Global Awakening: Infinite Gift Pack System

Chapter 301: The Conversion and the Return to the Real World

Kai couldn’t help but look at the young man curiously.

The child’s ability had shocked him... not the fact that he was being sold, but the uniqueness of his gene.

A safeguard against mutation, a way to revert to human form no matter what modifications were forced upon him. It was a rare gift, one that could be exploited endlessly.

He could already imagine several uses for this young man if he were that twisted figure.

Still, seeing the expression of some old men and some middle-aged women around, he couldn’t help but feel that he had to try to save this young man at the very least.

’Whatever... I still have a couple of thousand.’ Kai muttered to himself as he decided to purchase the man.

Kai had bid fiercely, his hand rising again and again as the numbers climbed.

580 medals had nearly stolen the boy away... It was a bid so high it had to be the pooled resources of a large guild.

They wanted him desperately, whether to save him or to use him, Kai couldn’t tell.

But in the end, Kai made the final bid...

"600."

The hammer fell.

"Sold. The child, for 600 Survivor Medals."

The crowd erupted in whispers.

"He spent six hundred..."

"On a child?"

"Does he know what he’s doing?"

Still, Kai ignored them. The boy was bound to him now, just like the super soldiers. He would be safe.

Kai would not allow him to be exploited.

If the boy wanted to test his ability, Kai could guide him. But for now, safety came first.

Kai stood up, ready to leave the hall. He had spent more than he intended, but the acquisitions were worth it.

He got four soldiers and a child with a unique gene...

The soldiers were assets that could change the future of his shelters. As for the child, he could probably do some odd jobs within the shelter. That should be better than being a subject of an experiment.

But then the old man’s voice rang out again, halting him in his tracks.

"Next," he said as a man went to a stage carrying a paper with a picture of a "This lot is not a human. It is a virtual item."

The hall fell into confusion. Survivors glanced at one another beneath their cloaks.

"A virtual item?"

"What does that mean?"

"Is this some kind of joke?"

Many of the survivors had no idea about the Virtual World.

Still, the old man smiled faintly.

"Many of you may not understand. But for those who know of the VRMMORPG Perfect World, you will recognize its value. This item exists within the virtual realm, yet it can be gifted here, in the Auction Realm. Its effects are not limited to the game... If you know the game, you’ll know what I’m talking about."

Kai froze. He knew exactly what the old man meant.

Perfect World. The VR world he had entered before, the one tied to the Neural Gear Interface. The place where gene skills synchronized with reality, where rumors spoke of the Divine Gene blueprint... a perfect genetic enhancement without side effects.

The crowd murmured in confusion. Ninety percent of them had no idea what a virtual item was. To them, it sounded worthless.

But to Kai, and to a handful of others who had touched the VR world, it was priceless.

Nonetheless, Kai looked at the picture being shown, and it was actually a gauntlet.

[ Virtual Weapon: Ether Gauntlet ]

[ Type: Gene‑Linked Armament ]

[ Origin: Perfect World VRMMORPG ]

[ Description: A legendary gauntlet that exists within the virtual realm. When bound to a survivor, it synchronizes with their genetic code, allowing them to channel raw energy into their attacks.

Special Effect:

Energy Channeling: Converts energy into concussive blasts or protective barriers.

Strong Grip: Can fuse temporarily with other weapons or tools, enhancing their output. ]

The old man explained, "It is a weapon of pure force. Those who wield it can strike without steel, defend without shields, and manipulate energy itself. Few understand its worth, but those who do will know it is priceless. Lastly, once it’s bound to you, you can use a Conversion Node on this item! If you don’t have a Vonversion Node yet, you can purchase it separately after this event!"

Kai’s visor gleamed. Since it’s possible to use Conversion Node on this gauntlet, it means that it was a weapon that could exist in both realms, bridging the gap.

That alone was more than enough to catch his interest.

Finally, after the introduction was over, the bidding began hesitantly.

"10 medals."

"15."

"80."

Most survivors scoffed, dismissing it as useless. But a handful of cloaked bidders raised their hands sharply.

Kai knew that they had touched Perfect World too.

"150."

"170."

"190."

Kai leaned forward. He had already spent heavily tonight... 525 medals on the super soldiers, 600 on the child. But this was different. This wasn’t just another acquisition. This was a weapon that could help him level up faster in the Virtual World and, in turn, help him get closer to the Divine Gene.

The guild that had fought him for the child bid aggressively again.

"200."

"250."

Kai sighed as he decided to make this quick.

"300," Kai said evenly.

The man countered instantly. "320."

The hall grew tense. Survivors who didn’t understand watched in confusion, wondering why anyone would spend so much on a virtual gauntlet.

Kai exhaled slowly.

"350..."

This time, his opponent hesitated, then raised their sign. "370."

Finally, Kai raised his number once again...

"400."

The hall fell silent.

The old man’s smile widened. "Sold. The Virtual Item... Ether Gauntlet, for 400 Survivor Medals."

***

Kai didn’t rush out of the hall after his last purchase. Instead, he turned to the four super soldiers and the child, wanting to know who they truly were.

Kai introduced himself first...

"I’m Kai. You’re mine now, but not as slaves. You’ll fight with me, and I’ll make sure you live."

They weren’t trusting his words that easily but one by one, they gave their names...

The broadest of them spoke first. "I am Draxen."

The one who had long gray hair spoke next, "Call me Castor."

The third, scarred across his jaw, muttered, "Korval."

And the last simply said, "Serric."

Kai nodded, committing each name to memory. They weren’t faceless soldiers anymore... they were men with identities, men he intended to save.

Then he turned to the child. The boy had a soft voice...

"My name’s Matt... I’m ten."

Kai crouched slightly, meeting his gaze. "Matt, you’re safe now. No one will experiment on you. You’ll have a place in my shelter."

The boy nodded, and although he was still skeptical, there was relief appearing across his face.

With introductions complete, Kai began purchasing items for them.

Armor pieces, several sets of clothes, and even some weapons that Kai couldn’t produce using his Gift Pack... Well, anything that could stabilize the soldiers and keep the boy comfortable was bought.

Hours passed as they moved from stall to stall within the Auction Realm. The gauntlet he had won earlier was secured directly after Kai provided them with his IGN and ID...

He even obtained a Conversion Node for free!

The soldiers tested their new gear, adjusting straps and grips, while Matt clutched a small satchel Kai had given him, filled with food and simple tools.

Soon, every survivor felt exhausted with their cloaks heavy with sweat... The second day of the auction had drained them all.

Finally, a system notification appeared before every participant.

[ Auction Event Concluding ]

[ All transactions finalized. Survivors will return to their shelters shortly. ]

[ Remaining Survivor Medals will be converted to Energy Cores. ]

[ Conversion Rate: 100 Survivor Medals = 1 B‑Grade Energy Core. ]

[ Conversion Rate: 10 Survivor Medals = 1 C‑Grade Energy Core. ]

The hall erupted in chaos.

"What?!"

"You mean they vanish?!"

"I saved over 400 medals... I could’ve bought something!"

"Why didn’t they tell us earlier?"

"This is robbery!"

"I held back for tomorrow’s event — now it’s all gone!"

"They tricked us into saving!"

"I should’ve bought that serum when I had the chance!"

"Do they think B‑Grade Cores are equal to medals? They’re not!"

"Damn it... I had 900 medals, and now it’s just nine cores!"

"I had 190 medals... and it only gave me one B‑Grade and nine C‑Grades? Ninety medals wasted!"

"C‑Grade? That’s pocket change compared to medals!"

"They should’ve warned us... I would’ve spent everything!"

"All those missions, all that risk... reduced to scraps!"

"This system is rigged!"Curses filled the chamber as survivors realized the truth.

Many had hoarded their medals, hoping to use them later, only to discover they would be stripped away and converted.

Kai’s visor gleamed as he read the notification. He didn’t curse. He had spent a lot of his Survivor Medals as well.

He had invested instead of hoarding, and now he would return with assets that mattered.

Still, he had some excess, so thanks to that, he got 21 B-Grade Energy Cores.

But others weren’t so fortunate. Survivors shouted at the organizers, demanding explanations. Some slammed their fists against the benches, furious that they hadn’t known.

"It’s too late to regret now," Kai muttered under his breath.

[ Time Remaining: 30 seconds ]

[ Prepare for transfer. Survivors will be returned to their shelters. ]