With the fight over and us in a safe location, I turned my focus back into the System. The tier up quest was over and now I should be able to choose the class that was going to take me to tier 2.
'Okay Sys, lay it on me. What can I do now?'
[User has completed the Quest for reaching tier two. In addition, the fight against the Witch of the Silken Fortress also provided with a high amount of particles unrelated to the quest. However, System was able to gather said particles and implement them in the current Quest by expanding the definitions of both tier improvement. For this reason, user has more options to pick from when discussing tiering up.]
'So you're saying that I only got benefits from this? No drawbacks?' I asked, trying to contain my excitement.
[That is correct. However, such an event was only possible because user fought and won against a creature that was at peak of tier two while user was still a tier one. In addition, user's quest was already almost complete, which allowed System to convert the particles that were supposed to become one with user into progression for an alternative Quest and complete said Quest in order to attach it to tier up quest.]
'You just said Quest a bunch of times and I got a bit confused, but basically I did something incredible and I'm being rewarded for it.'
[That is correct, however System would argue that the line between incredible and stupid is very thin.]
I paused and just stared at the words that were in front of me. 'Sys? Are you giving me sass?' I could feel a smile creeping into my face.
[System is simply stating a fact. However System does learn with user and evolves together with user Cassandra. Any changes on System behavior can be attributed to user's influence.]
'Great, so not only are you sassy you are also saying it is my fault.' I rolled my eyes. 'Fine, what about the options?'
[At the moment, simply decide which path user particles will take. Option one will increase the particles' effects on user's body, making user more physically capable. This is the same path that was previously discussed. Option two will still do that, but also add the manipulation of skills and various elements as a way to improve one's body. With the second version of particles, user will not get physical capabilities as powerful as the one from the first choice. However, if user decides to utilize skills related to controlling things outside of user's body, this path will have more options and improvement related to such actions.]
'I have to pick those options? What about my classes? Don't I get to pick them now?'
[User must first pick the direction from which user's particles are going to grow. Only then will System be able to generate the classes related to such paths. This is only happening due to the fact that user has acquired particles enough to generate this secondary path. In the future, if user follows the quest and does not go beyond what the quest requires, user will not be given this choice and the quest's classes will be already generated.]
I scratched the back of my head and said, 'Oh okay, then. So it was just because I was that good.'
After thinking that I flinched. Suddenly realizing how obnoxious I was about my achievement. I survived because Wistra let us kill her. Not because I was amazing or anything. I really needed to get off my high horse. 'Anyway, let's take the second option. I don't want to be just about moving my body. I want to be able to do other things too.
[Acknowledged. Following the secondary path. The one where particles will increase both user's physical prowess but also user's ability to interact with particles that are not directly connected to user's body. Is this the direction user Cassandra wishes to follow?]
With a nod I confirmed, and the System asked for a moment to process
I looked around the room and saw how Michael kept moving his mouth as if he was speaking, and Astrid moved her hand back and forth between a couple somethings. Almost as if they were interacting with the System directly. Riley, on the other hand, was already on the corner, laying down and trying to sleep. I had to give it to them. After everything, once they stopped crying after their master, they didn't start again, which was incredible to a certain point. I don't know if I would have the same fortitude of not weeping at least before bed.
'Hey, Sis. Quick question. If I were to pick the first option, would you have the classes all set up and ready to go?'
[That is correct. System already had a good idea of the classes that would be available and only required the information about the tier 2 particles to confirm that. This is something System has been doing ever since the fight with the Witch of the Supreme Fortress was over. But now that System has a confirmation, it can dedicate all of its computing power for this specific task.]
'Okay then, I'm going to let you work and stop bothering you,' I said hoping that this would make things move faster.
[User does not require nor is required to do so. Having a conversation with user does not take any computing power away from System. Any irrelevant computing power that System experiences.]
'I don't know if I should be upset or glad about that. Aren't you basically saying that talking to me is mindless?' I frowned and crossed my arms.
[System can provide a more in-depth explanation about why talking to user does not require a large amount of computing power if user desires. System also makes clear that this does not mean that user is, as user stated, mindless. However, System has finished the calculations and is ready to provide user with the possible classes for tier 2. Would user like to see the classes or have the conversation?]
"I want to see the classes", I replied as fast as I could.
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Monk of Many Forms - Aspirant
Attribute Bonus: 2 points per level
Body + Mind +
Energy - Memory +
Prerequisite: Formless Monk (Fledgling) or similar observational combat class.
A master of adaptation, the Monk of Many Forms refines their techniques by studying the world around them. They gain new skills faster and can store more techniques in their arsenal.
Skills offered with the class:
Formless Archive - Passive - Aspirant
Reserved Cost: 1 Energy
Your spirit drinks deep from the well of the wild, preserving every movement, every instinct.
Your mind has become a living library of combat forms.
Increased rate for the generation of Formless series skills.
Stored skills 0/5
Echo of the Wild - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 2 Energy
The boundary between you and the beasts blurs, your flesh remembers what it could be.
Temporarily embody the essence of a creature you've observed, enhancing your abilities.
Gain a minor trait of the last creature you studied.
Must have studied a creature
Duration: 15 minutes
Fluid Recall - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 1 Energy
Your body moves as if guided by unseen hands, one form melting into the next without pause.
Instantly switch between learned Formless techniques without hesitation.
Next technique used after activation costs 1 less Energy.
Duration: 1 minute.
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Disciple of Nature - Aspirant
Attribute Bonus: 2 points per level
Body - Mind
Energy + Memory ++
The wind obeys, the earth trembles, fire ignites and nature bends to my will. A warrior who channels the raw forces of nature, the Disciple of Nature wields elemental power and draws strength from beasts and plants.
Skills offered with the class:
Elemental Imbuement - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 2 Energy
The power of the elements courses through you. Infuse your weapon or strikes with an element as long as you have a skill related to said element.
Duration: 10 minutes
Wild Steps - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 1 Energy
Nature is your second home, and when traveling through it, you can gain its blessing. Your body becomes more capable when in the wild. The terrain will vary the benefit given by the skill.
Forest: Reduced noise
Plains: Increased speed.
Mountains: Increased endurance.
Lake: Increased regeneration.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Nature's Favor - Passive - Aspirant
Reserved Cost: 1 Energy
You and nature are one, moving as a unit. Unstoppable and unrelenting. Skills or attacks derived from beasts, plants, or natural forces gain enhanced potency.
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Starlight Sentinel - Aspirant
Attribute Bonus: 1 points per level
Body ++ Mind +
Energy + Memory -
The cosmos guides guide your blade, no shadow escapes your sight. A celestial warrior who draws power from the stars, excelling in tracking, precision, and cosmic-enhanced combat.
Skills offered with the class:
Lunar Edge - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 2 Energy
Moonlight is not gentle. It is a knife, cutting through the lies of the dark. Your weapon glows with moonlight, dealing extra damage with each blow.
Illuminates dark areas in a 10-meter radius. More effective when under the moonlight.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Astral Step - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 1 Energy
The sky is not above you, it is beneath your feet. Rush through shadows in a short burst of speed, up to 5 meters.
Range increased to 10 meters when under the moonlight.
Cosmic Awareness - Passive - Aspirant
Reserved Cost: 1 Energy
The stars carve secrets into your mind. Your senses are heightened when under the night sky.
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Arcane Wanderer - Aspirant
Attribute Bonus: 2 points per level
Body - Mind ++
Energy + Memory
Knowledge is power, but wisdom is control. A scholar who has unlocked the first secrets of magic, blending learned techniques with innate talent.
Skills offered with the class:
Arcane Insight - Passive - Aspirant
Reserved Cost: 1 Energy
Knowledge does not come to you. It unfolds inside you, like a flower in fast motion. Your studies allow you to grasp new skills and ways of controlling particles faster.
Mana Dart - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 1 Energy /3 charges
Your fingertips birth tiny stars, hurling them forward with a thought. Launch a small projectile of condensed energy.
Scholar's Ward - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 2 Energy
The oldest magic is not destruction. It is the will to say: 'No further.' Create a minor protective barrier around yourself or an ally.
Duration: 15 minutes
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'Can I use proxy right now?' I asked.
[User has enough Energy in {Mind of Possibility} to utilize the proxy simulation.]
'Okay then, how about this first one? It's a straight upgrade from the Formless Monk, right? Use proxy to show me how the skills work.'
[That is correct.]
'And it doesn't really have anything that I can use proxy right now. But just to confirm, with that one I have the option of increasing the amount of memory slots I have, but those new slots can only be used by the {Formless Series} skill, right?'
[That is correct.]
'Does that include the {Formless Series} itself? The basic skill that I need to get to use all the others?'
[No. If user does not have the basic {Formless} series skill, the storage of this skill will not be able to function.]
'And does it have any more benefit aside from that, or will it function exactly like {Memory Bank}?'
[It will function exactly as {Memory Bank}. However, other skills can interact with it if the skills specify such a thing.]
'Yeah, I know. This is exactly what the other skill is doing, making me able to change the skills I have as long as they are part of the formless series more quickly, right?'
[Correct. However user will have no delay in changing the skills available or in the memory in the {Formless Archive}.]
'I see. And if I don't take this class, do I lose all the {Formless Series}?'
[No. User will still have access to the {Formless Series} and all its current skills. However, the class itself will not give any new skills from that series by itself. User will need to acquire them through other means.
I nodded and decided to look over all of them before asking any more questions. This Monk of Many Forms felt interesting but at the same time underwhelming. Sure, it would be giving me more memory slots as long as I was willing to spend a couple of them to keep the new skills, but it also felt a bit like a waste. There was no actual big skill and the ability to gain more Formless skills made it feel very limited as well. Even if they could be powerful, it didn't mean they would be, and I could end up getting just a bunch of them in the process. And the other skill, the one that wasn't part of the {Formless} series, just felt weird. How was I supposed to study a monster or an animal? Would the skill even make the distinction? If it did, I was absolutely screwed, since it had been a while since I last saw an actual animal instead of just a monster.
Starlight Sentinel looked interesting, but it was way too specific. Sure, I really enjoyed looking into the night sky and seeing all the stars lighting up the night, but wanting to enjoy the sight was one thing and making an entire class that revolved around that was another. The fact that the skill specifically said that part of it was increased while under the starlight made me also think that they would be weakened when they were not, which wasn't something I was really willing to test.
On the other hand, Arcane Wanderer felt very interesting. And the option closest to magic in general. But, it would also push me to fight at long range using the one attack skill it was showing. Now that Michael was traveling with Astrid and I, it felt like having a better front line would be the right choice instead of leaving Astrid to protect the both of us.
Which only made me focus on two options. The first was the Monk of Many Forms, which was a weird name for an upgrade to the Formless Monk class, and the second was the Disciple of Nature. That one also felt very magical by itself. It talked about giving me power based on the elements and increasing my abilities when using something natural. I asked the System a couple questions and had it show through proxy some of the abilities. Currently, I would be able to ignite my staff without damaging it in order to attack, and I could even include other skills in the process. Another thing that the System specified was that {Nature's Favor} would also make it more likely for me to get nature-based skills. Not in the same way that the Formless Monk of Many Forms could increase the amount of formless skills I gained, but it would just increase the pool of skills available to me. And that truly felt like something I wanted.
In the end, after about 1 hour since I was supposed to be sleeping, I made my decision and told the System my choice.
"Acknowledged. System will allow user Cassandra to go through the tiring up process and by morning, user will have access to the new skills and tier 2 particles."
'Thanks, System. Really, I couldn't imagine doing anything like this without you.' I yawned before snuggling with the belt of frost and quickly falling asleep.