CHAPTER 109: 700K TOP UP

The market district buzzed like a neon hive. Lanterns of drifting light floated above the cobblestone paths. Merchants lined the streets, their stalls flashing animated signs, each yelling louder than the last for attention. Oliver led Xavier through a narrow street that opened up into a sleek-looking shop embedded into the wall—its design less medieval, more futuristic, all glass and shimmering chrome panels with pulsating blue veins running through the walls like glowing roots.

Inside, it was quieter. Smooth jazz played in the background—some fantasy remix with flutes and synths—and an animated merchant NPC stood behind a long, hovering counter. His robes glowed with currency symbols, and his white beard flickered like glitch particles.

"Welcome, dear adventurers! Come, come! I am Gurven, your financial alchemist! Gold, silver, Rift Coins—I process them all!"

Oliver pointed to a panel floating in the air. "That’s the terminal. Just link your game account and authorize your payment source. The rest’s smooth."

Xavier walked up and waved his hand. A soft ding followed, and his system menu synced with the terminal. The merchant’s eyes lit up—literally.

"Oh-ho! A fresh soul, I see! New blood in the Rift, eh?" Gurven’s voice boomed through the shop, attracting a few looks. "You’ve arrived at a most fortuitous time, friend! We’re currently celebrating ten years of Celestia Rift! And to honor that, our mighty developers have bestowed generous blessings upon our transaction rituals!"

Xavier tilted his head. "Uh huh. I just wanna top up."

The merchant’s script kicked into overdrive.

"Ah, of course! Right this way!" A screen popped up in front of Xavier with different bundles, packages, top-up options, shiny loot boxes with golden sparkles and radiant titles like Celestial Conqueror’s Vault, Fateforged Arsenal, and Ascendant’s Choice.

"Now listen closely, adventurer!" Gurven said, leaning over the counter like he was about to sell forbidden magic. "Since this is your first-ever official transaction, you shall receive our sacred Double Bonus—every coin you spend, the Rift shall match! Spend 10,000? You get 20,000! Spend 50,000? You receive 100,000!"

Xavier smirked.

"But that’s not all!" the merchant continued. "As a beginner, you qualify for the Initiate’s Blessing. This includes a Starter Mount Token, a custom housing voucher, one Epic-rank item of your choosing, and an exclusive Class Catalyst that helps shape your progression."

"Damn," Xavier muttered, scrolling through the glowing options.

"And for now only, due to the anniversary... all top-ups come with ten free pulls from the Anniversary Relic Gacha! Mythic drop rates doubled! Not only that, but because of the ongoing top up event, players will get 1x Anniversary Relic Gacha Ticket for every 100 bucks spent."

Xavier turned to Oliver, raising a brow. "All this stuff legit?"

Oliver gave a shrug and a grin. "Yeah. They do this crap to hook people in. It’s flashy, but it’s real. You’ll get a ton of free stuff. Honestly? If you’re gonna top up, now’s the best time."

Xavier looked back at the terminal.

He still had a few hundred left from his daily 700k. A top-up right now meant it would get doubled, plus beginner rewards, anniversary pulls, extra gear, and—well—more resources meant faster progress. Which meant quicker access to the upper zones... where his real targets were.

He cracked his knuckles, smirking to himself.

"Alright," Xavier said. "Let’s break the game a little."

Xavier didn’t waste another second. He tapped the glowing [TOP UP] button. A prompt blinked:

[Enter Top-Up Amount]

He punched in 700,000.

[Confirm Payment?]

[YES]

A second later, coins exploded into the air like a casino jackpot.

[Transaction Successful.]

[You have received: 700,000 coins.]

[Bonus Received: 700,000 coins.]

[Total Coins: 1,400,000]

[Beginner Reward Unlocked]

[Initiate’s Blessing Claimed]

[Epic Item Voucher Received]

[Starter Mount Token Received]

[Custom Housing Voucher Received]

[Class Catalyst Received]

[10x Anniversary Relic Gacha Tickets Received]

[Bonus: 7000x Extra Relic Tickets for Top-Up Amount]

[Inventory Expanded]

And then—

DING!

[Your Unlimited Money System has been upgraded!]

[System Level: 4 → 5]

[Your balance limit is now $1,000,000. Next Limit: $5,000,000]

[Your rebate has been increased from 0.5% to 1% as cashback credits.]

[Congratulations! The Dimensional Store has been unlocked.]

Xavier opened up his system menu.

[System level 5

Balance- 1,000,000 || Next Limit- 5,000,000

Today’s Transaction - 0/1 || Today’s Task - 1/1 (Must be completed before reset.)

Quests- Justice is Due || Task - Meet Lucas and Ethan in the VR game.

Tasks to unlock the next limit: 0/10.

Credit Score- 8500 || Dimensional Store- Unavailable.]

Xavier raised a brow and muttered, "What the hell?" He tapped on the Dimensional Store tab.

A gray prompt flickered into view.

[Access Denied]

[You cannot access the Dimensional Store while inside a Simulation. Exit the simulation to proceed.]

He waved the system menu away with a flick and turned to Oliver, who was hunched over a counter, arguing with an NPC like his life depended on that pixelated fabric.

"What are you doing?" Xavier asked, peering over his shoulder at the glowing robe details.

"I want to buy this robe," Oliver said without looking up.

"How much is it? I’ll buy it for you."

"Absolutely not!" Oliver shot back instantly.

"Why not? You’ve helped me so many times. Hell, you paid for me when I was broke. This is the least I can do."

"I’m buying this for you, idiot. I wanted to gift you my old spare stuff, but now you’ve gone full-blown millionaire mode. Let me at least give you something. This robe might even come in handy. You’ll be public attention sooner or later anyway."

Xavier chuckled but didn’t argue. Oliver and the NPC haggled for five straight minutes—like two old grandmas fighting over the last potato at the market—until they finally agreed and settled at 400 coins.

Once the trade was done, Oliver turned and shoved the robe into Xavier’s inventory.

"Take it before I change my mind."

They stepped out of the shop, sunlight from the fake sky above painting soft orange on the cobblestones.

"What do you want to do next? Explore this floor?" Oliver asked curiously as he opened the map.

"Well, first, let’s use up everything I just got."