"I hate this," a man muttered in a dark alley, his soft voice filled with pain. The alley was murky, with pools of water scattered around. Dirty sewage flowed through, and rodents drank from it. When they sensed a presence, they looked up and saw a small figure. They quickly scattered, screeching. "Shut up."
Apollo sighed, letting his body slump against the wall. He raised his hand, noticing parts of it were burnt and red.
"This is frustrating," he said with a bitter smile. His once somewhat decent dark robe was now gone, turned to ashes, leaving him in just his inner clothes and pants, both riddled with holes and tears. Burn marks were visible on several parts of his body, not just his hands.
He pulled up his Status Screen and saw that his Alm points had decreased.
Apollo had purchased an item that cost him fifty Alm points—a huge sum that made his heart ache, watching his hard-earned currency drain away. However, it was necessary. Without it, he would've been lying in a pool of lava, his body slowly turning to ash.
At the very last moment, before the countdown ended, he made a split-second decision and transacted with the System.
He ordered the System to buy the cheapest item that could help him survive. Instantly, he felt something cover his body and a pulling sensation that left him unable to resist. When he opened his eyes, he found himself flung through the air by the impact of the Lightning Tribulation. He was covered by nothing visible, yet something was there, protecting him.
Most of the lightning residue barely touched him, though some still managed to scorch him.
Apollo rolled across the ground at least a hundred times before he came to a stop. In great pain, he didn't bother looking back and instead escaped into the dark night, eventually finding himself in the city, hidden in this dark, murky, and wet alley.
After assessing his condition, he took a deep breath to alleviate the pain. At the same time, he couldn't help but ask the System, "System, what happened in that last moment? What item did you choose for me?"
"Assessing your situation at the time, I purchased the cheapest items to increase your survival rate," the System replied, displaying another interface with a list of items and their Alm prices. "This is the list of items I personally selected. Unfortunately, the item that would have kept your body completely unscathed was too expensive for your current Alm points."
Apollo stared wide-eyed at the interface. This... I never thought of this method!
Stacking items to achieve a specific effect, the System had bought seven to eight items to ensure his survival. The most expensive one was a Very Low Distance Teleportation Scroll, just enough to move him away from the epicenter of the attack.
The other items included luck boosters (the same item he'd bought before), barrier items that activated simultaneously, and dodging items that helped him avoid the remaining lightning strikes.
After staring at the list of items for a while, Apollo closed it. But the System, seemingly reading his mind, continued.
"This method allows you to barely stay alive, and it's all up to luck that the host has survived this long. You have still suffered significant injuries that could last for weeks. Would you like to buy healing items to restore your health to peak condition?" the System asked emotionlessly.
"F*ck of—" Apollo began but paused, considering for a moment before nodding. "How much?"
"One hundred Alm Points. Your body will be restored to peak condition, and hidden injuries will be healed," the System answered.
"F*ck off," Apollo waved his hand. "Just give me the simple Health Potion."
"System does not give items. Would you like to buy a simple Health Potion?" the System asked.
"Alright," Apollo rolled his eyes. A white light materialized in front of him, forming a glass bottle filled with red liquid. He uncorked it and drank the potion in one gulp. With a sigh, he felt a burning sensation inside him, followed by a wave of refreshing relief. Raising his hands, he watched as they healed rapidly, though the process stopped before they were fully restored.
The Health Potion worked well for common injuries like burns, but his burns were severe, reaching his muscles, and in some places, even the bone. His internal organs were also in disarray, and it was a wonder he was still alive.
After reassessing his body, Apollo concluded he would need one or two more Health Potions. But with his remaining Alm Points now down to 32, he decided against it. Shaking his head, he started moving forward, gritting his teeth.
People crowded the streets, each going their own way, but they were all talking about one thing—the Heaven-sent lightning outside the city.
Listening to their conversations, Apollo showed no emotion, quietly heading towards the street where his Beggar Spot was. He just wanted to return, heal his body, and cultivate again.
With only 32 Alm Points left, the item that would help him hide inside his Beggar Spot would have to be put on hold again. It was frustrating. It had taken him a long time to gather a hundred Alm Points, and they were gone in just one night.
Apollo took another alley that would lead him to another street. Two or three more streets, and he'd finally reach his Beggar Spot.
After a while, he emerged from the alley and saw the Filly Restaurant ahead. It was still open, with several patrons inside.
Letting out a sigh of relief, he returned to his Beggar Spot. There, in the corner, he noticed a basket placed near him. The tantalizing smell of fried chicken wafted through the air. Smiling, he picked up the basket.
It had only been a couple of days, but it felt like much longer. Once seated inside his made up roof, he opened the basket and saw the familiar fried chicken. Licking his lips, he started digging in with relish.