It felt so surreal knowing that his body was evolving and that he would acquire abilities beyond the human being could do – providing that they weren't just pulling his legs, that is.
But something told Ren that they weren't. And what could they possibly gain from fooling him? A good laugh, perhaps, but besides that, there was nothing.
Ren's excitement grew, and he couldn't help but prod further. "Tell me, what are these powers? What can you do?"
Angelica's expression turned serious; her voice tinged with a hint of warning. "Rule number one . . . don't ever tell your abilities. Not even to your family and friends."
There were rules now? Ren's brows furrowed with a mix of intrigue. "Why?"
"Trust her," said Joker. "New rules would overtake the old ones soon enough, and rule number one is the most important. Remember that."
Ren felt like they wouldn't tell him, no matter how much he persisted, so he decided to let it go.
"Be careful not to hasten your evolution," Angelica reminded again. "It wouldn't do your body any good."
"I'm not. Every time the game logs me out, my body just . . . undergo this change, and when I woke up, I couldn't remember anything."
Angelica and Joker looked at each other.
"Ever wonder why there's a huge time gap between the game and the real world?" Angelica started. "Wonder why there is only four hours' time in the game?"
Ren thought that it was because COVENANT had a lot to offer, giving the players enough time to explore everything before they got old. And that the complaints, especially from the mothers, were the reason why there was a time restriction. But now . . . he wasn't so sure.
"It's to hasten the evolution of man," Joker answered when Ren didn't reply. "This game is not just a game. It's a device to hasten the evolution of man. You know that already, right?"
Ren nodded. The developer told him that.
"Usually, reincarnators have the advantage of evolving faster than the rest. The reason why your evolution is faster and the others' is simply too slow. IT is fast approaching."
"IT?" Ren was baffled.
"Something that would come . . . ," Joker said, eyes on the windows but it felt like he wasn't really seeing anything. "Soon enough . . ."
"The real reason why the game put such a huge time difference was to hasten the evolution," repeated Angelica. "However, a whole day of playing the game in real-time isn't helping with the evolution; instead, it weakens the body and regresses its evolution. So the time limits each day. They couldn't hasten the evolution, but they couldn't slow it either. It had to be balance."
"So what your saying is . . . I shouldn't play too much?" Ren concluded.
"Your evolution is already faster than the others," Joker answered. "Your time limit in the game should be lesser than the others. You don't need to play as much."
Ren frowned. Four hours each day wasn't enough for him. Maybe before, but now that he had a huge debt to pay, he couldn't afford not to play the game any lesser than the allotted time.
"I don't feel any weak, and I don't feel like my evolution is regressing," Ren explained. "What would happen if I hasten my evolution?"
Angelica shrugged. "Who knows? Everyone is different, so no one knows what would happen to your body."
"One thing, though. If your body is slow to evolve, the consequences are dire."
"So I should be glad that mine is faster, right?" Ren insisted. He couldn't accept that he should be playing the game lesser than four hours. Four hours was already too little for him. If he could, he wanted the developers to abolish the time restrictions even just until he paid off Evie's debt.
Angelica shook her head, slow and deliberate. "Not so. You should still be careful. So far, the way I see it, your body is handling your evolution well enough. But don't push it . . . you never know when your body would give in, and that would be it. It would be game over for you."
"In short, I just have to take care of my body, not to succumb to exhaustion, right?" Ren said with determination.
Angelica wryly sighed. "Suit yourself. I think you've already decided to continue playing the game to the limits no matter our warnings."
Joker stifled a laugh. "The game is quite addicting."
"Really?" Angelica asked without interest, though her face remained smiling. "I prefer the real world than the game. It makes you feel alert and grounded."
There was something hidden behind her words, but Ren didn't probe further.
Joker ignored her and talked to Ren. "You might not know about this, but Black Lion just defeated a dragon in a dungeon, and we got firstblood, thanks to me! And now we're leading in this expedition with loads of treasures. We've got our expenses back and so much more. Too bad that you're not in the Fey Realm, ey?" he coyly grinned.
Ren was about to open his mouth but abruptly closed it. He forgot that a different Ren was in the game.
"Is that so?" Angelica yawned. "That's nothing to be proud of."
Joker raised a brow at her. "Oh, yeah? Then what about you? What have you achieved so far?"
Angelica propped her chin over her crossing hands. "That's a secret. But after we're finished with this, I'm sure Sleeping Dragon would be number one in the leaderboards again."
Joker snorted. "If you're not blind, then you'll see that Black Lion is number one."
Angelica rolled her eyes. "You're only number one right now because I'm not playing like you. I don't need to waste so much time in the game just for a useless ranking system."
Ren's surprise was evident as Angelica brushed off the notion of being number one on the COVENANT leaderboard, considering it as useless. Perplexed, he couldn't help but question the benefits and significance that such a position would entail.
Being number one in COVENANT was a big deal. It came with fame, fortune, and countless opportunities.
Why did she consider it useless?
Achieving the top position in COVENANT brought unparalleled recognition and fame. Your name would be known throughout the world, and you would become a role model for aspiring players. This level of visibility could open doors to sponsorships, endorsements, and even potential career opportunities in the gaming industry and in the real world.
Furthermore, being number one granted you access to exclusive events, tournaments, and collaborations. This exposure can lead to networking with influential individuals, expanding your connections, and paving the way for future ventures.
And let's not forget about the financial rewards that come with being at the top. Sponsors and organizations were often willing to invest in top-ranked players, offering lucrative contracts, prize money, and even revenue shares. This financial stability could provide you with the resources needed to pursue your dreams, invest in further growth, or support yourself and your loved ones.
The opportunities, recognition, and financial rewards could be life-changing, providing you with a platform to reach greater heights and make a significant impact.
How could she say that it was useless?
Unless . . . there's something greater than all the benefits he just enumerated.
Ren couldn't help but think that Angelica's interest lies elsewhere. She was guarded and it seemed like something was worrying her.
