Apocalypse Cheater

[: Daniel POV :] 

"Wow... that's beautiful," Bella breathed in awe, utterly mesmerized by the stunning spectacle before her.

Following the explosion, it was as though a serene snowfall had graced the forest, thanks to the essence of Ice.

However, as she revelled in the sight, her vision was suddenly bombarded by hundreds of notifications, cascading in a seemingly endless stream.

[: Congratulations, you have...

...

..

.

.

.

.

Seeing her reaction was endearing, even cute, as she grappled with the overwhelming deluge of notifications.

It was as if she had stumbled upon a treasure trove of surprises. 

How adorable. 

If I had a little sister, I think Bella would be the perfect fit for it. 

Yet, as the torrent of notifications eventually ceased, her attention was captivated by something entirely novel and unfamiliar, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the already extraordinary moment.

  Had she already received it?

Considering the number of monsters she had just dispatched, I couldn't help but feel confident that she could easily reach level 999 without breaking a sweat.

However, deep down, I also knew that she wasn't yet prepared to face a Transcendent Being, at least not at this moment.

There was still much training and growth to be done before she could face the formidable challenge alone. 

With the right training, classes, and skills, there was no doubt in my mind that she could at least take on the 5th stage and reap the worldly rewards it had to offer.

"Transcended Being...?" Bella questioned, her breaths coming in and out heavily as she tried to recover from the mental exhaustion brought on by the recent ordeal.

Yet, despite her fatigue, there were questions burning in her mind.

"What is that" she asked, genuinely curious.

She turned her head toward me, her expression pleading for answers.

Unable to resist her hopeful gaze, I decided to explain further.

"Well, a Transcendent Being is a realm that's beyond what I would describe as mortal," I elaborated.

"Mortal? Does that mean that there are levels above 999?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

She seemed unaware of what lay beyond level 999, given that her parents were both even higher than Transcendent.

Still, I explained it to her. 

"That's right, Princess," I confirmed. "There are realms above level 999, but as of now, you're not quite ready for them."

Bella nodded in understanding, her calm acceptance of the situation evident.

She declined the offer to face the Transcendent, a decision that I knew was wise given her current capabilities.

Fortunately, the trials of facing a Transcendent offered some leeway.

Even if you failed hundreds of times, there was still an opportunity to undertake the trial again.

However, with each failure, the rewards diminished.

These trials served as a measure of one's potential and repeated failures led to a lower rating.

That's precisely why I had reservations about Bella facing the trial at this point.

I didn't want her to risk encountering a Transcendent until she was better prepared and could secure a more favourable rating for her efforts.

"But did I really reach level 999...?"

Bella questioned, her voice tinged with a hint of disbelief.

I could tell that this must have felt like some kind of dream to her, and I completely understood her scepticism.

After all, who would believe that someone could reach level 999 within a single day?

If it were me in her shoes, I might have found it hard to believe as well, yet here I was, living proof of her results.

"Yes, you did, Bella. If you find it hard to believe, then you can just check out your status," I suggested.

Following my advice, she examined her status, and what she discovered was equally unbelievable.

Her stats were beyond astounding.

She couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion.

Each of her stats stood at an impressive 4.5k, but thanks to the passive skills she had absorbed, they had skyrocketed to a staggering 1.54 million.

What's more, she still had 9990 stat points to spare.

There were only two ways to achieve stats identical to mine.

One was by obtaining high-quality skills or classes, and the second method involved accumulating hundreds or even thousands of passive skills.

Even if a B-Rank Passive Skill Book merely doubled defence stats, the effect became truly astonishing when multiplied by thousands of passive skill books.

In that sense, her stats had reached an awe-inspiring level through the continuous process of levelling up.

"These... are my stats...?"

Bella could hardly believe her eyes.

It seemed like just yesterday she was struggling to defeat a low-level slime with an average stat of less than 10, and now she possessed the power to turn an entire country to ruins.

"You still have some points to spare, right?''

''How about you save them for now?''

''At this point, I don't think there's hardly anyone who could defy you''

''I mean, if you wanted, you could take the throne, and no one would dare oppose you, not even your uncle."

The truth was, if hunters were to discover her level and status, they would both fear and worship her.

Her prowess far exceeded what any human could hope to achieve.

This was the reality of being carried by a hacker, a player who had transcended the boundaries of what was considered normal in this world.

At the same, normally, players would claim it's quality over quantity, but in this world, quantity matters. 

"No, if I resort to violence, then there's no point in seeking a peaceful resolution,"

Bella asserted firmly.

"I prefer to settle matters without causing harm to those who aren't involved in my uncle's schemes. And, of course, he should face the consequences for his unorthodox methods."

Bella harboured deep resentment toward her uncle, but she understood that if she chose violence, she would be viewed as an oppressor.

And her rule would be marred by fear rather than respect. It ran counter to her desire for a just and honourable rule.

I nodded in understanding, respecting her perspective on the matter.

I shifted my focus to the quest I had completed after she reached Level 999.

As I contemplated the quest I had just cleared after Bella reached Level 999, a sense of excitement and wonder washed over me.

What kind of reward should I choose? 

What kind of treasures would the Imperial Treasury have? 

The anticipation of what kind of reward I could choose filled me with a childlike curiosity.

The possibilities were endless, and I was excited because no player had ever received the chance to receive a reward from the Imperial Treasury. 

I, being the first was somehow a compliment in its own and at the same time, my heart became even more excited.

It was a moment of pure potential, and I couldn't help but smile at the thrilling possibilities that lay ahead.

[: Congratulations, you have completed an Ex Rank Quest: Queen Conquest :]

[: You have received 1 choosable reward from the Imperial Treasury :]

"Then, Bella, about the reward... how do I claim it?"

I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

Normally, the reward would either be transferred directly to the recipient or retrieved from the one who initiated the quest.

However, the Imperial Treasury was situated quite a distance away in the Main District, making the retrieval process potentially impossible, especially not at this moment when the situation in the Main District is quite complicated. 

"Oh, about that. Here you go,"

Bella responded with a cheerful demeanour. She took a ring off her finger and handed it to me.

I inspected the ring with a hint of bewilderment.

"What is this?" I questioned, curious about the significance of the item.

"That's the Imperial Treasury,"

Bella stated with a teasing smile, her eyes dancing with mischief.

"This is the Imperial Treasury...?"

I was utterly dumbfounded by the unexpected revelation.

I mean, it's my first time seeing the Treasure, hence, I didn't know what kind of form would it have. 

Bella couldn't contain her laughter as my reaction amused her greatly.

"The ring that I passed onto you is only given to the main Imperial Families, which includes only my father and me''

''This might be surprising, but the only ones who are allowed to have access to it are those with the Main Bloodline,"

She explained, shedding light on the significance of the ring and its connection to her prestigious family.

"This means that only those with direct lineage can access it, and those like my Uncle are unable to do so''

''Even though he might be my father's brother, in the end, his bloodline wasn't strong enough to activate the Treasury,"

Bella elucidated, emphasizing the exclusivity of the Imperial Treasury.

"Which is why, even if my Uncle is the Emperor, he wouldn't receive the perks of an Emperor, as only those with direct lineage could potentially wield the true 'powers' of an Emperor,"

She continued, shedding light on the complex hierarchy within the Imperial Family and the limitations imposed by the bloodline.

The true powers of an Emperor...?

I couldn't help but chuckle as if it was what I was thinking about, then, it explains a lot about how the Human Continent was able to prevail despite facing countless threats.