Time Hacks and the Solo Gambit

As expected from a game of probabilities.

A package inside a package.

Just like a Matryoshka doll.

"Whoa! A double gacha?!"

"Something feels off about this, Your Majesty."

I agreed. A gacha inside a gacha?

It just gave off that vibe.

Did the System drag this out on purpose?

Those two factions inside the System.

Vaccine and virus vibes, right?

The former was friendly to Awakeners.

The latter was outright hostile.

From the virus's perspective, that made sense.

Hold back rewards as much as possible.

Or delay them to the max.

Just like now.

Of course, that alone could be speculation.

But the follow-up options solidified my conviction.

Item grade increases based on time endured without opening the package.

Probability of an item suited to the user's current situation rises proportionally to endurance time.

Total endurance time: 0 days (Max 100 days)

Look at this.

Dragging it out blatantly.

Telling us to wait 100 days for max rewards.

"Hah."

100 days? No way.

What kind of torture device is this?

I couldn't even wait 3 minutes for instant ramen—I'd force ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it open, and that became my habit.

"Those bastards! They teased us like we'd get it right away! 100 days is enough time for a bear and tiger to turn human!"

"Those faction guys... If they were in front of me, I'd smash their heads in one shot."

The public sentiment was boiling too.

My two allies were steeped in Korea's ppalli-ppalli culture.

Carmina checked the delivery rider's location by the second after ordering.

Yulia ran 20 games of online Go-Stop at once because she hated waiting in queue.

Still.

"It's tempting, but at least it guarantees a top-tier grade with that extra option."

All tactical items marked with a '-'

Maybe the minus signifies aggressive effects internally.

Seems like the System has its own sub-grades.

"Ah, this is so hard to resist."

"Ugh... This is too much. Way too much."

"Even during abstinence training, the pain wasn't this bad."

We reached for the package over and over, only to pull back, agonizing dramatically.

Then a flash of insight. Time?

Three pairs of eyes turned at once.

Whoosh!

Toward Hati, who was bouncing on the bed, fascinated by the unfamiliar blanket texture for the first time in its life.

"Krng?"

"Guh!"

"Hek!"

"Huff, huff."

I scooped Hati into my arms and showed it the bundle.

"Think it could work?"

Hati's acceleration buff.

Wonder if it applies to items?

"It'd be nice if it did, but I have a feeling the System won't allow it!"

"I agree. It's split into body, thought, and skill acceleration—probably won't affect item options, right?"

But contrary to the doubters' predictions.

It worked?

"You two, reflect on this! Doubting our Hati! Tsk tsk! Truly lamentable!"

"H-Hati! Sorry!"

"Ahh! My faith in the dopamine cult's divine beast was lacking! I repent!"

What a lucky charm.

As we scratched Hati's neck vigorously, another chain of ideas sparked.

Checked the skill window.

Would this work too?

Subspace could store anything—normal items or tower items alike.

I put the package in and focused my mind.

"Master! Nosebleed! Nosebleed!"

"Blood from Your Majesty's sacred body!"

I took tissues and wiped while continuing.

The result.

This worked too?

With a bit of rest for my aching head, I could do it again.

After some calculations.

"We can max it out fully before the round ends. Stuff that patience bonus to the brim."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

100 days? Laughable.

I'll wrench it open in under 20, no problem.

Afterward, I demonstrated miracles on other visible targets.

Making freshly delivered chicken soggy.

Instantly warming cold beer.

"M-My chicken! Master! Too far!"

"The beer... lukewarm...?"

But.

"It's crispy again!"

"The coldest beer of my life."

Reverse time rewind worked too.

No clue on the exact principle.

But I figured something out.

Mental power drain varied wildly by target, even for the same time manipulation.

This is fun?

Anything else to rewind?

Then my eyes landed on the windowsill flowerpots.

Time manipulation with rests in between.

Repeatedly accelerating growth.

Absorbing all shed blood drops, then shedding more.

Maybe because they were near the end?

Mental drain wasn't too bad.

"Grow, roses! Grow!"

With Carmina's cheer.

Flash!

All four bloomed gorgeously.

"Eat 'em now."

"Nom."

"I'll float mine in a cocktail."

"Krng?"

Perfect for our group of four—no distribution hassle.

Melted in the mouth like cotton candy.

We headed straight to floor 37.

Debuffs? Thanks for the buffs.

Whooosh!

We flew high on the magic carpet.

Across the vast land's east, west, south, north.

Four small castles dotted the directions.

Simple objectives.

Destroy the hidden seal stones in each castle.

Then slay the Necro-Lord at the central altar.

Of course, not that simple.

Vast distances between castles.

Travel alone takes ages.

Plus swarms of lizard soldiers of all classes.

"According to Octopus Uncle's data, even top S-rank Awakeners average 5 days on this hellish mission!"

"Ah, Your Majesty, it says here it's more infamous than floors 38, 39, or 40 in some ways."

5 days?

"No."

"Then 5 hours?"

I shook my head.

"That's no good either."

"Ah! 50 minutes?"

Hmm.

"Let's do 5 minutes."

Follow-up briefing.

"Got it!"

"Acceleration Orb ready."

Tense atmosphere.

Everyone's eyes sharp like sprinters at the start.

Hati too.

"Grrrng!"

Fierce beast face.

But cute. Snap a pic?

Screeeeech—!

The carpet sliced through the air like lightning.

Destination? East castle first.

"Master! Almost there!"

"Hati, mind helping?"

Hati wiggled its butt.

Then leaped at Yulia.

Hop! Whoosh!

Instantly white flames enveloped her body.

Foxfire, or purification flames.

Could hop targets to amp acceleration buffs.

Me? Soul-bound, always maxed regardless of Hati's position.

Anyway.

DPS Carmina or tank Yulia.

Super flexible—boost offense or defense as needed.

East castle approaching.

Carpet descended.

Thud!

Yulia leaped like lightning.

Toward? Right below, the castle's heart.

"Wicked beasts! All of you to the Lord's side—!"

That Lord better not be me.

Hammer smash on descent.

Like a few hundred tons plummeting fiercely.

No time for panicked soldiers to loose arrows or fireballs.

KABOOOOOM——!

Smashed the central ceiling.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Crashing through floors continuously.

Man, like a falling boulder.

Yulia bomb-drop complete.

Carpet turned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠north.

Glanced back.

East castle crumbling rapidly amid dust clouds.

"Yulia's rampaging! Ruler of the battlefield!"

"Reliable demolition expert."

Hati joined too.

Demolition speed? Need I say?

North castle: Dropped bloody shells with Carmina.

Pre-cast piles.

Hundreds of deafening blasts.

No need to hunt—just smash the whole castle.

Yulia a dot in the distance.

White flames cloaking her, supersonic across the plains.

Lizard soldiers leaping in bounced off.

"Like watching speed hacks!"

"We're no slouches. Westward ho!"

Soon after.

High in the sky.

All corpses reviving with red eyes.

Chilling swarm toward central altar with survivors.

Necromancy buff doubles strength.

Whatever.

"Meteor Fall."

KABOOOOOM——!

Split the points evenly.

Thud.

Carpet landed at central altar.

A massive new stele rose, glowing runes.

"Bang bang bang! Host! Open up! Bang bang bang!"

"Stick your head out or I'll roast you."

Battle-hyped allies shelled and hammered the stele.

"Krng! Grrrng! Ack! Ack!"

No, Hati too...?

Already corrupted...?

Influenced by my emotions or mentality?

Shaking off bewilderment, inspected the stele.

Data said indestructible by any attack.

Black Hole test?

Removable.

But risky.

Bug could mess up clear.

Legit way: Wait.

Until the homeowner shows.

But 3 minutes is too long.

Stele counts as item?

Acted on it.

"Ah! The stele! Where'd it go?!"

"Your Majesty stored it in subspace?"

"Correct."

Focused mind.

This worked too.

But pull it out again?

"Hmm, will the lord spawn inside when time's up?"

"Ah! Imagined it!"

"But Your Majesty's subspace bars living beings, right?"

Brainiac mode on.

Can't store from outside to inside.

But spawn inside first?

"Who wants to see the Necro-Lord get subspace'd on spawn?"

"Me! Me! Me!"

"Unmissable sight."

Necro-Lord preserved.

Stiff in a subspace corner.

Sensed it'd revive on release.

And.

Clear.

Under 5 minutes, luckily.

Max score too.

"Master! Internet! People freaking out! Second world max score! Both by Hitchhiker!"

"Future faithfuls marvel at Your Majesty's glorious feats."

Real-time Hitchhiker surveillance level.

Hati spun chasing its tail in excitement.

Then comms.

New round, hour 12.

Noon Korea time.

Petting Hati's tail with one hand, scanning analysis with the other.

High-alliance-probability nations.

Alliance end-score estimates.

Korea's alliance options.

Myriad predictions.

Accelerated thoughts devoured it fast.

Thick too.

Finished this quick?

Agency impressive.

World nations sending proposals instantly on alliance alert.

Means it's tight.

Time's short.

Plus.

Minus 20 mil start.

System pushing alliances hard.

Flip.

Closed analysis.

Objectively, solo #1 for Korea? Tough.

Facing scattered nations vs. tight alliances.

Whole different leagues.

Tower whims ramping up lately.

Alliances better for ordeal vars.

But.

Worth a shot?

Analysis ignored key factors.

Meteor, Black Hole.

2x daily—confident maxing every floor.

Offworld score factories.

Avg floors up, exponential output.

Plus mid-late patience package ace.

Random, sure.

But suited to situation.

Biggest point.

Fierce deliberation, decision set.

"Master! Let me help decide! Ah, no way! Korea solo #1? Impossible! Impossible!"

"Your Majesty's power absolute, but hmm, maybe need other nations' strength this time?"

Look at them using last tips perfectly.

Comms on.

Clear roads quick.

This summit a major fork.

Next day.

"We now commence the August emergency summit."

Position of glory and honor, long monopolized by America.

Not American this time.

End