Welcome everyone, sit tight and hold on — we're about to embark on a sexy journey (～ ※ ̄◡ ̄)※)~
"It's impossible for me to carry bricks. I don't want to live an honest life anymore! From now on, even if I die of thirst or hunger, I will jump off from here! I will never take the ordinary path!"
In a shabby, dimly lit rental apartment, Thomas sat slouched on a wobbly chair, staring intensely at a gaming helmet placed in front of him on the creaky table. His voice was filled with a kind of reckless determination.
The helmet was the login device for the latest sensation sweeping across the globe: the virtual reality game, "Crimson Capes".
Thomas wasn't new to the world of games. In fact, games had been his life for years now.
He was what people often called a professional "gold-farming player" — someone who made a living by grinding virtual items and selling them for real-world cash. In less flattering terms, he was a "brick-mover" of the gaming world.
Lazy by nature, Thomas couldn't tolerate the rigid constraints of a typical job. After barely scraping by as an "Internet cafe god" for a while, he finally found his footing when virtual reality gaming exploded into the mainstream.
Moving digital bricks for survival was harder than it sounded, but it gave him freedom. After covering basic expenses, he could still save a little.
But as the years dragged on, even the thing he loved most had turned into a dull, mechanical chore.
When your passion becomes your paycheck, even the most exciting games lose their spark.
Thomas was burnt out, disillusioned, and desperate for a way to reclaim the joy he once knew.
Just as he was spiraling into frustration, salvation appeared: "Crimson Capes", a revolutionary VR game, entered the scene with a roar.
The game's marketing blitz promised that it was developed by an international coalition of countries, with governments directly participating in its promotion and operations.
It boasted "100% real-world simulation," offering an unparalleled gaming experience unlike anything seen before.
Naturally, the world went berserk.
All the major news networks, media outlets, and live-streaming platforms buzzed with non-stop discussions about "Crimson Capes".
For Thomas, it felt like fate.
"This is it," he thought. "My chance to live freely, without chains."
Forget about normal jobs. Forget about brick-moving. From now on, he would live his life his way.
"The game will officially open in one minute. Please get ready!"
The soft voice of the system reminded him.
Thomas checked his phone — 7:59 PM.
He stood up, stretched lazily, and flopped onto his bed. Grabbing the helmet, he slipped it on.
As the clock struck 8:00 PM, the world around him melted into darkness. His consciousness seemed to detach from his body, hurtling through a mysterious, swirling passageway.
Then, dazzling light pierced the void.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a grand, majestic golden palace.
A plush red carpet stretched beneath his feet. Towering golden pillars surrounded him. Sacred, uplifting music played in the air, filling the palace with a divine aura.
"This feels... too real."
Thomas jumped up and down experimentally. The sensation under his feet was vivid and authentic — a far cry from traditional VR.
The familiar process began: character creation.
The default avatar mirrored his real-world appearance. After tweaking the details, Thomas adjusted the character to look a bit more handsome, yet carried a hint of roguish charm.
"Please name your game character," the system prompted.
Thomas grinned mischievously.
"I Will Never Work for Mr. Thomas!"
He chose a name that embodied his new creed of rebellion.
Suddenly, a magic circle saturated with holy light appeared above the hall. Multicolored runes shimmered within the circle, and soft motes of light rained down, enveloping Thomas.
This was the legendary Talent Awakening Ceremony.
Talent was a major mechanic in "Crimson Capes," heavily promoted on its official website.
Talent came in nine tiers: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, and the ultimate SSS.
Types of talents varied: Attack, Defense, Speed, Support, and the coveted Trait category.
The developers emphasized that even the highest-tier talents wouldn't offer an overwhelming advantage early on, urging players to focus on gameplay rather than min-maxing.
Naturally, no one listened.
After all, who didn't want an SSS-tier Trait talent that could potentially dominate the future meta?
There were two ways to awaken talents:
Designated Awakening: Pick a general direction for the talent. Safe, but the best you could get was an S-tier.
Random Awakening: Roll the dice with fate. Any type, any tier, completely at random — including the mythical SSS-tier.
Choosing the first path meant stability.
Choosing the second path meant gambling everything.
A cheery system prompt chimed in his ears:
"Please choose your method of Talent Awakening.\nChoice 1: Designated Awakening\nChoice 2: Random Awakening"
Thomas didn't hesitate.
"Random awakening!"
"I'm done playing it safe. It's time to roll the dice!"
The magic circle spun faster. The runes danced wildly, and the hall filled with brilliant light.
A divine, translucent beam of energy shot down from the heavens, enveloping Thomas.
He felt something deep within him stir — as if a locked door had swung open, unleashing a surge of hidden potential.
"Congratulations, you have awakened an SSS-level Trait Talent: 'Unlimited Potential'!"
Thomas blinked.
"Wait. What?"
He stared at the notification, stunned.
Was he dreaming? Had he really hit the jackpot?
"HAHAHA! Even the gods support my freedom!"
Ecstatic, Thomas pumped his fists into the air.
He quickly called up his Talent Interface.
[Unlimited Potential]
Type: Trait Talent
Grade: SSS
Effects:
You can designate 10 active skills to gain "Infinite Growth." There is no upper limit to how strong these skills can become. Every skill level-up has a 20% chance to cause a "skill mutation," granting extraordinary effects.
Every 5 character levels, you can add +1 more skill into "Infinite Growth."
"Infinite Growth" skills enjoy 50% reduced cooldowns, 80% reduced resource costs, and 10x faster skill proficiency gain.
Description:
An SSS-tier Trait Talent so powerful that even imagining its full potential is beyond belief.
Thomas whistled.
"Damn, this is seriously broken."
Years of gaming instincts told him immediately — this talent wasn't just "good."
It was a game-changer.
As the official notes suggested, "Unlimited Potential" wouldn't make him invincible right away. But given time?
He could become an unstoppable monster.
Thomas's mind raced, plans forming rapidly.
"With this, I can create an entirely new playstyle — one tailored just for me."
His evil grin widened.
He could already envision it: while others struggled with level caps and rigid meta builds, he would continuously push his skills to ungodly heights, gaining unimaginable abilities.
"I'll break the system itself."
The thought sent a shiver of excitement down his spine.
He could already hear the cries of rage from other players. He'd be the nightmare that roamed "Crimson Capes," defying every expectation, setting his own rules.
"Haha, I can't wait to get started," Thomas muttered, his lips curling into a wolfish smile.
Today marked the death of the old Thomas — and the birth of a rogue who would rewrite the very definition of gaming itself.
In the majestic golden palace, under the gaze of ancient, forgotten gods, Thomas embraced his destiny.
"From now on," he declared to the empty hall, "I am free. I am limitless. I am the storm they never saw coming!"