Time froze again. But this time, there was no time limit. I could see at the end of the long text something like [Continue!] written over there. Following game logic, until I press that, the time won't start.
'Alright. Let's use this opportunity to collect my thoughts,' I thought as I glanced over the classmates of mine and then at that white goblin-like being. And finally, I recalled the blue screen that I had seen before.
[Every Individual can now view their system!]
'So it's like a Novel, huh?'
Famous novels like ORV, or novels with Dungeons, towers, etc, have similar settings as this one. Survive the monsters, grow stronger with the system, find great items. I guess, we can judge the current situation based on that.
'Though that's just to roughly assess the situation. Things might be entirely different from what's shown in the novels too.'
I contradicted myself as well.
As the next obvious step, I called out the System to see what exactly we were dealing with here.
[Name: Adrian John Rodriguez!
Class: Mortal (Unclassified!)
Body-Talent: [Mortal]
Mana: [Not Yet Unlocked!]
Free Attribute Points: 2
I saw my system stats and at once glance, I could tell that they were bad. But the important question was 'How bad?' Until I have someone else to compare my stats with, I couldn't tell.
'What is this gift, though?' I wondered for a brief moment before moving on to the next thing.
Since I was a bit more familiar with how things were going on, I was much calmer than before. I could now look around the frozen time and see the tired faces of the students. Even those who were putting a brave front, weren't doing very well either.
I would have been in the same situation as them… or perhaps even worse. But I wasn't.
[Game Master's ID: Adrian John Rodriguez/???
Authority Level: 0 (Upgrade Cost: 100 GM)
Current GM Points: 200]
I saw the added text in the white screen but didn't immediately jump to upgrade it. I had to analyze it first. Because if it is really what it is… I was sitting on a gold mine then.
[The current Privileges are unlocked at Level 0!]
[Privilege 1: The Game Master can see All the Quests Present on the current Level!]
[Privilege 2: The Game Master can bet on the players present in the current Level!]
'Seems like GM points are the most important. And the only way of earning is betting on the players, huh?' I saw the [Privilege] and the Authority Level I had.
I gave it a bit of a thought before deciding to spend the GM Points on increasing the Authority Level.
While I could have saved GM to bet more on the next level, I decided that increasing the Authority level would be a better choice if I want to survive.
[The Following Privileges are unlocked!]
[Privilege 3: Allows the GameMaster to Adjust the rules of the Games Equivalent to GM Points spent!]
[Privilege 4: Allows the GameMaster to [Contract] a player and give [Blessing!] [Skill!] [Title!] [Coins!] [Curses!] [Punishment!] ]
My eyes widened as I looked at the information given to me. Indeed it was the right choice to increase the Authority.
I then glanced over all the information I had once again. Making sure that I didn't miss anything, I then looked at my classmates once again before clicking on [Continue!] at the end of the page.
"As anticlimactic as it was, it seems like we have 20 survivors here," and that goblin, totally unpleased, spoke as he looked at all of us.
The voice of zombies outside also vanished as if it never existed. Luke and the rest of us who were holding the tables and chairs, let go as we all observed the [System!]. Some had a spark in their eyes, while others were panicking. Others had their eyes narrowed at the [System!]
"Anyways. Since each of you can see your System, you may see your stats and where you are standing. There are various ways of increasing stats, and attribute points. Killing monsters, leveling up, completing quests, and many more. But that is only available after you complete the three levels of the tutorial!" The goblin spoke as his eyes shined at us once again.
"Umm… excuse me," a girl with long black hair, the class president, Miss Alice, spoke as she took a few steps towards that goblin.
"What is this [Contract]?" She asked curiously, making even the Goblin a bit shocked as he looked at her. His eyes blinked a couple of times before he licked his lips and then mumbled,
"To catch the Attention of the Gods in the tutorial itself. Hehehe."
"It is exactly what it says. A God wants to contract with you. There should be benefits provided to you, and the task you need to do in return for them. You may choose to go with it, or reject it. It is your own choice in the end," he smiled creepily at Miss Alice, before he looked at the rest of us.
"Now! Before we get to the next Level, let me give you one last piece of information that you need to know. As you can see, everyone has their own 'Gift'. In this world, this is the most important thing you can trust. An inborn talent you are born with.
If anything that can increase your ability to survive in this hell, it's your gift and how well you work with it," he spoke as he observed our expressions.
'What the hell?' I thought as I tried clicking on it, wondering what it meant. Did I end up picking up the lower end of the straw in exchange for the Game Master's System?
Though the next series of information that flowed made my heart skip a beat.
[Create Your Gift! (GM Points will be used according to the Gift Created)]