"[Time Remaining: 4 days 12 hours 23 minutes 16 seconds]"
The clock was a relentless reminder that the world was still in its transition phase. I didn't head for the Towers yet. Instead, I spent the next few days treating the city like my personal grinding ground. I hunted through the crumbling neighborhoods for skills, items, and those elusive Rift Points to bolster my [Gap] Stat.
One rule governed my every move: Do not level up yet. Whenever I engaged a monster or a marauding human, I made sure never to deal the killing blow. I'd wear them down, steal what I needed, and vanish. Gaining Experience Points now would be a waste of potential; there are hidden rewards for those who enter the Tower with a low level but high stats, bonuses I couldn't afford to lose.
I led a group of three Goblins on a chase through a narrow alleyway, weaving through their clumsy spear thrusts.
"[Notice: You have successfully dodged a Fatal Attack!]"
"[Notice: You have obtained +1 Rift Point.]"
"[Current [Gap] stat: 20/100 Rift Points.]"
"Still too slow," I muttered, vaulting over a dumpster. I was farming them. To these monsters, I was a ghost; to me, they were just training dummies for my [Gap] growth. Along the way, my inventory and skill list grew bloated with the spoils of my "pacifist" run.
"[You have learned the C-Rank Skill 'Sword Steps']"
"[You have learned the D-Rank Skill Shallow Breathing']"
"[You have obtained the C-Rank Item 'Nolan's Steel Sword']"
By the time the final day approached, I had spent my time wisely, hunting, looting, and sleeping just enough to keep my mind sharp. My status screen was a masterpiece of "Meta-Gaming."
All my base stats had been pushed to 6, with my Strength (STR) hitting a staggering 10. I was still Level 1, yet I possessed 20,500 Coins.
The System, once again, seemed to choke on its own logic.
"[Amazing Feat! You are the first to obtain +20,000 Coins in the Tutorial Phase while being Level 1!]"
"[Notice: A B-Rank Skill 'Ice Element' is being rewarded as an achievement!]"
"[Notice: You have learned the B-Rank Skill: 'Ice Element' Lvl 1.]"
"Hah, suspicious," I said, a cold smirk crossing my face. A B-Rank skill for a Level 1? The 'Viewers' were either falling in love with my playstyle or setting me up for a very high-profile fall. Either way, I'd take the power. [Ice Element] was a cornerstone of my endgame strategy; getting it now was a massive shortcut.
"[Time Remaining: 0 days 0 hours 10 minutes 12 seconds]"
The air around the massive stone structures of the Tower began to vibrate, a low-frequency hum that made the teeth of every human on Earth rattle.
The world hadn't sat idly by during these five days. Society had collapsed and rebuilt itself into a hierarchy of power. Governments had scrambled to recruit the "Ancients", the legendary players from the VR days, forming massive Guilds that acted as the new world's military.
In this region, the "Big Three" had already staked their claims:
The White Tiger Guild: Focused on defense and political stability.
The Reaper Guild: A ruthless collection of high-dps players and ex-assassins.
The Slayer Guild: Pure power, led by those who treated the Tower like a personal slaughterhouse.
As I stood near the base of the Tower, I saw thousands of players in mismatched gear, huddled in their guild ranks, eyes filled with a mix of terror and greed. They saw a terrifying mystery. I saw the front door to my house.
The countdown hit zero.
"[Notice: The Tutorial Phase has ended.]"
"[Opening 1st Floor: The Ancient Labyrinthine Forest.]"