Universal Sign-in: Ascending to Godhood With My 10x Rewards!-Chapter 26: A forced adaptation

As soon as we reached where the now-sat Jericho was positioned on the ground, I sat down beside him.

Marcus grunted as he lay down on the ground, letting out a final, satisfied sigh.

I assumed a fairly comfortable position where I sat as I closed my eyes and drew in a really, really deep breath that circulated my chest and stomach.

I breathed out, opening my eyes.

My eyelids felt heavy.

Finally, I can rest.

My tensed body calmed down, my shoulder falling as I sat still, enjoying the warmth of this place.

It wasn’t comfortable, don’t get me wrong. Yes, it smelled so badly in here. Yes, the air didn’t really feel like air and felt like an artificial gas made up of fart, blood and body odor. Yes, the floor I sat on was rough and hard, pressing against my ass like a damn rock... But still!

None of this... none of it was more uncomfortable than dying, resurrecting and ’almost dying’ again and again.

None of it was more uncomfortable than confronting an Avendar or an Endorath.

I opened my palms, and I looked down at them.

Rough, calloused. Scratched and bloody.

This is actually real.

It’s my reality now.

I clenched my fists, tightening my jaw.

I’ll just adapt.

Ahem–!

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

"Aren’t you gonna sleep?" Jericho asked softly, his voice almost lost inside the stream of voices of the no-longer-silent crowd."The big guy’s already fast asleep."

I looked at Marcus.

Marcus’s chest rose and fell, and one forearm covered his eyes as he snored without a care in the world.

"Heh. He’s a snorer."

I smiled.

He fell asleep.

Well, it is expected. He exhausted himself a lot today and got separated from his original group.

I didn’t see those three here. I actually thought they’ll be here. I wonder how Marcus feels about that. Poor guy.

And it’s not like he has a system and stat points like me.

Which is why...

I looked at Jericho.

...Jericho’s very impressive. He’s not even the least bit exhausted when he’s been fighting and running all day?

And he has no system or stuff either.

I guess that just goes to show how good Jerry really is.

"I’ll sleep. I just.. want to think first. And process everything I’ve been through. For a little while." I said softly.

"Ah," Jerry exclaimed. "That’s what I’ve been doing ever since. Trying to process things. And you know, Duz..."

He turned to look at me. And we locked eyes.

"There’s something I still can’t wrap my head around. Something I fail to process."

"And what’s that?"

"You," Jerry replied. "I don’t understand you."

I blinked.

What?

"How? Why? Since when? I keep asking myself questions that only you can answer." Jerry paused. "So tell me, Duz. What happened to you after the day you left for that drug run? Why did you disappear if you were alive the whole time? Why did you run away? And.. how did you change this much?"

My eyes widened slightly.

He’s done and asked it, huh.

I can’t evade this one.

"Haha.." I broke into a soft, awkward laughter, gazing directly into Jerry’s unfazed eyes. "You see, I..."

He nodded, implying that I should go on.

"I died."

His eyes narrowed.

Clearly, he found what I said to be bullshit.

"The old Dustin died." My tone grew more grim as I stared down at my knees. "And this is a new one. In fact, I’ve abandoned that name. It’s a daily reminder of the many losses I’ve endured, and the me that I strive to bury. So.. that’s all I can say, Jerry."

Jerry leaned backward, folding his arms as he breathed in. And out.

"Is that so?" He asked.

I interlocked my fingers, fiddling with my thumbs. "Yeah."

"That doesn’t answer my questions, you know that, right?"

I nodded. "I know. But.. the answers to your questions aren’t things that I can just.. explain."

"I see."

At this point, I raised my head and looked up at him.

Jerry had a tight smile on his lips. And his cold blue eyes softened.

"Well, I’m just glad that you’re alright. And clearly you’ve even grown a pair of balls." He chuckled, "You would have attacked those men if I hadn’t stepped in."

I, too, let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah.."

"I won’t pry anymore. Whenever and if ever you feel like you can share it with me. I’ll always be willing to listen."

I nodded, smiling. "Thanks."

"Now..." He yawned, stretching his arms. "I’m gonna catch some Zs. Goodnight, buddy."

"Goodnight."

Jerry lay on the ground, curling into a somewhat comfortable position. And he slept.

Whereas I.. I just stared down at the ground.

So I guess that’s it, huh.

Today’s been really long.

I should rest.

Tomorrow, I’ll be able to sign-in again.

Then I’ll..

"I’m so tired..." I whispered.

Status Window.

As I called it out in my mind, the blue shimmering window surfaced.

=====================

➪𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉: ★★★★★

[99/100]

➪|𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔: 2.5|

°Name: Dustin Walters

°Grade: Mortal

°Age: 19

°Level: 5 [Exp: 236/15000]

====================

I stared at the level bar.

Damn. The Exp needed to level up is really high.

Little wonder the Rethons aren’t doing any more good.

And...

I squinted my eyes.

The mana points increased?

I eased my eyes, shrugging.

Well, that’s good news then.

Although I have no idea how it works or how it’s even increasing.

I lay down on the ground, resting my head on my arms as I stared up at the window.

=========

°Class:[🔒]

°Class skills:[🔒]

=========

Maybe I need more mana points to unlock them?

I closed my eyes, letting out a solemn sigh.

I’d worry about all that tomorrow.

I waved the window off.

I need a new weapon.

And if possible, a real one.

I wonder if the daily sign-in gives weapons and other stuff apart from skills.

I yawned.

Most probably. It is a random roulette wheel after all.

"I’ll see tomorrow," I whispered, a calm tone.

Then, ignoring the noise of the crowd and the other sensory assaults, I drifted to sleep.