[--- ATTRIBUTES---]
[Locked]
Archie scanned the title “Attributes” with a puzzled expression, a concept he had only stumbled upon in the virtual games he used to immerse himself in before parting ways with his computer.
“Attributes! Does that mean I can increase my build and strength without doing anything?”
A broad smile spread across Archie's face as he envisioned the towering and robust figure he could morph into if he played his cards right.
In the academy where Archie was slated to study, possessing superior strength would undeniably be a crucial factor in his survival.
Curiosity piqued, Archie attempted to interact with the [Locked] menu to see if it would trigger any response.
[DING!]
A prompt materialized over the [Locked] menu.
[Attributes Unlock]
[Pay: 1,000 Credits to Unlock]
[Pay] [Cancel]
“Phew!” Archie exhaled in relief, musing,
“I was worried that unlocking this might require some hard mission. Good thing I just have to pay credits.”
He contemplated for a few moments about his credit balance and realized he was in possession of 1200 credits.
Weighing the potential applications of credits, he deliberated whether he should expend them. Eventually, he concluded that to bolster his strength, he needed to make the investment, so he tapped the [Pay] tab.
[Credits Deducted: 1,000]
[Attribute Unlocked]
---
[Credits Balance: 200]
---
The prompt unlocked to disclose:
[--- ATTRIBUTES---]
[Level 1]
[Credits Balance: 200]
---
[Player Level Attributes: (/ )]
[Health Points (HP): - 10 +
Ethereal Points (EP): - 2 +
---
Strength: - 8 +
Stamina: - 6 +
Defense: - 5 +
Agility: - 5 +
Intelligence: - 23 +
Perception: - 12 +
Charm: - 5 +
Fortitude: - 12 +]
“Hmmm,” Archie mused as he scrutinized the attributes.
“It really is like a game. If I stack my Exp, I could become OP pretty easily.”
“It doesn’t show any Exp bar or anything. Does that mean I have to increase my attributes using credits as well?”
Archie attempted to tweak the strength attribute by tapping the (+) symbol.
[DING!]
[Unable to increase strength due to Player’s poor physique. Complete missions to improve Player’s physique and increase attributes.]
“Agrhhh!” Archie groaned at the prompt, irked.
“If I need to improve my physique and strength to increase attributes, then what’s the point of having attributes in the first place?”
His E-Screen remained silent, which wasn’t surprising, but he had harbored a glimmer of hope for some kind of elucidation.
Archie tried to modify other attributes, but all attempts culminated in the same cautionary message.
Archie muttered to himself, "How do I complete the mission? Like last time, if I deliver food, will it work?"
Archie reclined on the bed, racking his brain for a strategy to amplify his build and strength before enrolling in the academy.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“I should check the other menus to find more information,” he resolved.
Archie settled down, leaned against the wall, and anticipated some revelations in the subsequent menu.
Archie swiped up to navigate to the next menu and selected:
[--- EQUIPMENTS---]
[Weapons] [Shields] [Armors] [Items]
Archie inspected each tab for any equipment.
He observed a series of boxes within each tab, arranged across the entire screen, all vacant. Finally, he selected [Items].
The golden prompt navigated to the [Items] tab, and Archie noticed the same series of vacant boxes, except one box was occupied by an item.
Archie spotted a pair of petite sticks labeled: ‘Chef’s Chopsticks.’
He recollected receiving these chopsticks as a reward for accomplishing the mission during his altercation with the customer after receiving his payment. Without a moment's hesitation, Archie tapped the box.
“WOOSH!” The chopsticks materialized above the watch, suspended in mid-air. Archie seized them and commenced his analysis.
They were wooden brown sticks. As a chef, Archie was aware that these types of chopsticks were reserved for VIPs in five-star hotels. The craftsmanship was exceptional compared to the disposable chopsticks he utilized in his shop.
“Chopsticks! Does that mean, since my Rift Runner name is Chef, I’m supposed to fight with these chopsticks?”
Archie resolved to put them to the test. He gripped the chopsticks like daggers in both hands.
Archie stood on the bed and attempted to slash the air.
“WOOSH!” “WOOSH!”
He slashed to the left and right, but to no avail. The more he slashed, the more they resembled ordinary chopsticks.
After a series of futile attempts, Archie sat on the bed and held the chopsticks in a dining posture.
He noticed that one of the chopsticks bore a unique dark brown layer at the top. Archie touched the smooth top.
[DING!]
[Chef’s Chopsticks]
[Inscription:
The Great Chef Yami cooked millions of new dishes and used these chopsticks to savor delicious meals to his satisfaction. Chef Yami’s final wish was for his appetite to continue, but his journey ended.
So, he wishes for his apprentice to continue his path of delicacy.]
[Class: Common Class (Upgrade)]
[Abilities:
Anyone who devours food with these chopsticks will increase HP and EP by 1 and gain 100 credits.]
[Activation: Devouring new dishes and foods]
“Holy shit, I need to give this a shot,”
Archie exclaimed in disbelief and elation. The prospect of increasing his HP and credits merely by consuming new foods was enthralling.
He calculated that with robust health, his strength, and physique would also improve, which would aid him in enhancing his attributes without exerting too much effort.
Archie was not indolent, but he was desperate to amplify his strength and other attributes before joining the academy.
He fetched a cup of noodles from the table drawer, descended to the kitchen below the shop, and heated some water.
Elbert, his father, was perplexed about why Archie was consuming cup noodles when fresh noodles were readily available, but he refrained from intervening.
Once the water was heated, Archie poured it into the cup and waited ten minutes for the noodles to soften.
Archie seated himself at the dining table, unveiled the cup, and inserted the chopsticks. He commenced eating the noodles.
As Archie continued devouring, he kept his gaze fixed on his Rift watch, anticipating a prompt.
Only the sound of noodles being slurped echoed in the diner, and no notification appeared. By the time he finished the noodles, there was still no prompt.
“UGH! It’s not going to be a cakewalk,” Archie remarked, contemplating another dish to try.
Suddenly, his father materialized with a bowl of piping hot noodles, placing it on the table without uttering a word before retreating to the kitchen.
Archie smiled faintly and said, “Let’s try this then.”
He ate hastily, tears welling up in his eyes from the heat and his mouth scorching, but he persisted without pause.
After he finally polished off the bowl, a notification popped up:
[DING!]
Archie pumped his fist in the air, exhilarated.
[Chef’s Delicacy]
[Tasted a new dish: Chicken Noodle Soup]
[Added a new Dish to Yami’s Unsatisfactory List]
[Reward:
HP and EP Increase by 1
Credits: 100]
---
[Rewards Credited]
[Credits Balance: 300]
“You bastard, how dare you say our dish is unsatisfactory,”
Archie seethed, clenching the chopsticks in fury. If they were any other chopsticks, they would have snapped into pieces, but these were sturdy.
“Damn it,” Archie fumed and dashed to his room, not wanting his father to witness him talking to himself.
He entered his room and hurled the chopsticks furiously against the wall. When they collided, they crumbled into pieces. A golden light emanated from the crumbling chopsticks and entered Archie’s Rift watch.
Archie paced around his room, striving to calm himself.
“Damn it, I need to check another menu to distract myself,”
Archie muttered as he tapped his Rift watch and swiped to the fourth menu box:
[--- MISSIONS---]
[Locked]
Archie’s patience was wearing thin. He interacted with the [Locked] menu.
[DING!]
[Attributes Unlock]
[Pay: 1,000 Credits to Unlock]
[Pay] [Cancel]
“You’ve got to be joking.”