Chapter 121 Invitation
Eric vacated the cramped confines of his apartment and hailed a taxi, proceeding directly to the bustling commercial district of Evergreen City. His initial destination was the electronics mall.
As he approached the mall, he was greeted by a scene of barely controlled chaos. A massive crowd had gathered outside, their excited chatter and impatient jostling a testament to the allure of Divine Realms: Legends. Several victorious individuals, clasping their newly procured virtual helmets, emerged from the crowd, their faces flushed with success.
"Yes! I got one!" a young man in a blue T-shirt shouted, his voice hoarse with excitement. He held his prize, a sleek black virtual helmet, aloft, as if it were a sacred relic. "Three hours of waiting, but it was worth it! Divine Realms: Legends, here I come!"
"My friend's been playing since launch," another young man, his curly hair bouncing as he spoke, boasted to his companions. "He's already level 4! He promised to show us the ropes. We'll be leveling up in no time!"
"Seriously?" one of his friends exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe. "You're the best, man! Lunch is on us next week!"
"No problem," the curly-haired young man replied, puffing out his chest.
The ensemble, galvanized by the anticipation of a seasoned guide, dissolved into an animated discussion, their voices brimming with aspirations of virtual eminence and unparalleled wealth.
These conglomerates often offered high salaries to recruit gaming experts, even offering three million a year to former top gamers. This was almost unimaginable in the past virtual gaming world, where even a million a year was reserved for the absolute best. Now, even wash-up veterans could command three million, and the top current experts were being offered as much as eight million a year.
Eric found himself unable to suppress a chuckle at the very thought. He reminisced about the guild leader of the Devouring Serpent, a formidable entity within the virtual realm, who managed to amass a mere annual income of six million. Even Ice Goddess Isabella, with her family's wealth and her own lucrative endorsement deals, only commanded a salary of four million. Of course, money was a secondary concern for someone like Isabella. She craved adventure, the thrill of the unknown. Eric, on the other hand, was driven by a different kind of hunger, a desire to rewrite his own destiny, to achieve the dreams that had once seemed so distant.
"Good thing I'm not here for a helmet," Eric muttered to himself, shaking his head at the frenzy unfolding before him. He had no desire to brave that crowd.
Instead, he turned his attention to a nearby mobile phone store. His old phone, a relic from a bygone era, was woefully inadequate for his current needs. It was time for an upgrade.
A smart electronic watch, with its seamless integration of communication, banking, and payment features, seemed like the perfect solution. No more fumbling with cash or making awkward trips to the bank.
As he stepped into the store, a friendly saleswoman greeted him, her smile as bright as the lights illuminating the display cases.
"Welcome, sir! Looking for a new phone? We have a wide selection of the latest models, including the Smart 3000, our most advanced model yet. It's self-binding, waterproof, drop-proof, and incredibly secure. Plus, it supports payments in both the real world and Divine Realms: Legends!"
"Let's see what you've got," Eric replied, his interest piqued.
The saleswoman, sensing a potential sale, eagerly led him towards a display of sleek, futuristic-looking smartwatches. Each model boasted an array of impressive features, from crystal-clear virtual displays to advanced noise-canceling technology.
"And for a limited time," the saleswoman continued, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone, "we're offering a special promotion for Divine Realms: Legends players. You can get this beauty for the low, low price of 29,999 credits!"
Eric almost laughed. The difference between 29,999 and 30,000 credits was negligible, a marketing ploy designed to create an illusion of affordability. Still, he had to admit, the watch was impressive. And with his recent windfall, he could certainly afford to splurge a little.
"I'll take the dark blue one," he decided, pointing to a model that caught his eye.
Under the vigilant mentorship of the sales associate, Eric underwent the requisite identity validation, telecommunication service integration, and financial account synchronization. The entire endeavor, expedited by the watch's user-friendly interface, proved to be exceptionally smooth.
With his new purchase secured, Eric decided to treat himself to a few more essentials. He purchased ten bottles of Grade A Nutrition Serum and fifty bottles of Grade B, a hefty investment that set him back 150,000 credits. It was a necessary expense, he reasoned, an investment in his future success in Divine Realms: Legends.
As he left the store, his shopping bags laden with his purchases, his smart watch vibrated, its gentle hum announcing an incoming call.
It was Katherine.
He hadn't heard from her since she had informed him about the upcoming class gathering.
"Hey, Katherine, what's up?" he answered, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Is it so strange for me to call you without a reason?" she teased, her voice tinged with amusement. "Or are you just not happy to hear from me?"
"No, not at all," Eric quickly assured her, his cheeks flushing slightly. Katherine was a rare gem, intelligent, kind, and undeniably attractive. He appreciated her willingness to stand up for him when the rest of their classmates had sided with Bob. Her support, however small, had meant a lot to him.
"That's better," she replied, her laughter echoing through the phone. "At least you have a conscience. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that the university social event is confirmed for next Friday. The cost is 5,000 credits per person. Don't worry, I already took care of yours. Just make sure you're there on time."
Before Eric could respond, she ended the call, leaving him staring at his watch in stunned silence.
"Katherine, why would you do that?" a voice whined in the background. It was Bob, his tone a mixture of disbelief and resentment. "You barely know him! He's probably just using you! You're like a goddess to him, and he's just a...a nobody! Don't let him take advantage of you!"
"Bob, that's enough," Katherine retorted, her voice laced with annoyance. "Who I choose to associate with is none of your business."
Bob, fuming but unwilling to challenge her directly, fell silent. He loathed Eric with a passion. Everything had been going his way until Eric had arrived, disrupting his carefully constructed social hierarchy.
'Just you wait, Eric,' Bob thought, his eyes narrowed in anger. 'If I can't get to you directly, I'll just have to involve Katherine's uncle. Let's see how you fare against someone with real power.'
As evening descended upon Evergreen City, Eric returned to his dingy apartment, his mind abuzz with thoughts of Katherine and the upcoming social event. He had spent the afternoon apartment hunting and had finally found a suitable replacement for his current hovel. It was a cozy, well-furnished unit in a much nicer part of town. He had paid the deposit and would be moving in the following day.
After a quick dinner and a revitalizing dose of Grade B Nutrition Serum, Eric settled into bed, eager to lose himself in the immersive world of Divine Realms: Legends.
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