There actually wasn’t all that many people who spawned here with me. I asked the NPCs, but was surprised at how realistic the interactions were. What? You thought I would be some sort of antisocial person who would get hives from trying to talk to a stranger? Why do you think I managed to be so annoying? I am one nasty sarcastic prick. I have no qualms spitting out a lame joke here and there, delivered with lack of shame.

I found the location of a nearby mine and went to make money. A couple other Miners also came along. We had all started with an Identification Card, 10 Bronze Coins, and basic clothes. I spent 5 Bronze on an old pickaxe and set off. Before starting, I began doing the strength exercises. Didn’t want to pull something. Don’t want to find out how realistic this game is underneath a pile of stones.

I could feel the workout being effective as energy seemed to flow through my body. Out of nowhere, a notification appeared.

“Congratulations, you have completed the ‘Dance of Power’. Strength and Endurance will be temporarily boosted.”

That’s cool. Maybe repeated use will permanently increase Strength and Endurance. I guess I am good for the time being, so I went down into the mine. I cast ‘Find Ore’ and located a patch and started to swing. It was a good thing I had stretched, as one of the other guys had started to complain already. It had only been 5 minutes! Apparently, he just wanted a quick promotion to Blacksmith as well.

“Maybe you should’ve asked the Village Chief about that.”

I didn’t mean anything by it, I was actually trying to help. But he took offense and stormed off. I don’t know where he went, but now it was silent. Soon the other guy left and I was alone. I noticed I had another hour or so before getting something to eat, so I gathered my things and threw the ores I got into my little sack I spent 3 Bronze for.

As I left the mine, I noticed the two other Miners standing there, pickaxes at the ready. Looks like they wanted to fight. Probably to get ores without having to work for them. As if I was going to let them have their way.

I dropped the bag behind me as the complainer started walking towards me. I grabbed my pickaxe and yelled, “Crush!” The Skill activated, sapping some of my Stamina as I swung my pickaxe at the man. His eyes widened, probably surprised I had attacked before him. I had done it in such a way that he could have dodged away from me, giving me some breathing room, but he decided to take the hit. I probably didn’t look all that strong anyway.

He yelled out, “Harden!” as his arm began to turn gray. My attack met his defense, but a cracking sound was heard. Not from my pickaxe, but from his arm. The cracking noise came from that magical armor on his arm. It shattered and I could see a massive bruise beginning to form on his arm. Gross.

The other guy, the lackey I presume, looked shocked as he was debating whether to help the complainer or run away. He hefted the pickaxe onto one hand as he pulled a shield from his bag. It wasn’t all that big, but it looked like it could take a hit. This time, I yelled “Break!” and swung down onto the shield.

Thank goodness the complainer was too busy dealing with probably the worst pain he has ever felt in his entire life. The lackey moved his shield so it would take off most of the force of my strike, but once again, another cracking sound was heard. And again, it wasn’t my pickaxe.

The lackey was horrified, looking at the wasted money before him. I didn’t have any sympathy, because they wanted to steal my money. I guess I will let them off today. Don’t want to be a murderer. But I will report it to the Chief.

The two guys had eventually reached the village, but were stopped and interrogated. Luckily, whatever was said didn’t get me in trouble. Either the two came clean, or kept quiet. Even if I was just paranoid earlier, they were still threatening me. Nothing I can do besides think of protecting myself if you plan on walking up to me welding a weapon.

I sold the ore and collected a good 57 Bronze. When I went to transfer the Bronze to dollars, I was surprised, followed by confused. It was only $57! Were pickaxes only $5 before? That’s crazy! I guess I will save it for now. Nothing much I can do for that except switch $10 over for a quick snack, or something. I decided to buy 3 freeze dried meals for $2.50 each and 3 water bottles at $1 each.

After I cooked one, ate it, and drank some water, I reminisced about my old job and the measly $12 an hour. I mean, I did make $15.25 an hour today. And it was instant gratification, too. I decided just for laughs, I would check my old account. I cried. I do that a lot, don’t I? It just means I’m sensitive, not pathetic! Anyways, you’ll cry too when I say I had a whopping $60,097,175,166.15! What the fuck?! How long has it been?!

I could pay for several months already! Yes! Put the $60 billion dollars towards my debt so I had $940 billion dollars left…And this was thanks to a lucky break. How long has it been, anyway? Hmm…

“Master, the reason you don’t have more money is because the banks all foreclosed. The Genesis Team bought all the banks and stopped the interest. They left the accounts as they were so it would help you and the others out.”

Good to know the Genesis Team is so nice. So I woke up, got use to my surroundings, got a computer, played the game, beat some guys…which I need to be more careful about, and now have $97,175,166.15 dollars to help set up my apartment.

First, let me get some training equipment, enlarge the apartment, decorate it, maybe buy a new robot…Lots of stuff.

“Master, you may want to save some money for rent.”

Eh? Rent?

“Yes, Master. It costs $10,000 a month and if you upgrade the rooms, the rent may rise.”

What the shit?! Come on! Whatever, just breathe. $10,000 is nothing compared to $1 million. Just think a little more rationally. Well, I could’ve thought a little more rationally, if I wasn’t so poor before! How do I go from $127 to over $60 billion?!

Ooh, a teleporter. It seems I can go outside, now. Not that it matters. How many people actually want to leave? I know I do. This whole situation reeks of danger. I need to situate myself and be ready for any possible outcome. Maybe I should get one of those upgrades. The muscle one costs 1 million, the psychic one costs 3 million, and the racial change one costs a simple 2 thousand? Hmm…

Obviously, I will go for…

Psychic powers, duh. And the muscle one. But I will wait on changing my race. Maybe go for some sort of dragon species.

While I was lost in thought, I hear a crash and see System chasing after a bug. A roach? Damn, they do survive the apocalypse. Seeing the one foot tall robot chase after the creepy not so little bug, which seemed bigger than I thought future roaches would be. Not as big as RadRoaches, but compared to System, the roach looked like a dog to her. It? Whatever.

System wasn’t made for running, so the roach ended up disappearing somewhere. System left to find out where it came from to seal it up, and I forgot what I was talking about. Oh well.