章 11: Upgrade
Nicole's apartment was buzzing with energy. Along with Alex and Calum, she was on a mission to create a strong social media presence for Flavorscape. The kitchen had become a mini production studio, each taking on a specific role.
Calum set up the visuals, angling his phone to catch the perfect lighting while tweaking settings for a polished look. He experimented with different shots, making sure each one looked mouth-watering.
"A bit more to the left," Calum muttered, squinting as he framed the sandwiches under the light streaming in from the window.
Nicole was in her element, acting as creative director. She was already familiar with social media strategies and knew how to make the content engaging.
With over 75,000 followers on Momentia and a strong presence on Sphere, she knew how to leverage her popularity to give Flavorscape the push it needed.
"Let's make these posts feel personal and real," she suggested, arranging ingredients on the counter for an appealing behind-the-scenes shot. "People love knowing what goes into their food."
Alex focused on the cooking, moving from chopping to seasoning to plating with a precision that Calum and Nicole hadn't expected. Their first video concept was a "Behind the Scenes" look at making their signature sandwich, capturing Alex's impressive knife skills, his method of marinating the chicken, and the sizzle of fresh ingredients on the grill.
"Can you act more natural?" Calum joked, holding his phone steady as Alex flipped the pan with flair.
Nicole reviewed the foot5fage on her phone, smiling in approval. "This is it," she said. "Let's keep it dynamic. We need a mix of quick tips, cooking tricks, and flavor reveals. People will eat it up."
Next, they filmed a short clip in which Alex gave a quick tip about marinating. He explained the benefits of using yogurt and lemon juice to tenderize the chicken quickly, sharing enough information to hook viewers without giving too much away.
Nicole crafted a caption to accompany the post, drawing people into the Flavorscape story. "Let's introduce you, Alex," she suggested, setting up the camera. Tell everyone why Flavorscape is special."
Alex looked into the camera and spoke with genuine excitement. "We're not just making food; we're crafting flavors that unite people. This sandwich is just the start of what we want to share."
Calum and Nicole couldn't help but burst out laughing at how formal and stiff Alex looked while talking in front of the camera. "You look so serious!" Calum chuckled. Alex sighed in response, feeling a bit uncomfortable. He was naturally introverted, especially when he wasn't on the football field.
They then continued with Calum filming Nicole tasting the sandwich. Her genuine reactions range from delight to playful exaggeration, bringing a touch of humor to the posts.
They all gathered around as Nicole pulled up her Momentia account. "Let's use my platforms to give us a head start," she said, confidently posting Flavorscape's debut.
Within minutes, her followers responded, liking and sharing the post. Nicole's popularity and her knack for catchy captions brought Flavorscape immediate visibility.
Comments poured in.
"Wow, this looks incredible!"
"Where can we order?"
"Nicole, are you going into the food business now? Count me in!"
As the hours passed, Flavorscape's accounts on Momentia and Sphere started gaining traction, with each post quickly gaining likes, shares, and comments. Alex watched the numbers climb, feeling disbelief as they continued to spike.
In the back of his mind, he thought of his mission goal; 15,000 followers within a week. But as notifications kept pouring in, it was clear that Nicole's influence made it happen faster than he'd hoped. The posts reached a viral level, gaining followers by the hundreds every hour.
By the evening, he received a notification from the Empire System, confirming what he'd barely dared to hope.
=====
[Mission Complete: Establish an Online Presence for Flavorscape]
Objective Achieved!
Rewards:
1. 5,000 EXP
2. 300 Coins
=====
[Congratulations! You have leveled up 3 levels!]
[Level up Rewards]
All attributes increased by 3.
Free Points Earned: 18
=====
Alex hid a smile, keeping his excitement to himself. His mission was completed within hours, but more importantly, Flavorscape was already on the path to something big.
Nicole refreshed the Flavorscape account again, grinning as she saw the follower count. "We did it. People are actually excited about this."
Calum slapped Alex on the back, grinning. "Looks like Flavorscape is going places!"
Alex nodded, letting the feeling of accomplishment settle in. Flavorscape was officially on the map, and he couldn't wait to see what they would do next.
***
In the quiet of the dorm room, with only the gentle hum of Calum's snores in the background, Alex sat on the edge of his bed, gazing into the darkness. With a thought, his Status Panel materialized before him, a glowing interface suspended in mid-air, illuminating his face in a soft, ethereal light.
The numbers and attributes hovered in crisp detail, each a testament to his progress and the changes the Empire System had brought into his life. He took a steadying breath, letting his eyes trace over the stats. This surreal yet tangible panel had become a part of his reality.
The panel felt alive, almost like a personal gauge of his growth, each number reflecting the person he was becoming.
Alex thought, 'This is still like a dream,' a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Just days ago, he would have been content scraping by with his part-time job and coasting through university classes. But now… now there was something more.
This Empire System, this unexpected second chance, had opened doors he hadn't known existed.
He scrolled down to his Free Points and blinked, realizing he'd accumulated a small fortune in stats—thirty points to spend. 'I'd been a little distracted. Forgot to make use of these points,' chuckling to himself.
'Well, no time like the present.' Slowly and thoughtfully, Alex began distributing the points, imagining what each boost would mean for him.
He started with Strength. He wanted to be able to handle himself physically, especially after the robbery had shown him just how fragile his body could be. One by one, he added points, feeling a sense of power wash over him.
Next was Speed and Stamina. The morning performance in the park came to mind—the exhilaration of moving, almost dancing, with the ball. Alex wanted to be sharper and quicker, to have the endurance to keep pushing when others might tire. Adding points here felt like preparing himself for the future he now envisioned.
"Maybe I can try to play football again later," he mused. The thought of being back on the field really excited him. Alex believed that the football club at his university hadn't finalized the team yet, so he might want to give it a shot.
Then, Alex shifted his attention to upgrading his attributes again. He glanced at the next attribute displayed on the panel.
Intelligence—already one of his stronger stats—deserved a few more points too. He wanted to be quick on his feet physically and mentally. If he was going to make a go of Flavorscape and at the university, he needed the sharpness to navigate challenges, solve problems, and think ahead.
Then came Charisma. He hesitated, but only briefly. As his mind turned to Nicole and Calum and even the strangers who had cheered him on in the park, he knew that connecting with others and inspiring them could be just as important as physical strength. A bit of charm never hurt anyone.
Finally, there was Luck. Alex's lips curved in a half-smile as he remembered the fortunate twists his life had taken recently. Who knew what other doors might open if he had more luck?
He felt a renewed sense of purpose with each tap and adjustment. When he finished, he stared at his new Status Panel, the stats reflecting his growth and the path he was carving out for himself.
=====
[Status]
Name: Alex Young
Age: 19
Coins: 580
Current Level: 7
Experience: 5600/6000
Attributes:
Strength: 17
Speed: 17
Stamina: 17
Intelligence: 18
Charisma: 17
Luck: 18
Free Points: 0
Skill Voucher: 0
Skills:
Flame Craft
=====
He let out a slow breath, a deep feeling of satisfaction filling him as he reviewed the numbers. He was becoming stronger, sharper, and more capable with every step. This new reality felt solid and tangible—a life that was finally his to shape.
Setting his phone down, Alex lay back, closing his eyes with a sense of accomplishment. He didn't know what tomorrow held, but one thing was certain; he'd be ready for whatever it was.
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