1 VIP System
Aphis was devouring a hamburger when something entered the corner of his eye. Before he could react the chair that he was sitting on crashed to the ground. Simultaneously, he felt a golden blur force his way into his glabella. Though the sensation only lasted a moment, Aphis struggled to get a hold of himself.
"What in the living hell was that?" Aphis stammered in disbelief, pressing his hands against his forehead, trying to feel for something that he believed to be imaginary. Was he going crazy?
Aphis quickly received a response in the form of a large transparent azure screen as Aphis laid sprawled out on the ground. Apparently, he wasn't going crazy.
[ You, Aphis have been designated as the Host of the VIP System. ] The voice that called itself a system's words were flat and monotone like that of a robot's.
Before Aphis managed to question the voice, it continued to speak.
[ Don't worry, Host, the time will remain paused until the tutorial phase is completed.]
Aphis looked around and saw everything in his immediate vicinity stop moving. It looked so unreal to Aphis who had long since stopped believing everything that he saw in movies was real.
The System began-
[ The VIP System is a piece of magitech, which is technology combined with magic that allows whoever is the Host to spend real money to top-up on the system. Whoever is marked as the "Host" may also top-up in the subsidiary stores that the VIP System hosts. You may be asking why? Why spend money in these stores? ]
[ Any sane person would ask such questions. Host, if you spend money to top-up in these stores you are eligible for rewards that you would never ever have received or even seen in the rest of your time alive. ]
Aphis could spend real money to receive what? Things he never would never see on Earth? Aphis's eyebrows raised in response to this. This had to be some kind of fever dream... or something.
"What kind of rewards?" Asked Aphis who could not resist the urge to inquire more. Aphis thought that his current situation was quite similar to the protagonists of the online novels he liked to read.
Following Aphis's inquiry the system responded.
[ Host, the possibilities of what you can recieve are endless. You want to be a magician, there is magic. You want to be a mech pilot, there's mechs. Becoming a cultivator isn't impossible either. ]
[ Invest more money to fulfill more of your desires. These things are only possible with enough financial investment on your part, Host. ]
[ The more things you want to do, the more cash must be invested. If something isn't possible now, it doesn't mean that it might not be impossible tomorrow. Being a subsidiary store of the system is quite idyllic for them, but you did not ask about that. ]
Aphis nodded, if only somewhat hesitantly. It sounded like being a Host of the VIP System would be an extremely costly venture, he had things he wanted to change about himself. Aphis also had many dreams that were left to his fantasies... if they could be fulfilled...
"Do I just spend money? How does topping-up work?" Aphis questioned. The system centered around it seemed spending money, and the more money he spent the more he had to gain.
[ You can top up by entering the System Space with money, and then open the top-up interface in stores that you have access to. The System Space is basically the control hub for the system, and is where you will be able to access the functions of the system and will be where you shall be spending a lot of time in the future. Press the icon in middle of the top of your line of sight to enter the System Space.]
Aphis saw the icon floating above him. Aphis pressed the icon as instructed. He was warped to a place with polished white-jade walls and flooring that reflected light. There was nothing to see except the icons in his vision. Regardless it was rather shocking and fantastical to be someplace else in an instant.
[ Host, now that you are in the System Space, you must choose the type of world you would like the System Space to link to. You are limited to one location at present. ] A huge blue list of options appeared before Aphis for types of worlds that can be linked. There were Steampunk, Grimdark, Slice of Life, High Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Xianxia, Wuxia... all sorts of worlds were listed.
[ Whatever World you choose is where you must go to earn Host experience. Certain functions of the system are hidden behind Host level milestones do not forget to level up as a Host. ]
Thinking of what the system had mentioned prior that Aphis could become a cultivator, he decided to go with a Xianxian type World. Aphis had already had enough of the Modern World, he had lived there for the past 20 years. He was sick of it. Xianxia was the world that he was the most familiar with following the Modern World, it was the main type of story that he read online after all.
Selecting the Xianxia World from the list of options a bright pale azure light engulfed Aphis. An immediate damning heat spread through his body creating what felt like pathways, breaking through his pores splashing what looked like clumps of a mysterious tar-like substance into the space around him hitting the walls, floor, and ceiling. He would have to clean that up, wouldn't he?
[ Ding! The Host's Meridians have been constructed and pores have been opened! The Host is now able cultivate. ]
Aphis smiled at the statement and that the pain he had experienced was done and over with. Taking an extended glance at the tar-like clumps on the ground. Aphis's belief in the system being real was strengthened by the second.
The system continued to explain. [ You may descend to the Xianxian World by hitting the 'Descend' button that should now be in your field of view.]
"Got it." Aphis nodded, listening intently to the system, his eyes glued to the bright gleaming button that had the words 'Descend' printed on it.
The system reminded Aphis: [ You may return to the System Space at any time. ] A bright red button with an arrow icon appearing in his line of sight with the words 'Return' overlaying it which faded.
There is however a half an hour cooldown before you can transfer to or back from a System World: in your case, the Xianxia World. If things get dangerous, do not hesitate to leave. ]
[ You may want to wait before descending. Spending money will increase your chances of survival on a foreign world, especially in a world as dangerous as a Xianxian World. ]
"I have read my fair share of Xianxia novels to understand that in Xianxian Worlds might makes right and the losers are bandits and the victors are the kings." Replied Aphis. That really summed up how the novels that took place in Xianxia worlds went down.
[ You seem to understand. That is good. ] The System noted.
[ Take a look at your 'Status' to help you decide your path of action going forward. This concludes the tutorial, Host, the time has been unpaused. ]
A third icon appeared with an person that was overlain with the text 'Status'. Aphis did not hesitate to press it opening up his status screen a fraction of a second later. What did he have to work with?
VIP System Status:
Name: Aphis
Race: Human
Level: 1
Experience: (0/10 EXP)
Stat Points: (0/3 SP Per Level)
VIP Top-Up Progress (0/1.00 USD or an equivalent denominator of currency.)
VIP Level: 0
Cultivation Information:
Talent: Lowest of Low Bottom Feeding Trash
Stage: Mortal
Bloodline: None
Physique: None
Martial Spirit: None
Skills: None
Evaluation: [ You're not even worth looking at. You disappoint me. ]
…Aphis was not shocked to say the least. He had not started cultivating. Nor had he spent any money to Top-Up. Aphis was not concerned yet as he wasn't about to descend on a Xianxia world without any tricks up his sleeve- or strength. That would be foolhardy.
After closing the system windows, Aphis smacked himself in the face to focus his thoughts. It was time to withdraw money from his savings. It would hurt his soul, but Aphis would give this system a real chance. It was truly fantastical!
Aphis clenched his fists, a feeling that he had long since forgotten welled up inside his heart: ambition.
