Chapter 35: 35 Brush Up on the Basics P1

‘Hm. I have a week.’

Eren said to himself as he prepared himself to do work according to his revised regime.

The hustler knew that Stan would try to jump up on him after this incident. The asshole brute wouldn’t care that it was him who had started this mess. He could only remember this as him getting humiliated and swindled by a non-ranker.

‘Gotta earn some money first.’

Eren started serving official rankers drinks and beverages first. They discussed the progress they’d made so far in their respective ranking journeys and inside the Giaahan. He talked about how their muscles were peeking through the clothes they wore.

When it came to girls, he talked about their progress while adding how gorgeous they were looking. In his defense, he didn’t have to lie much at this point. Breaking into an official rank provided a sort of reset for the rankers’ bodies.

The rankers became an ideal version of themselves physically when they stopped being mortals. The mana would cleanse their bodies of impurities, providing them with younger-looking skin and toned muscles. This was the case with most rankers. And the effects of enhanced visual appeal were even more apparent when it came to women rankers.

Due to the hustler’s glib tongue, he received an even better tip than usual. Of course, some jealous guys didn’t offer him anything for his services.

Because of this uncalled-for behavior, the Vik part of him wanted to mix laxatives into their drinks. If ordinary laxatives wouldn’t work on rankers, he might be able to find something on the black market with his newfound wealth.

But he held it in and let go of the petty acts of revenge. Now was not the time to mess with everyone. He already had his hands full with Stan.

He couldn’t stop society or the whole world from doing injustice to him. He was no god. Eren doubted even gods could do that if they existed, teaching humanity about morals and making sure people understand that they should at least keep their problems to themselves. That they should also not bother other people if they couldn’t help them.

Being weak was his fault. And he would have to correct that himself. If he can’t change the rules of the game that has been already established, he might as well make use of them to his advantage. This will enable him to rise above them.

Eren then proceeded to check the gears of the rankers that were heading inside the Gilaahan. It was just a flimsy array inscribed on a metal sheet spread on a raised platform meant for rankers to lie on. This array was in sync with a spectral display that was showing all kinds of information.

Eren had the same array sheet under his bed at home. That’s how he was logged into Borguy’s Oasis when the events of Vik’s transmigration into his body unfolded.

Unlike the pods which required people to get into tight-space boxes, this mana-driven sheet was much easier and more flexible to use. It didn’t restrict the users’ movements either as long as their bodies were resting on it. It was just that instead of a conventional energy source, it worked on mana quartz.

Vik was surprised to find such a mana-based item in Elysian cities that was so different from its counterpart that he was familiar with. He had no idea that such things existed in the world. But since they were the routine part of Eren’s memories, he started to remember everything about them as soon as he started working and seeing familiar things.

Eren’s memories were getting jogged as Vik kept on doing his work. It took him around 3 hours to find some free time. By now, everything about the morning routine was done by him.

Usually, he would start working out in the guild’s facility meant for rankers and non-rankers. But he had made some changes to his routine. So instead of heading there, he headed to a small study room the guild had prepared for quiet reading.

This space was akin to a library, except there were not many books present on the bookshelves. Almost all the books could be accessed through the spectral screen placed in front of each seat by the desk.

The room could accommodate up to 12 people reading at the same time. But at this point, nobody was present in the room reserved for geeks.

In his childhood, Vik liked reading books and comics. He was a smart kid, the guy who liked to know more about everything he had seen. Reading had occupied his mind the most because there were not many friends he had in his childhood he could connect with.

He liked to study even when the schools were only available for citizens living in the city-states. He did not have to give any exams. He did not have to meet any standards or work hard to get high grades. He studied just for the sake of studying. The online courses meant for children were available on Oasis for free after all.

He studied a few things to enjoy the process after his parents showed him the ropes in his childhood. But fantasy books were his favorite. He had read a lot of accounts of Metas pulling off some incredible feats against their enemies. So being a Meta was his dream at that time.

But the reality of life struck him when his parents disappeared. So he stopped doing what he liked and started doing what needed to be done to survive.

Now, after all these years, after almost losing his life and starting all over again with a different game, he was back to learning about Metas by being part of their worlds. Not the ones he had read in comics. The real deals were much more powerful than what he learned from comics.

Vik had brought with him a mana-infused energy drink meant to be used by non-rankers of lightning element affinity. He kept the drink on the study table and took a seat before tapping onto the table with his fingers.

In the next moment, a spectral screen appeared in front of him that was up to 80% percent opaque. The screen was projected by an array that was made of runic symbols that didn’t make sense to him even with Eren’s memories.

The screen displayed the logo of the Stardust guild which was a pentagon that was drawn in a circular array. Eren started to operate the display by touching it with his fingers.

Vik first browsed into the Basic section of various books available to read to him and observed the titles that were listed. The guy wanted to understand what his new reality was. And he needed to understand it first hand, not just through someone else’s memories.

He wanted to have a better understanding of terms and items related to rankers. So he decided to start these things from the basics.

Eren chuckled when he saw the first chapter of the book, Ranker 101. The book really meant it when it said that it contained basic information. He selected the first chapter and started reading.

“Chapter 1: Introduction to Mana and Rankers.”

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