Chapter 5: The Store
Ronnie gave a slight nod to Miss Rosie, who was still trembling a bit, her body clearly replaying the intense moments they'd just shared. He flashed her a faint, knowing smile and slipped out of the house with calm, confident steps.
Kira watched his back as he walked away, a strange mix of confusion and unease swirling inside her.
"What's up with that idiot?" she muttered under her breath. "Did he hit his head or something? So weird."
She shook her head, trying to push his image out of her mind. "Whatever. I need to focus. I'm leaving for the Royal Academy in a week."
She turned to her mother. "Mom, is breakfast ready? And what's that weird smell?"
Rosie froze for a split second, her heart pounding with worry. The sharp, musky scent of Ronnie's cum still lingered faintly in the air. Without thinking, her hand slipped under her dress, brushing against her wet pussy, and she couldn't help but wish Kira hadn't interrupted. What else might Ronnie have done to her if they'd had more time? The thought alone sent a fresh wave of heat through her body, her skin flushing.
Ronnie walked away from the house, and once he was out of sight, he stopped dead in his tracks, breathing hard.
"What do you mean the target's stronger than me?!" he shouted into the air, glaring at the System. "You didn't tell me that was even possible!"
A blue screen appeared, its words cool and matter-of-fact.
[The System is far larger and deeper than you can imagine, User]
[The System's purpose is to guide and protect you]
[Had you used Devil's Touch on that target, you might have been killed by her]
[Kira Hayre: Level 15]
[Class: Advanced Rune Magic, Considerable Physical Strength]
Ronnie swallowed hard, his throat dry. Level 15? He hadn't even reached Level 1! The System had just saved him from certain death. A cold wave of helplessness washed over him. His mission was going to be way tougher than he'd thought.
But right in the middle of that sinking feeling, a new screen popped up, sparking joy in his chest.
[You've successfully made Rosie reveal her suppressed true self]
[Reward: Mana +7]
[You've leveled up!]
[Current Level: 1]
A powerful surge of pure energy rushed through his body, stronger than anything he'd felt before. A clear blue aura wrapped around him for a moment before fading away. His strength, his vitality—everything felt sharper, better.
"I did it! I'm Level 1!" he yelled, grinning ear to ear.
For the first time, he didn't feel like prey in this harsh world. He was a hunter now.
Another screen appeared, catching his attention.
[Upon reaching Level 1, the Store function has been unlocked]
"A store? What's that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
[The Store is an in-System application allowing you to purchase various items: tools, treasures, skills, potions…]
[As your level increases, the System's level rises, unlocking stronger items suited to your power]
[The Store also contains rare items left by previous users: The Truth Seeker and The Greedy Devil]
[Current Balance: 50 Platinum Points]
Ronnie's jaw dropped. Previous users? Rare items? This System was way more complex than he'd realized.
[You may now access the Store]
"Open the Store," he commanded, his voice buzzing with excitement.
A large, shimmering blue screen appeared, bigger than any he'd seen before.
[Welcome to the System Store!]
[Items Available for Your Current Level (Level 1):]
Recording Crystal (Common): 15 Platinum Points - Records audio and visuals with high precision
Vitality Potion (Small): 20 Platinum Points - Instantly restores 30% of vitality
Healing Potion (Small): 40 Platinum Points - Heals minor wounds and restores health
Mysterious Mask (Rare): 20 Platinum Points - Wear the mask to conceal your identity
Protection Bracelet (Rare): 50 Platinum Points - Alerts you to imminent danger
Sleep Bomb (Uncommon): 30 Platinum Points - Releases sleeping gas in a small area
Full Leather Armor (Common): 100 Platinum Points
Polished Iron Sword (Common): 100 Platinum Points
Valerie's Sword (Rare): 250 Platinum Points
Mana Crystal (Small - Rare): 250 Platinum Points - Permanently increases maximum mana
Basic Magic Sword (Rare): 1,500 Platinum Points
Mysterious Ancient Armor (Legendary?): 10,000 Platinum Points
Four-Star Spell (Legendary): 150,000 Platinum Points
Revival Potion (Divine?): 1,000,000 Diamond Points
[Skill Store temporarily locked]
Ronnie stared at the list, his mouth hanging open. A Revival Potion? A Four-Star Spell? These were things he'd only heard about in ancient myths! Even the strongest known mages today only wielded Three-Star Spells.
"Holy crap… this is unreal!" he laughed loudly. "Hahaha! I'm gonna be the strongest in the world! No doubt about it!"
He didn't notice the odd looks from passersby, staring at him like he was a lunatic cackling in the street.
Then he glanced at his balance and frowned a little.
[Balance: 50 Platinum Points]
"Hmm, that's not much. How do I get more?" he wondered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
[To increase your balance, you must use your ability to uncover truths and expose secrets]
[The greater the secret revealed or the more significant the truth exposed, the higher the reward in Platinum Points and mana]
[Last time, you uncovered Rosie's suppressed true self, earning 50 Platinum Points and 7 mana points]
"It's all clicking now," Ronnie said, nodding as he grasped the mechanics. "So, I've gotta work harder to dig up truths… and secrets."
He pictured Rosie's sexy body, how she'd surrendered to him, and licked his lips. His adventure was just starting, and there were plenty of secrets waiting to be exposed… and plenty of bodies waiting to be claimed.
"Alright, what do I buy with 50 Platinum Points? I gotta be smart about this."
The options were tempting, but he needed something to help with his plans.
A new screen chimed in with a suggestion.
[Recommendation: You may benefit from purchasing the Recording Crystal]
"Recording Crystal? The one for 15 points?" Ronnie eyed the item skeptically. It was common and cheap, usually used for recording songs or parties. It seemed useless compared to potions or the bracelet.
[Sometimes, words alone aren't enough to subdue a target. Physical evidence is far more powerful]
[With recorded proof in a Recording Crystal, convincing a target to submit will be much easier… and more enjoyable]
Ronnie's eyes lit up, like a whole new world of possibilities had opened up. This simple item could be a game-changer in his hands!
"Got it!" he grinned slyly and bought two Recording Crystals on the spot.
[Remaining Balance: 20 Platinum Points]
"I'll save the rest for later." He closed the Shop window, and two small glass orbs appeared in his hand, glowing faintly with strange yellow runes carved into them.
He tucked them into the System's virtual inventory and hurried home, his mind racing with thoughts of his next target and how he'd use his new tools.
Minutes later, Ronnie quietly opened his front door. He caught sight of his adoptive mother, Elena, bending over to wipe the floor. She wore simple house clothes, but they couldn't hide her mature, curvy figure, which was stunningly full and shapely. Her large breasts swayed enticingly with each movement, their tops peeking out, and her round ass lifted high as she leaned forward, sending a sudden jolt of heat through Ronnie's body.
"You're back, Ronnie," Elena said with a warm, loving smile when she saw him, completely unaware of the hungry glint in his eyes.
"Yeah… Mom," he replied, his voice a little rough, feeling a sudden erection straining against his pants. He swallowed hard and looked away. This feeling toward his adoptive mother was new, unsettling… and thrilling all at once. Was his new power messing with his desires?
"I'm gonna head to my room to rest a bit," he said quickly, practically leaping up the stairs to his bed.
He pulled up the System's interface to check his updated stats.
[User: Ronnie Silver]
[Ability: Revelation (Rank: Iron)]**
[Job: The Revealer (Rank: Divine - Locked)]**
[Skills: Mirror of Life (S), The Dreamer (A), Devil's Touch (B), Stellar Eyes (C)]
[Level: 1]
[Stats:
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 9
Agility: 10
Vitality: 9
Intelligence: 11
Mana: 22]]
"Just hitting Level 1 bumped up all my stats a little, and my mana shot up like crazy! This is awesome!" The thrill of leveling up filled him with excitement, fueling his drive to climb even higher.
He scanned his skills again, his eyes pausing on one he hadn't tried yet: The Dreamer.
"How do I use this one?" he wondered.
A screen appeared with details.
[When you activate the skill, you enter the Dream Realm. You can explore the dreams of anyone currently sleeping and interact with them.]
[Note: The skill is most effective at night when most people are asleep.]
"Got it. Using it now might not do much," Ronnie thought, scratching his head. "But it's worth a test. Maybe I'll find some lazy bum still napping."
"Activate The Dreamer!"
He closed his eyes and felt himself slip away… and in the next moment, he was standing in a dazzling, almost unbelievable world. Endless green plains stretched out, bursting with colorful flowers. Lush trees swayed gently, and birds sang sweet, melodic tunes.
"Whoa… what is this place? Is this someone's dream?" he asked, awestruck.
He started walking, soaking in the stunning scenery. "Who could be sleeping and dreaming of a place like this in the middle of the day?"
He kept strolling, enjoying the breathtaking landscapes, until he reached the top of a grassy hill. There, in the middle of a field of shimmering white flowers, he saw something he hadn't expected.
A transparent glass coffin.
A chill crept into his chest. Why was there a coffin in such a beautiful dream? Curiosity overpowered his caution, and he approached slowly, his steps careful.
He leaned over to peer through the glass… and his heart stopped for a moment.
Inside lay a young woman of breathtaking beauty, so stunning it defied words. A divine, devastating beauty that could spark wars. Fiery red hair spilled around an angelic face, serene in sleep. She wore a simple black silk dress that hugged her slender body, accentuating dangerously perfect curves. Her skin was pale as fresh snow, her lips red as rose petals. Her full breasts rose and fell gently with each breath, barely covered by the dress's thin fabric.
A fierce desire surged through Ronnie, an urge to smash the glass and devour this sleeping beauty. He nearly lost control, but a System screen snapped him back.
[Mental Immunity automatically activated!]
[Warning! Extreme Danger! Retreat immediately!]
[Target's level is far beyond the User's!]
A cold shiver ran down his spine. This sleeping girl had nearly killed him with her aura or charm without even moving! He stepped back slowly, his eyes still locked on her dangerous beauty.
"Who… who is she?"
Another screen appeared.
[Elizabeth Hart]
[Level: ????]
[Class: ????]
[Warning: The User is too weak to access this entity's information]
[Warning: If the User obtains additional personal information, this person may track the User's location in the real world!]
"Damn it!" Ronnie screamed in his head, fear pumping adrenaline through his veins. What kind of monster had he just stumbled across on his first try with The Dreamer?
"I'm never using this skill during the day again! Never!" he swore, gritting his teeth.
He stole one last glance at the sleeping princess in the coffin, swallowing hard as he took in her alluring body, radiating danger and mystery.
"She looks like a sleeping princess from a fairy tale… a terrifying one."
He turned quickly. "Cancel the skill!"
He vanished from the radiant Dream Realm, leaving behind that devastating beauty. And the moment he disappeared, a faint, cryptic smile curled the lips of the sleeping woman in the coffin.