After leaving Spokane behind, we continued traveling west with renewed energy. There were a couple reasons for that. First, the biggest energy drain of our group was no longer there. Pamela had finally been left behind. I understood that was my fault, and it was a mistake. I didn't have any problems admitting that. But I still was glad that she was no longer around. Second, we started to realize that we were getting very close to the shore. And that was exactly what all we were hoping for.
We ended up traveling quite a bit over the next couple of days. Moving in a group of three made things much easier. Not just because we now had three pairs of eyes looking around everything, but also because we were able to split our gear and supplies between three people. That made everything much easier, and the high level in Body we all had only helped even more. So much so that three days after leaving Spokane, we were already seeing the Columbia River in the distance.
According to the maps that we had seen, that was roughly the limitation that separated the farmland and the mountains from a forest that was right by the coast. The forest itself was big enough to require a couple of days of travel before reaching the other side, but it was the last stopping point before reaching the beaches.
During those three days, both Astrid and I were able to reach level 20, being at the limit of tier one. That happened on the eve of the second day after we hunted down a few wild birds for dinner. Michael was still at level 14, but he was gaining SP at a steady pace. Now that neither Astrid nor I were acquiring SP according to progression, he was receiving everything that we hunted, making his leveling speed explode very quickly.
Unlike what happened once I reached the limits of tier zero, I didn't have {Quick Tier 1 Evolution} or a skill similar to that to speed up this process. Instead, once I reached level 20, the System spoke up with a choice.
[User has reached level 20 of tier 1. This is the maximum level for tier 1. For user to class up and reach tier 2, user is required to assist System on creating a better version of particles that will be utilized by user's body. Does user have an idea on how to complete this upgrade or would user rather System give a few possible options to achieve the desired goal?]
'Honestly, I am a bit lost on how to make the particles work better. So yeah, can you give me some assistance? Also, if you can give me assistance, why do I have to search for that? Doesn't that mean that you already know how to improve?'
[That is incorrect. System is able to understand to some degree the issues present on current particles. However, improving them is not something System knows how to do. That being said, System can help direct user's focus, so finding the required information to improve particles would be easier. For instance, if user desires for user's particles to improve user's physical condition, System can suggest that user hunts down and consumes monsters and other creatures that have a high Vitality period or a high level of Body. Alternatively, if user wishes to change particles so they are more effective for a specific type of skill core, for instance, user's {Firestarter}, System will recommend user to hunt after creatures and food that is related to fire as they will contain information that would be beneficial to user's particles."
'I see. That's fair enough, so instead of having to show how to actually upgrade the particles I just need to look for things that are different from what they are now?'
[That is correct. In essence, System will be issuing a quest for user to follow and uncover the required information to increase in tier.]
'But I already have a quest. The one to make my title into a skill.'
[That is correct. And although that quest is currently at 98% completion, quests related to increasing tier do not occupy the same area inside System's memory as general quests. For general quests are not required for the continuous use of System, while tier up is considered a priority.]
'So I can't have both active at the same time?'
[Yes. However any information acquired by the System will first be placed on quest related to tearing up, only then should be added to the secondary request.]
'Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm going to have to double down, does it?'
[System requires some clarification on what user means by saying doubling down.]
I held back a sigh. For everything it could do, the System could get stumped on the most stupid things, 'I mean that let's say I ask for you to help me tier up to a class that's all about recovery and regeneration. Since it's already something that overlaps with what I prepared before with my title, it means that when I get something for the tier up, it will also go for the title quest. Right? Like if you get information that benefits one, you can just copy to the other.'
[System understands now. That is correct. However, System will first prioritize classing up. Meaning that if any information would be useful for previous quest but copying, it would require extra resources, System would first allow you to finish classing up only to then add information to quest related to the title skill. That being said, having the quest be completed only after user increases in tier is likely to be very beneficial, as utilizing more advanced particles will result in better effect.]
'So you're telling me that I should hold off on completing the quest until tier two?'
[In its current state, yes. That is Systems recommendation. There is a high likelihood that just by tearing up, title quest will be completed as the necessary information to replicate title will be easily calculated by the more advanced particles.]
'Okay then. You also said that I have so you can help me with information about what I can do to class up, right?'
[That is correct. Does user wish to receive that assistance?]
'I would. I don't really know what is going on when I tier up. And the first time I feel like it was a bit of cheating, in the sense that I didn't learn how to do it properly, just had some help.'
[Acknowledged. System will list a few options related to user's course utilization of skills and System's analysis of user behavior. Please wait a moment.]
It was very rare for the System to ask me to wait before giving me some information and usually, when it did that, it wasn't a small amount of data it had to share. Just like I was expecting, a few moments passed before window popped up, showing me a list of options to pick from.
[Here are the options System considers adequate for user Cassandra.]
[1 - Continue the path of the Formless Monk.]
[User will be required to find particles related to different aspects of body movement. They might come from creatures that have strong arms, strong legs, and overall good physical attributes but at the same time different attributes from each other. Such as a crab having powerful pincers and a bear having a powerful jaw.]
[2 - user follows an elemental route.]
[In this scenario, user will be required to either find creatures and forces of various Elemental energies and stay close to them for extended periods of time. Consuming said sources will also increase the speed in which System will be able to upgrade particles.]
[3 - user may opt to follow the path of evolution.]
[In this scenario, user will be required to consume creatures that are from the same species on different tiers. Doing so will allow System to understand the type of changes that were made and use them as a basis to create an evolved version of user.]
[Currently, those are the three versions of upgrades that are more likely to fit user according to System. Would user like to follow one of these paths or would user want to create its own version?]
"Hang on," I turned to Michael and Astrid, who were both on the same room in house that we found. They knew what I was doing and were worried since it was taking a long time, "Everything is fine. Just give me a minute. This is a bit complicated."
Turning back to the System I asked, 'Let me just see if I understand this properly. I can follow the idea of what the monsters are doing, which is kind of like what {Formless Series} does. And doing that will be a direct upgrade for my Formless Monk class?'
[Not necessarily. While it is likely that the class user receives, in this case, will be related to the Formless Monk, there's no guarantee that it would be the case. The type of improvement made to the particles will guide the specific class that will be offered to the user. But they don't necessarily mean that one particular class will be removed if a different plan is taken. In other words, if user enjoys the Formless Monk class, System is able to still give an upgraded version for user when user reaches tier 2 even if the way in which user particles were upgraded don't necessarily match with the expectation of the Formless Monk class.]
'Okay then. Good to know. But can you merge those options? I really like the idea of taking the best parts of monsters as the first option says. But I also really want to start using some elemental skills. Making fire with my hands is way too cool to let that opportunity pass up.'
[Analyzing request.] The System paused for a beat before responding. [Merging the two options is possible. However, merging them does not indicate that the process will be quicker. As a matter of fact, due to the need for properly combining two aspects of particles, it is possible that the difficulty in completing will become higher than the difficulty of the original version. Would user like to follow this alternative path?]
I paused for a moment. On one hand, this felt more me. And having the Formless Monk becoming the Formless Elemental Monk or what have you, could be really powerful. Maybe I would get skills that let me put ice, fire, lightning into my attacks. On the other hand, it could take me longer to get there. And it was the first time I was trying to do something like that on my own. Previously, my {Quick Tier 1 Evolution} took care of most of that aspect. All I had to do was consume some particles on the next tier and things would be done.
Then again, that might still be the case. In the end, this was all about me, what I wanted and how I wanted to grow with this power. And taking the quick way out just because I wanted to get there faster didn't sit well. I should do what I felt was the best option and right now was to be Formless Elemental Monk or whatever class the System was going to offer me.
'I'm going to take this different path that I suggested. Can you set everything up?' I asked the System
[Acknowledged. Generating quest.]
There was another pause before the blue window appeared with a full description of what I had to search for.
You have spent your days observing creatures and improving your abilities by taking the best of them, while at the same time not shying away from the elemental properties of their attacks.
For your particles to be upgraded, they need to be exposed to as many representations of what you are searching for as possible.
This includes monsters that have one specific powerful limb or attack. Elemental effects that are interacting with monsters body or the environment without damaging the host.
Current progression 75%.
That was much more than I was expecting. Maybe it wouldn't take that long for me to reach tier 2 and gain my new class. And since Astrid wasn't going to be that far behind, I would at least be able to help her out when it came time for her to make that decision as well. Maybe now things were finally falling into place and we wouldn't have any more issues until we reached the shore.
The problem is, just by thinking something like that was like daring the universe to ruin my plans. Which it did, and it didn't really hold back.