I've Been Leveling Up This Whole Time...

Maximus sat on his couch the next morning, the sunlight streaming through the apartment window. His phone rested in his palms with the screen displaying a long list of real estate properties.

He had spent most of the morning hours doom scrolling through mansions, a concept that still felt foreign.

A mansion?

For him?

Just a few months ago, he was scraping by and avoiding the dreed of his landlord.

But now, things have changed.

Now, with three million quid sitting in his bank account and the Investment God System backing him, Maximus felt a strange sense of inevitability.

The system wasn't just helping him survive, it was pushing him to thrive and prosper. And now he was going to live in a thrilling home worthy of his present status.

He scrolled past another property, it was beautiful, but something about it didn't sit right with him. He didn't want something flashy just for the sake of it. He wanted a place that he could call home.

Finally, a series of properties caught his eye.

A towering, modern mansion set on the outskirts of the city. It was just far enough form the chaos of downtown Central City but close enough for convenience.

The thumbnail showed an open floor plan, high ceilings, an exquisite kitchen and a massive backyard complete with a pool and a garden.

The down payment price?

"One point five millions dollors? With that price that a steal for me…"

Maximus tilted his head, letting the idea settle. It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't out of his financial reach either.

Without overthinking it, he hit the call button and was greeted by a friendly real estate agent named Jennifer.

They agreed to meet at the property later that afternoon for a tour. And in less than an hour, he had prepared himself and was on his way to his meeting.

The closer he got, the more the scenery changed from tall buildings to tree lined streets and open skies.

When he pulled into the driveway, he was greeted by jennifer, a professionally dressed woman in her early 30s with a white clipboard in hand and a welcoming smile.

"Mr. Prime?" she asked, extending her hand for a hand shake.

"Thats me…" Maximus said, shaking her hand.

"Great to meet you, shall we take a look at the property?"

Maximus nodded, following her up the stone path to the front door.

The moment he stepped inside, Maximus felt an overwhelming sense of space.

The foyer was exquisite, with polished hardwood floors that stretched into an open concept living area. Massive windows let in streams of natural light, making the space feel alive.

Jennifer led him through the house, pointing out every detail.

"This is the living room," she said, gesturing to a space large enough to fit three of his current apartments. "You'll notice the custom built fireplace and the recessed lighting in the ceiling,"

Maximus nodded, running his hand along the coll stone mantle of the fireplace.

"...And over here," Jennifer continued, leading him into the kitchen, "we have a chef's dream of a kitchen, a culinary palace, marble countertops and plenty of storage space."

Maximus could already picture himself cooking with recipes here, even if his mobile kitchen days were mostly handled by his employees now.

They explore through the rest of the house and after the tour, Maximus and Jennifer sat at the kitchen table to discuss the details.

"The asking price is one point five million dollars," jennifer said, sliding a document toward him. "it's a fantastic deal, considering the location and advantages attached to living in a place like this."

Maximus studied the paper. The numbers were daunting, but he reminded himself that this was why he had worked so hard.

"I'm ready to move forward," he said confidently.

Jennifer smiled. "Great, I'll start the paperwork, and we can arrange the transfer of funds."

By the time Maximus left the property, the deal was nearly sealed.

He had transferred the payment directly from his account and Jennifer reassured him that the keys would be ready within a few days.

As he rode back to his apartment, Maximus felt a mixture of excitemnt and disbelif. He had just bought a mansion, and it was almost ironic that despite being the owner of a mansion, he was going to spend the night in a run down apartment.

Back at his apartment, Maximus sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the receipt on his phone. One million plus dollars gone, just like that. But instead of regret, he felt a sense of accomplishemnt.

The system pulled him from his thoughts, flashing a notification across his face.

~Congratulations on your third investment. This property will serve as a foundation for your future~

Icons danced, words and symbols configured with an intriguing fireworks display in the background of the dialogue box.

Maximus smiled, waving the system to the side as his thoughts drifted to what lay ahead. The mansion wasn't just a symbol of success, it was a stepping stone.

To become the investment god.

»»»«««

Standing outside his rundown apartment building, the faint hum of the morning city bustling aroung him.

The keys to his unit jungled in his hand, their sound oddly satisfying.

Today was the day.

No more cramped rooms, leaky faucets, or the constant stench of the neighbours questionable cooking.

He was done, done with it all.

He walked up the uneven steps, each creak of the wooden planks feeling like a small victory. As he reached the landlords office, Maximus straightened his jacket and swished his braids, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

The landlord was known for his bulb shaped figure— short, bald and round. Mr. Garrison was hunched over his desk sqiunting at apile of paperwork.

Maximus tapped lightly on the dooorframe.

"Garrison?"

The man looked up, his small eyes narrowing when he recognised maximus. "What is it now? Rent is not due for another week…"

Maximus took the liberty to step inside, tossing the keys onto the desk with a clatter.

"No need for that… I'm moving out," Maximus said shortly.

Garrison blinked, his confusion quickly morphing into irritation. "What the fuck do you mean, you're moving out? You barely scrape by paying rent as it is. Where the hell are you gonna go, huh? Back to sleeping under a bridge?"

Maximus chuckeled, leaned against the doorframe. "I'm not the man you used to know… Garrison, unknowingly to you, I've been leveling up this whole time"

Garrison scoffed, standing up from his chair.

"A place? You? don't make me laugh, idiot. You're just like all the other crack head in this building. Always talking big, but when it comes down to it, you're nothing. Where's your place, huh? Under the gutter? Haaa! Baka!"

Maximus shook his head, the smirk on his face grew wider. He started to turn toward the door, but then paused, looking back over his shoulder. "You'll hear about it soon enough. I promise."

Before Garrison could retort, Maximus walked out, the door swinging shut behind him. He didn't look back, didn't give the man another second of his energy.