First thing's first. Every good Ranker knows to make sure civilians are looked after. I need supplies.

  Going back into the apartment to see if Jake has a stash is a no-go. But Rankers have access to something called the Grand Exchange. Perhaps I can buy potions there.

  With just that thought, a glowing blue panel appears before me.

  [To access the Grand Exchange, please choose a RankerID]

  Dammit.

  I don't want to be a Ranker, so I tried putting off choosing a name, sort of like if you keep ignoring letters from your doctor to visit, they eventually stop.

  I like my job as a programmer. It's remote and I don't have to deal with people. I don't want to be some bitch to society's whims and orders. All humans except Jake are scum.

  I absolutely won't be a hero to this society.

  “Viliness,” I mutter, not wanting to draw attention.

  [Are you sure you want the RankerID ? This cannot be changed]

  [(Y/N)]

  The panel changes when I select “Yes” to UI resembling an in-game shop. In the top left, next to a bunny icon is my RankerID. In the top right is a search bar, and in the lower 90% of the screen are lists of various items, from daggers to portal scrolls to armour.

  A portal scroll is probably the top priority, but I scoff at the price. 10,000AUD??? What a joke. The price is likely infted because guilds like to buy them up for raids.

  I tap on the search bar and enter “potion”. At the top of the screen is a Minor Healing Potion, costing 100AUD. At least this was more bearable. I buy three of them just in case.

  As I go to exit the market, I notice something else: a Minor Mana Potion for 75AUD. This would be very helpful for maintaining my Berserk skill. The fight against Lathokar would have been a lot simpler had I not wasted it earlier.

  I buy two of them and cringe as my bank account is 450 lighter. I was saving money for a new GPU for my PC.

  Walking back into the common area, the commotion has gotten worse. A few people have tched on to the fact the man is a Ranker, and are screaming at him to do his job. The security guards at the side don't interfere, instead gring at him as if their extra workload is his fault.

  Honestly, humanity can go fuck itself.

  Fortunately, with everyone’s attention fixed on a man who, for all reason, shouldn’t run into a high-rank dungeon by himself, no one notices the small woman in a bunny hoodie sneak her way around the edges of the room and up the stairs.

  The next floor up is eerily quiet in comparison, with the only sounds coming from the stairwell behind me. The st time I entered a dungeon, it was purely by accident. How do I find the entrance?

  I walk along the corridor, scanning the doors. Much like Jake’s apartment, these all have keycard scanners. Maybe these children were snobby rich kids, so them not returning from a dungeon wouldn’t be the worst… right?

  As it turns out, dungeon entrances aren’t too well hidden. One of the apartment doors is wide open, a golden band of light glowing around the doorframe. I really hadn’t been paying attention where I was walking, huh? No wonder Jake was so mad.

  I open my inventory. It is rather sparse, with only the iron hammer I’d first picked up (so that’s where it vanished to), 3 Minor Healing Potions, 2 Minor Mana Potions, the great hammer, and… a gift box? I don’t remember picking that up. Is it some sign-up bonus?

  [Greater Gift Box]

  [Rarity: ???]

  [Contains additional rewards from soloing and sying ]

  Huh. The notifications did say something about gaining additional rewards. I figured that was my [Fury of the Small] leveling up and getting the great hammer. If the boss drop was already considered a rare item, this had the potential to be even better, right? Or maybe I should sell it and recoup my PC upgrade savings.

  I eventually decide to open it. PC savings mean jack shit if I don’t survive this dungeon and get the devilspawn–I mean, children–to safety.

  [Opening ]

  [Contents are being tailored to ]

  [ has obtained ]

  [ has obtained ]

  [Amulet of Retribution]

  [Rarity: Rare]

  [Deal 25% extra damage to the st creature type who damaged you]

  [Current Creature Bonus: Lizardfolk]

  [Minor Blessing: STR]

  [Consumable]

  [Rarity: Rare]

  [Permanently increase STR by 1]

  Woah, woah, woah! These items are pretty insane, right? In games, anything that permanently increases stats is great, even if it is by 1. I immediately activate the blessing and hang the amulet around my neck. My stats now look like:

  [ID: Viliness]

  [Rank: C (#10,380 OCE)]

  [Berserker Level 4]

  [XP: 245/1,000]

  [HP: 20/20]

  [MP: 5/5]

  [STR: 16]

  [AGI: 0]

  [ARC: 0]

  [VIT: 0]

  [INS: 0]

  [Status: Rested]

  [Passively regenerate 10% of HP and MP per minute]

  [Skills]

  [(Passive) Fury of the Small]

  [(Active) Berserk]

  [(Passive) Blood Frenzy]

  [Equipped Items]

  [Lizard King’s Great Hammer]

  [Amulet of Retribution]