Jax stared at the screen.
$5,621.43.
He blinked. Slowly.
Refreshed.
$6,084.72.
"You've gotta be kidding me," he muttered.
The numbers weren't stopping. They ticked up every few seconds, like watching a slow slot machine that just kept hitting. His jaw hung loose for a second before he pulled himself together.
"Okay, calm down. Don't pass out," he whispered to himself, placing a hand on his chest. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, staring at his phone like it was some holy artifact.
A few minutes passed.
$7,210.31
"What is even happening?"
It finally clicked. He opened Inzio.g and navigated to his developer dashboard.
Sales.
Downloads.
Streamer referral traffic: RazzorBlade.
Jax exhaled sharply.
"...That guy. That actual legend. He played it. And people watched. And bought it. And then they told other people. And they bought it too."
He leaned back against the wall, grinning like someone who had just dodged a bullet only to find a winning lottery ticket.
"Thank you, man. I don't even know you, but wherever you are—I owe you."
The numbers kept climbing. Slower now, but still rising.
$7,811.47.
He closed the app and lay back against the cold floor.
"I made more money in just one day than I ever will working in that crappy office," he said, eyes wide.
He laughed quietly. Then spoke, half to himself:
"Honestly, if it weren't for Mia and that pathetic excuse of a paycheck waiting for me next week, I'd have walked away from that office without a second thought."
His paycheck. 600 dollars.
The number felt ridiculous now, like finding a coin on the street after winning the lottery. Still, he'd worked for that money. Every late hour. Every cold instant ramen. Every tight smile in front of supervisors who barely noticed.
"That month was hell. Might as well collect the reward."
With renewed energy, he pulled himself up.
Evening settled in, quiet and cool.
Jax sat down, opened a new project file, and muttered to himself,
"Let's try another one."
He worked in focused stretches, taking breaks when he needed. Sometimes just to stand and breathe. Other times to let his mind wander long enough to return with a better idea.
He checked his balance once, almost by habit. Saw the number. Let it sit there for a moment.
Then he closed the tab.
And kept going.
He took breaks.
He didn't overextend himself.
He didn't feel desperate anymore.
Progress on his next game was slower, but still steady. A few hours each evening. Enough to keep building.
That night, as he collapsed onto his bed, the ceiling fan hummed a quiet lullaby.
"System," he called out softly.
[System: Online.]
"Open skill shop."
The interface blinked to life. His eyes scanned the new entries.
[New Skill Available: Game Development (Tier 2)]
[Cost: 130 Points]
His current total?
[System Points: 117]
"Of course," he sighed. "Figures."
He thought for a moment, then asked:
"Any other way to earn system points besides quests?"
[System: Yes. You may sell unused skills. However, they will be valued at a reduced rate.]
"Hmm... Show me status window."
[Status Window: Jax Carter]
System Level: 1
System Exp: 120/150
Age: 20
Rank: Mundane
Class: Not Applicable (Yet)
Unique Trait: None (Tragic)
Bloodline: Human (Barely)
[Stats:]
Strength: F
Agility: F
Endurance: F+
Intelligence: C+
Charisma: E
Luck: F-- (Statistically cursed)
[Skills:]
Game Development (Tier 1)
Social Camouflage (Passive)
Jax narrowed his eyes.
"Social Camouflage. Haven't even touched that once. What's it worth?"
[System: 15 base points. After conversion: 20 points. Sell?]
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah. Do it."
[System Points: 117 ➔ 137]
Still not enough.
He sat up. "Wait... didn't I get a few bonus points yesterday?"
[System Points updated: +5 delayed quest bonus recognized. Total: 142]
"Perfect. Buy Game Development Tier 2."
[Confirmed. Deducting 130 Points. Remaining: 12]
[New Skill Acquired: Game Development (Tier 2)]
[Skill Description - Game Development (Tier 2): Deeper integration with RPG systems. Unlocks ability to design branching narratives, limited animation support, and modular enemy behavior. Grants improved understanding of UI/UX and player feedback response.]
Jax smiled, rubbing his hands together.
"Alright then. Time to build something better. I still have to think about what though. Can't rush it."
He looked at his remaining balance of system points.
[Points: 12]
"Man, I'm broke again. But hey... I'm broke with over ten thousand dollars in the bank. That's a new kind of broke."
He pulled out his phone one last time before sleeping.
$12,514.67
His grin stretched wider.
"Yeah. That's what I'm talking about."
The Next Morning
Jax woke up feeling unusually well-rested. His first reflex wasn't even to check the time.
It was to check his bank app.
$12,514.67
Still there.
Still real.
He couldn't stop smiling as he got ready.
He stepped into the office building with a spring in his step. The usual dreary morning silence was pierced by something unusual.
Murmurs.
Stares.
Someone whispered, "Is that Jax? What's with that face?"
Another said, "He looks... happy?"
He passed by Mia, who looked up from her desk.
"Morning," she said, slightly tilting her head. "You look like you just won a lottery. Something good happen?"
Jax chuckled.
"Nah, just pulled something rare in a game last night. Felt like a win."
She smiled. "Must've been really rare."
He shrugged and headed to his desk.
A minute later, a young intern rushed over.
"Hey, uh... Jax? Boss wants to see you."
The room fell quiet.
People whispered.
"He's gonna get roasted again."
"Especially after looking that cheerful."
But Jax just stretched and stood up.
He looked back at them, calm.
"I don't care anymore. I have what I need anyway."
And with that, he walked toward the boss's office.
He had No hesitation. No fear.
He wasn't the same Jax they knew