Akki walked into the heart of Syncope, a mid-tier city adorned with magnificent architecture and bustling with high-level players moving in every direction.
He arrived at the Mage Tower as planned and spotted Megha waiting beside a massive ice statue.
Megha looked dignified in-game, dressed in a white-and-blue trimmed Divine Alchemist's Robe. His face broke into a wide grin when he saw Akki—thin, worn down, and clad in starter gear scorched by countless lightning-training burns.
Megha: "Damn it, Akki! You finally made it! …But holy hell, you look awful. That outfit looks like a dirty rag!"
Akki: "And you look like some spoiled rich kid."
Akki laughed. Seeing his closest friend filled him with genuine joy.
Megha: "Hahaha! That's the power of being a Divine Alchemist! My job makes money off rare herbs, so I get rich way faster than warriors. How've you been? I heard you already made 45 Gold?"
Akki explained in detail—his reckless fist-based combat, the self-created skills, and the dangerous side effects of the [Lightning Heart System].
Megha: "You're completely insane! Turning frugality and precision into a money-making strategy—only you could pull that off. But that's enough grinding for now! You've reached the main city. From here on out, I'll help you build real wealth."
Megha led Akki to a specialty equipment shop.
Megha: "For a lightning-based barehanded warrior like you, the most important thing is reducing your body's electrical resistance. You need proper gear."
He pulled out a set of thick leather armor treated with anti-conductive materials, along with a pair of black leather gloves.
[Fiber-Reinforced Leather Set]
Properties: High durability, low electrical resistance. Ideal for users who channel elemental energy within their bodies.
[Gloves of Latent Might]
Properties: Gently enchanted with lightning element.
Effect: Increases lightning infusion efficiency by 1.5% (higher chance of lightning generation).
Megha: "These are for you. Wear them—they'll reduce the shock backlash from your [Lightning Heart System]. As for the gloves… I found them in a secondhand shop. Expensive as hell, but the boost they give will completely change your close-combat fighting style."
Megha opened a trade channel and transferred a large sum of money to Akki.
Megha: "Take it—600 Gold. This is your starting fund. No need to pay it back! I make more than this selling a single batch of potions anyway. But listen—this money is only for developing side professions and buying materials. Don't you dare spend it on swords!"
Akki accepted the money and equipment with deep gratitude.
Six hundred Gold was a sum he had never even dreamed of in-game.
Converted to real-world currency, it amounted to $9,000 USD.
Akki immediately understood Megha's intention.
This money was a tool—meant to create a sustainable source of income through his existing life skills: [Housekeeping – High] and [Precision – Intermediate].
He headed toward the various profession guilds in Syncope to register and train skills that could generate profit.
Newly Registered Life Skills:
• Cooking
Source of Success: [Housekeeping – High], [Precision – Intermediate]
Monetization Goal: Creating stat-boosting and energy-recovery foods.
• Blacksmithing / Repairing
Source of Success: Blade-sharpening techniques refined through maintenance work.
Monetization Goal: Repairing equipment resistant to lightning damage.
Akki started with the simplest—and most in-demand—skill: Cooking.
Using part of his capital, he purchased high-quality ingredients and rented a cooking station within the guild.
[You have activated the skill [Cooking]: Preparing 'Energy Meat Soup']
[Precision applied to temperature and seasoning control]
[Food Quality: Excellent!]
[You obtained: 'Energy Meat Soup' x5 (Increases stamina for 5 minutes)]
The dishes he produced far surpassed those of other beginner cooks.
His precision in cooking resembled chemical formula calculations rather than simple trial and error.
While waiting for his blacksmithing skills to improve through repeated repairs, Akki continued his combat training.
At the Warrior Guild's training grounds, he once again practiced his lightning combos—this time while wearing the [Gloves of Latent Might].
Akki thought to himself:
"An efficiency increase of 1.5%… That means I can use more power before my heart overloads."
He repeatedly practiced [Thunder Knuckle], focusing on stabilizing the lightning discharged through the gloves.
Crackle… BAM!
Each punch was slightly heavier and noticeably faster than before.
Through continuous training, [Thunder Knuckle] rapidly evolved from Low to Intermediate rank.
Akki was no longer just a fighter who relied on fists and lightning.
He was on the verge of becoming one of the main city's most formidable life-skill merchants—a specialist who fused combat efficiency with economic mastery.