"Finally" Rex impulsively said as he glanced at the latest notification. The cosmic hub feature was a feature available to every single player of Cosmic Ascendance. According to his guide, it was one of the features available from the moment the game began.
But considering his unique circumstance, he had not heard access to it from the onset. Only now activating it.
"It must have been the coins, that activated it" Rex thought as he tried to make sense of what could have activated the feature. "New players were set up with 10 bronze coins, as they were spawned into the game according to the guide, Maybe it's the coin that activates the feature, which will explain why 'cosmic hub' only activated now when I picked up the bronze coins" Rex analyzed.
With childish excitement, he brought up his interface, He now had another tab he could access, apart from his 'Stat Screen'. The tab was currently pulsing a rhythmic yellow light, the pulse seemingly pulling on his curiosity to check it out.
With a mental thought, the tabs switched,
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"BOX SENT TO INVENTORY''
Two notifications popped up in HIS POV as he switched tabs.
The thought of receiving anything at all filled Rex with excitement.
His Inventory, a wooden box in the right half of his view, had lighted up, following the notification. As he focused on it, the content of his inventory was brought up into view. Currently, the only thing it kept was the "Overlord Newbie Welcome Box".
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As Rex chose the "Open Box" option, there was no fan-fare or bright light flashes as characteristic of most games. The content of the box were simply listed out in front of him.
+3RD GEN COSMIC AI
+1 EMBER OF APTITUDE
+1 GOLD COIN
"Bang!!!"
Rex could feel his mind literally blown, "An Ember of Aptitude" he only had a surface knowledge of its purpose. But for the gold coin and the cosmic AI, Those two he was very familiar with.
The gold coin, a higher value denomination of the in-game currency used in cosmic ascendance. It was worth 100 silver coins, with 1 silver coin amounting to 1000 bronze coins.
His 1 gold coin was in equivalent value to 100,000 bronze coins.
His guide by the popular gamer: Big-Fish had described that the average amount a newbie would need to fully equip and maintain their equipment and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle in Aethernal, the newbie planet, was about a thousand bronze coin (1 silver coin).
But his welcome package has gifted him a gold coin, a hundred times what he would need.
Still giddy with excitement, Rex summoned his gold coin, the coin which was way bigger than the traditional coins used on earth, been as large as a medallion.
- - - -
He twirled the large coin around in his hands, it glistened from the greenish illumination of the hall. As Rex held the gold coin in his hands, he felt wealthy, like he could literally live as carefree as he wanted in Cosmic Ascendance, spending his time enjoying the peculiarities it offered, rather than bustling around completing quests in order to obtain resources he could use to increase his abilities in the game.
His coin had cloud carvings on one side and an inscription in glyphics he could not decipher on the other side. Feeling satisfied with his coin, Rex glanced at the "Inventory" that had been affixed to the Gold coin since he summoned it. As his coin disappeared from his hand. Reappearing in his inventory.
Rex glaned at the next item his welcome package had rewarded him with. The "3rd Gen Cosmic AI".
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Two options were displayed.
Rex chose the activate option,
. . . . . INTEGRATING COSMIC AI
...INTEGRATION AT 57%
.INTEGRATION AT 93%
INTEGRATION COMPLETE.
"Halloooo"
A soft childish, feminine voice resounded in Rex's ear, as he saw a "Kawaii" loli appear in front of him. The cute-looking girl, clothed in a simple floral gown, shared some of his own facial features like; his dreamy blue eyes, his smile and even his rosy creamy skin.
"My name is X L, your very own personal AI, here to elevate and improve your cosmic experience". The cute-looking AI announced. Rex, who was still reeling from the fact that he had just integrated an AI into his interface, was left stumped by the cute appearance of the AI.
"Analyzing thought pattern"
"I had taken this form, as it is the most optimal form to elicit a favourable and warm impression on you, this form is based on a younger feminine version of yourself, you can say I am assuming the form of a younger sister of yours who shares exactly the same genetic predisposition as yours" X L announced to Rex, as she tried to ease the uneasiness she was detecting, that the form she had taken had caused Rex
"WOULD YOU PREFER I ASSUME THIS FORM INSTEAD?"
An aged male voice resounded, as X L changed her form to that of a white haired elder, wearing a suit similar to the OVERLORD body set, looking like a smart dressed spaceship captin.
"Nooo, I prefer the later!!!", Rex screamed out shamelessly, knowing he was very much alone in the ruin. The thought of having the wisened old man with a gaze that seemed to be judging him following him around was a very depressing thought.
In as much as his major goal in the special VR game "Cosmic Ascendance" was to gain the power and strength the game could offer. He would try to have as much fun as he could doing it. Having a "Sensei" as an AI did not give the impression that this would be possible.
"Confirm X L's form, note that this would become my permanent form once confirmed" X L who had once again changed into the cute looking girl in a floral gown announced to Rex.
"What if I choose not to confirm" Rex asked. As he was skeptical of having an AI in this cute feminine form. The Gen 3 attached to the AI's name scared him.During his research he had not seen anything about the Cosmic AI's generations. Having no idea of their full capability scared him. "What if it could actually project itself to others?" Rex was filled with a slight dread as he thought of this.
An image of the "Kawaii AI" appearing in the middle of an engaging encounter with a nice female player, to announce an observation or notification, and permanently crushing his romantic appeal, momentarily sent a thrill borne from the awkwardness of such a situation down his spine.
"Ehmmmm" Rex tried to avoid the awkward silence as X L stared at him with her slightly bulging eyes, expectant of his reply.
"Please note that, this appearance will allow X L to work in its most optimal form, greatly improving X L's efficiency " X L chirped in as Rex was still trying to come to a decision.
Hearing the new information, Rex made his decision, "Efficency comes first" he thought.
"Confirm" Rex verbally confirmed the AI's form.
...X L choosing the most appropriate title...
...Most optimal title chosen..
"Hello, Rex" X L spoke looking at Rex with a face that could tame the most rebellious of hearts.