Chapter 3: Rulebreaker's Rewards

  Ren stood amidst the remnants of the battlefield, his breaths steady despite the strain on his body. The faint hum of dissipating energy surrounded him, the air still heavy with the acrid tang of burnt data. His HUD pulsed with notifications, but his gaze lingered on the spot where the rift had been moments ago.

  The Phantom Ravager was gone, its shards dissolved into the ether, but the rift's collapse had left behind a faint disturbance—a lingering glitch in reality that whispered of greater dangers yet to come.

  A familiar chime interrupted his thoughts.

  Quest Complete: Survive the Initial Wave

  ? Objective: Defeat all enemies spawned from the Shinjuku Rift

  ? Threat Level: B

  ? Result: Success

  Ren's lips twitched into a faint smirk as the next notification appeared.

  Reward Summary:

  ? XP Gained: 180

  ? Loot Rewards: Beginner's Starter Pack (Opened Automatically)

  ? Bonus Rewards: Dungeon Breach Compensation

  A glowing loot chest materialized before him, its sharp, angular design glinting with otherworldly light. It hovered weightlessly, spinning slowly as though inviting him to claim his spoils. Ren stepped forward, his movements deliberate and composed, and reached out. His hand passed through the chest's surface, activating the system.

  Opening Loot Chest...

  The chest dissolved into motes of light, revealing its contents.

  Loot Gained:

  1. Basic Spell Module: Flame Jet (Tier 1)

  ? Mana Cost: 15

  ? Effect: A short-range fire spell with knockback

  ? Scaling: INT × 0.5

  ? Unlocks Fire Combo Opportunities

  2. Intermediate Mana Potion (x3)

  ? Effect: Restores 50 MP over 10 seconds

  3. Reinforced Leather Bracers (Uncommon Item)

  ? Defense: +3

  ? Bonus: +5% Fire Spell Damage

  4. Credits: 50

  5. System Upgrade Token (Rare Item)

  ? Effect: Permanently enhances one system feature

  Ren's eyes scanned the items with precision, evaluating their potential. The Reinforced Leather Bracers and Flame Jet Module would immediately bolster his arsenal. But the System Upgrade Token—that was the true prize.

  Without hesitation, he equipped the bracers, feeling their weight settle snugly on his arms.

  Equipment Updated:

  ? Reinforced Leather Bracers Equipped

  ? Defense: +3

  ? Fire Spell Damage Bonus: +5%

  Ren then pulled up the System Upgrade Token interface.

  System Upgrade Token Available!

  Choose a System Feature to Upgrade:

  1. Terminal Module Limit: Increases the number of spell modules that can be active simultaneously

  2. Spell Efficiency Protocols: Reduces Mana Cost of all spells by 10%

  3. Overclock Stability Enhancement: Reduces backlash from Overclock Mode by 15%

  Ren's gaze lingered on the first option. More modules meant more options, and more options meant greater control over the battlefield.

  "Always prioritize adaptability," he muttered, selecting Terminal Module Limit.

  System Feature Upgraded: Terminal Module Limit

  ? Previous Limit: 6 Active Modules

  ? New Limit: 9 Active Modules

  The change was instantaneous. The grid in his Terminal interface expanded, each new slot snapping into place with the satisfying precision of a well-oiled machine.

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  Achievement Unlocked: Pioneer of Magic

  Description: You are the first mage to break system constraints and create a custom spell

  Reward:

  ? Title: Spellwright (+5% Spell Damage, -5% Mana Cost)

  ? Loot: Arcane Blueprint Fragment (1/3)

  Achievement Unlocked: Chain Breaker

  Description: You are the first to execute a chain-cast spell, seamlessly connecting two or more spells in combat

  Reward:

  ? Title: Spell Weaver (+3% Cooldown Reduction)

  ? Loot: Chain Casting Core (Passive Skill)

  Achievement Unlocked: Spell Alchemist

  Description: You are the first mage to perform a fusion spell, combining elemental and light properties into a hybrid attack

  Reward:

  ? Title: Arcane Innovator (+5% Hybrid Damage)

  ? Loot: Experimental Mana Core (Rare Item)

  Achievement Unlocked: Tutorial Master

  Description: You are the 8th player worldwide to clear the Tutorial Dungeon successfully

  Reward:

  ? Title: Tutorial Conqueror (+2% All Stats)

  ? Loot: Advanced Starter Pack

  The achievements and their corresponding rewards flowed into his interface like a cascading waterfall of potential. Each item, each title, represented a significant leap in his capabilities.

  Ren equipped the Arcane Innovator title, knowing its hybrid damage bonus complemented his Photon Burst spell. The moment it activated, a faint pulse of energy coursed through him. His body felt lighter, sharper, more attuned to the system's rhythms.

  Equipped Title: Arcane Innovator

  ? Effect: +5% Hybrid Damage

  He examined the Chain Casting Core, a passive skill that shimmered with potential.

  Chain Casting Core (Passive Skill):

  ? Effect: Reduces mana cost of subsequent spells in a chain by 15%

  "That will do," Ren murmured, the faintest trace of satisfaction in his voice. His attention shifted to the Arcane Blueprint Fragment, its description sparking curiosity.

  Arcane Blueprint Fragment (1/3):

  Description: A fragment of an ancient magical schematic. Collect all three pieces to unlock the Arcane Blueprint feature, enabling large-scale spell constructs and personalized spell systems.

  "Large-scale constructs..." Ren mused, tucking the fragment into his inventory. "Interesting."

  The chime of another notification interrupted his thoughts.

  Level Up!

  ? Level: 3

  ? XP: 60/300

  Reward for Reaching Level 3: Spell Module Slot Unlocked (Total: 10 Active Modules)

  Ren opened his Stats Menu and allocated his attribute points with precision.

  Available Attribute Points: 3

  He added 2 to Intelligence and 1 to Wisdom, bolstering his spell potency and mana efficiency.

  Updated Attributes:

  ? Intelligence (INT): 19

  ? Wisdom (WIS): 14

  The sound of approaching footsteps pulled his focus. A woman in black tactical gear emerged from the shadows, her visor glowing faintly with blue light.

  "You're the one who closed the rift?" she asked, her voice cool and sharp.

  Ren nodded, his gaze calm and unwavering. "Yes."

  "You handled it well," she said, glancing at the dissipating remnants of the battlefield. "But this is just the beginning. The larger breaches are already forming."

  A new notification flared in his HUD, stark and urgent.

  System Alert: Global Threat Analysis

  ? Regional Rift Activity: Elevated

  ? Next Quest Unlocked: "The Second Breach"

  Ren straightened, his expression unreadable as he dismissed the notifications. "Then I'd better get ready," he said, his voice steady and deliberate.

  As the Terminal interface pulsed faintly in his mind, Ren turned toward the city, his eyes cold and calculating. The game had only just begun, and he intended to rewrite the rules.

  Character Sheet

  Character Sheet:

  Basic Information

  Name: Ren Ueda

  Class: Spell Coder (Unique)

  Level: 3

  Experience: 60/300

  Stats

  ? Health Points (HP): 70/70

  ? Mana Points (MP): 140/140

  ? Strength (STR): 4

  ? Dexterity (DEX): 6

  ? Constitution (CON): 7

  ? Intelligence (INT): 19

  ? Wisdom (WIS): 14

  ? Luck (LCK): 10

  Titles Equipped

  ? Arcane Innovator: +5% Hybrid Damage

  Active Passives

  ? Chain Casting Core: Reduces mana cost of subsequent spells in a chain by 15%

  Gear Equipped

  ? Reinforced Leather Bracers (Uncommon):

  - Defense: +3

  - Fire Spell Damage: +5%

  ? Enhanced Focus Ring (Rare):

  - Mana Regeneration: +10%

  - Intelligence: +2

  Abilities

  1. Terminal (Skill)

  ? A modular interface for adaptive combat

  ? Current Module Limit: 10 Active Modules

  ? Enables real-time spell customization, chaining, and optimization

  2. Basic Spells

  ? Fireball (Tier 1)

  - Damage: 15 + (INT × 0.5)

  - Mana Cost: 8

  - Cooldown: 0.5s (Modified)

  ? Light Orb (Tier 1)

  - Effect: Illuminates 10m radius, reveals hidden entities

  - Mana Cost: 5

  3. Custom Spells

  ? Photon Burst (Light-Fire Hybrid)

  - Damage: INT × 0.6 + WIS × 0.4

  - Effect: 15% chance to stun light-weak enemies

  - Mana Cost: 6

  - Cooldown: 700ms

  ? Fire Web (Fire AoE)

  - Damage: INT × 0.4 + WIS × 0.3

  - Effect: +20% damage against stunned enemies

  - Mana Cost: 10

  - Cooldown: 2s

  4. New Spell Module

  ? Flame Jet (Tier 1)

  - Damage: INT × 0.5

  - Mana Cost: 15

  - Cooldown: 1.5s

  - Special Effect: Knockback

  Inventory

  1. Intermediate Mana Potion (x3)

  - Effect: Restores 50 MP over 10 seconds

  2. Greater Mana Potion (x3)

  - Effect: Restores 100 MP over 5 seconds

  3. Arcane Blueprint Fragment (1/3)

  - Description: Part of an ancient schematic for large-scale spell constructs

  4. Experimental Mana Core (Rare Item) *Unequipped*

  - Effect: +10% Spell Damage

  - Drawback: -10% System Stability Recovery