Arcadian Live

When the System Message appeared

A silence so thick one could likely cut it with a knife envelops the entire stadium as everyone – viewers and commentators alike – reads the System Message in their vision. Even those who finish reading faster than the others around them stay silent as they contemplate the changes, and the meaning of the new additions to the Administrator Dungeon.

It isn’t until several minutes later that Mikaela finally speaks up. “This… this hasn’t happened in over a century…”

As if taking their cue from Arcadian Live’s host, the audience breaks into a chaotic mess as everyone begins talking amongst themselves about the message.

‘I know that the System doesn’t like others messing with its ‘recruitment,’ but to go that far to deal with the sponsorship issues?’ Mikaela thinks to himself, ignoring the noise around him. ‘I’m starting to wonder if this Administrator Dungeon Run is somehow different from most…’

Several shouts begin to ring amongst the audience above the scattered conversations, interrupting Mikaela’s thoughts as he raises his head to listen.

“…Upgrade Tokens?” “What are Ability Advancement Tokens?” “Holy shit! That’s unfair!”

After hearing the questions, Mikaela claps his hands – causing a loud noise to echo throughout the stadium, quieting down the audience before everyone begins to focus on him. He then begins speaking without even waiting for complete silence.

“For those of you who are unaware, Ability Upgrade Tokens are extremely rare items that are normally only ever given out by the System for accomplishing difficult achievements, or through benefiting the System itself,” Mikaela begins explaining, pausing for a second as the few remaining areas of chatter amongst the audience quiets down to listen, “they allow a player to raise their ability’s Tier by using them as a sort of currency.”

Mikaela raises his hand just as the audience seems to be about to explode again before continuing, “The number of tokens to upgrade an ability is not just a simple ‘one token to raise your ability’s Tier.’ The number of tokens it requires is correspondent to the Tier you are raising your ability to. So, for someone to raise a Tier 7 ability to Tier 8, it would cost them eight of these rare tokens to do.”

This calms down the audience as they let him continue with only faint whispers running throughout the stadium.

“Ability Advancement Tokens – however – do only require one token, and they allow a player to unlock an effect of their ability without actually having to meet the level requirements for it,” he explains before frowning as the whispers amongst the audience increase in volume.

Unlocking the effects of an ability is something that anyone can do but upgrading an ability to a higher tier is not something that everyone manages to do. It is thanks to this well-known fact that the Ability Upgrade Tokens appear – to the audience – as a much more System-breaking item than the Advancement Tokens.

However, to the few higher leveled individuals within the audience, the Advancement Tokens are just as good. This is because of how powerful an ability’s locked effects can be – depending on the ability. If a player were to unlock them at a low level thanks to the token, then it would give them a massive boon.

Especially in the Administrator Dungeon.

Mikaela – being one of the individuals with this knowledge – shakes his head at their reactions before turning his attention towards the main screen as Wolf can be seen skating across the floor in a specific direction.

“Tokens or no tokens, things within the Administrator Dungeon are bound to change now,” Mikaela mutters – mostly to himself, despite being heard by most of the audience, “the Competitors will likely run into each other a lot more often now, and the dungeon itself will become more difficult.”

Wolf

Two hours after the System Message

I sigh as another one of Diane’s messages fades from my view.

She really isn’t budging on this, is she? No matter how much I poke, she is adamant about us talking about that whole ‘heir’ business far in the future.

I glance at the igloo’s entrance before shaking my head.

If I’m being honest, it isn’t what she is trying to do that is bothering me so much. It’s that she is trying to take away my choice on the matter by manipulating me.

I turn my focus back to the table in front of me with a glare.

And I hate being manipulated.

My thoughts are suddenly interrupted as Sapphire rubs her head against my arm, having transformed into her true form to eat.

I glance at her before smiling and rubbing her head.

It would probably be best to leave that discussion with her for a later time anyways. After I’m stronger.

Sapphire purrs at my rubbing before I get up to approach the Expanded System Store, to her displeasure.

Time to see what this new store is selling.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Expanded System Store:

Skills Store

Items Store

Consumables Store

System Access Store

Daily Necessities Store

Administrator Dungeon Store

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I quickly select the Administrator Dungeon Store before raising an eyebrow at the contents.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Administrator Dungeon Store:

Complete Floor Map | 1000 SP

Boss Locator | 50 SP

Partial Floor Map | 100 SP

Mini Boss Extractor | 250 SP

Item Locator | 5 SP

Portable Expanded System Store | 5000 SP

…

Return

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Okay then…” I mutter after reading through the different consumables.

Most of them seem rather self-explanatory, but I’ll check them out anyways.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Partial Floor Map | 100 SP

This consumable will complete the user’s Dungeon Map for an area of fifty kilometers around the user’s current location at the time of its use.

Purchase

Close

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Item Locator | 5 SP

This consumable will locate the area nearest to the user with an unclaimed item before designating it on the user’s map.

Note: This includes loot boxes and mini boss/boss chests, even if they aren’t spawned in as of the consumable’s use.

Purchase

Close

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Portable Expanded System Store | 5000 SP

This consumable will give the user access to the Portable Expanded System Store menu.

This menu will allow the user to temporarily summon an Expanded System Store of their customization at the user’s location.

Purchase

Close

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

My other brow raises as I finish reading the portable expanded system store consumable.

I glance at the corner of my interface before focusing on the player auction to see how much longer I have left on my cooldown.

My Info:

Level: 404

EXP: 10463/40400

System Points: 453.20

Viewing Room Profits: 10800

A slight frown crosses my face as I see the cooldown at two days remaining before I focus my attention on the store tab again.

I cross my arms in thought for a few minutes before shrugging to myself, claiming my profits, and purchasing the consumable.

It’s expensive, sure, but having to go out of my way to find a store whenever I need to eat or take care of something else is annoying. Especially with how they seem to be getting rarer and rarer on these floors.

I have to backtrack for a few hours whenever I need to find one, and it’s really inconvenient.

As soon as some sort of blue potion appears in front of the totem, I grab it and pour its contents down my throat without a hint of hesitation.

Besides-

System Notification

The Portable Expanded System Store menu has been added to your status.

-there might be times that I won’t be able to go out and find a store when I need one. And I could use it as a sort of safe house since it should still be protected by the System.

I hope.

The portable store aside, the other items seem to be useful as well. Albeit expensive.

Particularly that Complete Floor Map. That could come in handy on a particularly difficult floor. Like if I end up in some sort of fire-focused hazardous floor theme.

Anyways…

I glance towards Sapphire – who had once again begun eating her food – before making sure the door is frozen shut and walking towards the living area.

I haven’t slept in days. Now would be a good time for that.

Then I can go look at my new menu once I wake up.