Later that night...
Frizz soared at the sky, taking in the view of the bright, beautiful moon. He was slowly getting addicted to flying and had a somewhat decent handle on the flight aerodynamics. "Phew, it's really not that easy."
Frizz landed at the abandoned, unfinished building, Nathaniel Macaraeg and Divine Hesoyam Rosa's base of operations. When he accepted their offer to erase his family's memories, reverting before the kidnapping, they asked him to meet them here.
Their base of operations was tidier than last time, properly set up with several pieces of furniture. (I guess they're not moving away for a while then,) he thought, spotting a well-furnished kitchen.
"Frizz!" A voice called; it was Divine. "I am so glad that you're finally with us," she commented, excited and giddy about the future.
The sweet aroma of various spices flooded the air; displayed on the dining table was a roasted pig with an apple in its mouth. Two knives were embedded in the roast, ready to be cut up. Frizz gulped at the lavish sight, craving.
"Grab a seat and eat up!" Nathaniel added, materializing behind the famished Frizz. "!"
Divine pulled up a seat for their new member. Frizz sighed, accepting the seat and focusing on the salivating roast in front of him. He had an idea of what this celebration was.
"Well, what's the occasion? This is very tastefully attracting," he asked, feigning ignorance.
The question made Divine smile, giggling. "It's for you!" she said, bumping his shoulders.
(I knew it.) Frizz mused, snickering yet uneasy.
"You're our newest member and a second-rate leveler too! These two reasons warrant a celebration!" Divine added with glee as she whispered to his ear, "There's also that talent ability of yours."
Frizz's heart skipped a beat upon hearing that sentence, but paid no mind to it. "What about it?" he retorted, somewhat glaring like a territorial animal.
"Nothing! Let's not spoil the celebration, please." Divine apologized, easing the tension she'd caused. "But you did ask for my help, and I did help you without a second doubt."
The smile plastered on Divine's face was beaming yet hid something else. Her words were polite yet forceful. If she wants something, she will get it.
"Maybe an equivalent exchange is due?" Divine asked.
The slight pressure caused Frizz to cave, understanding what she'd meant. "It's a new mechanic that allows me to gain talents at the cost of combining perks and some distant drawbacks."
"I signed a contract given by the system."
Divine furrowed her brows upon hearing Frizz's reply, unsure of what to think. (A system giving out contracts? I never heard of that. He's telling the truth too. What is this contract?)
"Could you give me the full details?"
"Heeey~!" Nathaniel interjected, interrupting the interrogative conversation. "Now, now. Let's celebrate! The questions can come later, and besides, Hei will come shortly."
Frizz perked up upon hearing the name. "Is Hei the leader in this organization? What's the name of this group of ours?" he asked as the two sat down at the table, slowly cutting the roasted pig.
Divine smiled, hastily hoarding the leaner meats. "Yep! He's the leader; he started this little organization of ours three years ago. Call us Status Quo."
"I see... there were already levelers when I was in college," Frizz muttered, watching as Divine filled her plate with the juiciest, meatiest parts of the roast.
Nathaniel skinned the roast, hoarding the thin and crunchy skin. "That's right, systems started showing up three years ago. Hei was a pioneer."
"Is this a global phenomenon?" Frizz asked, curious about the origins.
"Yep, there are even governments working closely with levelers. They're studying them, confused as to how a video game mechanic appeared in real life," Nathaniel replied with his mouth full.
"Except ours, they're in the dark. That's what Hei said," Nathaniel informed, pointing his spoon at Frizz. "Remember the earthquake in Malaysia a year ago that toppled several buildings in Kuching?" he asked, continuing his meal.
"Not really. I hardly watch international news." Frizz shook his head since the news deeply bored him, preferring to watch entertaining shows or pieces.
However, he shortly remembered that there were several clips on the internet that went viral a year ago. The video clips showcased several buildings somewhere in Malaysia collapsing.
"Well, that was a leveler's rage. A female mage." Nathaniel paused, shoving a single rib in his mouth and chewing on it. Frizz recoiled upon hearing the snaps as he chewed.
"See, there was a local official who, by chance, saw what she could do, and instead of capturing her, he provided her with an opportunity," Nathaniel added, making gestures with his hands.
Divine burped, excusing herself as Nathaniel continued. "She could teleport via these markers that she placed on her mini map, and all she had to do was deliver drugs from one city to another, effectively slashing transportation and bribing costs in exchange for some money and protection."
"The deal lasted for several months until the local official, who was high from his own products, had the idea to force himself on the mage. That was to sedate her and have his way with her," Nathaniel added, scoffing at the idiocy.
"Now, that stupid official wasn't aware of what leveling was. All he saw was that she could teleport and thought that was her gimmick, unaware of her true strength and plethora of spells," Nathaniel added, his mouth was full but didn't lose the ability to speak clearly.
"He heavily sedated her via gas after a delivery and as he was to take off her last undergarment, the mage woke up. Feeling betrayed and furious, she casted an earthquake spell."
Nathaniel finished his story at the same time he finished his serving, finishing a huge portion out of the roasted pig. Divine's belly swelled as she slowly caressed it, still eyeing the huge lavish dinner. Frizz's brows furrowed as he stared at the two, amazed and slightly repulsed by their appetite and speed.
"Anyways, what I am trying to say is that systems are popping out everywhere, and maxed-out third-rate levelers are strong enough to threaten a city," Nathaniel added, glaring at Frizz. "Second-rate levelers are enough to destroy a country."
"First-rate levelers can destroy the world if they wanted to."
Frizz kept silent despite disliking the implications. (I can destroy a country? How?)
"The main goal of our organization is to curb the influence of these levelers. We want the status quo to remain, the world ignorant of our existence."
(That's not a bad goal; if the world were to be aware of our existence, then the world would either fear us or try to use us.) Frizz thought, spinning the fork. (Not only that, we wouldn't be able to enjoy a moment of peace.)
"I still have some doubts, but I can get behind your motivations," Frizz half-confidently added, causing the two to breathe in relief. *Whew!*
The atmosphere went from unsure to jovial. Divine stood up and reached for her spatial inventory, causing a crack in the air to appear as her whole arm disappeared. "Ah! There it is!"
Divine pulled out a wine from her spatial inventory, surprising Frizz as Nathaniel handed her a corkscrew and added: "Hei sure is taking a long time."
*Boom!* As soon as Nathaniel uttered their leader's name, a floating eyeball arrived and stopped above the dining table, blasting away the almost skeletal roast and silverware from the gust.
*Splat!* Divine's figure was splattered with spices and meat, covered in a mixture of broth and oil. "Hei! Please! We were eating!" she exclaimed, desperately trying to wipe the mess from her body.
"I apologize, Divine, but we have a critical situation," the floating eyeball announced, its sudden interruption causing Nathaniel and Divine to jump and listen intently. "Take this experience shard, Frizz; it should be enough to level you up once."
The floating eyeball produced a glowing crystal, shooting it forward to Frizz's hands. "Tidy up and prepare yourselves; I will be back in an hour." The eyeball shot forward, producing another loud boom and making an even bigger mess.
The dining table was cleaned; the cover, the utensils, and the roasted pig were scattered on the floor. Nathaniel had an inscrutable expression, whereas Mina was scrubbing her hair, desperately trying to remove the oil.
Frizz had doubts about everything. (Just one level up?) He thought, glancing then biting on it.
[System]
Experience shard used: 500 experience absorbed.
[System]
New name is now level 19.
Select a perk: [Iron Frame II], [Spatial Inventory], [Homing Projectiles], [Magnetized], [Mana Efficient]
"Damn, good selections this time... but the upgrade is better." Frizz muttered, eyeing the upgrade. "Give me the iron frame upgrade."
[System]
New name received: [Iron Frame II].
Displaying descriptions: The perk user passively regenerates from wounds, injuries, and afflictions at an increased accelerated rate. Serious conditions, like fractures or lacerations, may need medical attention but heal noticeably better and faster. The perk user also has a greater tolerance to pain. Their body operates closer to peak physicality, substantially improving overall physical performance. The perk user's bones are significantly stronger than average, and fractures heal better.
When the perk user's health falls to critical, their physical performance temporarily reaches true peak condition for 75 seconds. While in this peak condition, the perk user becomes extremely resistant to fractures and severe injuries.
During this time, their strength, speed, and endurance are greatly amplified, and healing is accelerated rapidly, giving them a stronger fighting chance in critical situations.
This perk has no cooldown; it activates if health lowers to critical again.