Chapter 5: Shopping Spree 3 – Skill Issue
The second we stepped into the ALL-YOU-WANT BULLSH*T SKILL STORE, I immediately regretted everything.
The place looked like someone handed a drugged-up AI a warehouse, unlimited neon paint, and the concept of capitalism.
Imagine an arcade, a casino, a fantasy scroll library, and a shady black market—then smash them together and dump them inside a spinning kaleidoscope.
Signs floated in midair, reading things like:
> ❝Buy 2 Useless Passives, Get 1 World-Breaking Skill Free!❞
❝'You won't regret it' – A Liar❞
❝ALL SALES FINAL. NO REFUNDS. ESPECIALLY IF YOU DIE.❞
I pushed Jackson's shopping cart through the madness. He leaned back with his arms crossed like a Roman emperor being carried on a sedan chair.
"Are we in a fever dream?" I muttered, already overwhelmed.
Jackson shrugged. "Nah. This is just capitalism unchained. Go nuts."
---
✦ [Skill Rack #17 – "P" Section] ✦
I stopped in front of a rack labeled PLUNDER – Limited Time Sale.
A red tag read:
> LEVEL 1 – 20,000 SP || MAX UPGRADE – 150,000 SP
Skill: PLUNDER
➤ Steal 20% of defeated enemies' stats.
➤ Chance to absorb one of their skills (rarity affects chance).
➤ Max Level guarantees skill absorption if the enemy is strong enough.
I didn't even blink. Bought it. 20,000 SP—gone.
A floating screen popped up:
> ▓ [PLUNDER ACQUIRED – LVL 1] ▓
Upgrade to MAX for 150,000 SP?
[YES] / [HELL YES]
"...Hell yes."
Another flash of light.
> ▓ [PLUNDER – MAX] ▓
Now absorbs 50% of stats and up to 2 skills per kill.
Jackson gave a low whistle. "Damn, that's cracked. I'd say you're cheating, but this whole store is a cheat."
"Yeah, yeah. Onward."as Jackson just wave me off and pointed out like ordering a servant
---
✦ [Skill Booth #32 – "L" Section] ✦
The next stall was surrounded by gold horseshoes, glittering dice, and a single cackling leprechaun AI throwing four-leaf clovers at my face.
> Skill: LUCK
➤ Basic: Slightly boosts chances of good fortune.
➤ Max: You become a walking glitch in probability.
Same pricing: 20,000 SP base, 150,000 to max.
Jackson raised an eyebrow. "You gonna get it?"
"I've seen how RNG treats other people. I refuse to be one of them." Swipe.
> ▓ [LUCK – LVL 1] ▓
Upgrade to MAX for 150,000 SP?
[YES] / [ABSOLUTELY]
And with that, another 150k burned into stardust.
> ▓ [LUCK – MAX] ▓
Effects: Situations will constantly tilt in your favor. Events may 'coincidentally' save your life. Slot machines fear you.
---
✦ [Skill Booth #69 – Broken Section] ✦
As we kept walking, the shelves got more insane. Some skills had WARNING: MAY CAUSE MULTIVERSE COLLAPSE stickers slapped on them.
One caught my eye:
> Skill: FATE KILLER – 100,000 SP
➤ Can slay "fated" individuals (like MCs or chosen ones).
➤ Breaking the chain grants rare loot, fragments of destiny, and unlocks hidden events.
Jackson leaned forward in the cart. "That's the kind of skill you only buy if you're ready to seriously piss off some cosmic authors."
I smirked. "Good thing I've always been an editor at heart."
Purchased.
---
> Skill: MAX SYNERGY – 100,000 SP
➤ Makes all Max-Level skills work at enhanced power.
➤ Increases interactivity and combo potential.
Bought.
---
> Skill: GOLDEN FATE – 100,000 SP
➤ Every time you make a choice, reality subtly shifts to favor your long-term success.
Jackson blinked. "That's literally plot armor. That's not even fair."
I just shrugged. "I don't make the rules. I just pay for them."
Purchased.
---
By this point, I had a growing pile of cracked skills.
Then I stumbled onto a corner booth lit with soft blue lights. No flashy banners. Just a simple velvet box.
> HEARTLEFT – Goodbye Gift
159,000 SP
Item: A crystallized memory shard infused with warmth, protection, and legacy.
Once bound to a soul, it permanently boosts survivability, grants a one-time resurrection, and leaves behind the final thoughts of the giver.
I stopped. Hard.
"…Jackson."
He blinked. "Huh?"
"You've… guided me through so many lifetimes. Plans, resets, failures. Every time, you were there—either laughing at me or dragging me forward."
I picked up the gift.
"I don't know what's ahead. But this time, I want you to make it to the end. Whether I'm there or not."
"What do you mean, dumbass?" Jackson looked at me with a subtle 'are you insane' expression.
"Well… the plan I pulled is probably illegal. Especially me absorbing my past lives. If the Soul Corridor higher-ups find out, they'll probably blame you."
I didn't even look at him when I said it.
Jackson went quiet. Slowly, he stepped out of the cart—for the first time all day—and stood beside me.
"...You serious, man?"
I nodded. "Dead serious."
He looked away, snorted, and rubbed his nose. "Dumbass."
We stood there for a moment, letting the silence stretch between us.
Then I pressed [BUY], and my SP dropped to zero.
> ▓ Remaining SP: 0 ▓
Jackson held the glowing shard in both hands. It pulsed once, then sank into his chest with a soft hum.
"…I'll make it count," he said softly.
---
We stood in front of a glowing doorway—brilliant white, humming with power.
"Ready to go?" Jackson asked me.
And I just grinned. "Only if you stop being so dramatic."
As we both laughed and it slowly died down—
I stepped forward.
> ▓ SYSTEM ACTIVATING…
WELCOME, SET. YOUR PATH BEGINS NOW.
[GAMER SYSTEM ALPHA PRO DELUXE 3000 – INITIALIZED]
▶ CHOOSE YOUR WORLD.
As the light enveloped me, I took one last look at Jackson.
"Thanks for everything."
Then I stepped into the unknown.
---
📊 Stats Update
Name: Set
Gender: Currently Male
Lives Remaining: 100
SP: 0
System: Gamer System Alpha Pro Deluxe 3000
---
Skills
➤ Active
Plunder (MAX): Absorb 50% of stats and up to 2 skills from fallen enemies
Fate Killer: Slay chosen ones to harvest destiny fragments
➤ Passive
Luck (MAX): Probability constantly favors you
Max Synergy: Enhances power and interaction of Maxed Skills
Golden Fate: Choices subtly bend fate in your favor
---
📘 Author's Note:
Holy hell, this chapter was beefy. Writing Jackson and Set's dynamic is always a blast.
Bad news though: the new school year is starting, so updates might slow down. I'll still aim to post 2–3 chapters a week if I can!
And before anyone says "those skills are trash" or "he's too weak," hear me out—he's not supposed to be OP right away. The plan is to build up over time. With the skills he has now, he'll grow into something cracked later. So nag all you want, but these skills are final.
Drop power stones to keep this cracked train rolling. See you next chapter!