Exploitation
* * *
My mind was racing. The fastest way to get stronger is by accumulating as much karma as possible. With only 50 karma to start with, I knew I needed to be strategic.
I accessed the store, navigating through its various sections until I reached the weapons category. The only item I could afford with my current karma was a basic cutting knife—hardly impressive.
But I had a plan. In the novel Hero's Hero, there was a guy in Russia known as the King of Coins. This figure amassed an incredible fortune in coins, a feat that remained mysterious even to Mike, the novel's main character because it was never explained in The Hero's Rise to Power, which was the foundation of this world.
It was later revealed, though, that the Coin King had used a simple exploit to duplicate his coins. I knew this trick well.
'And that's exactly what I'm going to use,' I thought with a smirk. I opened the store and searched for "store discount membership."
A system window appeared:
[Store Discount Membership]
Description: Receive 50% back on all purchases. (Up to 20 times.)
Price: 45 Karma
Without hesitation, I clicked "Buy." I now had only 5 karma remaining.
Coins and karma could be exchanged in the store, and I knew this was where I could exploit the system. For most people, 1 karma equals 100 coins.
I opened the exchange window and entered:
Exchange 5 Karma for 500 Coins?
[Yes/No]
I clicked "Yes." I watched as my karma was converted into coins. Thanks to the store discount membership, I received an additional 50% back, resulting in a total of 750 coins instead of the expected 500.
'Yes! It works!' I thought, smirking. The membership had given me an extra 250 coins.
Next, I decided to convert my coins back into karma. Since the store could only exchange full amounts, I had to leave 50 coins behind.
Exchange 700 Coins for 7 Karma?
[Yes/No]
I clicked "Yes." The exchange should have given me 7 karma. However, due to the 50% payback from the membership, I actually received an extra 4 karma, totaling 11 karma instead of the expected 7. The store could only handle full numbers, so I received 4 extra karma from the rounding.
'The coupon can only be used 20 times,' I thought. 'I've used it twice already. The number might seem small now, but as the money duplicates, it will grow exponentially.'
My smirk widened as I looked at the time. 'I have 5 minutes left.'
I had turned a modest amount of karma into a burgeoning fortune, setting the stage for my rise to power.
* * *
I stared at the screen displaying my karma balance: 17,433 Karma. This was the result of my exploits with the exchange system, leaving me with 1,743,300 Coins.
I needed to be strategic about this. After Phase 1, when the Domination Game ends and Phase 2 begins, coins would become even more valuable. Therefore, I decided to reserve 15,000 Karma for Phase 2. So I decided to spend up to 2,433 Karma (or 243,300 Coins) for the domination game.
I glanced at the clock. 3 minutes left. I rushed to the store, fingers flying over the interface. I searched for Stat Points and found the listing.
[Store Window]
Stat Points
Price: 1 Karma each
Description: Boost your attributes.
QuantityAvailable: Unlimited
I quickly bought 10 Stat Points.
[Purchase Confirmation]
You bought 10 Stat Points
The price of Stat Points immediately increased.
[Store Window]
Stat Points
Price: 2 Karma each
Description: Boost your attributes.
QuantityAvailable: Unlimited
'The price doubles every ten purchases, just like in the novel.', I thought to myself.
I muttered, "System window," and the familiar blue window appeared.
[System Window]
Name: ???
Age: 18
Strength: 8
Agility: 7
Vitality: 8
Intelligence: 12
Magic: 2
(Stat Points: 10)
I decided to add all 10 points to Magic.
[System Window]
Name: ???
Age: 18
Strength: 8
Agility: 7
Vitality: 8
Intelligence: 12
Magic: 12
(Stat Points: 0)
A strange sensation enveloped me. Is this magic? I wondered. I had no time to dwell on it.
I raced back to the store and searched for weapons and found the weapon which seemed ideal for the upcoming game.
[Store Window]
Pistol (B rank)
Description: A powerful sidearm with high accuracy. Bullets regenerate as long as magic is present. Essential for early-game survival.
Price: 500 Karma
I bought the pistol without hesitation. At the start of the game, having a reliable weapon with regenerative ammo was crucial.
[Purchase Confirmation]
You bought Pistol (B rank).
With only minutes left, I prepared myself. The pistol and the upgraded Magic stat would give me a strong start in the Domination Game.
* * *
Yunji hurried over to me, her expression a mix of urgency and concern. "Sa—" she started, but I cut her off.
"Call me Erebus," I said firmly.
She blinked, taken aback by the sudden command. "Okay, Erebus. We have 1 minute left. What should we do?"
I glanced around the classroom. My earlier focus on the coin exploit had made me miss how worried everyone seemed. It was clear that panic had set in among my classmates. I turned back to Yunji, trying to offer reassurance.
"Don't worry," I said, my voice steady. "Everything will be fine."
With that, I moved to the front of the class. All eyes were on me as I took a deep breath.
I raised my hand, and with a focused thought, my pistol materialized out of thin air, shimmering into existence before the astonished eyes of my classmates. Gasps and murmurs erupted around the room as they saw the weapon appear.
"Is that... a gun?" someone whispered.
I smirked, feeling the weight of the pistol in my hand. I was ready to address them. The tension in the room was palpable as I began my speech.
"Listen up, everyone," I began, my voice cutting through the noise. "You are all here because you have been chosen. Chosen to face trials and prove yourselves in a world that has turned upside down. But let me make one thing clear: in this game, there will be winners and there will be losers."
I paused, letting my words sink in. The classroom was silent, hanging on every word.
"You all can choose to work for me, or you can choose to struggle on your own," I continued, my tone dripping with confidence. "But understand this: I know the ins and outs of this world better than anyone. I have the means to make us victorious. Align with me, and together, we will conquer. Resist, and you will only find yourselves crushed under the weight of your own ignorance."
My eyes swept across the room, meeting the gazes of my classmates. "This is a new world, and I am the one who will lead us through it. The path will not be easy, but I assure you, it will be worth it."
I took a deep breath and let a cold smile spread across my face. "Make your choice now. Stand with me, or fall behind. The time is upon us."
As I finished speaking, the classroom was filled with a mix of awe and apprehension. The final seconds ticked away, and I could feel the weight of the impending challenge pressing down on us.