Leo sat at the table, his excitement barely contained as he delved into the VIP system. Each new discovery felt like a piece of a larger puzzle, one that could help him protect Amanda and build the life he had always envisioned for them.

Receive daily rewards, the screen read, offering items that could prove vital in their daily struggles. Leo’s breath quickened. 'These potions could be lifesavers,' he muttered, imagining how even the smallest advantage could make a difference.

He continued to scan the interface, his excitement tempered by a growing sense of responsibility. VIP Protection: Your perks stay hidden from prying eyes—crucial in a world full of unknown dangers. The idea of keeping his newfound abilities secret resonated with Leo. In a world where power could attract unwanted attention, this could be just what he needed to keep Amanda safe.

As he explored further, Leo’s eyes landed on Discount Madness, a perk that promised the potential for wealth and security. Haggle your way to discounts, slashing prices from 10% to 50%—a potential goldmine if used wisely. The thought of using this to amass resources without drawing suspicion played in his mind.

This could be the key to securing our future, but with each new discovery, Leo felt a creeping unease. In games, power was a tool—something to be wielded for fun. But here, power was dangerous, and misusing it could draw the kind of attention that could end everything he and Amanda had built.

But it was Share the Pain that truly gave him pause. The description was clear: sync with another’s experiences, absorbing their skills and memories—but at a price.

He tapped the Targets list button. Another window opened, revealing a long list of names. Leo's eyes skimmed over the multitude of entries, but he didn't bother to scan the list in detail. His focus zeroed in on Amanda's name almost instantly. His heart quickened as he read, his thoughts drifted to the person who had been his anchor in this new world.

The idea of sharing her burdens, of feeling her pain, filled him with both fear and resolve. Amanda had saved him and cared for him when no one else could. Could he really shoulder her pain? Could he live with the weight of everything she had been through? The thought terrified him… but he knew he would do anything for her.

Could I really bear her pain? The memory of Amanda caring for him when he was younger flashed in his mind, her gentle touch as she bandaged his scraped knee, her soothing words that eased his fears.

She had been his rock, the one constant in a world that was still so new to him. Amanda had given him everything—love, safety, a home. And now, standing on the edge of this decision, Leo felt the weight of all she had done for him pressing down on his chest. Could he really repay her? And if he failed, would he lose her too?

The thought of repaying her by sharing her burden was intoxicating, yet terrifying. Could he really handle the weight of her past—of her pain? Every scar she bore, every hardship she had endured would become his. And if he failed… if he faltered… the cost would be far more than just his own suffering. But it also scared him. What if he couldn’t handle it? What if he failed?

He clenched his fists, the familiar sensation of fear mixing with a newfound resolve. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, he vowed silently, his eyes narrowing as he looked back at the screen. Even if it means sharing her pain.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The decisions Leo faced were daunting, but each perk he discovered felt like a step closer to his goal. As he prepared to proceed with the Share the Pain perk, his heart swelled with determination and gratitude. This was his chance to repay Amanda, to ensure that they could face whatever challenges lay ahead—together.

He tapped the Targets list button. Another window opened, revealing a long list of names. Curiosity piqued, Leo tapped the Targets list button. A long list of names appeared, each one representing a potential ally—or a risk. His heart raced as he skimmed through them, but it was Amanda's name that stood out, pulling him in with a mix of anticipation and dread.

His heart quickened with anticipation as he tapped her name, causing a new message box to appear, its edges glowing faintly.

"So I can only sync two years?" he asked himself, his voice barely a whisper. "Whoa!" he exclaimed noticing another detail. "I can sync up to 100 years?! So elves live that long, huh? I wonder how long they can actually live. Maybe I'll ask her later."

He paused, an idea forming. "If this is a slider, maybe I can do this?" He slid the bar forward. "Whoa! It worked!" A red text appeared below the slider: Warning: Target years for syncing is greater than the recommended value.

"Wow, this system is quite user-friendly, huh? I like it." He smiled, the familiar sight of the VIP system bringing a wave of nostalgia. Back then, these systems were just numbers, mechanics to be manipulated for fun. Now, though, this was real. The stakes were higher, and the risks… far greater than anything a game could offer.

"Wait a minute," he muttered, spotting a button labeled "Activate using gold coins".

He tapped it, and another message box appeared.

You don't have enough gold coins. Need 100,000 gold coins to proceed.

"Hmm," he murmured, his fingers drumming on the wooden table. "So what if I do this?" He dragged the value to 100 years and clicked the button again.

You don't have enough gold coins. Need 10,000,000 gold coins to proceed.

"I don't know when I will be able to afford that, but the perk's effect is OP enough for me." He then closed the message boxes and continued reading. The last perk, Gift of the Gods, caught his eye. A chance for a gift… what kind of gift? The words were vague, but the potential was limitless. A shiver ran down his spine. Gifts from the gods were never simple.

A flashing text caught his attention next to the VIP level.

Tap here to preview the next VIP level!

He tapped on it and the page updated.

VIP Level 1: Requirements: Adventurer level 10 and 100,000 gold coins.

"Hmmm, so I need to earn money to access the next levels, huh? That's the VIP system right there." He chuckled, recalling how he once got stuck in a game and had to upgrade his VIP level to proceed.

"Overall power and defense increased by 5%?! No way! And this is just the first perk?" He stood up, his arms pressing into the table for support.

Unlock VIP level to see all perks.

He read on, excitement building. "Calm down," he told himself, inhaling deeply.

This was more than interesting—it was exhilarating, and terrifying. Each new perk, each unlocked benefit, felt like stepping deeper into a labyrinth of possibilities. He could feel the weight of power at his fingertips, but with it came the cold realization that power, once claimed, could never be taken back.

He decided to check up to what level the system had. "Twenty-six?!" he exhaled slowly, trying to steady his racing heart. He was about to close the window when he noticed a blinking envelope icon on the left side of the screen. He tapped it and saw several messages.

"Ah! That's right, rewards are mostly delivered by in-game mail!" He rubbed his hands together, eager to read the mails. "Daily benefit," he read, seeing the potions listed in the message. "Okay," he said, tapping Receive Items. Notifications appear at the top center of the screen, each disappearing after a moment.

1 great red potion received.

1 great blue potion received.

He tapped the last mail, noting the title: "What a fortune, the gods send their regards!" He raised his arms in triumph, feeling like he had won an award.