Leveling Up in Life

Titus pushed open the door to his cramped apartment, the familiar scent of stale air greeting him. He tossed his keys onto the chipped counter and headed straight for the bathroom. Hot water washed over him, washing away the sweat and grime of the day, being a waiter was surprisingly active work. Steam enveloped him, and for a moment, he let his mind drift.

After the shower, he dressed in a clean t-shirt and faded jeans. He settled on the couch, heart racing with anticipation. He had to check the system again.

With a flick of his thumb, the interface flickered to life, casting a soft glow across the dim room. The icons danced, but one caught his eye—a pulsing symbol, vibrant and insistent. His pulse quickened as he leaned closer, curiosity piqued.

Congratulations! You've unlocked the Lifeline Shop.

The screen transformed, revealing a vibrant marketplace filled with items. A bright banner stretched across the top, reading, “Welcome to the Lifeline Shop! Your path to success and enhancement starts here!” He scrolled through the offerings, eyes wide. Each item had its own aura, a glow that hinted at untapped potential.

“Health Potions” he read aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. He pictured himself healing from a cut of a broken glass. Besides it, a sleek weapon glimmered,  “Basic Blade”

Titus lowers his head, a frown on his face. "Why would I require a blade? Are there going to be enemies or perhaps even monsters? Or will I start working in the kitchen?"

He continued scrolling, his heart racing. “Experience Boosters? What’s that?” He frowned at the description.

“Use these to gain extra experience points in your next quest. Available for purchase: 100 coins each.”

Coins. He only had 125 at the moment, not enough to be wasting them on something that's not necessary at the moment. He felt the thrill of possibility but also the familiar weight of uncertainty.

His eyes flitted over the items again, each one promising something more than what he had. The weight of his old life pressed against him, but the potential here felt freeing.

“Okay, let’s see what else I can find,” he murmured, fingers hovering over the screen.

Titus scanned the categories laid out before him, his eyes darting across the screen like a kid in a candy store.

Consumables flashed at the top, and he clicked in. Rows of colorful potions filled the screen.

“Health Potions” he read, each priced at 50 coins. “Restore 75 health instantly” Next to them, a variety of vibrant candies caught his eye. One boasted, “Candy Rush: Boosts speed temporarily.” Another claimed, “Brain sugar: Enhances concentration.”

He leaned back, biting his lip. “So, these are like power-ups,” he muttered. The thought of working faster during the lunch rush tempted him. But that would look too strange, right?

Titus moved on to Equipment. The offerings looked basic — nothing more than dull knifes and battered shields. A wooden shield appeared first. “Wooden Shield: Basic defense, might block an attack.”

His stomach twisted, that for 100 coins. “That’s all I can afford?” he scoffed.

Next, a flimsy-looking blade caught his eye, also for 100 coins.

“Basic Blade: Standard melee weapon.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Not even a dagger? Really?”

"I'll have to wait till I can get something better, maybe it's not even necessary to get a weapon. I haven't seen anything dangerous yet."

 Disappointed, he clicked over to Skills. One skill flashed before him, bold and enticing.

Hone Concentration: Focus your mind to improve performance in tasks for 3 minutes.

A frown crossed his face. “Just one skill?” He expected a whole library, something to really dig into. The prospect felt underwhelming, but he remembered he decided to put his skill point in concentration. “So I got a passive boost to concentration, and that unlocked the ability to buy an active skill. I'll have to keep that in mind.”

Finally, he opened Quest Related. A blank screen stared back at him, mocking. “What’s the point of this?” he grumbled, irritation starting to creep in. “No quests, no rewards. Great.”

He leaned forward, frustration bubbling up. “What’s the catch?”

The marketplace glowed around him, a promise of adventure, yet he felt tethered to his mundane life. He sighed, rubbing his temples.

“Guess I’ll have to save up,” he muttered, eyes narrowing at the screen. “But for what? A basic blade? I'll get more use out of skills, and the consumables will be great for emergencies.”

He closed the interface and glanced out the window, the dim city lights flickering against the night sky. The world outside felt more real, yet the possibilities of the shop lingered in his mind, taunting him.