Episode 9
1003 Words
A tsundere system?
Fragments of images and streams of information unfolded in Adam's mind, a collection of concepts both comprehensible and utterly alien.
They seemed like something pulled straight from the pages of a science fiction novel or the scenes of a futuristic film.
"What... what on earth is this?" Adam murmured in a daze, his voice tinged with bewilderment.
The revelations flooding his consciousness were so staggering that they left him in complete shock. Yet, he began to grasp, albeit vaguely, why she had referred to herself as a "system."
"Exchange—yes, if you think of it in simpler terms, it's like an exchange! By offering a set number of points, you can acquire anything you need. With enough points, even your wildest desires can be realized!"
The soft, lilting voice of the mysterious girl rang out once more within his mind. But Adam could hardly spare a moment to dwell on how charming it sounded; he was entirely overwhelmed by the implications of this new knowledge.
"Current Points: 0. Health Status: Slightly Weak. Intelligence: Average. Endurance: Below Normal. Strength: Low. Agility: Below Average. Jumping Ability: Weak. Reaction Speed: Poor. Personality Traits: Extroverted Introvert, Subtle Dominance."
"Exchange List: One-Star Exchange (Unlocked), Two-Star Exchange (Sealed), Three-Star Exchange (Sealed), Four-Star Exchange (Sealed), Five-Star Exchange (Sealed), God-Tier Exchange (Unknown)."
What in the world?! Was this some sort of cosmic store or a system deity straight out of a fantasy? And it appeared right inside his head!
"Thrilled, aren't you?" Her voice carried a teasing lilt.
"Thrilled, my foot! What the hell is this? What are these points supposed to be? And what do you mean, endurance below normal?! As for those personality traits, to hell with them! I'm clearly an alpha! Who came up with this nonsense about a hidden dominance?"
Some details had struck a nerve, forcing Adam to admit, begrudgingly, that they might be accurate. Otherwise, would he have landed himself in prison a year ago?
"Don't fret. This information comes from a comprehensive body scan and is 99.99% accurate," she explained, ignoring his outburst.
"But there's still a 0.01% chance it's wrong!" Adam retorted stubbornly, clutching at the last straw, even if it made no sense. (After all, even a DNA test isn't 100% certain...)
"Points are crucial; they determine what you can exchange for in the future. Listen carefully—this is vital!"
The voice paid no heed to his grumbling and launched into a meticulous explanation.
Points, it turned out, were a unique form of currency—not money in the conventional sense but a means of acquiring items or abilities from the so-called "system" inhabiting his body.
By consuming points, Adam could "purchase" almost anything he desired.
Anything at all. Given enough points, he could gain powers or objects beyond imagination. The rarer and more potent they were, the greater the cost.
In essence, he could accumulate points through various means and then spend them as he wished.
"You saw the exchange menu earlier, didn't you?"
"You mean those one-star, two-star things?" Adam nodded, though there was no one physically present to witness.
"Exactly. But for now, your abilities are too weak. You can only access items from the one-star category. To unlock higher levels, you must grow stronger and break the seals."
"One-star, huh... This feels like a game," he muttered, though he was beginning to understand.
As he pondered how to navigate the exchange options, a new interface materialized in his mind, as though the system were a game shifting to a fresh screen.
"One-Star Exchange: Basic-level items and abilities, costing minimal points. Suitable for beginners."
The description flashed across the top, followed by an extensive list of options: dozens of items and abilities, all at the one-star level.
Adam skimmed through them, but a few entries caught his attention right away, ones that seemed too fantastical to be real.
"Strength Enhancement: Spend points to increase physical strength. Each point grants a 10% boost, with each additional point stacking the increase. Base strength is determined by the user's initial stats. Duration: 1 minute. Each extra minute doubles the point cost."
He almost choked in disbelief. Even though he had never been a hardcore gamer, being an orphan didn't mean he hadn't picked up a thing or two. This—this was a game mechanic, plain and simple!
Strength wasn't the only attribute available; speed, jumping ability, and reaction time were also on the list. The cost structure was identical across these attributes, all linked to the initial body scan data.
Beyond abilities, there were weapon exchanges: firearms, melee weapons from various cultures—the sheer variety was dizzying.
A simple Chinese Black Star pistol, for instance, required 30 points for a 10-minute duration. One magazine of bullets cost 1 point. Unlimited ammo was possible but outrageously priced at 300 points. Yet, considering that would mean no reloading and infinite firepower, it was a bargain.
Cold weapons, too, were plentiful. Every culture's arsenal was represented, from Japanese katanas and Chinese machetes to European broadswords and Viking axes. Prices varied, but Adam's eye fell on a particular katana.
"Muramasa Cursed Blade (Replica), 10 points for 10 minutes. 100 points for permanent use."
It was an overwhelming array of choices, enough to make his head spin. But none of it mattered: he had zero points.
"So, it seems real, but what about these points? How do I earn them? Without points, everything's just wishful thinking!"
As the saying goes, a penny can break a hero's resolve. Adam's heart ached to try something, but he was flat broke!
"Hey! What do you mean, 'seems real'? This is absolutely real! And don't 'you, you, you' me! I have a name, you know!"
"Electric Wave Girl?" he quipped instinctively.
"Wrong! Call me that again, and I'll get mad!"
"Fine, fine. What's your name, then? And tell me—how do I get points?" He finally conceded.
"It's Xu Cai! Remember that! And as for points... well, acquiring them is actually quite simple..."
- Writer
