Chapter 45 - New Dawn
Leo woke up early as usual, but this morning felt different. The weight that had been pressing on his shoulders for so long was gone, replaced by a sense of lightness and freedom. He stretched, feeling more at ease than he had in months. The heavy burden of secrecy and danger seemed to have lifted, and now, with the support of Amanda and his newfound allies in the Silver Mane guild, he could face the future with renewed vigor.
He could now check his system anytime and interact with Amanda and the Silver Mane guild members freely. Tomorrow, Boris would take them to a place where they could buy a house. Today, Leo planned to continue leveling up.
As he sat up, Ai turned to him and whispered, "Do you want to activate VIP Level 1 now?"
Leo quickly gestured for her to lower her voice. Amanda was still peacefully asleep, her soft breathing a comforting sound in the quiet room. He motioned for Ai to sit beside him instead. To his surprise, Ai jumped out of bed with an unexpected enthusiasm. The bed wobbled precariously, and the sound of her landing on the floor was louder than he anticipated.
He chuckled softly, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead as he glanced at Amanda, who, thankfully, didn't wake up. Ai's antics were endearing but sometimes a bit too lively for early morning.
"I'm sorry," Ai whispered, looking sheepish.
"It's fine," Leo replied with a smile. He turned his attention to his system interface, intending to open it for some fresh air. Before he could navigate, the system window opened on its own, courtesy of Ai's access to his system. She navigated through the interface with ease, making the whole process smoother.
Leo marveled at how helpful Ai was. Opening the VIP system, he saw the notification he had been anticipating: VIP Level 1 was ready to be unlocked.
VIP Level 1
Requirements:
Adventurer level 10
100,000 gold coins
Leo hesitated for just a moment, then tapped the unlock button.
100,000 gold coins deducted.
Successfully unlocked VIP Level 1!
1,000 VIP coins received!
The page slid to the left, displaying his current VIP level. The first item was a text saying, "Tap to show previous VIP perks." He thought about how intuitive the system was. Below it were the new perks of the VIP level.
"Overall power and defense increased by 5%," Leo read aloud. He had seen this kind of perk before, but it was always a welcome addition. He continued scrolling and his eyes widened in amazement when he saw the next perk.
"Auto pots: Able to use potions automatically based on set threshold."
"Wow," he exclaimed. He asked Ai if she could set the threshold to 50%.
"Done," Ai responded instantly.
Notifications popped up:
Auto pots threshold set to 50%
Lowest potion grade in inventory will be prioritized
Leo smiled, appreciating how convenient this feature would be in battle. He returned his attention to the window and read the next perk.
"Wardrobe 1: Able to designate armor set as default fashion. Default fashions hide your currently equipped armor set."
"Nice," Leo thought, reminiscing about how he used to buy cosmetics for his characters in other games. This wasn’t just about looking good. The Wardrobe perk let him mask his true strength. He could walk into any battle, fooling enemies into underestimating him by hiding his best gear. In a world where appearances mattered, deception was just another tool for survival.
His eyes widened even more as he read the last perk.
"Immunity 1: Gain 10% immunity to all negative status."
"Resistance is one thing, but immunity is on another level," he said to himself, feeling a surge of excitement. This perk would be invaluable, providing him with an edge against various status effects in battles.
Ai's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Leo, don't forget your weekly quest. Completing it in the VIP dungeon would be much more efficient."
Leo turned his attention to her, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"With an entrance fee of 50 VIP coins, which doubles for subsequent tries on the same day, you can select what kind of dungeon you want to enter," Ai explained. "There are different types of dungeons like Exp Dungeon, Boss Raid, Mirror, and Horde Mode."
The dungeons like the Exp Dungeon is a paradise for those who are looking to grow quickly. Imagine a world where every monster you defeat pushes you one step closer to mastery, where you control the battlefield. Choose your enemies, dictate the pace, and level up faster than anyone else. It’s an advantage only the privileged few can enjoy.
Leo nodded, seeing the wisdom in her words. Just then, Amanda began to stir. The sound of the bed caught Leo's attention. He turned to see her stretching and waking up.
"Good morning," Leo greeted her with a warm smile.
Amanda smiled back sleepily. "Good morning, Leo. Good morning, Ai."
The cats, sensing that Amanda was awake, came over and started cuddling with her. She stroked them gently, yawning once more.
They ate at their usual spot, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the small café. Leo savored his usual noodles and coffee while Amanda enjoyed her soup and bread. Ai, ever the multitasker, was feeding the cats sitting beside Leo, who purred contentedly at her gentle touch.
"Are you going to the guild today?" Leo asked Amanda between sips of his coffee.
"Yes," Amanda replied, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Boris proposed to formally create our guild's elite members. Now that we have a system user, we can compete in the World Tower."
Leo's interest was piqued. "What's the World Tower?"
Amanda leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with both curiosity and anticipation. "I haven't entered it yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Now that we have a system user, we’re not just competing—we’re going to dominate those floors. I’ve waited too long for this."
The World Tower is no ordinary dungeon. Each floor is its own world—shifting landscapes, unpredictable enemies, and challenges tailored to break even the most seasoned adventurer. They say no one comes back from the upper floors unchanged, that the higher you go, the closer you get to the heart of the tower. Rare items? Sure. But what people really go there for is power, and the risks are deadly.
Leo nodded thoughtfully, imagining the challenges and treasures that awaited in the World Tower. Just then, he saw Talia approaching and waved at her. She returned the gesture with a bright smile and walked over to their table.
"Are you guys heading to the guild?" Talia asked, her eyes flicking to Ai, who waved back cheerfully.
"Yes, I am," Amanda said, finishing her last bite of bread. "Boris has some plans for our guild's elite members."
"Sounds exciting," Talia said with a grin. "I can't wait to see what's in store."
Leo finished his coffee and stood up, feeling a sense of readiness for the day's tasks. Amanda and Talia gathered their things and prepared to head out. Ai, after ensuring the cats were satisfied, floated up beside Leo.
"Let's get to work," Leo said, his voice filled with determination.