Lucius looked around, searching for his fellows, but they were nowhere to be seen. This space was simir: the endless expanse of white, the sterile monotony… yes, he remembered it well. This was where the gentleman had first stepped foot after he was sucked into the sky.

  >[Welcome back to the waiting room, Pyer Lucius Rose. As a reward for passing the Tutorial, your body will be fully restored to its previous state}<

  True to the system’s word, Lucius’s wounds disappeared - gone with neither trace nor scar. He was quite amused. If the organizers of this game wielded such powers, just what else could they do? Was mankind so insignificant in their eyes that life could be granted in a mere instant? A conundrum to be sure. Still, it was better than living with a hole in his stomach.

  >[Additional rewards will be dispensed according to your accomplishments during the mission. Currently tallying…}<

  *Syed at least 50 enemies

  *Discovered 5 treasure rooms

  *Survived an encounter with Howlerflesh, the Horned Exile

  *Triggered the boss’s second phase: The Tides of Rot

  *Explored 73% of the Forgotten Maze

  *Contributed to 46% of the total kills shared by the party

  *Completed the mission within 3 days

  *Completed the mission without being damaged by an enemy

  *Completed the mission without succumbing to the realm’s miasma

  “Did I really do all that?” Lucius chuckled to himself. “Oh my, I must be quite the savant.”

  One achievement did puzzle him. Judging by the system’s nguage, it seemed that the grotesque wave of flesh that chased after him in the final segment was merely the second phase. Did that imply there was another one yet to be discovered?

  Well, he supposed it didn’t matter. To sy such a thing was an impossible task. If someone truly were to manage such a feat, then they would have long ascended the limits of humanity.

  >[Your feats have been registered. Please collect your rewards]<

  *(NEW!) +10 unattributed status points

  *(NEW!) [1] random Grade B Skill Box

  *(NEW!) 1000 Cosmic Coins

  Lucius was starting to understand why Jack enjoyed those so-called progression stories now. He had to admit: obtaining rewards were very satisfying. The one that stood out the most, however, were the Cosmic Coins. That was new, but after pondering over the matter with his superior intellect and many long-lived experiences, he reasoned that it had to have been some kind of currency.

  As if to concur with his stelr deduction, the message window popped up again.

  >[With the conclusion of the Tutorial, you will now be given access to the Starlit Shop. Pyers may bring up the store interface anytime they wish. Simply think about making a purchase, and a catalog will appear for you to browse]<

  Lucius did as it said, and indeed a separate window appeared with a list of various goods and materials. He had first assumed that it would be simplistic, but on the contrary the interface was quite sleek and intuitive. It reminded him of those online digital stores you could peruse on the world wide web. Lucius wasn’t one all that familiar with technology, but even he understood the importance of easy accessibility.

  The items listed in the store were objects typically found in everyday life: food, raw goods, and even some basic weapons. A bottle of water was worth five points while a razor for grooming was worth fifty. Lucius even found a fireman’s axe listed for a whopping two hundred.

  “Dear me, this is all quite modern. Who would have thought that the organizers of this game would be so tech savvy?”

  Lucius talked to himself and didn’t expect a response, but to his surprise the message window reacted.

  >[Various functions of the Celestial Array have been redesigned to better ease the pyers’ transition into the game. For the sake of convenience, the Starlit Shop was structured to match the design of online stores found on Milky Way Subsection 103: Earth]<

  Lucius stood still for a moment, baffled. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say the window was having a conversation with him.

  “Pardon, can you hear me? I do apologize if I acted rudely. It is not everyday that I am in the presence of a sentient floating screen.”

  >[The System does not have an identity or free will. It was created to assist in the operations of the Pyer, and such duties include answering questions as long as it does not intrude upon certain guidelines]<

  Well, this changed everything. Lucius had many a question bouncing around in his head, but the first he asked was thus:

  “What is the purpose of this game?”

  >[To conduct the Grand Celestial Competition of the Stars]<

  “Very well then, who brought me here?”

  >[The Stars]<

  Lucius could have figured that one out by himself.

  “Let me be more specific. Who exactly are the Stars?”

  >[That information is prohibited]<

  “I see. What awaits the winner of this game?”

  >[That information is prohibited]<

  “How long will this game st?”

  >[That information is prohibited]<

  A tight-lipped fellow, this one was. No matter; Lucius didn’t have any expectations in the first pce. No game was complete without a little mystery, after all. It wouldn’t do to reveal the answers so soon - that’d just spoil the fun.

  Lucius was satisfied despite the System’s vague responses, but he still had one thing left to inquire.

  “What happened to Earth? Is it possible for our race to return?”

  >[No. Your pnet has been repurposed. It is impossible to return, but that does not mean it cannot be remade]<

  “Ah, I see…” The thought that Lucius’s darling flowers would be left all alone, helpless to do naught but wilt, saddened the gentleman greatly. He raised those buds with all his heart, yet for they to suffer such a cruel fate—there could be no greater tragedy.

  But though his boutique had to be left behind, a florist’s soul still passionately burned inside Lucius. There would be ample opportunity to set up a new business, eventually. To do so, he had to remain hale and in good health - both for himself and for the sake of his future blossoms.

  >[Do you require any other assistance?]<

  “Oh no, this old soul’s all settled here, but I appreciate the thought.”

  >[Then please proceed to your next mission]<

  A door manifested into Lucius’s view. Unlike the previous which had a dull color and bnd design, the frame for this beauty was decorated in ornate patterns of gold and bck. A lustrous marble made up the base, and engraved in the very center was an emblem of a noble eagle wearing a crown.

  “Will I be transported to a new world once I leave this space?”

  >[Yes]<

  Lucius smiled, and adjusted his suit. For the denizens of this next realm, the gentleman would show them only his best first impression.

  “Let’s see… shall I resolve my other rewards, first?”

  Lucius pyed rock-paper-scissors against himself. Paper won, so he chose to put the ten points into dexterity. Now it was at forty-three! Four times that of the average person - how quaint. He felt just as lumber as he was during his heyday.

  As for the skill box, the result spoke for itself.

  *(NEW!) Obtained [1] B-Rank Skill: I Do So Abhor Looking Improper

  *[Rank B] I Do So Abhor Looking Improper (Passive): At the end of each day cycle, automatically clean, scrub, dry, and if needed polish, the pyer’s equipped attire. This skill may be turned off if desired.

  Lucius cpped his hands in glee. Now this was a proper skill. The gentleman had always mented getting his clothes dirty, so acquiring such a convenient ability truly was a lifesaver.

  Now that he had prepared himself, it was time to go. Lucius bowed his head towards the message window and then turned around, sauntering past the door and onto his next exciting adventure.

  >[Now entering: World of Charlemagne]<

  >[Objective: Sy the Demon King]<