The Alpha Exchange
Picking up one of the small golden bars weighing around an ounce, I looked up at my panel and noticed a tiny (i) in the top right corner of the screen.
Recognizing it as the universal symbol for more info, I clicked it and learned how to exchange items and currency for coins on hand.
It was as simple as pushing items into the panel. Setting aside any logistical thoughts, such as how or why it worked the way it did, I followed the instructions, generating a new prompt on my panel.
:{The Arkadia Currency Exchange has accepted one ounce of pure 999.9 Gold}:
:{The Value of said item has been appraised at 12,000 USD.}
:{You may exchange the item for either Currency (USD or Alpha Coins}:
:{Option One: 1 (A-coins) and 20 (α-coins) }:
:{Option Two: 120 (α-coins)}:
:{Option Three: 12,000 in United States dollar Bills:}
I took a deep breath and exchanged the gold bar for 120 (α-coins).
[Your 120 α-coins have been transferred and stored in your Inventory and will be displayed on your Status Panel from here on out.]
Ignoring the fact that Arkadia just informed me about having an inventory, I returned to the Medicinal tab and used 40 coins to purchase 4 of the Low-Alpha Acclimation Potions.
[Thank you for your purchase; the items have been transferred to your Inventory.]
'Arkadia, show me my inventory,' knowing time was of the essence, I quickly stated the prompt, generating a new screen to appear on my panel.
This new screen was slightly tinted blue and adorned with flowing lines, making an artistic water effect, but that wasn't the important part.
Although relatively plain, the new screen had ten equal-sized boxes, two of which held items; the first was a circular stone coin with the Low-Alpha symbol engraved on the surface and an (x80) indicating how many coins there were.
Meanwhile, the second filled box held a glass vial, no different from a test tube or medical Vial, which could be found in a hospital.
Something was radioactive-looking in the Vial, a nuclear green, glowing liquid with a (x4) posted beside it, indicating I had four of the said item.
Without breaking eye contact with my panel, I extended my injured right hand toward the safe door, closed it, and spun the knob to relock the safe. At the same time, my left hand moved to click the strange-looking Vial, only to be greeted for once by an actual description box.
:{Acclimation Potion (α)}:
{{{A Potion created and sold by the Arkadia Medicinal Shop. This potion serves one singular purpose: to aid those struggling to adapt to the acclimation of Alpha Particles for the first time.}}}
{{{Similar to how some poisons can be combated by introducing other poisons to the equation, the Acclimation Potion mixes multiple Herbs, resources, and, of course, Condensed Alpha Particles into a singular solution that shocks the body and counteracts the effects of Energy Poisoning, the condition which is the leading cause of failure to acclimate to a Planet's Initial Particle Saturation.}}}
{{{Directions: Consume the entire contents of the Vial orally; effects will be instant; however, there is an adaptation phase that can last up to 48 hours. Results may vary depending on Age, Race, Physical Condition, and resistance to such potions.}}}
By the time I finished reading the description of the Acclimation Potion, I had already returned to the living room, delivered two potions to Brenden, and repositioned my father's head back in my lap so I could administer the potion.
Once I finished pouring the contents of the Vial down his throat, surprisingly, the Vial shattered into specks of light and disappeared; however, I was too worried about my present circumstances to care about it, and after a moment of hesitation, I uncorked my last Vial and downed it in one gulp.
I have consumed some of the foulest-tasting things in my time on Earth, but the Acclimation Potion took the cake. The instant the radioactive-looking, viscous fluid touched my tastebuds, I nearly spat it out, shit my pants, and vomited all at the same time.
It was absolutely horrible, and to this day, I have never tasted anything as bad as that potion. You'd figure that Arkadia would have added a hint of vanilla or something, but no, why would it when it clearly enjoys watching us suffer?
If I had to compare the taste of the Acclimation Potion to something relatable, it would be a mixture of Dung, treebark, vomit, snot, ear wax, battery acid, and gasoline.
Sure, you can only assume what some of those items taste like, but if I told you it tasted like how those things smell, then you should get the idea.
Regardless, upon seeing me drink the potion, Brenden helped Emilia drink hers, only to end up covering her mouth with his hand so she didn't throw up everywhere. Eventually, she choked it down, allowing him to drink his.
As the description had described, the effects were instant, and the pain my body was experiencing vanished; in its place, a warmth spread to every corner of my body, bringing along with it a sense of power and strength I had never known.
The sudden change was so startling that I did the first thing that came to mind and opened my Status because the only thing I could think of that would bring about such a thing was a change in my stats.
[Status]
{Taylor Lawrence Jörgensen}
{Particle Grade: None} *Alpha Particle Assimilation 50%, please level up to complete the process*
{Race: Basic Human}
{Race Rank: First Classification}
{Talent: Psy-Kinesis}
{Talent Rank: None}
{Talent Potential Grade: Beta}
[Statistics]
{Level:0}
{Level Progress: 0%}
{Talent Growth Rate: 0%)
{Alpha Particle Count: 0.5} *+0.5*
{Physical Offense: 1.0} *+0.1*
{Physical Defense: 0.6} *+0.2*
{Intellect: 3.1} *+0.1*
{Meta Physical Offense: 0.1} *+0.09*
{Meta Physical Defense: 0.1}*+0.09*
{Stat Points: 0}
Scanning through my Status display, my eyes widened slightly as multiple questions formed in my head, the first of which being…
'How in the hell did my Intellect increase? I get the others; it's not a big leap to assume that by introducing a new energy source to my body, I got stronger; that's a common theme in novels and anime, but what caused my Intellect to rise…'