Multiverse: Dimension Hopping Mage

Chapter 32: Is This System Trying to Kill Me?

In the end, Alex chose to exchange only 30 dimensional points, saving the rest of the crystal energy.

In the game "Map of Myriad Dimensions," soul stones were not unique, as evidenced by their usage limits.

Each soul stone had a limited number of uses, and once depleted, it was gone. However, this could be changed.

Players could draw enhancement stones and recharge stones—the former could fully enhance a soul stone by +1, while the latter could replenish a soul stone's depleted uses.

Why mention these two items? Because Alex had just drawn both of them... well, it's a sad story.

Returning to the original topic, "Map of Myriad Dimensions" centered around a battle system where players enhanced their characters.

This system was closer to an MMORPG than a typical mobile game. Players needed to strengthen themselves continually.

Equipment could be obtained through dungeon drops and rewards, and skill enhancements through quest completions.

Crystal energy could be exchanged for visual enhancements and rare items, such as accessories that increased drop rates or consumables that boosted player stats.

Even in dungeons, crystal energy could unlock rare features.

Alex had his eye on a ring in the shop called the "Soul Ring."

Its functions included providing an additional 30 item slots, +3% equipment drop rate, auto-pickup for dropped equipment, and a 5% chance to absorb soul energy when defeating enemies.

The most crucial feature was the 5% chance to absorb soul energy. According to "Map of Myriad Dimensions," soul stones used soul energy.

Consuming a soul stone equated to consuming soul energy. The "Soul Ring" could absorb soul energy, and with enough absorption, it could restore the uses of a soul stone without needing a recharge stone.

The ring could be obtained in two ways: grind through hard-mode dungeons and hope for a drop, or buy it outright for a not-so-cheap 520... For players, it might just be a matter of grinding versus spending.

However, as the designer, Alex knew that each high-tier item had a hidden "luck +1" setting.

This meant that players decked out in premium items had a much higher chance of obtaining rare drops than those who grinded for their gear.

For a rare item with a 0.1% drop rate, it would be 3% for paying players.

Plus, spending money increased the chances of drawing high-quality soul stones, more so than saving free points.

Rigging? Of course not! If big spenders are willing to support the game, we naturally ensure they have a better experience. Happy spenders continue spending.

Free players? They're there to latch onto the spenders and get fleeced. No money, no power!

Of course, encountering someone extraordinarily lucky renders all this moot.

"That should be enough..."

Muttering to himself, Alex looked at the two recharge stones and enhancement stone in his hand. He had a sense of the depth of his design.

While spending money made it easier to draw valuable items, it couldn't be too obvious. Otherwise, if someone spent a thousand dollars and consistently drew five-star items, everyone would suspect something. The trick was to create a dramatic shift.

For example, if a paying player didn't draw any five-star items in the first nine ten-pulls, the last one would yield three five-stars.

This contrast thrilled big spenders and kept ordinary players from feeling cheated. Everyone wins!

In "Map of Myriad Dimensions," soul stones were categorized as Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Bronze and Silver were the realms of non-spending and unlucky players, while Gold and Platinum were for spenders and the extremely lucky.

Alex had previously drawn a Gold-level soul stone, "Arthur," indicating good luck. According to his design, the first recharge had a high chance of yielding a Gold or Platinum-quality soul stone.

His first two draws had been consumables, so this last draw should be promising...

Praying silently, Alex hoped for a prestigious character—ideally an angel or deity, or at least a mage or warrior. Anything but another Lich King! He didn't dare use his ultimate skills now!

With a silent prayer, Alex extended his hand over the "Map of Myriad Dimensions" visible only to him.

The book opened, and the circular summoning array beneath it began to rotate, changing color from white to blue, then to gold.

The array shone brightly, with countless golden particles coalescing at its center, forming the shape of a soul stone.

'It's Done! The Golden Soul Stone!'

Seeing the shining golden soul stone before him, Alex took a deep breath and reached out to grasp it firmly.

The next moment, everything went dark.

Pitch-black, dense clouds covered the entire sky. Below them, a vast city lay in eerie gloom, resembling a lifeless graveyard.

For a moment, the world seemed to be in only black and white, devoid of any other colors.

Suddenly, the scene changed. Enormous creatures emerged from the clouds, and egg-like objects dropped from their bodies, crashing to the ground and creating deep, dark craters.

Soldiers shouted loudly, launching a desperate attack. But the next moment, their bodies were pierced and torn apart by monsters emerging from the craters.

Countless swarms flowed through the city like a sea of flesh and blood, destroying everything in their path. Humans formed a last line of defense in the square.

Soldiers stood in neat rows, gripping their weapons tightly, and behind them, steel cannons slowly raised their barrels, roaring thunderously.

Sparks exploded within the swarm, only to vanish quickly, like tiny pebbles causing ripples in the ocean—insignificant, fragile, and futile.

"Finally, I will exact my revenge on this planet."

As the firelight dimmed, humanity's defenses crumbled like foam under the swarm's assault. At the end of the square, a towering statue toppled and fell. In the distance, enormous warships descended from the clouds, enveloping the entire world in a deadly white glow.

"For I am the Progenitor of Swarms!"

...

Alex opened his eyes, his face darkened with disbelief. He stared at the "Map of Myriad Dimensions" before him, at a loss for words.

First Arthur, now Luna. Are you forcing me to tread the path of supreme dominance?

Is this system trying to kill me?

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