Geared Up And Ready To Game

The system showcased his loadout on the screen, and Trent could see himself clad in the all-white default skin.

Then, there was a full display of the Legendary skins, each excessively pricey, such that no average civilian/ gamer could afford them, unless they were exceedingly wealthy. Skins could be purchased with Paxcoin or a prohibitively large amount of Neoncredits to match up.

The system scrolled through the most expensive options, carefully considering which one would best suit its avatar.

"I want to select by myself," Trent commanded. Before the system could object, he interjected, "Trust me, I know what's flashy and intimidating." After all, he was the one who designed these skins in the first place, so naturally, he had a particular one in mind that he considered his masterpiece.

After a brief search, Trent found the Legendary skin he was looking for. He was certain it was the one he wanted to wear while decimating and slaughtering other gamers.

[Do you wish to spend 4 Paxcoin on Crimson Knight?]

'Four Paxcoin is almost half a hundred grand,' Trent mused. 'That is massive.' Glancing at the infinity symbol representing his Paxcoin balance, Trent chuckled. "Yes," he confirmed.

[Crimson Knight purchased!]

[... deploying Crimson Knight]

Suddenly, Trent started to feel his body changing as if he was undergoing a physical metamorphosis. He just got to realize that the system had altered his body, making it suitable enough to fit the skin. Now, he looked like an American Football jock.

Trent glared at his body, noticing the extent of his transformation; no more extra fat, and he felt noticeably taller. What kind of change was this?! It wasn't the typical game alteration that every gamer would experience; Trent had physically altered! For real!

"What have you done to me?"

[I made you more physically and cinematically adapt and appealing. Surely, no one would be intimidated by chubby cheeks]

'That's harsh,' Trent thought, feeling his face and realizing the baby fat was gone. He had gone from blown to bold, and what was this pronounced jawline?! Before he could react or say anything, the Crimson Knight skin started to manifest onto him, deploying onto the gamer.

[Crimson Knight deployed]

'Nice,' Trent thought. He raised his arms, studying the dark fabric material that now encased him, even covering his face.

It had a hood, deep and shadowy, with only the faint red glow of the sigil visors on his mask shining sinisterly. And Trent loved it. He caressed the central diamond symbol that also emitted a faint red glow amidst all the black of the suit. He had black fabric gauntlets as well as black shoulder guards, and black boots with matching red soles. As he turned, the free ends of the cloak danced and ribboned through the air.

[Good]

[Daily Mission: Equip one item~ completed]

[Reward: 10 EXP!]

[Seasonal Mission: Spend 1,000,000 Neoncredits~completed]

[Reward: Disguise Perk]

Trent knew exactly what all this meant. An average gamer would have screamed at the top of their lungs if they came across such information. However, for Trent, his system had just made this gaming endeavour a breeze.

EXP points were meant to level up a gamer until they reached the highest level, which was Lv. 1500. But here Trent was, already at the pinnacle, Lv. 1500. He didn't need the 10 EXP points; they were useless to him. The same went for the Disguise Perk; he could just saunter over to a Store and buy it if he wanted.

The system resumed his loadout, requiring him to choose a default melee weapon to wield.

This was what Trent had been waiting for the entire time. He swiftly scrolled down the screen, not stopping at the most expensive option. When he reached his target, Trent chose a red lightsaber.

[Do you wish to spend 700,000 Neoncredits on Lightsaber (Red)?]

'Hell yeah!' Trent thought, and the weapon promptly materialized in his hands. He wanted to scream with joy.

"I am geared up! This is enough, isn't it? I can pick up more things along the way."

[I'll self equip some subordinate items like wingsuit, weapon camos, emotes, etcetera etcetera]

[Meanwhile, take this; it will fit you perfectly]

Suddenly, an item materialized on Trent's shoulder, and he was almost startled to see a cybernetic bird perched there. He quickly recognized the bird as one of the companion items he integrated into the game. One could call them pets, although these creatures could really aid a gamer during battle and were incredibly fierce.

Trent smiled and stroked its cybernetic body as the bird remained still. "I'll name it Claw. Upgrade it to its max."

[Gladly. You wish to spend 1 Paxcoin on that?]

'Of course.'

[Seasonal Mission: Upgrade an item to M∆X~completed]

Trent let out a sigh of joy and relief. "I think I'm ready."

[Yes, you seem to be. But I hope you are still aware of why you are here?]

Trent cracked his neck, still enamoured by the skin he had chosen. He looked like a real game character, and he felt like one too. "I know, bring justice to our different sentiments."

[Good]

[But, you should also familiarize yourself with the Ranking System of the Paradox Unbound]

[You may know that of the game, but not that of the people in the world]

[Right now, you are at Grandmaster, which, I'll truthfully say, was undeserved]

[But nonetheless to make things clear, the game's goes like this]

[--Rookies--] (Lv. 0-15)

[1. Learner]

[2. Novice]

[--Amateurs--] (Lv. 16-50)

[1. First Tier]

[2. Second Tier]

[3. Third Tier]

[--Journeymen--] (Lv. 51-150)

[1. First Flag]

[2. Second Flag]

[3. Third Flag]

[--Elites--] (Lv. 151-450)

[1. Experienced]

[2. Pro]

[3. Veteran]

[--Masters---] (Lv. 450-800)

[1. Specialist]

[2. Adept]

[3. Guru]

[---Sages---] (Lv. 800-1500)

[1. Legendary Master]

[2. Apex Master]

[3. Grand Master]

Trent groaned and rolled his eyes in boredom. He knew all these words by heart; he was the one who had created them. "Please, just enlighten me about the world's ranking system."

[I do not know. That you would find out yourself]

Trent scoffed. 'I guess, no story comes without a strenuous job.'

[Remember...]

[Once I log you in, Nightingale]

[You are never coming back, not even to this non-existence, this interface lobby]

[If you die, you die permanently. No respawn]

Trent gulped.

[You shall fulfill my will and bring balance to the Paradox, and I will grant you your wishes and give you a new permanent life within it]

"Sounds like a fair deal," Trent said. He had nothing to lose. The goddess and the system was giving him a chance to bounce back, and he'd be a fool not to accept.

[>>>Logging in Nightingale .1500]

[Loading....<<<]

[First game—]

"Battle Royale," Trent finished the system's sentence. The first game for a newcomer would be a Battle Royale. He had made it that way, and now, he was going to play against real gamers in his own game, one he knew everything about. Trent had played it before, but only with generated bots. But now...

[SOLO/ DUO/ SQUAD]

'Hell! I'm a one-man freakin' army here,' Trent exclaimed and selected solo with pride.

[>>>>Matching.....42, 946, 000 players online]

[Matched....<<<]

[You would spawn in 10....9.....8....7...]

As the system counted down, Trent couldn't help but marvel at how popular his game had become. It hadn't even been 24 hours since he signed the documents of release, and there were already forty million online players.

Surely, Vyle had raked in a billion from those sales. And he never got to taste any of it! Neither did his family.

Trent clenched his fist as he shimmered out of the lobby.