Floating right in front of Kirish's eyes was a semi-transparent 'System Window'—the holy grail of every fantasy protagonist.
A slow, knowing smirk spread across Kirish's face.
'I was wondering when you'd show up,' he thought. As a veteran gamer, he didn't need a manual.
The moment the system synchronized with his soul, the intuitive understanding of how to command it flowed into his mind.
He closed his eyes and addressed the entity within his consciousness.
"System, how exactly can you help me?"
The response wasn't a robotic chime. It was a resonant, slightly haughty voice that echoed in his skull.
["The question isn't how I can help you, Owner. The question is... how can you help ME?"]
Kirish's brow furrowed. This wasn't the submissive AI he was expecting.
"Excuse me? You're a System! Your entire existence is built to serve your Master. Are you trying to haggle with me? Are you some kind of fraud?"
The System replied with a tone of cold indifference.
["It seems I must educate you. I am an 'Eating-to-Giving' System.
You can have anything your heart desires from the infinite multiverses, provided you can pay the right price.
Quality and cost are in perfect equilibrium here. I do not care for your opinions; I only care for your capital.
As long as you have the credits, I can grant you anything... except bringing back the dead."]
The game was clear now. This wasn't a mentor; it was a cosmic merchant.
"Fine," Kirish conceded, his business mind clicking into gear. "Can you sell me Star Crystals?"
["I told you, I provide everything. Opening the Marketplace... Since this is your first transaction, I shall grant you a 25% New Owner Discount."]
A list manifested in the air. Hundreds of crystals flickered past—different colors, different grades, and terrifyingly high prices.
"System, are you kidding me? These are all out of my league. Do you have anything that fits a 'budget'?"
["Sigh... You truly are a destitute Master. I wonder how a genius like me ended up in the hands of a pauper,"] the System mocked.
"Stop the commentary and get to work," Kirish snapped, cutting through the insults.
The System's tone shifted to a professional sales pitch.
["Listen closely. Star Crystals come in various types: Body-type, Spirit-type, and Elemental-type. Since your current vessel has no awakened affinities, the 'White Star Crystal' is your best bet. It contains the purest form of Qi energy."]
["To forge a basic Qi Orbit, you need at least twelve Normal-grade crystals. With your discount, that's 82,500 W (World Currency)."]
["If you want a s
table foundation, eight Mid-level crystals will cost you 1,98,000 W. What is your choice?"]
Kirish hesitated. He knew that in any progression game, the foundation was everything. "What about the High-level ones? And is this discount a one-time thing?"
["The offer is limited, Owner. Five High-level crystals will cost 2,51,250 W. But... if you want the absolute peak—the 'Best Grade'—three crystals will cost 3,37,500 W."]
The System paused, adding a rare piece of honest advice.
["Using the Best Grade will make your Qi Orbit four times larger than a standard Magician. Your cultivation speed will be four times faster. However, there is a catch. When that Orbit begins to devour energy, the pressure on your physical body will also be four times greater. You have a decent recovery rate, but currently, your body is too weak to endure that kind of strain."]
Kirish realized the System wasn't just selling him a product; it was issuing a challenge.
"You don't want to help me, do you? you just want to sell your inventory," Kirish muttered.
The System remained silent.
"Fine. I'll take the Best Grade White Star Crystals," Kirish declared. "But tell me the truth—what's the market price for these outside?"
["Since I forge these myself, you are getting a steal. In the open market, even the lowest quality crystal starts at 5,00,000 W. Top-tier crystals? Easily 15,00,000 W. And even then, they wouldn't compare to my craftsmanship."]
Kirish took a deep breath and finalized the deal. He bought the Best Grade crystals and several specialized 'Body-Reinforcing Salves' to help him survive the upcoming pressure.
Total cost: 4,05,000 W.
To utilize these crystals, Kirish needed a controlled environment—a Cultivation Room. For that, he would have to visit the local Martial Hall.
He had been living in this rented room for the past two weeks, a temporary shelter in the Inner Circle city.
As he stepped out of his room, he bumped into his landlady, Miss Anjali.
"Oh, Kirish dear! How are you feeling today?" she asked warmly.
Miss Anjali was a woman in her forties, her hair salted with grey, but her smile was vibrant enough to soothe any weary soul. She was one of the few genuinely kind people Kirish had encountered since his arrival.
Kirish forced a smile, his mind already calculating the risks ahead. Could he survive the four-fold pressure of the Best Grade Orbit? Or had his greedy system sold him a beautiful death sentence?
[To Be Continued...]