"Ahh, it's still a lot," As Damon thought about his prize, the sadness that had hit him earlier started to fade. "With this, I can peak all my stats."
He got over his frustration and turned his attention to the other notification, that was about the contract.
This one threw him. He remembered the UFA contract he'd signed: $12,000 to show, and another $12,000 for a win.
A decent start, but nowhere near six figures.
Yet, here was the system, claiming he'd won a six-figure contract.
He frowned, reading over the notification again, trying to make sense of it.
What exactly had the system awarded him?
He clicked on the contract notification, and a message appeared, filling the screen.
It was a lengthy paragraph:
[Congratulations, Damon! The six-figure contract is a reward provided by the system.
It functions independently of your UFA contract, which currently offers $12,000 to show and an additional $12,000 if you win.
The system contract mirrors the conditions of the UFA contract, meaning that if UFA changes terms, this contract will adapt accordingly.
However, the unique feature of the system contract is that it multiplies your UFA earnings by 10 and pays that amount directly to you, effectively giving you two contracts to benefit from.]
Damon's jaw dropped. What the actual fuck? This wasn't just a six-figure contract, it was a game changer.
If he earned $24,000 in a fight from UFA, the system would add 10 times that amount to his winnings, multiplying his earnings.
His eyes darted to the final line.
[Note: The total amount provided by the system cannot exceed six figures, hence the term "six-figure contract."]
A slow breath came out of him, and he felt a mix of shock and excitement.
It was like getting paid twice for every fight, one official contract, and one system bonus that could transform his financial future.
He counted on his fingers.
"Two hundred forty thousand dollars…" he whispered, still trying to wrap his head around it. Honestly, it felt unreal.
What really got him thinking, though, was the potential of this system contract if he rose to the top.
He'd heard about what top fighters earned, numbers that were life-changing even before multiplying by ten.
The thought of those earnings supercharged by the system's bonus was almost too good to believe.
Then another thought hit him. Do bonuses from UFA count too? The system had specified "the amount paid by UFA," but didn't elaborate on extras like fight bonuses.
He'd just have to wait and see, he figured, if he ever managed to snag one.
One thing was certain, though. This six-figure boost changed everything.
A quiet smile spread across his face as he took a deep breath to calm down.
The peaceful home he'd always dreamed of for his mother no longer seemed so distant.
With this contract, he could finally start turning that vision into a reality.
His gaze shifted to the last notification, the one that had intrigued him from the moment it appeared:
[System Upgrade Available: Unlock new features and enhanced functionality]
That was something he hadn't expected. He'd always thought of the system as fixed, unchangeable.
The idea that it could upgrade, possibly even grow alongside him, opened up a world of possibilities.
He pressed on the notification, eager to see if the upgrade could be done now.
[Requirements for Upgrading System]
[Reach A-Rank Fighter Status (Achieve Rank A in all your stats)]
He read the message, and a wide smile crept across his face.
He'd just won 10,000 system coins, more than enough to hit A rank and more.
It was within his reach, and now the upgrade felt almost inevitable.
As his excitement grew, he couldn't help but wonder what capabilities or features the upgrade would bring.
If the system had already provided him with this much, what else was in store?
In fact, with all the coins he'd just earned, he decided it was time to buy every elixir he needed to boost his stats to A rank.
He opened his status screen:
Only two of his stats were at B rank, and the rest had a ways to go.
Even before his last fight, he'd used a speed elixir, aiming to reach C rank during training, but it hadn't fully gotten him there.
And, right before the fight, the system had flushed it from his body to prevent any edge that might count as cheating.
But now, with 10,000 coins, that didn't matter. He had more than enough to buy the elixirs he needed to break through every barrier.
He decided to count the expenses carefully.
Reaching C rank required 200 coins, while reaching B rank was 300. And for the final push to A rank, each elixir cost 500 coins.
He took a deep breath, mentally running through the calculations:
A rank: 500 (STR) + 500 (AGI) + 500 (STA) + 500 (END) + 500 (SPE)
Speed upgrade: 200 (to reach C) + 300 (to reach B)
Agility upgrade: 300 (to reach B)
Stamina upgrade: 300 (to reach B)
After a moment, he finished tallying it up. The total expense would come out to 3,600 system coins.
With 10,000 coins at his disposal, this upgrade felt more than within reach.
With a satisfied smile, he thought to himself, Not bad at math after all.
Then again, it had been a simple calculation, so maybe he shouldn't pat himself on the back too much.
Either way, his stats would soon reach the pinnacle of A rank.
But now, it was time for the reward he'd been waiting for, the mysterious Simulation Mode.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he pressed the panel. Instantly, the screen shifted, and a message appeared:
[Are you sure you want to enter the Simulation?]
Damon's finger hovered over the "Y" option.
His heart beat faster, and he felt a rush of curiosity and excitement. What exactly would this simulation be?
The screen flashed, and the world around him blurred.
A chill ran down his spine as the room darkened, fading into a swirling vortex of colors and shapes.
He felt like the ground had broken apart, leaving him hanging in an endless void.
When he realized he wasn't in his world anymore, his heart started to beat faster.
He could hear a robotic voice all around him.
"Welcome, Damon Cross. Prepare for a reality beyond imagination…"
Then, out of the darkness, a dark figure with white eyes appeared in front of him. It put up a hand and pointed right at him.
"Your challenge begins now."