Level Up! 

[ Would you like to level up Ability - Body for (1000) Click Points? ]

[ Body (Unranked) => Body (Iron I) ]

[ Speed Buff (Locked) => Speed Buff (Unlocked) ]

[ Your Balance: 2161 => 1161 ]

[ Y / N ]

Sitting on his couch, with his eyes closed, Jake considered over this decision one last time.

1000 Click Points was not a small investment after all.

However, he was about to enter a yellow-tier realm. Sure, most likely, there would be no dangers. But there's nothing wrong with being cautious right?

'I fully understand the situation...'

'Very well...'

'Yes.'

Jake felt a faint stream of warmth circulating in his body. Felt rather nice. Like drinking hot coffee in winter.

Not a new experience. But this time, the stream of warmth lasted longer.

Feeling the raw strength in his body, Jake tightened his fists.

Just like the first enhancement, Jake could feel that his body had been drastically strengthened.

Walking to the training room, Jake punched the metal dummy.

Clash!

Felt like punching into a cushion, or a springboard or something.

Opening an app on his phone, Jake checked the result. [ Iron-tier higher-level ]

Though... The highest level that can be displayed was [ Iron-tier higher-level ].

'Not bad. An increase from lower-level to higher-level.' Jake nodded.

Playing a video on his phone, Jake focussed his mind. In his view, the video started to move in slow motion.

'Looks like my reflex speed had improved somewhat as well.'

Seeing this result, Jake nodded at himself.

By the looks of the results, this was an overall strengthening experience. All aspects had been improved.

'Looks like I've made another good decision.'

Without doubt, the 1,000 Click Points was worth it!

'Open system.'

[ Character ] [ Quest ] [#] [#] [#]

System Level: 2 [ + ]

< Abilities >

Body (Iron I) [ + ]

Hero's Physique (Unlocked). Speed Buff (Toggled Off). Strength Buff (Locked).

???? (????????) [ # ]

?????? (????????) [ # ]

< Skills >

Detection - Entry Level ( 36.75% ) [+]

Artifact Crafting - Entry Level ( 63.1% ) [+]

Nautilus Body Refining Guide - Entry Level ( 5.85% ) [+]

< Click Points: 1161 >

'With this upgrade, the Nautilus Body Refining Guide mastery level increased as well?'

'Looks like my guess is right. This body refining guide has something to do with stamina.'

'My stamina increased. So the mastery level of this guide increased as well.'

'Speed Buff on!'

Didn't feel anything different in particular. Not enveloped by scarlet-red lights. Not feeling any lighter.

'Not detecting any new energies on myself either...'

'So the toggle is rather secretive I see...'

While analyzing this newly gained ability, Jake looked around. Nothing in this room was in motion. Nevertheless, as Jake turned his head, he could feel a firm wind pressure.

Jake picked up a coffee cup off his coffee table, and dropped it.

Slowly squatting down, Jake stared at the falling cup.

In Jake's view, he was the one moving at normal speed. The falling cup was dropping in slow motion.

Without the buff, the cup would fall at 0.25x speed.

Now, it's like 0.125x speed.

'My movement speed and reaction speed is two times better?' Jake raised his brows.

'With this buff on, I can easily defeat 100 of myself without the buff.'

The reasoning was simple. I can always land hits on you. I can also dodge every one of your strikes. How are you supposed to win?

Though... Jake squinted in thought. He could feel an obvious drainage of his stamina now. Small. But very obvious.

'If I want to keep this buff on in battle, I would need more stamina.'

Moving at his fastest speed, Jake grabbed onto that falling cup.

During the move, Jake could feel the air pressing against his skin, kind of like feeling the breeze outside of a moving car.

'Speed buff off.'

'Iron I huh...' Jake raised a brow. 'Even at unranked, I was already at iron-tier level.'

'Now, with an Iron I tier body, and a speed buff, am I really still in iron-tier territories?' Jake lightly shook his head.

The description from the system was not accurate at all.

'Even though levelling up the abilities cost more, the result is without doubt much better.'

With his mind, Jake clicked the [ + ] button after Body (Iron I).

[ Would you like to level up Ability - Body for (3000) Click Points? ]

[ Body (Iron I) => Body (Iron II) ]

[ Strength Buff (Locked) => Strength Buff (Unlocked) ]

[ Your Balance: N/A ]

[ _ / N ]

'Yes.'

Nothing happened.

Well. Looks like the system was not that broken. Worth the try though.

'At this point, there is no further need to level up my crafting skills.'

'My detection skills is growing by itself.'

'Improve my stamina by levelling up the body refining guide?'

Jake thought for a moment.

Unnecessary for now... Might be better to just save up and level up his body again.

Taking a look outside his window, it was dawn already.

Feeling a little tired, Jake decided to go for a nap.

...

June 24th, 2018. 5:30 AM.

At the front entrance of the Rogers 'Mansion.'

Jake stood by the bottom of the stairs.

Sipping on his coffee, Jake tiredly looked around. The cloudy sky was starting to brighten up.

Some distance away in the gardens, the chirps of birds and crickets intermixed with each other.

"Hello neighbor~!"

Looking back, it was a short girl hopping down the stairs.

Shoulder length hair tied into two ponytails. Wearing a short green dress. A straw hat on her head. Carrying a camping backpack. She looked like a high school girl on a hiking trip. Giving off a youthful and lively aura. Even without any makeup on, she looked rather cute.

"Morning." Jake replied with an affirmative nod.

The girl didn't mind Jake's careless attitude at all.

"I'm Emily Rogers." The girl extended her hand.

Out of politeness, Jake shook the girl's little hand.

"I live a floor under you now." The girl replied with a firm grasp. "Oh. Right. From now on, I'll be your assigned bodyguard."

Jake: ???

"I look forward to working with you!" The girl brightly smiled.

Jake: ...

Oi... You can let go now...