After the whirlwind event of acquiring his new subskill, Alex decides it’s best to take a break and escape the commotion. Together with Tereza, he skillfully avoids any players trying to approach and question him, making a direct line toward his room.
Alex sends off a few quick messages: one to Rishi summarizing the events and another to Roja, letting her know he’ll be available to meet her tomorrow at the same time she’d proposed today.
“We’re alone in your room, huh? Maybe you’re more daring than I thought,” Tereza remarks, lying down on Alex’s bed in a sultry pose.
Alex: "..."
Tereza: "..." “Boring,” she mutters, rolling her eyes as he sidesteps her provocation.
"There's no time for that,” Alex responds, trying to hide his flustered expression. "I need to check out this new skill. That whole ordeal back in the tutorial realm caused such a stir! I mean, the place has less than a thousand players, and you can walk from one side to the other in under an hour. It's too small to keep a low profile after something like that.”
Finally settling in, Alex turns his attention to his new black magic spells: Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder. Besides distinct effects—like a chance of causing burn with Fire, a small chance to freeze, with Blizzard (while almost always slowing the target), and stunning with Thunder, these spells share similar effects and costs.
Fire
Effect: Basic fire spell; can be cast as a single target or as AoE
Cost: 10 MP
Option 1: Fire Damage: 30
Option 2: AoE Fire Damage: 20 (affecting multiple targets in an area)
Burn Damage: 20% of the initial damage applied over 10 seconds
Note: AoE casting reduces base damage by one-third, making it weaker against individual targets but effective for groups.
Alex quickly calculates his new spell costs and damage potential. Noticing that all basic spells cost only 10 MP and currently deal 30 base damage, he realizes that his existing level in Black Magic already adds a 15% boost, bringing the spell's power close to 35 damage. For only 10 MP, it’s an impressively efficient spell. He recalls that spell upgrades he’ll receive at lvl 5 and 10 increase both mana cost and damage significantly, making these initial versions a cheap but effective spell.
Reflecting on his new Sword Magic lvl 3 ability, Alex feels even more confident. Sword Magic grants a further 35% boost to the spell’s damage when combined with a sword strike, increasing its magical power to nearly 50 damage. Alongside the significant physical boost Sword Magic provides, the versatility this skill brings is unmatched. Alex now considers himself a fully-rounded combatant—versatile with three elemental spells, two potent conjurations, first-class sword skills enhanced by his powerful Gold-rank skill, and competent ranged attacks, courtesy of both his magic and Pistol Proficiency lvl 3. For the first time, he sees almost no weaknesses in his abilities.
"Except maybe… movement,” he muses to himself. “Basic Footwork lvl 3 gives a slight speed boost, and Sealions Icewing Embrace lvl 3 lets me glide through the air, which is useful, but neither truly increases my speed by a significant amount. It’s decent, maybe even good, but not ideal in the long term.” Alex considers his options. “I’ll need to find a way to enhance my mobility eventually. Another Conjuration skill could cover it perfectly… but that can wait for now. No reason to rush—I might even find a rare item that takes care of this gap!”
As he wraps up for the day, Tereza bids him goodbye with a teasing kiss on the cheek. From their conversations, Alex has already gleaned that she isn’t interested in a conventional relationship; she simply enjoys teasing him. Though he’s still unsure how best to handle her playful nature, he can’t help but laugh at the sheer stupidity of this situation.
Returning to real life, Alex spends time managing his personal and business affairs. He prepares a hearty meal and focuses on his physical health, determined to stay in peak condition both inside and outside the Fantasy Realm.
The next day, Alex heads to the Central Hub for his meeting with Roja, choosing to avoid the high-cost restaurant she suggested. Although the system workers claim the food is delicious and well worth the FC, Alex finds it a poor deal, knowing he can enjoy top-tier meals in the real world now that money isn’t an issue. Instead, they meet in a private space to keep the conversation quiet and free of distractions.
After a bit of small talk, Roja leans in, her tone shifting to business. “So, tell me about your last mission, and that strange event everyone saw near the mission portal. People are still talking about it.”
Alex keeps his response casual and guarded. While he respects Roja’s capabilities, he’s under no illusion about her intentions. Unlike Rishi, who’s proven a reliable, if eccentric, comrade, Roja has often held back valuable information, keeping her own interests above all else. Alex has no intention of sharing anything vital, particularly about the new skills and power-ups he acquired from Final Fantasy 9 and beyond. “Oh, just standard PvP stuff,” he says with a shrug. “Honestly, I only made it because the enemy players were as weak as they were arrogant. I barely got any kills. The NPCs were incredibly strong.”
Roja’s expression sharpens as she probes further. “So, you really did kill other players?”
“Yes,” Alex replies firmly, meeting her gaze. “That was the mission. If I’d chosen not to fight, I’d have died. I don’t enjoy doing it, but I won’t lie down and let others kill me.”
Her expression softens as if to show empathy, though Alex senses the calculation behind it. “I suppose you’re right. It’s unfortunate you had to go through that,” she says, pausing briefly before continuing. “Listen, when I saw your strength, I knew I had to bring you in. I’ve been teaming up with Eirini, Perlah, and Patricia over the last couple of missions, and we managed to acquire something rare—a Purple Mission item.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Alex raises an eyebrow, and Roja grins, the excitement plain in her voice. “This item only works for players at Levels 1 to 4, but it’s a gateway to the Harry Potter world.”
Alex considers her offer thoughtfully. "That does seem like a rare and valuable item. The Harry Potter world must be filled with unique opportunities, but I imagine it’d be high-risk for low-level players like us. The rewards are tempting, but the risks could be... too high."
Roja shakes her head confidently. "Not if we work well as a team. The Realm scales each world to suit its players’ levels, especially during the tutorial. It won’t put you in an unsolvable situation as long as you’re logical about the risks. Our plan is to clear another mission first, reach level 4, and then take on the Harry Potter world."
"So why invite me?" Alex asks. Roja meets his gaze with what looks like genuine earnestness. "We survived a mission together already, and the item allows for exactly five people. You’re strong, and we think you’d be an asset…"
"Not interested," Alex says firmly, cutting her off.
Roja’s eyes widen in surprise. "What? Why?"
"I already have a team," he says. "I’d need two more spots for them, and it would have to happen immediately since one of my members can’t wait for us to clear another mission. How about you pick an additional member, and we clear it before the next regular mission?"
Roja’s initial shock hardens into a guarded expression. She seems taken aback by Alex’s assertiveness, and her eyes narrow slightly, her plans disrupted. "I’m sorry, but we acquired the mission item as a group. I can’t just remove them from the team. The invitation was only extended to you."
Alex shakes his head. "Then it’d be a mistake for me to join. Not as a real part of your group. If anyone needs to be sacrificed in a tough situation, I’d be the obvious choice, right? I’d love to see the Harry Potter world, but this setup sounds like a recipe for problems. And frankly, while I know you all have experience, they didn’t strike me as particularly strong or as having any worthwhile innate skills. That would leave the brunt of the fighting to me, and you don't seem like the type who dives into combat."
She raises her chin slightly, recovering her composure. "Fine. We’ll clear another mission before then anyway, but give it more thought. It could be a good opportunity for you."
Alex forces a nod, keeping his annoyance in check. "I don't trust YOU," he thinks but merely replies, "Sure, I’ll think about it."
Over the next few days, Alex immerses himself in the trading hub, donning his old disguise with his trusty [Jack’s Spare Silvery Mask]. After some thought, he makes the informed decision to sell his [Plant Essence] x3. A shrewd player haggles hard with Alex, but Alex knows the essences’ value, especially for crafting. He manages to secure a solid 20,000 FC—likely around 80% of what they would fetch outside the tutorial zone. He keeps the [Frost Essence], however, thinking it could be used to enhance his frost spell and conjuration ability down the line if he can turn it into an item. He also resells his [Solid Marine Saber]—for the second time now, for 5,000 FC, wishing the new owner better luck.
Balancing his real-life commitments with his Fantasy Realm ventures, Alex finds himself busy over the next few weeks. He finally goes through the process of managing the 10 million USD from Rishi. To bring that much into Germany, he faces steep taxes and hires the best lawyers he can find to minimize costs. Ultimately, he still ends up paying over a million euros in taxes. With the remaining funds, he buys a massive mansion, worth several million euros, large enough for his parents, grandparents, and even a few other family members. They can now comfortably retire, enjoying life with a newfound sense of security and gratitude for this unexpected turn. Alex even hires a housekeeper, making life easier for everyone.
He has a guest room in the mansion but decides to also buy a new apartment, a penthouse in a 12-story building just a five-minute walk from his parents’ place. He chooses a penthouse because he likes living high up and could even glide down using his Sealions Icewing Embrace lvl 3 in case of an emergency. Plus, he values his privacy.
Alex’s parents, initially shocked by the drastic life changes, eventually accept the wild turn of events, happy to see their son thriving. Now, with no need to work, they focus on hobbies and cherished activities they had postponed.
Alex spends quite a lot of time with Rishi and, of course, Tereza. Despite her constant teasing, she’s proven herself to be a reliable, if intense, companion. Over time, Alex has developed a thicker skin to her antics, though this only seems to escalate her behavior. In a strange way, he’s starting to enjoy the whirlwind she brings. Unlike shy, overly feminine women, Tereza’s boldness, confidence, and unapologetic dominance draw him in, even if her almost sadistic enjoyment of teasing him is sometimes a lot to handle. Yet, he’s realizing that the edge she brings is oddly exciting; as challenging as it is, he finds himself wanting more of it.
As time passes, Alex turns his focus back to his Fantasy Realm stats, checking his updated resources and considering how best to use his remaining FC. With his expanded skills and inventory, he begins searching for items or investments that could provide a worthwhile edge in future missions, preparing himself for the challenges ahead.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 3
HP: 187/187, MP: 167/167
STR: 11 (+1), AGI: 11 (+1), PHY: 11, SNS: 11 (+1), CHA: 11 (+5), MNA: 11, INT: 11 SPR: 11 (+5), LUK: 11
Available Stat Points: 0
Innate Skills: Genius Conjurer lvl 3, Statistical OCD lvl MAX
Free Skill Slots: 0/3, Free Basic Skill Slots: 0/8
Basic skills: Basic Close Combat Prowess lvl 3, Basic Footwork lvl 3, Basic Endurance lvl 3, Basic Long-Range Combat Prowess lvl 3, Basic Eloquence lvl 3, Basic Concentration lvl 3, Basic Meditation lvl 3, Basic Mana Control lvl 3
Passive Skills: Pistol Proficiency lvl 3, Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship lvl 3
Active Skills: Annihilation Grenade lvl 3, Sealions Icewing Embrace lvl 3, Black Magic (Fire-Blizzard-Thunder-Series) lvl 3, Sword Magic lvl 3
Fantasy Coins: 73,200 Soul Crystals: Small x8
Current Weapons: Mr. 5’s Revolver (Deep Blue), Sword of Pluto (Deep Blue)
Current Equipment: Commander Shepard’s Dog Tag (Deep Blue), Sealion’s Might (Deep Blue), Shield of Pluto (Deep Blue), Armor of Pluto (Blue), Visor of Pluto (Blue), Cuisses of Pluto (Blue), Gauntlets of Pluto (Blue), Sabatons of Pluto (Blue)
Miscellaneous Items: Navalia Wolf Jerky x3 (Gray), Healing Potion x5 (White), Gotcha Pork Roast (Light Green), Miso Ramen with Extra Pork (Green), Antidote (White), Jack’s Spare Silvery Mask (Light Green), Frost Essence (Green)
Special Items: Pluto’s Ceremonial Blessing (Deep Purple), Baroque Works Invitation (Purple), Player Contract (Tereza Řezník), Destiny Supporter Token (Purple)
Today, while strolling around in the trading hub, he spots something that nearly makes his eyes pop out. “I HAVE to get this, no question!” flashes through his mind, electric with excitement.