While he was recovering his arrows, Pete considered the attribute point he had picked up during the skirmish. There was no question as to where he was going to place that point. Given the cost bonus to agility, he planned to stack as many points as possible into the Liquidity attribute.
Not surprisingly, it cost 10 Belch Bucks to apply a single attribute point. That stung a little less given how much money they had made during the fight against the hobgoblins and his encounter with Orin Tithebreaker. He happily paid the price and watched as his had confirmed two attribute points against the Liquidity attribute instead of one.
“Nice,” he mused, nodding to himself.
He noticed no physiological change after making the update, but the symbols surrounding the Agility attribute suggested that each point he gained would incrementally increase various sub-proficiencies that were encompassed within the attribute. He’d already gained two proficiency points in Archery and one in Critical Strike Damage, and the green up arrows next to each indicated the change.
Pete noticed, as he was looking through his stats, that while Critical Strike Damage fell under the Agility attribute, Critical Strike Chance sat within Luck. He’d need to spread points between those in order to maximize the effectiveness of his attacks.
And then there was Strength. Pete hadn’t realized how strenuous it would be to pull back that bowstring with each shot. Swinging the machete had been difficult enough given its weight and lack of balance, but drawing a bow before every shot was going to be exhausting if he didn’t increase his Strength and Stamina. That last one would mean adding points into Constitution as well, given that Stamina was a proficiency that sat beneath Constitution.
It was going to be a delicate tightrope to walk, balancing adding points into agility and getting the class bonus while also spreading points among Constitution, Strength, and Luck. He hadn’t even considered Intelligence, Charisma, or Wisdom yet and, though he figured they would be significantly less important for the kind of build he was planning, Pete had played enough RPGs in his time to understand that putting nothing into these areas could have serious detrimental effects as time progressed.
As he picked up another arrow and cleaned the gore off its head, Pete reflected that this would be the perfect time to be discussing starts and builds with his friend. He thought of the phone sitting in his pocket and the money he still had saved up. He could buy a bunch of medkits and other valuable items with that money, and it seemed like an utter waste to spend it on unlocking his cell phone. But if he could contact Ollie...
“Nero, how much was it again to unlock my phone?”
[Nero] 1500 Belch Bucks, Pete. That will unlock all of the applications and allow you to communicate with other individuals who have similarly unlocked their own devices.
“Alright, but how does it actually work? I presume you guys have screwed up all of our satellites, so how will the technology work?”
[Nero] For a small fee, you will be able to access the Tongsly Belch Communications Network. It leverages off the Mammon System and allows you to communicate with any individual located anywhere in this world.
Pete slipped the arrow he was holding back into his quiver. Of course, there would be a cost. Every unlock, every call, every breath, and every bite of food was going to cost in this new world. It was capitalism on steroids.
That thought raised another urgent need within Pete. He suddenly realized how ravenously hungry he was, and his mouth was dry, hinting at an intense thirst.
[Pete] You guys hungry, thirsty? I think maybe we should get some food before we hit the road again.
[Sam] Good idea. I saw some ration packs we can buy from the kiosk. They don’t look great, but I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to find another place to eat, seeing as most of the nearby buildings have been locked down.
[Pete] Okay. Well, I’m gonna buy a couple of things anyway, so I’ll take a look at the food while I’m at it and pick up some drinks.
[Coop] Don’t forget my Copper Chew!
[Pete] Fine, I’ll give you some once I’ve finished at the kiosk; I promise.
Pete headed to the Vend-o-matic machine and began looking through options. He navigated to the menu option, which showed various inexpensive ration bars that were available. Sam and Coop came wandering over as he began working through the options.
Each of the bars was represented by a simple, plain package that looked like it was the size of a protein bar. There were three colors of bars: green, red, and pink, with each of the plain packages boasting a single golden seat at its center, with a stylized image of Tongsly Belch imprinted on it.
>> FOOD AND BEVERAGES [RATIONS]
+| Ultrimax Ration Bar A – Veggie Crunch
Ingredients: compressed legumes, dried vegetables, synthetic flavoring.
Effect: +2 Sustenance, -3 Endurance over 1 hour.
“Healthy-ish! Survive the day… if you must.”
>> COST: 5 Belch Bucks each or 10 for 25 Belch Bucks
+| Ultrimax Ration Bar B – Meat-Filled Munch
Ingredients: mystery meat paste, grains, salt.
Effect: +5 Sustenance, +2 Bloating (slightly reduces Agility for a few minutes).
“Real meat, really lingers.”
>> COST: 5 Belch Bucks each or 10 for 25 Belch Bucks
+| Ultrimax Ration Bar C – Sugar Rush Delight
Ingredients: compressed sugar, chocolate, tiny candy bits.
Effect: +3 Sustenance, +5 Energy for 5 minutes, followed by -5 Energy drop afterward.
“Feel invincible… then a moment later, feel regret.”
>> COST: 5 Belch Bucks each or 10 for 25 Belch Bucks
Sam snorted. “Looks like there are downsides no matter what we choose.”
“Yeah,” Pete agreed. “And it says nothing here about taste. Nero, is there a way to get a sense of what these things taste like?”
[Nero] While I have limited knowledge of such things directly, I can delve into my knowledge of the experiences of previous contestants. For the most part, the majority of players find these ration packs lacking in distinctiveness. They each share a similar ‘cardboard’ texture and all have a hint of bitterness to them.
“Even the Sugar Rush Delight?” Pete asked.
[Nero] Yes, indeed. While it is no doubt sweeter than the other ration bars, even that ration is somewhat bitter. With regard to the minor debuffs each ration bar causes, these are quite minor. You may experience slight sluggishness, bloating, or a lack of mental precision for a short time after eating one of the bars, but the effects don’t last long and aren’t life-threatening in and of themselves. Nonetheless, any disadvantage at this stage of the contest would be a lot advised to avoid if possible.
Pete scrolled down on the display to the drink options that were available.
+| Ultrimax Water Ration Type 1 – Tap-Aqua
Standard, cheap, slightly metallic-flavored water.
Effect: +3 Hydration, no additional benefits.
“Drink. Survive. Repeat.”
>> COST: 1 Belch Buck each
+| Ultrimax Water Ration Type 2 – Mineral Drizzle
Slightly fizzy, lightly salted water with added minerals.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Effect: +4 Hydration, small chance of temporary cramps if consumed on an empty stomach.
“Electrolytes! Or something like that.”
>> COST: 2 Belch Bucks each
+| Ultrimax Water Ration Type 3 – Filtered Spark
Filtered and lightly carbonated, faint lemon flavor.
Effect: +3 Hydration, +1 Alertness, slight fizz wakes groggy adventurers.
“Wake up. Don’t ask why it’s lemon-flavored.”
>> COST: 3 Belch Bucks each
“Okay, well these look a little better,” Sam suggested. “No real debuffs, at least.”
“I bet they taste like shit though,” Coop offered from her place around Pete’s neck.
“It doesn’t really matter?” Pete asked. “I mean, as long as they get the job done.”
[Nero] I should point out that there are other food and beverage options that are a little more expensive but offer greater perks and a more enjoyable taste. It should also be noted that sponsors will be watching your every move, and they take note of the choices you make. While choosing simple ration bars may be a smarter strategy in terms of saving your money for something more important, those who spend their coins more extravagantly on food and drink tend to garner the notice of sponsors more quickly.
Pete frowned. “I would have thought surviving and doing well in the game would be more important than what food you choose to eat.”
[Nero], In a sense, you are exactly right. However, the quicker you can start thinking in terms of sponsorships and the performance side of the contest, the better. Your survival and prosperity do not just rest on your ability to eliminate enemies and survive the various trials and obstacles the contest throws in your path. You must also court powerful sponsors if you wish to thrive. That means making choices that may not make as much strategic sense from a pure survival perspective, but which appeal to the audience watching your every move.
Pete thought about that for a moment. Until this point, he hadn’t really considered the full implications of the fact that everything they were doing here was being watched. The feed that Orin had shown them was probably being played to millions of viewers, perhaps billions. This meant that every shot he had just fired, every mistake he made, or outburst he blurted would be recorded and broadcast to all those viewers.
It was a sobering thought; being seen at all made him angry. Not only did these bastards invade Earth and enslave humanity, but they also had the gall to enlist contestants in this insane competition and then broadcast the results of the carnage to their citizens like it was all some frivolous game.
The casual disdain with which they treated human life, or all life for that matter, was painfully clear. Pete and his companions weren’t simply players in a game; they were contestants in a game show. That was an important distinction and one that Pete had to force himself to remember each time he made a choice, picked up a weapon, or killed an enemy.
“By that logic,” Sam said, “everything could make a difference, right? Our clothing, the way we fight enemies, what we eat, how we sleep. If there are cameras watching us every hour of every day and millions of people, or aliens, or whatever, watching and betting on our success or failure, then every decision matters.”
Pete smiled. She’d come to exactly the same conclusion as he had.
[Nero] It can be quite a daunting prospect, I know. Most players struggle with this reality early on in their journey, but those that survive learn to adapt and incorporate this dynamic into their day-to-day existence. Those who excel at the contest are those who are able to leverage this performative aspect of the Dominion Ultrimax competition and gain powerful buffs and bonuses by courting high-quality sponsors.
“So, this is a popularity contest,” Coop said. “We need to get as many people on our side as possible, right?”
[Nero] In a sense, yes. One important aspect of this dynamic, however, is that you cannot please everyone. Every choice that you make will increase your likability for certain segments of the viewing community while simultaneously decreasing your likability with others. You may choose to act as more of a villainous character, and that will not necessarily mean that you are unable to gain high-quality sponsors. You simply need to play the part of the villain so spectacularly that you draw in relevant sponsors. For others, a heroic path may be more in line with that character. In the same fashion, as a hero, you will draw a good deal of attention among certain sponsors, but there will also be others that find the hero’s path tiresome and uninteresting, so they will withhold their sponsorship and may, in fact, pay for certain debuffs to stifle your progression. There are also benefits to being in a group as opposed to working alone, as sponsors and viewers alike tend to enjoy the interpersonal dynamics of a party. That said, it is possible to succeed as a loner, provided that you lean into the role.
“What about privacy?” Pete asked. “Are there times when we aren’t being watched?”
[Nero] Ah, now that is an interesting question. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a firm answer to that as the rules on privacy change with each new iteration of the contest. In past seasons, there were certain safe areas that were established where contestants could recover, eat, sleep, and prepare for the next day’s activities. Historically, the feeds were blocked from these areas, and players were allowed a modicum of privacy whilst they stayed within a safe zone. However, I have heard rumors that the games master may attempt something different this season. It may be that you get no privacy in this iteration of the contest; all these safe zones could have undergone other novel changes. All will be made plain if you survive the novice arena. Once you emerge from the other side, the contest proper begins, and I will know more about what kind of safe zones have been established and what level of privacy you can expect.
Sam turned to Pete, her brow furrowed beneath the beak of her trucker’s cap. “It’s like we’re stuck in a reality TV show twenty-four seven.”
He nodded, smiled. “It’s like The Running Man.”
Sam chuckled at that. “Damn, that’s a deep cut. You ever seen it?”
“Nah, not the original at least. But I get the premise.”
“Well,” Coop interjected, “for those of us who have no idea what the hell you two are talking about, can we get a move on? All this talk of food has made me hungry.”
Pete navigated to the next area of the display where a new list of items appeared on the screen, this time with brighter images surrounded by sparks of light and with more of a gaudy, retro advertising feel. There were boxes and cans and various other packaging, all featuring different versions of Tongsly Belch in a variety of poses.
He was pictured as a cartoon hero on a packet of what looked like a TV dinner package. Elsewhere, he was featured in a painted portrait of a captain on the prow of a sea vessel, except the ship was a hotdog instead of a sailing vessel. In each case, he looked suitably heroic and wore the same disturbingly wide grin, his eyes twinkling with avarice, his face studded with precious gems and jewelry. He also always wore the garish hat with the large stone at its center.
>> FOOD AND BEVERAGES
+| BelchCorp Nutriloaf
A dense brick of compressed protein, starch, and “flavor dust.” Feeds a goblin-sized stomach for 24 hours. The texture is suspiciously similar to shoe leather.
Effect: +12 Sustenance, +0 Energy, tough chew may reduce Agility slightly.
“Survive the day… if your teeth survive it first.”
COST: 20 Belch Bucks per item, 100 Belch Bucks for 10 portions.
+| Shareholder’s Supper Box
Cardboard tray with segmented compartments: a lump of meat paste, dehydrated veg cubes, and a square of “dessert foam.” Instructions: “Add water and hope for the best.”
Effect: +8 Sustenance, +1 Energy, bland taste reduces morale slightly.
“The taste of profit, compressed and packaged.”
COST: 40 Belch Bucks per item.
+| Dividend Dogs
Pack of two hot dogs, heavily salted and wrapped in plasticky bread. They never mold, but they do squeak when you bite them.
Effect: +6 Sustenance, +1 Bloating, minor Hyperactivity from salt content.
“Two dogs, one squeak, endless regret.”
COST: 50 Belch Bucks per item, 200 Belch Bucks for a pack of 6.
+| Golden Guzzle
Sparkling water “infused” with a single Belch Buck coin at the bottom of each bottle.
Effect: +3 Hydration, +1 Status (you’re drinking gold… technically).
“Sip carefully. Don’t choke on your wealth.”
COST: 10 Belch Bucks per item.
+| BelchFizz Cola
Carbonated syrup so sweet it causes a +1 Hyperactivity debuff for 10 minutes.
Effect: +2 Hydration, +5 Energy, +1 Hyperactivity for 10 minutes.
“Buzz, crash, and repeat. It’s the Belch way.”
COST: 15 Belch Bucks per item.
+| Ultrimax Imperial Experience
Starter: Golden-Leaf Salad – a tiny pile of dehydrated lettuce dusted with edible gold-colored flakes. Crunchy, flavorless, but looks luxurious.
Main: Regal Protein Cube? – compressed mystery meat and starch, shaped into a neat cube, garnished with a single synthetic herb.
Dessert: Mini Moon Tart? – a wafer-thin sweet tart, mostly air, dusted with sugar sparkles.
Drink: BelchFizz Cola – carbonated, overly sweet, slightly metallic aftertaste.
Bonus: Mini Tongsly Belch Figurine? – a small, plastic representation of the Dominion founder, sold as a collectible.
Effect: +12 Sustenance, +3 Energy, +3 Prestige (all effects last for 10 minutes after completing the meal)
COST: 75 Belch Bucks per item
“What does Prestige do?” Pete asked.
[Nero] Put simply, it makes you more visible to potential sponsors. Those with higher prestige levels are more visible in daily feeds and the various tally boards used for placing wagers and the like. Maintaining a relatively high prestige level will become increasingly important later on in the contest. For now, any amount of prestige you can gain is of benefit.
“All right,” Pete said. “So we either buy a ton of low-cost food and use our money for something else, or we buy more expensive meals and try to rack up some prestige.”
“For ten minutes,” Sam pointed out. “Will that make any difference?”
[Nero] Every bit of prestige will help at this stage of the contest, Sam. While you will not know who your sponsors are and will not be able to directly connect with them in any way prior to the novice arena, you can be assured that they are watching. Or, rather, there are sponsors watching the competition. If they cannot see you because you do not make a big enough splash, then you will likely exit the arena with no sponsorships at all and a significantly lower chance of survival from there on.
She nodded. “Then I say we buy the most expensive food we can get, we stick to caviar and champagne from now on and try to keep those prestige levels as high as possible.”
“Agreed,” Pete said, grimacing as he remembered what else he planned to buy after the food. “The thing is, I also want to unlock my phone. If there’s a chance I can reach my mom, I want to take it. Plus, I’ve got a friend on the other side of town... I have to at least try to reach him.”
Coop snorted. “That tattoo-loving friend of yours with the knobby elbows and the long legs?”
“Yeah, Ollie. I can’t say for sure that he’s out here in the contest, but if anyone was going to pick up a gauntlet and get involved, it’s Ollie.”
He turned to Sam. “It’s going to cost 1500 Bucks to unlock my phone. That won’t leave much more for food.”
She waved away the comment. “It’s fine. I’ve got a bunch of weapons I can trade in, and they’re all green rarity. Plus, we’ve got a bunch more trash for you to sell to Eyepatch.”
Pete screwed up his nose. “You mean Orin?”
“Yeah. That’s the one. Given what he paid for the other crap you gave him, we should be able to get at least a couple of hundred bucks with the trash loot we’ve picked up from this latest fight.”
“Yeah, except I can’t use that ability for another 12 hours. It’s got a big-ass cooldown on it.”
Sam nodded. “Okay. I think we’ll still be fine, though. Unlock your phone, and I’ll pick up the Core Attributes I’m missing. Then we’ll pool our money after that and see what we can afford.”
Pete navigated away from the food and beverage menu and moved to the Technology section of the kiosk menu. He purchased a Legacy Unlock augment and applied it to his cell phone, then added additional unlocks for each of his existing applications.
It was only once the process was complete that Pete saw that the apps on his phone had changed. The icons were all completely different, and everything had a different version of either Tongsly Belch’s face as part of the icon or a Belch Buck symbol associated with it.
“What the hell is this now?”