The system continued. "Alice, you have been upgraded to Level 3. Your strength and speed are now on Level 3, as well as your sword attack and durability. Your abilities are also on Level 3. Congratulations. You have also earned 500 Spades. Use them wisely. And as a special gift, 1 regeneration bottle for managing to keep all 5 of your lives. Ace, Miriam, David, you have all been upgraded to Level 2. Your durability is now Level 2. Since you don't hold any weaponry, if you do get any, they'll be automatically leveled up to Level 2. Your durability has been increased to Level 2. And you've gained 500 Spades each. Since you managed to survive with all 5 of your lives, you each get 1 free regeneration bottle. Well done. Now you'll be transported to the Neutral City. Good luck at entering Level 5."
Alice and the rest were transported to Neutral City. A slight white light flashed, and they appeared in the city. "Woah, 500 Spades. I wonder what stuff I can buy with that," Ace said. "Yeah, I'm gonna head out and try to search for anything useful. Let's all give each other at least 24 hours of relaxation. We need to rest. After that, we meet at the center of the city when it's time to head to Level 5. Cool?" said Miriam. "Cool," Alice responded. Ace and David also left without saying goodbye, just waving. "We'll meet you at the usual city center," they said.
Alice, now alone with CJ, started walking around. Traders were shouting everywhere. "Get your very own AK-47! This one has almost infinite ammo! Only 10,000 Spades!" shouted one trader. "Get your own grappler hook! This thing can reach straight up to 200 meters! Only 200 Spades! And it's automatic launching and reversing. You can also wear it on your wrist!" shouted another. "Woah, that looks interesting," Alice said. She walked towards the trader and bought it. It automatically leveled up to Level 3. "Yay, that's exciting. Maybe I'll buy something else too," Alice said.
Another trader shouted, "Get your very own level-up potion! 1 in a 1,000,000! These ones are very rare. Only 300 Spades!" CJ bought it. He looked towards Alice, asking the question, "So... I wonder how you managed to get to Level 3 so quickly. Well, lucky, I guess. You did reach Level 2 during that fight. You did help us fight." "Yeah," Alice said.
But then CJ began to speak. "You know, so far, I've always wondered how many other players there are. And will they even end up here? Judging from the fact that time doesn't move the same way as in the real world. Like, we literally have people from the 1960s." "Yeah, right. Obviously, I don't know much because, just like the rest, we are also new. But I've stayed here for about... among all of them, I can promise I'm the oldest since I've been in this game of cards for at least 2 months. But I haven't really played any games. I do remember meeting 1 player before. I don't know if he went on or if he's still alive. But with these 5 lives, when these lives finish, who knows what will happen? We may just die for good," CJ said.
Then Alice responded, "Oh, is that so? So you're 1 month old... well, not new, but new enough. But, again, CJ, you're from 2010. I wonder what it was like." CJ responded, "Well, the 2010s were... well, I don't know. Not very interesting if you think about it. But I guess it was a weird time. How's the future?" asked CJ. "The future is pretty cool," Alice responded. "Not much to speak of, really. Pretty cool." Then Alice asked, "So I wonder how many Neutral Cities are there." "There is 1 Neutral City for every level, I think. Probably," CJ responded. "So the higher you go, the better it becomes.""Well, Alice, I think we better look for a place to stay," CJ said. "Yeah, good idea. Let's find a hotel or something. Hey, system. Can you find me a hotel or something?" Alice asked. The system didn't respond. "I guess the system doesn't work in Neutral City," Alice said.
Then Alice spotted a billboard sign: "Blue Inn - Rest and Heal. Only 10 Spades per night!" "Well, that's kind of funny how they put it on a billboard sign," said Alice. "Let's go check it out and see if we can rest there," CJ said.
CJ and Alice reached the building. "Only 10 Spades per night," said the assistant. "Fine by me," CJ said. CJ paid with his own Spades. They entered the building and were finally resting. "Well, I wonder how the other guys are doing," Alice said. "And I wonder... can we even sleep or eat in this game? Because I've never really felt hungry or sleepy since I got here. I've just been having this strange surge of energy constantly," CJ said. "Same here," Alice responded. "Well, since the game keeps us surging with energy, I guess we don't need to sleep or eat. So what should we do?" CJ asked. "I don't know. Maybe just relax for a bit?" Alice said.
Meanwhile, Miriam was out shopping. She saw a huge spear on display. "Get your poisoned tip spear! Only 250 Spades!" shouted a trader. Miriam bought it and it was instantly upgraded to Level 3. "Wow, this is interesting. Might come in handy when fighting," Miriam said. "Hey, would you like a 50 Spades upgrade? The spear can now have a boomerang ability at Level 3. Boomerang Level 3 means that it can come back to you when you hold your hand out," the trader said. "Sounds like something straight from a movie or mythology. I'll take it," Miriam said. She paid the 50 Spades. "Well, since the game somehow keeps us surging with so much energy that we can't really sleep or eat, I'm gonna train with these skills. But this whole city is so packed. Hey, NPC, you know a place that I can train?" Miriam asked. "You may train on the training grounds of Neutral City, but it's 10 Spades per day. Can you please pay?" the NPC seller asked. "Yeah. Okay, sure. Point me in the direction," Miriam said. "Unfortunately, that goes beyond my capabilities," the NPC responded. Then the NPC continued, "Get your very own poisoned tip spear!" "I guess this is the downside of computer programs. But still very advanced compared to 2085," said Miriam. She walked around trying to find the training grounds.
Meanwhile, David and Ace went to a local lottery, trying to gain more money by betting. "Come on, come on, David. Bet on the yellow horse," said Ace. "Alright, alright. I'll bet on the yellow horse. I hope this horse can run fast," David said. David and Ace waited as they put 200 Spades each together, forming 400 Spades total bet. The yellow horse won. They got 800 Spades back. "Would you look at that? Now we each have 700 Spades," Ace said. "Yeah, that's great. Let's now buy some stuff," David said.
"Get your very own grenades! 50 grenades for only 300 Spades!" shouted a trader. David and Ace both bought the grenades. Then David also bought a Desert Eagle for 200 Spades, but with extra ammo it was 400 Spades total. "I guess that would come in handy," said David. "Yeah, nice pickup," Ace said.
Meanwhile, Miriam finally found the training grounds. "10 Spades per day," the NPC said. Miriam paid. Once inside the training grounds, a Level 3 monster appeared. "Woah, you look like those monsters we were fighting in that Fall Arena," Miriam said. Then the monster started charging at her. She tested her new speed and strength. She was moving much better than before. She dodged its attack and stabbed it in the back with her spear. Instantly, it fell down, vomiting dust and blood as if poisoned. "So my spear doesn't just attack and damage you. It poisons and weakens you. So if you are a higher level, it weakens you and slows down your movements. But if you're lower level, it might actually just kill you instantly. This might come very in handy," Miriam said to herself.
24 hours later, the team met at the center of the city. Miriam, David, and Ace were the first to arrive. "Hey, you two. How was your time?" Miriam asked. "Well, that was interesting. We're fine, actually. Made some money at the lottery and bought some gear," Ace said. "Nice. What about you, Miriam?" David asked. "Trained a bit. Got a feel for my new spear," Miriam said. "Well, where are the 2 lovebirds?" David said with a smirk. "They're probably off being all romantic somewhere," David continued, teasing. "Yeah, yeah, I'm just mocking around," Ace said with a laugh.
Then CJ and Alice arrived. "Hi, guys. Ready for Level 5?" Alice said. "Yep," said Miriam. "Let's do this," said David. "Finally, some action," said Ace. "Alright then, let's go," said CJ.