[Superior Supporter Armor-Rank Upgrade]

World: Fantasy Realm

Quality: Deep-Blue

Effect: Upgrades the Armor rank of a Supporter. This item only works on Supporters with an Armor Rank of Deep-Blue or below. The Armor Rank is limited by the Rarity of the Supporter.

Note: In a fight, your outfit says more than your words—black means serious, camo means prepared, no shirt means you’re the problem.

[Superior Supporter Weapon-Rank Upgrade]

World: Fantasy Realm

Quality: Deep-Blue

Effect: Upgrades the Weapon rank of a Supporter. This item only works on Supporters with a Weapon Rank of Deep-Blue or below. The Weapon Rank is limited by the Rarity of the Supporter.

Note: Your weapon says it all—swords mean skill, axes mean brute force, and bare hands? That means you're either crazy or confident.

To his complete surprise, Alex sees that they each sell for a ridiculously low price of 30,000 FC each.

How much do they have?! This is exactly what I need! These are the superior upgrading items—they can raise quality up to Light Purple!

He sees the shop has 4 [Superior Supporter Armor-Rank Upgrade] and 1 [Superior Supporter Weapon-Rank Upgrade] available.

I paid 50,000 for three of the lower-ranked ones that can only upgrade if the current rank is Deep Green or below. This is a bargain! Even if I can’t use them right now—like with Menchi’s weapon, which is already above Deep Blue—I’d still buy them.

Alex quickly closes the deal using the automated panel, spending 150,000 FC on all five upgrades.

Without sparing another word for the female workers—who now look at him in mild confusion, surprised at the quick sale—Alex walks out with a grin.

This might have been a mistake, but I think these items are worth it. If I ever recruit someone else, I’ll thank myself, I bet! Also I’m sure I can resell them for at least the same price—probably for way more.

Making his way to the final store, Alex finds himself surprised once again. The room is made of mirrored silver walls and contains only a single panel. No one else is around. Behind the panel, a large scroll reads:

“One item per player every 30 days. No refunds!”

What a shitty, pretentious room design!

To his surprise, the store contains only a handful of unique items, all similar, with only the price being the difference between them, making the nature of the place immediately obvious.

This is a gambling store!!!

[???]

World: Fantasy Realm 

Quality: ???/???/???/???

Effect: Grants a random reward. The maximum quality depends on the price.

Note: Warning: This item only grants items from the Fantasy Realm.

Note: Can’t be traded!

Price: 5,000 FC, 50,000 FC, 500,000 FC, 5,000,000 FC

So they’ve got four price tiers… this is bad… I’m susceptible to gambling. The question is… does my LUK work?

[Alex: Glimmerwhisk, I came across a gambling store that allows me to buy one item every 30 days. The price increases from 5,000 FC in steps of 10x. Tell me this is bad and I should avoid it. My instincts say this will backfire—but I’ve got a strong itch to test my LUK. Is it smart to try this, at least once?]

[Glimmerwhisk: No, it really isn’t… for anyone except you. I’d suggest trying the lower-priced items. This store is run by the Realm—even I don’t know the details. And this falls under what I’m not allowed to tell you unless you bring it up first. If it’s related to the Realm itself, I can’t say much.]

Fuck… I’m doing this! Let’s just try it. My LUK hasn’t disappointed me yet!

Alex activates his [Drakul’s Vitality], spending a [Blood Essence].

You have recovered 0 HP.

All stats increased by 5.

“LET’S FUCKING GO! BUY IT, 1337—THE 500,000 FC ONE!”

An item immediately appears in his hand.

[Chest Enlarger 3000]

“What the fuck is this garbage?! Is this some kind of sex toy or a cheap scammy plastic surgery replacement?!” Alex yells, staring at the ridiculous name.

[Chest Enlarger 3000]

World: Fantasy Realm 

Quality: Deep Gold

Effect: Expands a chest, increasing it from a normal-sized chest into a large chest. Limited to Gold Quality chests and below.

Note: Everybody likes large chests. Developed and created by Fizzix Bangweld, who recently passed away after an unfortunate explosion! May he rest in pieces.

Note: Can’t be traded. This item will disappear if not used within the next three missions.

“Well… can’t be unhappy with that. Is this worth 500,000 FC? I mean… doubling the loot of a Gold-ranked chest could be worth millions! This is fucking worth it! Nice, Jewel!”

Princess Jewel honestly dislikes her Soulmate’s gambling, but she thinks this turned out well, so she can only congratulate her Soulmate.

Alex then checks his remaining funds. His FC, which had exceeded 2 million after selling his Naruto spoils, has now shrunk to just 1,156,000 FC.

200,000 for the [Dream Ticket], 150,000 for the Supporter Weapon and Armor Upgrades, and now 500,000 for the [Chest Enlarger 3000].

Let’s go all in, Jewel!

Remembering Player 41691’s advice, Alex decides to visit a certain familiar goblin bank. As he enters, the goblins inside seem to recognize him—nodding politely. A few of the female goblins even blush and giggle.

When will this stop?

He sighs… then smiles in relief when he spots Softspark scolding a group of employees.

“Hello, Softspark. I need your help!” Alex says as he approaches her.

“Oh? How can I help you, servant?” she responds with a smug smile.

“...Please drop the bullshit. I want to buy items to turn into shards. Specifically, I need 269 of them. I’ve been told the going rate is about 2,000 FC?”

“Around that, yes. A few FC higher actually, depending on the quantity. Let’s see… 269 times 2,000 FC is about 538,000 FC. Since you’re a VIP customer, I’ll sell them to you for just 530,000 FC.”

“That sounds… quite fair, actually. Let’s do it then,” Alex replies, trusting Glimmerwhisk’s previous words.

Fantasy Coins: 626,000 Soul Crystals: Small x20 Medium x5 Fantasy Shards: 400

Alex then notices a bunch of various White and Green items appearing in his inventory.

Satisfied with the deal, he leaves the Eternal Coffins and makes his way toward the now-familiar ranking-up hall.

Spending 2,000 FC and all 400 of his Fantasy Shards, he upgrades his most powerful item—his lifeline—the source of his unnatural survivability. Alex carefully inspects the now ranked-up necklace—[Drakul’s Vitality R2]

[Drakul’s Vitality R2]

World: Harry Potter / Wizarding World

Quality: Deep Gold

Type: Necklace

Required stats: STR - 12, PHY - 14, SPR - 14

Required skills: Basic Endurance lvl 5, Basic Meditation lvl 5

Effect: Increases PHY by 6

(Flat boost, not increased by other skills)

Effect: Blood Empowerment: Restores 1.2 HP every 10 seconds, increases total health regeneration by 24% (Does not affect restorative items). Allows the user to consume a Blood Essence once every 24 hours to instantly recover 120 HP, recover most injuries, and increase all stats by 6 for 1 hour. Afterward, the user's natural health regeneration is reduced by 80%, and all stats are decreased by 6 for 23 hours.

Effect: Vampire-Lord’s Constitution: Slows down natural aging by 80% and grants immunity to low-level debuffs, while reducing the effectiveness of all other debuffs by up to 60%. The higher the level of the debuff, the lower the effect of this item.

Note: A crude, unsuccessful attempt to create a Philosopher’s Stone ended up creating this beautiful, seductive crimson-red gem, which was turned into a necklace. Being carried around by each head of the Drakul family for almost a millennium has deeply ingrained it with the vitality of a Vampire Lord.

The higher requirements are no problem—I can ignore those. I got 1 more PHY, the health restoration increased by exactly 20%, and even the healing and stat-boosting effects increased by 20% each.

I guess this is great. I really couldn’t have expected more!

Also… the natural aging decrease rose by just 5%, from 75% to 80%. I guess it’s a miracle that even that improved. Four more ranks… don’t tell me this can actually go all the way to 100%... No way! This item is simply insane. I would never give this up. EVER. Will this item grant me immortality?!

Satisfied, yet a little unsettled after spending such a large chunk of his fortune, Alex heads back to his Player Room and to the real world.

“Menchi?” he calls out, looking for her.

“Yes?” Menchi responds. The voice comes from the living room.

Alex finds her lazing on the couch, wearing only panties and a shirt, surrounded by trash, with a laptop in front of her playing Mass Effect.

Well… at least she’s preparing.

“Sorry about this,” Menchi says, a bit embarrassed. “This game is rather nice. I like it so far! I just made it to the Citadel, and I can’t believe we’ll get to go there. Honestly, I’m nervous… but also excited.”

“Well, I’m glad. Before you go on, quickly use those,” Alex says, trading her three [Superior Supporter Armor-Rank Upgrade].

“Why… you shouldn’t have!” she says, clearly surprised.

“I didn’t actively look for them, but I got them for a bargain. With those, you can finally raise even your weakness, your low armor-rank up to Light Purple,” Alex says with a smile.

Menchi gets up, hugs Alex tightly, then activates all three upgrades in quick succession. Her clothes, like last time, don’t change much in appearance, but now look noticeably sturdier, mystical, and subtly radiating power—as though enhancing her body directly.

“This is incredible… these clothes… they’re actually strengthening me! I feel way more durable, powerful—and most of all, faster. This was worth it! Thank you, Alex,” she says, clearly satisfied with the upgrade.

[Menchi]

Level: 12 (75%)

Rarity: Purple

Free Skill Slots 1/2

Skills: Potioneering (Advanced)

Support Skills: Cooking (Advanced +), Dismantling (Advanced +), Synthesizing (Advanced+)

Weapon rank: Purple

Armor rank: Light Purple

Not bad, I improved her weakness and now it can be said that it’s one of her strengths. Menchi is worth the effort though, she has really exceeded the expectations I had of her. Also at this point she is more than a Supporter!

Alex checks his own status carefully, noticing his PHY stat has now reached a very respectable 26.

Alex Kerber: Lvl 6

HP: 373/373, MP: 373/373 AURA: 263/263

STR: 18 (+13), AGI: 18 (+4), PHY: 18 (+8), SNS: 18 (+2), CHA: 18 (+5), MNA: 18 (+10), INT: 18, SPR: 18 (+5), LUK: 18 (+6), NEN: 18 (+2)

Available Stat Points: 3

Followers: Menchi (Purple) lvl 12 (75%)

Pets: Jewel (Gold) lvl 6

Innate Skills: Nen Prodigy lvl 5 (Genius Conjurer lvl 5, Basic Nen lvl 5, Advanced Nen lvl 5), Statistical OCD lvl MAX

Arcane Medieval Armory: Annihilation Grenade lvl 5, Sealion’s Icewing Embrace lvl 5, Mustrano’s Malice Mauler lvl 5 (Claw Proficiency/Poison Resistance) / Toxic Breakthrough lvl 5, Magorian’s Rage Arrow lvl 5

Free Skill Slots: 1/4, Free Basic Skill Slots: 0/8

Basic Skills: Basic Close Combat Prowess lvl 5, Basic Footwork lvl 5, Basic Endurance lvl 5, Basic Long-Range Combat Prowess lvl 5, Basic Eloquence lvl 5, Basic Concentration lvl 5, Basic Meditation lvl 5, Basic Mana Control lvl 5

Passive Skills: Alexandrian Royal Swordsmanship lvl 5, Imbuement Archery lvl 5

Active Skills: Black Magic (Fire-Blizzard-Thunder-Series) lvl 5, Sword Magic lvl 5

Fantasy Coins: 624,000 Soul Crystals: Small x20 Medium x5 Fantasy Shards: 0

Current Weapons: Magoroth’s Legacy R2 (Gold), Enchanted Runeblade (Deep Purple), Executioner's Blade R2 (Light Gold)

Current Equipment: Armor of Pluto (Purple), Visor of Pluto (Purple), Cuisses of Pluto (Purple), Gauntlets of Pluto (Purple), Sabatons of Pluto (Purple), Nimbus Cloak (Light Purple), Champion Belt (Blue), Destiny Watch (Light Purple), Sacred Emerald Copper Earring (Purple), Hunter License (Deep Green), Noble Shirt+4 R2 (Light Purple), Drakul’s Vitality R2 (Deep Gold), Skitterguard Bracers (Light Purple), Cataclysmic Frost-Fire Ring (Deep Gold), Strength Ring (+3) (Deep Blue)

Recovery Items: Superior Dish (Dragon Skewer) x20 (Deep Green), Infused Exceptional Dish (Dragon Skewer) x10 (Blue), Wiggenweld Potion V2 x10 (Deep Green)

Miscellaneous Items: Jack’s Spare Silvery Mask (Light Green), Butchering Knife (Deep Blue), Commander Shepard’s Dog Tag (Deep Blue), Quintessence of Blood (Purple), Blood Essence x6 (Green)

Special Items: Baroque Works Invitation (Purple), Destiny Supporter Token (Purple), VIP Invitation (Deep Purple), Tsunade’s Scroll (Purple), Glimmerwhisk’s broken Runic Choker (locked) (Light Green), Forceful Recruitment Token (Purple), Dream Ticket (Deep Purple), Superior Supporter Armor-Rank Upgrade (Deep Blue), Superior Supporter Weapon-Rank Upgrade (Deep Blue), Chest Enlarger 3000 (Deep Gold)

“I guess… I’m as prepared as I can be,” Alex says with a smile.