CHAPTER 114: System 101
“The [System] is a mysterious force that appeared thousands of years ago. It is unknown where it began or who created it. Those worlds that received it first tend to be stronger races who have had longer to grow in their power and wealth thanks to the [System]. They try to suppress other worlds to keep themselves at the top and proclaim that they are special, chosen as masters by the [System]. The longer the [System] has been with a world, the more likely they are to have more Tier 6, allowing them the strength to enforce their will and to threaten others,” explained Lashtam.
“Some worlds worship the [System] as a god. Some treat it as a tool to become stronger, a justification to oppress. While others consider it a way to separate the worthy from the weak that deserve to be culled.
“The [System] alters us to allow us to grow. It shapes our souls with classes that fit who we are. Those classes allow us to learn skills that let us draw from the power of the [System] to make us stronger. The classes we can choose from have to be compatible with our souls. As we grow in power the [System] gives us choices on what skills to select. What it really does is shape our souls for us to better use its power for a purpose.
“Our bodies are linked to our souls, which is why the [System] allows us to use its power to also grow our [Body] levels. This is to give us the possibility to better shape our [Body] to allow a desired [Class] to fit our souls when it might not otherwise. By increasing our stats and experiences before evolving our [Class], it opens more possibilities for that evolution.
“One race, referred to as the Red Clan, is the most knowledgeable at understanding and manipulating the soul. A lot about how each [Class] fits our soul is researched by them. They have a natural affinity to working with souls, and classes that allow them control over others’ souls. It is why they are feared by so many other races, and why they are so secretive about what they know. Only their race knows how to get classes to attack and change people’s souls.”
Adam frowned at this. Partly because he thought of the mind witch that was trying to sabotage him, and partly because he knew several of the pseudo-skills that he didn’t know the names for worked based on the soul. His danger sense, soul mapping, soul spike, and the connections he formed worked directly on the soul. If only the Red Clan had access to classes and skills like that, then how altered must his own soul be to have similarities to a race never seen on Earth.
“Rahsha said that a mind witch that has been bothering us, was from the Red Clan,” said Adam.
“You speak of Cruxannith’cz’Jurzax, your Excellency. She has been acting as a speaker for the Scyrric in this region,” responded Lashtam.
“Is the Red Clan invading as well?” asked Lucas. “Will we encounter a base full of people attacking our souls and minds?”
“No, Lord Lucas. The Red Clan usually stays neutral to the powerful races. They believe in keeping their race pure, making them less likely to conquer. Of the most powerful races they are much smaller with only one home world and three outpost planets.”
“Four planets?!” coughed Randall.
“That is correct, Lord Randall. They are very small compared to the other powerful races,” nodded Lashtam.
“Then how many worlds do others have?” asked Elias.
“Thousands if you include all the lesser races that the Scyrric have lordship over.”
“Then the Scyrric are the largest and most powerful race?” asked Colonel Davian.
“It is a matter of debates. The Scyrric were one of the first four races to gain strength through the [System] and they expanded outward, as a purpose.”
“Then they are more powerful than the Red Clan?” asked Rick.
“That is also often debated. The Red Clan’s classes are indisputably the most difficult to fight against. While their population is lesser, they have nearly as many Tier 6 and there are few ways to counter the soul manipulation of their stronger classes,” explained Lashtam.
“Let’s circle back to the Red Clan later. First, let’s get the basics of classes,” said Adam. He seemed to have his own counter to the mind witch, but they would need to find something for the rest of his people. Though removing her head would work quite well, I’m sure, thought Adam.
“Yes, your Excellency,” nodded Lashtam, before beginning with the basics. “When a person’s soul matures enough, the [System] will appear to them. From there they will be given a choice of a Tier 1 class. Gaining their first class will allow them to absorb XP from killing and alters the connection between their body and soul so that they can increase their status.”
“Tier 1 classes are the [Warrior], [Scout], [Mage], [Protector], and [Support]?” asked one from the intel group.
Lashtam’s nose scrunched, and his lips puckered as if he had eaten a lemon. The Leputi expressions were often difficult to understand, but everyone could tell that was one of strong distaste.
“Yes, those are Tier 1 classes. However, those are the weakest and most common options. Races who have lived in the [System] have already discovered how to get better Tier 1 classes. Most cultures select what their young will do and help train them so that when the [System] joins with them they have much better options to select from.
“Classes have different rarities, based on how difficult they are to get. The classes you mentioned are called common, since anyone can get them. Then there is uncommon, rare, epic, and legendary. The better a rarity, the more stats and powerful skills you gain while leveling.
“In most worlds, having a common or uncommon class will signify that you are worthless. Rare is actually the most common class rarity among the worlds, since the whole of tribes and worlds want their citizens to be equal to others. Some worlds even put to death youngsters who can’t get a rare class to prevent them from corrupting the rest of the populous.”
Adam and a few others winced at that. It was the human’s turn to make distasteful expressions.
“Then we’re all behind already?” asked Randall.
Lashtam tilted his head and thought, measuring his words before replying. In that moment he seemed like an educated teacher trying to figure out how to say something without making his student feel dumb.
“It is as you say, Lord Randall. Natives of worlds start behind the rest of the universe. This is one reason why invaded worlds have never survived, except those who become hereditary slaves of the other races. Even so, slaves that are so weak from the beginning have very little worth.”
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The room was silent for several minutes as everyone digested that. There seemed to be a common, unspoken thought though as everyone turned to Adam. He was sure they were once again wondering how he could be so strong without the benefits that the invaders have.
“Then how do we get stronger?” asked Brandon, his eyes surprisingly determined.
“While it is possible for someone to go from a common class to one like epic or legendary, it is even more difficult when starting so low. By having a common class it means that your soul isn’t matured enough, or doesn’t have the proper strength and shape to hold something more powerful. It is unlikely to grow your soul in the time to your first evolution to be strong or qualified enough for a higher rarity.
“When you evolve your class, you are using up the XP and soul power that you collected to condense it. That condensing makes the class stronger and more solid within, according to the Red Clan’s explanation. You will lose the XP that you have gained, but it will also make space in your soul for a stronger class and skills. The choices provided to us are the [System] helping us shape our soul into a class that it can contain.
“The amount of levels that you spend depends on the class you want to evolve into. Usually to evolve to Tier 2 you need to have gained 15 levels. For Tier 3 you spend 40 levels. Tier 4 is 75 levels. Tier 5 is 120 levels. Finally, Tier 6 is rumored to need 250 levels. No one has passed Tier 6, so it is unknown how many levels that requires.”
“Why’s that?” asked Joseph. No one was sure he had even been paying attention.
“The reason, Lord Joseph, is that it requires so much XP at higher levels that it takes most who reach Tier 6 centuries. They also need to have done enough to deserve a worthwhile class to evolve into. Many who seek strength find that Tier 3 is the furthest they can go. Some races, such as my own, have outside forces restricting how much they can grow. No Leputi that I know has passed Tier 2, showing to all how weak my race is.
“As you kill creatures below your level, you gain less and less XP from them. A Tier 5 gains none from killing Tier 2s, and barely anything from Tier 3s. That is why the invasions into new worlds are in such demands. It is a faster way to grow the strength of your soldiers, making sure the enemies are of adequate levels.”
“Why don’t the invaders send stronger people to begin with?” asked one of the intel people.
“That is due to the [System]. The invasions aren’t directly controlled by it, but they are regulated by it in a way. If a war between powerful races were to occur away from these isolated worlds, then it would waste most of the XP. For example, if the Crichans attack a Scyrric controlled world, the Scyrric would send a Tier 5 to wipe out several of the Crichan worlds. The XP for everyone below Tier 4 would be lost, while only one Scyrric would gain a minute amount of strength.
“When new worlds are found by a race they report it to the [System] who then helps the various races send dimensional convergence rifts and their own people to it.”
“What does the [System] get in return?” asked Elias.
“It is unknown what the [System] truly wants, but before the races that will be transferred are selected, it allows the races to bid for the rights using a form of energy. The [System] uses some of this energy to open the portals. That way the races that spend the most energy can take the strongest forces through, giving them an advantage in the battles to conquering the land.“
“Then can’t the wealthier races just spend more to send through stronger troops?” asked Lucas.
“Quite the pay-to-win system,” said Tom.
“The [System] limits that. At the beginning only levels up to 25 are allowed through, and based on what each race, tribe, or group spends, they have a limited number of levels that can pass through. It means they could have a Tier 3 at level 25, or a lot of Tier 1s below level 15. The second case is worth more, since once their many warriors gain strength they can return through the portals for free.
“Only very strong races have a chance to compete for the planetary resources. The other races are looking to send through a weak force, get as much strength as possible, and then return to their own worlds.”
“Like those goblins we wiped out,” smirked Tom.
“As you say, like the goblins,” agreed Lashtam. “They are known for being a very weak race. If they get even a handful of powerful warriors from it then it is worthwhile for their race. However, as time goes on the [System] allows stronger warriors to pass through the portals. In three more of your months the level limit will increase to 39. Then three months following it will raise to 74.”
“Then the Tiers allowed through keep going up?” asked Elias.
“Correct,” agreed Lashtam.
“Then couldn’t someone new to Tier 5 come through at the beginning?” asked Brittney.
“Fortunately not. The [System] has a way to limit the power of those who can step through. We don’t know how, and the rules haven’t been clearly stated, but the races don’t push this since one Tier 5 at level 1, would destroy everyone else, wasting all the XP there is to gain.”
Adam nodded, glad for that limitation. It might be the only reason they had survived this long.
“What happens if your class grows past what is needed to evolve?” asked Brittney.
“That is where classes become complex. As you are aware, in the early Tiers you gain a new skill at level 0, 5, 10, and 15. The other levels give skill points. However, if you get your Tier 1 class to level 16, then once you spend the 15 levels to evolve, you will begin at level 1 of Tier 2. That means you won’t gain the level 0 skill.
“This can create a great imbalance in your class. Some classes give weak spells or skills in the beginning, allowing you to take skills that work to empower those later skills as your soul has grown able to accept the greater power. If you are missing that early skill, then the later skills can’t empower you and a gap is left in your abilities.
“Since most races within the [System] have used it for hundreds or thousands of years, we have mapped the class abilities and options, allowing us to guide the young to optimize their paths. All but the most common paths have been kept secret by the races that found them, since they are strategic knowledge. My people can provide you with the paths that we know of, and the paths known to all. This might give your people a better idea of the possible ways to gain strength suited to them. It might benefit you to start collecting all that from your current people so that it might help some in the future if they discover a useful ability path.”
“Ulton, get some people together to begin that,” ordered Davian.
“Yes, sir,” one of the unit heads saluted.
“What do you do if a class gets affected like that,” asked Brittney. “Can you choose a different lower class to start over?”
“That is not possible, Lady Brittney,” said Lashtam with a sad bow of his head. “Once you increase in Tiers, you cannot evolve downwards. It can lead to the end of your ability to get stronger and grow. Many in the [System] would take their own lives if that occurred. They would be shown as incompetents.”
“Didn’t your people downgrade to that breeder class? How is that different?” asked Elias.
“Racial classes are treated differently. Many races have them. Those classes usually have very targeted purposes or strengths. They get weaker the higher they level. It’s as if being of the race automatically means your soul can fit that class.
“As long as a person has a single level, they can evolve to their racial class. They can also evolve to it as many times as they want. However, once you evolve away from a path, you can’t begin it again. Let’s say one of the Leputi was a mage and evolved to a breeder. They could not evolve to any offshoot of the mage class again. They would need to find a new starting point for another path.
“Racial classes also cannot evolve. The Gohralluh race has a racial called [Strong Arm]. It is very powerful in the beginning, however few use it since it has no second Tier to it. It can’t evolve and after so many levels it stops giving new skills.
“All these rules together mean that evolving to your racial class might halt all progress. If you were Tier 3 and evolved to a racial, then you would need to have already qualified for a different Tier 3 path to evolve away from your racial class, and it is likely that you will have a hard time getting enough levels for that evolution.”
“Youch,” interjected Tom. Lashtam gave him a confused look, not understanding his word. Lots of glares were directed at Tom for interrupting, which he ignored.
“Do you lose your skills and stat increases when you evolve to your racial?” asked Davian.
“Fortunately, we do not. It has improved the treatment for more than one controlled Leputi. Even though we can only get to Tier 2, the individual Leputi might have stats enough to harm the person mating with them. Sometimes it ensures better care towards my people, though not always.”