Chapter 27: Might As Well Tell Me To Just Go Die

Damon performed a few experiments with the newest addition to the channel system. Just like some people were describing online, in order to list an item in the regional, national, or global channels, one would have to pay a corresponding listing cost depending on the channel.

However, for private transactions, the listing option does not appear to require a cost. To test things out, Damon borrowed a Hazel’s phone, and as soon as he registered the item for private listing, the phone disappeared from his hand, with a digitized image of it showing as well as a perfect description of the item rendered by the system.

All Damon had to do was add the price to it, and as long as he sent a trade request to someone’s private ID, they could purchase said phone at the registered price. The exciting thing for Damon here wasn’t actually the trade function.... At least not yet.

What he was most excited about was that there was now a way to acquire the initial Origin crystals for himself without having to go out and risk his life, knowing fully well how fragile he was. And if he did get his hands on some Origin crystals, his class skill would begin to show just how broken it was in only a few days.

’This is incredible.’ Damon exclaimed inside, as he dearly hoped that Harvey and Mildred would make it back safely, even if it was just with a single Origin Crystal. That would be all he needed in order to utilize his class skill.

That the trade option was added to the channel right after the Treasure box event started means that the Origin system was providing a platform for people to trade and exchange items obtained from these treasure boxes if they were not of any use to them. These people could receive payment in the much-needed and coveted Origin crystals from those who could afford the demand they set for their product.

This was a welcome development in this brutal world that has no place for the weak. Imagine someone who’s hiding in fear, lucks out, and discovers one of those treasure drops without having to risk their life. They could keep the items for themselves, or sell what they don’t need for Origin crystals. Damon reasoned.

Seeing how the system emphasized how special these drops would be, the items contained in them would no doubt be quite useful.

But there were just five drops per region, so luck matters a lot. Or awakening a particularly powerful class that allows one to breeze through a sea of mutants until they reach their targets. Who would even be that lucky?

About one kilometer away from ’The Grand’—inside the female dormitories of the Newhaven state college—

A brunette young lady wearing sportswear and a beanie was inside her small dorm room, the cries of mutants right outside her door and the occasional sharp screams of fellow students resounding through the halls as she gazed dazedly at what was before her.

She was perspiring heavily, her breathing ragged, as she repeatedly looked in front of her and back at her door she had meticulously padded with all of her furniture.

"I...hah..."

"I... almost died."

"I can’t believe... huff..."

"I can’t believe I got it!"

The young lady exclaimed in murmurs, excitement written all over her sweating face as she couldn’t stop the smile that was stretching across her lips.

"Ehehe....."

"Ehehehe....this.....I am actually so lucky."

The lady was laughing maniacally, doing her best to stifle her exuberance. She was running her fingers over the object in front of her. A small box with a bronze shimmer, glowing and illuminating her excited face as she’s presented by the option to open.

Elsewhere~

On an expansive street with ruined stalls, burnt buildings, and vehicles. A swarm of mutants was crowding around a small clothing store by the roadside.

Roars, grunts, and scratches at the burglary-proof metal surrounding the store echo through the streets. Inside, a young man with ink-black hair and golden eyes can be seen crouched up in a corner, slopping noodles from a cup.

"It’s gonna spoil soon anyway."

"You guys be patient, okay? I will soon be out of food. Then you can have me." The young man uttered dejectedly.

As he finished eating, he moved a little ahead in the cramped space and reached for an audio recorder he had resting on a small counter; then he pressed a button as the green light came on.

"If anyone finds this recording, please make an effort to get it to my loved ones."

"My name is Gaius Julius Caesar— no affiliation."

"Yeah, I know how it sounds, but you can blame my silly parents for that."

"My grandpa was Ceaser, my father Julius, and he in turn named me Gaius. I bet he thought himself a comedian while giving me such a ridiculous name."

"But I love him still, and I miss them all."

"My home address is at 59th Jokane. Oldport, for whoever finds this."

"I have nine siblings. Four sisters and three brothers."

"I came out here to Newhaven to chase my dreams, but it seems I would soon be consumed by these terrifying mutants instead."

"I had a passion for journalism, but this city didn’t care for my passions. So I ended up opening a clothes boutique, which also serves as my makeshift abode."

"Now that I think about it....I guess I should have stayed home. With such a small population back there, I bet it wouldn’t be as bad as this."

"It’s been a couple of terrible years for me—"

"I burnt through my savings, and I’ve been barely surviving."

"I should have been a goner with all the mutants swarming to this location, were it not for the anti-burglary metal railings I had installed when my shop was broken into last year."

"Now, I’m stuck in here with dwindling supplies of ramen and water, which would turn bad either way if I consume them or not."

"Judging by the increasing pressure being placed on this small shack of mine, I can safely assume that the number of mutants currently surrounding my little shop should be in the hundreds."

"I mean.... I can’t complain. This is the most attention I’ve ever received in my life. If only they weren’t trying to eat me."

"The authorities are no help; even the police precinct a few blocks ahead has been completely overrun by these things."

"It’s not like I have nothing, though—I am an awakened..."

"I do have a class, one of a very high grade, in fact. But—"

"My first class skill is more like a death sentence, rather than being helpful." Gaius heaved a sigh as he called forth his status—

[AWAKENER STATUS]

[GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR]

ALIAS: CELESTIALGODDESS92

RACE: AWAKENED HUMAN

TIER: 0

MENTALITY: 60

PHYSIQUE: 8.5

CLASS: SOVEREIGN OF FLAMES [ UNIQUE (MYTHICAL) ]

[CLASS SKILL 0: EXPLOSION (ACTIVE) ]

[CLASS SKILL 1: LOCKED ]

[CLASS SKILL 2: LOCKED ]

[CLASS SKILL 3: LOCKED ]

[CLASS SKILL 4: LOCKED ]

[CLASS SKILL 5: LOCKED ]

[??? ] ]

With a thought from Gaius, the information about his class skill was transmitted directly into his mind—

[T-0 CLASS SKILL: EXPLOSION (ACTIVE)

YOU EXPLODE

MP COST: 20

DURATION: 1 SECONDS

COOLDOWN: 24 HOURS

]

"...."

"Sigh.... Might as well tell me to just go die."