Chapter 31: System Currency

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A large treasure chest of gold and purple rested before me, most likely left behind after I defeated the Nightmare Beast Lord known as the Venom Sovereign. What surprised me more was that it had dropped at all. In Your Story Online, bosses typically left behind treasure chests containing their loot, so this made sense.

Yet this had never happened outside the game. I had slain countless Field Bosses and Alpha Monsters without a single chest appearing. Why now? Had the Nightmare Nest transformed into a Dungeon?

“How is this possible, Astraea?” I asked. “Has the Nightmare Nest actually become a dungeon?”

[Yes, I believe it is already more than halfway complete.]

Astraea analyzed our surroundings through my senses.

[Naturally, after defeating such a powerful foe, the Andromeda System has chosen to reward you handsomely!]

“Do the Nightmares not know about this dungeon phenomenon?” I asked Mongrel.

“Like hell we would know about something that weird!” Mongrel snapped. “Your world is one of the strangest we’ve ever invaded. It’s filled with bizarre rules and systems. Most other worlds were far simpler by comparison.”

“I’m not sure if I should feel flattered by that,” I sighed. “Astraea, do you think the Nightmares know how to exploit dungeons?”

[It’s difficult to say. If their nest has become a dungeon, it means they’ve been unknowingly assimilated by the Andromeda System and now register as monsters. When a dungeon forms, the strongest monster in the area is designated as the Boss… and those nearly as powerful become Side Bosses. They are all strengthened to make the challenge far greater.]

“Wait, that’s why he was so strong?!” I asked in disbelief. “The System was empowering him?”

[I don’t know. It’s possible it wasn’t. The System usually only elevates monsters that are severely lacking in power. Nightmares are strange entities from another dimension. I believe the System doesn’t fully know how to classify them beyond their names. They are already too strong for it to empower them further.]

“So I fought him at his base strength? I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if the System had empowered him…”

[It likely would have led to your death… So this is better, Master.]

“Right,” I nodded. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s open it and see what’s inside.”

I stepped forward and lifted the lid. A burst of sparkling light poured out, revealing a pile of silver-glass coins, potions, a book, a scroll, and two pieces of equipment.

[You have opened the Nightmare Beast Lord Boss Treasure Chest (A Grade)!]

[You have received the following items:]

[System Point Coins (A Grade)] x1000

[Divine Soul Spirit Elixir (A Grade)] x10

[Random Species Path Skill Book (A Grade)] x1

[Nightmare Affinity Skill Scroll (A Grade)] x1

[Nightmare Venomous Sovereign Ring (A Grade)] x1

[Abyssal Bat Lord Cloak (A Grade)] x1

“Oh, this is interesting. What are these coins, though?”

In Your Story Online, the currency had always been gold. These were different—System Point Coins. How did they even work?

[You simply place them within the System interface. By touching a system window, they will be automatically assimilated.]

“Like this?”

I pressed one coin against her message window. It instantly digitized into bright white and blue pixels.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

[You have exchanged one System Point Coin.]

[You have earned 1000 System Points.]

“That’s interesting! So System Points are the true currency of this world?” I wondered aloud. “I’ve lived so sheltered that I’ve barely seen money, let alone needed it.”

[Correct. Since the Andromeda System’s integration, most monetary systems have shifted toward System Point exchange.]

[Although other countries or worlds may still use their own currencies, System Points are universal and can purchase nearly anything or be converted into local money.]

[You can also create physical System Point Coins. Their value increases with the grade.]

[SSS Grade Coins cost 1,000,000 System Points.]

[SS Grade Coins cost 100,000 System Points.]

[S Grade Coins cost 10,000 System Points.]

[A Grade Coins cost 1,000 System Points.]

[B Grade Coins cost 500 System Points.]

[C Grade Coins cost 100 System Points.]

[D Grade Coins cost 50 System Points.]

[E Grade Coins cost 10 System Points.]

[F Grade Coins cost 1 System Point.]