he focus zeroed in on Amanda's name almost instantly.
His breath hitched as he read.
Could I really bear her pain?
Years of experiences—could he really take it in? The thought terrified him.
Memories of Amanda taking care of him when he was younger went back to him. Her gentle touch and warm healing magic when he scraped his knee, and her soothing words as she that eased his inner frustrations.
Leo clenched his fists, I'll do whatever it takes to protect her, he vowed silently as he looked back at the screen.
He tapped the Share the pain perk—he swallowed as he proceeded tapping Amanda's name on the new message box, its edges bleeding otherworldly light.
"So I can only sync for two years?"
He continued reading the details, he inhaled slowly as he leaned forward, "No way!"
"I can sync up to 100 years?! So elves live that long, huh?"
"Ah, Amanda did tell me about their elders living almost a millennium…"
He paused, focusing in a detail, "Is that a slider?" Leo reached out to it. He then tapped and dragged it to the right. A red message then appeared below the slider: Warning: Target years for syncing is greater than the recommended value.
Leo smiled, "Most of the interface I tested before lacks proper handling like this," his finger hovered on a button, "So doing that allows me to activate it using gold coins? Neat—"
"If only I was able to get those life insurances and investments I made," he sighed as he threw his head back and stared at the moon for a moment. He tapped the Activate using gold coins button and another prompt appeared.
[System Notification] You don't have enough gold coins. Need 100,000 gold coins to proceed.
"Hmm," he murmured, his fingers drumming on his chin. "So, how much gold do I need for 100 years of sync?" He dragged the slider to 100 and tapped the button again.
[System Notification] You don't have enough gold coins. Need 10,000,000 gold coins to proceed.
"Of course, an absurd amount of coins for an absurd set of benefits—", he pressed his cheeks and held it for a little while as he stared at the screen. "The cheapest house in the capital is about—less than a thousand gold coins I think?"
"I need to start thinking how I can earn coins steadily,"
Closing the message, he continued to check the screen. The last perk, Gift of the Gods, caught his eyes.
Chance to receive a gift from the heavens each time a new VIP level is activated.
"A gift, huh?"
"I hope RNGesus bless me in my new life—," his grin widened more than he thought it would. Gift from the gods should be special right? he thought, before another detail on the screen pulled him back.
A flashing text next to his VIP level.
Tap here to preview the next VIP level!
He tapped on it and the page updated.
VIP Level 1: Requirements: Adventurer level 10 and 100,000 gold coins.
Another gold coin burn mechanic, that's a VIP system for you! he grabbed a piece of band on his wrist and tied his hair up. But only whales make it to the top, that damn pay-to-win games! recalling how he once got stuck in a level and had to pay to be able to move forward.
"Overall power and defense increased by 5%?! No way! And this is just the first perk?" He raised his arms up.
Unlock VIP level to see all perks.
He read on as he decided to check up to what level the system had scrolling down. "Twenty-six?!" His heart racing as the excitement build up. "Calm down," he told himself, inhaling deeply.
Leo was about to close the screen when he noticed a blinking envelope icon on the left side of it. He tapped it and saw several messages.
"Ah! That's right, rewards are mostly delivered by in-game mail!" He rubbed his hands together and began to read the messages. "Daily Benefit", seeing the potions listed. He tapped Receive Items. Notifications appeared in front of him stacking on top of each other.
[System Notification] 1 great red potion received.
[System Notification] 1 great blue potion received.
He read the last message, What a fortune, the gods send their regards!
Leo quickly stood up raising his hands like he had won a first prize.
He just then heard the creaking of the floor behind him. Then the door suddenly swung open as Amanda emerged, "What are you doing outside, Leo?"
He froze—did she see anything?