With the posting schedule being Monday and Friday, it will be two chapters per release day!
I know the first day with Tony Stark has been seen in a negative light. It is different, yes. I will ask you this to ponder a "what if" question. If you chose 2006, would you have chosen to fly solo until Iron Man I begins? I took a different spin on it. He meets Tony Stark right off the bat!
If you do not feel like waiting for chapters to be posted here, you can read the rest of Volume 1 on my Patre0n too, free of charge! -> /Aht666. Also, if you do want to support me, I do have a tier available as well. No pressure. All of my work is available free of charge on Patre0n.
Happy reading!
*
"Man, having a good cheeseburger after fighting with your life on the line just hits different, you know?", Tony attempted to say with his mouth currently full.
Tony presently had a relaxed expression in his eyes, and he even kicked his feet back onto the inside of the passenger seat's window while crossing one leg over the other. He was indulging in what appeared to be a cheeseburger straight from McDonalds. He also had a couple still wrapped in a paper bag. We ordered from the drive-thru, so it didn't take long!
As you can see, some time has passed since Tony and I cleared that Instance Dungeon. And just like Tony, I too had a paper bag from the drive-thru. I smiled hearing that.
"You know it.", I said, grinning.
Man, Tony's supercar sure is something. It was one of the classics, a Mercedes Benz, but custom-built to his liking. Not only did it purr along the highway we were now on, which was, I-710 South, it was comfy as all hell. I'm melting in it, and enjoying every single second. Not literally, cause I'd no longer exist if that happened, but you get the point, haha!
Given that it's 2006, you'd think some fast food joints wouldn't exist, but most of them are available. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, Jack-In-The-Box, and more local joints like In-N-Out, you name it. I would have gone out of the way to a nearby Wendys or In-N-Out cause that's what I prefer more, but it's not like I dislike McDonalds. Their Big Macs really hit the spot sometimes.
If there was one thing I had to point out about fast food back in the early 2000s was how cheap it was. You don't have to worry about a flurry of extra fees or anything, like delivery cost, market rate-ups, or other shit like that. It's super cheap~
On the downside, you don't have access to apps like Doordash, so you have to make delivery requests mostly by phone call. Ahh, the good old times. While reminiscing about my youth before I became a game character, I unraveled the first Big Mac that I had in my paper bag.
Even though I was considered a game character now, I still had stamina.
That meant I could get hungry, tired, and so on.
I also had access to all of my emotions. I could get angry, feel happiness, I think you get the point. I wasn't purely mechanical like the Gamer System itself was, nor did I possess Gamer's Mind Skill that shut most of that down.
Honestly, I'm glad I don't have it. Imagine I enter a relationship later on. How awkward would it be if I couldn't feel good from that?
Knowing that was a good thing. Going back to the feeling of hunger, I could attempt Cooking-related Skills later on and see how that goes. The world is my oyster, as the saying goes, haha!
Taking a moment to unravel my first Big Mac, I saw Observe automatically trigger. A blue screen popped into view. So it even works on everyday items, huh?
[Triple Big-Mac]
A standard, triple Big-Mac from McDonalds. Extra pickles.
Rank: Gray
Cost: $3.00
Special Effect: Heals 30 HP and 10 MP upon use.
Don't skimp out on pickles, alright?
I may incur someone's wrath by saying this but pickles are hands down one of the best condiments to choose from. Onions are a close second. As for the sauces, I do enjoy some good ketchup and mustard. Mayo is absolutely disgusting. Don't hate me on that, alright?
Oh how I enjoy the early days of fast food when it was still good~
[Ding! Observe Lv2 Skill Proficiency has increased. 0% -> 10%.]
Are you mocking me?
Let's just ignore that. But that did confirm one thing. Even a simple action of looking at a burger is enough to increase the Proficiency of Observe. How absurd.
Instead, while holding the burger in my hand, I glanced my eyes at Tony, who was still enjoying his first one.
"Are you seeing what I am seeing, Tony?", I asked.
"If you're referring to this Observe Skill being used, then yes.", Tony answered. It wasn't visible from my end, but Tony said he also unlocked Observe in the Instance Dungeon. "Quite intriguing. It can give me a description even on this burger that I'm devouring."
Ding-ding-ding. Even after leaving the Instance Dungeon, you'd imagine the Party would end right then and there, but nope!
I have full freedom on who and when I can use this Party setting. I wanted to see what would happen when we left, and as expected, it's still in use. I could see Tony's Level is still 2.
Tony assisted with the Boss, and he leveled up because of that, but he didn't get the Quest reward like I did. It was my Quest, not his. I bet there's going to be some kind of Quest-sharing function down the line, but nothing happened during that Instance Dungeon.
Once I get my next Quest, we'll see if it can be shared or not. The one thing to take from this for now is the Party function isn't temporary.
Since no Quest reward was shared, Tony is Level 2, while I'm Level 4! I don't plan to be greedy here and hog it all to myself. This System isn't from a story like Solo Leveling. It involves people, and everyone can benefit from it.
During this, Happy saw that Tony and I were engrossed in a topic that he wasn't familiar with. Confusion appeared in his eyes. While keeping his eyes focused on the highway in front of him, he spoke out, as he couldn't exactly turn his head.
"Okay, I'm totally lost here.", Happy said, who was done eating by now. "What's this about a fight with your life on the line, Tony? Did I hear that right?"
"Come on Happy, it's a figure of speech.", Tony replied, and spent another moment chewing on his burger. "I say that, but I really didn't go dumpster-diving or anything. Did you really not see the thing I saw that prompted us to stop at that park?"
"You did say something about that...", Happy grumbled. "I didn't see anything out of the ordinary at the park. Just some families enjoying quality time with one another. Are you saying you saw something different?"
Did Happy truly not see the Instance Dungeon that I created?
Was it by a stroke of luck and its positioning that Happy, or anyone else for that matter, didn't see it? Or is something else at play?
To my surprise, I saw a Gamer Notification appear, which responded to my growing doubt.
[Ding! You have learned about a hidden effect of one of your Skills, ID Creation.]
[Ding! Your Skill Page has been updated.]
[Ding! An additional Effect has been added.]
'Open Skill Page', I thought, and proceeded to check out what was added.
[ID Creation]
You now have the ability to create Instance Dungeons. The types of Dungeons and the Monsters lurking within will vary, depending on your level.
Rank: F
Level: 2
Proficiency: 0.0%
Special Effect 1: You can create Instance Dungeons.
Special Effect 2: You can spend a certain amount of MP to create registered IDs and challenge them again. The first time is free.
Special Effect 3: New IDs will automatically register the more your level increases.
Special Effect 4: Major characters from the MCU may receive an invitation to join an Instance Dungeon you make. (NEW)
Registered IDs:
-Slime Tunnel (Level 1)
-Zombie Street (Level 5)
You've got to be kidding me...
I knew about the MP cost and the first time being free, and that new IDs will be added onto the list the more I use the Skill and level it up, but that new effect that was just added...
I couldn't help but stare at it for a good moment in shock.
Isn't this the same thing as plot armor!? What the heck is this!?
It might be better not to tell others of this particular effect of ID Creation...
Instead, I took a moment to eat the burger I had in my hand to distract that train of thought.
[Ding! You have eaten a Triple Big-Mac.]
[Ding! You have recovered 30 HP & 10 MP.]
[Ding! Current HP: 610/660.]
[Ding! Current MP: 77/130.]
[Ding! Recovering HP and MP does not count as an increase.]
[Ding! Points Doubler did not trigger.]
[Ding! You are now idle.]
[Ding! HP and MP will automatically recover.]
[Ding! Your HP rate is 0.3% HP per minute.]
[Ding! Your MP rate is 1.5% MP per minute.]
Right...There was that, wasn't there?
A special ability I have yet to try is resting in a bed. Upon doing so I'll recover all HP and MP I had used during the day, but I can also recover it by relaxing like this!
I can recover about 1 HP every three minutes, and about 5 MP every three minutes. HP takes VIT, while MP takes the WIS stat.
WIS is basically how fast you can recover it, as well as how well you can use Skills, or Spells if they exist, I think you get the idea.
This car ride is likely going to take forty to sixty minutes so I should be back up to full HP and MP by then. And Points Doubler does not consider increasing HP and MP a point gain, so I won't gain double by healing them.
Feeling satisfied with this new information, Tony appeared confused after Happy answered that.
"You really didn't see what I saw, Happy? How disappointing.", Tony said, and sighed. "You missed out on something fun. That's how I met Myles here. And well, I think the two of us are considered buds at this point. You don't really care about the image I hold, do you?"
Hearing that, I paused. I mean, at the end of the day, this is Tony Stark. He's famous, yes, and he's the future Iron Man, but is there a need to hold famous people in a different light? Other people might, but I personally don't.
"Nah. To me, you're just Tony. Just like how Happy here is Happy. I don't care if you're famous or not.", I replied, shaking my head.
"See? Told you the kid agrees with me. That's why I brought him on board.", Tony said with a smug look. "And I was being serious when I said to cancel all remaining reservations and meetings I have today. I'll deal with Pepper later. I'm sure she'll understand the position I'm in now. All for a good reason, I assure you. I want you to hook this kid up with a job at Stark HQ. His salary doesn't matter. I also want you to draft up a formal rental agreement with one of the apartments I own nearby. But with one caveat."
"...You can't be serious. Mr. Stane isn't going to like that.", Happy frowned. He was used to taking Tony's jokes, but he could tell Tony wasn't joking around here. "But which apartment are we talking about here?"
...Man, I really am underestimating the wealth of one of the wealthiest billionaires on the planet. If I had to relate Tony Stark to someone from my previous earth, it'd probably be Elon Musk? How many apartments is Tony invested into?
"I know. I'll deal with Obadiah when the time comes. He knows how to run the place in my absence.", Tony nodded. "As to which apartment I'm going to bring the kid to, it's Azure Point. It's within a ten to fifteen minute walk of Stark HQ. As for the one condition I just mentioned, the kid here will pay a full three months' rent upfront, but not now. At the end of the month. It's March 1st, so that gives you thirty-one days, kid."
(A/N: This bit is non-canon. Unique to my fanfic. I've been playing NTE around the time it launched, and the apartment complexes you can buy in it inspired me to do this.)
Hearing that, I didn't immediately answer. Instead, I saw Tony turn his head, and looked my way from the front seat.
"Think you can do that? I've seen what you can do. Twenty grand each month. Sixty total."
"Sixty grand!?", Happy exclaimed, becoming shocked, wanting to slam his foot on the brakes, even though Happy knew he couldn't. "I know Azure Point is on the high-end, but do you seriously expect this kid can earn that much in the span of a single month? That's practically two years' salary of your average person!"
"I know. But like I said, I've seen what Myles can do. I think it's a manageable task.", Tony said, and smiled.
I think I know where this is going...
[Ding! A new Quest has been issued to you.]
Of course.