The journey back to his timeline was smoother than expected. Reever had braced himself for some kind of system fiasco, maybe a power shortage or a last-minute hack attempt. Instead, everything ran perfectly. The system had gone all in on safety.
After a few seconds of travelling through time, he appeared at his lobby. And unlike last time, when it was plain white with nothing interesting, it had a makeshift bed. A bed was not something he expected inside his lobby.
"It seems the system is compensating you for the trauma you endured in those two legendary eras. But why a bed of all things? You're a bot. Sleep is the last thing you need in your bot life," B remarked as soon as he saw it.
" It was an unexpected move indeed. But it's not bad. Though I can not sleep, I can shut down my consciousness like sleeping." Reever said.
" Just like a computer." " B added, mocking him.
Reever ignored the jab as a system message flashed before him.
[ Due to the issue within the system, some changes have been made in the lobby.
Any damages received during a match or any game would be automatically healed inside.
Weapons and armor damage would be repaired faster than the outside.
Skill cooldown will be shortened.
Training hall feature added to the lobby.
Lobby is impervious to any form of damage of any rank.]
These new features added by the system were a great boon to him. His weapon and armor could be repaired fast. And the best features were the training hall and the skill cooldown.
But then, another system notification followed.
[ [ Only 1 second has elapsed in the outside world during your time travel.]
This was a sweet move made by the system. According to his calculations and estimations, he had wasted a whole year while traversing through timelines. But only one second had passed.
But the system was not done with him.
[ Time flow difference between the outside and the lobby is 1:8.]
" No freaking way. Is the system serious? This is just a freaking cheat skill." Reever shouted overwhelmed with excitement. Luckily, no one was around to hear him and assume he had finally snapped.
" B, are you seeing this? The time difference is just mind blowing. I feel like the system is favouring me." A screamed internally.
" No need to shout. I can hear you. But it's true that this was not something we had anticipated for. With this, our skill cooldown time is shortened further. Imagine the mirage skill that takes 90 seconds to cool down, it will only take 11 seconds. " B failed to hide his excitement as he explained what he had just realized.
" Damn. I just realized something. When the system said that only a second passed when we were still back in time, it meant that it can actively manipulate time. I guess that the reason as to why it had less energy was due to it wanting to send us to the exact second we left. It's just broken." A analyzed.
" It means that in the outside world, I ranked up from Rookie IV to Veteran III in just one second. Man I wish that the system could have more of these faults so that I can rank up at ease without wasting time." he muttered as he summoned his system panel to check his progress.
[ STATUS REPORT ]
Name: Bot-067
Alias: Reever
Bot Type: Aim Bot
Rank: Rookie IV
Level: 40
Class: Locked [Level up further to unlock class.]
Skills: Target, Mirage.
Unique skill: None
Armor/ Weapons:
Common- Slit spear, mundane knife.
Uncommon- none.
Rare- Phase Mirage (armor), Specter Edge (Weapon)
[Gadgets]
Flash grenades x3
Smoke bombs x2
The system panel destroyed all the joy he had. The wonderful feeling he had at heart was stolen without being given a chance to recover. He stared once more at the 'joykiller' panel once more, hoping the rank would magically change, but 'Rookie IV' glared back like a bad punchline.
His mind blank as the reality sank in. Months of tireless grinding, all the loneliness he faced, the emotional trauma and the countless close calls had been systematically erased. He unsummoned the panel, his shoulders slumping, and rubbed the back of his neck with a frustration so deep it ached, utterly deflated.
" You gotta be kidding me. How can I still be at the Rookie rank and I was sure that I leveled up ages ago." A grumbled, as he refused to believe what he just saw.
" Ooh come on Reever, this was expected. Count the blessings you have. Even though the system has undone your rank, it has not undone the skills you horned while playing the game. Why let this small hurdle take you down. You can easily level up and even surpass the rank you were previously. Just suck it up. Toughen up like a warrior." B said, trying to comfort A who was somehow dejected due to the news he had gotten.
" Guess that you are right. I overreacted abit." A exhaled, as he jumped to his makeshift bed. " For now, it would be good if I just rest and forget the message." he said.
A system notification broke his chain of thoughts.
[ The rank of the player was reseted to reduce the chance of the system to be compromised during time travelling.
Player can rank up when completing the quests given by the system]
After reading the message, Reever sighed. At least the system explained the reason as to why his rank was reset. All he could do was accept the new hand he'd been dealt.
He also realized what a hypocrite he was as the perks the system gave him outweighed the nerfs he had received. And with his current skills, he was sure that he could rank up easily.
After comforting himself, he shut down his consciousness.