Chapter 3: Jack

Chapter 3 - 3: JackRichard huffed and puffed, his lungs burning as if he'd just swallowed lava. His shirt was drenched, sticking to his skin like it had fused with his soul.

"Holy shit... I'm dying."

He bent over, hands on his knees, sweat dripping onto the pavement. The morning sun wasn't even at full power yet, but he already felt like he'd been roasted alive.

Why the hell did he think 100 push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, and a 3KM run would be easy?!

"Damn... when was the last time I even ran?" He wiped his forehead. "Probably back in high school PE?"

His legs trembled as he tried to stand upright.

A familiar voice called out.

"Hey, Richard! What's up with you? Why are you suddenly jogging?"

Richard turned to see Nina, his next-door neighbor, standing at the gate. She had a plastic bag in one hand, probably full of soft drinks and snacks, because unlike him, she wasn't making life harder for herself.

He forced a weak smile. "Eh... new hobby."

"Hobby? You're acting weird. Don't you usually just hang around at the repair shop?"



"I'm trying to be healthy!" he defended, wheezing in between words.

Nina raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're not just running away from debt?"

Richard coughed. Damn, she's sharp.

"No debts—at least not to people," he smirked. "Just paying off what I owe my body. Catching up."

Nina scoffed, shaking her head as she walked off. "Let's see if you're still 'healthy' tomorrow."

Richard let out a tired laugh. If only she knew...

Back home, Richard stared at the rusty pull-up bar hanging from the old coconut tree in their backyard. It had been there since his childhood, mostly used as a place to hang wet rags.

"Alright... how hard can this be?"


He jumped, grabbed the bar, and pulled with all his might.

His arms shook violently.

His shoulders screamed in protest.

Nothing.

He didn't move an inch.

Richard hung there, feet dangling uselessly above the ground.

"Okay... maybe I just need momentum..."

He swung his legs, trying to cheat his way up.

CREEEAK.

The bar snapped from the tree.

Richard crashed onto the ground, his back slamming into the dirt.

"SON OF A—!" He groaned, clutching his back. "Why the hell is this so hard?! This is ridiculous!"

A sudden burst of laughter came from the other side of the fence.

He turned his head and saw Mang Tonyo, the old carpenter who lived next door, watching him while eating a banana.

"Hey, Richard! You're weaker than I thought! Don't you work at the repair shop?"

Richard gritted his teeth. "Damn it, Mang Tonyo, this hurts, you know."

The old man just chuckled. "That's just how it is. Want me to help you build a proper pull-up bar?"

Richard sighed, sitting up. "Maybe when I have money..."

Mang Tonyo nodded. "Ahhh, so that's why you're suddenly working out. Trying to impress someone, huh?"

Richard sighed again. If only you knew.

Daily Quest: COMPLETE

After hours of struggle, swearing, and nearly passing out, Richard finally collapsed onto his bed. His body felt like it had been hit by a truck.

Then, a familiar blue panel popped up.

[Daily Quest Complete!]

[ +5 Stat Points +1 Skill Point +10,000 SP ]

He exhaled sharply.

"Thank. Freaking. God."

It was just Day 1, and he already wanted to quit.

But the SP reward? That was too good to pass up.

"Tomorrow," he muttered. "I'll do better."

July 12, 2012 – 4 PM

Richard sat on the balcony, watching the golden hue of the afternoon sun paint the rooftops. With 90,000 SP in his system and a soon-to-be millionaire thanks to the lottery, his mind raced with possibilities.

He could finally build a cozy home in Marawi, just like his mother wanted. Half of the money could go there, and the other half?

Business.

Most lottery winners spent their fortunes like there was no tomorrow—fancy cars, wild parties, luxury vacations—only to end up broke in a few years. He wasn't about to let that happen. If he invested wisely, especially with the system's technology, he could patent groundbreaking inventions and secure his wealth forever.

But for now, there was one dream he couldn't ignore—

Game development.

For years, he had spent countless hours at internet cafés, watching Unity 3D tutorials, sketching out ideas, and dreaming of creating his own game. But without a high-end PC, proper tools, and the right knowledge, it always felt just out of reach.

"If only I had the resources... I could finally make something amazing."

As if reading his thoughts, the blue panel suddenly flashed before his eyes.

???? [Vector Core - AI-Assisted Universal Game Development]Cost: 70,000 SP



Description: Vector Core is an advanced game engine designed for cross-platform development (PC & Mobile) with AI-assisted workflows. It originates from a future timeline, offering tools that drastically speed up and enhance game creation.

???? Historical Background: Developed in 2378 by "Logic Systems," a futuristic corporation specializing in procedural generation and optimization technologies. Created for scalable, highly-efficient game environments.

???? Features:

AI-Driven Procedural Asset Generation

Generates 2D & 3D assets (textures, models, animations) based on simple user inputs. Adaptive optimization ensures assets are tailored for specific platforms.

AI-Assisted Logic Scripting

Visual scripting with real-time AI suggestions and error checking. AI-generated behavior trees for creating dynamic NPCs and enemy AI.

Dynamic Resource Allocation

Automatically adjusts rendering & simulation based on hardware. Efficient resource management ensures smooth gameplay across different devices.

Cross-Platform Compilation

One-click deployment for Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux. Automated hardware optimization for each platform.

Advanced Procedural Physics

AI-driven physics for realistic interactions with optimized performance.

Modular Asset & Code Library

Comes with pre-made procedural assets and code modules to streamline development.

AI-Assisted Documentation & Tutorials

Built-in AI tutor guides the user step-by-step through game creation. Richard's Eyes Widened.

"What. The. Fuck."

This wasn't just a game engine—it was a miracle tool.

Even the best engines in 2012, like Unity and Unreal Engine, didn't have half of these features. If he got his hands on this, he wouldn't just make a game—

He could create an empire.

He checked his remaining SP.

90,000 SP available.

The engine cost 70,000 SP. That would leave him with 20,000 SP, which wasn't much, but he could always grind daily quests to earn more.

Richard grinned.

"Screw it. I'm buying this."

???? [Purchase Confirmed] ????

[Vector Core - AI-Assisted Universal Game Development has been installed.]

A surge of warmth spread through his mind as new knowledge flooded in. It wasn't just downloading software—he could feel the concepts of procedural generation, AI scripting, resource allocation, and advanced physics simulations being absorbed into his brain.

His hands trembled with excitement.

Richard leaned back on his chair, staring at the blue panel floating before him.

"Alright, let's check out the skill shop again."

With 20,000 SP left, he needed to be smart about his next purchase. If he was going to develop a game, he had to make sure he had the right skills.

He scrolled through the list, browsing past combat techniques and dexterity-based skills, until something caught his eye—

???? [Keyboard Warrior]Cost: 10,000 SP

Description: A specialized skill that allows the user to achieve an almost symbiotic relationship with their input devices, particularly keyboards.

✅ Enhances neural pathways related to motor memory and pattern recognition.

✅ Enables instinctive execution of complex code sequences and commands.

✅ Dramatically increases typing speed, accuracy, and efficiency.

Richard snorted, remembering how people called him a "keyboard warrior" when he used to argue with strangers over Dota matches in internet cafés.

"Well, I was a warrior of emotions back then... but this? This is something else."

With this skill, coding wouldn't just be easier—it would become second nature. He could type entire programs without even thinking.

"This is perfect."

???? [Purchase Confirmed] ????

As soon as the skill activated, a strange tingling sensation ran through his fingers, almost like they were buzzing with electricity. His mind felt clearer, and suddenly—

His hands itched to type.

Just as Richard was about to dive into his new abilities, the roar of a motorcycle echoed outside their front gate.

"Chard!"

A stocky guy wearing a tank top and basketball shorts swung off a Ducati with a huge grin. It was Jack.

Richard leaned over the balcony railing. "Oh hey, Jack."



Jack waved a small receipt in the air. "Let's go! My pa gave me an allowance, and I already bought that low-poly asset package from the Unity Store."

Richard chuckled. Jack was his best friend, a rich kid with an obsession for game development. He was the one who dragged Richard into it in the first place.

Back when Jack ran an internet café, he was building a Counter-Strike-inspired shooting game, except everything was just cubes—cube players, cube guns, and a flat map with barely any assets.

Since Richard often hung out at the café, he became Jack's game tester, throwing in ideas and even trying his hand at 3D modeling for fun. His designs were low-poly and rough, but at least they were original.

Now, years later, Jack was still chasing the dream.

Richard scratched his head. "I'll come over, but let me cook rice first. Ma's coming home later, and if she finds out I didn't cook a single grain, I'll be dead."

Jack revved the Ducati before hopping off and walking toward the house. "Fine, I'll help."

Richard snorted. "Shut up. Last time you 'helped,' the rice was still raw, and I had to dump more water and put salt on the lid to save it. Thank God Ma didn't notice."

Jack grinned. "Dude, I asked you how much water to put, and you just said 'yeah, yeah' while chopping wood. That's on you."

Richard shook his head, smirking. "Right, and I bet your old man nearly had a heart attack when you finally learned how to cook rice."

Jack laughed, stretching his arms. "You have no idea. He thought I was possessed."

Richard smiled. Jack had always been a spoiled brat, but even he had his moments.